Category: Activities & Attractions
NEWPORT DUNES WATERFRONT RESORT AND MARINA AQUATIC PARK TO OPEN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
April 29, 2012 by Guest Blogger · Leave a Comment
DUNES’ AQUATIC PARK TO OPEN MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND Memorial Day Weekend generally signals the start of summer and Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort is making its annual “splash” by opening its popular Aquatic Water Park daily that weekend (weekend only hours will begin in April). The Dunes has become a favorite summer destination since 1958, but it’s the relatively recent debut of the Aquatic Water Park that has kept crowds swelling during the hot summer months. The park is actually situated in the Back Bay and adventurers can play on a wide range of giant inflatable amenities from giant icebergs and water trampolines to rock climbing walls and massive teeter-totters. A massive slide that kids may climb aboard and soar back into the water opened last year and has become a crowd favorite. All-day passes are $25 (lower cost partial day passes may also be purchased). Among the other amenities the Dunes offers: sailing lessons, ecological kayak tours, and water aerobics, along with the... [Read more...]
The Beautiful Orilla Verde Recreation Area
April 29, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
After our busy week setting up internet service and our new mailing address for our soon-to-be residence in Taos, NM, we were in need of a little R & R on our spring break trip. In the mood for a spring hike, we had read an article in the Taos News about the Orilla Verde Recreation Area, just north of town. We headed up that way on a beautiful spring day when the weather was sunny (as is usual) and in the mid 60’s. The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Orilla Verde Recreation Area is accessed by heading out U. S. Highway 64 toward and past the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, then turning south on the West Rim Road to the Pilar turnoff. Orilla Verde means “green rim,” which refers to the narrow green ribbon of riparian life associated with the Rio Grande. The Orilla Verde trails are some of the first to shed their snow and dry out during the spring months, so they are a great option for those eager to get out after the long winter hiking hiatus. Two popular trails are the Petaca Point Trail... [Read more...]
Teach your kids about birds
April 28, 2012 by Canadianladybug · Leave a Comment
Ornithology can go hands-to-hands with camping. And to learn more about birds, you need to learn to be patient as well as to be quiet when exploring the woods, grasslands or other places where birds can be found. You also need some equipment to be successful in finding birds. So where can you start if you have never done it before? My first suggestion would be to find a good book that will introduce your to the world of ornithology. The purpose of this post is to present you a great book that would be perfect for children and adults. Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America Written by Bill Thomson III Published at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt About the Book Covering 300 of the most common birds in all of the United States and Canada, The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America is loaded with color photographs, drawings showing typical behaviors, range maps, an easy-to-use checklist, fun facts, and authoritative information about each bird, its vocalizations,... [Read more...]
Good Sam on Celebrity Apprentice April 29th
April 26, 2012 by Dalin Brinkman · 1 Comment
Good Sam, the parent company of Woodall’s, is in the fifth installment of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” featuring American business mogul Donald J. Trump. The episode featuring the company will air Sunday, April 29 on NBC at 9/8 Central. Good Sam was chosen among several Fortune 500 companies to be featured as a task sponsor on a 2012 segment on the popular NBC reality series. The episode will highlight some of the many benefits and services Good Sam provides to the community. Donald Trump commented, “Good Sam, one of the world’s largest lifestyle organizations, provides a wide and wonderful array of products and services, and we are very pleased to have them on our show.” Trump continued, “I think the episode is exciting and definitely a great fit for our audiences.” On the reality show, the contestants vie for strategic position, with competitive payoffs coming in the form of sizable donations to their designated charities. The contestant chosen as Celebrity... [Read more...]
6 Reasons to Love Texas Food
April 25, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Texans take their food as seriously as they do their football. Located in a well-worn, roughhewn, two-story establishment, Stingaree stands next to the Intracoastal Canal. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Many Winter Texans and other visitors to the Lone Star State have the good sense to agree with them—that Texan food is that of the gods. 1. Texas Oysters Texas may be best known for beef, but its bay oysters rank second to none. Texas oysters are impeccably fresh—whether served on the half shell with a kiss of salt air and Texas hot sauce or shucked for a sauté or creamy stew. We love Oysters Jubilee from Stingaree Restaurant at Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula, just a short ferry ride from Historic Galveston. As its name suggests, Oyster Jubilee is a celebration of everything oyster. It’s a colossal dish of over 30 oysters prepared in every conceivable way. 2. Tex-Mex Tex-Mex is the product of both Spanish and Mexican recipes coming together with American foods. Tex-Mex is... [Read more...]
