From the Editor

The return of spring means many things: the return of song birds, grass turning green, leaves (or leafs) coming to life on trees, and barbecue! Warmer weather brings with it many outdoor activities but my favorite has got to be throwing a hamburger, bratwurst, or steak on the grill. What I especially enjoy is slow-smoking pork ribs for several hours. Mmm, Mmm!

Did you know there is a difference between grilling, barbecuing, and slow-smoking? Visit the New Braunfels Smoker Company web site to learn the difference. They also offer a fine selection of grills and smokers, and some tasty recipes. Brinkmann is another manufacturer of quality grills and smokers.

But enough about barbecuing... on with this issue of RoadNotes.

-- David

Touring America

Oscar Wigington Scenic Byway

Oscar Wigington Scenic Byway is in northwest South Carolina about 53 miles west of Greenville. The National Forest Scenic Byway is officially 14 miles long and travels through the hardwood forest of Sumter National Forest. The byway follows SC 107 and SC 413, both being two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles.

There are a couple of options for camping. One is the Cherry Hill Recreation Area, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. This campground has 29 sites and is $10 per night. The other option is Oconee State Park, which rests on a high plateau among tall pines and hardwoods. The campground here has 140 sites with electricity and water ($16 per night) and 15 tent sites ($12 per night). The state park also has 19 rental cabins.

You can learn more about this scenic byway by visiting the America's Scenic Drives section of our web site.

Fun Stops U.S.A.

Georgetown, Colorado

Georgetown is nestled in the mountains only one hour west of Denver off I-70. This small town offers the visitor a variety of unique shops, boutiques, restaurants, and overnight accommodations. It is here that you'll find the Georgetown Loop Railroad, an engineering marvel originally built in 1884. Sadly, this summer will be the last operating season for this historic train ride. It is also here that you'll find access to the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway and a myriad of outdoor activities in Arapaho National Forest, which surrounds the town. Before leaving town, be sure to stop by the historic Red Ram Restaurant & Saloon for lunch or dinner.

Marengo Cave

Situated in southern Indiana about 120 miles south of Indianapolis is Marengo Cave, a U.S. National Natural Landmark. Two guided tours (Crystal Palace and Dripstone Trail) are offered throughout the year. The Cyrstal Palace Tour is an easy 40 minute walk that is highlighted by a visit to the famous Crystal Palace, one of America's most beautiful cave rooms. The Dripstone Trail Tour is a one-mile underground trail that takes about one hour and ten minutes to complete.

Not Just Another Ball of Twine

One day in 1950, Francis Johnson wrapped some twine around two fingers and started winding it into a ball. He kept wrapping more twine onto that ball for the next 29 years, and ended up with the largest ball of twine in the world. It's 11 feet tall, 40 feet around, and weighs in at about 9 tons. You can check out the "world's largest twine ball made by one man" in Darwin, Minnesota, about 55 miles west of Minneapolis.

Lucy-Desi Museum

Fans of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz won't want to miss this attraction in western New York. The Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown features costumes and personal memorabilia of Lucy and Desi, plus excerpts from the documentary "Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie" and historic TV episodes.

Discovering Your Public Lands

Acadia National Park

Located on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. The park offers a variety of year-round outdoor activities. From late May to mid-October, park rangers lead interpretive walks, cruises, talks, hikes, and evening slide programs. Be sure to request a schedule of ranger-led activities when you arrive at the park.

There are two campgrounds in the park: Blackwoods and Seawall. The former is open all year; the latter from late May to early September. All campsites in both campgrounds are situated in woods, within a 10-minute walk of the ocean. Designated campsites can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet. Neither campground has utility hookups but both have a dump station. Campsite fees range from $14 to $20 per night.

To learn more about the National Park Service, spend some time browsing their web site. You'll find a lot of detailed information about all the areas managed by the National Park Service.

Exploring State Parks

Georgia

Georgia's Department of Natural Resources manages 63 state parks and historic sites throughout the state. Campgrounds for RVers and tent campers can be found in 41 parks. RV sites have water and electric hookups; some sites offer cable TV hookups. Dump stations are available in all state park campgrounds. Some state parks also have lodges, cottages, and yurts.

For detailed information about all of Georgia's state parks, visit their web site. To receive a free, 72-page guide to all of Georgia's state parks and historic sites, call 1-800-864-7275. The guide includes color photographs and descriptions of all 63 parks, a calendar of events, and prices for cottage rental, camping, picnic shelters, and more.

Utah

There are 41 state parks throughout Utah. Most parks have campgrounds, some with sites that have water and electric hookups for RVs. Camping fees range from $8 to $20 per night. You'll find a list of state parks and the facilities available in each at the official web site for Utah's state parks.

Virginia

Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation manages 34 state parks and 33 natural areas encompassing about 76,000 acres. Campgrounds are available in 22 state parks. Some provide sites with water and electric hookups for RVers. Fees vary from $9 for primitive camping to $28 per night for sites with hookups. Lodging and rental cabins are also available in some state parks.

You'll find all the information you need for planning a visit to one of Virginia's state parks by going to their web site. If you would like to receive a free brochure by mail, you can complete a request form online.

