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"It's a Lifestyle"

kathryn@rvingnomads.com
RVing NomadsRVing Nomads
  • RVing Nomads
  • About RVing Nomads
  • Blog
  • Special Places & Recommendations

Special Places & Recommendations

State boarder road signs of special places in the lower 48 states.

Since we began our RVing Nomads lifestyle, Dave and I have had the privilege of exploring America one town, city, highway, restaurant, campground, business and attraction at a time. We are excited to give a shout out for places to go that made our travels a little more fun, gave us a little more knowledge and/or made our life a little easier. Many we have been back to several times.

No person, business or attraction has paid us for an endorsement. Our suggestions are based on our own personal experiences. If you don’t see your state listed, it is because we haven’t made it there…. yet!

Special Places & Recommendations By State

Alabama          Alabama State Flag

Alabama Gold Camp
89395 AL-9
Lineville, AL 36266
Phone: (256) 396-0389
Website: www.alabamagoldcamp.com
Visited: 2019
Somewhat level sites on grass, some in shade, some in the full sun. Some FHU, some water and electric only. Pull thru and back in sites available. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. No traditional amenities, but bring your equipment to pan for gold!! Somewhat close to Talladega. Cash only. Great southern charm and hospitality.

Ashland downtown (near Lineville / Talladega)
83183 Hwy. 9
Ashland, AL 36251
Phone: (256) 354-2121
Website: https://www.cityofashlandal.com/
Ashland is a small town in north east Alabama, with a population of 1,680. Ashland was incorporated in 1871. It is a quaint downtown with thriving downtown shops around the county courthouse.

Chewacla State Park
124 Shell Tomer Parkway
Auburn, AL 36830
Phone: 1 (800) ALA-PARK or 334-887-5621
Website: www.alapark.com
Visited: 2021
Level sites on dirt, most in shade. FHU and water/electric only. Back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for state park. Good Verizon coverage. Due to the tree cover, not much satellite dish reception. Swimming area. Convenient location. Close to Auburn University, shopping and restaurants.

Fairhope (downtown)
161 North Section Road
Fairhope, AL 36532
Phone: (251) 928-2136
Website: https://www.fairhopeal.gov/
Fairhope is a small town in south west Alabama, with a population of 22,035. It lies east of Mobile Bay. Fairhope was incorporated in 1894. It has a vibrant, thriving downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants.

Fairhope Municipal Pier and Park, AKA North Beach Park
A 52.5-acre park directly on the east side of Mobile Bay. The park is home to a rose garden, fountain, picnic tables, pavilion, duck pond, tree trail, and a large sandy beach. Always free to residents, nominal fee for non-residents during the summer.

Fish River Grill
11950 CR 32
Fairhope, AL 36532
Phone: (251) 928-8118
Website: fishrivergrill.com
Visited: 2022
Great food and very pleasant and welcoming staff. If you have never tried fried green tomato’s and want to try the best, this is the place!

Lambert’s Café
(Home of Throwed Rolls)
2981 S McKenzie St
Foley, AL 36535
Phone: (251) 943-7655
Website: throwedrolls.com
Visited: 2022
This is a fun place to dine out with family and friends. The food is top notch southern cooking. And yes, the staff will throw delicious hot rolls to you from across the dining room if you raise your hand. “Hands up for a hot one”

Montgomery South RV
731 Venable Road
Hope Hull, AL 36043
Phone: (334) 284-7006
Website: www.montgomerysouthrvpark.com
Visited: 2020, 2021
Level sites in full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities. Very convenient location. Close to Montgomery. Owners are on-sight, pleasant and accommodating people.

Pirate’s Cove RRRV Resort
20376 County Road 24
Foley, AL 36535
Phone: (251) 978-2267
Website: https://piratescoverrrvresort.com/
Visited: 2022
Level sites, some in shade, some in the full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Nice pool and playgrounds. Convenient location. Close to Foley, Gulf Shores and Fairhope.

Selma (downtown)
222 Broad St.
Selma, AL 36701
Phone: (334) 874-2101
Webpage: https://selma-al.gov/
Selma is located just east of central Alabama, with a population of 22,035. Selma was incorporated in 1820. The downtown is rich in history from the civil rights era. Be sure to check out the Edmund Pettus Bridge where the “Bloody Sunday” attack on civil rights marchers occurred on March 7, 1965; the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute; the Selma Interpretive Center; and the Slavery and Civil War Museum. It is also important to drive the 54 mile trip from Selma to Montgomery. At the halfway point, stop at the National Historic Trail Museum in Hayneville.

South College Veterinary Clinic
151 Veterans Blvd
Auburn, AL 36832
Phone: (334) 821-3647
Website: www.southcollegevet.com
Visited: 2021
Lucky, our 12 year old cat had an ear infection. The office understood we were traveling and got us right in. Dr. Albert was wonderful, very kind and considerate!!!!!

USS Alabama
2703 Battleship Pkwy
Mobile, AL 36602
Phone: 1 (800) GANGWAY
Website: https://www.ussalabama.com/
Fascinated tour of the USS Alabama. Amazing what battleships look like up close!

Arizona          Arizona State Flag

The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel
233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd.
Williams, AZ 86046
Phone: 928-635-4010
Website: https://www.thetrain.com/
The Grand Canyon Railway departs daily from Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon. It is a very relaxing way to travel to the Grand Canyon!! It is interesting to see the topography change from one end of the ride to the other. AS if the scenery wasn’t enough, snacks and entertainment, including a “train robbery”, are provided.

Arkansas          Arkansas State Flag

Magnolia (downtown)
201 East North Street
Magnolia, AR 71753
Phone: (870) 234-1375
Website: https://www.magnolia-ar.com/
Visited: 2020, 2021
Magnolia is a small town in southwestern corner of Arkansas, with a population of 11,577. It was incorporated in 1855. It has a small college town with a vibrant, thriving downtown. Nice mixture of retail stores and restaurants around the town square.

Meomyo’s Bayou Café II (Closed in Spring 2023)
4059 Jefferson Ave.
Texarkana, Arkansas 71854
Phone: (870) 330-9159
Website: www.meomyosbayoucafe.com
Visited: 2021
We didn’t know we liked Cajun food until we came here! Everything on the menu is great, though I ALWAYS get the Crawfish Etoufee over crab cakes. Love this place!

RV Fog Doctor
2210 Dodge Avenue
Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: (501) 278-3015
Website: https://www.rvfogdr.com/
Visited: 2021
When 2 of our RV windows started fogging, we checked out the RV Fog Doctor. Since we were there, we decided to have all of our windows replaced. It isn’t often you get fast AND excellent service!! They have water and electric hook-ups so you can spend the night if you have to. We came in the night before servicing, and were on the road by mid-afternoon.

Steve’s Outdoor Sports
606 West Maine St.
Magnolia, AR 71753
Phone: (870) 234-2277
Website: http://www.stevesoutdoorsports.com/
Visited: 2021
Sporting goods store with everything from ammo and guns to clothing and household goods. Staff is knowledgeable about their products. Great store for gifts.

California          California State Flag

San Diego:
South Mission Beach is at the extreme south end of the Mission Beach Peninsula at the Mission Bay Channel Entrance. Besides the sandy beach with many beach volleyball courts there is a grassy park with picnic tables, restrooms, and a basketball court. This is a very wide beach so you can spread out. This is NOT so true for parking which is severely limited. There is also the Ocean Front Walk pathway if you are into walking.

Colorado          Colorado State Flag

Bastien’s Restaurant
3503 E. Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
Phone: (303) 322-0363
Website: https://bastiensrestaurant.com/
Since 1937 Bastien’s Restaurant has been known for its thick-cut, sugar-rubbed steaks. The idea of sugar-rubbed steaks came from the original owner’s visit to Louisiana. Dave had the dry aged ribeye and I had the salmon. Food was good, service was impeccable. Thanks, Patrick!

Down Stairs at Eric’s
111 South Main Street
Breckenridge, CO 80424
Phone: (970) 453-1401
Website: http://www.downstairsaterics.com/new/
Down Stairs at Eric’s is a family friendly sports bar and restaurant. It offers a huge menu with pizza, burgers, salads and more. 30 beers on tap and 50 bottled beers. My pizza was a Greek version. Look for the “Colorado twist” of the crust.

Gaetano’s Restaurant
 3760 Tejon Street
Denver, CO 80211
Phone: (303) 455-9852
Website: https://www.gaetanositalian.com/
Gaetano’s Restaurant is an old school, authentic Italian restaurant with retro ambience and historic vibes. It is rumored to be headquarters for mobsters! Everything is made to order! It is considered Denver’s BEST Restaurant! If you are lucky, you will have Noah as your server!

Lucile’s Creole Café
400 South Meldrum
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Phone: (970) 224-5464
Website: https://www.luciles.com/ft-collins-location-menu/
We had great warm beignets! Dave had the “Carlin County”, sausage gravy on a buttermilk biscuit, served with red beans and grits! I had peach pancakes made with Palisade peaches, “World-famous Colorado peaches”! Really good food.

Mountain Top Cookie Shop
128 S Main Street
Breckenridge, CO 80424
Phone: (970) 547-4757
Website: https://www.facebook.com/breckenridgecookies/
Mountain Top Cookie Shop is a small bakery offering a variety of filled and single cookies. The cookies are on the thinner, more crispy variety (as opposed to thick and soft!). Standard fare of chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar cookies and many other varieties! Gluten-free options.

Palenque Cocina y Agaveria
2609 W. Main Street
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: (720) 928-3318
Website: https://www.palenquecya.com/
A family owned Mexican Restaurant with great food. I have never had anything like the Camarones a la diabla. Dave’s dish included cactus, something we had never tried before! The guacamole and salsa were also excellent!

Postino’s Broadway
145 N Broadway
Denver CO 80203
Phone: (303) 351-7000
Website: https://www.postinowinecafe.com/locations/colorado/broadway/
Postino’s Broadway is part of a chain, offering locations in Colorado, Texas, Georgia and Arizona. It feels local! A great variety of offerings for their bruschetta boards: Brie, Apple & Fig Spread, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil, Prosciutto Di Parma, Warm Artichoke Spread (my favorite), Smoked Salmon & Pesto, Sweet N’ Spicy Pepper Jam & Goat Cheese, Burrata, Bacon, Arugula & Tomato (Dave’s favorite) and many, many more! Good food, relaxed atmosphere.

Rheinlander Bakery
5721 Olde Wadsworth Blvd
Arvada CO, 80002
Phone: (303) 467-1810
Website: https://www.rheinlanderbakery.com/
Rheinlander Bakery is a European inspired German bakery in Olde Town Arvada with options including traditional, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and sugar free. We had strudels and cupcakes. Phenomenal!

