Tom Johnson RV Assisting ‘Extreme Makover’

December 19, 2011
Tom Johnson Camping Center announced they have donated the use of 12 RVs to “Extreme Makeover:Home Edition” and Bellamy Homes to be used by the designers and builders to increase their productivity. According to a press release, a mix of travel trailers, fifth-wheels and a Class A motorhome are being utilized as office space allowing [Read More...]

New York Parks Designed for Winter Camping

December 17, 2011
Winter in New York allows outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy various activities such as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snow tubing and snowshoeing due to the state’s varied geography and bountiful winter snows. According to a Yahoo report, maintained highways allow year-round access to campers who wish to take their RV or tent out for a winter [Read More...]

AAA Expects Strong Travel During Holidays

December 14, 2011
Despite continued worries about the economy, more Americans are expected to hit the highway this holiday season. CNN reported that travel group AAA said Wednesday it expects 91.9 million Americans — about 30% of the population — to travel at least 50 miles from home during the 11-day year-end holiday season. That’s up 1.4% from [Read More...]

A potpourri of suggestions for visiting the National Park System this winter

December 1, 2011
Just because winter is on its way and the weather is turning gray and colder doesn't mean there aren't great places to enjoy in the National Park System in the coming months. National Parks Traveler is providing some random suggestions. [READ MORE..]

INDUSTRY LOOKS TO KICK START 2012 AT NATIONAL RV TRADE SHOW

November 22, 2011
With RV ownership at record levels, and consumer interest in RVing remaining strong, RVIA’s 49th National RV Trade Show brings together 2012 products, industry officials and RV dealers at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, 2011....[Read More]

Protect the Mortgage Interest Deduction for RVs

November 16, 2011
The federal second home mortgage interest deduction is a substantial benefit to motorhome owners. But reports indicate that a Congressional Super Committee (Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction) is considering eliminating this deduction for RVs. The proposal is part of a package... [Read More]

17 Free Entrance Days in 2012 at National Parks

October 24, 2011
To encourage Americans to explore America’s natural beauty, rich history and culture, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on 17 days in 2012. “From Independence Hall to our newest national park, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, our national parks tell the story of America, [Read More...]

Leaf Peeping Across America: A Coast-to-Coast Guide to the Fall Foliage

October 8, 2011
Grab your camera, spare memory cards, and load the car -- it's leaf-peeping season from coast to coast. From Vermont to the Pacific Northwest, use this guide to see some of the best fall foliage across the U.S.[Read More]

10 great places to see science in the works

October 7, 2011
Are you looking for new places to go? Want to make it interesting and educational? OK..What do zombie fashion shows, crime lab tours and Rubik's cube contests have in common? You'll find them all at a science festival. These events function in the same way art and food festivals do - through public demonstrations and activities, most of them free. [Read More...]

Fall colors more than halfway toward peak in northern Maine

October 6, 2011
Conservation officials say the northern half of Maine is more than halfway toward peak foliage as the state's trees continue showing their fall colors. The Maine Department of Conservation says the region from roughly Greenville north is now experiencing high foliage conditions, with colors 50 to 70 percent toward peak. [Read More]

Best National Parks of the Pacific Northwest

September 30, 2011
From glaciers to redwood forests, these national parks and seashores in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Northern California, and Montana offer easy fall escapes. [Read More]

New Brunswick's Fundy Coast is an unfound gem

September 2, 2011
ALONG THE BAY OF FUNDY, New Brunswick – This Canadian Maritime province claims the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline between Labrador and Florida. It boasts the world's highest tides — stroll on the ocean floor and kayak over your footsteps six hours later! [Read More...]

Best of California's Outdoors: 6 Sweet Spots

September 1, 2011
From deserted coasts to secluded islands to challenging mountains: a mini sampler of the great state's best scenic spots. [Read More...]

Highline RV Luxury Equal To Top Coach Converter

August 23, 2011
A Lug_Nut view. 5th wheel trailers are going to new heights and rival highline motorized coaches like the Prevost conversions. Like the Canadian built Prevost Coach, this 5th wheel is also being designed and built by a Canadian company. This two story fiver is 53 feet... [Read More]

Despite Tough Economy, RVers Keep on Rolling

Aug 22, 2011
America’s RV enthusiasts seem to be sticking with their passion for the open road despite high gas prices and the down economy, though it hasn’t been without a few concessions along the way. As reported by the Goshen News, such was the apparent consensus at Indiana’s Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds Friday (Aug. 19) afternoon, where [Read More...]

