GIFTS FOR RV'S + CAMPGROUND GOOD /BAD NEWS

Copyright Janet Groene 2024. To ask about reprinting this content or placing an ad contact janetgroene@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

 
One Sze Fits All RV-ers:
GIFT IDEAS FOR THE RV TRAVELER
COPYRIGHT Janet Groene


    There’s a gift idea here for almost any gender, budget or age on your holiday list. 

 
    * Many RV travelers carry “business” cards to leave with new friends made along the way. Follow-up friendship last sometimes for years.

    * Dollar stores are a great source of inexpensive disposables, Buy a set of paper plates and matching tableware in the color scheme of the RV itself, the recipients’ favorite team or an upcoming holiday.

    * Did they name their rig? How about polo shirts or baseball caps embroidered with the name of the camper?   
 
    * A set of colorful insulated glasses will keep drinks cold longer and won’t leave rings.

    * Pick up a bouquet of a dozen solar stake lights. They are easily stuck in the ground around a campsite.  

* Do you have a great photo of the person with their rig? Order a photo- imprinted mug, canvas print, key ring or other token.

    * Luggage straps are good for more than suitcases. Use them to bind any unwieldy bundle such as a  bed roll, yoga mat, patio rug, pillows, down-filled comforts and clothing. Bonus points if it’s personalized. with the name of the rig or the purpose such as “Dave’s Duvet” or Diane’s Down Jackets.  

    * Any camp cook will welcome a bright new pair of fireproof gloves.
Bonus points if you add a barbecue apron. Double points if the apron is personalized.

 

* The campfire is the heart of the campsite-home. Give a cluster of fatwood fire starters, artificial logs, cedar planks for salmon or “magic” flames for a dash of color.  (Or have the kids make Grandpa a supply of homemade fire starters. You know, the kind made with dryer lint and discarded toilet rolls?)

    * Give the camp chef a basket filled with a cluster of bottled hot sauces from all over the world.  Passed at the table, the  colorful labels are conversation starters.

    * For rainy days, compact, simple games are found in every size and price range: cards, a bag of marbles or jacks, dominoes, ring toss, age-appropriate crosswords. Suduko, Word Search, adult coloring books.

    * Pocket compasses come in many price ranges from toy quality to expensive heirlooms.

* Walking sticks are trendy and can also be a fashion statement. Bonus points for exotic woods, carvings or walking sticks with a built-in compass and/or thermometer.

    * Everyone can use slipper socks to wear inside the camper, motorhome or tent. They come in a choice of colors. Find them online in S,M,L.XL and XXL.

    * A sleeping bag liner can be changed and laundered easily and often. Bonus points if it’s luxurious silk.
 
* Chemical light sticks are popular for parties but they are also practical, providing safe emergency lighting without batteries or a fire hazard.

    * Everyone can use more stuff bags in all sizes. They  stow flat, then come in handy for laundry, catch-alls, toting,  shopping, sorting, stowing. 

 

 

Bottom line: Keep RV gifts compact, practical, useful and perhaps disposable or edible.

 

    
CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 

 

* Camp free in a beautiful Oregon,setting,  hookups included,  if you bring your own RV or boat for housing and are willing to act as a BLM campground host. That means light duties such as checking campers in and out and staying through the season, April through September. 

Open positions are in the Alder Glen, Clay Creek, Sharps Creek, Shotgun Creek, Whittaker Creek and Wildwood recreation sites. For more information and to apply, go to https://www.volunteer.gov/s/     To find specifics on each Oregon locale,  go to www.blm.gov/

 

 

 

* HersheyPark, Hershey, Pennsylvania is the sweetest place on earth, especially during the Christmas holidays when guests can see reindeer up close and camp in a winter wonderland of five million lights plis a dazzling light show synchronized to music. Shuttle service from the campground’s front entrance takes you to attractions throughout the complex. Ask about the Candyland Camping Package for RV visitors on selected dates between now and January 1.  (888) 710-0917

