September, 2026 - RVing with Rex

September 2026 RV Recalls: 13 Recalls Affecting 8 RV Manufacturers—Is Your RV on the List?

Check the September 2026 RV recalls affecting Forest River, Jayco, Tiffin, Winnebago, Grand Design and more. See if your RV is on the list.

Before you hitch up or pull out of the campground, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check whether your RV has been recalled. A manufacturer safety recall may involve defects that increase the risk of fire, loss of vehicle control, equipment failure, or other hazards that could put you and your passengers at risk.

The latest recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affect thousands of motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth wheels from eight RV manufacturers. If your RV is included, the manufacturer is required to repair the safety defect at no cost to you through an authorized dealer.

Below is a roundup of the 13 RV recalls announced during September 2026. Check the list carefully to see if your RV is affected before your next trip. A few minutes today could prevent a breakdown—or something far more serious—tomorrow.

What is an RV recall?

Find out if your RV is affected

It’s important to stay up to date on RV safety recalls, even when the reported issue appears minor. A small defect can become a serious safety hazard if left unaddressed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes new recall notices each week with the latest list typically released every Monday.

A recall is issued when either the manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a recreational vehicle or a piece of RV equipment contains a safety-related defect or fails to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. By law, the manufacturer must correct the problem at no cost to the owner.

Once a recall is announced, the manufacturer notifies its dealer network and provides details about the affected RVs, the nature of the safety defect, and the approved repair procedure. Owners of affected vehicles are then notified and instructed on how to have the repair completed.

It’s important to remember that NHTSA safety recalls address issues that could affect the safe operation of an RV. They are not issued for general quality or warranty concerns, such as an air conditioner that doesn’t cool properly or a slide-out that won’t extend, unless those problems also create a safety risk.

For previous recall roundups, see:

A few minutes checking recalls can help keep your RV travels safe. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Common types of RV recalls

The three most common sources of RV safety recalls

Most RV safety recalls fall into one of three categories: the RV manufacturer, the motorhome chassis manufacturer, or a third-party component supplier.

RV manufacturer recalls are the most common. Companies such as Forest River, Thor Industries, Winnebago Industries, and REV Group may issue recalls involving the RV’s structure, electrical system, propane system, plumbing, slide-outs, or other factory-installed components.

Motorhome chassis recalls affect the vehicle itself rather than the RV living area. Chassis manufacturers including Ford, Chevrolet, Mercedes-Benz, and Freightliner may issue recalls involving the engine, steering, brakes, suspension, transmission, or other drivetrain and safety systems.

Third-party supplier recalls involve components installed by the RV manufacturer but built by outside suppliers. These recalls may include water heaters, furnaces, refrigerators, air conditioners, cooktops, awnings, windows, entry doors, or other equipment used across multiple RV brands.

Regardless of who issues the recall, it’s important to have the repair completed as soon as possible. Recall repairs are performed at no cost to the owner and addressing a safety defect promptly helps protect you, your passengers, and your RV while traveling.

Register your RV with NHTSA

Get notified as soon as a recall is issued

One of the easiest ways to stay informed about RV safety recalls is to register for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Recall Notification Email System. Once enrolled, you’ll receive email alerts when a safety recall is issued for your RV or one of its major components.

Getting notified early means you can schedule repairs before a minor defect becomes a serious safety concern—and recall repairs are provided at no cost to the owner.

Here’s what you need to know

Before hitting the road, make sure your RV is up to date on safety recalls. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

September 2026 RV safety recalls

Thirteen recalls affecting seven manufacturers and thousands of RVs

NHTSA announced 13 recall notices during September 2026. These recalls involved 8 recreational vehicle manufacturers—Forest River (4 recalls), Jayco (3 recalls), Tiffin (1 recall), Storyteller (1 recall), Kibbi (1 recall), Grand Design (1 recall), Winnebago (1 recall), and REV (1 recall).

Forest River, Inc.

2027 Vibe recreational trailers

Incorrectly installed furnace may leak carbon monoxide

Potential number of units affected: 5

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2027 Vibe recreational trailers. The furnace exhaust may not be correctly attached to the outside flue, allowing carbon monoxide to buildup inside the passenger cabin.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will reposition the furnace, free of charge. Dealers were notified on September 1, 2026. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-327-2716.

Forest River, Inc.

2027 Salem travel trailers
2027 Wildwood travel trailers

Exterior stored griddle can cause fire

Potential number of units affected: 60

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2027 Salem and Wildwood travel trailers. The exterior griddle may be stowed while still connected to the LP gas line.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will install a clamp on the griddle to ensure it cannot be stowed with gas connected, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 15, 2026. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-534-3167. Forest River’s number for this recall is 06-2095.

Forest River, Inc.

2026-2027 Dynamax Grand Sport GT recreational vehicles

Improperly installed engine pre-heat pump

Potential number of units affected: 16

Forest River, Inc (Forest River) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Dynamax Grand Sport GT recreational vehicles. The engine pre-heat pump may have been improperly installed, causing the coolant hose to fail.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will re-pin the wiring harness, re-route the coolant hoses, and replace parts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 31, 2026. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-522-1583. Forest River’s number for this recall is 40-2097.

Forest River, Inc.

2025-2026 Cedar Creek fifth wheel recreational trailers

Sleeper sofa may block bunkroom door

Potential number of units affected: 132

Forest River, Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Cedar Creek fifth wheel recreational trailers. The sleeper sofa may block the bunkroom door.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will correct the swing of the bunkroom door, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-574-825-4995. Forest River’s number for this recall is 20-2098.

A safe RV adventure begins with knowing your RV is ready to travel. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Jayco, Inc.

2027 Heartland Bighorn recreational trailers

Incorrect GAWR on certification label

Potential number of units affected: 8

Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2027 Heartland Bighorn recreational trailers. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label may be incorrect. As such, these trailers fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 567, “Certification.”

What owners included in the recall should do

Jayco will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 1, 2026. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267. Jayco’s number for this recall is 9901666.

Jayco, Inc.

2026-2027 Entegra Accolade recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Accolade XL recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Jayco Seneca recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Seneca Prestige recreational vehicles

Incorrect tire size on certification label/FMVSS 120

Potential number of units affected: 149

Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Entegra Accolade, Accolade XL, Jayco Seneca, and Seneca Prestige recreational vehicles. The tire size may be incorrect on the vehicle certification label. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, “Wheels and Rims-Other than Passenger Cars.”

What owners included in the recall should do

Jayco will mail replacement labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 30, 2026. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267. Jayco’s number for this recall is 9903664.

Jayco, Inc.

2027 Entegra Qwest recreational vehicles
2027 Jayco Melbourne Prestige recreational vehicles

False taillight warning light on instrument panel display/FMVSS 101

Potential number of units affected: 11

Jayco, Inc. (Jayco) is recalling certain 2027 Entegra Qwest and Jayco Melbourne Prestige recreational vehicles. The taillight harness may have been manufactured with an incorrect resistor. The defective harness may cause the warning light to illuminate on the instrument panel display when the taillights are functioning correctly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, “Control and Displays.”

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will replace the taillight harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 30, 2026. Owners may contact Jayco customer service at 1-800-283-8267. Jayco’s number for this recall is 9903667.

Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc.

2026-2027 Wayfarer recreational vehicles

Propane tanks may detach and missing remote shut off valve

Potential number of units affected: 88

Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. (Tiffin) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Wayfarer recreational vehicles. The liquid propane (LP) tank may have been manufactured without the remote shut off and may be loose in the mounting bracket.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will install a remote shut off and replace the bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by October 30, 2026. Owners may contact Tiffin customer service at 1-256-356-8661. Tiffin’s number for this recall is WAY-108.

Recall checks are a small part of responsible RV ownership. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Storyteller Overland, LLC

2026-2027 MODE vehicles
2026 GXV HILTS vehicles

Printed circuit board may overheat

Potential number of units affected: 169

Storyteller Overland, LLC (Storyteller) is recalling certain 2026-2027 MODE and 2026 GXV HILTS vehicles equipped with certain MaxxAir N-Series Maxxfan rooftop ventilation fans. The printed circuit board may fail during certain operations and overheat.

What owners included in the recall should do

Storyteller will inspect and replace the printed circuit board as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 30, 2026. Owners may contact Storyteller customer service at 1-888-999-7442.

Kibbi, LLC

2026-2027 Renegade Valencia recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Verona recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Vera Cruz recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Vienna recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Villagio recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Verona LE recreational vehicles
2026-2027 XL recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Garage recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Totter recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Explorer TS recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Explorer recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Classic recreational vehicles

Printed circuit board may overheat

Potential number of units affected: 505

Kibbi, LLC (Kibbi) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Renegade Valencia, Verona, Vera Cruz, Vienna, Villagio, Verona LE, XL, Garage, Totter, Explorer TS, Explorer, and Classic recreational vehicles equipped with MaxxAir N-Series Maxxfan rooftop ventilation fans. The printed circuit board may fail during certain operations and overheat.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will inspect and replace the printed circuit board as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 19, 2026. Owners may contact Airxcel’s customer service at 574-247-9235 or oemform@airxcel.com or Kibbi’s customer service at 1-574-966-0196.

Grand Design RV, LLC

2026-2027 Lineage recreational vehicles

Incorrect tires installed

Potential number of units affected: 42

Grand Design RV, LLC (Grand Design) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Lineage recreational vehicles equipped with the optional Lineage 43 tire package. The vehicle’s top speed may exceed the tire’s speed rating.

What owners included in the recall should do

The remedy for this recall is under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Grand Design customer service at 1-574-825-9679. Grand Design’s number for this recall is M910067.

Winnebago Industries, Inc.

2027 Arka recreational vehicles

Incorrect GAWR and cold tire inflation on Federal Placard/FMVSS

Potential number of units affected: 56

Winnebago Industries, Inc. (Winnebago) is recalling certain 2027 Arka recreational vehicles. The rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) and cold tire inflation listed on the federal placard is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, “Wheels and Rims – Other than Passenger Cars.”

What owners included in the recall should do

Winnebago will mail out corrected labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 30, 2026. Owners may contact Winnebago customer service at 1-641-585-6939 or 1-800-537-1885.

REV Recreation Group

2025-2026 American Coach American Dream recreational vehicles
2026-2027 Fleetwood Discovery LXE recreational vehicles
2026 Fleetwood Palisade recreational vehicles
2026 Holiday Rambler Armada recreational vehicles

Improperly programmed safety system many impair electronic stability control

Potential number of units affected: 47

REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2025-2026 American Coach American Dream, 2026-2027 Fleetwood Discovery LXE, 2026 Fleetwood Palisade, and Holiday Rambler Armada recreational vehicles. The RoadWatch Safety System may have been programmed with the incorrect vehicle parameters.

What owners included in the recall should do

Dealers will inspect and reprogram RoadWatch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 16, 2026. Owners may contact REV customer service at 1-800-509-3417. REV’s number for this recall is 260911REV.

Please Note: This is the 88th in a series of posts relating to RV Manufacturers Recalls

Before the next journey, take a moment to check for outstanding recalls. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Final thoughts

A few minutes today can prevent a problem tomorrow

RV recalls are not something any owner wants to discover but they are an important part of responsible RV ownership. A recall does not mean your RV is unsafe—it means a potential problem has been identified and a repair is available before it becomes a serious safety concern. Checking recall notices, registering your RV, and completing required repairs are simple steps that help protect you, your passengers, and your travels.