12 Reasons to Visit New York's Finger Lakes

August 16, 2011

Within an imaginary triangle of Upstate New York between Syracuse, Rochester and Elmira-Corning, there are 11 long, narrow lakes lying roughly parallel to each other. According to Iroquois legend, God looked upon this land with special favor and reached down to bless it, leaving the imprint of his hands. [Read more]

Top 10 Most Beautiful Places in the Great Lakes

August 10, 2011
Recently ABC-TV’s Good Morning America came out with a list of “The Most Beautiful Places in America.” In alphabetical order, the list included 1. Asheville, North Carolina 2. Aspen, Colorado 3. Cape Cod, Massachusetts 4. Destin, Florida 5. Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Wyoming 6. Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii 7. Newport, Rhode Island 8. Point Reyes, California 9. Sedona, Arizona 10. Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan Obviously, all of [Read More...]

The Towns of Coastal Maine

August 8, 2011
How to see the best of Southern Maine and Down East in just one week. If three days in Maine are good, a week is even better. That's about enough time to take the two regions of the Maine coast: southern Maine ("down there," also sometimes referred to as "Vacationland" or "not Maine") and Downeast ("up there" or "the real Maine").
[Read more...]

10 great places to eat like a local

August 7, 2011
In an era when you can eat the same meal off the same menu at opposite ends of the country, author Morgan Murphy seeks out restaurants with a local connection. His new book, Off the Eaten Path (Oxmoor House, $21.95), celebrates family-owned places. [Read More]

Oklahoma Drought Forces Campground Shutdown

August 6, 2011
The Winding Stair Campground in the Ouachita National Forest at Hodgen in southeast Oklahoma’s LeFlore County is closed until its well water levels are replenished, according to a National Forest Service news release. Blame it on the long-running Oklahoma drought, the Fort Smith (Ark.) Times Record reported. “These hot, dry days have taken their toll [Read More...]

Minnnesota Parks Set Record After Reopening

July 28, 2011
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reopened its reservation system Tuesday (July 26) after the three-week government shutdown, and the number of reservations from 8 a.m. to midnight set a new record, the DNR said. Some 4,140 reservations were made for a total of 11,489 nights of camping and lodging. “We had 162 reservations http://www.rvbusiness.com/2011/07/minnnesota-parks-set-record-after-reopening/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RvBusiness+%28RV+Business%29

Best of Coastal Maine: 7 Favorite Moments

July 27, 2011
Lobsters, lighthouses, scenic hikes, and more memorable experiences Down East. [Read More]

The five best small towns in America

July 22, 2011
Three weeks and 25,000 miles later, five teams competing in the Best of the Road contest — sponsored by Rand McNally in collaboration with USA TODAY — have turned in their maps and car keys, consulted with a panel of judges and come up with the winners: five towns full of friendly people, great scenery, terrific food, patriotic fervor and just plain fun. [Read More...]

Minnesota State Parks Prepare for Reopening

July 21, 2011

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has signed the state budget, ending a 20-day state government shutdown. Dayton signed nine budget bills and three other spending bills about five hours after the Republican-controlled Legislature approved them. Lawmakers held a special session on Tuesday (July 19) that lasted nearly 13 hours in an effort to end the shutdown [Read More...]

Wi-Fi Demands Push Limits for Park Owners

20 Jul 2011

The following is a story appearing in the July issue of Woodall’s Campground Management authored by Jeff Crider examining how campgrounds are dealing with the public’s demand for up-to-date Wi-Fi services. A decade ago, it was a big deal when somebody showed up at a campground or RV park with a laptop, and parks that [Read More...]

Do public campground maximum size restrictions scare you off?

July 11, 2011
By Bob Difley I’m sure you’ve seen entries in campground guidebooks and on entry kiosks at the entrances to National Park, Monument, or forest service campgrounds that designate maximum length limitations. “Maximum size 27 feet,” for instance. So, if you were driving a 28-foot Class C, or towing a 28-foot fiver, did you cross it [Read More...]

Dr. Beach picks top Great Lakes beaches

By Laura Bly, USA TODAYUpdated 07/01/2011 3:43 PM Comments 80 To coastal highbrows who dismiss the Midwest as "flyover country," the premise that the five Great Lakes harbor some stellar stretches of sand might seem as credible as former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois politician convicted on multiple counts of corruption this week. [Read More...]

New coastal campground to open in Orange County, CA

June 25, 2011
In one week's time, campers will begin to pitch their tents and park their RVs on 35 acres of prime coastal real estate near Laguna Beach, surrounded by native shrubs and flowers as they drink in the sweeping ocean view — no matter which of the 60 sites they camp in. [Read More]

America's 10 Best Ice Cream Factory Tours

June 21, 2011

Find out how ice cream is made, plus get the scoop on new flavors from Ben & Jerry's, Blue Bell, Turkey Hill, and other popular brands. [Read More...]

National treasures: Scenic byways

June 19, 2011

By Bob Difley If you haven’t made it a priority to check out the Scenic Byways in the areas you travel or are headed to, you are missing some of the most exciting parts of what makes up America, and you have the best way to see them–your RV. The National Scenic Byways Program is part of [Read More...]