Sunnyside Supper Club
2915 w. 44th avenue
Denver CO, 80211
(303) 955-5580
Website: https://www.sunnysidesc.com/
Sunnyside Supper Club offers casual dining, with great fresh dough topped with locally sourced ingredients and cooked in a hand-built brick oven. They make everything in house, including their mozzarella! Their menu changes with the growing season. Over 60 taps! Their logo: Pizza. Beer. Love. The pizza was really good!

The Golden Mill
1012 Ford Street
Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (720) 893-8169
Website: https://thegoldenmill.com/
The Golden Mill is a unique dining experience! They have the only self-pour tap walls in the area with tons of delicious beverage choices including beer, wine, ciders, sake, and house-made cocktails! Barbeque, Mexican and sushi. Deck dining overlooking the Coors Factory. The Esquites? The best EVER!

Connecticut          Connecticut State Flag

Ford’s Lobster
15 Riverview Ave.
Noank, CT 06340
Phone: 860-536-2842
Website: www.fordslobster.com
Visited: 2021
We are from Maine, and Ford’s lobster bisque bomb is about the best lobster meal we have ever had! Expensive, but consistent pricing for the geographic area.

Mystic Dinner
253 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: 860 415-4625
Website: https://mysticdiner.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Local eatery. Easy in and out, plenty of parking. Nothing fancy, just good food at a decent price.

Mystic River Cruises
Seaport Marine
2 Washington St, Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 912-3404
Website: https://mysticrivercruises.com/
Visited: 2019
Our tour of the Mystic River on an antique 1947 wooden picnic boat that holds 6 people.  We were with family so it gave an intimate relaxing feel of being on the water exploring islands and coves on the Mustic River.  Our Captain was also the boat owner who had been navigating these waters for many years.

Mystic Seaport Museum
75 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone :860 572-0711
Website: https://www.mysticseaport.org/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Founded in 1929, the Mystic Seaport Museum is the largest maritime museum in the United States. Lots of things to do and experience here. The Mayflower II spent time here being refurbished.

Seaport RV Resort and Campground
45 Campground Rd.
Old Mystic, CT 06372
Phone: 860-536-4044
Website: www.sunrvresorts.com/resorts/new-england/connecticut/seaport/
Visited: 2019, 2021, 2022
Level sites on dirt, some in shade, some in the full sun. All are Water and electric only. Due to town regulations, NO sewer at your site. Free pump-out at your site on your 5th night at the resort. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception in some locations. Nice pool and playgrounds. Convenient location. Close to downtown Mystic, Mystic Harbor, and the Mystic Seaport Museum. In 2021 this privately owned resort was bought out by Sun Resorts. It seems like Sun Resorts is still trying to figure some things out about how to manage this resort.

Sift
5 Water Street
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: 860 245-0541
Website: https://www.siftbakeshopmystic.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Love this bakery! There is a huge selection of macaroons and croissants! You can’t go wrong here. Be prepared to wait in line. As in any small seaport town, downtown parking is horrendous. They ship!

Quassy Lake Amusement and Waterpark
2132 Middlebury Road
Middlebury, CT 06762
Phone: 203 758-2913
Website: https://www.quassy.com/
Visited: 2022
Wonderful family amusement park, waterpark arcade and snack bar. Directly on Lake Quassapaug. Lots of rides for all ages, including a wooden roller coaster! No admission fee if you are not going on rides, this is great for grandparents!!

Florida          Florida State Flag

Avalon Landing
2444 Avalon Blvd.
Milton, FL 32583
Phone: 850 995-5898
Website: https://avalonlandingrvpark.com/
Visited: 2022
Level sites on dirt in full sun. All are FHU. Drive in and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV campground. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities, small pool. Convenient location close to Pensacola and Pensacola. We had a pull in waterfront site on the Black Water Bayou. Managers were very pleasant and very helpful. We were provided with an extensive list of local attractions and restaurants.

Gulf Islands National Seashore
1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
Phone: 850 934-2600
Website: https://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm
Visited: 2022, 2023
Amazing white sandy beaches. Prettiest beaches in the country. Plenty of free parking. Pensacola Beach is one of the prettiest white sandy beaches in the country. Take a drive between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach on Florida 399, the area is amazing!

Key Largo
There are three nice beaches in Key Largo: Cannon Beach, located inside the John Pennekamp Park is beautiful with its white sand and turquoise waters. Also inside the JPP is a tiny, but less busy Far Beach. Harry Harris Beach has a nice sandy beach along with a tide pool for kids.

Key Palms Luxury RV Resort
104200 Overseas Hwy.
Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: 855-786-6104
Website: www.keyspalmsrvresort.com
Visited: 2019
Level sites on concrete, some in shade, some in the full sun. Hedge between each site. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Very nice pool and access to gulf swimming. Convenient location to downtown Key Largo.

Knaus Berry Farm
15980 SW 248th St
Homestead, FL 33031
Phone: 305-247-0668
Website: www.knausberryfarm.com
Visited: 2018
Hidden gem, pretty far off the beaten path. By far, the best cinnamon rolls and cheese yeast rolls I have ever eaten! Be prepared to wait in line, but it is so worth the wait!

Key West
Key West has 4 public beaches, but all are on the smaller side with very, very limited parking. They are nice beaches to cool off in the area, but only if you are walking or biking: Clarence S. Higgs Memorial Beach, Siminton Beach, Smathers’ Beach and South Beach.

Key West
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West originally covered 54 acres. Due to filling in of land around the fort, including the creation of the beach, Ft. Zachary now occupies 87 acres!! The beach is wide and clean. There is plenty of parking and other things to do as well, for example picnicking.

La Fe Cigars Corporation
10959 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, FL 33050
Phone: 786-227-3950
Website: www.lafecigarscorporation.com
Visited: 2018 (shipped: 2019, 2020, 2021)
Handmade cigars by Roberto. Dave loves these cigars. They are consistently well wrapped with great flavor. We have them shipped to us. They ship any in the US.

Lindy’s Chicken
19390 FL-20
Blountstown, FL 32424
Phone: 850-674-7777
Website: www.lindys-chicken.com
Visited: 2018
The physical restaurant isn’t much to look at, but the best fried chicken in the country! We compare every other chicken place to Lindy’s and none have come close!

North Beach Campground
4125 Coastal Hwy
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904-824-1806
Website: www.northbeachcamp.com
Visited: 2018
Reasonably level sites on gravel. All in partial to full shade. All are FHU. Back in sites available. Clean campground. Adequate Verizon coverage. No formal amenities, BUT go to the eastern side of the campground and you can walk on the beach for miles and watch the sun rise. Or you can walk to the western side of the campground and you can watch the sun set over the intercoastal waterway. Convenient location, close to downtown St. Augustine.

St. Augustine (downtown)
75 King Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Phone: 904 825-1007
Webpage: https://www.citystaug.com/
Visited: 2018 and 2022
St Augustine is a city located in the north east corner of Florida with a population of 15,065. It was incorporated in 1565. Said to be the oldest city in the United States. The historic downtown area is amazing with multiple shops and restaurants. Be sure to visit the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

St. Augustine
St. Augustine has 42 miles of beaches from Vilano Beach in the north to Cresent Beach in the south. St. Augustine Beach is probably the most popular. It has great sand and surf. Sadly, during the summer the beach is ridiculously crowded and the parking is extremely limited.

Georgia          Georgia State Flag

U. S. Forest Service – Springer Mountain Trailhead
Forest Service Road 42
Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Phone: (770) 297-3000
Please visit the website below if your interested in visiting and hiking this area as directions to this location can be confusing.
Website: Springer Mountain Trailhead
Visited: 2021
This is a very pretty and scenic area of Georgia!

Idaho          Idaho State Flag

Lake Coeur d’Alene Cruises
115 S. 2nd Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
Phone: 208.292.5670
Website: https://www.cdacruises.com/
We took a six-hour boat cruise the entire length of Coeur D’Alene (CDA) Lake and down the St. Joe River. The captain was knowledgeable and informative. You could also purchase a buffet lunch (which we did!). We spent most of our time on the upper deck, but there was also an air-conditioned area if that was more to your liking.

Illinois          Illinois State Flag

Belvidere (downtown)
Belvidere, IL
The murals downtown were absolutely amazing.

Grayville / I-64 KOA Holiday
200 Koehler St.
Grayville, IL 62844
Phone: 618 375-0310
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/grayville/
Visited: 2021
Level sites on cement, some in shade, some in the full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Lots on amenities on-site. Not much around this area, but it is very convenient on and off to the Interstate.

Locks and Dams of the Upper Mississippi River
1500 Rock Island Dr.
Rock Island, IL 61201
Website: https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Mississippi-River-Project/Recreation/Mississippi-River-Visitor-Center/
Visited: 2021
If you are in the St. Louis area, go across the Mississippi to visits the locks and dams of the upper Mississippi. Amazing feat of engineering!

Pettit Chapel
110 N Main Street
Belvidere, IL 61008
Visited: 2022
The architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed two buildings in Belvidere.  One is the Pettit Chapel, built in 1899.  The chapel is located in the center of a cemetery close to downtown Belvidere.  It is open to the public and still used for services today.

Wings and Wheels Museum
5151 Orth Rd Ste A-1
Poplar Grove IL 61065
Phone: 815 547-3115
Webpage: https://www.wingsandwheelsmuseum.org/
Visited: 2022
We had no idea the first stewardess was actually a nurse. In early aviation, the co-pilot would take care of the needs of the flying public. A nurse, who felt this would be a good job for her, brought up the idea that a nurse would be better able to take care of the public in the event of an emergency in the air, that the co-pilot should be with the pilot!

Indiana          Indiana State Flag

Indianapolis Motor Speedway
4790 W 16th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46222
Phone: (317) 492-8500
Website: https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/
Visited: 2019
Very interesting museum. Look around at the old racecars on display, they are amazing! Be sure to take the tour and go on the racetrack. Touch (or kiss!!) the “brickyard”.

Macri’s Italian Bakery and Restaurant
214 N Niles Ave,
South Bend, IN 46617
Phone: (574) 282-1010
Website: https://www.macrisbakery.com
Macri’s Italian Bakery has been a staple in downtown South Bend since 1978.  There is a restaurant attached to the Bakery, owned by the same family.  They offer Italian pastries, baked goods, cakes and pizza.  Our favorite is the “TV bars”, about the size of a Twinkie.  There is a layer of moist dark chocolate cake, a layer of milk chocolate mousse and then dipped in dark chocolate.  We have never tasted anything like it!

Notre Dame
South Bend, IN
Notre Dame was amazing! The old stone buildings were in excellent condition, the flower beds were colorful and the manicured lawns were impressive. We had never seen Legends Stadium in person!

Iowa          Iowa State Flag

CDI
305 Nerem Dr.
Forest City, IA 50436
Phone: (641) 585-5900
Website: https://cdicustompaint.com
CDI is a 30 year old company that paints all of the RVs for Winnebago. CDI replaced the front mask on a motorhome. They do excellent work! CDI will also do custom paint and graphics on non Winnebago RV’s, boats and trailers.

