Touring America

Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway

Pioneer Mountains is a National Forest Scenic Byway in southwest Montana about 35 miles southwest of Butte. The byway follows Forest Road 73 for nearly 37 miles between Wise River and Polaris. Visitors are treated to views of granite peaks topping 10,000 feet to the east and gentler, forested terrain to the west. Most of the byway follows two-lane paved roads suitable for all types of vehicles.

Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway travels across the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. There are seven national forest campgrounds along the route. The largest is Boulder Creek Campground, located 13 miles south of Wise River. It has 13 campsites and can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet long. The camping fee for all campgrounds is less than $10 per night and all are open mid-June through September

For a virtual tour of the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, select this link.

Lowering RV Travel Costs

by Donna Flanders

With gas prices at an all time high you might think that RVers would be cutting back on RVing. Well, that is simply not the case. Folks may be traveling closer to home, but they sure are traveling. There are several areas to look at when you are trying to reduce the cost of your vacation. Let's take a look at fuel, campgrounds, food and entertainment. There are ways to reduce the costs in each area. Choose those things that work for you.

Fuel - One of the first things to look at is how far you are going. We often overlook very interesting places that are right in our own back yards, simply because they are right in our own back yard. The grass is not always greener on the other side. One of the biggest costs of your RV vacation is the fuel to get there. Look a little closer to home.

Select this link to read the rest of the article.

Fun Stops U.S.A.

Jelly Belly Tour

Take a tour of the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, California. During the 40-minute walking tour, Jelly Belly Guides will show you a real working factory where they cook up over 150 different sweet treats. Learn the secrets to how they create the legendary Jelly Belly bean, and discover why it takes more than a week to make a single bean. See taffy, chocolates, and wild gummi critters in the making, too.

Big Brutus

Situated near a small southeast Kansas town lies a sleeping giant. It's Big Brutus, the second-largest electric shovel in the world. Used for coal mining in the mid-1900s, the 16-story shovel weighs 11 million pounds. The museum is open year-round. Of interest to RVers is the museum's ten sites with water and electric hookups for $10 per night!

Casino Camping

by Jane Kenny

Are you a casino camper? Do you occasionally stay overnight in a casino parking lot? Here are a few suggestions for courteous boondocking at casinos.

Always check in with security to alert them that you are parked in the lot and would like to stay overnight.

Remember, a parking lot is not a campground. When your RV is in for a free overnight stay, you are there because the owners allow free parking. Don't take advantage of their hospitality. Seasoned RVers cringe when they go into a casino lot (or Wal-Mart or Flying J) and see people who've put out their awnings, chairs and barbeques. If you want to "camp" this way, check into a campground. But if you are boondocking, be considerate. Park on the perimeter of the lot; don't take up spaces designated for cars. If space permits, it's generally OK to put out the slide, but restrict your activity to the inside of your unit!

It is always a good idea to return your host's hospitality. After all, you're saving camping fees for the night. Treat yourself to a meal at the casino restaurant or buy something at the gift shop and (the obvious), participate in the gaming, if you're so inclined.

Jane Kenny is the author of Casino Camping, a comprehensive guide to RV-Friendly casinos in the U.S. The book includes hundreds of casinos in 25 states.

Road Trip Dreams

by Carol White

Phil and Carol White are the authors of Live Your Road Trip Dream, a book that describes how they turned their dream of traveling into reality -- and how you can do the same.

The following article is from Phil and Carol's travel journal during the time when they were living their road trip dream.

Of Course the Ice Trays Are Under the Sheets!

We have found that we have everything we need, but everything has its place and it must stay in it - even if it means sharing space in odd ways! Some things only fit in certain cupboards, and some cupboards are easier to access than others, so the ice trays really are in the same place as the extra sheets! But, you know what - we know where everything is, and we are really enjoying everything about the trip - including living in 19 feet.

I actually prefer our nights in the Van - everything is handy and you don't have to haul things into a motel - Phil, however, does enjoy having the room to stretch out in a motel every couple of days.

The ability to stay in touch so easily has really made a tremendous difference. It is so nice to hear the cell phone ring and have one of the grandchildren on the other end, or a friend with great news. To open up our email and have five or ten notes from people commenting on something on the website, or sharing Charbonneau news is really exciting and makes this whole adventure much less isolating.