With thousands of miles traveled each year, small safety issues can become big problems. Whether a recall involves an electrical component, equipment failure, or another safety concern, addressing it promptly is part of maintaining your home on wheels. A few minutes of preparation today can help keep your future adventures safer and more enjoyable.

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Editor’s note

This article was originally published in September 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.

Best RV Camping Destinations for October 2026

October is one of the best months for RV travel. Discover 10 personally visited RV camping destinations offering fall color, comfortable weather, scenic landscapes, and memorable experiences across the United States.

October may be one of the best months of the year to be an RVer. The heat of summer has finally loosened its grip, fall color is spreading across the northern states, and farther south, the season for comfortable outdoor living is just beginning.

It is a month of transition—and that is part of its appeal. You can follow autumn into the mountains, linger in small towns surrounded by harvest fields, explore forests dressed in color, or begin the annual migration toward warmer days. Campgrounds are often quieter than they were in summer, while the weather makes it easier to spend time outside and enjoy the places we travel so far to see.

For RVers, October also offers something increasingly valuable: choice. You don’t have to travel far to find a memorable camping experience but if you’re ready to move with the seasons, the road opens in both directions.

After 30 years exploring the highways and backroads of the United States and Western Canada, I’ve learned that memorable camping destinations are about more than where you park for the night. The locations featured here have all been personally visited and selected for the experiences they offer during October when many places are at their most enjoyable.

Shenandoah River State Park wrapped in the brilliant colors of an October afternoon, with the river winding through Virginia’s autumn landscape. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

1. Shenandoah River State Park, Bentonville, Virginia

Where the river meets the colors of autumn

Just 15 minutes from Front Royal, Shenandoah River State Park is the kind of place that reminds you why RV travel is about more than finding somewhere to spend the night. The park covers more than 1,600 acres along 5.2 miles of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River with Massanutten Mountain to the west and Shenandoah National Park to the east.

October brings fall color to the surrounding hardwood forests, adding another layer to the already beautiful river and mountain scenery. It is a wonderful time to slow down and enjoy the landscape without the heat and crowds of summer.

More than 24 miles of trails offer opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding while the river invites fishing and canoeing. A riverside picnic area and shelters provide easy places to settle in for an autumn afternoon.

RV campers have several options including sites with water and electric hookups, riverfront tent sites, cabins, camping cabins, and a group campground. With its combination of river scenery, fall color, outdoor recreation, and easy access to Front Royal and the Shenandoah Valley, the park makes an excellent October basecamp.

Camping along the Little Pigeon River at Sun Outdoors Sevierville Pigeon Forge, with the autumn colors of the Smoky Mountains adding a seasonal backdrop. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

2. Sun Outdoors Sevierville Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, Tennessee

Fall color and mountain adventures at your doorstep

Formerly known as River Plantation, Sun Outdoors Sevierville Pigeon Forge sits along the Little Pigeon River in eastern Tennessee, putting RVers close to two of the region’s biggest attractions: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the lively towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

October is an especially appealing time to be here. The summer heat has eased, the Smokies begin putting on their spectacular fall display, and the cooler weather makes exploring the mountains and nearby communities much more enjoyable. It is also a good time to return to the campground and simply relax beside the river after a day of sightseeing.

The resort is big-rig friendly with spacious, full-hookup RV sites featuring concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire rings. Our back-in site was about 75 feet long and included 50/30-amp electric service, water, sewer, and centrally located cable TV.

When you’re ready to stay put, amenities include a swimming pool and hot tub, basketball court, game room, fitness center, outdoor pavilion, and a fenced Bark Park with a dog-washing station. With the Smokies nearby and plenty of attractions within easy reach, this is a convenient October basecamp for exploring one of America’s most popular mountain regions.

A spacious pull-through site at Harvest Moon RV Park in Adairsville, Georgia, offering a convenient and comfortable stop amid the changing colors of North Georgia. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

3. Harvest Moon RV Park, Adairsville, Georgia

An easy overnight stop with a taste of North Georgia

Not every October destination needs to be a destination campground. Sometimes the best RV stop is one that makes travel easier and Harvest Moon RV Park in historic Adairsville does exactly that. Located just off I-75 at Exit 306, it offers an easy-on, easy-off stop that works particularly well for big rigs and overnight travelers.

The park’s newer front section includes spacious sites and our pull-through was in the 85- to 90-foot range—long enough that we didn’t need to disconnect the toad. Sites have 50/30-amp electric service, water, sewer, and cable TV with a second sewer connection toward the rear of the site. Interior roads and sites are gravel but we found the park straightforward to navigate. Wi-Fi worked well, and satellite reception wasn’t a problem.

Adairsville also makes a convenient base for exploring northwest Georgia, especially in October when cooler temperatures and changing leaves make the region more inviting. While Harvest Moon may not offer the resort-style amenities of some larger campgrounds, that’s not really the point.

For RVers traveling south in October, it is a practical, comfortable stop that gets you off the interstate without turning your overnight stay into a production.

Camping among the rolling bluegrass hills of Kentucky at Whispering Hills RV Park, a peaceful October base for exploring Georgetown and the surrounding horse country. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

4. Whispering Hills RV Park, Georgetown, Kentucky

Bluegrass Country at its most inviting

Nestled in the heart of Kentucky horse country, Whispering Hills RV Park makes a convenient October basecamp for exploring Georgetown and nearby Lexington. Just 2.5 miles from I-75 at Exit 129, the park is easy to reach without feeling like you’re camping beside the interstate.

October is an especially appealing time to visit central Kentucky. The summer heat has faded, the countryside begins taking on its autumn colors, and the surrounding horse farms and rolling bluegrass hills become especially scenic. Georgetown’s historic downtown and Lexington’s horse-country attractions are also close enough for easy day trips.

Whispering Hills offers 230 full-service sites including nine newer premium pull-through sites ranging from 70 to 90 feet. Our pull-through was about 60 feet. Most back-in sites are considerably shorter and tend to slope downhill, so larger rigs may want to request a pull-through when making reservations.

Amenities include a swimming pool, basketball court, fishing pond, laundry, bathhouses, book exchange, and picnic tables. Most sites also have fire rings. Interior roads and sites are gravel.

It isn’t a destination resort but that’s not what makes Whispering Hills appealing. For RVers exploring Kentucky in October, it provides a practical base in beautiful horse country with easy interstate access and plenty to see nearby.

Autumn settles over Hee Hee Illahee RV Resort in Salem, Oregon, where colorful trees and the surrounding Willamette Valley make a beautiful October setting. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

5. Hee Hee Illahee RV Resort, Salem, Oregon

Autumn color in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Hee Hee Illahee RV Resort in Salem is a comfortable big-rig-friendly base for exploring Oregon’s Willamette Valley in October. Located just a short distance from I-5 at Exit 258, the resort combines easy highway access with the quieter pace of the surrounding valley.

The campground has 24 back-in sites and 115 pull-through sites, including pull-throughs up to 75 feet long. Even large motorhomes should have little trouble finding a site that works. All sites offer electric service with 20-, 30-, and 50-amp options along with water, sewer, wired and wireless internet, coax television hookups, and a picnic table.

October is an excellent month to explore the area. Fall color begins appearing throughout the Willamette Valley while cooler temperatures make exploring Salem, nearby wineries, gardens, and the surrounding countryside much more comfortable than during the summer.

Back at the resort, amenities include a fitness room, seasonal swimming pool, year-round spa, laundry facility, secure showers and restrooms, and a book library. After a day on the road, it’s the sort of campground where you can settle in and enjoy a few quiet hours without needing to go anywhere.

For RVers traveling the Pacific Northwest in autumn, Hee Hee Illahee offers a convenient combination of spacious sites, full hookups, and easy access to the best of the Willamette Valley.

A quiet October morning at Dakota Campground in Mitchell, South Dakota, offering RV travelers a comfortable stop amid the open prairie landscape. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

6. Dakota Campground, Mitchell, South Dakota

An easy stop on the road through South Dakota

Dakota Campground in Mitchell is a pleasant, uncomplicated RV stop for travelers crossing South Dakota on I-90. Located just half a mile from Exit 330 and about two miles west of Cabela’s, the campground is particularly convenient for RVers who want an easy overnight stop without venturing far from their route.

The park has 41 mostly shaded sites, with both back-in and pull-through options for RVs up to 50 feet. Amenities are basic but useful, including a swimming pool, games room, playground, laundromat, and convenience store. It isn’t a destination campground, but it provides the essentials for a comfortable night or two.

October can be an especially good time to make this stop. The summer travel season has wound down, temperatures are generally more comfortable for exploring, and the crowds that fill South Dakota’s major attractions during summer have diminished. Mitchell’s famous Corn Palace is an easy side trip while the surrounding prairie landscape offers a very different experience from the state’s better-known Black Hills.

For RVers heading west or east along I-90, Dakota Campground is the kind of practical campground worth remembering. You can pull off the highway, settle into a shaded site, take care of laundry or supplies, and be back on the road the next morning without a lot of fuss.

An easygoing stop in Cajun Country, Frog City RV Park in Duson, Louisiana, offers a comfortable base for enjoying the region’s food, culture, and laid-back atmosphere. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

7. Frog City RV Park, Duson, Louisiana

An easygoing Cajun Country stop

Just off I-10 at Exit 92, Frog City RV Park in Duson puts RVers in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun countryside, only about 10 miles west of Lafayette. Established in 2006, the park is a convenient stop for travelers heading across southern Louisiana but its location also makes it worth staying a few days and exploring the region.

The park has 62 spacious pull-through sites, making it particularly RV-friendly for larger rigs. Paved interior roads make getting around easy while sites include 50/30-amp electric service, water, sewer, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. A swimming pool, dog-walking areas, coin-operated laundry, and private hot showers round out the amenities.

October is a particularly attractive time to explore Cajun Country. The oppressive summer heat has eased, making it much more comfortable to wander through Lafayette, explore the surrounding countryside, enjoy local food, or simply sit outside and soak up the atmosphere.

Convenience is another advantage. Roady’s Lucky Deuces Travel Plaza is immediately adjacent with Maw’s Café inside and Lucky Deuces Casino is nearby.

What makes Frog City particularly appealing, though, is its friendly, welcoming feel. It is the kind of campground where the practical conveniences are all there but the experience feels more personal than a typical interstate overnight stop.

An autumn stay at Bellingham RV Park in Washington, with the Pacific Northwest’s changing colors and mountain landscape creating a beautiful October backdrop. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

8. Bellingham RV Park, Bellingham, Washington

An autumn stop near the Canadian border

Bellingham RV Park is an easy-on, easy-off campground just off I-5 at Exit 258, making it a convenient stop for RVers traveling between the Pacific Northwest and Canada. The park is a short drive south of the Canadian border and about two hours north of Seattle, giving it a useful location for either an overnight stay or a longer exploration of the region.

The park offers 56 long pull-through sites with many in the 70-foot range, making it well suited to larger RVs. Utilities include 50/30/20-amp electric service, water, sewer, and cable TV. Some of the interior streets are paved while individual sites are crushed gravel.

October brings cooler temperatures and the beginning of autumn color to the Pacific Northwest, making it a pleasant time to explore Bellingham and the surrounding Whatcom County countryside. The city’s waterfront, parks, trails, and historic Fairhaven district provide plenty to see while the nearby mountains and coast offer opportunities for scenic drives and outdoor adventures.

From our site, Wi-Fi worked well, and with no obstructions around us, satellite reception for TV was easy.

Bellingham RV Park isn’t trying to be a destination resort. Its appeal is convenience, spacious sites, and a strategic location—qualities that make it a particularly useful October stop for RVers moving north or south along the West Coast.