Veterinary Clinic and Pet Resort
435 US-18
Garner, IA 50438
Phone: Vet Clinic: (641) 923-2355
Phone: Pet Resort: (641) 925-1156
Website: http://www.garnervetclinic.com/
We boarded Lucky, our 14 year old cat, at the Pet Resort. It was a very clean facility with very friendly staff. He was well taken care of.

Pammel Park
Forest City, Iowa
Pammel Park lies along the Winnebago River. There are picnic tables and a campground. There are paved hiking trails, as well as a cable bridge across the river to the golf course. It is a quiet little park along the river.

Pilot Knob State Park
Forest City, Iowa
You can drive around the park, there are hiking trails picnic tables and a campground. But the most interesting is the Pilot Knob observation tower. It is a stone building constructed in the 1930s.

Winnebago Industries (Service)
946 S 4th St
Forest City, IA 50436
Phone: (641) 585-3535
Webpage: https://www.winnebago.com/
You can schedule an appointment or just show up. Our technician, Paul, was knowledgeable and very helpful.

Kansas          Kansas State Flag

Creek Side RV Resort
3301 US Highway 183 Alt
Hays, KS 67601
Phone: 785-259-0927
Website: https://www.creeksidehays.com/
Visited: 2022, 2023
The RV park is a very clean, quiet, well-maintained campground. It is conveniently located campground off I-70, near downtown, near the Fort Hays Historic Site and Ft. Hays State University. The pull thru sites are long and wide. Good cell phone coverage (Verizon) and a good open southern sky for our satellite.

Oz Museum
511 Lincoln
Wamego, Kansas 6654
Phone: (866) 458-TOTO (8686)
Website: https://ozmuseum.com/
The Oz Museum is in downtown Wamego. It is a fun museum with everything OZ. Lots of interesting information about the movie and the characters! Take all the pictures you want, including the helium balloon!

Kentucky          Kentucky State Flag

Information coming soon!

Louisiana          Louisiana State Flag

Evergreen Plantation
4677 LA-18
Edgard, LA
Webpage: https://www.evergreenplantation.org/
Visited: 2019
Evergreen Plantation as built in 1790 and remodeled in 1832. It is a privately owned working sugar cane plantation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and includes 22 slave cabins. It is the filming site of Django Unchained (2012), Preacher (2016–2019), Free State of Jones (2016) and Into the Badlands (2015–2019). Our tour guide, Janelle, was incredibly knowledgeable. She brought to life what living at Evergreen would have been like in centuries past.

Bayou Rum
20909 Frontage Road
Lacassine, LA 70650
Phone: (337) 588-5800
Website: https://bayourum.com/distillery
Visited: 2019, 2022
Fun distillery to tour. No charge for tour or tastings.

Cajun Country Swamp Tours
1209 Rookery Road
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana 70517
Phone: 337-319-0010
Website: https://www.cajuncountryswamptours.com/
We had never been on a boat in a swamp! Our tour with Cajun Country Swamp Tours exceeded our expectations! We were always within eyesight of very attentive alligators, birds and turtles. BTW, to avoid confusion, please note there are two swamp boat tours with similar names within ½ miles of each other!

Cajun Food Tours
Lafayette, LA
Phone: (337) 230-6169
Email: marie@cajunfoodtours.com
Website: https://www.cajunfoodtours.com/
Cajun Food Tours was such a fun adventure. We had never been on a food tour before, but this one has set the bar high. Though we have been to Lafayette several times, Jay (our tour guide) took us to places we have never been before. One of those stops was the Poupart Bakery. We have now been back here many, many times!!!

Cajun Palms RV
1055 North Barn Rd.
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517
Phone: (337) 667-7772
Website: www.cajunpalms.com
Visited: 2021
Gated RV Resort. Level sites on concrete. Some in shade, some in the full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Many amenities, multiple pools and playgrounds. Convenient location to I-10.

Cypress Bend RV Park
717 North Thompson Ave.
Iowa, LA 70647
Phone: (337) 582-1722
Website: https://cypressbendrvpark.com/
Visited: 2022
Gated RV park. Level sites on concrete, some in shade, some in the full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities, but excellent convenient location. Easy off and on I-10. There was a gas station right next to the park.

New Orleans (downtown)
1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 658-4000
Website: https://www.neworleans.com/
Visited: 2019
NOLA is a vibrant, colorful city in south east Louisiana, with a population of 391,249. It was incorporated in 1718. It has a thriving downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. The food is amazing!! Nowhere else will you find pop up parades and wedding marches down the middle of a busy street!! And did we mention the food?

New Orleans City Tour
620 Decatur St #600
New Orleans, LA
Phone:504-332-9830
Website: https://www.tourorleans.com/tour/tour-orleans-city-tour/
Our tour guide, Jerrod, has lived in NOLA his whole life. Though we had been to NOLA before, Jerrold brought facts alive! And he took us to places we had never been to before. Some areas included on the tour were: City Park, the Garden District, areas damaged during Hurricane Katrina, Treme, Bourbon Street, and St. Louis Cemetery #3.

New Orleans RV Resort & Marina (Formerly known as Pontchartrain Landing)
6001 France Rd.
New Orleans, LA
Phone: (504) 286-8157
Website: www.neworleansrvresort.com
Visited: 2019
FHU. This park is close to downtown New Orleans. Nice sites on the waterfront. Marina next door if you have a boat. Decent bar and restaurant on the grounds.

Poupart’s Bakery
1902 W. Pinhook Road
Lafayette LA 70508
Phone: 337-232-7921
Website: https://www.poupartsbakery.com/
Poupart’s Bakery remains the only authentic French bakery in Acadiana (Lafayette area). Mr. Francois Poupart and Mr. Patrick Jean Marie Poupart have been making French pastries, old world French breads, sweet treats and savory soups and sandwiches since 1967. Our favorites? The cupcakes and the muffaletta mix you can buy by the pound!

Maine          Maine State Flag

Bar Island Trail
Bar Harbor, Maine
Website: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-bar-island-trail.htm
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021 2022
This is a fun hike from Bar Harbor to the island. Be very careful when you go, it is a tidal trail. Time it wrong and my may be stuck on the stand bar like the Bronco was this last spring!

Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
Phone: (207) 288-3338
Website: https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
47,000 acre national park on the Atlantic Ocean. Hiking and biking trails galore. Sand beach for swimming. Park Loop Drive around the perimeter of the park. Cadillac Mountain to climb or drive. Be on the top of Cadillac at sunrise and you will be the first people in the United States to see the sun rise!!

Bangor Auto and Truck Center
26 Dave’s Way
Hermon, ME 04401
Phone: 207-848-7750
Website: www.bangorautoandtruck.com
Visited 2019, 2022
We needed a repair on our RV. They understood we were traveling and got us in within a day. Repair was done quickly and fixed for a reasonable price. Highly recommend.

Bar Harbor
Acadia National Park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres along the Atlantic Coastline of Maine, including Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula and outer islands. Sand Beach is within Acadia National Park borders. It is a smaller beach with exceptionally cold water! Parking is always limited.

Baxter State Park
Mount Katahdin (beginning of Appalachian Trail)
Millinocket, ME
Phone: (207) 723-5140
Website: https://baxterstatepark.org/
Visited: 2018
Percival P. Baxter was governor of Maine from 1921-1924. In 1931 he donated 6,000 acres of land, including Mount Katahdin to the citizens of Maine as a wildlife habitat. Since then it has grown to 209,644 acres with 215 miles of trials and 337 campsites. It is the Maine wildness at its finest. Mount Katahdin is also the beginning of the Appalachian Trail.

Belfast (downtown)
131 Church Street
Belfast, ME 04951
Phone: (207) 338-3370
Website: https://www.cityofbelfast.org/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Belfast is a small town on the mid coast Maine, on the east side of Penobscot Bay. It has a population of 6,938. Belfast was incorporated in 1850. It has a vibrant, thriving downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. It is located on the Passagassawakeag River and is the home to kayaking and boating of all sizes.

Camden (downtown)
29 Elm Street
Camden, ME 04843
Phone: (207) 236-3353
Website: https://www.camdenmaine.gov/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Camden is a small town in mid coast Maine, east of Penobscot Bay. It has a population of 5,232. Camden was incorporated in 1791. It has a vibrant, thriving downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. It is on Camden Harbor, known for boating and kayaking. There is the lighthouse on Curtis Island. There is Mt. Battie to climb for spectacular views of Camden Harbor!

Castine
67 Court Street
Castine, ME 04421
Phone: (207) 326-4502
Website: https://castine.me.us/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Castine is a small town in eastern Maine, on the east of Penobscot Bay. It has a population of 1,320. Castine was incorporated in 1796. It has a very small downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. It is home to Maine Maritime Academy. When school is in session, the population almost doubles with its 1,000 MMA students!!

Frank’s Bakery
199 State St.
Bangor, Maine 04401
Phone: (207) 947-4594
Website: https://franksbakery.com/
Visited: 2019, 2021, 2022
Frank’s Bakery has been a family-owned business since 1945. It offers a variety of home-made donuts, muffins, pastries, cookies and made to order sandwiches for eating in or take out. Our favorites? The strawberry tarts and the blueberry tarts. They are sold only when the fresh fruit is in season!! All berries are locally grown and picked fresh! https://franksbakery.com/

Freeport (downtown)
115 Main Street
Freeport, ME 04032
Phone: (207) 865-1212
Website: https://www.visitfreeport.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Freeport is a small town along Route I-95 in southern Maine. It is a must stop place for its vibrant downtown full of outlet shops and restaurants. It is the flagship home to L.L. Bean. It is also home to the Desert of Maine. Freeport has a population of 8,737 people. It was incorporated in 1789.

Lobster Buoy Campsite
280 Waterman Beach Rd.
Thomaston, ME 04858
Phone: (207)594-7546
Website: https://lobsterbuoycampsites.wixsite.com/lobsterbuoycampsites
Visited: 2019
Reasonably level sites on gravel and grass. Some in shade, some in the full sun. Water and electric only. Pull in and back in sites available. Clean, cared for campground. Good Verizon coverage. No amenities, just the ocean. Not conveniently located to anywhere. Just peace and quiet on the Maine coast.

Georgetown
Reid State Park is a 770-acre park on Georgetown Island in Sagadahoc County. Wide sandy beaches and sand dunes galore. There is a tidal lagoon for young children. There are also many rocky tidepools and salt marshes. Lots of beach for walking. Parking is usually not too bad except for mid-summer.