Select this link to read the rest of this article.

Discovering Your Public Lands

Lake Ouachita

This Corps of Engineers lake in central Arkansas is near the resort spa of Hot Springs. Its crystal-clear waters make the lake a popular destination for scuba diving. There are numerous camping, fishing, and swimming opportunities at the lake as well as concessions with marinas, motels, restaurants, and horseback riding. There is a boating trail for viewing geological formations on the shoreline.

Of the 18 campgrounds surrounding the lake, 16 are maintained by the Corps of Engineers. Most of the campgrounds have sites with electrical hookups. Camping fees range from $6 to $15 per night depending on season and amenities available.

Homestead National Monument of America

The Homestead Act of 1862 was one of the most significant and enduring events in the westward expansion of the United States. By granting 160 acres of free land to claimants, it allowed nearly any man or woman a chance to live the American dream. Visit the park and gain understanding on how the Act changed the lives of all Americans and the land.

Homestead National Monument of America is four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska on State Highway 4. It is managed by the National Park Service. Camping is not available within the monument but Rockford State Recreation Area is nearby.

Exploring State Parks

Illinois

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources manages more than 120 state parks in the Land of Lincoln. Of these, 81 have campgrounds for tent campers and RVers. Rental cabins are also available in several parks.

Depending on weather conditions, camping is generally available year-round. Camping fees range from $6 for tent sites to $20 per night for sites with water, electric, and sewer hookups. Illinois does not charge a daily entrance fee.

To see a list of state parks with campgrounds, select this link.

Gadgets & Gizmos

Shower Power

Shurflo's Smart Sensor 5.7 pump increases your RV's water pressure and flow to give you "just like home flow," according to the manufacturer. The pump delivers more than 5.5 gallons per minute and pressure up to 65 PSI.

CoPilot GPS Navigation Software

The CoPilot Live | Laptop 8 navigation software has some features that RVers will be interested in. The software identifies highways with low-clearance bridges, tunnels that prohibit propane tanks, and scenic byway routing. To learn more, visit the ALK Technoligies web site.

Bumper Sticker Wisdom

• How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
• I got this motor home for my wife... best deal I ever made!

Legends of America

by Kathy Weiser

Canyon Station Treasure

In 1873 there stood a stage station in the foothills of the Cerbat Mountains near Kingman, Arizona. Canyon Station, as it was called, was near the mouth of a narrow canyon that led to a road that twisted up the Cerbat Mountains before descending to Mineral Park.

Legend has it that in October of 1873 a man named Macallum, or perhaps it was McAllen, heard that the government was going to be shipping some $72,000 in gold coins from Prescott to Fort Mohave. Near Canyon Station, Macallum, along with an unknown partner stopped the stagecoach and relieved it of its strongbox before sending it on its way.

A posse was immediately dispatched. Anticipating this, the two bandits buried the heavy strongbox in order to put some distance between themselves and their pursuers. However, the posse soon caught up with the pair and when a gunfight ensued, Macallum's partner was shot and killed in the melee. Macallum was arrested, convicted, and sent to the Yuma Territorial Prison. Though questioned at length, the desperado refused to reveal the location of the buried loot.

Select this link to read the rest of the article.

Humorous Quotes

• "I grew up with six brothers. That's how I learned to dance -- waiting to get into the bathroom." - Bob Hope

Roundabout Roundup

A Year in a Motorhome

This is the personal web site of a British couple that toured the United States for one year in a motorhome.

New Hampshire Camping Guide

If you would like information about 141 campgrounds in New Hampshire, you can request a free camping guide or download a copy at this site.

Campground Reviews

About.com has compiled a collection of campground reviews submitted by web site visitors. Take a look at some reviews and then submit your own opinion!

Evacuate Connecticut!

In Connecticut this past week, a television and radio broadcast to evacuate the

entire state was mistakenly sent out.

Oklahoma State Parks

The web site for Oklahoma state parks has received a new look and greatly improved usability. With expanded information and plenty of photos, the site is a great way to learn more about Oklahoma's state parks.

School Bus Conversion

Read the story and see the pictures of one guy that turned a school bus into an RV.

Louisiana Campgrounds

Take a look at Louisiana's official tourism web site for a comprehensive list of private campgrounds. Once you're at the site, select the campgrounds category.