Table of contents for Issue 6 in RV Destinations Magazine

Searching for a little bit more fun and games? You’re in luck! Ocean City, Maryland, can be reached in no time. There, you’ll find its famous three-mile-long boardwalk (voted America’s Best by The Travel Channel) lined with hotels, shops and attractions, as well as countless restaurants and bars with music and patios spilling out into the sun. At the end of the three miles is the Ocean City Fishing Pier and the amusement park. Whether you want a little excitement on a roller coaster or are looking for a spectacular view at the top of one of the Ferris wheels, there’s something for everyone, kids and adults alike. APPROXIMATELY 150 BEAUTIFUL PONIES SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ISLAND THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE. You should certainly take the…

Whitney O’Halek Tucked into the Green Mountains, about 45 minutes from Burlington, the town of Stowe is reminiscent of old-world charm, small-town life, and epic, natural beauty. Once a year, this pocket of New England erupts with every shade of fall, providing visitors one of the most vibrant seasonal experiences in the country. Outdoor enthusiasts and romantics alike flock here every autumn for the color, the ambiance and the maple syrup. People from all over the country—even worldwide—flock to New England to witness the fall foliage in the Vermont mountains, and one glance reveals why. The earth-tone rainbow ranges from greens and yellows to oranges and reds, but those colors truly pop when you place them against a perfect blue sky. Vermont in fall is a bucket-list road trip, and…

While you’re in Waterbury, don’t forget to stop at the Green Mountain Coffee Café & Visitor Center in a historic train depot. Here you’ll find ground coffee and single-serve coffee cups to take home with you, but the real treat is the coffee bar. I recommend the maple bonbon mocha, which is essentially a mocha with maple syrup. This is a must-have treat for coffee lovers. Did I mention they make their mochas with rich chocolate milk instead of chocolate syrup? This little detail might forever change the way you drink your coffee. Not a coffee connoisseur? Go purist and get a classic hot chocolate or get creative and try one of their fun hot chocolate flavor combinations.…

The National Park, encompassing 33,000 acres between Cleveland and Akron, is full of natural beauty and history. There are several ways to visit and enjoy the area, but the Boston Mill Visitor Center is a godsend. Park rangers are available daily to help visitors plan their visit and share the history of the valley and canals. Be sure to grab a map of the national park and surrounding area before heading out. Cuyahoga offers more than 125 miles of trails (most notably the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail) to traverse by horse, foot, bikes and skis. Twenty of the trail’s 90 miles pass through the park, the vast, flat path following the former canals. Many locals use the Towpath Trail for biking, running and afternoon strolls through the exquisite…

Yes, you read that right: goats and Christmas. How do they go together? Technically they don’t, but you can experience both in Cuyahoga Valley. Recommended by Sarah’s Vineyard, Gaga for Goats is a privately owned farm located on the southeast side of the National Park. This miniature goat farm offers visitors a firsthand experience of interacting with personable animals. These cute, miniature goats jump and climb around visitors, bringing a smile to every face. If you’re lucky enough to visit when the baby goats haven’t been adopted out yet, you can spend time watching tiny baby goats jump, run, headbutt one another and climb into your lap for a scratch behind their ears. Whether you want to visit the farm to hang out with the goats, schedule a soap-making party…

If these dual-personality mountains sound intriguing to you, I highly recommend loading up your RV and spending some time boondocking in the areas surrounding Peralta Road. Not only are there unparalleled camping opportunities, but there’s also access to numerous trails that transport your mind to that of an infamous gold hunter. Peralta Road is located off Highway 60 in Gold Canyon, Arizona, and leads right into the heart of some of the Sups most popular destinations. It’s a semi-rugged desert dirt road with many pull-offs ideal for hosting an adventurous RVer among the saguaro cacti. Two must-experience trails along Peralta Road are the Carney Springs Trail and the Peralta Canyon Trail. An off-shoot of the Carney Springs Trail leads you to the Instagram-worthy Wave Cave. This massive cave is perfect…