Greenville (downtown)
Moosehead Lake Region
7 Minden Street
Greenville, ME 04441
Phone: (207)695-2421
Website: https://greenvilleme.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019
Greenville is a small town in north central Maine, at the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Greenville has a population of 1,437. It was incorporated in 1836. It has a small downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. For boat cruises on Moosehead Lake, check out Katahdin Cruises and Moosehead Marine Museum (https://www.katahdincruises.com/) Winter skiing is a Big Squaw Mountain (https://skibigsquaw.com/).

McLaughlin’s Seafood and Take-Out
728 Main Street
Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207)942-7811
Website: https://mclaughlinseafood.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Seafood retail store and seafood take-out. Boiled lobster, Lobster rolls and crabmeat rolls! Excellent! They ship live lobsters!

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
3115 Bristol Road
New Harbor, ME 04554
Phone: (207)667-2492
Website: https://www.bristolmaine.org/parks-recreation/pemaquid-point-lighthouse-park
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is one part of the Bristol, New Harbor, Pemaquid community. Pemaquid Point is in south coastal Maine with a population of 872. The area was incorporated in 1765. There is not much here except the quiet beauty of the rocky Maine coast. A must see.

Penobscot Bay Brewery and Winterport Winery
279 Main Street
Winterport, ME 04496
Phone: (207)223-4500
Website: https://www.winterportwinery.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021
Locally owned award winning craft brewery and winery. Under new ownership as of 2022.

Pizza Gourmet
60 Main St.
Hampden, ME 04444
Phone: (207)862-6900
Website: www.pizzagourmet.biz
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
There are lots of good pizza places around, but this is the best in Maine! Crust is great, good sauce with lots of toppings. Best whoopie pies in the country!

Pumpkin Patch RV Resort
149 Billings Road
Hermon, Maine 04401 Just outside of Bangor, ME
Phone: (207)848-2231
Website: www.pumpkinpatchrvresort.com
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
One of our favorite campgrounds in the country. Level crushed stone sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. Most are FHU, some overflow sites are water and electric only. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. No amenities. Just wide, long sites and lots of peace and quiet. Conveniently located to downtown Bangor, reasonable drive to Acadia National Park.

Red Barn Take-out Restaurant
455 Riverside Drive
Augusta, ME 03330
Phone: (207)623-9485
Website: https://www.theredbarnmaine.org/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2022
Long term local seafood restaurant and take-out. Great fried seafood, chicken and lobster rolls. Laura, the owner has been very involved in local community fundraisers, especially for veterans. They ship live lobsters!

Shaw’s Fish and Lobster Wharf
129 State Route 32
New Harbor, Maine 04554
Phone: (207)667-2200
Website: https://www.shaws-wharf.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Locally owned waterfront restaurant and take-out. Boiled lobsters in the rough, fried seafood, lobster rolls and crabmeat rolls. They ship live lobsters!

Winslow Memorial Park
10 Winslow Park Way
Freeport, ME 04032
Phone: (207)865-4198
Website: https://www.freeportmaine.com/
Visited: 2018
Somewhat level sites on dirt and grass. This is rustic camping. No services (water, electric, sewer) on site. Generators are ok for 1 hour twice per day at designated times. Some sites in full shade, some sites in partial shade and some in full sun. Some are pull in to Casco Bay, most are back in. Clean campground and park. Large playground. Good Verizon coverage. Convenient to downtown Freeport.

Young’s Lobster Pound
2 Fairview Street
Belfast, ME 04915
Phone: (207)338-1160
Website: https://www.youngslobsters.com/
Visited: 2018, 2021
Waterfront restaurant offering boiled lobster in the rough. Also lobster rolls. They ship live lobsters!

Maryland          Maryland State Flag

Baltimore (inner harbor)
100 Holliday Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 396-3835
Website: https://baltimore.org/
Visited: 2018
Baltimore is a large city on Chesapeake Bay in northeastern Maryland, with a population of 602,274. It was incorporated in 1797. The Inner Harbor is a vibrant, thriving area rich with history, retail stores and restaurants. Be sure to check out Ft. McHenry National Monument, Edgar Allen Poe’s grave site and the Star Spangled Banner Flag House.

Cherry Hill Park
9800 Cherry Hill Rd.
College Park, MD 20740
Phone: (301) 937-7116
Website: www.cherryhillpark.com
Visited: 2018, 2022
Gated RV resort. Reasonably level sites on pavement. Some in partial shade, some in full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Many amenities including pool. Very convenient location to Washington DC sights.

Greenwell State Park
25420 Rosedale Manor Lane
Hollywood, MD 20636
Phone: (301) 872-5688
Website: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/greenwell.aspx
Visited: 2021
Wonderful state park on the Patuxent River. Also located within the park is the Greenwell Foundation, an equestrian program.

Mission BBQ
22599 MacArthur Blvd.
California, MD 20619
Phone: (301) 880-0857
Website: https://mission-bbq.com
Visited: 2021
Probably the only national chain restaurant we will ever recommend! The salmon is moist and flavorful. Dave loves the brisket, “Smoked to perfection!”

Massachusetts          Massachusetts State Flag

Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar
3580 US-6
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: (508) 255-2575
Website: www.arnoldsrestaurant.com
Visited: 2018, 2019
Best fried seafood anywhere! Well worth the trip up the Cape! The portions are more than generous! Onions rings are huge and plentiful.

Atlantic Oaks RV Resort
3700 US-6
Eastham, MA 02642
Phone: (508) 255-1437
Website: www.atlanticoaks.com
Visited: 2018, 2019
Reasonably level sites on gravel. Some are in shade, some in full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities, but very convenient location to downtown Eastham, beaches, and extensive rail to trail hiking and biking trail.

Beach Rose RV Park
147 Beach Rd.
Salisbury, MA 01952 (on the New Hampshire / Massachusetts border)
Phone: (800) 382-2230
Website: www.beachroservpark.com
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
One of our favorite campgrounds in the country. Gated RV resort. Level concrete pad sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Nice pool. Not very wide sites, but conveniently located to downtown Salisbury (Massachusetts), downtown Salisbury (New Hampshire) and multiple beaches. Close to I-95. The second-generation owners are on site.

Cape Cod National Seashore
99 Marconi Site Road
Wellfleet, MA 02667
Phone: (508) 255-3421
Website: https://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm
Visited: 2018, 2019
Multiple beach areas. Beautiful soft sand. Lots of public parking.

La Famiglia Giorgios Restaurant
112 Salem Street
Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 367-6711
Website: https://www.lafamigliagiorgios.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019
Our favorite Italian Restaurant in Boston’s Italian North End. Huge portions for a reasonable price. Parking is horrible.

Mike’s Pastry
300 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
Phone: (617) 742-3050
Website: https://www.mikespastry.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019
By far, you will find the best cannolis in the country at Mike’s Pastry. Mike’s is located in Boston’s Italian North End. Short 3 minute walk to the Old North Church where Paul Revere signaled “one if by land, two if by sea”. Parking is horrible. They ship pastries!

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1000 Hall of Fame Avenue
Springfield, MA 01105
Phone: (877) 446-6752
Website: https://www.hoophall.com/
Visited: 2018
The Basketball Hall of Fame is an amazing place for basketball fans! If it is important to the sport of basketball, it is there!

New Plimouth Patuxet Museum
137 Warren Avenue
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 746-1622
Website: https://plimoth.org/
Visited: 2018
Plimouth Plantation is part of a living history museum in Plymouth, MA. Many walking trails and parks. See Plymouth Rock.

Pearl Restaurant and Bar
250 Commercial St.
Wellfleet, MA 02667
Phone: (508) 349-2999
Website: www.wellfleetpearl.com
Visited: 2018, 2019
Wellfleet oysters are known worldwide! The Pearl offers raw oysters and a variety of seafood options. The restaurant is on the waterfront and has great views.

Provincetown (downtown)
330 Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA 02657
Phone: (508) 487-3298
Website: https://ptowntourism.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019
Provincetown or P-Town is a small town at the tip of Cape Cod, with a population of 2,730. It was incorporated in 1727. It has a vibrant, thriving art colony with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants in the downtown area. Don’t take your dually through P-Town! If you can make it through the narrow streets, it is likely you won’t find a parking space to fit you!!

Salem (downtown)
93 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 745-9595
Webpage: https://www.oldsalem.org/
Visited: 2018
Salem is a small city in north west Massachusetts, with a population of 43,350. It was incorporated in 1694. It has a vibrant, thriving downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. There is a lot of history here. In Salem they celebrate 5 seasons, spring, summer, winter, fall and October!!

Salisbury
Salisbury has two beaches; one is public access at the end of Broadway in the center of Salisbury and the Salisbury Beach State Reservation (AKA State Park). Both will cost you, downtown in parking fees, and admission fee to the whole park at the Reservation. Both are beautiful soft sand with the unique smell of salt air.

Wellfleet
The Cape Cod National Seashore encompasses 43,607 acres on Cape Cod from the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges out to Provincetown at the tip of the cape. There are many beaches along Route 6 and 6A to choose from! If you stay exclusively in the designated Seashore borders there is plenty of parking.

Michigan          Michigan State Flag

New Buffalo’s Beach and Lakefront Park
200 Marquette Dr.
New Buffalo, MI 49117
Phone: (269) 469-1522
Website: https://www.newbuffalo.com/new-buffalo-michigan-things-to-do/new-buffalo-mi-public-beach-lakefront-park/
A “must” drive is to Lake Michigan and the beach at New Buffalo! There was plenty of parking, but the beach was packed with people enjoying themselves. Beautiful sandy beach. The water was refreshingly cool!

Niles Rail Depot
598 Dey Street
Niles, MI 49120
Website: https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/niles-mi-nls/
The rail depot was built in 1892 for the passenger rail system, but is now only used for Amtrak. The sign out front says it was built to “create a lasting impression of Michigan for passengers traveling to the 1893 Columbian Exposition”. The train station is beautiful as are the flower gardens.

Veni’s Sweet Shop
228 E Main Street
Niles, MI 49120
Phone: (269) 684-1323
Website: http://www.venissweetshop.com/
Veni’s make home-made truffles, creams, fudge and meltaways. They even have chocolate covered bacon!

Minnesota          Minnesota State Flag

Calico Hutch Quilt Shop
20520 810th Ave
Hayward, MN 56043
Phone: (507) 377-1163
Website: https://www.calicohutchquiltshop.com/
What an amazing place! I don’t think I have ever been to a quilt shop that has had such a variety of colors and fabrics. You can purchase quilt kits where the quilt is designed, measured and cut for you for one price.

Gravity Storm Brewery Cooperative
309 Main St N
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 396-2401
Website: https://gravitystormbrewery.com/
One of their initiatives is the “Beer It Forward” program. Customers can purchase a card from the bartender and place it on the board for a friend or a stranger. When someone matching the card’s description shows up, they can pull it off the board and redeem it for a free beer! The drinks are good, and we hope a first responder enjoys his or her beer on us!

