Written by Rex Vogel, RVing with Rex explores North America one meaningful place at a time through destination guides, history, slow travel, and thoughtful storytelling. Drawing on years of RV travel and firsthand experience, the site helps readers move beyond simply seeing places to truly experiencing them.
Use this list to plan your next getaway to one of the most beautiful historic places in the US
History is best understood by walking the ground where it
happened, says filmmaker Ken Burns.
“You feel the presence of what went on before. We go to
these places because we’re aware that the ghosts and echoes of an almost
inexpressibly wise past summon us.”
Despite what the History Channel tells you, there’s more to
the past than Truck Night in America, Pawn Stars, and UFO Cover Ups.
There’s history everywhere you look—maybe even in the city
you are in right now. But, not all can be as historic as, say, Old City in
Philly. And that is why we consulted our history books—and my journal from 20+
years of RV travel—and power ranked America’s most
beautiful historic cities.
Walk into history and experience more than 250 years of
history on Boston’s iconic Freedom Trail—the 2.5-mile red line leading to 16
nationally significant historic sites. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens
of Boston in 1951, the Freedom Trail is a unique collection of museums,
churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers
that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.
Step inside the places where the American Revolution was
launched, from pews and pulpits, private homes, and public offices, with fiery
speeches and midnight rides.
Today the Freedom Trail is a world-renowned, signature visitor
experience attracting over 4 million people annually to visit Boston’s 17th-,
18th- , and 19th-century sites.
One of the oldest cities in the country, Charleston is often
described as a living museum. With a whopping 97 properties listed on the
National Register for Historic Places, history is ingrained in every aspect of
Downtown Charleston—right down to the horse-drawn carriages.
Stroll Broad Street’s federal period homes or King Street
while snapping photos of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (1752) and Charleston
County Courthouse (1792) along the way. From the historic mansions that line
the Battery promenade near the waterside, Fort Sumter-facing White Point Garden
to the cobblestone streets and gas-lit alleys of the French Quarter (yes,
Charleston has its own French Quarter), you can’t escape all the history that’s
packed into the heart of this city. And when history is this beautiful, why the
hell would you want to?
Galveston offers one of the largest and best-preserved
concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country. Not to be missed
attractions include the Broadway Beauties—1895 Ashton Villa, 1892 Bishop’s
Palace, and 1895 Moody Mansion—which portray early 20th century family life
among Galveston’s elite.
The Grand 1894 Opera House ranks among the nation’s finest
historical theaters, the Texas Seaport Museum and 1877 Tall Ship Elissa highlight the history of the Port
of Galveston, and The Great Storm documentary details the 1900
hurricane which killed 6,000 and changed the Island’s history. The Ocean Star
Offshore Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum and the Railroad Museum in the
restored Union Depot combine to enhance Galveston as a wonderful historic
destination.
Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Founded in 1607, Santa Fe is America’s oldest capital city and also houses the oldest public building in the country, the circa-1610 Palace of the Governors which was originally the seat of government for the Spanish colony of Neuvo Mexico. To wander the Downtown Santa Fe Plaza is to immerse one in traditional adobe structures in what is one of the country’s most uniquely picturesque urban experiences. There are time-warped old buildings and churches including the stunning Loretto Chapel famous for its miraculous staircase and San Miguel Mission, reported to be America’s oldest church built between 1610 and 1626.
But, history’s not the only thing going down in Santa Fe.
The city’s unique cuisine and renowned art galleries are as integral to the
area’s charm as anything from a dusty old history book.
Campground utilities that include 30/50-amp electric service,
city water, and sewer connection.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating)
The maximum operating weight allowed for an RV, including
fuel and propane, holding tanks, gear, and passengers. For a towable RV this
includes: the maximum allowable weight at the trailer axle(s), plus the hitch
weight. For a motorized RV, this includes: the maximum allowable weight at all
of the axles.
GCWR (Gross Combined
Weight Rating)
The maximum operating weight of a motorized vehicle
combined with the maximum allowable weight it can tow.
Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR)
The maximum permissible weight on one axle of the RV.
Cargo Carrying
Capacity (CCC)
The permissible weight that an RV can carry.
Wheelbase
The distance between the center lines of a vehicle’s primary
axles.
A safe location, often at a campsite, to empty black water
and gray water holding tanks.
Self-Contained
An RV that includes the basic necessities needed for
boondocking or dry camping without electrical, water, and sewer hookups. A self-contained
RV usually includes a fresh water tank, dry-cell batteries, inverter, and
generator or solar panels.
Boondocking is camping without hookups. Power will come from
your generator, deep-cell batteries, and solar power system.
Deep-Cycle Batteries
Deep-cycle batteries are designed to discharge power at a
slow rate for an extended period of time. In RV applications, deep-cycle
batteries power the comforts of home like your cooking appliances and lights.
Add distilled water when the electrolyte level falls below a half-inch above
the plates. Do not overfill. keep the water level an eighth of an inch below
the battery’s internal vent-wall.
Converter
Converts 120-volt Alternating Current (AC) power into
12-volt Direct Current (DC) power.
A camera in the back of an RV that connects to a digital
monitor in the dashboard to give the driver a better view of what’s behind
them, when reversing or when towing on the road.
Worth Pondering… May the joy of today, bring forth happiness for tomorrow.
