Category: Destination Camping & RV Resorts
MYSTERY RV DOWSES FOR SALTWATER (or…. The Magnetism of the Ocean.)
September 12, 2012 by Professor95 · 1 Comment
Finding the “Y” shaped Willow Tree branch jammed up under the front steering gear of our RV didn’t come as a surprise. The Willow branch confirmed what I had always suspected – somehow the RV had a diving rod attached that steered us toward saltwater. For a number of years, our RV has predictably wandered toward an ocean beach – just like a dog tugging at a leash. It didn’t really matter where we were or where we actually planned on going – the beach would eventually end up as one of our destinations. So, here we are again – relaxing on the sand of a North Carolina oceanfront RV resort soaking up the still pleasantly warm September rays of sunshine. The sky is billowing with puffy white clouds surrounded by robin-egg blue and the ocean waters beneath are striped with hues of dark green and vivid blue. The Little Red Sun Shelter – Oscar & his ball – Summer Cottages high up on the dunes As I sit here under our little red pop-up sun shelter, I alternate... [Read more...]
Pine Mountain RV Resort to Host Rally Benefiting Our Fallen Soldier
September 11, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Pine Mountain RV Resort, an RVC Outdoor Destination vacation property, will host its second annual motorcycle rally called “Rollin’ Rumble Motorcycle Rally” from September 14-16. The event is open to the public, and a portion of all proceeds will go to Our Fallen Soldiers, a charity that aids families of soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty, according to a news release. “We’re dedicated to helping the troops who have so bravely sacrificed for our country,” said Jim Anderson, general manager at Pine Mountain. “This fundraiser is very important to us because the money raised will help family members of those men and women who have given their lives for our country, and we encourage everyone to come out and support this worthwhile cause.” Currently the event has 30-50 vendors, including leather food accessories, soap, jewelry, and motorcycle accessories. Guests will also enjoy live music, great food, hot dogs, and drinks from local vendors, a raffle, poker run,... [Read more...]
Our Soothing Visit to Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs
September 9, 2012 by Diane Berry · 3 Comments
A week ago I wrote about a bit of the history of Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Spa in northern New Mexico. We paid a visit to the springs earlier this month to entertain our luxury-loving daughter before she headed back to college. Surprisingly, our visit to the spa was remarkably inexpensive. We wanted to be able to spend time in each of the pools, so opted for just the day rate of $18, which gave us access to all mineral pools, steam room, sauna and the mud pool. We did not even entertain the entire menu of specialized spa treatments available, all at reasonable prices. Our day rate also entitled us to a towel and the use of a locker. After changing, we started out at the Arsenic Pool, attracted by the idea of poison. Said to cure arthritis and digestive maladies, the pool was very warm. We immediately began to relax, but soon felt the need to cool off a bit. The historic hotel, built in 1916, is now the Artemisia Restaurant. We next entered one of the cliff side pools, a bit cooler... [Read more...]
A Visit to Ojo Caliente to Soothe the Spirit
September 2, 2012 by Diane Berry · 4 Comments
Looking for a way to entertain our city-loving daughter Meghan while she was home with us this summer, we decided to take a day to check out the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort and Spa in nearby Ojo Caliente, NM. Located about 45 minutes from Taos, NM, the springs have been a gathering place and source of healing for centuries. Steeped in myth and legend, the use of these ancient springs can be traced back to the earliest humans living in the region. The ancestors of the Taos Pueblo Tewa tribes built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs. Posi, or Poseoulnge, meaning “village at the place of the green bubbling hot springs” was home to thousands of people. Posi was a vibrant center of activity in the 15th century and surrounding the springs is substantial evidence of prehistoric civilization in the ruins of the cities populated before the birth of our country. In the 1500’s the Spaniards in their quest for gold and the Fountain of Youth also discovered the... [Read more...]
Family Fun in the Sun!
August 5, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
An event worth planning an entire summer camping trip around, the Taos Solar Music Festival is not to be missed. The final weekend in June every summer, the small town of Taos, NM (population just over 7,000) puts together an amazing combination of talent and the cutting edge information on solar power and makes a celebration out of it. Whether you come for the music or the technology, you will not be disappointed. This year’s festival, celebrating its 14th anniversary, was held June 30 and July 1. Highlights were the incredible talent and a Solar Forest that blended art and renewable energy. Three solar energy companies gathered forces to power the five trees; four of which represented the elements and directions: Earth, wind, fire and water. As we are in Taos, the fifth tree was a chile tree. Groups such as the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA) are offered space to demonstrate solar panels, solar ovens and other innovative products designed to heat or power your home, camper... [Read more...]