Spam Museum
101 3rd Ave NE
Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (800) 588-7726
Website: https://www.spam.com/museum
The Hormel Companies have played a large role in the development of Austin. There were many exhibits saying how the idea of SPAM came about, and how important it was as a food source during war time. There was also a store where you could buy all things SPAM, including the food itself!

Minnesota Welcome Center
Over looking the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
33020 US-61
La Crescent, MN 55947
Phone: (507) 895-2005
Website: https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/dresbach-welcome-center/2073
There is an observation deck for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. It is one of a series of locks and dams along the Mississippi River. One of the nicest welcome centers we have ever been to!!

Mississippi          Mississippi State Flag

Buccaneer State Park
1150 South Beach Blvd.
Waveland, MS 39576
Phone: (228) 467-3822
Website: www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/state-parks/buccaneer/
Visited: 2021
Gated RV park. Level concrete pad sites. Some sites in the shade, most are in full sun. Most are FHU, some closer to the water are water and electric only. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Conveniently located to downtown Waveland and gulf coast beaches. There is even an onsite water park.

Paul B. Johnson State Park
319 Geiger Lake Rd.
Hattiesburg, MS
Phone: (601) 582-7221
Website: www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/state-parks/paul-b-johnson/
Visited: 2020
Level gravel sites. Some in shade, some in full sun. FHU. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for state park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities. Lots of hiking trails. Very wide, private sites. Remote location, approximately 30 minutes from downtown Hattiesburg.

Shaggy’s Restaurant
120 South Hiern Drive
Pass Christian, MS 39571
Phone: (228) 452-9939
Website: www.shaggys.com
Visited: 2021
This is a local chain restaurant on the gulf coast. It is right on the waterfront, lots of parking, with great water views. Best fried green tomatoes anywhere!

Sugar Pop Bakery
335 Coleman Ave
Waveland, MS 39576
Phone: (228) 467-9990
Website: https://www.sugarpopbakingco.com/
Visited: 2023
Sugar Pop Bakery is a fairly new bakery located in the old Waveland School on Coleman Street. It shares the space with the Ground Zero Museum. The pastries are phenomenal! They offer a variety of pies (peanut butter, key lime), cupcakes (wedding cake, red velvet, chocolate lovers’ chocolate) muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls and cheesecakes (strawberry, Mardi Gras), etc. Our favorites? The peanut butter pie and the Mardi Gras cheesecake!

Waveland
Waveland has 5 miles of beach along the Gulf of Mexico. Drive Beach Boulevard and pull over anywhere to experience the beach! There is plenty of beach access and plenty of free parking. If you are camping in the area, you should stay at the Buccaneer State Park, right on Beach Blvd.

Waveland
Website: https://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm
Visited: 2019, 2022, 2023
Gulf Islands National Seashore includes 135,457 acres along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. The drive along Beach Blvd. US Route 90 from Waveland, MS to Bay St. Louis is amazing. Plenty of parking.

Missouri          Missouri State Flag

Branson Scenic Railway
206 E. Main
Branson, MO 65616
Phone: 417-334-6110
Website: https://www.bransontrain.com/
Visited: 2022
The Branson Scenic Railway takes passengers on an almost 2-hour ride through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. The scenery is spectacular. The train ride takes you through tunnels and across trestles. If you are in Branson in November or December, check out the Polar Express ride!

Showboat Branson Belle
4800 Historic State Hwy. 165
Branson, MO 65616
Phone: (417) 336-7171
Website: https://www.silverdollarcity.com/showboat-branson
Visited: 2022
For this boat tour of Table Rock Lake, we went out on the Branson Belle, a replica of the showboats of the 1800s. The Branson Belle is actually a new boat, launched in 1994. Included in the two-hour boat tour was a three-course lunch and a live musical performance. It was a relaxing way to see the Lake.

St. Louis (downtown and arch)
1200 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 622-4800
Website: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/
Visited: 2019
St. Louis is located in east central Missouri, with a population of 304,709. It was incorporated in 1822. It has a vibrant, thriving downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. A must see is the Gateway Arch National Park, especially the museum under the Arches. There is an amazing amount of history here.

Montana          Montana State Flag

Montana Trout Outfitters
6108 Raelene Ct.
Missoula, MT 59803
Phone: (406)544-3516
Website: https://mttroutguides.com/fly-fishing-outfitters/
Visited: 2023
Montana Trout Outfitters offers fly fishing trips in the Missoula area. Though we have both been fishing before, neither of us had ever been fly fishing! We floated down the Blackfoot River to learn fly-fishing!! Scott, our tour guide taught us some very basic fly-fishing skills and caught a couple dozen fish, all that were released back into the river.

Range Riders Museum
435 L P Anderson Rd
Miles City, MT 59301
Phone: (406) 232-6146 or (406) 852-4949
Webpage: https://www.rangeridersmuseum.com/
Visited: 2023
The Range Riders Museum is probably our favorite local museum anywhere in the country! There are 13 building of exhibits preserving the history of the cowboy and ranching culture in the American West. The museum features history of the cowboy, rodeo, and ranching traditions.

The Butte Trolley
Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce
1000 George Street
Butte, Montana 59701
Phone: (406) 723-3177
Website: https://www.buttechambersite.org/the-trolley/
Visited: 2023
The Butte Trolley Tour is the best way to learn about Butte and its history. We had driven around Butte before taking the tour, and we had even seen some of the sites Chris, our tour guide, took us to. However, seeing those same places through the eyes of a local who loves his city is totally different.

The World Museum of Mining
155 Museum Way
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 723-7211
Website: https://miningmuseum.org/
Visited: 2023
The World Museum of Mining, chartered in 1964, chronicles the lives of miners who worked in the Orphan Girl silver and zinc mines. The museum includes over 50 buildings on 22 acres of land. The Orhan Girl mine is now inactive, but the museum offers tours down in the mine for a “real life experience”.

Yellowstone Safari Company
PO Box 6567
Bozeman MT 59771
Phone: 406-586-1155
Website: https://yellowstonesafari.com/
Visited: 2023
One of the best things we did in this area was to schedule a tour of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks. We were able to see the highlights of both parks and know where we wanted to spend more time on our own. Scott was our tour guide for both days. He was extremely knowledgeable about the geology and wildlife in the area.

Nebraska          Nebraska State Flag

Legacy of the Plains Museum
2930 Old Oregon Trail
Gering, NE 69341
Phone: (308) 436-1989
Website: https://legacyoftheplains.org/
Visited: 2022
We were in Gering for the Legacy of the Plains Museums 26th annual Harvest Festival. The museum was huge and had hundreds (thousands?) of exhibits of farming in the Nebraska panhandle. During the Harvest Festival there was an outdoor exhibit of farmers harvesting potatoes on the museum grounds

Nevada          Nevada State Flag

Red Rock Canyon
3293 Moenkopi Road
Las Vegas, NV 89161
Phone: (702) 515-5350
Website: https://www.redrockcanyonlv.org/
Visited: 2018
This is a one way, 13 miles scenic drive. It is a beautiful drive. There is hiking and boondock camping there, too.

Clark County Shooting Range
11357 North Decatur Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89131
Phone: (702) 455-2000
Webpage: https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/parks___recreation/shooting_complex/index.php
Visited: 2018
Located on 2,900 acres, it is the largest shooting range in the United States. Facilities for rifles, pistols and archery. There is an RV park on site with very reasonable rates.

New Hampshire          New Hampshire Flag

Santa’s Village
528 Presidential Hwy
Jefferson, NH 03583
Phone: (603) 586-4445
Website: https://www.santasvillage.com/
Visited: 2018
This is a Christmas themed family friendly park that opened in 1953. Fun for preteens and younger. Rides and attractions.

Strafford / Lake Winnipesaukee South KOA Holiday
79 First Crown Point Rd.
Strafford, NH 03884
Phone: (603) 332-0405
Website: www.koa.com/campgrounds/strafford
Visited: 2019
Gated RV resort. Level concrete pad sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception at some sites. Nice pool and waterpark area onsite. This campground is NOT directly on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Storyland
850 NH-16
Glen, NH 03838
Phone: (603) 383-4186
Website: https://www.storylandnh.com/
Visited: 2018
This is a family friendly theme park that opened in 1954. There is an RV campground attached to the park. Fun for preteens and younger. Rides and attractions.

Twin Mountain / Mt. Washington KOA Holiday
375 Route 115
Twin Mountain, NH 03598
Phone: (603) 846-5559
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/twin-mountain/
Visited: 2018, 2019
Level gravel sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception on some sites. Great amenities for kids (playground). Most shopping and restaurants are a drive away. Santa’s Village and Storyland are about 30 – 40 minutes away.

Two Guys Smoke Shop
741 Lafayette Road
Seabrook, New Hampshire 03874
Phone: (603) 474-8222 / (603) 474-8228
Website: www.2guyscigars.com
Visited: 2021, 2022
Humidors line all the walls, with places to sit and relax while enjoying a smoke. Staff is consistently helpful, knowledgeable about cigars.

New Jersey          New Jersey Flag

FlaNet Campground
10 Flanders Netcong Road
Flanders, NJ 07836
Phone: (973) 347-4467
Website: https://flanetpark.com/
Visited: 2021, 2022
Reasonably level sites on gravel. Most in shade. All sites are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean campground. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. No amenities, nothing fancy. Convenient location. Staff has changed over the years, but have always been pleasant and accommodating.

New Mexico          New Mexico Flag

Gallup Cultural Center
201 E. Highway 66
Gallup, NM 87301
Phone: (505) 728-8048
Website: https://gallupculturalcenter.org/
Visited: 2023
The Gallup Cultural Center is located on the 2nd floor of the old railroad depot and Amtrak station. The second floor has exhibits of Native American culture, Native American artists, and a small section about the Navaho Code Talkers from WWII.

Roswell UFO Museum
114 North Main Street
Roswell, NM 88202
(575) 637-6203
Webpage: https://www.roswellufomuseum.com/
Visited: 2023
The UFO Museum has a very comprehensive group of memorabilia from the 1947 “the incident” in a field near Roswell. “The incident” was a reported crash landing of an alien spaceship. There are actual documents and memorials from individuals about how “the incident” was handled by the local, state, and federal government. It was very interesting!

New York          New York Flag

Como Restaurant
2220 Pine Avenue
Niagara Falls, NY 14301
Phone: (716) 285-9341
Website: https://www.comorestaurant.com/
Visited: 2019
Quintessential Italian restaurant in the middle of Italian Niagara Falls. Frank Sinatra style.

Niagara Falls/Grand Island KOA
2570 Grand Island Blvd.
Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: Reserve: (716) 455-2352
Info: (716) 773-7583
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/niagara-falls-new-york/
Visited: 2019
Level sites on concrete. Some sites have partial shade, but most are full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean RV park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Convenient location to Niagara Falls, shopping and restaurants. Adventureland is next door. We were there before season so we aren’t sure how much noise this would contribute, but great for a family stay.