Eagles Landing RV Park in Auburn, Alabama, offers a peaceful country setting just minutes from the energy of Auburn University and its famous football tradition. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

9. Eagles Landing RV Park, Auburn, Alabama

College-town excitement with a quiet country retreat

Located about a mile from Auburn University and less than two miles from Jordan-Hare Stadium, Eagles Landing RV Park offers an appealing combination of convenience and quiet. You can be close to the action in Auburn without feeling as though you’re camping in the middle of a busy college town.

October is an especially lively month to visit when the college football season is in full swing and Auburn takes on its familiar fall energy. Even if football isn’t your main interest, the cooler weather makes this a good time to explore the university, downtown Auburn, and the surrounding Alabama countryside.

RV sites range from large concrete pull-throughs to gravel back-ins with shady sites also available. Hookup options vary from basic sites to full-service sites with 50-amp electrical service, giving RVers some flexibility depending on their needs and rig.

The campground’s location is its biggest advantage. You can spend the day exploring Auburn, attending a game, or enjoying the surrounding countryside, then return to a quieter setting at the end of the day.

For RVers looking for something a little different in October, Eagles Landing is an excellent choice. It combines the energy of one of the South’s best-known college towns with the slower pace and breathing room that make RV camping enjoyable.

An inviting October setting at Terre Haute Campground in Indiana where colorful trees and a relaxed campground atmosphere make an easygoing stop along the road. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

10. Terre Haute Campground, Terre Haute, Indiana

An easygoing Indiana stop with plenty for campers

Formerly known as Terre Haute KOA, Terre Haute Campground offers a wide range of RV sites and enough amenities to make it more than just a place to spend the night. Located in western Indiana, it is a convenient stop for RVers traveling through the Midwest and a comfortable base for exploring the surrounding area.

RV sites include 30- and 50-amp electrical service, water, sewer, Wi-Fi, and cable TV with more than 20 channels. Sites are available with concrete or gravel surfaces and some include concrete or brick patios. The variety makes it possible to find an option that works for everything from a quick overnight stay to a longer visit.

October is a good time to be traveling through Indiana. Cooler temperatures make outdoor activities more enjoyable while the changing foliage adds a touch of autumn to the countryside. After a day on the road, the campground offers plenty to keep campers occupied without having to leave.

Amenities include a swimming pool, camp store, laundry, outdoor kitchen, pedal track, playground, jump pad, dog park, gem mining, horseshoes, and even miniature donkeys and horses. The Terre Haute Express adds another bit of campground fun for families.

For RVers traveling through the Midwest in October, Terre Haute Campground combines convenient RV facilities with enough activities to make settling in for a few days worthwhile.

Concluding thoughts & reflections

October: When the road begins to turn south

October feels like a turning point in the RV year. Summer is behind us, autumn is settling across the landscape, and for many RVers, the road is beginning to point south.

But there is no need to hurry. October rewards those willing to slow down and follow the changing season. One week might find you surrounded by brilliant fall color in the mountains; the next, you’re crossing open prairie or settling into the warmer landscapes of the South. The beauty is in the transition.

These ten destinations offer very different October experiences but they share something important: they give us reasons to get outside, explore at an unhurried pace, and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

For those heading south for the winter, October is also a reminder that snowbirding doesn’t have to be a race. There are wonderful places to stop along the way. Why not stay awhile?

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to your next season on the road? You may also enjoy my RV camping recommendations for August and September along with the October 2025 and November 2025 campground roundups for additional ideas and inspiration for future trips.

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Editor’s note

10 Amazing Places to RV in October 2026

October is made for RV travel. Discover 10 places worth pointing the RV toward, with fall color, festivals, comfortable weather, history, wildlife, and plenty of opportunities for unexpected discoveries.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

—Martin Buber

When we set out on a journey, we usually have a destination in mind. We make our plans, choose our route, and expect the road to take us where we intend to go.

But travel has a way of changing those plans.

A road we didn’t expect to take, a small town we hadn’t heard of, or a place that wasn’t even on our itinerary can sometimes become the part of the journey we remember most. The destination we planned for may be only part of the story.

October is a wonderful month for that kind of RV travel. Summer’s heat is easing, fall color is appearing across much of the country, and many popular destinations are becoming quieter. It is a month when the road itself can become part of the adventure.

An October invitation to follow the road

Sometimes the best part of a journey is the place we never planned to find

Perhaps that is what makes October such an inviting month for RV travel. The character of the road is changing. Summer’s heat is fading, fall color is beginning to appear, wildlife is becoming more active in some places, and comfortable weather opens the door to exploring without the urgency of the summer season.

We don’t need another list of places we should visit. We need destinations that leave room for curiosity, discovery, and the possibility that something unexpected will become the highlight of the journey. With Buber’s observation in mind, here are 10 places worth pointing the RV toward this October—not because they are places you have to visit but because the journey may reveal something you weren’t expecting to find.

Why October?

Cooler days, changing landscapes

October brings some of the most comfortable RVing weather of the year. Summer’s heat is fading, fall color is appearing across much of the country, and many campgrounds and attractions are becoming quieter.

It is also a month of transition. Some RVers are following autumn through the mountains and forests while others are beginning their journey south toward warmer days. Wherever the road leads, October offers a good balance of comfortable weather, changing scenery, and room to discover something unexpected.

Explore more monthly RV travel ideas

Planning an RV trip for another month? Check out my recommendations for the best places to travel in August and September or revisit my October 2025 and November 2025 recommendations for even more ideas for the road ahead.

Crowley comes alive during the International Rice Festival, celebrating the rice-growing heritage that has shaped this Louisiana community © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

1. International Rice Festival

Where rice becomes a reason to celebrate

Crowley, Louisiana, is known for its rice fields and for turning that agricultural heritage into one of southwest Louisiana’s oldest celebrations. Since 1937, the International Rice Festival has brought the community together with a carnival, parade, live music, food, rice-eating contest, and queen’s pageant.

The 89th annual festival takes place October 15–18, 2026. It is a chance to experience a genuine slice of southwest Louisiana while exploring the countryside where rice is grown.

RV tips

Reserve your campground early for festival weekend.
Expect increased traffic around festival activities.
Use your toad to explore Crowley and the surrounding countryside.

Macon’s historic streets and grand old buildings reveal a city where Southern history and October traditions come together © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

2. Macon, Georgia

Where history takes a haunting turn

Macon is known for its music heritage and historic places but come October another side of the city emerges. The Hay House offers after-dark tours while the 1904 Grand Opera House has its own ghostly reputation. The Halloween highlight may be the Witch Float when more than 100 witches take to the Ocmulgee River by paddle or float.

October gives RVers a chance to explore Macon’s history and outdoor attractions before joining in the city’s delightfully spooky side. It’s an unexpected way to experience a Georgia city better known for music.

RV tips

Check event dates and book ahead for October activities.
Allow time to explore Macon’s historic district.
Use your toad for getting around the city.

Globe comes alive during the Apache Jii Festival, celebrating the culture, history, and traditions of Arizona’s Apache people © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

3. Apache Jii Festival

Where Indigenous culture comes alive

Globe, Arizona, celebrates Indigenous culture each October at the Apache Jii Festival. Held in the historic downtown district, the free festival brings together tribal artists, performers, food, and vendors. Visitors can experience traditional crown dances and flute performances while discovering fry bread, acorn soup, turquoise jewelry, baskets, beadwork, pottery, and other handmade works.

The 43rd annual festival takes place October 17, 2026. For RVers, it offers an opportunity to experience Indigenous culture in an authentic community setting while exploring the historic mining town of Globe and the surrounding Arizona landscape.

RV tips

Check campground availability early for festival weekend.
Use your toad to explore Globe and the surrounding area.
Allow time for the festival’s performances and vendors.

Boston in October blends fall color, historic streets, and the excitement of the Head of the Charles Regatta along the Charles River © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

4. Boston, Massachusetts

Fall arrives with a citywide celebration

October brings fall foliage, mild weather, and the energy of autumn to Boston. The Head of the Charles Regatta, held October 16–18, draws rowers and spectators to the Charles River for one of the city’s signature events. Elsewhere, Boston Common’s Frog Pond hosts Fall-o-Ween while Oktoberfests, graveyard tours, and haunted pub crawls add a seasonal twist to the city.

And if Halloween is your thing, Salem is only about 20 miles north. Its month-long Haunted Happenings makes an easy day trip from Boston and adds another dimension to an October visit.

RV tips

Stay outside the city and use public transportation to explore Boston.
Expect heavy crowds during the Head of the Charles.
Plan your Salem visit for a weekday if possible.

Autumn comes alive in Parke County, where historic covered bridges, colorful foliage, local food, and small-town festival traditions fill the Indiana countryside © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

5. Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

Where fall and history meet

For 10 days each October, Parke County, Indiana, celebrates autumn with its Covered Bridge Festival. From October 9–18, 2026, the county’s 31 historic covered bridges provide the backdrop for a festival filled with arts and crafts, local food, and the brilliant colors of fall. Spread across several communities, each with its own character, the festival offers plenty of reasons to slow down and explore.

For RVers, this is as much about the journey between the festival locations as the festival itself. The back roads wind through the countryside, connecting historic bridges, small towns, and changing autumn scenery.

RV tips

Plan extra time for the narrow roads around some bridges.
Use your toad to explore the festival’s different communities.
Reserve your campground early for the busy festival period.

Fredericksburg celebrates its German heritage in October with music, dancing, food, and plenty of Oktoberfest spirit © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

6. Fredericksburg Oktoberfest

Where Texas puts a German spin on October

Fredericksburg, Texas, celebrates its German heritage with Oktoberfest, October 2–4, 2026. Five stages of live music, polka, dancing, contests, local artisans, German food, and Kinder Park create a lively celebration that feels very much at home in the Texas Hill Country.

For RVers, October is also a wonderful time to explore beyond the festival. The surrounding Hill Country offers scenic drives, small towns, wineries, and comfortable autumn weather, making Fredericksburg a good base for experiencing both the celebration and the countryside.

RV tips

Reserve your campground well ahead for Oktoberfest weekend.
Leave the RV at camp and use your toad to explore Fredericksburg.
Allow extra time for the festival crowds and parking.

Palm Springs comes alive with midcentury style during Modernism Week, when the city’s iconic architecture takes center stage © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

7. Palm Springs, California

Where desert warmth meets midcentury cool

October brings welcome relief to Palm Springs as summer’s intense heat begins to fade. The city’s famous midcentury architecture takes center stage during Modernism Week, October 15–18, 2026 while the Joshua Tree Music Festival, October 8–11, combines music, art, and family activities about an hour away.

For RVers, cooler October temperatures make it easier to explore the desert, Coachella Valley, and nearby Joshua Tree. The landscape itself becomes part of the experience from rugged mountains to the stark beauty of the high desert.

RV tip

Check campground temperatures before choosing a site.
Use your toad for exploring Palm Springs and Joshua Tree.
Carry plenty of water when exploring the desert.

Jekyll Island brings together coastal Georgia flavors, live music, and Southern hospitality during the annual Shrimp & Grits Festival © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

8. Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival

Where coastal Georgia serves up a Southern classic

Jekyll Island, Georgia, puts one of the South’s best-known dishes in the spotlight October 23–24, 2026. The Shrimp & Grits Festival brings together creative versions of the classic dish, live music, an artist market, family entertainment, and the competition to determine Georgia’s best shrimp and grits.

