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Motor Home Across the Lone Star State

Motor Home Across the Lone Star State

Texas is more than a state; it’s a state of mind. Texans are proud of their state (which used to be an independent nation) and there are lots of reasons why – Texas hospitality, Tex-Mex food, a great tradition of Texas music, and plenty of natural beauty. If you want to get out and see the country in your recreational vehicle, Texas has lots to offer.

East Texas has the best of the American south, with woodlands and lots of water. Further up in the Texas panhandle, everything is flat and green with endless blue skies. Out in western and southern Texas, the land becomes desert and you can camp right against the border. Texas is huge, and there are things to see in every corner.

Big Bend National Park, located in the far southwest corner of Texas, is known for its rugged beauty, and also for its isolation. This makes it a great spot for those who want to get away from it all. While most of the country has been divided up and tamed, Big Bend is still wilderness at its best.

You’ll find a variety of natural wonders in Big Bend – from the Rio Grande River to the sky high mountain basins only an hour’s drive away. The park also features desert, which is why it’s like three parks in one.

There are three campgrounds run by the National Park where you can take a motor home. Between these three parks, you can find something to suit your needs. Make a reservation if you plan to head out there.

For more rugged camping in Big Bend, try the Basin Campground. The drive down can be dangerous for big rigs, so this site is recommended for smaller motor homes. Big rig parking can also be difficult here. Still, it’s a great place if you want to really be deep in the wilderness.

Enchanted Rock is named after a giant rock that inspired fear in both Indians and settlers alike. The Indians of the area believed the huge rock was inhabited by ghosts, and early adventurers avoided exploration for years by because they believed it swallowed people.

Located mid-state near Fredericksburg, the Enchanted Rock sits right on the edge of the Big Sandy Creek. It is one of the biggest “batholiths” (giant underground rocks) that has been uncovered by erosion. Nowadays, the ghosts are all gone, and you can go hiking, climbing and backpacking on the rock. If you don’t feel up to climbing it, there are plenty of hiking trails that surround the rock, where you can get a good view of it.

Unfortunately, you won’t be staying in your motor home right at the edge of the rock. The camping close to the rock has no RV hookups and no sites big enough to pull in to. You’re better staying in Fredericksburg. One good spot in Fredericksburg is the Fredericksburg RV Park, a nice facility with all the conveniences you could want. It has 100 sites, Internet access, cable TV and pretty scenery. They take reservations

If you don’t want to be land-locked, Padre Island National Seashore is an option. It is located just south of Corpus Christi, and stretches along the Laguna Madre. It is a barrier island with lots of wildlife, native plants and activities to enjoy. It’s the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world.

In addition to the ocean, Padre Island has rare animals including exotic birds and sea turtles. Watching the birds and the sea turtle releases are big tourist attractions. There is also great camping, a sky full of stars, and outdoor activities like bicycling to enjoy.

Destination South Padre RV Resort is perfect for all rigs. It’s made specifically for recreational vehicles and offers a great view of the Laguna. It can be crowded during the tourist season, but with great views of the Gulf of Mexico and cooling ocean breezes, it is a popular spot. They take reservations.

There are things to do and see throughout the state. You can easily spend a couple of weeks touring around the state. The Lone Star State is a great place to explore with your recreational vehicle.

Texas is one of the largest states in the Union and it has a variety of activities for motor home vacationers to enjoy. From mountains to beaches, Texas has much to offer nature seekers. Bankston Motor Homes can put you on the way to a great vacation. http://www.bankstonmotorhomes.com
Motor Home Around Washington State

Motor Home Around Washington State

Washington State has everything to offer RV lovers – pristine old-growth pine forests, snow-capped mountain peaks, rainforests, glaciers and a coastline unlike anywhere else in the United States. And, right in the middle of it all is the city of Seattle, a great jumping off point for your motor home adventures.

You’ll find a wide variety of natural beauty and outdoor activities in Washington State.

The Olympic Peninsula has quite a variety to offer, for such a small area. There are beautiful coastlines that zigzag back and forth. You can see giant meadows where glaciers are slowly melting off and joining the ocean. And there are valleys where you can enjoy America’s only rainforests.

Here are a few of the most popular motor home parks in the area:

Crescent Beach and RV Park in Port Angeles puts you an easy half-mile from a great, sandy beach. This area is fully equipped with hook-ups and modern facilities, and there are a number of activities you can enjoy on the beach, including kayaking, kite flying and good surfing.

Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend is fully equipped with everything you’ll need, and it has two separate sights for you to choose from. You can choose a spot in the middle of the forest, or out in the open where you can see the Straits of Juan de Fuca. There are many activities in walking distance of the site, including museums, an aquarium and nature hikes.

At Old Fort Townsend Sate Park in Port Townsend, you get a great view of the port and the island. It’s right next to the water, so you’ll hear the ocean waves rolling in. They do not accept reservations, however, so it’s sometimes hard to get a spot.

At The Edge of the Volcano – Mount St. Helens

No trip to Washington would be complete without seeing America’s biggest volcano. In 1980, St. Helens erupted, sending ash into the air, lava over the ground and destroying the nearby communities. But don’t worry, they’re keeping tabs on her, and they’ll let you know if it looks like it’s going to happen again!

Now you can see the after-effects of the eruption. There are giant pieces of ruptured rock, lava beds, and the majestic cinder cone itself, looming in the distance.

St. Helens is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, and there are many activities there, including camping, hiking and other outdoor recreational pursuits. Here are a few of the best motor home spots in the area.

Mt. St. Helens RV Park at Castle Rock is an RV site favored by the locals because of its friendly, helpful staff and close proximity to all the things to do.

Toutle’s Eco Park Resort is as close as you can get to the mountain, and still sleep in an RV. The entire space is 90 acres, and it is full of activities such as horseback riding, hiking, wildlife viewing and helicopter tours.

Lush Woodlands And Melting Glaciers – Mount Rainier

How about another great volcano that has less chance of exploding? The 14,410 foot Mt. Rainier is a volcano just like Mt. St. Helens, but the almost 40 square miles of glaciers and snow help keep a cap on it. The mountain is surrounded by miles of forests and meadows. There are hiking trails and campgrounds throughout the area, where you can be surrounded by whispering pines with the snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance.

Mt. Rainier National Park has quite a few options for accommodations and is the closest you can get to everything. It offers sights such as hot springs, glaciers and geysers, and there is biking, fishing, horseback riding, skiing and auto touring.

Rainier View RV Park in Graham is a great spot for those who would rather get a view of the mountain than be at the base of it. It is located on a high hill where every site has a great view of the mountain and surrounding forests.

With it’s wonderful coastline, lush forests, sub alpine meadows and towering mountain peaks, Washington is a great destination for your motor home.

The United State’s western coast has many beautiful locations where visitors and locals enjoy nature. Washington State is motor home friendly with its parks, forests and wildlife. Bankston Motor Homes can help you embark on a memorable Washington State RV vacation. http://www.bankstonmotorhomes.com
Class A RV Owners Disappointed by State Park Closures

Class A RV Owners Disappointed by State Park Closures

Government debt is forcing states to reduce or eliminate budgets intended for care of state parks. Arizona has been in the news recently for their attempt to close the majority of their state parks. Fortunately, the citizen’s desire to keep their state parks open resulted in talks between the state and individual towns.

Of the dozens of parks assigned to be closed, only four have ended up closed for the summer. Because of frustrations about the impending park closures, townspeople entered into a dialogue with the state and ended up with the state parks being put in their hands for management. Class A RV owners often winter in warm weather states such as Arizona and Texas where campgrounds saw an increase in visitors this past winter.

New York State made a bold move when they closed 80 parks in February of this year. Governor David A. Paterson spoke to the issue when he declared the monetary debt of New York made it necessary to pull money from several resources. The $ 8.2 million deficit has forced a reduction in funding for schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Paterson’s reasoning was if these resources had to sacrifice, then so too did parks and historical sites. The Governor did state that he hoped talks would happen within the Legislature regarding the parks issue.

Across the country in California, Governor Schwarzenegger thought closing state parks would be an easy way to save some money. However, Californian’s love of the outdoors became apparent when protests were sparked across the state. One such protest had people finishing a 260-mile hike from Bakersfield to Sacramento. The goal is to preserve California’s future.

Millions of people head out to enjoy their state parks every year. All that visiting brings in tourism dollars to the tune of $ 255 million. Money from state parks goes to pay taxes and helps local economies.

Class A RV enthusiasts generally have an affluent lifestyle and now is not a time to be turning away their dollars. Industries bringing in money should be nurtured to help pay back the debt instead of closing parks and losing out on potential income.

Closing state parks may be shooting the states in the foot. There is still enough protected space out there to satisfy nature lovers. However, there’s nothing to say Class A RV enthusiasts won’t turn their loyalties to parks that remain open through financially good times and bad.

People drawn to RVs are often those who were exposed to RVing at an early age. That translates into generations of spending, and there’s not a state in the union that should be foolish enough to pass that up.

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