Niagara Falls
332 Prospect Street
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Phone: (716) 278-1794
Webpage: https://www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/
Visited: 2019
Niagara Falls is an amazing natural wonder! There are lots of activities to do around the falls, for example, the Cave of the Winds and the Maid of the Mist. If you have a lot of time to spend here (and a passport!), make a day trip to the Canadian side of the falls. It is a whole different perspective!

North Carolina          North Carolina Flag

Bennett House
4409 Bennett Memorial Road
Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 383-4345
Website: https://www.bennettplacehistoricsite.com/
Visited: 2019
Bennett Place is a 30 acre former farm and homestead in Durham, North Carolina. Contrary to history books, Bennett House was the meeting place of the last surrender of a major Confederate army in the American Civil War, when Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to William T. Sherman (4/11/1865). The signing at Appomattox occurred on 4/9/1865, two days before the surrender at Bennet House!

Camping World Racing Resort
6600 Bruton Smith Blvd.
Concord, NC 28027
Phone: (704) 455-4445
Website: www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/camping
Visited: 2021
Level concrete pad sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Pull thus and Back ins available during nonrace times. During race time back in sites only. Fencing between sites. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. No amenities, but conveniently located to Charlotte Speedway.

Cape Fear Restaurant
5226 College Rd. #5
Wilmington, NC 28412
Phone: (910) 799-7077
Website: https://www.capefearseafoodcompany.com/
Locally owned restaurant and a local favorite. Friendly staff with good local seafood and sizeable portions.

Horse Drawn Tours of Historic Wilmington, NC
Spring Brook Farms, Inc.
Phone: (910) 252-8889
Website: www.horsedrawntours.com
Visited: 2022
This was one of the most informative, interesting tours we have had of a historic downtown area. Having the tour in a horse drawn carriage was a bonus!! Downtown Wilmington has done a great job of keeping new buildings in the same historical architectural style as in the 1800s.

Peppered Cupcake
105 South Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910) 399-1088
Website: https://www.thepepperedcupcake.com/
Amazing cupcakes! The frosting is unique, it is not sickeningly sweet! A whole different texture for the cupcake. Yum!! They ship cupcakes!

RV Resort @ Carolina Crossroads
415 Wallace Fork Rd
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
Phone: (252) 538-9776
Website: https://033b649.netsolhost.com/
Visited: 2022
Level sites, some in shade, most in the full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Convenient location on the North Carolina / Virginia border. We had a site with a covered picnic table. It was great in the rain and the full sun!

Wilmington KOA
7415 Market St.
Wilmington, NC 28411
Phone: (910) 686-7705
Website: https://koa.com/campgrounds/wilmington/
Visited: 2022
Best option in the Wilmington area. Level sites, some in shade, some in the full sun. All are FHU. Pull thru and back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for RV park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Convenient location to downtown Wilmington and beaches.

Wilmington (downtown)
102 North 3rd Street
Wilmington, NC 28402
Phone: (910) 341-7800
Website: https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/
Visited: 2022
Wilmington is a seaport city in southeastern NC, with a population of 122,162. It was incorporated in 1739. It has a vibrant, thriving historical downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. Make sure you go on one of the horse drawn tours in the downtown area.

Wilmington
Within 20 minutes of the downtown Wilmington Riverwalk are three beautiful beaches: Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Wrightsville is the closest to Wilmington and is the busiest. Carolina Beach is also a state park with a boardwalk. Kure is the furthest from Wilmington but is closest to Myrtle Beach, SC.

North Dakota          North Dakota Flag

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame
250 Main St
Medora, ND 58645
Phone: (701) 623-2000
Website: https://northdakotacowboy.org/
Visited: 2023
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame had so many things to see and read that it was almost mind-numbing! The first floor had a small theater and exhibits of ranching and rodeoing. The second floor had dozens of sculptures and framed pictures of people who contributed to the expansion of the West.

Ohio          Ohio Flag

Chestnut Ridge Campground
6486 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Hubbard, Ohio 44425
Phone: 330 534-2352
Website: https://chestnutridgecampground.com/
Visited: 2022
The campground was clean and well maintained and the staff was friendly. Our site (#46) was on level packed gravel. 30 amp service only. There was good cell phone coverage (Verizon) and a good open southern sky for our satellite. This was by far one of the quietest most peaceful campgrounds we have EVER stayed in.

FMCA Campground
3590 Round Bottom Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45244
Phone: 800-543-3622
Website: www.fmca.com/fmca-campground
Visited: 2019
Level concrete pad sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Back in sites only. Clean, very well-care park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. No amenities. Conveniently located to downtown Cincinnati.

Jungle Jim’s
4450 Eastgate South Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45245
Phone: 513-674-6000
Website: www.junglejims.com
Visited: 2019
JJ is also on our destination list. This is a 200,000 sq. ft. “grocery store” with over 180,000 different items. If JJ doesn’t have the food you want, we would be surprised!!

Maumee Bay State Park
1400 State Park Rd
Oregon, OH 43616
Phone: (419) 836-7758
Website: https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/maumee-bay-state-park
Visited: 2022
Maumee Bay State Park is on Lake Erie. It is a 1,336 acre park that offers swimming (in designated areas), biking hiking and 256 camp sites.

Medina (downtown)
132 North Elmwood Avenue
Medina, OH 44256
Phone: (330) 725-8861
Website: https://medinaoh.org/
Visited: 2019
Medina is a nice small community a half hour south of Cleveland. It is home to 26,026 people. It was incorporated in 1835. The town square has a mixture of retail stores and restaurants.

Metroparks Toledo Canal Experience
13205 S. River Rd
Grand Rapids, OH 43522
Phone: (419) 407-9741
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/features-and-rentals/canal-experience/
Visited: 2022
This was a very different type of boat ride! We were passengers on the Volunteer, a replica of a boat used during the 1880s along the original Miami and Erie Canal towpath on the north side of the Maumee River near Toledo. This 1-mile mule pulled boat trip includes rising 3.5 feet at the Isaac Ludwig Mill and Lock #44.

Perrysburgers
220 Louisiana Ave
Perrysburg, OH 43551
Phone: (419) 931-9083
Website: https://www.facebook.com/PerrysBurger/
Visited: 2022
All the burgers are made fresh, from the burgers to the black bean burger to the fries. The black bean burger was one of the best I have had in the country! And did I mention the fresh cut fries were endless?

Tony Packo’s “Original” Cafe
1902 Front Street
Toledo, OH 43605
Phone: (419) 691-6054
Website: https://www.tonypacko.com/
Visited: 2022
Tony Packo’s started as a local restaurant in 1932. If you were a M.A.S.H. TV show fan, you may remember Klinger, a character played by Jamie Farr, talking about his hometown of Toledo and how he would dream of eating at Tony Packo’s!!

The Volunteer (the canal boat)
13200 S. River Rd
Grand Rapids, OH 43522
Phone: (419) 407-9741
Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/features-and-rentals/canal-experience/
Visited: 2022
Take a canal boat ride on the Volunteer. People dressed in period costumes from the 1880s and as we traveled the canal we went through an original lock from that era. From where we started to the water on the other side of the lock it was a rise of 3.5 feet.

Oklahoma          Oklahoma Flag

First Americans Museum
659 First Americans Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Phone: (405) 594-2100
Website: https://famok.org/
The First Americans Museum or FAM, opened in September 2021. FAM is devoted to providing information, histories, culture, contributions and resilience of each of the 39 tribes that call Oklahoma home. There are many films and videos with Native American speakers describing different aspects of the Native American life.

Oregon          Oregon Flag

Baker Heritage Museum
2480 Grove Street
Baker City, OR 97814
Phone: 541-523-9308
Website: http://www.bakerheritagemuseum.com/
Visited: 2023
The Baker Heritage Museum is one of the nicest local museums we have visited. It is filled with old farming and mining equipment, movie memorabilia, Airstream travel trailer history, a history of the contribution of the Chinese emigrants to the area and much, much more!

Sweet Wife Baking
2028 Main Street
Baker City Oregon 97814
Phone: (541)-403-6028
Website: https://www.sweetwifebaking.com/
Visited: 2023
Sweet Wife Baking opened in 2010 in downtown Baker City. The scones are the best anywhere in the country! They offer a variety of flavored babkas, too! And the chocolate filled chocolate chip cookies are like nothing we have ever tasted!! Many can make a good chocolate chip cookie, but not everyone can make them like Sweet Wife Baking! If you are anywhere near Baker City, make the detour here, you will not be disappointed!

Pennsylvania          Pennsylvania Flag

Artillery Ridge Campground
610 Taneytown Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-1288
Website: https://www.artilleryridge.com/
Visited: 2021
There was so much to see here we ended up extending our stay! Level gravel sites. Some in shade, some in the full sun. FHU. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, well-cared for RV park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception in some sites, but not all. Conveniently located to downtown Gettysburg and Civil War memorials.

Big Spring Spirits
198 Match Factory Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 353-4478
Website: https://www.bigspringspirits.com/
Visited: 2022
The Distillery is in a rehabilitated factory setting. Big Spring Spirits has a light menu and flights for all of their alcohol and premade cocktails. The atmosphere is relaxed with indoor and outdoor seating available.

Eagle Iron Works
251 Curtin Village Road
Howard, PA 16841
Phone: (814) 355-1982
Website: https://www.curtinvillage.com/
Visited: 2022
Eagle Irons works was an Iron Plantation in the 1800s. The Eagle Iron Works was in operation for 112 years. It was the last surviving charcoal-fueled iron furnace in Pennsylvania. Fascinating place!

Gettysburg (downtown and historic sites)
59 East High Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-1160
Websites: https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm (historic sites)
 https://destinationgettysburg.com/ (downtown)
Visited: 2021
Gettysburg is a small town in south central Pennsylvania, with a population of 7,684. It was incorporated in 1806. The historic downtown has a nice mixture of retail stores and restaurants. There are way too many civil war sites to list. A lot of sites can to be driven to and many more to be walked to. One of the places we extended our one week stay because there was so much to see!

Penn State University
State College, PA
Website: https://www.psu.edu/
Visited: 2022
Penn State was founded in 1855 because the local farmers wanted a good education for their children. When it started offering agricultural classes it was called “The Farmers High School”.

Talleyrand Park
320 W High St
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Website: https://www.bellefontetrain.org/
Visited: 2022
Beautiful downtown park along Spring Creek. Be sure to walk around and enjoy the park. It is one of the few flat (nonhilly) walking areas downtown! Big Spring produces 11 million gallons per day of water for Bellefonte and State College.

Rhode Island          Rhode Island Flag

Aunt Carrie’s Restaurant, Ice Cream and Gift Shoppe
1240 Ocean Road
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: (401) 783-7930
Website: https://auntcarriesri.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021
Amazing local seafood restaurant and take-out. Fried seafood, boiled lobsters and lobster rolls. Their fried clam cakes are the best around! Yum!!

