Category: Holidays on the Road
It’s Not Only About the Fireworks
July 4, 2011 by Hoby · 2 Comments
(Photo Caption: Fireworks) I’m in the Texas Hill Country now; Gillespie County (Fredericksburg). This week they went to stage 3 water restrictions, which is something they have never done before. It has been dry here. The paper says that it has been dry for 11 years now, and this is one of the driest years on record. With all the water restrictions and burn bans in place, there are not many fireworks shows happening. I heard that the fireworks in Kerrville (on the river) will still happen, but all the shows here have been canceled. I’ve heard a lot of people talking about how it just isn’t the 4th of July without fireworks. So, I started thinking about that. What is the 4th of July really about? I went to History.com to find some information (July 4th). Well, the formal name of the holiday is Independence Day, and it commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence (the actual vote for independence happened on July 2nd, but we celebrate the adoption of... [Read more...]
Trail of the Ancients: A Journey worth Taking
May 16, 2011 by Rex Vogel · Leave a Comment
Spring is here. No really, it is (don’t pay attention to the weather on this one). And that means that thoughts of a spring road trip are probably popping into the forefront of your mind. Some of the most striking and recognizable landscapes of sandstone buttes, mesas, and spires in the entire Southwest are found in Monument Valley. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Far too often we see the roads we traverse purely as a means to get from point A to point B. Most spend far more hours in their cars commuting and running errands than truly enjoying what lies beyond the edge of the asphalt or concrete. But once you hit the road in your recreational vehicle, why not get off the roads most traveled and take in the breath-taking splendor of America’s system of scenic byways? The National Scenic Byways Program recognizes over 100 outstanding byways that celebrate the pride and diversity of our communities as well as the stunning landscapes that have shaped our lives. Trail of the... [Read more...]
In Vancouver, Belly to Belly With A Beluga!
April 19, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
If you are lucky enough to visit Vancouver, British Columbia this year, then by all means put the Vancouver Aquarium on your must-see list! Considered one of Vancouver’s premier attractions, the aquarium is also Canada’s largest marine science center. I first visited the Vancouver Aquarium in 1999 when I was writing an article for the Leisure and Arts page of The Wall Street Journal. I was participating in the Animal Encounter program that day and was destined to come belly to belly with a beluga in a Beluga Encounter! That amazing educational experience was great fun and you can read my article here. If you don’t have the time or the resources to participate in such a unique experience at the aquarium, rest assured that there’s lots to see and do outside of the beluga’s arctic habitat ! Home to 70,000 animals, the organization is dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life through display, research, and education. If you or your children... [Read more...]
A Happy New Year!
December 29, 2010 by Diane Berry · 1 Comment
I have never been a fan of the word “resolution”—sounds too much like a requirement, someone telling me what to do—which I traditionally have not handled well (just ask my husband!). But in our family a New Year’s tradition has evolved which is similar to the traditional resolution but for us, it has a more positive connotation. Over the last day or two of each year, which we are traditionally spending together up at our little cabin in the woods, each family member writes down things they have each accomplished over the past year, then adds several goals for the year ahead. For the student, accomplishments might include being named captain of the dance team, being cast in a play, making A honor roll and the like. Terry’s and mine tend to be more focused on the wonderful RV trips we have taken through the year, as well as working out 5 times a week and keeping off that extra five pounds (if that is, in fact, the case!). Goals tend to focus on the school year and extracurricular... [Read more...]
REARRANGING CHRISTMAS – How We Make it Work for All of Our Children!
December 23, 2010 by Professor95 · 1 Comment
Our children fit into the category of “Grown and Gone”. We have two boys and two girls that have gifted us with seven beautiful grandchildren. They not only have us, but another set of parents commonly referred to as “in-laws”. (I have often wondered if that made us “out-laws”?) As many younger campers realize, having an expanded family can often create more than a little stress around Christmas. Mom and Dad still want the kids to be at home Christmas Eve to wake up to gifts and filled stockings Christmas Morning. The excitement and expectations displayed by the grandchildren bring pleasant memories back to the grandparents. Our family gathered together for an "early" Christmas. When it is all said and done, it seems that the ones who feel the most left out are our grown children. They want to establish their own Christmas traditions with their own children – and this does not necessarily mean going to one of their parent’s homes. We solved the problem... [Read more...]