For RVers, the festival is a tasty reason to visit this beautiful barrier island in October when cooler weather makes exploring the coast more enjoyable. Between festival activities, there are beaches, maritime forests, and historic places to discover.

RV tips

Check island camping availability well in advance.
Use your toad to explore the island beyond the festival.
Allow time to enjoy the beaches and historic district.

Bridge Day turns New River Gorge into a spectacle of soaring views, live music, and the daring leap of BASE jumpers from the bridge © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

9. New River Gorge Bridge Day

Where the road opens to the sky

October 17, 2026, is the one day each year when pedestrians can walk across West Virginia’s 3,030-foot New River Gorge Bridge. Bridge Day, held annually since 1980, fills the bridge and surrounding gorge with thousands of visitors watching BASE jumpers, rappellers, and other activities while enjoying spectacular views of the rugged gorge and autumn foliage.

If you miss Bridge Day, the New River Gorge still offers plenty to discover. Fayette Station Road descends into the gorge on an 8-mile scenic loop while the New and Gauley rivers offer rafting adventures. October also falls within Gauley Season when dam releases create challenging whitewater.

RV tips

Arrive early and expect heavy traffic on Bridge Day.
Stay in the Fayetteville area and use your toad.
Allow extra time for the scenic roads and fall scenery.

Bisbee’s historic streets become the course for the Bisbee 1000, a challenging climb up more than 1,000 stairs through this colorful mining town © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

10. Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb

Where a quirky town becomes the course

Bisbee, Arizona, is unlike almost anywhere else in the state. Built into the Mule Mountains, this former mining town is a maze of narrow streets, colorful stairways, historic homes, galleries, and shops. On October 17, 2026, those stairways become the centerpiece of the annual Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb, a 4.5-mile course featuring nine staircases and more than 1,000 steps.

You don’t have to be a serious runner to enjoy the event. Walkers are welcome and the climb offers an unusual way to discover Old Bisbee while taking in its mountain setting. Afterward, the Copper Queen Mine, local art, and the town’s eclectic restaurants provide plenty of reasons to stay awhile.

RV tips

Reserve a campground early for event weekend.
Use your toad; Bisbee’s streets are narrow and steep.
Give yourself time to explore beyond the stair climb.

The road ahead

October invites us to follow the changing season

There is something special about the air as September gives way to October.

The landscape begins to change more dramatically. Leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold, mornings become crisp and the shorter days bring a different rhythm to the road. Harvest continues in the fields and orchards while forests and mountains seem to put on one final display before winter arrives.

Perhaps that’s why October is such a wonderful month to travel. The summer crowds are fading, the weather is often comfortable, and every mile can reveal another glimpse of the season in transition.

Enjoy your days and love your life, because life is a journey to be savored.

Grab the keys and let’s go RVing.

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Editor’s note

When the Sky Begins to Move

Much of bird migration happens beyond our sight. Discover how birds navigate thousands of miles and why their seasonal journeys have surprising parallels to the RV snowbird life.

We tend to think of migration as something we can see.

A flock of geese crosses the sky. Sandhill cranes gather in a field. Warblers appear in the trees then disappear.

But much of migration happens beyond our sight.

On a favorable autumn night, more than a billion birds may be moving across the United States while we sleep.

As RV travelers, we follow the seasons and the roads. Birds do much the same, except their roads are invisible.

The more I learn about migration, the more I realize how much is happening around us that we never see.

The sky comes alive with birds on the move, thousands of wings carrying them southward through the day and night © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The sky is full of birds

The astonishing scale of a journey we rarely see

We tend to picture migration as a flock crossing the sky. But what we see is only a tiny part of a much larger movement.

More than 300 bird species that nest north of Mexico are long-distance migrants. Some travel hundreds of miles; others travel thousands. Arctic Terns migrate between the Arctic and Antarctic. Bar-tailed Godwits can fly nonstop from Alaska to New Zealand. Tiny songbirds and hummingbirds routinely cross the Gulf of America, covering hundreds of miles over open water.

Then there is the sheer number of birds involved.

On a favorable autumn night, more than a billion birds may be migrating over the United States.

Most migrate at night when conditions are generally calmer and fewer predators are active. While we sleep, an invisible river of wings may be moving overhead.

I find that almost impossible to comprehend.

The birds we see at a wetland, along a river, or in a campground are only a small part of something much larger—a seasonal movement spanning a continent.

Once we understand that, migration becomes more than birds coming and going.

It becomes one of nature’s great spectacles, much of it happening where we cannot see it.

A flock of snow geese pauses in a field to rest and refuel before continuing their long journey south © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The journey south

When summer gives way to migration

Fall migration begins quietly.

There is no single day when every bird takes flight. Days shorten, temperatures change, and food supplies shift. Birds that have spent the summer raising their young begin preparing for journeys that may take them hundreds or thousands of miles.

Some species travel in flocks. Others migrate alone. Some fly by day while many make their journeys under cover of darkness.

Then, gradually, the movement begins.

Birds leave their northern breeding grounds for places where food and suitable habitat will remain through winter. Some follow familiar routes. Others are making the journey for the first time, guided by abilities they seem to possess from birth.

For those of us traveling by RV, fall migration has a familiar rhythm. We, too, begin thinking about the journey south as temperatures drop and winter destinations call.

But we have highways, paper maps, and GPS.

Birds have none of those things.

Yet somehow, they know when it is time to leave—and which way to go.

Birds take to the sky during migration, their wings carrying them onward along an ancient seasonal journey © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Born to know

How birds prepare for a journey they have never been taught

Before migration begins, remarkable changes take place inside a bird.

As departure approaches, some species alter the size of their organs. The stomach and gizzard may shrink while the heart, lungs, and flight muscles grow. They build fat reserves that will provide fuel for long flights, sometimes with few opportunities to feed along the way.

But the most remarkable preparation may be knowing when to leave.

Birds respond to changes in daylight, temperature, and food availability. These cues help trigger an innate sense of timing that tells them the season has changed and it is time to move.

For some young birds, there is an even greater mystery.

They may leave their breeding grounds having never made the journey before and without an adult to show them the way. Yet they can still head toward their species’ winter range.

Think about that for a moment.

A bird only months old can embark on a journey it has never made, toward a destination it has never seen.

Somehow, the journey is already written within it.

Migrating birds fill the sky, their wings carrying them southward on an extraordinary seasonal journey © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Finding the way

Following a map we cannot see

If knowing when to leave is remarkable, knowing where to go is even more astonishing.

Migrating birds use a remarkable combination of cues to find their way. They orient by the sun and stars, recognize landmarks such as mountain ranges, coastlines and river valleys, and can detect Earth’s magnetic field. Some species even appear to use their sense of smell.

Different species rely on different combinations and scientists are still learning how these abilities work.

What amazes me most is that birds can return to places they have visited before, sometimes following remarkably consistent routes year after year.

And then there are the first-time travelers.

A young bird may leave its birthplace with no experienced adult beside it, yet somehow orient toward a winter destination thousands of miles away.

We depend on GPS to tell us where we are and which road to take.

A migrating bird carries its navigation system within itself.

Sandhill cranes stop in a field to feed and rest, replenishing their energy before continuing their journey south © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The places between

Where migration pauses

We often think of migration as the journey between two destinations. But for many birds, the places between are just as important.

A bird cannot fly thousands of miles without stopping. It needs places to rest, find food, and rebuild the energy needed for the next leg.

Wetlands, river valleys, shorelines, grasslands, and forests can become critical stopping places. Some may be used for only a few hours; others for days or weeks.

For an RV traveler, there is something familiar about this rhythm.

We pull into a campground, stop for the night, find food, refuel, and continue the next morning. The journey isn’t simply about getting somewhere. The places where we stop become part of the journey.

Birds depend on these places in much the same way.

A seemingly ordinary wetland may be a critical rest stop for a bird traveling thousands of miles. Lose enough of these places and the journey becomes harder—or impossible.

That gives a different meaning to the landscapes we pass along the road.

They may not simply be places birds fly over. They may be places they depend on.

Migrating birds take flight, following an invisible path southward as the seasons change © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Following the seasons

What birds can teach a snowbird about the journey

Every fall, RV snowbirds begin their own migration.

We leave cooler northern climates and head south, following familiar highways toward warmer weather. Many of us return to the same places year after year, arriving at nearly the same time and following much the same route.

Sound familiar?

The parallels with bird migration are easy to see. But we have road maps, GPS, highways, and places to stop along the way.

Birds have none of those conveniences.

Yet both journeys are shaped by the seasons. Both involve leaving one familiar place for another, following a rhythm that has become part of life.

After years of RV travel, I’ve come to appreciate that heading south isn’t simply about escaping winter. It’s about following a rhythm of our own.

Watching birds migrate gives that rhythm a different perspective.

Perhaps we aren’t so different after all. We, too, follow the seasons.

Looking up

Seeing the journey differently

The next time I see a bird heading south, I may pause a little longer.

I won’t just see a bird flying overhead. I’ll wonder where it came from, where it is going, and how it knows the way.

And somewhere above us, perhaps while we are driving south in our RVs, there may be thousands of others making the same journey.

We simply have to slow down, look up, and notice.

The sky is full of travelers.

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Editor’s note

Congaree: Where the River Creates the Forest

Congaree National Park is more than a forest of giant trees. Discover how the Congaree River, flooding, sediment, and changing channels continue to shape this remarkable South Carolina landscape.

Congaree National Park can appear almost timeless.

Towering trees rise above the forest floor. The boardwalk disappears into the shadows. The slow-moving water seems to barely move at all.

But Congaree is anything but still.

Much of the park lies within the floodplain of the Congaree River. Floodwaters move through the forest, old river channels become lakes and wetlands, and subtle differences in elevation determine which trees can grow where.

The more I learn about Congaree, the more I realize that its story isn’t simply about the remarkable trees. It is about the river that created them and continues to shape this extraordinary forest.

The Congaree River winds through Congaree National Park, the force that continues to shape the forest and floodplain. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The river is the architect

Water is the force behind the forest

It is easy to think of a forest as a collection of trees growing on solid ground.

Congaree challenges that idea.

The park lies within the broad, remarkably flat floodplain of the Congaree River. Several times a year, the river spills beyond its banks, spreading across the forest and following old channels and low places before receding.

Each flood leaves something behind.

Sediment and nutrients replenish the soil while the river’s changing course creates abandoned channels, oxbow lakes, sloughs, ridges, and shallow depressions.

Even a difference of a few feet in elevation can determine how long an area remains flooded—and which trees can survive there.

What appears to be a quiet, unchanging forest is actually a landscape continually shaped by water.

The trees aren’t simply growing beside the river.

They are here because of it.

The raised boardwalk carries visitors into the heart of Congaree’s ancient floodplain forest. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A landscape written by water

The river leaves its history behind

From the ground, Congaree can look remarkably uniform.

But look at the park from above and another landscape emerges. Curving bands of vegetation reveal old river channels, ridges, swales, and wetlands created as the Congaree gradually shifted across its floodplain.

Some former channels became permanent oxbow lakes. Others slowly filled with sediment and became shallow wetlands and sloughs. Slightly higher ground escapes flooding more often while lower areas may remain underwater for much longer.

These subtle differences create a surprising variety of habitats within the same forest.

It is a reminder that the landscape beneath the trees has a history of its own.

The river may have moved on, but it left its fingerprints behind.

Massive trunks and spreading roots give a sense of just how old and extraordinary this forest can be. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Where Giants Grow

The floodplain creates extraordinary growing conditions

Congaree is famous for its giant trees.

