RV Patrol

I came to Florida looking for sun and surf, and by happy accident found the most beautiful beach in the Panhandle – Gulf Islands. This is a National Park, unspoiled and pristine, with snow-white sand and emerald green waters. A lovely park to drive through and great place to camp.

We’ve come to realize that bigger is not always better. Sometimes it’s the little places that offer the most charming experience. Greenbrier State Forest is one such gem, hidden deep in the West Virginia mountains. This is old-school camping at its finest. Small and slightly primitive, the campground offers only sixteen electric sites, tucked into lush and shady groves.

Sometimes first impressions are misleading. Such was the case with our visit to First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. This is a huge campground with direct beach access, and lots of amenities to please everyone. However, the check-in process was so confounding that we nearly gave up.

There’s plenty of reasons we love RV’ing, and the list got a little longer in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy. Many RVers offered their rigs as temporary shelter to embattled East Coast residents. Power, heat, refrigerator, and sleeping quarters all in a rolling relief package. Bravo to the kind souls who lent out their campers to those in need!

Don’t you love finding a new favorite spot to camp? Or maybe it’s a place that everyone seems to know about and you’re just discovering it for the first time. Our recent trip to Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana proved to be just that.

Ever wonder where the locals go? Try this little gem in central Kentucky!

Dog Creek Campground is located on the east end of a sprawling valley flooded to create Nolin Lake. There are many campgrounds on Nolin Lake, but lovely little Dog Creek is just the right size to suit us. There are only about 50 electric campsites, each generous in size, with plenty of green space between and thoughtfully angled so you're not wedged against the neighbor’s clothesline of wet bathing suits

Why would you want to see a big rock?

Because Devils Tower is more than just a geological oddity.

There’s something deep and profound here that led Native Americans

to hold this as a Sacred Place.

Should you find yourself in the Black Hills vicinity, gallop into Deadwood for some great western-style fun. This town is famous for its Gold Rush days, circa 1875, and for where Wild Bill Hickok was killed. The HBO series, Deadwood, has rekindled interest in this lively little town.

The beautiful thing about traveling in an RV is that you’re always at home. Sleeping in your own comfy bed, a pantry full of favorite foods, clothes hanging neatly in a closet instead of crammed into a suitcase. And when you move from place to place, you never have to unpack.

There are many reasons to visit Canton, Ohio, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame and nearby Amish country. Canton also boasts several first-class hospitals, which was the reason for our recent unscheduled stay.

We return to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls time and again because the area has so much to offer. It’s all the stuff we like to do – outdoor, natural splendor, and touristy. We revisited several favorites and added some new experiences, too. The weather was perfection, and it’s a gorgeous ride cruising Niagara Parkway. The drive is dotted with islands of flowers and fountains, and the profusion of colors is simply wondrous. Walking paths alongside disappear invitingly into lush woods, and the air is clean and crisp.

Isn’t it funny how somebody’s peculiar hobby can introduce you to a whole new world? Such was the case when I attended a blacksmithing convention in Troy, Ohio with family members.

The Badlands is leftover volcanic terrain, strange and beautiful, but most inhospitable. There’s hardly a living thing out here except rattlesnakes and prairie dogs. But it’s a wonderful place to tour and camp on your way to South Dakota’s Black Hills.

Searching for the Heart of Dixie? Look to Alabama for some Southern surprises.