Category: Family Day Trips
Still More Reasons to Love Texas Food
November 5, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
Texans take their food as seriously as they do their football. 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. City Market Barbecue fans head to downtown Luling to satisfy their craving for City Market’s succulent brisket, hot links, and pork ribs. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved One of the great joys of RVing is visiting new places and making interesting discoveries. Another is just the opposite—revisiting those places that demand a closer look. Sometimes that second chance leads to a third—and a fourth. City Market in Luling, is such a place. The meat-market-turned-barbecue-restaurant started in 1958, and over the years has become a barbecue icon. This is the arguably the best barbeque in all of Texas which helps explain why Luling is perennially included on our Texas itinerary. 2. Lockhart: Barbecue Capital of Texas A short hop, skip, a jump from Luling is Lockhart, the Barbecue Capital... [Read more...]
Fabulous Fall Camping Activities–Part 1
November 4, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
That time of year when the weather cools and the leaves start to change colors can provide some of the best camping of the year. Fall camping can be some of the most beautiful and comfortable due to these changes. Many communities have terrific activities planned for fall, due to a decline in tourist travel as the children head back to school. This can only add to the fun that is possible at this time of year. This fall, we took the opportunity to attend two small communities’ versions of Oktoberfest, one in September, the other in October. While both had polka bands, they were actually quite different, both in terms of the mood presented and the activities available for participants. We thoroughly enjoyed both experiences. The Taos Ski Valley in northern New Mexico was our first Oktoberfest experience of the year. They had had the wisdom to combine their festivities with a 10K run up a ski hill (in which we did NOT participate) with the food and polka festivities of the typical German... [Read more...]
Spooky Hikes in Washington State
October 26, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
If you live in Washington State and are interested in doing some spooky hikes, check out this informative list from the Washington Trails Association. The list features ten haunted hikes and highlights some of the regional history with each trail. If you aren’t interested in haunted hikes, then check out the Association’s other offerings, which feature everything from hiking basics and hiking with kids to ranger station information and tips from fellow resources. And, if haunted hikes are far too creepy for your soul, check out their more peaceful list which highlights Foliage Hikes! Photo from Mount Rainier National Park –Melissa A. Trainer
50 Things We Love About Texas
October 23, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 5 Comments
1. Texas Hospitality 2. Paso Del Rio, or River Walk, the Jewel of the City (San Antonio) 3. Fresh from the Gulf shrimp and oysters When in the Clear Lake/Galveston area we head for Rose’s in Seabrook for a supply of shrimp. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved 4. Exploring the pine and hardwood forests of the Piney Woods of East Texas 5. Saying howdy 6. The Alamo 7. Texas’ wide open spaces 8. Hiking Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, north of Fredericksburg 9. Tex-Mex, especially in far South Texas 10. The way small-town drivers wave to everyone they pass 11. The timeless beauty of Presidio La Bahía near Goliad, and its rural setting 12. Stopping for lunch at almost any small-town BBQ joint and sitting elbow-to-elbow with folks you have little in common with except that you all love good ‘cue 13. Blue Bell Ice Cream. Wow! 14. The wind-swept, dynamic rippling sandscapes in Monahans Sandhills State Park is one-of-a-kind 15. Stopping for kolaches at a small-town bakery 16. Driving... [Read more...]
“THROWED ROLLS”
October 22, 2012 by Professor95 · Leave a Comment
Have you ever been in a restaurant where the servers throw huge 5-inch in diameter, hot, yeast raised rolls across the room with hopes that you will catch them? If you answered yes, you have most likely visited one of the three locations where Lambert’s has one of their original “Throwed Rolls” cafes. We stopped at Hinton RV Park just off I-55 in Sikeston, MO. When we checked in, the park attendant handed us a packet of information on local points of interest. The one that caught our eye was for Lambert’s Café. We were told that Lamberts would send a driver to the RV Park to pick us up for dinner and then bring us back to our RV. With an offer like that, how can you refuse? When we arrived at the restaurant our chauffer took us to our table, gave us some preliminary warnings and left us to our server. At that point, a young man in jeans and red suspenders came down the center isle of the restaurant shouting “Throwed Rolls” and then pitching them to anyone that held... [Read more...]
How Do You Top Off a Day at the Spa?
