RVing 101: Galveston Island State Park recovers from Ike, TX

Campsites were crushed, warped cables were sprouted from the ground and debris of all sizes had trashed a once-beloved but now unrecognizable park. Let's Go RVing to Galveston Island State Park Photo courtesy TPWD After Hurricane Ike ravaged the coast on the morning of September 13, 2008, Galveston Island State Park laid in ruins. When Justin Rhodes, Region 4 State Parks Director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) who oversees the park, saw the damage he was nearly brought to tears, reported The Houston Chronicle. Before Ike hit, the park drew more than 176,000 annual visitors, generating $1.3 million in revenue to TPWD and $6 million for Galveston County in 2008. However, initial estimates were that it could cost tens of millions of dollars and take as long as seven years to restore and reopen the park. But the strong emotional bonds people had developed with the 2,013-acre park which straddles the island from beachfront to bayshore soon overcame the financial obstacles. Don Ware, a Jamaica Beach resident, first fell in love with the park seven years ago when his wife convinced him to go bird watching with her. From there, Ware became a board member of the Friends of Galveston Island State Park, a group of volunteers that assists and promotes park activities. The cleanup effort hit the park with a force rivaling that of Hurricane Ike, itself. A few volunteers turned into a dozen, a dozen turned into 100, and 100 turned into hundreds. After a sweeping recovery,... Read more

The RV Trivia Challenge No. 13 – On-The-Road Knowledge

The Lug_Nut RV Trivia Challenge No 13 will test your on-the-road knowledge . Keep in mind, this is not an I.Q. test, it is a trivia requiring some guess work.  So, get a pencil and paper to record your answers.  When you have completed the 10 questions and scored your answers, please post your results in the comment section found at the very bottom. Read more  Read More →

Daily RV Deal: 2004 Montana 2955 RL

2004 Montana 2955 RL Previously $22,900 – Now $19,900 This used 32 ft fifth wheel is comfort and quality at a price that sure to please! Features include DVD player, Dometic Duo Therm comfort control thermostat system, roof air conditioning, under floor furnace, day/night shades throughout, glass-enclosed shower with skylight, and much more! Offered from Charlotte RV Center in Port Charlotte, FL. Email seller for details on this 2004 Montana 2955 RL! Find more great RVs on  Read More →

Gr8LakesCamper: 2010 Camping & Canoeing Extravaganza Part II

This is the second of two posts. To read the first post, click here. After an enjoyable Friday night by the campfire and a great breakfast Saturday morning, we made our way to Wilderness Canoe Trips in Mesick, Michigan. We would use them again. They service both the Pine and the Big Manistee rivers, and their staff was wonderful. They showed great patience with confused customers (that would be me) as well as others who obviously had already started their imbibing (not me). On the way to our drop-off 10 miles upstream, I asked the driver for the latest forecast. “Should be like this all day,” he said, gesturing to the overcast skies and steady drizzle still falling. Not ideal, but nothing to be concerned about, we all agreed. Our driver delivered us without incident, so we set out into the river (cold!) and were soon on our way. The Big Manistee was wide, deep, not too fast and not too slow. Except for the last mile or two, there was nothing on the banks except trees and other vegetation – no cottages or docks or anything made-made in sight. We enjoyed the scenery as much as the antics of other canoeists. About 30 minutes into our two-hour trip, the rains started coming down. Soft at first, but steady. Steady enough that we decided to beach the kayaks under the cover of overhanging trees and eat our picnic lunch. Just a quick summer shower, we all agreed. Nothing to be concerned about. After a solid 20 minutes in which the quick summer shower turned into a steady... Read more

One Tank Trip for Manitoba Camping

This One Tank Trip seen in the Woodall’s 2010 North American Campground Directory. Nowhere else is the spirit of Canada more embodied than in Manitoba. In fact, the name originates from the native word manitou, which translates into “spirit.” Right here in Manitoba, you’ll find a bit of everything that Canada stands for: rugged wilderness, eye-popping natural wonders, and metropolitan cities firmly rooted in the 21st century. Whether you’re looking for a total break from civilization, or want to divide your time between the old world and the modern, Manitoba camping can more than accommodate you. Winnipeg is a good choice for a starting point on this one tank trip. The province’s capital city is filled with exciting things to see and do, including a self-guided tour of Winnipeg’s thriving arts and culture district, which is filled with museums and galleries showcasing every imaginable type of artwork. Fort Gibraltar is a fascinating place to visit, as costumed interpreters give you a glimpse into the days of the Canadian frontier and the fur trade. In June, the annual Cool Jazz Winnipeg festival draws thousands of attendees who enjoy listening to some of the world’s finest jazz and blues artists in various clubs and theaters in and around town. Travel 20 miles west on Highway 1 and you’ll soon arrive at St. Francois Xavier, known by locals as “White Horse Plain.” Once it was home to the Cree and Sioux tribes, and was founded as a town in the late 1800s.... Read more