Murphys, California, blends Gold Rush history, Sierra Foothills wineries, historic hotels, giant sequoias, and small-town charm into one of California’s finest slow-travel destinations.
Some towns are worth visiting. Others invite you to slow down, stay awhile, and discover their character one unhurried moment at a time. Murphys belongs firmly in the second category.
Nestled in the foothills of California’s central Sierra Nevada, between Yosemite’s granite heights and the alpine reaches of Lake Tahoe, Murphys is one of those rare Gold Country towns that has managed to hold onto its past while remaining fully alive in the present. Home to roughly 2,000 residents, it blends Gold Rush heritage with a modern rhythm of galleries, wine-tasting rooms, boutique shops, live theater, and inviting restaurants, all set against easy access to the surrounding Sierra foothills.
For RV travelers, Murphys has a way of stretching time. What begins as a brief stop often becomes a longer pause. The streets encourage wandering rather than rushing and the surrounding landscape invites exploration without urgency. It is the kind of place where plans soften, afternoons expand, and leaving always feels slightly premature.
A short drive east along Highway 4 from Angels Camp leads into Murphys, tracing the early movement of miners and traders into the Sierra foothills. Founded in 1848 by John and Daniel Murphy, the town began as a foothold in a rapidly changing landscape soon transformed by the discovery of gold and the rush of fortune seekers that followed.
The making of a Gold Rush town in California’s Sierra foothills
Murphys’ story begins with John and Daniel Murphy, two brothers closely tied to the earliest surge of California’s Gold Rush era. Before gold changed everything, they were already part of western migration history. In 1844, they joined the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party, the first immigrant wagon train to successfully bring wagons across the Sierra Nevada. Their journey helped open a practical overland route into California, paving the way for the waves of settlers that followed.
When gold was discovered in 1848, California changed almost overnight. The Murphy brothers quickly recognized the opportunity and established a trading post and mining operation in the foothills of Calaveras County in the area that would bear their name. Rich deposits were soon found throughout the surrounding hills and news of the “Murphys Diggings” spread rapidly through the Sierra mining camps.
What began as a rough outpost quickly grew into a bustling settlement. Early on, the camp consisted of scattered tents, lean-tos, and a few sturdy blockhouses serving miners and merchants.
The scale of early success was striking. Historical accounts suggest the Murphy brothers extracted as much as two million dollars in gold ore in a single year, an extraordinary fortune that made them wealthy before the age of twenty-five.
By 1850, Murphys had grown to around 1,200 residents and just two years later it had swelled to nearly 3,000. In a short span, a rugged mining camp became one of the more significant settlements in the southern Mother Lode, filled with miners, traders, and entrepreneurs drawn by opportunity.
Standing in Murphys today, it is easy to forget how quickly it all happened. The noise of the diggings is gone, replaced by quiet streets and shaded sidewalks, yet the foundations of that early boom still shape the town’s character. Murphys is no longer just a stop along Highway 4 but a place built on one of the most transformative chapters in California history.
Gold, fortune seekers, and the rush that defined Murphys
Murphys earned its place in California Gold Rush history as one of the richest of the “diggins” where wealth seemed almost shockingly concentrated in the earth itself. In one remarkable winter, an estimated five million dollars in gold was pulled from just four acres of placer ground. News of such abundance spread quickly and Murphys became a magnet for those willing to risk everything for a chance at fortune.
The town’s population swelled almost overnight with a mix of personalities that defined the Gold Rush era. Miners worked alongside gamblers, merchants, opportunists, and drifters. Figures who would later enter California’s outlaw folklore also passed through the region including Joaquin Murrieta and stagecoach robber Black Bart.
In those early years, Murphys was a place where prosperity and lawlessness blurred easily. Wealth could be made quickly—and lost just as fast. The same streets that carried gold dust also carried stories that would long outlast the boom itself.
Engineering a second life for the Murphys diggings
By the early 1850s, the easy surface gold that had fueled Murphys’ rapid rise began to decline. Claims grew crowded, returns diminished, and miners confronted a familiar Gold Rush reality: the richest ground rarely lasted long. But rather than fade, Murphys adapted.
That adaptation began with water.
In 1853, the Union Water Company completed a system of ditches and flumes that carried water nearly fifteen miles from the Stanislaus River. The project transformed mining in the region. With a reliable water supply, hydraulic methods could rework ancient gravels, breathing new life into ground that had already been heavily mined.
What followed was a second boom—less frantic than the first but more engineered and sustained. Large-scale projects reshaped both the work and the landscape. The Deep Cut, completed in 1857, drained the mining flats and allowed year-round operations. Elsewhere, a suspension flume carried water across a canyon to the Central Hill Mine, reflecting the growing scale of ambition in the region.
As the most accessible gold disappeared, miners pushed deeper into the surrounding hills. Activity concentrated in districts such as Owlsberg, Algiers, and Murphys Gulch while operations like the Central Hill Mine and the Oro y Plata complex became anchors of production.
Murphys had entered a new phase—one defined less by sudden strikes of fortune and more by persistence, engineering, and the determination to draw value from a landscape that had already given much of itself away.
As gold mining shaped Murphys’ earliest identity, another chapter was taking shape in the surrounding hills—one defined not by extraction but by discovery. The same landscape that yielded gold also held ancient forests, limestone caverns, and geological wonders that would draw travelers from far beyond the Sierra foothills.