Caserta’s
121 Spruce Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 621-3618
Website: https://casertapizzeria.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Best tray pizza in the country, by far! And the spinach pie!!! Yum!! Caserta’s is on Federal Hill, parking can be difficult.

Narragansett Beach
39 Boston Neck Road
Narragansett, RI 02882
Phone: (401) 783-6430
Website: https://www.narragansettri.gov/323/Narragansett-Town-Beach
Visited: 2018, 2019, 2021
Narragansett Town Beach is a classic New England saltwater coastal beach located in the center of Narragansett, RI. There are a lot of local restaurants. Clean, soft, sandy beaches that stretch for 19 acres! Ample parking in four large lots (North, South, West and Cabana). There is a fee for parking or a season pass. Bathhouse and snacks available at the beach.

Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery
200 Woonsocket Hill Road
North Smithfield, RI 02896
Phone: (401) 767-3014
Website: https://wrightsdairyfarm.com/
Visited: 2018, 2019. 2021
Great bakery located on a dairy farm. The cakes are sooooo good! They ship!

Wright’s Farm Restaurant
84 Inman Road
Burrillville, RI 02830
Phone: (401) 769-2856
Website: https://www.wrightsfarm.com/
Visited : 2018
Wright’s Farm Restaurant is a great local restaurant. Family dining serving Wright’s family style chicken dinners. Great value for the price.

South Carolina          South Carolina Flag

Anderson (downtown)
401 Main Street
Anderson, SC 29624
Phone: (864) 231-2200
Website: https://www.cityofandersonsc.com/
Visited: 2018, 2022
Anderson is a small town in north west South Carolina, with a population of 27,387. It was incorporated in 1833. Anderson has done a nice job rejuvenating the downtown area. There is a nice combination of retail stores and restaurants. Be sure to visit the Palmetto Distillery, where they have the only legal still in SC!

Campground at James Island County Park
871 Riverland Dr.
Charleston, SC 29412
Phone: (843) 795-4386
Website: www.ccprc.com/1729/campgrounds-lodging
Visited: 2018
One of the only parks we have extended our stay three times!! Level gravel sites. Most in partial shade, some in full sun. FHU. Back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for campground. Good Verizon coverage. Spotty satellite dish reception. Playground and hiking trails. If you go during November and December, check out the Festival of Lights! Conveniently located to downtown Charleston and beaches.

Charleston (downtown)
100 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Phone: (843) 958-5000
Website: https://www.charleston.com/
Visited: 2018, 2022
Charleston is a decent size city with a small-town feel. 137,041 people call it home. Charleston was incorporated in 1670. What a wonderful, historic community. The people are friendly, the food is phenomenal, the weather is great, the history is interesting. There is a thriving walking downtown with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants.

Melting Pot
5001 North Kings Hwy 104
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: (843) 692-9003
Website: https://www.meltingpot.com/myrtle-beach-sc/
Visited: 2022
This is a great place for a date night with a quite atmosphere and great staff.

Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is a very nice beach with very soft sand, but there is virtually no public access and even less access to parking near the beach! If you are staying in one of the hotels or campgrounds on the beach, you are all set, but forget it if you are only in the area and want to cool off or lay on the beach.

Oak Plantation
3540 Savannah Hwy
Charleston (Johns Island), SC 29455
Phone: (843) 766-5936
Webpage: https://oakplantationcampground.com/index.html
Visited: 2022
Level sites, most in partial shade, some in the full sun. All are FHU and pull thrus. Clean, well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Convenient location to Charleston and beaches. On a VERY busy road, virtually impossible to turn left from the park. In spite of the busy road, we couldn’t hear the street noise at our site.

Paige’s Okra Grill
302 Coleman Blvd
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 881-3333
Website: https://www.pagesokragrill.com/
Visited: 2022
Try out their fried green tomatoes. The best that I have had!!

Palmetto Distillery
200 W Benson St, Anderson, SC 29624
Phone: (864) 226-9917
Webpage: https://www.palmettodistillery.com/
Visited: 2021, 2022
“The only legal operating still in South Carolina!” and “The first craft brewery in South Carolina!” Tours are free, tastings are free. The moonshine is smoooooooth!

Springfield Campground
1915 Providence Church Rd
Anderson, NC 29626
Phone: (888) 893-0678
Website: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232711
Visited: 2021
Army Corp of Engineers Campground. Gated. Reasonably level gravel sights, most directly on the lake. Some shade, some full sun. Water and electric only. Pull in and back in sites. Clean park. Good Verizon coverage. Okay satellite dish reception. Conveniently located to downtown Anderson, SC.

Charleston
In Charleston there are five beaches, four are public and one is in a private gated community. All four public access beaches are really nice, but our favorite is Folly Beach just off James Island. The beach is wide with soft sand and great surf. Parking is somewhat limited unless you get there early!

South Dakota          South Dakota Flag

Courthouse Museum
200 W. 6th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-4210
Website: https://www.siouxlandmuseums.com/index.php/home-page/old-courthouse-museum-exhibits/
This is an amazing building! It was built in 1890 at a cost of $135,000. At the time it was designed to be the biggest courthouse between Chicago and Denver. It covers a total of 47,00 square feet and has a bell tower that is 165 feet tall. Everything has been redone inside. Two of the original murals are on the walls between the first and second floor.

Dakota Tours
631 South 32nd Street
Spearfish, SD 57783
Phone: 605-642-2353
Rapid City: https://mountrushmorebustours.com/
Visited: 2022
Where do you begin in this area? We decided to take an all-day tour so we would know where we wanted to go back to. Matt, our tour guide, was so knowledgeable, informative and funny! We saw: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Sylvan Lake and Custer State Park. We also drove on the Iron Mountain Road and the Needles Highway.

Dignity of Earth & Sky
The sculpture is near Chamberlin South Dakota on opposite side of the river off the east bound lane of Interstate 90.
Website: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/story/dignity-earth-sky
Dignity of Earth & Sky is a stunning sculpture of a Native American woman overlooking the Missouri River on Interstate 90 between exits 263 and 265 in honor of the Lakota and Dakota cultures.

Oh My Cupcakes
5015 S Western Ave Suite 290
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Phone: (605) 310-6742
Website: https://ohmycupcakes.com/locations
Oh My Cupcakes has two sizes of cupcakes, in probably 20 different varieties. The buttercream frosting was sweet, but not too sweet. A must try.

The Outdoor Campus of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks in Sertoma Park
4500 S Oxbow Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57106
Phone: (605) 362-2777
Website: https://gfp.sd.gov/education/
 This was a total surprise. We thought is was just another beautiful Sioux Falls park, but this was so much more! The SD Game, Fish and Parks Department leases a large section of Sertoma Park to offer free hiking trails and free classes in hiking, kayaking, canoeing, archery, etc.!

USS South Dakota Memorial
2705 W 12th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-7141
Website: https://southdakotabattleship.org/
This is a free museum dedicated to everything pertaining to the USS South Dakota. Outside is interesting. There is a foot high cement wall that is an exact replica of the length and width of the battleship. It gives you a sense of the size of the USS South Dakota!

1880 Train
222 Railroad Ave. Hill City, SD 57745
– And –
103 Winter Street, Keystone, SD 57751
Phone: 605-574-2222
Webpage: https://www.1880train.com/
Visited: 2022
We loved this 2.5-hour train ride through the Black Hills! One-way or round-trip options are available with a start in either Hill City or Keystone, SD. In 1957, William Heckman believed “there should be one working steam railroad, for boys of all ages.” The 1880 Train is reported to be the oldest continuously operating tourist train in the area.

Tennessee          Tennessee Flag

The Parthenon
2500 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 862-8431
Website: https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/
The Nashville Parthenon is open year-round to provide public programs for adults, children and families. Programs includes audio tours of the Parthenon architecture, concerts and new exhibits monthly. Kidsville at the Parthenon provides educational programs on most Saturdays.

Texas          Texas Flag

Benchwarmers
104 North Fulton Beach Road
Fulton, TX 78358
Phone: (361) 790-5413
Website: https://361benchwarmers-hudat.com/
Visited: 2021, 2022
Good local restaurant. Good prices for good food. Love their vegetarian and Chinese options. Plentiful parking

Cattleman’s Steakhouse
2458 North Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76164
Website: https://www.cattlemenssteakhouse.com/
Visited: 2022
Cattleman’s Steakhouse in downtown Fort Worth has been open since the 1940s. The steak and the salmon were excellent! Both were moist and flavorful. Atmosphere was casual and service was attentive. This is a place we would definitely return to again and again!

Doc’s Seafood & Steaks
13309 South Padre Island Drive
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Phone: (361) 949-6744
Website: https://docsseafoodandsteaks.com
Good waterfront seafood restaurant with local fish catch options. Plentiful food for a fair price. Plentiful parking.

Fort Worth Cattle Drive
Website: https://www.fortworth.com/the-herd/
Visited: 2022
The most fun we had in downtown Fort Worth was watching the cattle drive through the Fort Worth Stockyards. Real cowboys and real Texas Longhorns!

Fredericksburg, TX (downtown and historic site)
126 West Main Street
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Phone: (830) 997-7521
Website: https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/ (downtown)
Website: https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/listing/lyndon-b-johnson-national-historical-park/329/ (LBJ Park)
Visited: 2020
Fredericksburg is a small community is central Texas with a population of 11,341. It was incorporated in 1846. Lots of German heritage here. The downtown is thriving with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants. While you are here, be sure to check out the birthplace of Lyndon B. Johnson. The LBJ National Historical Park is just outside of Fredericksburg in Stonewall, TX.

Goliad
152 West End Street
Goliad, TX 77963
Phone: (361) 645-3454
Website: https://www.goliadtx.net/
Visited: 2022
Goliad is a small rural community is eastern central Texas with a population of 2,112.  It was incorporated in 1836.  Goliad is the place to go if you want to learn about the history of Texas.  There is so much to see and experience here, for example, Goliad State Park and Mission, Fannin Memorial, the Hanging Tree, and the Presidio La Bahia.  Have you heard of and/or celebrate Cinco De Mayo?  Go to the birthplace of General Zaragoza and learn what Cinco de Mayo is really about.

Goose Island State Park
202 S Palmetto Street
Rockport, TX 78382
Phone: (361) 729-2858
Website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goose-island
Visited: 2022
Gulf front RV camping!! There are archery lessons you can take here. There are nature trails galore!

Gregg Orr Collision in Texarkana
924 Kenwood Rd.
Texarkana, TX 75501
Phone: 903-716-8500
Website: www.greggorrcollision.com
Visited: 2021
We had to replace a door hinge on our RV. They were able to match the paint color of our RV. And, they completed the paint job within our travel time frame!!