       * A luxury RV resort is coming to the souther edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. New near Kenesaw, Georgia will be the DiVine Village with 260 RV sites, 110 acres, a lake, resort-style pool and long-and short-term rentals. Construction is expected to begin early in 2025. For updates on reservations go to https://www.instagram.com/divinevillagega/

* The Columbus, Ohio Zoo & Aquarium will have its own campground and it’s going to be a 75-acre  doozie.  The Hellbender RV Campground at The Wilds, due to open next June, will have 26 full hookup RV sites plus primitive sites, hiking and biking trails, a playground, camp store, dog park and more. Located in Powell, Ohio the zoo’s phone is (614) 645-3400.  

* New owners plan massive upgrades for the  Marble Springs Campground in Allen, Michigan. The family campground has a swimming pond, Blue Hole spring,  a dump station, pavilion and more to come.  Seasonal campsites are now being reserved at: (517) 869-2522.

    * Lizella, Georgia will welcome the new Claystone’s Campground at Lake Tobesofkee. It’s the start of an overall improvement project at Claystone and Arrowhead parks. Old RV slots will be replaced with 64 new concrete pads with hookups and modern electrical pedestals. The parks will also get new docks and picnic areas. Closed for the winter, the campgrounds will reopen in spring, 2025.

* Love’s Travel Stops  added another location with six RV hookups. It’s in Jasper, Missouri and has showers, food venues, fuel, laundry facilities and a dog park.

 

* Be the first kid on the block to one of the first to discover the new Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort on Watts Bar Lake, Louden, Tennessee. Reservations are now open for when the resort opens officially on February 7, 2025. Here you’ll find RV sites with full hookups plus plenty of water spectacles, ball courts,  a dog park and organized activities. There’s a restaurant, camp store and a jumping pillow. In February, special sports events will be organized to coincide with the Super Bowl weekend. Reserve ASAP to get earlybird specials.  www.wattsbarlakejellystonepark.com/attractions-amenities/deals/

 

Bigger than ever for 2025!

* Save the date! Next year’s three-day Night in the Country concert with camping is scheduled for July 24-26, 2025 in Yerington, Nevada. The lineup will be even larger next year than in '24, so follow the story as it shapes up. Camping on various areas in  the farmland will be open July 22-31,  and requires a concert pass as well as camping reservations. 

Live music plays nonstop from the Full Moon Saloon to The Parlor, Be here for food, drinks, good times and good vibes, Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Mason Valley, Go to https://nightinthecountrynv.org/ phone 1-775-463-5114; email nevada@nightinthecountry.org/ 

 

 

 * Join a park naturalist on a  1.5 mile, 1 1/2-hour round-trip hike to the Amicacola Falls waterfall.  It's on the  Appalachian Approach trail in Amicalola State Park, Dawsonville, Georgia.  Along the way you will learn local human history and natural history, discover flora and fauna, find photo ops galore.  Register for the hikes, to be held December 6 through 31  at (706) 344-1515. The cost is. $12 plus $5 parking. The park has “pull thru” or “back in” sitex with power, water, picnic table, grill and fire ring. Note that the road to  the campground is steep, best for mderately size RV’s with good pulling power. The park also tent sites, glamping and has a lodge with restaurant. Camping reservations (www.) gastateparks.reserveamerica.com/

 

 

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Email janetgroene@yahoo.com if you want a poke when late-breaking campground news posts here. Reservations go quickly.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RV Parking Woes + RV Campground News

Can you find parking at the mall?

 

 

 Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. This blog has had moret than 250,ooo views. To ask about rates to place your ad for one year, one low rate, on all six Groene sites, email janetgroene@yahoo.com

 

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S BREAKING NEWS OF NEW RV PARKS, EXPANSIONS, CLOSINGS, OPENINGS

Park and Make Out

      Winter RV travel means wonderful  trips to the sunbelt, ski slopes, holidays with family, shopping trips to the mall. That also means that  parking is tight for cars and sometimes impossible for an RV. 