Chances are that “Idaho” is coming up much more frequently in your travel planning searches lately … and for good reason! Idaho in general, and its rising star of McCall, is quickly gaining popularity as more and more people discover its many gems. Unsurprisingly, last year Idaho saw the largest year-to-year home price increase in the U.S. But lucky RV’ers who have a home on wheels need not concern themselves with rising house prices – just roll up to McCall and enjoy! This exciting, resort-style town is surrounded by mountains and nestled on the shores of beautiful and accessible Payette Lake in western Idaho. The picturesque McCall area, which also includes the smaller towns of New Meadows, Donnelly and Cascade, sits at around 5,000 feet and enjoys mild, cool summers.…

It’s also a fun trip for those who long for a European feel but not a long flight. Even the state’s name came from French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1609: vert means “green” and mont means “mountain,” making Vermont the “Green Mountain State.” A visit to the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum will have you thinking you’ve stepped into the Swiss Alps, and you’ll swear you’re sitting at an Austrian family’s kitchen table after one taste of authentic Schnitzel mit spaetzle (breaded veal with potato dumplings).…

But don’t stop with Route 100. Take some more minor back roads to count how many of the state’s 104 covered bridges you can find in an afternoon or so. Several have been in use since the late 19th century and have a story to tell, so take the opportunity to make a few stops, stretch your legs and read about them. The most infamous is the Gold Brook Covered Bridge, or Emily’s Bridge, in Stowe. It’s only 50 feet long (some are nearly 200 feet!), but its claim to fame is that it’s haunted by a young woman who went there to meet her lover and elope. You’ll have to visit yourself to find out what happened next.…

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway runs through the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is a handy way to witness some of the scenery while listening to the area’s history from knowledgeable train crew members. More than 1,000 volunteers come together to run this non-profit historical train, which focuses on preserving and renovating historic railcars for the public to enjoy. But the train is more than just a beautiful ride through the Valley on historic rail cars. It offers visitors a plethora of options to enjoy the train, as well as the park. The Explore Program was designed for hikers, bikers and kayakers. Guests can park at a singular depot and, for a small charge, can hop aboard the train with their bike, kayak or just themselves. The guests…

Cuyahoga Valley offers visitors so much to see, do, eat and experience. Its proximity to Cleveland, Akron, wine country in Ashtabula and Coshocton counties, and Amish country in nearby Berlin make Cuyahoga Valley the perfect central location to experience the rich culture in Northeast Ohio. Getting to the area is relatively easy due to its accessibility to Interstates 77, 80 and 271. The only challenge in visiting this area is the lack of campgrounds and RV parks. Cuyahoga Valley National Park no longer allows camping within the park. There’s a KOA located in Streetsboro, which is about 15 minutes from the park’s east side. The KOA offers a variety of full hook-up sites, an onsite store with homemade fudge and ice cream shop, as well as a catch-and-release fishing pond.…

Minnesota is known as the land of ten thousand lakes, dozens of which are located within the area commonly called the lake region. Found somewhat at the confluence of Central and Northeast Minnesota, the lake region is about 200 miles northeast of Minneapolis and 60 miles west of the North Dakota border. It is home to picturesque stretches of open roads, kitschy roadside attractions, charming small towns and of course, many, many lakes. A highlight of the area is Maplewood State Park. There are 71 drive-in campsites as well as backpacking and horse trail campsites. Boat launches offer the opportunity to head out for some fishing or a cruise around one of the park’s several lakes. For those who prefer to stay on land, there are hiking, backpacking and horseback…

CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UTAH When given the choice, I will always choose the park less traveled. If you’ve read my articles in past editions, you may notice I tend to skip most of the high-traffic tourist areas whenever I go somewhere — unless it’s the off-season, that is. Utah’s Canyonlands National Park is wonderful for when you need a little space to yourself, and it is also one of the most visually stunning places I’ve ever been to! I’m a huge sucker for national parks and million-dollar views, but not for crowds and traffic jams. I’m definitely willing to make sacrifices in my efforts to check every national park in America off my list, but at Canyonlands, luckily, you don’t have to. If I can, I like to avoid several-hour-long…

Miles of beautiful, sandy beaches; dolphins swimming and playing offshore; the Atlantic Ocean nipping at your toes; and pelicans gliding along on the breeze sounds like a tropical paradise. Of course it does, except this isn’t Miami Beach; it’s Delaware! But nobody visits Delaware for the gorgeous beaches, right? Wrong. The second-smallest state in the U.S. gets a bad rap for being dull or boring, but it’s a hidden gem that will satisfy every picky vacationer on your list. Its compact size doesn’t mean that it lacks endless possibilities. You don’t have to travel as far to get there. Don’t believe me? See for yourself. Head toward the coast in the southern part of the state, and you’ll find Cape Henlopen State Park. The park offers all styles of camping,…