JB’s German Restaurant and Bakery
4141 S Staples St Suite 100
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Phone: (361) 949-5474
Website: https://jbsgermanbakery.com/
Visited: 2022
German bakery and café with a wood-burning oven. German breads, strudel and traditional pastries. Really good food for a good price. Closes at 2 p.m. Limited parking. German bakery and café with a wood-burning oven. German breads, strudel and traditional pastries. Really good food for a good price. If you like chocolate, try one of their chocolate strudels, you won’t be sorry! Closes at 2 p.m. Limited parking.

John F. Kennedy Memorial and the Sixth Floor Museum At Dealey Plaza
411 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75202
Phone: (214) 747-6660
Website: https://www.jfk.org/
Visited: 2022
The memorial to the assassination of JFK includes two sites; one site at Memorial Plaza where there is a large open-air structure and the other the Sixth Floor Museum.

Medieval Times
2021 N. Stemmons FWY., Dallas, TX 75207
Phone: 1-888-(935-6878)
Website: https://www.medievaltimes.com/dallas
Visited: 2022
Medieval Times was a lot of fun! It is a dinner theater show featuring a “competition” among 6 knights of “the kingdom” who “battle” to determine who will be the “victor who protects the throne of the Queen”. The show was impressive, especially since “our” black and white knight won the jousting tournament!

Mel’s Diner
24814 Stanolind Road
Tomball, TX 77375
Phone: (281) 255-6357
Website: www.melscountrycafe.com
Visited: 2020, 2021
This is not a fancy restaurant. The quality and quantity of the food is phenomenal, enough for 2 more meals the next day! They have the best fried catfish anywhere!

Mustang Island State Park
9394 State Highway 361
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Phone: (361) 749-5246
Website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mustang-island
Visited: 2021, 2022, 2023
Mustang Island State Park is a 3,954-acre state park located south of Port Aransas on the Gulf of Mexico. It has a 5-mile beach you can camp on in your tent or small RV. One of our favorite things to do is drive our Jeep to a secluded area on the beach and setting up our lawn chairs! There are designated areas for swimming only, too!

Nyle Maxwell Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Taylor
14150 US-79
Taylor, TX 76574
Phone: (512) 218-5300
Website: www.nylemaxwellcjd.com
Visited: 2020
We had warranty work done to our Jeep. The service writer got us in quickly and kept us up to speed on their progress. We had a loaner. Our Jeep was washed when it was returned to us!

Padre Island
20301 Park Rd 22
Corpus Christi, TX 78418
Phone: (361) 949-8069
Website: https://www.nps.gov/pais/index.htm
Visited: 2022, 2023
Padre Island National Seashore encompasses 130,434 off the coast of South Texas. PINS is very, very different than the commercial South Padre Island spring break fame.
The national seashore is pristine with no commercial development. It will just be you, the beach and the birds.

Rockport (downtown and beach)
402 E Laurel Street
Rockport, TX 78382
Phone: (361) 729-2213
Website: https://www.cityofrockport.com/ (downtown)
Visited: 2021, 2022
Rockport is a small community in the central coastal area of Texas.  Rockport has a population of 10,815 people.  Rockport was incorporated in 1871.  The people are friendly and it has a small-town feel.  There is a very nice thriving walking downtown area with a mixture of retail stores and restaurants.

If you are visiting Rockport, be sure to experience Rockport Beach, the only blue wave beach in Texas. It is one mile long. There is great access for all, and plenty of parking. While the beach is still comfortable to walk or lay on, you shouldn’t expect the same white sandy beaches you would find on Mustang Island. This beach has a more granular texture. It is still beautiful.

Space Center Houston
1601 East NASA Pkwy
Houston, TX 77058
Phone: (281) 244-2100
Website: https://spacecenter.org/
Visited: 2020
Official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center.  Lots to see and experience here.  You can go inside an actual space shuttle!

Sweet Shop USA
1316 Industrial Road
Mount Pleasant, TX 75455
Phone: (800) 222-2269
Website: www.sweetshopusa.com
Visited: 2020, 2021
This is a great chocolate shop with lots of variety! There are probably 50 varieties of truffles alone! Seconds are available at the store. They ship!

Texas Trail of Fame
Fort Worth, Texas
Website: https://texastrailoffame.org/
Very similar to Hollywood’s Hall of fame stars, but focusing on cowboys and the cowboy lifestyle. Names like Sam Elliot, Tom Mix, James Arness and John B. Stetson.

Vernon’s Kuntry Bar-B Que
500 West Davis St.
Conroe, TX 77304
Phone: (936) 539-3000
Website: https://www.vernonskuntrybbq.com/
Visited: 2019, 2020, 2021
This is a well-known local bar-b-que place. Plan on waiting in line to order. Pulled pork and brisket are moist and flavorful. Neither require sauces!

Woodland Lakes Resorts
17110 Firehouse Lane
Conroe, TX 77385  (About 30 minutes north of Houston, TX)
Phone: (936) 273-6666
Website: www.woodlandlakesrvresort.com
Visited: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
One of our favorite campgrounds in the country, mostly due to the exceptional manager, Sarah. Level gravel sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, well-cared for RV park. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities except playground. Conveniently located to downtown Conroe, Houston and some of the best medical facilities in the country.

Utah          Utah Flag

Zion Jeep Tours
Springdale, UT 84767
Phone: 435-668-3756
Website: https://www.zionjeeptours.com/
Zion is an exceptionally busy park. With the scenic road in the park only open to shuttle busses we did not want to be crammed in with 100 other people on the shuttle. This was the absolute best way to see Zion and to learn about its geology and wildlife. Andrew, our tour guide was exceptional at knowing how to keep us way from the crowds.

Vermont          Vermont Flag

North Beach Park
60 Industrial Rd.
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 862-0942
Website: https://enjoyburlington.com/type/parks-beaches/
Visited: 2016
North Beach Campground is on the shores of Lake Champlain. There are almost 45 acres of woods and beach. All just a short distance from downtown Burlington. There are 137 sites for tenting to full hook-ups. The beach has soft sand for swimming. We were there during the July 4th week. The fireworks on the beach were amazing!

Virginia          Virginia Flag

Richmond (history)
Website: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/richmond-virginia-during-civil-war
Visited: 2019
There is so much history in this area, it would be hard to pinpoint where to go. There are walking and driving trips galore. If you are a history buff, this is a place you will need at least a week to explore!

Blue Ridge Parkway
Website: https://www.blueridgeparkway.org/
Visited: 2019
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest linear park in the United States. It runs for 469 miles through 29 Virginia and North Carolina counties, connecting the Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hop on or off at will. It is something to be experienced!

Picture Lake Campground
7818 Boydton Plank Rd.
North Dinwiddie, VA 23803
Phone: (804) 861-0174
Website: www.picturelakecampgrounds.com
Visited: 2021
Reasonably level gravel sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Pull thru and back in sites. Clean, cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Not many amenities. Not very wide sites, but conveniently located to downtown Richmond and civil war memorials.

Pocahontas State Park
10301 State Park Rd.
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Phone: (804) 796-4255
Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/pocahontas
Visited: 2018
Gated campground. Level gravel sites. Many wide, private sites. Some in shade, some in full sun. Water and electric only. Back in sites. Clean, well-cared for campground. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception in some areas. Conveniently located to downtown.

Wytheville KOA Holiday
231 KOA Rd.
Wytheville, VA 24382
Phone: (276) 228-2601
Website: www.koa.com/campgrounds/wytheville
Visited: 2021
Level concrete pad sites. Some in shade, most in the full sun. FHU. Pull through and back in sites. Clean, very well-cared for RV resort. Good Verizon coverage. Good satellite dish reception. Lots of amenities including playground and bowling in huge clubhouse. Conveniently located to downtown Wytheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

West Virginia          West Virginia Flag

Bakers Run Campground – Sutton Lake
151 Barker Road
Centralia, WV 26601
Sutton Lake Project – Army Corp of Engineers Sutton, WV
Phone: (304) 765-5631
Website: https://corpslakes.erdc.dren.mil/visitors/projects.cfm?Id=H117840
Brochure: https://www.lrh.usace.army.mil/Portals/38/docs/recreation/2021_Bakers_Run_Campground_Brochure.pdf
Visited: 2021
Reasonably level gravel sites, some in shade, some in the full sun. Water and electric only. Back in sites available. Clean, well-cared for campground. No Verizon coverage. No satellite dish reception.

Wisconsin          Wisconsin Flag

Cranberry Country Market
9941 State HWY 173
Tomah, WI 54660
Phone: (608) 374-4944
Website: https://www.cranberrycountrymarket.com/
This is a grocery store as an attraction, operated by the Amish. Fresh vegetables, breads, and freshly made sandwiches.

Cranberry Discovery Center
204 Main Street
Warrens, WI 54666
Phone: (608) 378-4878
Website: http://www.discovercranberries.com/
Learn about cranberries from the film and museum! They have many varieties of cranberry wines for sale as well as cranberry themed products (dried cranberries, cranberry scented candles, etc.) Did you know more than half of the world’s supply of cranberries are grown on 250 Wisconsin family farms? Cranberries are Wisconsin’s #1 fruit crop, generating more than 1 billion dollars in economic revenue and 4,000 jobs.

**Washington DC**

(Non-State)

Explored D.C.
Visited: 2018, 2022
Plan at least a week to visit Washington DC, and you still won’t see everything. You could spend a week visiting all of the Smithsonian Museums alone! Take time to visit all of the places you see and hear about: The White House, the Supreme Court, Capitol Hill, and the Library of Congress. Visit museums and memorials including: Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Washington Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. Go to the National Mall, Union Station and check out the cherry blossoms if you are there in April.

Washington D.C. Ghost Tours
 Website: https://freetoursbyfoot.com/washington-dc-ghost-tours/#georgetown
Visited 2018
When we were staying at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, MD we wanted to do something different and fun. What better way to enjoy D.C. than in the evening on a ghost tour! We learned a lot of unique history along way, especially about Georgetown and the White House and yes, this was a stop on our ghost tour!

Wyoming          Wyoming Flag

Backwards Distilling Company (Tasting Room)
214 S Wolcott St
Casper, WY 82601
Phone: (307) 337-1255
Website: https://www.backwardsdistilling.com/
Visited: 2023
Backwards Distilling Company, distills gin, moonshine, rum, vodka and whiskey. Backwards tasting room is located in downtown Casper. Started in 2014 by the Pollard Family, Backwards offers a casual funky, circus atmosphere with expert mixologists. Menus change quarterly with the seasons. Our favorites? Strubarb Pie and Freak Show.

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The day you start dreaming and make plans for your life on the road, is the day you become RVing Nomads. The desire to explore what is in our own backyard (The United States) and around the next corner becomes intriguing and exciting. "It's a Lifestyle"

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