 

The 4th Edition of the Groenes’ book Living Aboard Your RV, A Guide to the Full-Time Life on Wheels, is available from Amazon at   https://amzn.to/3knbvll/

The book starts with making the decision in the first place, then leads you through choosing and outfitting the RV as a home, making money on the go,  home schooling, finding affordable campsites and more.  It ends with advice on easing out of full-timing, when and if that day comes.

     

With help from Shawn Conrad, executive director of the International Parking Institute (a group of parking professionals) here are insider tips.

                                     
    * Allow extra time for parking. When we feel rushed, stress levels rise and we become more accident prone. 

 

    * Research ahead of time. The destination’s website may offer parking tips,. There may even be a smart phone app that tips you off to available spaces at a shopping center or event

    * Cruising around for a parking spot wastes fuel. Head for a spot farther from the entrance. Added bonus: extra exercise helps keep you fit.  

    *  Show goodwill toward fellow drivers. Don't block others looking for parking spaces. Make sure you take up only one spot and  your neighbors can open their vehicle doors. When you’re driving an RV you’re also an ambassador for all RV drivers. Do your best to stay out of the way of faster, more agile vehicles.

            * When at the wheel or walking to your car, don’t text, talk on the phone, check shopping lists, touch up your lip gloss or do anything that prevents you from being aware of what is happening around you, advises Conrad. 

 

  * Watch for children, using all the driving aids at your command including mirrors and rear-view camera.  Kids dart out quickly, run behind cars or stand below your line of vision.

    * Don't park illegally or in spots marked for disabled drivers. If your vehicle has a handicap placard and the handicapped person is not on board with you, be a good citizen and don’t take a spot from someone who truly needs it.

    * Be safe personally. Park in well-lit areas, close your windows (and RV curtains), and lock your doors including basement doors (except the propane storage door.) . Hide valuables and packages so they can’t be seen from outside. When returning to your car or RV, have your keys out and ready.

    * Jot down your parking location (or enter it in your GPS)  so you won't forget where you parked.

    * Know the exact height of your vehicle in feet and inches. If you’ve added anything on the rooftop, don’t forget that.  Think twice before entering an indoor parking garage. The controlling height for the entry plus all ramps and floors should be clearly posted.

    Janet adds: Many campground reservations are now site-specific, allowing you to see the site online and tailor the parking to your own RV.  If the website doesn’t provide this information, call the campground ahead so you know what you’ll face when approaching the site and parking. Is it back-in or pull-thru? Size limit? Where on the site are hook-ups and the paved pad located?  Is there room for your slides? One side or both? 

 

Special cautions: (1) Don’t block extra-wide spaces that are provided for handicapped drivers to unload and deploy ramps and wheelchairs. (2) Toddlers often don’t show up on rear-facing radar. Use all precautions when backing.

 

   

 Where is your next road trip? Georgia waterfalls? A songwriter concert in Tennessee? Full moon hikes?  Get ideas at https://janetgroene.blogsot.com

                          CAMPGROUNDS; LATEST 

                    GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS 11/8/24

 These late-breaking news items are from our local sources and may be incomplete or premature. Check them out for yourself as the story develops. 

 

 * Meet Mr. And Mrs. Santa Claus, the Grinch and other Christmas characters while driving through  awesome displays of lights at Atlanta State Park, Atlanta, Texas, December 13-14. The event is free with your donation of canned goods. The evening program takes place 5:30-9 p.m. For event details contact  (903) 578-0160 or email   lane.neely@tpwd.texas.gov/  The campground has full or partial hook-ups. Get reservations at  ReserveAmerica.com/
                
* Catalina State Park, Tucson, Arizona has 120 campsites with water, electric, picnic table and grill. There’s also equestrian camping. The park has a year-round schedule of ranger-guided programs. One of the most popular is the Nature Program, offered 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from  October 19-April 26, 2025. Each session is different depending on the season and wildlife sightings. Call the park at (520) 628-5798.   Make camping reservations at 1-877-MY PARKS (697-2757). The park has a visitor center and general store.

