On my recent trip to the Lowcountry, I spent some time checking out RV parks and campgrounds for future visits to the area in my home on wheels. One of the campgrounds that made a great impression on me was the Mt. Pleasant/Charleston KOA located in the town of Mt. Pleasant. This campground can best be described as oh-so-cozy. While wandering around the property and checking out all that the campground has to offer, I could see myself wanting to stay there for as long as the park would allow me to stay.

So what makes it so cozy you might ask? The atmosphere reminds me of camping trips from my childhood. It’s the kind of place where kids make their first favorable impressions of the camping experience. With the shaded playground, pool, recreation center, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and lake with canoe rentals, there is no shortage of things to keep everybody happy. They even have wagon rides to a nearby oak plantation that adds to the flavor.

Beyond those amenities, the campground features spacious, full hookup gravel sites and plenty of room to roam on the property, including a 1.5 mile nature trail. The darling camp store offers plenty of snacks and beverages, along with souvenirs for purchase.

Where to Play Nearby
While the KOA has enough activities to keep the whole family busy for days, you’ll still want to leave the campground at some point to explore the nearby area. Start by visiting Blackbeard’s Cove, a family amusement center located at the entrance to the KOA campground. It doesn’t get any more convenient than that.

The two closest beach towns are Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. Both of these communities offer quintessential South Carolina beaches where outdoor adventures and water sports abound. Those into visiting historical places can check out nearby Fort Moultrie, the site of a battle during the American Revolution.

And, of course, the campground is just a hoppety skip away from downtown Charleston and many of the popular tourist attractions.

Where to Shop
The close proximity to a Walmart Supercenter, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s—three of my favorite stores—helped skyrocket this campground to my top three list. If you’re looking for boutique shops and unique independently-owned stores, there’s no shortage of them either in the area. Pick up a copy of skirt! magazine and check out the advertisements for all the charming places you can shop in to your heart’s delight.

Where to Eat
Since I’m not into classic Lowcountry cuisine, I’m not going to be much help telling you where to get the best seafood. But, I can tell you a few places where I’ll be dining when I return. First of all, I’ll visit Vickery’s on historic Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. This restaurant features an eclectic menu and is situated in such a scenic location. Surrounded by water, it’s a great place to sit on the deck and enjoy a refreshing cocktail with dinner.

Moe’s Southwest Grill has a Mt. Pleasant location. I like this restaurant chain because they offer vegan and gluten-free menu options. Those on special diets can read my article on alternative dining in Charleston.

And anybody that needs to satisfy a sweet tooth need look no further than Tutti Frutti in Mount Pleasant. This frozen yogurt shop had not one, but three soy ice cream flavors available on the day that I visited. And they were all super fabulously delicious!

For more details on the KOA campground, visit koa.com/campgrounds/mount-pleasant-charleston.

Hot tip! A majority of the sites at the Mt. Pleasant KOA seem to be in full sun. If that is an issue for you, especially during the hot summer months, ask if you can get a site located along the perimeter.

**Want to add more vegan meals to your RV trips? Check out my new ebook "Vegan Road Trip: Simple Vegan Recipes for your RV Kitchen" which features a variety of tasty vegan recipes--from breakfast to dessert and everything in between.**