Over time, Murphys became a natural stopping point for visitors exploring the region. What had once been a mining camp evolved into a gateway to attractions such as the Calaveras Big Trees and the cave systems scattered throughout Calaveras County.
By the mid-nineteenth century, the town was attracting a steady stream of visitors and observers. Writers including Bret Harte and Mark Twain found inspiration in the region while publisher James Hutchings helped introduce its scenery to a wider audience through Hutchings’ California Magazine. Other notable visitors included Ulysses S. Grant, Henry Ward Beecher, and California pioneer John Bidwell.
The attraction that brought Murphys the greatest attention was the Calaveras Big Trees. Although known to Native peoples and earlier emigrants, the grove gained widespread recognition after Augustus T. Dowd’s widely credited 1852 “discovery.” The giant sequoias quickly became one of California’s earliest tourist destinations.
As Hutchings observed in 1859, Murphys was transformed by its proximity to the Big Trees, becoming a focal point for travelers heading into the Sierra.
The surrounding limestone belt added further appeal. Natural Bridges, Mercer Caverns, and other underground formations offered visitors a chance to explore a very different side of the Sierra landscape helping establish Murphys as a base for exploration as well as mining.
By the late nineteenth century, Murphys had begun another transformation—from a town built on gold to one enriched by curiosity, scenery, and the travelers drawn to both.
Where history, hospitality, and slow travel naturally meet
Today, Murphys is best experienced on foot. Its historic Main Street still echoes the nineteenth century yet feels fully alive with galleries, tasting rooms, locally owned shops, and inviting eateries that encourage visitors to linger rather than rush.
The town’s architecture tells much of its story. Thick stone walls, iron shutters, and weathered facades remain from earlier eras, softened by shaded sidewalks, white picket fences, and carefully tended gardens. Oaks and sycamores line the streets, creating a gentle rhythm far removed from the town’s rough mining beginnings.
Beyond Main Street, wineries, art galleries, and nearby natural attractions offer plenty of reasons to stay awhile. Many visitors arrive expecting a brief stop and discover that Murphys is best enjoyed without a schedule.
Like any good slow-travel destination, its appeal is not found in a single attraction but in the experience of wandering, lingering, and letting the town reveal itself one street at a time.
The Historic heart of Murphys
A hotel, a saloon, and the stories that never quite left
One of Murphys’ most enduring landmarks is the Sperry & Perry Hotel, now known as the Murphys Historic Hotel & Lodge. Opened in 1855, it has witnessed more than a century and a half of Sierra history unfold within its walls.
Among its notable guests were Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, and Horatio Alger. Even Black Bart—the poetry-writing stagecoach robber who successfully held up 28 Wells Fargo coaches before his capture in 1883—is said to have stayed here. In Murphys, history often feels surprisingly close.
Today, locals still gather at the saloon bar, carrying forward a tradition of conversation and community that spans generations. In the morning, the scene shifts across the street to Biga Murphys Bakery where the aroma of fresh bread and pastries draws visitors in for a simple start to the day.
Like much of Murphys, the hotel is more than a historic landmark—it remains a living part of the town’s daily rhythm.
Few small towns offer a wine experience quite like Murphys. Along its historic Main Street, an unusually high concentration of tasting rooms brings wine country directly into the heart of town, creating an experience that feels both accessible and distinctly local.
What sets Murphys apart is not just the number of wineries but the people behind them. Winemakers and vineyard owners are often present in the tasting rooms, welcoming visitors, answering questions, and sharing the stories behind their wines.
The Murphys area is home to more than 25 wineries with around 20 tasting rooms located within easy walking distance of one another downtown. It is one of the few places where wine country can truly be explored on foot, moving from tasting room to tasting room beneath the shade of historic storefronts and mature trees.
Beyond Main Street, rolling hills dotted with vineyards and destination wineries extend the experience into the surrounding countryside. Together, they create a wine region that is approachable, authentic, and uniquely connected to the town itself.
Wine, history, and Sierra grandeur on the edge of Murphys
Just outside Murphys, Ironstone Vineyards offers a wine experience on a grand scale. Set amid the Sierra foothills, the estate attracts visitors year-round with its gardens, seasonal events, and expansive grounds.
Visitors can explore the multi-level winery, descend into extensive wine caves, and wander through museum exhibits and outdoor displays that reflect the region’s Gold Rush heritage. In spring, colorful daffodil displays add another reason to visit.
Wine remains at the heart of the experience. Tastings are often held around the restored 1907 bar where guests can sample a variety of Sierra Foothills wines including Ironstone’s well-known Zinfandels and red blends.
One of the estate’s most unexpected treasures is a fully restored 1927 theater organ originally built for Sacramento’s Alhambra Theater. Combined with picnic areas, shaded lawns, and sweeping foothill views, it helps make Ironstone more than a tasting stop—it’s one of Murphys’ signature destinations.
Small wineries, slower moments, and the charm of discovery
For a more intimate wine experience, take Sheep Ranch Road north of Murphys to Stevenot Winery. Here, the atmosphere feels decidedly different from the larger estates, offering a relaxed setting surrounded by the rolling foothills.
The tasting room has the feel of a local discovery, inviting visitors to sample wines that reflect the character of the region. Among the standouts is the winery’s Tempranillo, a medium-bodied red well suited to the Sierra Foothills landscape.