THE PARK IS QUIET METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND OFFERS ROUCHLY 160 SITES INCLUDING 11 TENT SITES. Off Exit 5 on Interstate 75, just north of Georgia’s Florida border, is Eagle’s Roost Campground, a hidden gem of a campground. Nestled under a thick canopy of mature oak trees and covered in moss, this beautiful RV park feels as if you’re worlds away, although it’s only minutes from the interstate. The park is quiet, meticulously maintained and offers roughly 160 sites, including 11 tent sites. Sites are level, with picnic tables and most offer concrete pads. The park offers a swimming pool, playground, shuffleboard, horseshoe, a large and shaded dog walk, a well-stocked gift store, laundry facilities, bathhouse, LP gas and a conveniently located dump station for those just looking for a quick…

A quick trip south through some beautiful fall foliage to Waterbury will take you to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory. You can take a tour of their facility, visit the “Flavor Graveyard” to pay your respects to the flavors of the past and score a free ice cream sample. Need more than a sample? They can help you with that, too. Hearty New Englanders don’t bat an eyelash when the weather turns chilly; they’ll eat ice cream even when the ice cream is warmer than the air around them.…

Located just 30 minutes south of Cleveland lies Cuyahoga Valley—home to one of the lesser-known national parks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This part of Ohio boasts waterfalls, rolling hills, steep ledges, marshland, and the legendary Ohio and Erie Canals. Nestled amongst the region’s natural beauty are charming towns steeped in history, historic covered bridges, an example of a 19th century working farm, a music venue, wineries and a ski resort. Snaking its way through it all is the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway. This area offers visitors a diverse array of activities to experience, all conveniently located off Interstate 80. Originally this area was home to several Native American tribes, including the Ottawa, Wyandot, Munsee, Ojibwe, Iroquois, Miami, Catawba, Potawatomi, Shawnee, and, most notable, the Lenapé Nation. The Valley gained its…

They don’t call Phoenix “the Valley of the Sun” for just any ol’ reason. Located smack dab in the heart of some seriously rugged mountains, this area sports dangerous cliffs, deep canyons and intriguing mystery. Welcome to the Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Mountains hold legends of lost gold, strange sounds, mysterious disappearances and even death. Local farmers believed the native Indians were superstitious about this unusual—dare I say, creepy—mountain range; hence, the name. Locals now nickname this inhospitable range “The Sups.” The Sups aren’t just about lost treasure, death and despair. It’s a gorgeous granite landmark that shoots right out of the valley floor, and its spires, cliffs, drop-offs, caves and volcanic formations make them the second most photographed location in Arizona. In spring, wildflowers abound, and heavy rains can…

When visiting Yellowstone National Park, there’s a myriad of must-see geological features. Catching Old Faithful as she erupts her geyser more than 100 feet in the air is typically first on everyone’s list. Visiting Upper and Lower Falls and witnessing the rushing and voluminous Yellowstone River as it plummets over the fall and crashes into the rocks below is also very popular and worth every minute. However, one geothermal feature is longer than a football field and painted with a rainbow of highly vivid colors. It holds the record for the most photographed feature in the park and is awe-inspiring when seen for the first time: Grand Prismatic Spring. HOW GRAND IS THE SPRING? Grand Prismatic Spring is an enormous hot spring. At 370 feet in diameter and more than…

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO Have you ever wanted an easy-to-explore natural wonder that begs the question, “is this even real?” A staple destination in Colorado Springs is Garden of the Gods; a 1,334-acre park located at the foothills of the front range in the Pikes Peak region. Accessible to everyone, Garden of the Gods is an immensely beautiful park with stunning views of Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Mountain and of course, the garden itself. Millions of years ago, a natural fault line caused a geological upheaval. As the climate began to dry out, the area was soon covered by sand dunes large enough to cover an area comparable to the Sahara Desert. Over time, the natural changes of the Earth’s surface and erosion created the structures of red, pink, and white sandstones,…