March Madness

Tulips

Snow covered glamping

Spring in Nevada City…we had daffodils and then it snowed!  We’re currently still shoveling the 2+ feet of snow and wondering where did spring go?  What we love about the spring shoulder season is that campers are starting to surface after a winter of forced hibernation (although many good nights of camping happen in the winter too, check out our Instagram post on our family’s winter camping trips).  This is the time of the year when we start getting more phone calls and online bookings and people really start to show how eager they are to get outside (often rain or shine) and enjoy our campground.  Thank you to those who have been patient with us as we navigate the weather, we’re hoping to get the snow cleared and the glamping tents open as soon as we can.  So while we wait for Mother Nature, here are some reasons and ideas to help you plan for future camping trips.

Tulips

Early spring camping is a great time to dust off the camping supplies and get comfortable sleeping under the stars again.  Here are 5 great things about spring camping at ITC:

  1. Instant gratification, we’re all ready for a vacation, why wait?
  2. Availability:  Spring often has great weather with warm days, but the crowds aren’t out yet.  We typically have a lot of sites available, including our Glamping tents (they are reopening for the season throughout the month of March) and last-minute trips are easier to come by.
  3. Cooler Weather:  Sometimes summer camping is just plain hot.  For those that want to beat the heat, spring is a great time to sleep outside without 90 degree days.  Or maybe you want to bring your Van on a trip and head up to Tahoe and enjoy the 500+ inches of snow!
  4. Evening Fires:  The ground is moist and the air is crisp in the spring; all of that makes for a great time sitting by one of our smoke-free gas fire pits.  They put off a lot of heat, without the fire danger and smoke of a regular fire pit and work perfect for that much needed s’mores.
  5. Spring Flowers:  Mother nature kicks old man winter to the curb starting in February when the daffodils start to bloom.  Typically the flowers start in March and last well into May / June.  Many of the local hikes have spectacular flower displays in the spring.  I put together a whole blog post on Visit Nevada City on spring blooms, with the snow, they may be a little later than usual this year, so plenty of time to plan a spring trip.

Buttermilk Bend

If you’re looking for a few spring ideas on things to do:

  • Buttermilk Bend wildflower hikes are a great spring activity at Bridgeport along the South Yuba River starting mid March through mid-May.  If you’ve never been down there, now is the time of the year to go.  Click here for the self guided trees and shrubs brochure or here for a Wildflowers directory.  Point Defiance Loop at South Yuba State Park at Bridgeport, another great spring hike.
  • Go for an urban hike, we’re kick off the Folk Trails Hiking Club series later this month.  Or maybe take a self guided walk downtown or the cemeteries in Nevada City.
  • Book a site and join us for our upcoming Easter Egg Hunt (Saturday, April 8th, 3:30 pm).
  • Take a self guided tour at the Empire Mine Historic State Park and learn about the rich gold mining history.
  • Check out the tulips at Crystal Hermitage Gardens, open every day in April.
  • Bring your bike and enjoy a ride, check in with local bike shops for tips or head to the Western Gateway Bike Park.

We’re re-opening some of the glamping tents for the 2023 season later this month.   We are rolling out additional tents as the month continues, so keep an eye on that 5 day forecast and feel free to book a spontaneous glamping getaway.  For those who want a look inside, check out the online galleries for opportunities to look inside.  Summer weekends are definitely filling up, but if you’re interested in a spring getaway, we still have availability.

Camping

The other thing the beginning of the camping season is great for is the shakedown mission.  For those of you who bought a new trailer or have a new camping gear set up, why not come on a practice run at your local campground?  It’s a great opportunity to test things out and trouble shoot any issues before you’re miles from home.  And, if you’re like, get a list of all the things you either forgot to buy and/or pack in the trailer.  And don’t forget, if you have questions, there’s probably someone at camp that can give you some friendly advice or suggestions.

To keep tabs on the fun at the campground feel free to follow us along either on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Pinterest.   We’re excited about the upcoming camping season (check out our IGTV update with a snow update!)… spring fever makes us all want to get outside!

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