Some rise more than 150 feet above the forest floor. Bald cypress develop enormous trunks and spreading root systems, while loblolly pines reach heights that seem almost out of place in a bottomland forest.

Their size isn’t an accident.

A long, warm growing season combined with periodic flooding creates remarkably productive conditions. When the Congaree River overflows its banks, it carries nutrient-rich sediment into the floodplain, renewing the soil and feeding the forest.

But there is another reason these trees matter.

Much of the old-growth bottomland forest that once covered the Southeast disappeared beneath the saws of the lumber industry. Congaree survived largely because its wet, difficult terrain made logging exceptionally challenging.

Today, walking beneath these giants is a reminder of both nature’s productivity and what was nearly lost.

The trees are remarkable. The fact that they are still here may be even more remarkable.

Beneath the canopy, the boardwalk reveals a forest shaped by water, time, and towering trees. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A forest within a forest

Look up, down, and everything in between

Standing beneath Congaree’s canopy, it is tempting to see the forest as one enormous wall of green.

It isn’t.

The forest is arranged in layers, each with its own light, moisture, and inhabitants. Towering loblolly pines and other giants rise above the canopy. Beneath them are sweetgum, tupelo, elm, hackberry, oaks, and hickories. Farther down, smaller trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and sedges fill the understory and forest floor.

These layers create countless small habitats within the same forest, helping explain Congaree’s remarkable diversity of plants and wildlife.

The next time you walk the boardwalk, don’t just look ahead.

Look up. Look down. The forest is much larger than it first appears.

Walking through Congaree, it is easy to feel small beneath a canopy of towering old-growth trees. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

When giants fall

In Congaree, even the fallen trees have a purpose

In a forest filled with enormous trees, some eventually fall.

Wind, storms, flooding, disease, or simply age can bring down a tree that has stood for centuries. When it falls, the opening in the canopy can be surprisingly large, allowing sunlight to reach a forest floor that may have been shaded for decades.

Almost immediately, the forest responds.

Sun-loving plants take advantage of the new light. Young trees begin to grow. The fallen trunk becomes shelter for insects, fungi, and other creatures while slowly returning its nutrients to the soil.

Nothing is wasted.

The fallen giant becomes part of the next generation of forest.

In Congaree, even an ending is part of the beginning.

Water, trees, and sky come together in a quiet reflection deep within Congaree National Park. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The forest that almost disappeared

What survived is part of the story

Congaree’s giant trees might seem inevitable today but they weren’t.

Across the Southeast, bottomland forests like this one were heavily logged for their valuable timber. Congaree survived in large part because its floodplain was difficult to enter, especially when the river rose and roads turned to mud.

That changed when people began recognizing what remained.

Francis Beidler protected much of the forest from logging and later conservationists, led by Harry Hampton, worked to preserve it for future generations. Their efforts eventually helped bring national protection to Congaree.

Today, we walk beneath trees that could easily have disappeared.

That changes how I see the forest.

Congaree isn’t simply a place that survived. It is a place someone cared enough to save.

Reflections ripple beneath the trees, revealing the close connection between Congaree’s forest and water. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The river keeps writing

Congaree is never finished

The forest we see today is only one moment in a much longer story.

The Congaree River continues to rise and fall, moving water and sediment through the floodplain. Old channels slowly fill. New ones form. Trees grow, compete for light, and eventually fall. Sunlight reaches places that have been shaded for decades and new growth begins.

The landscape is always changing, even when those changes are too slow to notice as we walk through the forest.

Perhaps that is what I find most fascinating about Congaree.

What looks like an ancient, finished forest is actually a living work in progress.

The river hasn’t finished creating Congaree.

Towering trees reach toward a brilliant blue sky, revealing the remarkable scale of Congaree’s old-growth forest. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The forest tells the story

Look closely and the forest reveals itself

Congaree has changed the way I think about forests.

I came for the giant trees, the quiet water, and the sense of age. But the more I learn, the more I see that Congaree is not simply a collection of magnificent trees. It is a living landscape shaped by water, time, growth, decay, and renewal.

The river creates the land. Floods nourish the forest. Fallen trees make room for new life. And what survived because it was difficult to reach became something worth protecting.

Perhaps that is the real lesson of Congaree.

A forest can look still and timeless while everything beneath the canopy is changing.

And somewhere beyond the trees, the river keeps moving.

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Editor’s note

Alamogordo in a Nutshell

Alamogordo, New Mexico, offers much more than White Sands. Explore pistachio orchards, vineyards, space history, desert scenery, and the surprising attractions of the Tularosa Basin.

Alamogordo sits at the edge of New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin where desert landscapes meet the Sacramento Mountains and where, surprisingly, pistachio orchards and vineyards thrive. We discovered the area while using Las Cruces as our home base, exploring White Sands, stopping along the way for photographs and a bit of local history, and eventually finding ourselves surrounded by pistachio trees.

There was a lot more to discover than we expected. From a 30-foot pistachio to working orchards, wineries, space history, and spectacular desert scenery, Alamogordo offered a delightful reminder that sometimes the most interesting places are the ones that surprise you.

Thirty feet of roadside whimsy, the World’s Largest Pistachio towers over PistachioLand in Alamogordo. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

This is one really big nut

Alamogordo’s most unexpected landmark

You can’t miss it.

Standing 30 feet tall beside the highway, the World’s Largest Pistachio is hard to ignore. Oversized and slightly whimsical, it’s exactly the kind of roadside attraction that makes you want to pull over and take a photograph.

But this isn’t simply a giant nut planted beside the road. It tells the story of how pistachios came to thrive in a place where you might least expect them.

The sculpture stands at PistachioLand, home to a 111-acre pistachio orchard and vineyard that began in 1980 when the McGinn family planted the first trees on what was essentially bare desert. Today, thousands of pistachio trees fill the orchard along with rows of wine grapes.

The giant pistachio was built in memory of Thomas McGinn, PistachioLand’s founder. After his death in 2008, his son Timothy erected the sculpture so travelers passing by would take notice of what his father had created.

We certainly did.

What began with a photograph of one very big pistachio became an introduction to something far more interesting—the surprising agricultural story of the Tularosa Basin

Murals and memorabilia tell the story of Alamogordo’s surprising connection to America’s space history. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

From Las Cruces to Alamogordo

The road is part of the experience

We used Las Cruces as our home base while exploring White Sands National Park, Alamogordo, and the pistachio groves of the Tularosa Basin. Although we could have moved the motorhome, it was much easier to leave it settled in an RV park and use our toad for exploring.

The drive north toward Alamogordo became part of the experience. At San Augustin Pass, we stopped for photographs and took in the changing landscape as the road climbed toward the Sacramento Mountains.

We also stopped at the Space Murals Museum, another unexpected piece of the story of this part of New Mexico. Space exploration, desert scenery, and agriculture might seem like unrelated subjects but along this road they begin to fit together.

By the time we reached Alamogordo, we had discovered that getting there was more than simply traveling from one destination to another. The road itself was revealing the character of the Tularosa Basin.

Rows of pistachio trees stretch across the desert at McGinn’s PistachioLand, with a windmill turning above the orchard. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Where the desert grows

An unlikely agricultural landscape

At first glance, the Tularosa Basin doesn’t look like a place where much would grow. The landscape is dry and open, surrounded by mountains. Yet look closer and you’ll find orchards, vineyards, and fields thriving in the desert.

The basin’s climate is well suited to pistachios, pecans, and grapes. Abundant sunshine and dry conditions have helped agriculture here develop a character all its own with the Sacramento Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop.

That contrast is part of the appeal. White Sands reminds us that this is a desert while the orchards and vineyards show that desert doesn’t necessarily mean barren.

Wineries and nut farms offer another way to experience the region, inviting visitors to taste what is grown here, tour the orchards, and enjoy the scenery.

We had come to see Alamogordo and its famous pistachios. We were beginning to understand that the more interesting story was how something so productive could flourish in such an unlikely landscape.

PistachioLand

More than a giant nut

The giant pistachio may be what first catches your attention but there is much more to discover at PistachioLand.

The ranch combines a working pistachio orchard, vineyard, country store, winery, and ice cream parlor. A farm tour offers a closer look at how pistachios are grown while inside the country store, shelves are filled with farm-grown and handcrafted products.

We enjoyed wandering around, sampling pistachios, and taking in the views from the porch. The pistachio bar offers free samples while the winery provides an opportunity to taste wines made from grapes grown right here in the Tularosa Basin.

And then there is the ice cream. After all, what better way to finish a visit to pistachio country than with a sweet treat?

PistachioLand manages to turn an agricultural operation into an experience for visitors of all ages. What began with a few pistachio trees planted in the desert has grown into one of Alamogordo’s most memorable attractions.

Eagle Ranch and the Heart of the Desert

Where pistachios became a New Mexico tradition

Not far from PistachioLand is Eagle Ranch, home to New Mexico’s first and largest producing pistachio groves. Approximately 13,000 trees grow here, along with vineyards producing grapes for a variety of wines.

The ranch added wine to its products in 2002, expanding an operation already well known for its pistachios. Visitors can tour the ranch, learn how pistachios are grown and processed, and relax on the Tuscany-themed patio overlooking the groves.

There is also a story behind the name on the packages of pistachios grown here. Following a trademark conflict, owners George and Marianna Schweer changed the name to Heart of the Desert, connecting the product directly to the place where it is grown.

The ranch’s main store is in Alamogordo with a second location in the historic village of Mesilla.

What makes these farms interesting is that they are more than places where pistachios are grown and sold. They let visitors see, taste, and experience a crop that has become part of the character of the Tularosa Basin.

Free samples of McGinn’s flavored pistachios let visitors taste their way through an assortment of sweet, savory, and spicy creations. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

What’s inside the shell?

The surprisingly fascinating pistachio

After seeing thousands of pistachio trees growing in the desert, it was hard not to look at this familiar snack a little differently.

The pistachio probably originated in Central Asia, in regions that today include Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Evidence suggests people have enjoyed its fruit for more than 8,000 years.

Pistachio trees thrive in dry climates and can grow nearly 40 feet tall. In spring, clusters of green fruit appear. As they ripen, the shell hardens and naturally splits open, revealing the green and purple seed inside.

That leads to a surprising bit of botanical trivia: the pistachio isn’t actually a nut. It is the edible seed of the fruit of the pistachio tree. Botanically, it is a drupe, putting it in the same category as fruits such as peaches and cherries. In the culinary world, however, we continue to call it a nut.

Perhaps that’s part of the fun of pistachios. They may be small but there is considerably more to them than meets the eye—or the shell.

Heart of the Desert pistachios are available by the sackful, making it easy to take a taste of New Mexico’s pistachio country home. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

More than pistachios

Discovering the Tularosa Basin

Pistachios may have been our introduction to Alamogordo but they were hardly the only reason to explore the area. The Tularosa Basin offers an unusual mix of desert scenery, mountains, agriculture, history, and outdoor adventure.

White Sands National Park is the obvious attraction with its brilliant gypsum dunes creating a landscape unlike almost anywhere else. Beyond the dunes, the Sacramento Mountains rise dramatically above the basin, providing opportunities for hiking, photography, and simply enjoying a different perspective on the desert.

What makes the area especially appealing is the variety packed into a relatively small region. In a single day, you can photograph desert landscapes, explore space history, wander through pistachio orchards, sample locally produced wine, and watch the mountains change as the light moves across the basin.

That’s what stayed with us. Alamogordo wasn’t just a place we stopped to see a giant pistachio. It was a place where several very different pieces of New Mexico came together—and made us want to slow down and look a little closer.