A small gourmet section offers artisan chocolates and other treats that pair nicely with the wines making Stevenot an easy and enjoyable stop while exploring Murphys wine country.
Descending into Mercer Caverns before rising back into the light
Not far along Sheep Ranch Road lies one of the region’s most fascinating natural attractions—Mercer Caverns. From the surface, little hints at the world hidden below.
Inside, visitors descend 161 feet into a maze of limestone formations shaped over millions of years. Stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and columns fill the caverns, revealing the slow geological processes that created this underground landscape.
The contrast between the cool darkness below and the bright Sierra foothills above is part of the experience. Emerging once again into daylight, many visitors continue their exploration toward another of the region’s natural wonders—the giant sequoias of Calaveras Big Trees State Park.
About fourteen miles up Highway 4 from Murphys, the road climbs into Calaveras Big Trees State Park, home to some of the largest and oldest living things on earth.
Walking beneath the giant sequoias is both humbling and exhilarating. Visitors follow well-worn trails through the North Grove, passing beneath towering trunks that have stood for thousands of years and inspire a sense of time far beyond human measure.
More than a sightseeing stop, the Big Trees offer perspective. The noise of everyday life seems to fade beneath the forest canopy, replaced by stillness, scale, and a deeper appreciation for the age and resilience of these remarkable giants.
In many ways, the grove complements Murphys itself. Where the town tells stories measured in decades and centuries, the sequoia
Murphys today, where history, wine, and wandering all meet in one quiet rhythm
Murphys does not announce itself loudly. It reveals itself slowly, in layers—first through its tree-lined streets and historic facades, then through the weight of its Gold Rush past and finally through the easy rhythm of present-day life unfolding between tasting rooms, cafés, galleries, and shaded sidewalks.
What began as a mining camp defined by urgency and uncertainty has become a place defined by balance. The wealth that once came from the earth has been replaced by something more sustainable: community, craftsmanship, and a steady appreciation for place. Families, visitors, and longtime residents now share the same streets where fortune seekers once crowded the diggings, each adding their own quiet chapter to a long and complex story.
Yet Murphys has not polished away its history. It has absorbed it. The old stone buildings still stand. The stories still linger in the hotel bars and historic storefronts. Even the surrounding landscape—vineyards, caverns, foothills, and towering sequoias—feels like part of a larger continuum rather than separate attractions.
For the slow traveler, Murphys offers something rare: a destination that does not demand to be consumed, but experienced over time. It is a place where a short stop often becomes a longer stay, and where the simplest act—walking Main Street, sitting beneath the trees, or watching the light shift across old brick and stone—becomes the most memorable part of the journey.
In the end, Murphys is not just a point on a map between Yosemite and the Sierra foothills. It is a reminder that travel is sometimes less about distance covered, and more about how deeply a place allows you to arrive.
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Editor’s note
This article was originally published in April 2019 and updated in July 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.
To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.
The American Southwest is famous for incredible scenery, red rock pinnacles and formations, brilliant sunsets, and deep canyons
This is uncommon land, for an uncommon experience.
Get your camera ready for this scenic route from Las Vegas
to Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, and other
scenic wonders of the American West.
An engineering marvel, the Hoover Dam tamed the mighty
Colorado River to provide hydroelectric power and much-needed water for the
parched Southwest, creating Lake Mead in the process. Just 25 miles outside Las
Vegas, Lake Mead National Recreational Area offers more than 550 miles of
shoreline and year-round outdoor adventure. Whether it’s swimming, water skiing,
boating or fishing, it’s all possible in this spectacular setting.
Unlike most other Utah parks, Zion is a canyon viewed mostly
from below. White and vermilion cliffs tower all around, some reaching nearly
8,000 feet. The main canyon was cut by the North Fork of the Virgin River. It
is narrow, less than a quarter-mile wide. But it is deep, flanked by towering
sandstone palisades 2,000-3,000 feet high that often draw rock climbers to its walls.
The six-mile canyon drive ends at a formation known as Temple of Sinawava,
where the canyon begins narrowing to a slot only 30-40 feet wide.
Discover a massive array of red rock spires that extend
hundreds of feet into the air. Known as hoodoos, these totem-like formations
rise in a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters. Explore deep canyons on
foot or drive around the high elevation loop road and look out for Bryce’s
bristlecone pines, the world’s oldest trees that date back 5,000 years.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers unparalleled
opportunities for water-based and backcountry recreation amid scenic vistas and
geologic wonders. The second largest man-made lake in the U.S., Lake Powell is
without doubt the most scenic, stretching 186 miles across the red rock desert
from Page, Arizona to Hite, Utah.
You’ll marvel at the 250-million-year-old red rock
formations, the magical light, the starry night, and the Native American
history that infuses this iconic landscape. Drive the 17-mile scenic loop road
on your own or hire a guide to delve deeper into the storied region and to
access off-limit sites. Camping at The View Campground offers the RV traveler a
great opportunity to capture the incomparable sunrise and sunset hues. Don’t
forget your cameras!
The squeaky wooden floor greets your entry. When your
eyes adjust to the dim light in the “bullpen” you find you’ve entered
a mercantile. Hubbell Trading Post has been serving Ganado selling goods
and Native American Art since 1878. Little has changed in more than 140 years
at the oldest operating trading post on the Navajo Reservation.