Last Minute Christmas gift ideas for RVers
December 21, 2010 by Rex Vogel · 1 Comment
It’s that time of year again. The Christmas countdown has begun! With care, poinsettias should retain their beauty for weeks and some varieties will stay attractive for months. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved While the holidays bring with it lots of love, time spent with family and friends, good food, and more, it can also bring stress. Trying to find that perfect gift for someone can get frustrating. But if you’re still looking for gifts for the RVer in your life, you are in luck! With the big day almost here, many of us are. Here are six last minute gift ideas. Campground Directory Woodall’s Publications Corporation, produces numerous publications for RVers including a comprehensive campground directory. Now available for purchase, the 2011 North American Campground Directory includes more than 310,000 updates and changes. New in the 2011 Directory are updated GPS coordinates and physical address in select listings, full-color ads throughout the book, full-color state and provincial... [Read more...]
Patti’s Saga of an RV Rookie: “Fiestaware… Maybe It’s Someone Else’s Turn”
December 20, 2010 by Patti F. · 4 Comments
"It's someone else's turn to love the Fiestaware" Do you, almost embarrassingly so, love your stuff? I do. Take my Fiestaware. I love my Fiestaware. I’d like to have met the creator of those classic, homey designs with those rich, high concept colors. After all these years, I still study my scarlet carafe as it sits beside the sugar and creamer set with its own little tray. How beautiful is Fiestaware; and I (as you may have guessed) have more than one set. Once I’ve put the scarlet set to bed after the holidays and Valentine’s Day, out comes the sunflower set that delights us through spring and summer. Summer fades to fall, and out jumps my cinnabar set to stay with us until the day after Thanksgiving, when Ms. Scarlet debuts again. I think special dishes and tea sets evoke the little girl in any woman who ever played house. So what happens to my Fiestaware as we adjust our material life to accommodate a Class C motor home in the very near future? [Read... [Read more...]
‘Tis the season for Christmas lights
December 15, 2010 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
‘Tis the season for Christmas light displays. Below is a selected list of ten of the best places in the U.S. Sunbelt to see Christmas lights and other seasonal displays. No guarantee, but they’re all worth a look—and don’t forget to pack your digital camera and tripod. Alabama Theodore Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas in Lights Dates: November 26-December 31, 2010; closed December 25 General information: Stroll through 3 million sparkling lights and over 928 displays throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. The Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and poinsettias encompass the Gardens. Nightly choral performances held on the South Terrace. Admission: Magic Christmas in Lights Only $12.00; Magic Christmas in Lights and Bellingrath Home Tour $20.00; tickets available for purchase online Directions: Located 20 miles southwest of Mobile; from Interstate 10, take exit 15A (Hwy 90 West/Theodore exit). Travel approximately 2 miles and turn left at the Bellingrath... [Read more...]
Patti’s Saga of an RV Rookie: Downsizing Christmas to an RV
December 12, 2010 by Patti F. · 4 Comments
Patti’s Saga of an RV Rookie: Downsizing Christmas to an RV We’re giving away or selling darn near everything, right at Christmas time. Our goal is to sell the house (yes, you nay-sayers, houses on our street have been selling!), hit the road when the weather warms, and head to Montana and Canada for a few months. No since leaving Arizona now, wouldn’t you agree? When things gets grey, cold, and harsh up north, we’ll head south. Right now, we’re in “downsizing to an RV” mode. We have four adult children (three with spouses) , one who thinks he’s an adult, and five grandchildren. That’s a lot of past Christmas stuff. In a previous Woodall’s blog I addressed the emotional realities of giving away our things. Check out “Why We’re Morphing into Snowbirds” for the gory details. But now, we’re actually doing it, giving away our stuff. Watching it leave the house. Exchanging it for ‘filthy lucre’, as they said in my high school Latin class. And how am I handling... [Read more...]
Camping Ideas for St. Nick
November 24, 2010 by Diane Berry · 3 Comments
With St. Nick’s Day right around the corner on December 5th, my mind begins to turn to coming up with creative stocking stuffers for our family of avid campers and hikers. While not all areas of the country celebrate this holiday, here in Wisconsin we hang up stockings that evening and in the morning, we awaken to find small goodies and bits of candy in them. They are never anything big, just thoughtful little surprises that are often as practical as they are fun. In our family, we all look forward to discovering little “treats” in our stockings that remind us of our camping adventures or that portend new destinations in our future. My husband and I usually try to surprise each other with a tantalizing tidbit that will make our adventures easier or more enjoyable. Here are a few ideas for those of you at a loss for what to buy: Calendars are something everyone needs at the beginning of a new year. One of our family traditions is for St. Nick to bring each family member... [Read more...]
