Kelly_B

We're going camping at Johnson Branch-Ray Roberts Lake during the weekend of Oct. 24th & they have a fireside chat on Sat. night. What else can we do during that weekend with two kids ages (almost) 5 & 7?

Thank you for any advise!!
~Kelly

rockhill

Kelly_B
I hate to see a post requesting feedback go unanswered. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on point of view, it has been a few decades since I had to fill the weekend for that age bracket. They do have some nice trails, most paved, that the kids used to skate on. And they do have a pretty nice play ground area. Short of that probably worthless advice, I do not know.

Enjoy the weekend no matter how you spend the time. It is an excellent time of year to be in the parks.

Troop198

Its been a while for us too but as noted you can hike/ walk, or bike ride the paved trail in the park, take the walk to the beach and explore for something (animals for example) between the walk and the exploring they will tire

there is a playground. there is a fishing pier, beach but might be chilly depends on weather. Just have fun teach them to light a fire and cook over it (looking for small sticks to start your firewood helps)

Tell stories by the fire lots on the internet

Kelly_B

As always...Thank you for your help!!

Is there anything fun to do in the area? I think we'll try going to Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville.

Troop198

You can take 372 to SH 922 west to I 35 and save lots of time if you go to Gainesville. I think Lone Oak road goes to 35 but no exit there. do a map on the internet

SH 922 is not real well marked off SH 377, but its just past Tioga.
Good Texas BBQ at Clarks in Tioga

rockhill

I have heard good things about that zoo. However we have never been to it so cannot speak from personal experience.

Kelly_B

Sorry for the late posting!

We had a really good time at Johnson Branch - Ray Roberts Lake!!!

When we arrived at 4:30pm on Friday, Oct. 24th there were only 5 spots left! Thankfully we had reservations. The place was packed with Boy Scouts & church campers! We picked site #80 that was on the other side of a tree line by the paved trails (and across the rode from the lake - which we could see through the opening in the trees). My girls had fun riding their bikes up & down the trails. We only stuck to the paved trails (didn't have time to go on the W. side of the park). A majority of the paved tails were shaded by trees (which were very beautiful with the leaves changing color).

The day use area is gorgeous! There is a large wooded area where they have picnic tables & grills plus there are covered tables closer to the beach. The beach is sandy & the water is clear. They have a large playground (but be careful of splinters).

After having my wisdom teeth taken out 3 days before camping I was taking things slow but so glad we went. My girls had so much fun - wished we could have stayed longer. My 5 yr. old said eating s'mores was her favorite thing & my (almost) 7 yr. old said she enjoyed lying on the ground at night & looking at all the stars! We also saw 6satelites in one night. Is that common?

Only one problem was the amount of skunks we saw/smelt at night! That was the only wildlife we saw besides a few hawks & ravens. Also, I felt spoiled while camping. I was planning on roughing it but the bathrooms/showers were so clean & they even had a space heater that came on at night. The weather was SO cold Friday night but heated up on Saturday.

We didn't go to Frank Buck zoo. We'll have to check that out another time.


~Kelly

srds

Great report ,hope you feeling better.

srds
Have Fun

__________________
To Camp or Not to Camp -Lets go Camping- Have Fun

MissionCamper

Been to Isle de Bois, never to Johnson Branch. To us, the sites looked smaller over there.

Also have been to Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville. It ain't like the ones in Dallas and Fort Worth. Your kids may like it. I took mine there once and I yawned through most of it.

Troop198

Because we have been to both a number of times and even in the same spot with our prior pop-up and now 23 foot hybrid I had to look, your correct Johnson Branch maximum length sites according to the reservations page are 5 feet shorter.

As noted above our hybrid fits in the same spot the little pop-up did but it is no where near the length of the site.

In the past it used to be much easier to get into Johnson Branch than Isle DB but now more folks have found it. sigh...

JB is not quite as busy in the summer for day use (done that) and has more natural shade over the picnic spots so go figure.

Slick

just to add a few notes for future campers to the area.
JB is a primary SP for us because it's close to home.
I have kids (10, 5, and 4) and they love the paved trails connecting the loops, as well as the day use area. The playground is big and kids seem to "find" things to do when camping. I don't ever have to worry about boredom with them when it comes to camping. the trails are great (plus they have great mountain bike trails).

Kelly_B went in the fall - the fall is always busy for this park - moreso in the fall than the summer months, maybe because of the DFW proximity.

As far as area attractions, Clarks BBQ was mentioned which is a nice joint that's nearby. I also highly recommend BABES chicken dinner house in Sanger. That is good homesyle cookin'. The waitresses sing occasionally and if your kids request hokey pokey they can dance with the ladies.

The Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville was mentioned. This is a great little day trip if you're looking for something different. It IS NOT the Ft. Worth Zoo by any stretch, but it's got a nice hometown feel and the kids love it. A few years ago they remodeled the zoo and have added some new exhibits. We make efforts to take the kids when we're in the area because they enjoy it, it's inexpensive, and it's not so big that the kids get tired of walking around it.
The park (next to the zoo) is amazing. Huge trees, lots of squirells, etc. The kids love the large playground. Finally, they added a little train that takes you around the park.. Again, very kid oriented and they love it.
and, if you happen to get to Gainesville - 4 or 5 miles west is a little town called Lindsay. Dieter Brothers restaurant has some BBQ that rivals Clarks in Tioga. Less hype, cheaper eats, good grub..

(yes, I love to eat)!

Kelly_B

It's been almost a year & finally going camping again! And we're heading back to Johnson Branch on Oct. 3rd!!! This time we're going with another family.

We'd like to camp by the water this time. Anyone know of a good site where we can pitch two tents?

****Hopefully it won't be so cold like last year! =)

Slick

there are some tent only sites on 'oak point' which is right on the water near the day use. if you're looking for a site w/ water and electricity, numbers 10, 11, and 12 are great for tents near the water..

Troop198

Great for you all !

Looking at our notes (which may be dated) I have sites 12,13,14 in Juniper Cove as being godd and near the water. They are water electric sites.

It will be busy then get there early if possible with a reservation already made ! Oak Point sites are water only and I have a picture in this slide show of Oak Point water sites near the end of the show

Slideshow of pictures, photos, and videos, from webshots

Kelly_B

The van will be packed & as soon as the girls get out of school at 3 - we'll hit the road! My husband works off of Hwy 35 so he'll come up after work.
I believe it took us a little over an hour to get there.

Thanks for the site advice!