How to Avoid the Crowds at Yellowstone

June 18, 2011

Get free admission to U.S. national parks on June 21, the first day of summer. Escape the crowds by seeking out these under-appreciated geysers, hiking trails, swimming holes, and other park highlights. [Read More...]

10 great places to get a craft beer

June 17, 2011

This year give Dad a Father's Day present you'll know he'll enjoy: a beer. Take him to a brewpub, where on-site brewers are constantly concocting new ways to satisfy thirst. "Brewpubs are the frontline soldiers in the craft beer revolution," [Read More...]

Hershey Show to Feature 900 RVs, Sept. 14-18

June 12 2011

The Pennsylvania RV and Camping Show will roll into Hershey Sept. 14-18. The show will run Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. With more than 900 RVs on display from every major manufacturer, the show is the best place to shop and compare. Everything [Read More...]

Florida State Park Campground Privatization OK’d

June 11 2011
Florida’s park system was given an important go-ahead today (June 10) to pursue private development of campgrounds inside as many as 56 state parks, the Orlando Sentinel reported. State park officials told the Acquisition and Restoration Council, a panel in Tallahassee that oversees use of state conservation lands, that establishing privately run camping inside parks [Read More...]

Southern Food: 10 Restaurants off the Eaten Path

If you really want to learn a place, eat the food of its people. Museums, cultural tours, and monuments may tell a good story, but one bite of a region's cuisine relays generations of heritage, traditions, and family pride. Next time you're on a road trip, go beyond the ho-hum chain restaurants and explore a little. [Read more...]

Arizona Campgrounds Closed for Fire Safety

June 7, 2011
Extreme fire danger and concern for the public’s safety have forced rangers in the Coronado National Forest to close the park until further notice, KNXV-TV, Phoenix, reported.. Beginning Thursday, all visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, summer cabins and camps will be temporarily shut down, Heidi Schewel with the Coronado National Forest confirmed. However, district [Read More...]

30 Tips to Cut Your RV Travel Expenses

The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to the summer travel season, with many families either hitting the road or planning to do so within the following summer months. Following are 30 tips that will help you save money while still enjoying all the fun, freedom, and flexibility that RVing has to offer: Buy a local [Read More...]

What's new at Florida theme parks this summer

ORLANDO – A theme park built with millions of Lego bricks, a cheetah habitat with a zero-to-60 mph roller coaster at Africa-themed Busch Gardens, and the first new killer whale show in five years at SeaWorld Orlando are among the big new attractions opening in central Florida this year. [Read More]

People-Powered Transportation

During the summer you see a sharp increase in people-powered vehicles on the road, in the campgrounds, and on the trails. These include the common items such as bikes, skateboards, skates, and others, but they also provide us with the opportunity to see additional vehicles that are not so common. Two of these are the Amish scooter and the Trikke.[Read More...]

Newell Workers Join in Joplin Relief Efforts

Some 50 employees from high-end motorhome builder Newell Coach Corp. today (May 27) were in Joplin in southwest Missouri carrying supplies and helping clean up following last Sunday’s tornado that ripped though the city of 50,000. Newell, with headquarters in Miami, Okla., about 25 miles south of Joplin, sustained no damage during the horrific tornado that [Read More...]

Crowds stream into Yosemite National Park

"This is such an incredibly beautiful place," says Gawlowski, "but everywhere you look, there are people and cars and buses. I hate to use the term, but the park is being loved to death." [Read More]

German Firm Eyes U.S. for RV Fuel Cells

The following is a blog by Jim Motavalli, a regular contributor to the New York Times, reporting on a German firm’s plans to bring fuel cell technology for RVs to the U.S. market. Fuel-cell cars have been a tomorrow technology as long as I’ve been reporting on them, but it looks like 2015 will be the [Read More...]

10 Best California Wineries with a View

Savor the views from these top wineries in Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara's wine country, and other California wine regions. [Read More...]

Trail of the Ancients: A Journey worth Taking

Spring is here. No really, it is (don’t pay attention to the weather on this one). And that means that thoughts of a spring road trip are probably popping into the forefront of your mind. Far too often we see the roads we traverse purely as a means to get from point A to point [Read More...]

Ocean Lakes’ Parent Launches Big Shopping Complex

The Jackson Companies of Myrtle Beach, S.C., parent company of Ocean Lakes Family Campground, has announced that Target will anchor the 40-acre SayeBrook Town Center, located at the corner of Hwy. 544 and U.S. 17 Bypass in Myrtle Beach, SCNOW.com reported. SayeBrook Town Center is a mixed-use area that includes retail, restaurant, office and civic [Read More...]