**Colorful jars of seasoned pistachio snacks tempt visitors with flavors ranging from savory to spicy.** *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A taste of Alamogordo

Sometimes a place stays with you

There is something satisfying about tasting a place rather than simply seeing it. In Alamogordo, that meant sampling pistachios grown just down the road, enjoying locally produced wine, and sitting back to take in the Sacramento Mountains beyond the orchards.

We hadn’t set out to become experts on pistachios. We were simply exploring a part of New Mexico that offered something a little different. Yet the more we looked, tasted, and wandered, the more we appreciated how the desert, mountains, agriculture, and history were woven together.

Perhaps that’s what makes travel memorable. It isn’t always the major attraction or the photograph we came to take. Sometimes it is the unexpected discovery—a giant pistachio, an orchard in the desert, a quiet mountain view—that gives a place its character.

And Alamogordo certainly gave us a few things to remember.

Flavored pistachios by the bagful, offering plenty of delicious ways to take a taste of New Mexico home. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A place that surprises

Sometimes the unexpected becomes the memory

Alamogordo reminded us that travel often begins with one thing and ends somewhere entirely different. We came looking for White Sands and a giant pistachio but discovered orchards growing in the desert, vineyards beneath the Sacramento Mountains, space history, and a landscape that rewarded taking our time.

Perhaps that is the real appeal of places like Alamogordo. They don’t reveal everything at once. You have to slow down, look around, and sometimes follow an unexpected road—or a very large pistachio—to discover what makes a place special.

As Georgia O’Keeffe so aptly put it: “If you ever go to New Mexico, it will itch you for the rest of your life.”

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Editor’s note

Beyond the Photograph: The Places We Discover for Ourselves

The best RV travel experiences aren’t always the ones we see on social media. Discover why slowing down, wandering beyond the obvious, and following curiosity can lead to places and experiences that become part of our own story.

We live in a world where we can see a place thousands of miles away before ever setting out to find it. Social media shows us the famous overlook, the perfect viewpoint, and even where we’re supposed to stand for the photograph. Sometimes it seems we’ve seen a destination before we’ve experienced it.

But travel can be more than following someone else’s path. Some of the most memorable places I’ve encountered weren’t the ones I set out to discover. They were the places that revealed themselves when I slowed down, looked beyond the obvious, and followed my curiosity.

After decades of traveling by RV, I’ve come to appreciate those discoveries more and more. They may never make a bucket list or appear in a social-media feed but they become part of our own story—and sometimes leave us with something far more meaningful than a photograph.

Forsyth Fountain gets the photograph. Savannah keeps the surprises. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

When the photograph becomes the destination

Following someone else’s perfect view

An article I came across recently described crowds gathering at some of Santorini’s most photographed locations. Visitors were lining up for the same views they had seen repeatedly on social media, sometimes waiting to recreate a photograph almost exactly as it appeared online.

It made me wonder when the photograph became the destination.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to see a beautiful place or capture it with a camera. I’ve done both. But when the image we’ve seen beforehand becomes the experience we’re expecting, something can be lost. We arrive knowing where to stand, what to photograph, and perhaps even what we’re supposed to feel.

Social media can turn a handful of spectacular images into a must-see destination while everything surrounding them disappears from view.

A photograph can show us what someone else noticed. It can’t show us what we might discover if we slow down, wander a little farther, or simply turn around and look in another direction.

That’s when travel becomes more than collecting photographs. It becomes an opportunity to see a place for ourselves.

Beyond Tucson’s familiar sights, Gates Pass stopped us in our tracks. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Beyond the obvious

Leaving room for discovery

I’ve never been particularly interested in recreating someone else’s perfect travel photograph. There is something artificial about standing in a predetermined spot, posing for the expected image, and moving on because you’ve captured what you came to see.

I’d rather discover what lies beyond the photograph.

That doesn’t mean avoiding famous places. Many are popular for good reason and I’ve enjoyed plenty of them. But the obvious attraction is often only the beginning. There may be a town to explore, a trail to walk, a historic site to discover, or a landscape to experience beyond the view everyone came to photograph.

That’s what I enjoy about slow travel. It leaves room for curiosity. Instead of asking, “What am I supposed to see here?” I can ask, “What else is here?”

Over the years, I’ve found that some of the places I remember most weren’t planned destinations. They were discoveries—experiences that became meaningful because I found them for myself.

They weren’t someone else’s perfect moment repeated.

They became mine.

Canyon de Chelly was only the beginning. Hubbell Trading Post added another chapter of Navajo history. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

What I found along the way

The discoveries that weren’t on the itinerary

Some of my favorite travel experiences have come from places I never expected to find. They weren’t the destinations that initially drew me there but discoveries made because I took the time to look beyond them.

Corning, California, is one example. From Interstate 5, it would be easy to see it as simply another highway stop. But spending time there revealed a community with its own history, character, and identity.

At Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, there was no single spectacular attraction. The reward was slowing down enough to notice the wetlands, birds, dragonflies, and changing landscape.

At Canyon de Chelly, the experience continued with a visit to Hubbell Trading Post, adding another layer of history and culture to a remarkable landscape.

None of these experiences came from searching for the perfect photograph.

They came from being there, being curious, and allowing the journey to reveal something unexpected.

Those are the discoveries I remember.

Cottonwood led us to the Verde River Greenway and an unexpected side of Arizona. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The freedom to wander

Why RV travel leaves room for discovery

One of the things I love most about RV travel is the freedom to change my plans.

I’ve experienced that freedom many times on the road. In Arizona, a drive through the Sonoran Desert can become a reason to explore Ajo or continue toward Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Near Cottonwood, discovering the Verde River Greenway revealed an entirely different side of Arizona than I expected.

These weren’t experiences I could reduce to a single photograph. The pleasure was in the changing scenery, the unexpected stops and wondering what was around the next bend.

That’s what I enjoy about traveling by RV. We can stay another day, take a different road, or stop simply because something catches our attention.

The places we discover may never appear on a bucket list or become the photograph everyone wants.

They don’t have to. Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones we weren’t looking for.

Inside Fayette County’s painted churches, beauty, faith, and history come together in a moment of awe. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

When discovery becomes awe

The moments we could never have planned

Sometimes discovery becomes something more. You find yourself somewhere you didn’t expect to be, seeing something you hadn’t come to see, and suddenly the experience feels bigger than the moment itself.

I’ve felt that in the Caverns of Sonora where the formations seemed almost impossible and in the painted churches of Texas where beauty and history came together unexpectedly. I’ve felt it on a trail when a natural arch appeared in the landscape, or when a bird caught my attention simply because I took the time to notice it.

None of those moments could have been planned from a photograph.

They happened because I was there and paying attention.

That’s what makes awe so personal. Someone else can show us a spectacular place but they can’t give us the moment when we discover something that takes our breath away.

Sometimes, the discovery is what makes the place unforgettable.

Wandering the Sonoran Desert, we watched changing light reveal a landscape we thought we knew. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

The experience is yours

No one else can tell you what you’ll find

A photograph can inspire us to visit a place but it shouldn’t determine what we see when we get there.

That’s the difference between following a destination and experiencing it. We can visit the overlook everyone recommends, take the photograph we’ve seen a hundred times, and still leave without discovering what makes the place meaningful to us.

I’ve learned to leave room for something unexpected.

It might be a quiet trail, a historic building, a bird along the roadside, or simply a landscape that looks completely different in the changing light. It doesn’t have to be spectacular. It only has to catch my attention.

The beauty of travel is that we don’t have to experience a place the way someone else did.

We get to discover it for ourselves.

The farther we wandered into the Okefenokee, the more the swamp revealed its wild and unexpected beauty. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Reflection

Finding what no photograph can show

After all these years of traveling by RV, I’ve come to realize that some of the experiences I treasure most were never on a list. They happened because I slowed down, followed a road, stopped somewhere unexpected or simply took the time to look a little longer.

I’ve taken plenty of photographs along the way and those photographs bring back wonderful memories. But the picture is only part of the story. What stays with me is the feeling of being there—the surprise of discovering something I hadn’t expected and, sometimes, the sense of awe that followed.

Maybe that’s what I’m looking for now when I travel.

Not the perfect photograph. Not another destination to check off.

Just the opportunity to discover something for myself.

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Editor’s note

Ever Walked the Streets of Bakersfield? A Deeper Look

Bakersfield, California, is more than the city celebrated in a country song. Explore its Basque heritage, agriculture, oil, music, food, and the unexpected stories that emerge when you slow down and look.

The question, made famous by Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam, is more than a line from a song. It is an invitation to discover a city often overlooked by travelers passing through California’s Central Valley.

I’ve written about Bakersfield before but each visit reveals another layer. We discovered its Basque heritage over a meal at Benji’s Basque Restaurant, enjoyed local beer at Temblor Brewing Company, drove through miles of orange groves, and saw oil pumps still working across the landscape.

Perhaps that is the real Bakersfield. Its story isn’t found in one place or one attraction but in the people, food, music, agriculture, and industry that have shaped the city.

Maybe you simply have to slow down and look.

Camping among the rows of orange trees at Orange Grove RV Park, we found a home base that felt uniquely Bakersfield. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Our home base

Where the journey begins

For an RVer, the campground is where the journey begins. It is our home, our base, and the place from which each day’s discoveries unfold.

Bakersfield has three excellent RV parks and we’ve experienced all three. We’ve stayed at Orange Grove RV Park three times, stayed at Bakersfield River Run RV Park twice, and visited Bakersfield RV Resort. Each offers something different but all make good bases for exploring the city and surrounding area.

Orange Grove is perhaps the most memorable. The park sits among working orange trees and is a popular overnight stop for snowbirds heading south in fall and returning north in spring. When the oranges ripen, campers are invited to pick them. In spring, the blossoms fill the air with the unmistakable fragrance of citrus.

River Run offers a different advantage. We’ve stayed there twice, and the park backs onto the Kern River, with several Bakersfield experiences close at hand. Benji’s Basque Restaurant is a short distance away while the heart of Bakersfield are about a mile away.

Bakersfield RV Resort is also centrally located and is considered by some RVers to be the best of the three.

For us, these campgrounds aren’t simply places to park the RV. They become home base—a comfortable place to return to after a day of discovering another layer of Bakersfield.

And that’s where our exploration begins: from the campground, out onto the streets of Bakersfield.

River Run RV Park backs onto the Kern River, giving us a peaceful place to return to after exploring Bakersfield. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A city of many stories

Bakersfield is more than it first appears

Bakersfield is easy to underestimate. Located in California’s Central Valley, it can seem like a place to pass through rather than a destination. Spend a little time here, however, and another picture emerges.

The city grew along the Kern River, attracting people seeking opportunity. Gold brought newcomers in the 1850s, followed by agriculture, oil, and waves of migration that shaped the community.

Today, those layers remain visible. Orange groves stretch across the valley, oil pumps continue their steady rhythm, and restaurants and gathering places reflect the cultures of those who made Bakersfield home.

Then there is the music. The Bakersfield Sound put this working-class city on the national map and gave it an identity that still resonates.

Bakersfield isn’t defined by any one of these things. Its character comes from all of them together.

Perhaps that is why the city rewards those willing to slow down and look a little closer.

A meal at Benji’s Basque Restaurant gave us a taste of the Basque heritage that has been part of Bakersfield’s story for generations. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Basque connection

An unexpected heritage in the heart of California

One of the more surprising things about Bakersfield is its strong Basque heritage. Beginning in the late 19th century, Basque immigrants came to the Central Valley, many working as sheepherders. Over time, some settled, raised families, and became an important part of the region’s agricultural community.

