Table of contents for Issue 5 - July/August 2021 in RV Destinations Magazine

Before it was a town, Bullhead City, Arizona, was simply a place for travelers to pass through—a crossing on the southern Colorado River, below the Grand Canyon. Even so, it’s been a busy place with a long history, from cliff-dwelling farmers of the Anasazi Era to wandering burros and camels followed by bustling dam builders and active snowbirds and vacationers. Incredibly beautiful in its unique way, the land is rugged, rocky and colorful. But usually, summer is too much. In the old days, no one would visit when the summer sun scorched the surrounding desert hills. Thanks to the Colorado River Compact and its related projects, even summer became a desirable time to visit the river if you’re a fisherman or boating enthusiast. That agreement was between the states that…

Yosemite Valley is home to the park’s most famous and grand attractions, including El Capitan, The Tunnel View of Half Dome and Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls. It is also home to tour buses, bumper to bumper traffic jams and tourists from every part of the world wielding cameras and selfie sticks. This iconic area is still a necessary visit for the Yosemite experience. Arrive early to catch the popular sights, then enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many picnic areas away from the lodges, under the watch of dramatic white domes or beside the river. Instead of fighting for a shot at Tunnel View, find the trail to Inspiration Point, just behind the parking lot. A short hike will bring you to an equally stunning outlook to the…

Those seeking a less populated visit to Yosemite should take Tioga Pass to the East side of the park. Here, quiet hikes wind their way around tranquil meadows and blue mountain lakes. Tuolumne Meadows is the most popular sight on this side of the park. Tenaya may be the most beautiful of Yosemite’s lakes, and even has a sandy beach for a picnic and a swim. A short hike over Lembert Dome offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and thousands of green conifers below.…

4 IN 1 UNIQUE DESTINATIONS “OR LOSE THYSELF IN THE CONTINUOUS WOODS [W]HERE ROLLS THE OREGON…” This passage from the famous early-American poem, Thanatopsis, by William Cullen Bryant circa 1817, was a reference to what we now call the Columbia River, which should be on your must-see RV destination list. But thinking of the Columbia River, in total, as one destination is ludicrous. You will probably need at least four extended trips to experience the full scope of what this river has to offer. Consequently, I segmented this article into four possible destinations which correspond with four distinct sections of the river. I encourage you to investigate and experience each unique section of the mighty Columbia. Each segment of the river is in vastly different geographic terrain, and each section…

Instapot.... great food and fast. –J. Corcoran, Jupiter, FL RVD Response: The Instapot is worth its weight in gold! One of our favorite recipes is inside out egg roll. A portable grill/smoker because we are cooking all the time. –D. Westermann, Columbus RVD Response: A must for every RVer! Traeger makes a great small, portable smoker/grill. This may sound silly, but we love our portable weather station...just a simple, wireless, battery-powered device we probably bought on Amazon. It’s amazing how much we look at the indoor and outdoor temps to gauge when we run the HVAC or what to wear when heading out for the day’s adventures. Handy! –V. Jones, El Dorado Hills, CA RVD Response: A very useful tool and makes a great gift for an RVer. We love…

“SOMEWHAT OVERSHADOWED BY THE STATE’S NATIONAL FORESTS AND BEAUTIFUL FALLS, CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT AND PRESERVE IN IDAHO IS AN OTHERWORLDLY GEM OF A STOP FOR THOSE WHO SEEK IT OUT.” THE HISTORY Starting some 15,000 years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions created a colorful abstract of coarse, sculpted landscape in this spot. There were eight eruptive periods which lasted up until about 2,000 years ago. Over the course of those thousands of years, lava erupted from what is now called the Great Rift. This series of deep cracks stretches for a length of more than 50 miles and the lava that seeped from the cracks covered more than 600 square miles to form the Craters of the Moon lava field. Two smaller lava fields, the Wapi…

48.6667° N 65.8333° W Dramatic ocean and mountain landscapes? Check. Abundant wildlife? Check. Culture and history? Check. We found the Gaspé Peninsula, the arm of Quebec that forms the southern border of the mighty St. Lawrence Seaway, to be the perfect road trip destination. Surrounded on three sides by water—the St. Lawrence to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Bay of Chaleur to the south—this region was named after the Mi’gmaq word gespe’g, or “end,” because, for some, it represented the end of the land. From the undulating drive along Route 132, which curves in and out of numerous bays as it wraps around the peninsula’s perimeter, to the ChicChoc Mountains that make up this area’s interior, we discovered exciting destinations, sights and activities. Driving up…

Fort Collins — The Choice City, Tree City USA, The Napa Valley of Beer. This gorgeous town is nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and is a quaintly beautiful place filled with nightlife, museums, world-class hiking, and some of the best beer and food you’ll find anywhere. It’s one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and for good reason. There are a plethora of things to catch your attention in Fort Collins, and it’s somewhere you must stop if you are anywhere near northern Colorado. LOCATION & HISTORY Fort Collins sits at the base of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, just south of the Wyoming border. It’s about 45 minutes south of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and only an hour from Boulder, Estes Park, and Denver. It is located along I-25, making…

Boasting the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon of the east, a NASCAR and IndyCar Series racetrack, eleven glacially formed lakes, campgrounds galore and enough wineries to make even the most seasoned sommelier break a sweat, the New York State Finger Lakes Region is the go-to vacation destination for those who love the outdoors. Steeped in history, Native American legend says that the Great Spirit blessed this land with his hands, leaving the shape of his fingers behind. However, geologists believe that the Laurentide Ice Sheet receded two million years ago, carving the deep, beautiful lakes we see today. Regardless of what you believe, you won’t find such diverse beauty anywhere else. With an abundance of state parks and plenty of private campgrounds to choose…

It feels cliche to claim that a national park as popular as Yosemite is our favorite. However, there’s a reason this destination is a pilgrimage for everyone seeking aweinspiring natural beauty. Driving into the park via Big Oak Flat Road feels like soaring over the Valley. The views are so immediately grandiose that you expect a sweeping score will begin to play. The towering white rocks reflect the coolest and most peaceful blue tones. The fresh pine-laden air imparts invigorating powers. Yosemite often feels separate from reality, as if the world went on around it, but left this Valley perfect and unblemished by the progress of time. The experience of Yosemite immediately comes to mind when you think of “camping” and “the great outdoors.” From hiking to climbing to swimming…

Yosemite should be at the top of any RVers destination bucket list. The sights of this iconic National Park will leave you breathless. You will leave invigorated, inspired and eager to explore more of this beautiful world. Photo Opportunities: _★ _★ _★ _★ _★ How Far your Dollar Will Go: _★ _★ _★ _★ _☆ Variety of Things to Do & See: _★ _★ _★ _★ _★ Campground Availability: _★ _★ _★ _☆ _☆ Dining Options: _★ _★ _★ _☆ _☆ RV Destination Magazine Overall Score: _★ _★ _★ _★ _☆…

39.6742° N 107.6992° W If you are planning a trip to the western most parts of Colorado, take some time to explore Rifle Falls State Park, situated 35 miles west of Glenwood Springs and 75 miles east of Grand Junction. Here you will find three 70-foot-tall waterfalls, ice caves, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and more. The state park offers 13 drive-in and 7 walk-in campsites alongside East Rifle Creek. Camping is available year-round with basic campsites and electric hook-ups. Upon entering the state park, the base of the falls is a short 1/10th of a mile walk on a paved trail that is ADA accessible. Ahead of you sit three stunning waterfalls flowing over a limestone cliffside. Take some time to explore here, because there’s more than meets the eye.…