Visitors also can tour the Hubbell house; browse the visitor
center (built in 1920 and used originally as a school); and see barns, corrals,
wagons, and other historical farm equipment, as well as a variety of farm
animals, including Churro sheep.
Most visitors come to see the ancient tree trunks, which are
preserved by minerals they absorbed after being submerged in a riverbed nearly
200 million years ago. And they’re quite a sight: Over time, the huge logs
turned to solid, sparkling quartz in a rainbow of colors—the yellow of citrine,
the purple of amethyst, the red-brown of jasper. This mineral-tinted landscape
also boasts painted deserts and striated canyons.
The Colorado River cuts through the American west to create
one of the natural wonders of the planet. A total of 277 miles long and up to a
mile deep, it’s a geological masterpiece, with amazing vantage points along
both the North and South rims. Over millions of years, the river sliced the
landscape into sheer rock walls, revealing many layered colors, each marking a
different geologic era.
Worth Pondering…
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the
earth are never alone or weary of life.
These words get thrown around a lot when talking about La
Conner.
La Conner is a quaint waterfront village in northwestern
Washington, nestled beside the Swinomish Channel near the mouth of the Skagit
River. The channel gives La Conner much of its color and atmosphere, a distinct
seaside ambiance that comes from watching the fishing boats and pleasure craft
navigate the channel out to the San Juan Islands. Crowning the channel is the
Rainbow Bridge—the Golden Gate of La Conner.
Located 70 miles north of Seattle and 90 miles south of
Vancouver, British Columbia, La Conner is a 15-minute drive from nearby Mount
Vernon and Anacortes.
Picturesque little La Conner is a unique combination of
fishing village, artists’ colony, eclectic shops, historic buildings, and
tourist destination. Relax by the water, enjoy fine restaurants, browse through
unique shops and art galleries, visit the beautiful tulip fields of Skagit
Valley, and experience the peace and quiet of a charming old fashioned town.
La Conner was settled in 1867 as a trading post. In 1869, John Conner purchased the trading post built by John Hayes, another early settler, on the west side of the Swinomish Slough and established a post office. In 1869, all the town plus 70 acres was deeded to John Conner for $500. To honor his wife, Louisa A. (LA) Conner, the town’s original name of Swinomish was changed to La Conner in 1870. La Conner was briefly the county seat before Mount Vernon.
La Conner was a bustling commercial center by the turn of
the century. Much of the boom’s era architecture has survived, earning La
Conner’s historic district a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
The design of new, in-fill buildings is carefully controlled. The village is
authentic.
The rich floodplain of the Skagit Delta has been farmed
since European settlement. The area’s bulb industry got a boost when blight
attacked European bulbs in the 1920s and ’40s, and many of the farmers who
plowed into this opportunity were Dutch.
La Conner is home to a diverse mix of cultures and
backgrounds, including the Swinomish Tribal Community, Shelter Bay residents
from across the Channel, fishermen, farmers, and artists.
La Conner dates from a time when Puget Sound towns were
connected by water and not by road, and consequently the town clings to the
shore of Swinomish Channel. La Conner reached a commercial peak around 1900
(when steamers made the run to Seattle) and continued as an important grain-
and log-shipping port until the Great Depression. It never recovered from the
hard times of the ’30s, and when the highways bypassed the town, it became a
neglected backwater.
The wooden false-fronted buildings built during the town’s
heyday were spared the wrecking balls of the 1960s, and today these old
buildings give the town its inimitable charm.
Beginning in the 1940s, La Conner’s picturesque setting
attracted several artists and writers, and by the 1970s it had become known as
an artists’ community. Tourism began to revive the economy, and the town’s
artistic legacy led to the building of the Museum of Northwest Art, dedicated
to the region’s many contemporary artists.
Adding still more color to this vibrant little town are the
commercial flower farms of the surrounding Skagit Valley. In the spring, tulips
carpet the surrounding farmlands with great swaths of red, yellow, and white. The
acres of color are a must-see.
La Conner is one of those places in Washington State that
people love to visit—time and time again. The reasons are many, but one that
stands out is that there are so many things to do in—and around—La Conner. La
Conner offers four seasons of activities with interesting and fun activities
nearly every weekend, all year long, including Arts Alive! in November, Christmas
boat parade, and the Classic Boat and Car Show in August.
For nearly 150 years, La Conner has had a special place in
the hearts of its residents and visitors; we expect that it will continue to be
one of Washington State’s most-loved historic communities for generations to
come.
America’s state parks may keep a lower profile than the
renowned national parks but that doesn’t mean they’re any less of a worthwhile
destination. With 8,565 designated areas spanning over 18 million acres of
land, there’s an incredible range of outdoor experiences to explore—including
some real standouts that deserve to be on your RV travel radar.
This state park in southeast Utah has drawn comparisons to
the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. With breathtaking views into Canyonlands
National Park and the Colorado River 2,000 feet below, Dead Horse Point is a
highlight for hikers and photographers exploring canyon country.
Catalina State Park sits at the base of the majestic
Santa Catalina Mountains. The park is a haven for desert plants and wildlife
and nearly 5,000 saguaros. The 5,500 acres of foothills, canyons, and streams
invites camping, picnicking, and bird watching—more than 150 species of birds
call the park home. Commonly encountered species of wildlife include javelin,
coyote, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and various reptiles.