Hiking–What to Wear?
April 22, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
It’s pretty easy to select what you will wear if you are hiking during the summer months. In spring and fall, however, it can be a bit tricky to be dressed for every, or even most, weather conditions. We love to hike and over the years we have developed clothing selections for our hikes that compensate and keep you warm and cool in most any weather. Here are my thoughts about what to wear on that spring (or fall) hike. Bootcut Sporthill Pants I always start out with my Sporthill Pants. I have been wearing them for skiing for about 15 years, but for that cool spring hike, they can’t be beat. Initially they were only available in the tight to the ankle style that is flattering on almost no one, but about three years ago they came out with this boot cut version that I adore. I have no problem running into town or a grocery store with these on; I had some reservations about being seen by the non-hiking public when wearing the ankle binding version. Guaranteed to be warm to about 20 degrees,... [Read more...]
Niagara Parks Offers Great Dining in Spectacular Settings
April 21, 2012 by Guest Blogger · Leave a Comment
During your Niagara Falls trip, look no further than Niagara Parks for unique dining experiences that offer unsurpassed views of Niagara Falls and the Niagara River. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner or a fun family night out among the sights and sounds of Niagara, you’ll find great choices along the Niagara Parkway for casual or elegant dining. Elements on the Falls Restaurant Dine as close as you can get to the Falls! This culinary experience offers an incredible view and delightful flavours with an artisan twist. Dine in casual elegance featuring open-flame cooking and Niagara cuisine featuring fresh local produce. Open year-round, Elements on the Falls and the Grand Hall are located on the upper level of Table Rock, right next to the Horseshoe Falls. Queenston Heights Restaurant Indulge your senses in an elegant setting. Our talented culinary team has created an exquisite menu using fresh and delicious Niagara farm fare, featuring VQA wines from our award-winning Best... [Read more...]
Free Admission to All National Parks This Week!
April 20, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
Denali National Park, Alaska If you are lucky enough to have a little time for travel this week, then be sure to visit one of our fabulous national parks. It’s National Park Week! From April 21-29, ALL of our 397 parks will be offering FREE admission! Presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, this wonderful gift is a fabulous way for visitors and travelers to save some money and celebrate our country. Believe it or not, there’s a whopping 84 million acres of spectacular scenery, historic sites, and cultural treasures free for adventure and exploring! Over the years, I have visited countless national parks…Denali, Mount Rainier, Olympic, Yellowstone, Kenai Fjords, and Acadia being just a few. Here’s a full list of national parks for your reference. So, if you have the time this week, take a detour and just go! And, while you are there be sure to take some time to talk to the rangers and peruse the visitor centers! You... [Read more...]
Hope Blossoms in a Black Hills Spring
April 19, 2012 by Woodalls Editorial Staff · Leave a Comment
After a long, cold winter, nothing is more welcome than the first blossoms of spring. In the Black Hills, those are usually pasque flowers—South Dakota’s state flower–that suddenly appear under the pines. The fuzzy, purple flowers pave the way for an abundance of other blossoms that make us forget how hard Old Man Winter can bite. They promise sunny days, blue skies and wild fruit for man and beast. Unfortunately, the promises of spring are not always kept by fall. In South Dakota the weather is as changeable as…well, the weather. We have snow in June and in November it’s 75. Those aren’t the norms, of course, but they’re normal enough that the people who live here learn to not be surprised by much. Once we smell the springtime blossoms we hold our breaths against the next freeze, we pray for enough rain, enough sun, enough warm weather to get the fruit to the perfect ripeness. For Prairie Berry Winery those prayers, crossed fingers and held breaths are a major part of... [Read more...]
Spring Break with Six College Students–Part 3: Ashley’s Birthday
April 18, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
While this post is not specifically concerned with RVing, like the other two I have posted about our recent spring trip, it does focus on enjoying the outdoors, traveling to new and different areas and spending quality time with loved ones and friends. Picking up on our trip with our spring breaking college students, after three days, their skiing plans and passes exhausted, our crew was in search of additional outdoor adventure. The weather had been cold and we had gotten snow during their skiing days, but now it warmed up and snow started to melt. They decided to head south, to the Santa Fe area, to the Tent Rocks Formation. We had attempted to hike this trail the past summer, but were unable access the area due to the wildfire near Santa Fe this past summer. They had no such trouble on this trip and spent a wonderful day hiking, then stopped for dinner in Santa Fe. Day five, they headed up toward the third ski hill in the area, Taos Ski Valley, but not to ski. Their plan that day was... [Read more...]