End of the Road: Assisted-living RV Park
July 7, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
Pearl and Bud Crispell hit the road in their recreational vehicle the day after they retired in 1976. And for decades they traveled the country at will living in their 40-foot motorhome. But, as is the eventual story of all road warriors, the day came when they hit the proverbial ‘end of the road’. Unable to manage some aspects of their life and care, living on fixed incomes, and not wanting to become a burden to friends and relatives, the Crispells pulled into the country’s only assisted-living RV Park, the Escapees Care Center in Livingston, Texas, according to AOL Real Estate. At 93 and 90, Pearl, a retired nurse, and Bud, a former IBM engineer, are not without age-related health issues. But her mind is “sharper than my husband wishes it was,” Pearl says. And she has no desire to trade the small confines of their RV for a bigger “land-based residence,” as Escapees call conventional houses. “We didn’t retire to entertain our family,”... [Read more...]
Part 3 – Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County, California – Exploitation of the Sequoias
June 30, 2012 by Traveler8343 · 2 Comments
My wife standing on top of the “Discovery Tree” stump.The photo really brings home what a massive tree it was. The “Discovery Tree,” top and bottom right. The “Mother of the Forest,” bottom left, as it appeared during exhibitions. Calaveras Big Trees State Park’s “Discovery Tree” is one of the first trees that were exploited to prove that this incredible grove exists. Located in the North Grove, the tree stump and what’s left of the its trunk have lain on the ground for over 150 years. The fallen trunk actually served as a bowling alley and bar during the 1850s. The stump of the “Discovery Tree” was used as a dance floor for a 4th of July 1854 cotillion. Felled in 1853, it measured 24 feet in diameter at its base and was judged by ring count to be 1,244 years old when it was cut down. The “Discovery Tree’s” stump, which is now bare, also once had a structure built on its flat surface. Used as a dance hall during the 19th... [Read more...]
Part 2 – Big Trees State Park, Calveras County, California
June 27, 2012 by Traveler8343 · 1 Comment
The Big Trees State Park contains two campgrounds with a total of 129 campsites, six picnic areas and hundreds of miles of established trails. Located in the Stanislaus National Forest, Big Trees S.P. has a water spigot near every site, but not close enough or compatible with the RVs city water connection (unless you have a “water thief” or serious plumbing skills to temporarily extend a hose over to the RV to fill the fresh water tank.). There’s also no electric or sewer hookups. Well, that’s not too much of a problem, you might be thinking, as long as they have a dump station, but they don’t (we were told that the dump station was “out of order.” It’s been that way for quite a while; coincidentally during California’s budget crisis, when parks were being closed to save money). We guess that it’s easier to tell campers that the dump station was out of order than to tell them that it was working, but no one was allowed to use it so that the... [Read more...]
Yosemite N.P. to Big Trees State Park, Calaveras County, California – Part 1
June 25, 2012 by Traveler8343 · 2 Comments
Our home away from home After eight months of towing our trailer across the country and leaving the idea of reservations in God’s hands, we ran out of luck – again. We had decided during the planning stage for this trip that we wanted to be free to stop and stay at whatever place caught our interest and not have to be bound to the calendar; having to be in a certain place at a certain time. What we did, though, was call Reserve America hours or days before our expected arrival time and try to pick-up on any cancellations or open sites that might be available. This procedure had served us well so far, although we did have to patch together several different sites in order to lengthen our stays at the more popular parks, like Bahia Honda in the Florida Keys and the Grand Canyon. This procedure didn’t work this time, though. We lost cell phone service shortly after leaving Las Vegas, Nevada and were incommunicado for over 200 miles of desert along Route 95 to Tonopah, Nevada.... [Read more...]
Get Back to Nature in Custer State Park
May 30, 2012 by Good Sam Team · Leave a Comment
Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota has unimaginable scenery, rustic lodges, cabins, and RV and tent campsites that are open year-round. You’ll find a variety of offerings, including camping cabins, horse camps, primitive campsites, modern campsites and group camping facilities. Camping fees are collected daily and are based on the number of camping units in your party. Each campsite at Custer State Park has a gravel or paved camping pad, a fire grate and picnic table. Electric hookups are available in most campgrounds and all but a few offer flush toilets and showers. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, park staff give evening presentations at several campground amphitheaters. These talks often give campers insight into the park’s history, wildlife and natural surroundings. Custer State Park’s free roaming buffalo have been known to occasionally wander into the campgrounds. These majestic—but wild—animals should be treated with respect and visitors should... [Read more...]
