Touring America

Enchanted Circle

The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is in northern New Mexico about 70 miles northeast of Santa Fe. It forms an 84-mile loop drive around Wheeler Peek (the state's highest point) in Carson National Forest. The ghost town of Elizabethtown is just north of US 64 and Eagle Nest. The town was established in 1870 and was the first incorporated town in New Mexico. Byway travelers will also see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near Angel Fire. Numerous public campgrounds are located along the scenic byway.

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RV Vacation Planner

by Donna Flanders

Donna is retired from computer programming. After 20 years of computer work, she now devotes her analytical, organizational and research skills to developing vacations for others. She is a list maker and she shares her lists with you at RV Vacation Planner.

Brand Spanking New

We did it. We bought a brand new motorhome. We did not plan on buying a new one. We were looking for a used motorhome, but a particular brand and model. We stopped by one dealership and there sat a new one. We thought - what the heck, we can just look. Well, if I had ordered one with everything exactly the way I wanted it, that would have been the one. Done deal!

It was very exciting when we pulled into our driveway with our new toy. I could not wait to sleep in it, but we had company and it did not seem exactly right to tell them to enjoy the house while we played in the motorhome. It was several days before we finally got the chance. At first it was just a ton of fun and a challenge to figure out where everything was and how the new gadgets worked, then we started to make our list of things that did not work. This is an expected process. I realize a motorhome is a complex thing but I honestly did not expect the list to get as long as it has.

Select this link to read more.

Fun Stops U.S.A.

Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas

Samuel Perry Dinsmoor, a retired schoolteacher, Civil War Veteran, farmer and Populist politician, began building the Garden of Eden and Cabin Home in 1907 at the age of 64. For 22 years he fashioned 113 tons (2,273 sacks) of cement and many tons of limestone into his unique "log" cabin with its surrounding sculptures. He opened his home to guests, conducting tours on the first floor and through the yard from 1907 until a few years before his death in 1932. Now owned and operated by a group formed to preserve it, the site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and welcomes more than 10,000 visitors annually.

Casino Camping

by Jane Kenny

Jane Kenny is a full-time RVer with husband Jack. She is the author of three books and is recognized by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) as an RV Lifestyle Specialist. The excerpt below is from her book, Casino Camping.

Kootenai River Inn & Casino

7169 Plaza Street

Bonners Ferry, Idaho 83805

Phone: 208-267-8511 or 800-346-5668

www.kootenairiverinn.com

Description: The casino resort has a newly-renovated Best Western that has 65 rooms with balconies overlooking the river. It has an indoor pool, fitness center and guest laundry facility. The 30,000 square foot casino features over 400 electronic machines in denominations from pennies up. The Springs Restaurant has menu service daily.

Directions & Parking: The casino resort is located 35 miles south of the Canada border. From I-90 exit 12, travel north on US-95 to Bonners Ferry. The casino is on Hwy-95. Free overnight parking for RVs is available at the far end of the parking lot.

RV Dump Stations

Here are some recent additions to the RV Dump Stations web site:

Discovering Your Public Lands

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve

This national park in southern Colorado protects North America's tallest sand dunes, which are surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Rocky Mountains. The Pinyon Flats Campground here has 88 sites in two loops. The cost for camping is about $14 per night. RVs up to 32 feet can be accommodated.

RV University

by Mark Polk

Mark Polk is the producer of training videos on how to use and maintain your RV. He is also the author of The RV Book, a personal guide to understanding and enjoying your RV.

RV Winterizing 101

Leaves are falling from the trees, and the grass is dormant. The petunias are dying and the pansies are in full bloom. Days are shorter and nights are colder. Winter is upon us. To me, winter has its good and bad points. It's good that I don't have to cut the grass for several months. It's bad that I have to close the pool for several months. It's good that I don't have to run the air conditioning, but bad that I have to turn the furnace on.

For the RVer in all of us, winter is a time for making decisions. Do we park the RV and prepare it for the harsh winter months ahead, or do we pack it up and flee due south? Many of these decisions are made for us, and don't require our input. What I mean is, if you already live in a warm climate then winter is not a big issue. If you can take time away from work and travel south in the winter the decision is made for you. If you have managed to save lots of money during your working years, and can afford to travel all year the decision is made. If the children are gone, and you still have money left, the decision is made. Unfortunately, for some of us, we don't live in a warm climate, we can't afford to take any more time off of work, we haven't saved a lot of money, and the kids are still here spending what money we did manage to put aside. So without much input from me, the decision to park the RV and prepare it for winter has already been made.