Their influence remains visible today. Bakersfield has one of the largest Basque communities in the United States and its restaurants have become an important part of the city’s cultural identity.

We experienced that heritage firsthand at Benji’s Basque Restaurant. Because we were staying at River Run, it was an easy addition to our exploration of Bakersfield.

For our first Basque food experience, we ordered the Set Up—and it proved to be an excellent choice. Soup, pinto beans, and salsa were brought to the table to be mixed according to our preferences. The cabbage-filled soup and French bread were delicious, followed by a fresh salad of lettuce and tomatoes, along with pickled tongue.

Everything was delicious and we rolled out of the restaurant completely satisfied. More than a meal, it was an opportunity to experience a piece of Bakersfield’s history and a tradition that remains part of the city’s identity.

That is what makes discovering a place rewarding. Look beneath the surface and you often find stories you never expected.

In Bakersfield, the Basque story is one of them.

Bakersfield’s orange groves are more than beautiful scenery. They are part of the agricultural story that has shaped the Central Valley. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Where the oil still pumps

An industry woven into the landscape

Oil is another part of Bakersfield’s story that is impossible to miss. Discovered in the area in the 19th century, petroleum became one of the foundations of the local economy.

We saw that history firsthand while exploring the area where oil pumps still work among fields and orchards. Their slow, rhythmic movement is almost hypnotic, yet these aren’t relics preserved for visitors. They remain part of a working landscape.

The contrast is striking. Orange trees grow in neat rows while nearby pump jacks rise and fall against the valley sky. Agriculture and oil may seem like different worlds but both have helped shape Bakersfield.

Seeing the pumps in their everyday setting made the history feel less like something from a textbook and more like a living part of the city.

In Bakersfield, the past isn’t always behind glass.

Sometimes it is still pumping.

At California Fruit Depot, we found a taste of the Central Valley’s agricultural bounty, from fresh oranges to locally grown dates. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

From the grove to the table

Bakersfield’s agricultural bounty, from grove to table

Just down the road from Orange Grove RV Park is California Fruit Depot, a small family-owned fruit market and packing facility. Its specialties are oranges and Medjool dates along with nuts, dried fruit, and other locally produced treats.

After staying among the orange trees, stopping at the Fruit Depot seemed like a natural next step. Here, the agricultural landscape we had been enjoying from the RV became something we could take home and enjoy.

There is something satisfying about buying fresh produce close to where it is grown. Instead of another stop at a supermarket, we were experiencing a small piece of the Central Valley’s agricultural bounty.

For RVers, stops like this are part of the fun of traveling by road. You discover a local place, taste something fresh, and perhaps leave with something to enjoy later at the campsite.

Sometimes you don’t have to look far to taste a place.

Temblor Brewing Company gave us a taste of the new Bakersfield, where a city rooted in tradition continues to evolve. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A new Bakersfield

Tradition doesn’t mean standing still

Bakersfield has deep roots but it isn’t stuck in the past. We saw that at Temblor Brewing Company where the city’s working-class character meets a newer craft-beer culture.

Temblor is a reminder that the city continues to evolve. Places like this give locals a place to gather and visitors another reason to linger, adding a contemporary layer to a community better known for oil, agriculture, Basque food, and country music.

What I enjoyed was the sense that this wasn’t created simply for tourists. It felt like a place where locals come to relax, socialize, and enjoy themselves.

Perhaps that is another part of understanding a city. You can learn much from its history, but you also need to see what is happening there today.

Bakersfield’s story is still being written.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace stands as a reminder of the Bakersfield Sound and the music that gave the city a voice far beyond California. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The sound of Bakersfield

When a city found its voice

You can’t talk about Bakersfield without talking about music. In the late 1950s and 1960s, local musicians created a distinctive country sound built around electric guitars, a driving rhythm, and a harder-edged feel than the polished Nashville sound of the day.

Buck Owens and Merle Haggard became its best-known voices. Their music reflected the working people and independent spirit of the Central Valley and the Bakersfield Sound eventually influenced country music far beyond California.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace became a landmark of that musical legacy. Part restaurant, museum, and music venue, it celebrated Owens’ career and the music that put Bakersfield on the map. The Crystal Palace closed its doors to the public in 2025 but its place in Bakersfield’s musical history remains.

And then there is Streets of Bakersfield, the song that inspired our title. When Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam recorded it together in 1988, it brought the city and its distinctive musical identity back into the national spotlight.

The song asks whether you’ve ever walked the streets of Bakersfield.

After spending time here, I think the better question is whether you’ve ever really looked.

The historic Bakersfield gate still stands as a gateway to the city’s past, a striking reminder of the Bakersfield that once welcomed travelers along old Highway 99. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The gate to Bakersfield

Where Buck Owens helped preserve a piece of the past

Just outside Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace stands a piece of Bakersfield history that might easily be missed—the Bakersfield gate.

The original gateway was built in 1949 as an entrance to the city along old Highway 99. When it was eventually removed, Buck Owens recognized its significance and helped save it, bringing the structure to its present location near the Crystal Palace.

I knew about the gate and made a point of searching it out. Standing beside it, I was reminded that Bakersfield’s history isn’t confined to museums or historic buildings. Sometimes it survives because someone recognizes that a seemingly ordinary piece of the past is worth preserving.

The gate feels like a fitting companion to the Crystal Palace, another reminder of a Bakersfield that could easily have disappeared beneath the growth of the modern city.

Instead, the gate remains.

And if you are going to walk the streets of Bakersfield, this is one piece of its history worth seeking out.

Buck Owens’ guitar stands as a tangible reminder of the musician whose sound helped put Bakersfield on the country music map. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Perhaps you just have to look

A city reveals itself one layer at a time

Bakersfield isn’t a city that reveals everything at once.

From our campground, we began to discover a place shaped by Basque immigrants, agriculture, oil, music, and generations of people who came here looking for opportunity. Some of its stories are obvious. Others are easy to miss unless you slow down.

We found history in a Basque meal, orange groves, working oil pumps, and a preserved gateway. We found a city still evolving at a local brewery. And we found a musical identity that gave Bakersfield a voice far beyond California.

Perhaps that’s what Streets of Bakersfield was really asking us to consider.

Have we ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?

Yes, we have.

But more importantly, we took the time to look.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes to discover the unexpected.

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Editor’s note

Port Lavaca: Discovering the Quiet Side of the Texas Coast

Port Lavaca, Texas, is a quiet coastal town shaped by water, fishing, wetlands, birds, and history. Stay awhile and discover the quieter side of the Texas coast.

Port Lavaca doesn’t exactly announce itself.

There are no star attractions demanding your attention or bucket-list experiences requiring a reservation. It’s a working Texas coastal town spread along Lavaca Bay where fishing boats, wetlands, seafood markets, and quiet stretches of shoreline make up much of the scenery.

And perhaps that’s the point.

I had written about Port Lavaca six years earlier as part of a Texas Highway 35 road trip. At the time, I saw it largely through the windshield—as one of the stops along a leisurely drive down the Texas coast.

This time was different.

We stayed awhile.

And by slowing down, we discovered that Port Lavaca has considerably more to offer than first meets the eye.

Texas Lakeside RV Resort became our home base for slowing down and discovering Port Lavaca and the surrounding Texas coast. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Stop and stay awhile

Some places reveal themselves only after you stop moving

For an RVer, the difference between passing through a town and staying a few days can be remarkable.

Six years ago, Port Lavaca was simply one of our stops along Highway 35. This time, we made it our home base, parking the motorhome at Texas Lakeside RV Resort.

That changed the experience.

Instead of seeing Port Lavaca through the windshield, we could explore at our own pace. There was no itinerary to follow and no need to rush from one attraction to another. We could head out for a few hours, return to the motorhome, and go exploring again.

That is one of the pleasures of RV travel I appreciate more with every passing year. We don’t always need a destination packed with attractions. Sometimes a comfortable place to park, a town worth wandering, and time to see what we find are enough.

Texas Lakeside became our base for exploring Port Lavaca and the surrounding coast from the waterfront and wetlands to beaches, parks, and local businesses.

And the more we wandered, the more Port Lavaca began to reveal itself—not as a tourist destination demanding our attention but as a working coastal community where water, wildlife, people, and history are closely connected.

That was the Port Lavaca I wanted to discover.

A town shaped by water

Port Lavaca’s history runs deep

It is easy to see Port Lavaca today as simply a quiet coastal town. Its history tells a much bigger story.

The community grew from the destruction of Linnville, a coastal settlement attacked during the Comanche Raid of 1840. Survivors moved nearby and established what became Lavaca. Before long, the new town had become an important Gulf Coast port, handling cattle, hides, cotton, and other goods bound inland.

Then there was Indianola.

For much of the nineteenth century, Indianola was one of Texas’s major ports and a rival to Lavaca. Two devastating hurricanes in 1875 and 1886 destroyed the town. Indianola was abandoned and Port Lavaca eventually emerged as the area’s surviving coastal community.

Port Lavaca adapted as the times changed. Railroads diminished its cattle trade while seafood became increasingly important. Shrimping grew into a major industry and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, completed through the area in 1913, helped restore the town’s importance as a transportation center.

Today, fishing, shipping, manufacturing, oil and gas, and tourism all contribute to its economy.

One of the most visible reminders of the past is the Half Moon Reef Lighthouse. Built in 1858, it originally stood offshore before being moved to Port Lavaca where it now stands at Lighthouse Beach Park.

The lighthouse seems to represent Port Lavaca itself.

It has moved, adapted, and survived.

So has the town.

Port Lavaca State Fishing Pier reaches deep into the bay, offering a different perspective on the town and the waters that shape it. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Follow the water

The bay is the town’s front door

Port Lavaca makes more sense once you get down to the water.

Lavaca Bay isn’t simply a scenic backdrop. It has shaped the town’s history, economy, and everyday life for generations. Along the waterfront, fishing boats, docks, and marinas make it clear that this remains a working coastal community.

We spent time wandering the waterfront, exploring the marina, and walking out along the long fishing pier. There was no particular destination in mind. We watched boats come and go, looked across the bay, and simply enjoyed being beside the water.

That kind of wandering is easy to overlook when traveling. We’re often looking for the next attraction or overlook but along Port Lavaca’s waterfront, there was something satisfying about having nowhere particular to be.

The Port Lavaca State Fishing Pier extends about 3,200 feet into the bay, providing an impressive reach into the water and another perspective on the coastline.

You don’t have to fish—or even walk the entire pier—to appreciate it. Sometimes the best reason to walk out over the water is simply to see the town from a different angle.

From there, Port Lavaca looks much as it feels from the shore: quiet, working, and closely connected to the bay.

And that water would lead us into another side of Port Lavaca we hadn’t expected—the birds.

Formosa Wetlands Walkway takes us into a quiet coastal world where marsh, water, and birdlife come together. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Where the birds lead you

Once you start looking, the coast comes alive

One of the unexpected pleasures of Port Lavaca was discovering how much birdlife surrounds the town.

The wetlands may look quiet at first but spend a little time there and the landscape begins to move.

A great blue heron stands along the water. A tricolored heron works the shallows. A painted redstart appears almost unexpectedly, reminding you that interesting discoveries aren’t always found on a list of attractions.

The Formosa Wetlands Walkway lets you experience this landscape up close. Raised boardwalks cross the brackish marsh, offering a close look without disturbing the fragile environment.

More than 400 bird species have been recorded in Calhoun County but you don’t have to be a serious birder to enjoy it.

