Table of contents for Issue 3+: March 2021 in RV Destinations Magazine

The drive to the Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Northeast Utah is a wide-open, high-desert, beautiful-but-abandoned-looking part of the state. We drove west from Laramie, Wyoming, on I-80, exited at Green River, Wyoming, then went 44 miles south to the Flaming Gorge Reservoir Recreation Area in Ashley National Forest. In late July, the road was an easy-going two-lane highway that dipped closer to sea level with brown, dusty terrain and interesting rock formations on either side of the road. We saw no signs of life-only a pin to the left on our GPS, indicating the “Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport.” Eventually, we spotted the Green River to our left and the Flaming Gorge in the distance with mountains that stretched as far as we could see. We spent three nights at…

The prairie breaks first into miles of gentle hills, bright green in plush summertime growth. The hills then transform almost abruptly into the rugged Badlands, bluffs, and valleys stark with blues and greys. As the land unfolds before this explorer’s eyes, so does the story of the American cowboy. This story, a vital part of America’s past and present, is preserved in a little gem tucked into the southwestern corner of North Dakota: Medora. Medora is overflowing with history, from its historical buildings to the occasional costumed cowboy walking the streets and sharing a story. To fully enjoy my trip, I first learned about the history of the town. French aristocrat Marquis de Mores came to the area in 1883 with the idea of raising cattle and building a meat-packing…

Having called Arizona home for almost a quarter of my life, I got super spoiled having the Grand Canyon right in my backyard. Those vistas…those hikes…those rock formations. All things I love and miss deeply. Now let’s fast forward to my current life on the East Coast. Longing for those things in a landscape known for endless trees and rolling mountains, I wasn’t sure I could find the equivalent anywhere in the southeast. This is where Google came to the rescue! Do a quick search for “Grand Canyon of the Southeast” and guess what pops up: Linville Gorge. Linville Gorge is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina and is the deepest gorge in the eastern US. The Gorge encloses the Linville River and features crazy steep…

There must be something in the water, or perhaps an over-abundance of artists yearning to create their next masterpiece. Whatever the case, Amarillo, Texas, features two unique urban decay art displays on Route 66 that are worth visiting and snapping a few pictures. Cadillac Ranch is the first of these odd roadside attractions. According to RoadsideAmerica.com, a group of art-hippies from San Francisco came to Amarillo when Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh III commissioned them to create “a piece of public art that baffled the locals”, and the hippies came up with the tribute to the evolution of the Cadillac tail fin. The art display consists of 10 Cadillacs from many years buried nose down and tails high in the air to showcase their tail fins. Shortly after completion of the…

When traveling through Nevada, we love Wells Welcome Station just outside of Wells, Nevada. It’s a quiet little green oasis in the desert with full hook-ups available. Lamb’s Resort on the North Shore of Lake Superior is amazing! The views of the lake are the best. You can tent camp right on the beach, and RVers can also park near the beach. Such a great place to see the fall colors. Full hook-up is available. —Melissa Naatz, California With so many state parks in New York, and such diverse landscape, it’s difficult to choose just one. If we had to narrow it down, we’d choose Watkins Glen State Park in Schuyler County, New York. The campground is wooded, with only one loop of electric sites. All the rest are non-electric,…

Suppose your travels take you near San Antonio, Texas, and you have the slightest interest in American history. The Alamo is a perfect place for your next RV destination. Situated directly in the city center, just a few blocks away from the famous San Antonio Riverwalk sits the San Antonio de Valero mission. Later renamed the Alamo and Long Barracks, the old Spanish mission can trace its origins back to the early 1700s. The Alamo is rich in history and two of the still standing structures, the church and Long Barracks, are the oldest buildings in Texas. One of the bloodiest battles of the Texas Revolution occured here and the Alamo became a story of heroism and courage under fire in the face of incredible odds. The conflict’s horrific conclusion…

Acadia …. Let’s just call it Ahhhhhcadia, shall we? A bucket-list destination for many RVers, Acadia National Park truly has it all: breathtaking views, activities galore and a variety of settings evoking all the best of Maine’s charms. Acadia was the first National Park created east of the Mississippi, and with its rugged precipices along the Atlantic coastline, cobble beaches and salty sea air, this jewel is so very different from the national parks you might find further west. Furry friends will also love Acadia, because unlike most national parks, it’s dog-friendly, and they are permitted on most trails, carriage roads and even the park system buses! With two distinct sides, each claiming their own personality and charm, Acadia on the more popular side of Mt. Desert Island and its…

Matlacha, FL We had a rare few days in between a couple of RV trips so we decided to squeeze in a stay that involved salt water, palm trees, sunshine and warm breezes. Google searches around Ft. Myers and Cape Coral, Florida had me combing through RV parks looking for the perfect getaway. I found some large, sprawling resort-style RV parks that offered every amenity imaginable, but I was seeking something more on the quaint and quiet side. That’s when I landed on Sugar Sand Beach RV Resort on the tiny, historic island of Matlacha (pronounced MAT-lah-shay). The pictures of the views on their website had me sold, and I quickly called to book our stay. Sugar Sand Beach RV Resort offers just 10 RV sites. Yes, you read that…

Highway 395 is the main road for the entire eastern slope of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a vacation highway, a road tripper’s joy, and certainly not what most people think of as “California”. The scenery is unequaled. But there’s not a single beach, no ocean views, no freeway and there aren’t very many people. It normally isn’t very busy, except when the ski bunnies escape LA and head for the slopes at Mammoth. Highway 395 begins off Interstate 15 just beyond San Bernardino and Cajon Pass. You’re traveling on open desert with stately Joshua trees and creosote for company. This is the Mojave Desert: a hot, dry barren land, yet a lively place with more than roadrunners and coyotes. The tracks on a typical desert trail show the…

If traveling to the Pacific Northwest ever lands on your to-do list, be sure to include Winchester Bay, Oregon, in your itinerary. This mecca for all things recreational might be reason enough to venture farther west and north in your travels. But if you’re driving along Highway 101 between Washington and California, it would be easy to drive on by and not even know you’d missed it. This hidden gem of RV wonder is just over a small rise and a bit off the beaten path. Winchester Bay RV Park—Just One of Many Once you turn west off Highway 101 and crest the little hill, you’ll come upon an RVer’s paradise. There’s a fantastic RV Park in Winchester Bay. Built on a man-made peninsula that juts out into the bay,…

As the misty mountains of Olympic Loom over the road towards the park, you can feel the peninsula begin to cast its spell. This National Park feels like the setting of a fairy tale. Not a whimsical Disney story, but a ruggedly beautiful and epic saga. This corner of Washington State is renowned for its diverse landscapes. The winding roads lead you from mountain ranges to rainforests to coastal beaches – all in a single day. Between the disparate areas of the park, logging and fishing towns feel like their own isolated, tranquil worlds, despite being located only a hundred miles from metropolitan Seattle. This national park’s highlights can be seen in a few days, or you could fall deeper into its enchantment and spend weeks exploring the peninsula. Hoh…

We couldn’t take our eyes off the towering Rocky Mountains. Their splendor and grandness garnered respect and left me trembling in fear thinking how it would be to trek these majestic mountains. Seeking out the incredible sights and scenery around every corner, thousands of people from around the world clamour to Banff National Park and Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada every year. As a matter of fact, so many people want to take that selfie at Lake Louise (located 10km from the town of Banff) that there are parking lots miles away with shuttles to the lake. The crowds of people traveling to Banff are legendary; just take a look at the hundreds of RV spots surrounding the town, and keep in mind that every single one is taken during…