Category: Uncategorized
Scuba-Certified in One Weekend?!
November 4, 2012 by Cynthia Baum · 2 Comments
Have you ever felt the jaw-dropping sensation of fear and excitement at the same time? Ever dream of what it would feel like to swim with sharks? If you are one of those people who is always up for a new adventure, try getting your Scuba Diving Certification! It is something that you can do over a period of time or you may opt to clump the classes and dives into one thrilling, action-packed weekend and just go for it! I, of course, chose the latter option. For my husband’s birthday, I decided to surprise him with a weekend away for the two of us to get scuba-certified together (something we have both always talked about doing one day). I found a great deal online (http://www.yelp.com/biz/badass-diving-rancho-cucamonga) and was able to get private lessons with a skilled PADI Scuba Dive Master for us. Just a short, picturesque drive away from one the best dive spots in California is the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, where you can park your RV at one of their premier... [Read more...]
Creating the Directory: Part I
November 1, 2012 by Dalin Brinkman · Leave a Comment
Each year nearly 15,000 campgrounds call on us to deliver a high quality directory. The challenge of creating the directory is daunting. It happens in an unbelievably short amount of time and with a lot less staff than you may think. Planning The Future: 2 Years Out Each fall team leaders get together and plan the details of the directory for the next year….as in what you will see in two years. We are currently planning the products and the directories for 2014. Planning for the future 2 years out can be challenging. Whether it’s reading the tea leaves, going on a contemplative walk about or pondering the future while stuck in California traffic, leaders try to anticipate what is going to be popular and desirable for consumers 14 months from now. For instance….we know that Microsoft is going to be releasing tablets here in the next couple months. Will they be popular with our customers? Will they want an app for their tablets? Leaders must make hard questions and plan... [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
A Guide to RV Mattresses
October 19, 2012 by Good Sam Team · 1 Comment
By Timothy Taylor I remember my first RV trip. The rig wasn’t mine, but the memories —I’ll always own those. We were trekking through the Appalachian Mountains on a magnificent journey from Michigan to Maine. Magnificent in beauty, scope and pain. Let me back up. The RV belonged to my friend, Paul, and if you knew Paul, then you’d know how excited he was about his new RV. So excited that he insisted that I accompany him, and his young family, on the maiden journey east. Aside from the occasional olfactory offense of a pungent diaper, the trip was mostly enjoyable, until I spent my first night sleeping on the RV mattress. I woke up the next day (and the next, and the next) with aching joints and a body wrought with the spoils awarded to the soldiers of restless sleep. Now that I am officially an avid RV man (just ask my ex-wife), I recall that first trip and wince. I had no idea that a harmless-looking mattress could negatively impact my journey to such an extent. If you’re like... [Read more...]
The Rally – Daytona!
September 10, 2012 by Dalin Brinkman · Leave a Comment
Daytona Beach, site of November’s Good Sam Rally, may be located in the southeast corner of the United States, but it certainly is not isolated. In fact, it’s a great gateway to a number of Florida destinations and attractions, particularly for those interested in RVing in the Sunshine State. Practically everyone is familiar with Florida’s top travel destination – Disney World, located only a short drive from Daytona. And along with the happy atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom, there are a number of other popular amusement attractions in the Orlando area including Universal Studios, MGM and SeaWorld. Just north of Daytona is St. Augustine, this nation’s oldest city. Established 42 years before the English colonized Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, St. Augustine offers everything from Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum to the legendary Fountain of Youth. And a couple of hours drive inland from the Rally site is the Ocala horse country area where... [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...]
Wild for Blackberries in the Pacific Northwest!
August 26, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
At long last, the wild blackberries are ripe and ready for picking out here in Seattle. I’ve long loved these plump shiny berries and every August have made a concerted effort to pick and freeze the berries for the winter months. Admittedly, it can be a downright prickly task gathering these berries from the thorny brambles, but the payoff can be decadently delicious in the cold winter months when I turn them into a crisp or a cobbler! Last week I braved the brambles and gathered my first five pounds for the season. I transformed one pound into a simple blackberry syrup by heating the berries with sugar and a little water until the berries started to break up and thicken. The remaining four pounds went into the freezer. Do you gather wild blackberries when you travel and camp throughout the Pacific Northwest? And, if you aren’t in blackberry territory, do you gather any other type of wild berry when you are out and about camping and hiking? Maybe salmonberries, cranberries,... [Read more...]
Savor those Campgrounds in September…
August 24, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
Pacific Rim National Park, Vancovuer Island, British Columbia September has always been one of my favorite months for vacation. Alas, now that my children are in school, I don’t get to vacation during the last official month of the summer, but when my children were very little, we always took a week out on the beach. The beaches and campgrounds are blissfully quiet, and the summer sun has started to shift towards that autumn light. Birds are migrating, and the leaves are starting to turn. Campsites are easier to find, so the travel itinerary can be a little looser and more subject to whim and spontaneity at this time of year. It’s also easier to nail a prime campsite (at a reduced price!) at the last minute. Furthermore, the nights aren’t too cold, but they are noticeably chillier and even more amenable to a warm cozy campfire. Homemade chili and hot cocoa are brought front and center on the menus again. Do you have any favorite last summer destinations? Photo by Melissa... [Read more...]
Do the Puyallup Fair in Western Washington
August 23, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · Leave a Comment
The Puyallup Fair by Carolyn Trainer Do you ever use your travel trailer or mobile home to visit special state or county fairs? Indeed, it can be a great way to see the local flavor of a region! In Western Washington, we enjoy the Puyallup Fair every September. This year the Fair runs from September 7 to 23 in Puyallup. With full hookup RV parking available at the fair, it’s a convenient way to experience all that the fair has to offer at your leisure–rodeos, concerts, art contests, food competitions, rides, marketplaces, historical displays, and animal exhibits and livestock. My children love this event and it’s a seasonal “must do” now. I particularly enjoy the agricultural exhibits, the food displays, and the live animals. Do you have any special fairs in your region? –Melissa A. Trainer
Are You a Mobile Reader?
August 19, 2012 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
Consider the convenience of mobile readers when camping! I know. I know. On a site geared to camping, I should be talking about hiking to the highest peak or racing down a river in a kayak. However, truth be told, there are many days when I simply like to read on the beach or around the campfire! I love to read and when we are camping, I like to steal a few minutes to just catch up on books and magazines. In fact, I have a cubby in my travel trailer where I keep a collection of magazines and books that come in quite handy for this type of reading. I do some of my best thinking on camping trips! However, now that I have an iPad, I can read many things in many places. Of course, if we don’t have internet access, my reading can be impacted. However, I often download magazines and books onto my iPad before I leave home. Hence, if I want to read one of my favorite magazines, such as Donna Hay or BBC GoodFood, it’s at the ready for me regardless of where I happen to be. When... [Read more...]