You simply have to slow down.

I’ve found that the best photograph isn’t always waiting at the end of a road. Sometimes it’s standing quietly in a marsh, waiting for a bird to move.

In Port Lavaca, the birds gave us another reason to stop, look, and stay awhile.

Walking Port Lavaca’s quiet boardwalks and beaches, we found that the shoreline doesn’t need to entertain us to be enjoyable. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Walk the quiet places

The shoreline doesn’t need to entertain you

Port Lavaca’s beaches and parks aren’t designed to overwhelm you and that’s part of their appeal.

We wandered the shoreline, explored the parks, and followed the raised boardwalks without feeling we needed to accomplish anything. There was no rush to get somewhere else.

That’s what I enjoy about slow travel. A beach doesn’t have to be spectacular to be worth walking and a boardwalk doesn’t need a dramatic destination at the end. Sometimes the pleasure is simply being outside and paying attention.

Along Port Lavaca’s shoreline, beach, marsh, bay, and parkland blend together, each offering another perspective on the coast.

Lighthouse Beach Park brings several of these elements together with its beach, wetlands, and birding opportunities. It’s the kind of place where you can walk, sit, and watch the water, or simply take your camera and see what catches your eye.

Port Lavaca doesn’t try to turn every piece of shoreline into an attraction.

It simply gives you room to explore.

Shopping a local seafood market for fresh shrimp brought us closer to the fishing culture that has shaped Port Lavaca for generations. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Follow the seafood

From the bay to the market

You can’t spend much time in Port Lavaca without noticing the importance of seafood.

Fishing isn’t simply something visitors do here for recreation. It is part of the community’s history, economy, and identity.

That became especially apparent when we explored the local seafood markets. For me, they were more interesting than another restaurant serving seafood to tourists. A market connects the dots: the bay, the boats, the fishermen, and the food that eventually reaches someone’s table.

Port Lavaca’s connection to seafood goes back generations. As railroads changed the cattle trade and the town’s role as a shipping center declined, seafood became increasingly important. By the 1920s, shrimp was a major industry, and in 1928 Port Lavaca led the nation in the amount of seafood shipped.

Standing in a local seafood market today, that history feels surprisingly close.

The boats and the bay aren’t simply scenery outside the window.

They’re part of what keeps the town going.

Port O’Connor gave us another glimpse of the quiet coastal life that makes this stretch of Texas so enjoyable to explore. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Take the road to Port O’Connor

Sometimes exploring the area means leaving town

Port Lavaca also makes a convenient base for exploring the surrounding coast.

During our stay, we took a day trip to Port O’Connor, discovering another small community shaped by fishing, bays, and the Gulf.

I like that kind of day trip when we’re RVing. We don’t have to move the motorhome every time we want to explore somewhere new. We can leave it at camp, spend the day wandering, and return to the same site that evening.

Port O’Connor has its own character but the trip reinforces what makes this stretch of the Texas coast interesting. Small communities, fishing boats, marshes, beaches, and open water create a quieter coastal rhythm.

For us, Port Lavaca became more than a place to stay.

It became a base for exploring the coast beyond town.

A painted redstart was an unexpected discovery, reminding us that sometimes the best finds are the ones we weren’t looking for. *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

What we found by staying

Sometimes the quiet places stay with you

Six years ago, Port Lavaca was a stop along Texas Highway 35. This time, we stayed awhile—and discovered a town that rewards those willing to slow down and look.

The bay, the birds, the boats, the wetlands, and the seafood markets aren’t spectacular attractions. They’re simply pieces of a working coastal community that reveal themselves when you take the time to notice.

That may be Port Lavaca’s greatest appeal.

Six years ago, I wrote that on Highway 35, the journey was the destination.

This time, I discovered something else:

Sometimes the destination becomes the journey when you stay awhile.

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Editor’s note

Lake Winnipesaukee from the Water: Cruising the Big Lake

A leisurely cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington offers a different way to experience Lake Winnipesaukee, from Weirs Beach to Wolfeboro and back.

Lake Winnipesaukee lies in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region at the foothills of the White Mountains. It is the state’s largest lake and is often called the Big Lake.

On a pleasant September morning, we boarded the M/S Mount Washington at Weirs Beach for a cruise across Lake Winnipesaukee. The mountains were beginning to show the colors of autumn, the islands dotted the broad expanse of water, and the shoreline slowly unfolded as we cruised toward Wolfeboro.

For a few hours, there was nowhere we needed to be. We simply enjoyed being on the lake.

Lake Winnipesaukee seen from the water, where islands, mountains, and shoreline become part of the journey. © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

A different view of the lake

Seeing Winnipesaukee from the water

I have written about Lake Winnipesaukee before including Smile of the Great Spirit: Lake Winnipesaukee which explored the lake and surrounding Lakes Region. I have also written about Castle in the Clouds where Winnipesaukee stretches below in a sweeping panorama of water, islands, and mountains.

This time, I want to look at the lake from a different perspective—from the deck of the M/S Mount Washington.

There is something different about experiencing a lake from the water. The shoreline no longer defines the journey; it becomes part of the scenery. Islands that seem distant from land take on a different character while the surrounding mountains rise around you rather than simply forming a backdrop.

On a pleasant October afternoon, we cruised from Weirs Beach toward Wolfeboro, surrounded by the changing landscape of New Hampshire’s Big Lake. It was a leisurely few hours but one that offered a fresh way to appreciate a place I had already come to know.

Weirs Beach

Where the journey begins

Our cruise began at Weirs Beach, one of the best-known communities on Lake Winnipesaukee. For generations, it has been a popular summer destination with its waterfront, beach, boardwalk, restaurants, and attractions drawing visitors to the lake.

Weirs Beach is also an important gateway to Winnipesaukee. From here, visitors can enjoy the lake in many ways but few are as leisurely as stepping aboard the M/S Mount Washington for a cruise.

The summer crowds had thinned and the waterfront felt relaxed. We boarded the M/S Mount Washington and settled in for a leisurely day on the lake.

At 230 feet long and spread across three decks, the ship is impressive even at the dock. But once we pulled away, its size mattered less than the view.

The waterfront slowly receded behind us and the lake opened ahead. What had been a destination viewed from land became the landscape through which we were traveling.

For the next several hours, the lake would be our road.

Cruising Lake Winnipesaukee at an unhurried pace, with mountains and islands all around. © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Aboard the Mount Washington

The lake becomes the road

Once we left Weirs Beach, the pace of the day changed. There was no traffic to watch, no turns to navigate, and no reason to hurry. The M/S Mount Washington moved steadily across the lake while we watched the scenery unfold.

The ship has carried passengers on Lake Winnipesaukee since 1940 and has become an institution on the Big Lake. Its spacious decks make it easy to step outside and enjoy the ever-changing views.

We spent much of our time on deck where the fall air was pleasant and the scenery constantly changed. The shoreline stretched away in both directions, islands appeared ahead and slipped behind us, and mountains formed a familiar backdrop.

There was nothing complicated about the experience. We were simply on the lake, watching New Hampshire pass by at a comfortable pace. Perhaps that was the best part—the opportunity to slow down and let the landscape come to us.

On the lake, the shoreline becomes part of the journey. © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

The lake unfolds

Islands, mountains, and shoreline

Once we were out on the open water, Lake Winnipesaukee seemed to grow larger with every mile. From the deck, islands appeared ahead, wooded shorelines curved into the lake, and mountains rose beyond them.

A cruise offers something that driving around the lake cannot. The perspective is constantly changing. An island gradually reveals its trees and rocky shoreline before slipping behind us while distant mountains shift along the horizon as the ship changes course.

I found myself watching the shoreline as much as the water. Homes and small communities appeared among the trees and hills, seeming quieter and more removed from the everyday world.

The September morning added its own character with autumn beginning to touch the landscape without overwhelming the greens of the forest.

There was time simply to look. No single view lasted very long but there was always another one waiting beyond it.

Wolfeboro

America’s oldest summer resort

After cruising across Lake Winnipesaukee, the M/S Mount Washington brought us to Wolfeboro on the eastern shore.

Wolfeboro has a long connection with summer vacationing. Colonial Governor John Wentworth established a summer estate here in the 1760s, giving the town its claim as America’s oldest summer resort. His estate was actually on nearby Lake Wentworth but his summers in the region helped establish a tradition that continues today.

The town grew into a popular summer destination and its relationship with Lake Winnipesaukee remains central to its character. The waterfront, town docks, shops, restaurants, and tree-lined streets give Wolfeboro a traditional New England resort atmosphere.

We stepped ashore and spent some time exploring before stopping for lunch. It was a pleasant change from the quiet of the lake and gave us a chance to experience Wolfeboro from the shore rather than simply watching it pass from the deck.

After lunch, we returned to the M/S Mount Washington for the journey back across the lake. Our stop added a little history and a taste of lakeside life to an already enjoyable day on Winnipesaukee.

Back aboard the *M/S Mount Washington*, leaving Wolfeboro behind as we begin our journey across the lake. © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Back on the lake

The journey home

After lunch in Wolfeboro, we returned to the M/S Mount Washington and continued our cruise across Lake Winnipesaukee. The afternoon was still pleasant and there was something satisfying about settling back aboard and watching the shoreline slowly recede.

The return journey offered many of the same views we had seen earlier but they didn’t feel quite the same. From the opposite direction, familiar islands and stretches of shoreline took on new shapes and perspectives.

We spent the afternoon watching the landscape rather than watching the clock. Mountains framed the lake, wooded islands dotted the water, and occasional homes appeared along the shoreline. The pace was unhurried, giving us time to simply enjoy being there.

As Weirs Beach gradually came back into view, the cruise was drawing to an end. A few hours earlier, we had left the shore looking forward to seeing Lake Winnipesaukee from the water. Now we were returning with a collection of photographs—and a different appreciation for the Big Lake.

Weirs Beach comes into view as our enjoyable cruise across Lake Winnipesaukee draws to an end. © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Seeing the lake anew

Some places reveal more with time

As Weirs Beach came back into view, our cruise aboard the M/S Mount Washington was coming to an end. We had spent a pleasant September day crossing Lake Winnipesaukee, stopping in Wolfeboro and enjoying the ever-changing views from the water.

I had seen this lake before from its shores and from high above at Castle in the Clouds. Each perspective revealed something different. From above, I could appreciate the sweep of the lake and the mountains that surround it. From the water, I noticed the smaller details—the wooded islands, quiet stretches of shoreline, and homes tucked among the trees.

Perhaps that is what I enjoy most about returning to places I have visited before. There is always another way to see them.

The M/S Mount Washington cruise wasn’t an adventure in the usual sense. It was simply several unhurried hours on the water, enjoying the scenery, and the company of a beautiful New Hampshire day.

Sometimes, that’s more than enough.

Seeing the lake anew

Some places reveal more with time

As Weirs Beach came back into view, our day on Lake Winnipesaukee was coming to an end. The M/S Mount Washington had carried us across the Big Lake, through its islands and along its shores with a stop in Wolfeboro along the way.

I had seen Winnipesaukee from its shores and from high above at Castle in the Clouds. Yet being on the water felt different. The lake wasn’t simply something to look at; it was something to move through. Islands, mountains, and shoreline became part of the experience.

Perhaps that is why familiar places continue to draw us back. We don’t always return because the place has changed. Sometimes we return because we are willing to see it differently.

That pleasant September day aboard the M/S Mount Washington gave me another way to experience a lake I thought I already knew. There is always another perspective waiting to be discovered.

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Editor’s note