Gadgets and Gizmos

Let Your Soul Dangle

Once you've finished setting up camp, the next thing to do is climb in the hammock and snooze, read a novel, or enjoy the sounds of nature. Byer of Maine offers a variety of hammocks from the Traveller, made of strong parachute nylon, to the Amazonas Naturalesa Hammock, handcrafted of Brazilian cotton. The company also offers a nice selection of folding chairs and stools, cots, and tables.

Atomic Time-Keeping

As you travel across America, you won't have to adjust your clocks or watches anymore with the products from La Crosse Technology. They manufacture a variety of radio-controlled clocks and watches that automatically adjust to time zones and maintain perfectly accurate time by reading from the official time transmitter in North America. In addition to clocks and watches, they also manufacture wireless weather stations and professional weather centers.

Rock & Roll

No, we're not talking about the music but a different way of getting from point A to point B. It's called the Trikke (pronounced trike) and is quite a unique contraption. It's a three-wheeled vehicle that is propelled by the rider rocking back and forth; no pushing, pedaling, or batteries required. It's not only a fun way to get around but also provides a bit of exercise (who among us can't use more of that?). Visit Trikke's web site to learn more.

Wal-Mart Locator

Available from Wiley Products is a book designed to help travelers find over 3,500 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the 48 contiguous states. State maps indicate the cities and towns that have a Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart Supercenter, or Sam's Club. Descriptions for each store includes detailed directions in addition to an address and phone number. You can learn more about the book and view sample pages by visiting the Wiley Products web site.

Roundabout RoundUp

Discovering America by DVD

Discoveries...America is a series of in-depth DVD programs that explore what makes America great. The programs offer a fresh new look at the remarkable, unique, and culturally diverse USA. Each program highlights unique people, features, and historical aspects of each state. To learn more about this DVD series, visit the web site of Bennett Watt Entertainment Inc.

Go RVing

The web site of Go RVing is a great way to learn about the RV lifestyle, find RV dealers and manufacturers, and much more. You can also request a free video or CD-ROM about the RV lifestyle from the site.

Campfire in a Can

Campfire in a Can is a compact portable campfire designed to burn manufactured fire logs, wood, or charcoal. The device contains a stainless steel burner and a barbecue grill. When the unit is closed for storage or traveling, it measures 11 inches tall by 11 inches in diameter.

Traveler Information Service

In July 2000, the Federal Communications Commission assigned 511 as the three-digit dialing code for traveler information. Nearly one year later, the first 511 system began operating in northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati, OH, metropolitan area. Since then, the number of 511 systems popping up around the country has continued to grow steadily. You can learn more about this service at the Federal Highway Administration's web site.

Lost Treasures from Around the World

Unclaimed Baggage Center is a one-of-a-kind store in Scottsboro, Alabama. Over one million items pass through the store every year. The majority of items are from unclaimed baggage which, after at least 90 days of intensive tracking by the airlines, are declared unclaimed. About 60 percent of the merchandise is clothing with the rest consisting of cameras, electronics, sporting goods, jewelry, and luggage.

RVing in the Great White North

For a ton of RV information and links, take off to the Great White North and land at Calgary Sun Newspaper in their RV Living section. It's loaded with valuable information. Another site that's fun to visit is a personal web page that was created to document one couple's (mis)adventures in and around the Provincial Parks of Manitoba.

Virginia Birding & Wildlife Trail

For wildlife watchers, Virginia established the Birding & Wildlife Trail, a series of driving trails throughout the state. Two phases of three have been completed, with the third phase being completed this year. The first phase, Coastal Area, features 18 loop tours through barrier islands, cypress swamps, salt marshes, and stands of pine forest. The second phase, Mountain Phase, features 34 loop tours. To learn more about this unique program, visit the Department of Game & Inland Fisheries web site.

Alaska State Parks Volunteer Program

If you're thinking about visiting Alaska this summer, you might consider doing volunteer work in one of Alaska's state parks. You can learn more about becoming a volunteer at Alaska's Department of Natural Resources web site.

Visiting the White Mountains of New Hampshire

Travelers headed to the White Mountain region of New Hampshire this spring or summer will first want to explore the Visit White Mountains web site for detailed information. You'll find suggestions for things to do, places to stay, a calendar of events, and much more. You can also complete an online request form for a free vacation kit.

The Rolling Home

The Rolling Home is a web site created by two baby-boomers that decided they didn't have to wait for the golden years to enjoy the fulltiming RV lifestyle. You can read about the places they've been to, learn some boondocking tips, and find other tips and tidbits of information.

Barbecue

Okay, I've already established that I'm a big fan of barbecue. If you ever find yourself passing through Kansas City, you'll find a lot of really good barbecue joints like Zarda, Jack Stack, and KC Masterpiece. But there's also a lot of other great food to be discovered across America. To find some of the more memorable local eateries, I suggest checking out Roadfood's web site.

Camping Supplies

If you're thinking about stocking up on supplies for the spring and summer camping season, request a free catalog from Camping World or browse their online inventory. Camping World is the largest provider of RV and camping supplies. Other online retailers of camping supplies include REI, CampMor, Camper's Choice, and Cabela's.