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...]