Select this link to read more.

Exploring State Parks

Alaska

Harding Lake State Recreation Area, 45 miles south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway, is one of the longest standing park facilities in the Alaska State Park system, having been established in 1967. All together there are over 90 campsites, including five walk-in group campsites. The park also has numerous picnic sites and two picnic shelters. The nightly camping fee is $10 to $15.

Arkansas

White Oak Lake State Park is located along Route 2 near Bluff City, Arkansas. The park's campground has a total of 45 sites for RVers and tent campers. The 2,765-acre lake attracts anglers in search of bass, crappie, and catfish. A campstore offers supplies and bait. Wildlife observers can expect to see great blue heron, egret, osprey, and in winter, bald eagles. The camping fee is $9 to $18 per night.

Gadgets & Gizmos

12-Volt Purifier/Ionizer

This little air purifier/ionizer plugs into your cigarette lighter socket and comes with fragrance pellets (4 different scent samples). The device doesn't use any chemicals. More...

Stayzz

Keeping glass and other items stored in your RV's cabinets can sometimes be a challenge. The folks at Stayzz have come up with a solution. Stayzz products are designed to hold many different sizes of glasses, wine glasses, coffee cups and mugs, wine and liquor bottles, and common household kitchen/bathroom items. More...

Legends of America

by Kathy Weiser

Kathy is a personal friend and webmaster of the Legends of America web site. Her site focuses on the history-rich travel destinations of the American West.

Charles Goodnight - Blazing the Cattle Trails

Co-founder of the Goodnight-Loving Trail, Charles Goodnight was born in Mocoupin County, Illinois on March 5, 1836, Charles moved with his family to Waco, Texas in 1846 when he was ten years old. By the time he was twenty he was working as a cowboy and served with the local militia in the many fights against Comanche raiders. In 1857, he joined the Texas Rangers, where he continued to fight in the Indian Wars and served as an Indian scout. Later, when the Civil War began, he again served as a scout.

After the war, Goodnight joined up with Oliver Loving to move cattle from Fort Belknap, Texas to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, in what became known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail. It was during this time, that Charles would invent the chuck wagon when he rebuilt an army surplus Studebaker wagon for more practical use on a long cattle drive.

Select this link to read more.

Camping in City and County Parks

Michigan

Menominee River City Park is located behind the M&M Plaza in Menominee, Michigan. The campground is open all year and has 58 sites; 54 with full hookups and 4 with electric only (20/30-amp). The camping fee ranges from $25 to $27 per night; reservations are accepted (906-863-5101).

Wisconsin

Twin Bridge Park is 90-acre county park about 12 miles west of Crivitz, Wisconsin. In addition to camping, the park offers boating, swimming, and fishing. It has 62 sites with electric hookups for about $15 per night. Big rigs are not a problem and there is also a dump station ($5 fee).

RV News

Working Families for Wal-Mart Launches 'Wal-Marting Across America' RV Tour

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 29 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Working Families for Wal-Mart, a national organization with more than 150,000 volunteer members dedicated to getting the truth out about Wal- Mart's positive contributions to working families, today launched an RV tour, "Wal-Marting Across America." Over the next 10 days Wally 1, a red, green, and blue RV, will travel from Nevada to Georgia parking at Wal-Mart stores overnight and purchasing all supplies, including gas, at Wal-Mart stores along the way. Wally 1 will also be meeting fellow RVers and signing up volunteer members who want to add their voice to the national debate about Wal-Mart.

Select this link to read more.

Trailer Blows Up in RV Park

A man camping in an RV trailer at the Roubidoux RV Park in Waynesville is lucky to be alive, Waynesville firefighters say, after an explosion blew apart his trailer due to an uncapped LP appliance vent.

Select this link to read more.

Roundabout Roundup

On the Go with Gary and Jo

This is the personal blog of Gary and Jo Ella, full-time RVers since June of 2005. Visit their site to see photos and read about their travels across America.

iGive.com

At iGive.com you can shop at over 600 online stores and iGive will contribute a percentage of every purchase to your favorite cause.

CampRate.com

CampRate.com was created so that people interested in camping can find information about campgrounds around the United States. Campground information includes ratings, comparisons, tips, pictures, and reviews from campers who have actually camper there.