RV Patrol

All eyes are on the skies as 50,000 fans wait for the rain to stop. The start of the Madison Regatta H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Series race is scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 pm, but officials are keeping an anxious watch on the Ohio River. For several days a steady line of rain coming from the Gulf of Mexico has dumped inches on a wide area, and the river keeps rising.

One of our great national treasures, Yellowstone National Park is wild and untamed place. And, as the Park Rangers are fond of telling tourists, this is also a place fraught with peril and danger. Wildlife in Yellowstone can be unpredictable, especially when spooked or provoked, and this element of risk adds an extra zing to your camping experience. 

Last summer we arrived at Yellowstone National Park from the Grand Tetons via the picturesque South Gate. The approach from the south is an easy and enjoyable ride. This well-maintained road winds through a thick forest of slender Lodge Pole Pines, occasionally offering a view of lively streams and crystalline lakes.

Occasionally there are risks worth taking. In early December we took a chance on some late-season camping in central Indiana. The forecast predicted light snow, but we didn't let that scare us off.

You’ve seen the bumper stickers. You’ve seen the billboards. Now it’s time to see Wall Drug in person!

I love a good drug store, and Wall Drug is way beyond anything I’ve encountered! Seems funny to be recommending a pharmacy, but this is a true destination stop whether you’re in an RV or not.

Remember the beach during the 60’s & 70’s?Simple and  unhurried, colorful snack shacks, and a day of family fun. It’s all still here in Canada!

Have a go-to place that you love returning to year after year? Jackson, Wyoming is one town we never get tired of.

Jackson retains its Wild West roots in grand style, and offers shopping and entertainment for every budget and season. We’ve visited in both spring and summer, but there’s also plenty of skiing and winter sports in the area.

This summer we crossed the Plains through Nebraska, following the famed pioneer trail along the Platte River. We traveled west from St. Louis, skirted around Kansas City, and passed through a small slice of Iowa, where sunflowers grow wild in the fence rows and the dirt is black as coffee grounds.

At some point in your travels you’re bound to traverse Missouri. And what a treat that will be! Smack in the middle of the country, Missouri is a major corridor between north-south destinations, and a gateway for east-west routes.

For a brief and beautiful time, around the turn of the last century, utopian societies were in full swing. The shining jewel of these enterprises is Shaker Village in Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. 

Like pocketknives? Love a good bargain? Then Sevierville, TN is the place for you!

Sevierville hosts a bevy of factory outlets, has several campgrounds, and is a good starting point for touring Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and Gatlinburg.

We had a wonderful camping experience at Campfire Lodgings, just north of downtown Asheville, NC. This privately owned campground is located at the top of Goldview Knob, and is worth the steep climb to get there. The owners have thoughtfully provided encouraging signs along the way to keep you moving, like “Just a little further” and “Ya made it!” But do take the time to unhook your towed vehicle before you ascend their gravel road.

Join Richie as she takes you on her Road Warrior journeys from coast to coast. With her sense of adventure and husband and dog by her side, Richie will share the sights, sounds and adventures of being in her RV. The best part is the people you meet along the way. We want to hear from all nature lovers, so be sure and share your treks from the roads, parks and campgrounds. Happy Trails!

Looking for a pleasant drive, friendly folks, and an area steeped in history? Head to the Lake Erie region of Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Whether you’re in a Luxury Class A or towing a Vintage Pop-Up, here are some nifty tricks to make your RV trip more enjoyable.

When we are way up in the mountains, in high altitude and thin air, our GPS decides to set itself on Sherpa Mode. It carefully maps a route that is Longest, Obscure, and Steep Terrain - L.O.S.T.

Such as the day we travelled from Asheville, NC to Renfro Valley, KY. When we left camp in NC, a simple turn to the right would have led to the highway in a couple of easy miles, but instead the GPS sent us to the left. So we traversed the Appalachian Mountains on the back roads for two hours: though hill and holler, over dale and dell, around switchbacks and hairpin turns. All in the motorhome.

Temperatures are below freezing, which means it’s the perfect time to visit the Progressive RV & Boat Show and dream of summer.

Just east of Badlands National Park, take some time to visit Prairie Homestead. You’ll see an actual Sodbuster house and farm from the turn of the century, and wonder how these folks ever made a go of it! 

On the advice of well-traveled friends, we headed the motorhome to New Harmony, Indiana last fall. This special town is located in the south-western tip of Indiana along the Illinois border, and is well worth the trip.

Blend the pearly sands of Florida with a dash of Atlantic City and a pinch of Gatlinburg and you’ve got the delights of Myrtle Beach.

If you want a great Florida get-away for you and your dog at a reasonable price, check out the Low-Key Hideaway at Cedar Key, Florida. Cedar Key is an island off the west coast of the Florida peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico. Cedar Key is 57 miles southwest of Gainesville and 143 miles north of Clearwater and Tampa.

Nestled in the woods of southern Indiana, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and Lincoln State Park are a surprising combination of great camping with a fascinating history lesson. These parks commemorate the area where Abraham Lincoln grew from boy to manhood, and where he earned his moniker as a Frontier Statesman.

There’s nothing better than spending some time in the Adirondack Mountains at the height of the summer season! 

Its Memorial Day weekend and we’ve traveled a couple of notches south to vacation near Mammoth Cave National Park in Cave City, KY. The national park offers only primitive campsites (which means no electric service) so we are staying a few miles down the road at an RV resort. In this part of the country, the term “RV Resort” is loosely applied and commonly means a giant family playground with lots of places to plug in a trailer.