October 21, 2012 by Diane Berry · Leave a Comment
With a gourmet meal, of course! As a follow up to my recent posts on Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort in New Mexico (see posts from 9/02/2012 and 9/09/2012), I must add that we returned on my birthday to again enjoy “soaking our bones” in their delicious waters as I was given free admittance that day. However, we could not leave without treating ourselves to an early dinner at their world class Artesian Restaurant on site, which we had been unable to do on our last visit. We arrived in early afternoon and spent several hours enjoying the Arsenic, Iron Soda and mixed springs, though the Arsenic Pool remains our favorite. Once we had finished, we showered and dressed, enjoying their entire line of spa products, including body wash, shampoo and conditioner. As it was only 4:30, we were still had a bit of time to kill as the Artesian Restaurant opens for dinner at 5:00 pm, so we decided to visit the wine bar next to the restaurant. Both are located in the former hotel building, now... [Read more...]
2012 National Parks Fall Foliage Guide
October 8, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
As summer comes to a close, the bright blues and greens that characterize the sunshiny season are replaced by a deeper, more vibrant palette. But there are so many destinations to choose from, each with their own unique rainbow of fall colors. The National Park Foundation (NPF) wants you to get outdoors and enjoy one of nature’s most spectacular seasons in your national parks. In announcing the 2012 National Parks Fall Foliage Guide the NPF says, “These parks boast exceptional fall colors, however they represent only a few of the national park sites where foliage lovers can enjoy the spectacular spectrum of the season’s palette.” The list below includes information on region-specific flora as well as estimated timing on the peak of their colors: Nez Perce National Historical Park (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington) Peak foliage times range across the rivers, canyons, prairies, and mountains of this park which overlaps four states. The short-grass prairies of White Bird Battlefield... [Read more...]
Best Kept Secret in Camping: Maricopa County Parks & BOGO
October 4, 2012 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
One of the best kept secrets in the World of RVing is campgrounds located in county parks! But where are they, and how do you find them? A delightful end to another day in paradise at Usery Mountain Regional Park. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Sometimes they’re located in Woodall’s and Trailer Life Campground Directory. Often times they’re not. County parks are often relatively small and off the beaten path. But if you’re looking for a quiet place to relax, do some bird watching, hike a near-by trail, or do some great sightseeing, it might be well worth seeking out some of these neat spots. A county park system worth checking out is Maricopa County Regional Parks in Arizona. The parks circle the Phoenix metropolitan area and all are within a 45-minute drive from central Phoenix. And unlike Arizona State Parks, no Maricopa County park has been closed or has suffered cutback in services. With 10 regional parks totaling more than 120,000 acres, Maricopa County Regional Parks... [Read more...]
RV Insurance Claims: Driver Inexperience & Forgetfulness
September 30, 2012 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
First party insurance claims involving recreational vehicles can often be traced to driver inexperience and forgetfulness. (Source: claimsjournal.com) The majority of claims occur within the first 90 days of ownership or at the beginning of the season, according to International Insurance Group, Inc., an independent Arizona RV insurance agency. “This is due to the nuances and size of RVs. Most drivers aren’t accustomed to the wide angles, required clearance and space required to maneuver their rig.” Gradually, as RV drivers gain experience, the claims associated with RVs change, reports claimsjournal.com. Lenny Richileau, director of the specialty vehicle claims unit for Allied and Nationwide Insurance Companies calls them the “I forgot” claims. “Experience does not eliminate claims, but it seems to change the nature of the claim. With experience, claims are less about hitting the post at the gas station, taking out the top of the rig, trying to fit under an underpass with low... [Read more...]
What’s So Special About Hatch, NM?
September 30, 2012 by Diane Berry · 2 Comments
Why, the Chiles, of Course! This year marks the first year we have been in Taos, NM during the months of August and September. About the middle of August, we started to notice an unusual phenomenon that, at first, we did not understand. In the produce department of every grocery store in town, large piles of sacks began appearing, labeled “Hatch.” Perplexed, we looked a bit more closely at one of the sacks and noticed they contained green chiles. But what was the significance of Hatch? Upon further investigation, we were informed that Hatch was THE place in the world to grow the famous New Mexico green chiles, which made the infamous New Mexico green chile sauce. But what was Hatch and what made it the only place to grow chiles? Hatch is a small community (2007 population was 1600) located off of I-25 in the southwestern part of the state between Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences, NM. It was born from an extension of the Santa Fe Railroad Company in 1880 and began as an adobe post... [Read more...]