The 1,445-acre Lackawanna State Park is in northeastern
Pennsylvania, ten miles north of Scranton. The centerpiece of the park, the
198-acre Lackawanna Lake, is surrounded by picnic areas and multi-use trails
winding through forest. Boating, camping, fishing, mountain biking, and
swimming are popular activities. The campground is within walking distance of
the lake and swimming pool, and features forested sites with electric hook-ups
and walk-in tent sites. Rustic, modern, and full service sites are available.
“We will sing one song for the old Kentucky Home, for the
old Kentucky Home far away.”
Federal Hill is the centerpiece of My Old Kentucky Home
State Park. The house has been restored to its mid-19th century appearance and
young women guides dressed like Scarlett O’Hara, lead tours. Built between 1795
and 1818, Federal Hill was the home of Judge John Rowan. Just outside
Bardstown, the house and estate had been the home of the Rowan family for three
generations, spanning a period of 120 years.
Boasting South Carolina’s only publicly accessible
lighthouse, Hunting Island is a popular stop on the coast. It has five miles of
beaches, a saltwater lagoon, and 5,000 acres of marshland and maritime forest,
plus one hundred campsites. Local wildlife includes loggerhead turtles, which
nest in the summer, alligators, and hundreds of bird species.
Custer State Park in the beautiful Black Hills of western
South Dakota is full of lush forests, quiet and serene meadows, and majestic
mountains. Few truly wild places remain in this country. Custer State Park is
one of them. Nearly 1,300 bison wander the park’s 71,000 acres of mountains,
hills, and prairie, which they share with a wealth of wildlife including pronghorn
antelope, elk, white-tailed and mule deer, big horn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes,
wild turkeys, a band of burros, and whole towns of adorable prairie dogs.
The largest state park in the contiguous United States, Anza-Borrego
is flanked by rugged mountains on three sides and the Salton Sea to the east. Its
650,000 acres contain spectacular desert vistas, a variety of plant and animal
life, and numerous archaeological, cultural, and historic sites. Lush oases
with graceful palm trees lie hidden in valleys where water bubbles close to the
surface.
Myakka River State Park offers a variety of experiences:
Day-trippers come for the airboat ride, tram ride, canopy walkway, and stop at
the water-front café. Adventurers head for the 39 miles of hiking trails,
excellent paved and unpaved biking trails, or kayaking on the scenic river. Given
you need ample time to see and do it all, you can camp in one of 80 camping
sites.
Worth Pondering…
Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.
—Robin Sharma
Your first step in purchasing an RV is to ask yourself what you would like to do in your recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicles are a great way to see the country and
allow owners the freedom to travel.
They are great for weekends and extended vacations, but they
are a major investment. And purchasing an RV is considerably more complicated
than buying a car.
Your first step in purchasing an RV is to ask yourself what
you would like to do in your trailer or motorhome. Do you plan to use it for
family trips to a nearby lake or for extended travel across the country? Or as
a second home in the winter and travel south to a Sunbelt state where it’s sunny,
warm, and without snow? Perhaps you’re thinking of selling your home and living
full-time in an RV.
What sizes and styles do you prefer? Will you buy a new or
pre-owned RV?
The more time you plan to spend in your RV, the more
carefully you need to consider your purchase. There’s no right way to camp.
Some people are shopping for an RV with a clean bathroom and comfortable beds
that will keep them warm and cozy at night. Other campers are seeking a smaller
version of their sticks and bricks house, with all the creature comforts of
home. Will everyone be able to eat a meal, play a board game, or watch a movie?
Think about how you want to live in the RV, and make sure the floor plan will
support that dream.
If you are a first time RV shopper, you might be
surprised—and a little overwhelmed—at how many options there are out there.
Once you have settled on the type of RV you are looking for (travel trailer,
fifth wheel, motorhome), you’ll still have to decide the size and floor plan
that will suit you best.
While you’re trying to determine how you want to use your
RV, do some homework. Use the Internet to browse RV brands and styles. Be aware
that all manufacturers are not created equal.
If your friends or neighbors own an RV talk with them about
their vehicle and their experiences.
Look through the interior; examine various options so you can understand
what is available.
A key factor is size. If you are only planning to use it
sporadically, then size might not be an issue. But if you plan on living out of
the vehicle for extended periods of time, then a larger RV may be more
comfortable. Be aware that some older campgrounds and RV parks have
restrictions on size.
Additional features can make your ride enjoyable. Choose
items that would make your trip as comfortable as possible.
Every RV is a bit different than the next, and some options
will be more important to you than others. That’s why it’s important to have a
list of “must haves” vs. “nice to haves” before you even start looking. Here
are a few features that may or may not be on your list depending on your RV
lifestyle:
Large awning
Outdoor TV
Power and automated systems for stabilizing jacks and levelers
Once you become more acquainted with the marketplace, start
visiting RV dealers. After all your research, you should be better prepared to
speak with the salespeople clearly and confidently.
One of the greatest benefits of RV travel is being able to
use the bathroom and have lunch in our RV kitchen while at rest stops. If this
is also important to you, make sure you can access everything you will need
even with the slides in. Can you access the bathroom, open the refrigerator,
and get into the bedroom? Ask the salesperson to bring in the slides for you to
make sure the travel mode will work for you and your family.
Most dealers have an on-site service department. Most RV
repairs are specialized and different from regular vehicles.