California announces closures of 70 state parks

“Californians across the state have now heard the proverbial shoe drop for our state parks system,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation in a news release. [Read More]

Great Outdoors Week Activities Aired

Planning is well under way for another eventful Great Outdoors Week, the American Recreation Coalition’s (ARC) annual celebration of outdoor recreation and its important contributions to the well-being of the American people and their communities. According to a press release, the week begins with the observance of National Get Outdoors (GO) Day on June 11 [Read More...]

Camping World/Good Sam Honor the Military

The Camping World and Good Sam Cares Team are honoring U.S. military personnel and country during the month of May. During the month of May, all associates will have three opportunities to participate in a monthlong military appreciation event, according to a news release from Mary Ellen Spedale, Camping World and Good Sam Cares chairwoman: Letters for [Read More...]

New Ferry service to Alaska

For the first time, the Alaska Marine Highway System will run a route every other week from Bellingham, Wash., to Whittier, Alaska. Previously, ferries departing Bellingham only traveled as far north as Haines, Alaska. [Read More...]

10 great places to stand in the shade of historic trees

Trees are more than pretty reminders of spring, says Charles Birnbaum , president of the Cultural Landscape Foundation. "They have stories to tell us. Each has an amazing narrative." His organization, which celebrates the American landscape, is presenting a photographic exhibit of threatened trees and tree groupings at the Jay Heritage Center in Rye, N.Y., and opened a similar signboard display last week at LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton, N.Y. Birnbaum shares some favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY [Read More...]

Rand McNally Launches First GPS For RVers

After extensive research and beta testing in the RVing community, Rand McNally has released the TripMaker RVND 5510 – the first navigation device designed specifically for RVers. “We’ve listened carefully to members of the RVing community, who told us overwhelmingly that they would be interested in purchasing a GPS if it provided RV-specific routing, stops and [Read More...]

RV 101: A coastal highway adventure

The offseason’s a perfect time to learn the ropes of motorhome travel on Oregon’s Pacific shoreline. [Read More...]

10 great places to be wowed by American Indian culture

American Indian culture is alive and well and on colorful display at powwows across the country. Paul Gowder , creator of powwows.com, which showcases these social and spiritual events, shares some favorites with Gary McKechnie for USA TODAY. [Read More...]

Sailing For Salmon At The Anchorage Museum

If you are lucky enough to be traveling and camping throughout Alaska this summer, be sure to visit the Anchorage Museum located in the heart of downtown. When we lived in Anchorage about five years, I spent many afternoons at this museum with my children. During the cold dark days of winter, I often became [Read More...]

RVIA: Spring RV Media Coverage Blooming

RVs are continuing to grab media attention with the weather warming and the summer travel season approaching. Coverage reflects messages promoted by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) that RVing is a cost-effective way for families to get away from the stresses of every day life, enjoy the great outdoors, and form lasting memories together, according [Read More...]

Best of America

The backbone of American greatness is the contribution of each individual. From innovative and heroic people to compelling ideas and stories, Reader’s Digest celebrates the best. Where can you find the best hot dogs in America? What are the best town names? Where are the best natural vistas in the United States? What are the [Read More...]

Death Valley National Park: Spring in the Desert

Hiking around a 3,000-year-old crater and walking on a salt flat are just a few of the memorable things to do in California's Death Valley National Park. Read More...

10 great places to take a library tour

Forget stereotypes about libraries. You're likely to find art exhibits, lounge chairs and free Wi-Fi. Monday marks the start of National Library Week, but visitors don't need an excuse to visit. "It's a place where stuff happens," says Rebecca Miller of Library Journal magazine. She shares 10 favorite locations with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY. Read More...

10 great places to see animals in the wild

College students aren't the only ones on the move for spring break. Animals are migrating now, too, which makes it a perfect time to see them in parks and refuges. "They're becoming more active. It's a good time to go," says Mark Wexler (Read More...)

FRVTA’s Fort Myers RV Show Set for April 1-3

Region One of the Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) returns for its 16th annual admission-free recreation vehicle show at the Lee County Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium in south Fort Myers April 1-3, Nelda Iacono, president of Region One, announced in a news release. The three-day RV SuperSaver Show will feature 10 dealers from throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast [Read More...]

RVers Planning Country Coach Friendship Rally

A group of Country Coach motorcoach owners are planning and presenting a Country Coach Friendship Rally June 13-17 at Riverbend RV Resort in Harrisburg, Oregon. It is open to CC brand motorcoaches, according to a news release. The Rally Theme is “A New Beginning” and the schedule will include a good amount of free time for [Read More...]

7 Steps to Enjoying a Big RV Rally`

We’ve attended RV rallies with 12 coaches and with 4,000! Right now we are parked at the Georgia State Fairgrounds for the Family Motor Coach Ass’n convention and, we expect there to be nearly 3,000 RVs here this week. These big rallies can be the most fun you’ve ever had, or they can be miserable [Read More...]