Gr8LakesCamper: 2010 Camping & Canoeing Extravaganza Part I

Short of an accident or injury, is there anything worse for a camping trip than an all-day rain storm? Our most recent camping trip – the 2010 Canoeing & Camping Extravaganza in Wellston, Michigan – was nearly a wash out. A bit of background: nearly every summer for the last eight years we have gone on a camping/canoeing trip with my brother-in-law, Craig, and his son, Andrew. We always stay at a different campground and canoe on a different river, or at least a new portion of the same river. This year Craig’s wife, Melissa, was joining us. We were excited about this because it had been several years since the last time Melissa went on the trip. That year a borrowed pop-up camper made for rough weekend of camping. It had not been used in some time, so the funky smell and lack of power had Melissa rethinking this whole camping thing. So when Melissa said she would try camping again, we all were hopeful that this experience would be much better. And, at least in the beginning, it was better. She was able to get Friday off of work (a rarity!) so they were able to get to the campground several hours earlier than first expected. On the way, and about four hours apart, both of us passed through a scattered downpour that summers are famous for. But our campground was high and dry, so nothing to be concerned about, we all agreed. A quick aside: our campground was Twin Oaks Campground in Wellston, Michigan. Very nice owners, spacious campsites (we were on sites #45 and #46)... Read more

One Tank Trip for Wyoming Camping

This One Tank Trip seen in the Woodall’s 2010 North American Campground Directory. Wyoming is one of the last states where you can get a taste of the American frontier; it’s truly the Land of Adventure, where magnificent natural spectacles abound everywhere you look. You can go dog sledding across expanses of pure, unspoiled snow, or ski and snowboard down some truly adrenaline-inducing slopes. Summertime is ideal for hiking, or gaining that one-of-a-kind view from the rocky peak you’ve climbed. Maybe you want to paddle a kayak out to the middle of one of the glassy-surfaced lakes and just sit and listen to the sounds of nature. All of this, and so much more, is among the many options offered by the Equality State. The town of Dayton is a perfect place to spend a day or two treating your senses to the rich palette of colors and smells associated with Wyoming camping. Camping is Dayton’s main attraction, and the town is perfectly situated to provide visitors with some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Wyoming. Heading east on the US-14 for 7 miles brings you to the eastbound I-90, which is the route you’ll take the remaining 15 miles into Sheridan, your next one tank trip destination. This town’s popularity as a vacation destination does nothing but increase every year, and it’s easy to understand why. In the winter months the flat land and slopes are blanketed with snow, which draws skiers, snowboarders and snowmobiling enthusiasts to the area. The rest... Read more

Our Alaska Trip Part XXVIII-A Useful Definitions Part A

  This is the first installment of the 28th article in a continuing series about our trip through Canada to Alaska   Another adventure.  On our first night in Canada June 10, the caravan stayed in Oliver, British Columbia.  A few days after departing, an avalanche closed the road for a brief time behind us.  Not long after that we wrestled with the Top of the World Highway and won.  Weeks later the roadway was washed out and closed briefly.  Sunday the caravan left the Northern Beaver Post, Yukon Territory, convoy-style for the first time.  We drove about a quarter mile where we waited for over an hour until we got clearance to travel narrow Hwy. 37 through a forest fire.  The road closed behind us. Avalanches and Washouts Behind Us; Bears and Moose Crossing in Front of Us; Construction and Frost Heaves Under Us … What else could we contend with? Oh, yes, a forest fire. Saturday night it rained – on the forest fire; Sunday and Monday were beautiful, short-sleeve weather. As we bound into the final two days of our trip, we think about the chance to just relax for a few days in a quiet, ocean-side park in British Columbia.  At the same time, we think about ending what has been an exciting adventure of a lifetime with three dozen people who have become close friends over the past two months.   We have tried to use these articles to give you some guidance on what to expect on your trip to western Canada and Alaska.  Rest assured, what you may have learned in these... Read more

Woodall’s Announces Photo Contest on Facebook.com/Woodalls

Share a Photo with us, and You Could Win $100! From now until December 31st, 2010, Woodall’s will be awarding $100 every month at facebook.com/woodalls to our editor’s top pick of photos of Woodall’s Directory users traveling with their Woodall’s Directory or Guide. To enter to win: visit facebook.com/woodalls and upload your photo to our wall with a comment including the city and state where the photo was taken. Make sure your photo clearly displays your Woodall’s 2010 Directory or Guide, and you could be chosen to win $100 cash! Visit facebook.com/woodalls today! P.S. You must be a “fan” or “like” Woodall’s on facebook to win!  Read More →

One Tank Trip for South Dakota Camping

This One Tank Trip seen in the Woodall’s 2010 North American Campground Directory. You’ve got plenty of choices when it comes to where to spend your vacation time, but as long as the route runs through South Dakota, you can be assured of getting an eyeful of nature’s grandeur, as well as experiencing a state steeped in the romantic history of the Old West. Much of South Dakota remains as it was in the days of Lewis and Clark, and is home to some of the most visited monuments in our nation, including America’s Shrine of Democracy, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mount Rushmore. Let’s kick this one tank trip off in the Black Hills community of Spearfish. Right off the top, you’ll be awed by Mother Nature’s handiwork when you head over to majestic Spearfish Canyon and see its two waterfalls, Rough Lock and Bridal Veil. If you choose to make your South Dakota camping trip in the summer months, Spearfish hosts the annual Black Hills Passion Play, which pulls in quite a crowd from all around. While you’re in town, check out the High Plains Western Heritage Center, which is dedicated to honoring the pioneers and Native Americans of North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. This facility spreads across 20,000 square feet and features exhibits that showcase the cattle, mining and forestry industries, along with several that pay homage to the strong, rugged spirits of cowboys and rodeo riders. Wild Bill Hickok in Historic Deadwood – South Dakota Tourism... Read more

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