Like all vehicles, RVs need maintenance and repairs from
time to time. When you need to repair or maintain your vehicle, it is essential
that you deal with professionals. You will need experienced and excellent customer
service. Be aware that all dealers are not created equal.
After all, your RV is an enormous investment. Don’t trust it
to just anyone.
In the interests of full disclosure, we currently own a 2019
Dutch Star diesel pusher. This is our fifth Newmar motorhome and Midtown RV in
Penticton, British Columbia, is our trusted dealer. Yes, great customer service
matters.
Worth Pondering…
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of
intelligent effort.
The Green and Colorado Rivers trisect the Colorado Plateau, etching Canyonlands into distinct districts
People who live in the West are indeed blessed. They really
don’t have to travel very far to visit one of America’s great national parks. In
California, there’s Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon. To the
west in Arizona, there’s the Grand Canyon, and north in the state of Utah, you
can also find Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands.
Most of us who tour national parks, probably have explored
two or three of the five mentioned Utah parks. The one that is least visited,
Canyonlands, is the one that is unusually interesting in that it most resembles
the Grand Canyon in structure. That’s for obvious reasons, most importantly,
the Colorado River runs through it and over eons carved out the canyons that we
come to see and enjoy.
There are other similarities as well. The Grand Canyon is divided by the Colorado River into the two sections, the North Rim and the South Rim. Most people visit the South Rim, which is all about the viewpoints that look down into the canyons. Canyonlands is the same.
There are three separate regions for visitation, technically divided by the Colorado River. In the south, one can travel to The Needles and The Maze regions and to the completely separate north, the Island in the Sky region. Most people visit the easily accessible Island in the Sky, and here, too, it’s really all about peering down to the canyon vistas.
The odd thing about Island in the Sky is you take Highway 191
north out of Moab, drive past Arches National Park and you fully expect to see
a big sign, that if it could speak, would loudly scream, “turn here, turn
here.” Instead a little sign whispers, “this way, this way.”
I’m not sure why Canyonlands can’t attract the attention it
needs, but if you blink you will miss the turn sign. Catch it and you head west
through the break in the rock wall that has followed you since Moab.
The road will eventually twist and turn, climbing all the
time until you find yourself at the top of an extensive mesa, a high plateau as
flat as a pancake and going on and on until it ends, which it does abruptly to
sheer drops of 1,000 feet or more. That’s where you are heading, the numerous,
scenic spots where the mesa ends and you can look out and over the surrounding
canyons.
Possibly, the vistas are better at Canyonlands than the
Grand Canyon because the canyons aren’t so intensely jangled. At Canyonlands,
the canyons are deep below, wide and grand, while the views seemed to go on
forever.
The Island in the Sky formation is essentially a stretch of
lands that ends in a triangle. To the west are the Green River formed canyons,
and to the east are the Colorado River formed canyons. At tip of the triangle
is where the Green and Colorado rivers come together.
The high plateau is mostly grasslands, but the elevation
rises to anywhere from 5,500 feet to over 6,000 feet at the Grand View Point
Overlook. As the elevation ascends, the grasslands devolve and once you arrive
at the park, the landscape is red desert spotted with juniper trees and other
gnarly plants like pinon pine.
The park begins at the Visitor Center, which is quite sparse
and not at all elaborate like nearby Arches.
There are some really strenuous hikes in the parks, but
remember you are literally at the top of an existent world and many of those
hikes descend precariously. The Murphy Loop trail drops 1,400 feet, while the
Syncline Loop features boulder fields, switchbacks, and a 1,300 foot elevation
change. Even for the experienced hiker these are hard, full-day journeys.
The typical day visitor to Canyonlands will make two
relatively short hikes. The easiest is the Mesa Arch trail, a loop that starts
at the road and at mid-point puts you at the edge of a canyon. The reward on
this hike is a horizontal arch that at first glance doesn’t look like much, but
once you get close enough to actually be under the arch you realize that’s as
far as you are going to proceed, because you are at the edge of the ledge. Then
continue on for the rest of the loop. All in, it’s about a 30 minute walk.
The highlight for Island in the Sky is the Upheaval Dome,
which conversely is actually a 1,500-foot-deep crater. According to one theory,
the “dome” was formed by a meteor crashing into earth. However, it’s not just
the geology that makes this stop interesting, it’s also the best short hike in
Island in the Sky.
The classic Canyonlands overlook is Grand View Point, where
you can see the meeting of the Green and Colorado rivers, but it’s
anticlimactic after the exhilarating walk to Upheaval Dome.
Worth Pondering…
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in
and pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and
soul.
Celebrate the beauty and natural wonders of America’s National Park Service sites at these lesser-known locations
Among America’s 418 National Park Service (NPS) sites, some
stand out as must-sees for most RV travelers: Blue Ridge Parkway, Lake Mead
National Recreation Area, and Natchez Trace Parkway all come to mind as
bucket-list sites.
And indeed, these and other parks welcome millions of
visitors each year. Yet there are many other lesser-known parks equally worth
your time—parks with extraordinary wildlife and unique natural features that
mere thousands of visitors experience annually.
Here, we’ve rounded up ten of the least-visited national
parks and make a case for why each one is worth a visit. Some are little-known,
others are obscurely located, but all celebrate the beauty and power of
America’s natural wonders—and, as a bonus, can be enjoyed with fewer crowds.
Cowpens National Battlefield commemorates a decisive battle
that helped turn the tide of war in the Southern Campaign of the American
Revolution. On this field on January 17, 1781, Daniel Morgan led his army of
tough Continentals, militia, and cavalry to a brilliant victory over Banastre
Tarleton’s force of British regulars.
The richly diverse volcanic landscape of El Malpais offers
solitude, recreation, and discovery. Explore cinder cones, lava tube caves,
sandstone bluffs, and hiking trails.
In the Coronado National Forest bordering Mexico, Coronado
National Memorial celebrates the achievements of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado,
who led the first recorded European expedition to America, in 1540. The
attraction for most visitors is the rugged and scenic terrain, which is crossed
by several hiking trails.
Tuzigoot is a small national monument that preserves the
remains of dwellings of the 12th century Sinagua Indians. Tuzigoot comprises a
cluster of buildings, on top of a small sandstone ridge close to the Verde
River valley.
The Hohokam people built these structures when they were
near the height of their power some 700 years ago. The monument preserves 60
prehistoric sites, including a four-story earthen structure. Interpretive
walking tours and exhibits are available.
Cumberland Island is Georgia’s largest and southernmost
barrier island, full of pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches, and
wide marshes. Walk in the footsteps of early natives, explorers, and wealthy
industrialists.
Hovenweep is one of those out of the way destinations that are
easy to miss. Hovenweep preserves six villages once inhabited by the ancestors
of today’s Pueblo people. These structures at Hovenweep are numerous and
varied.
Founded in 1876 by John Lorenzo Hubbell, this is the oldest
continuously operating trading post on the Navajo Reservation. This site in
Ganado is part museum, part art gallery and still a functioning trading post,
virtually unchanged since its early days.
Worth Pondering… The national parks in the U.S. are destinations unto themselves with
recreation, activities, history, and culture.
Winter has finally come to an end, which means road trip season is here
Spring is so close we can taste it, making us yearn for the open road and adventurous, memory-building destinations that allow us to let loose our inner-trailblazer.
All signs are pointing to a spring RV excursion! And to get
rolling, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite destinations that are
ideal for the RV adventurers.
Arguably, the state’s most beautiful city, San Antonio has much to offer. Fantastic museums, San Antonio River Walk, La Villita, HemisFair Park, Tower of the Americas, El Mercado, King William Historic District, and, of course, The Alamo are but a few of its highlights. And if you like the Alamo, you’ll love the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, a string of several 15th- and 16th-century Spanish missions in and around the city.
Fiesta San Antonio (April 18-28, in 2019) started in 1891 as
a one-parade event as a way to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo
and the Battle of San Jacinto. It has grown into a celebration of San
Antonio’s rich and diverse cultures.
Admire the grandeur and wonders of the Grand Canyon, a powerful and inspiring landscape that overpowers our senses through its immense size. You won’t find similar mixtures of color and erosional formations anywhere else. The canyon is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and about a mile deep, according to the National Park Service.
A universally recognizable iconic destination, Grand Canyon
National Park is a true marvel of nature. Just about everywhere you look the
views are amazing and the sheer size of it can be overwhelming.
Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, Tennessee/North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national
park in the country. People come for the more than 800 miles of recreation trails
that wind through breathtaking scenery, and beautiful wildflowers. In fact, the
park is home to the largest number of flowering plants of any park in the
country—more than 1,600 different species.
On the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains, tens of
thousands of horny, synchronous fireflies put on a psychedelic fireworks show.
They gather near the Elkmont Campground (approximately 6 miles from Sugarlands
Visitor Center), flashing simultaneously as part of a two-week mating ritual
that lights up the entire forest and draws spectators from around the world.
Visit between late May and mid-June, and make reservations in advance.
Explore Colonial Williamsburg in the city of
Williamsburg. You’ll be highly entertained as you explore the government
buildings, shops, homes, gardens, and taverns of Williamsburg and viewing free
outdoor entertainment like re-enactment actors firing cannons. Enter the
residents’ homes or learn about their workplaces; see where they sleep, where they
eat, and where they socialize.
La Conner is one of those places that people love to
visit—time and time again. The reasons are many, but one that stands out is
that there are so many things to do in—and around—La Conner. A waterfront
village in northwestern Washington, La Conner is nestled beside the Swinomish
Channel near the mouth of the Skagit River.
La Conner is a unique combination of fishing village,
artists’ colony, eclectic shops, historic buildings, and tourist destination.
Relax by the water, enjoy fine restaurants, browse through unique shops and art
galleries, and visit the beautiful tulip fields of Skagit Valley.
Joshua Tree is a diverse area of sand dunes, dry lakes, flat
valleys, extraordinarily rugged mountains, granitic monoliths, and oases. The
park is home to two deserts: the Colorado which offers low desert formations
and plant life, such as ocotillo and teddy bear cholla cactus; and the Mojave.
This higher, cooler, wetter region is the natural habitat of the Joshua tree.
The different elevation throughout the park cause flowers to
bloom at different times, with the low elevation flowers blooming earlier
than higher elevation flowers. Catch a glimpse of the teddy bear cholla at the
low elevations and head to higher ground to see blooms in April May.
Worth Pondering…
If you don’t know where you are
going, any road will lead you there.