  

     * Sign up for the Guided Bison Saunter on December 7 at Prairie State Park, Maidenmines, Missouri.  With a guide you’ll hike the winter prairie to observe the bison herd. The park has a small, year-round, first-come  campground with a vault toilet and potable water. For information and reservations for the event call (417) 843-6711 .

* The new Century Casino & Hotel in Caruthersville, Missouri has all the bells amd whistles of a glitzy casino complex PLUS an RV park. Formerly the Lady Luck Casino, the all-new complex has 599 slot machines, a hotel, nine live tables, 74 hotel rooms, a restaurant and a bar. Rates at the year-round campground are reported to be $60 nightly. (573) 333-6000.

    * Thanks to a rezoning approval,  a new RV park is a step closer to reality on the shores of Lesser Slave Lake in Faust, Alberta. There is some local opposition, so stay tuned.

* Valley of Fire State Park, Overton, Nevada,  will be closed for maintenance and construction from December 2–15, 2024. During this time, all entrances to the park will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians. (702) 397-2088
                            
* Big improvements are coming NEXT YEAR to campgrounds in some Virginia state parks, so check for changes before making reservations. While the parks will remain open, some campgrounds and facilities will be closed throughout 2025. The schedule is a checkerboard of places, dates, openings and closings, too long to list here.

    * In Dekorra, Wisconsin, Lake  Wisconsin Campground now has the go-ahead to add 12 new campsites to the 160-site property. A completion date hasn’t been announced.

* It’s now open! The Farm RV Resort in London, Kentucky is the state’s newest RV showplace, a resort with pickleball courts, pull-thru sites, 151 RV sites with full hookups, paved roads, private showers, golf cart rentals, free Wi-Fi and more. The resort has plenty of planned events and things to do, and it’s surrounded by places to fish, boat, hike and explore. Don’t miss London’s children’s museum.  (606) 588-3276

    * Acorn Oaks RV Park in Francesville, Indiana is 80 years old, constantly on the move to make modern improvements. The 15-acre, 105-site park is 40 miles north of Lafayette. It has Wi-Fi, a camp store, a new wine and beer lounge and, for the young set, a playground, wagon rides, arcade and snack shack. New improvements include a laundry, upgraded bathhouse and a dog park. The pond was dredged and a beach added.   Future plans are to bring in golf cart rentals and add a gym.  Nightly and seasonal rates are available. Dumping is free to registered campers, $10 for drop-ins.  (219) 335-2850.

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RV Pets + WHERE ARE ALL THE RV SITES?

 Copyright Janet Groene 2024. To ask about rates to reprint some or all of this content, or to place an ad, email janetgroene@yahoo.com

 SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S NEWS

 OF NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS

 

 What’s New, What Works...
A Pet Lover’s Guide to RV-ing

 

     Just say the word “Camper” and my Gypsy would hop on board for fear she’d be left behind.

     As a dog lover, I’m sold on having pets on board but it’s a personal decision. Pets aren’t right for every woman. RV travel isn’t right for every pet. Pets can get car sick, can wander off at the worst possible time and can get into trouble with all sorts of strange plants and animals along the way.  Small pets have been captured by alligators in the South, attacked by wild animals in the desert, disappeared in canals and swept away by large birds in Alaska.

    If RV-ing with a pet is on your to-do list, here are some random tips. 

 

    * See local vets to make sure your pet is armed against both everyday diseases (e.g. rabies) and REGIONAL hazards.  Ask about a vaccine for poisonous snakes and preventives for local ticks. Heartworm pills are a must in many areas. Each vet can make recommendations based on local conditions.

    * When traveling between the U.S. and Canada you’ll need proof of shots. Also be aware that many foods are prohibited from passing from one country to another. They include some meats in pet foods. If your pet eats a food that isn’t available in the other country and cannot be taken across the border, have the vet adjust the pet’s diet well in advance of the travel. Go to  http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml
to see rules about foods that cannot be brought into the U.S. 

 

    * In a panic stop any unprotected pet becomes a missile. Even a small kitten or bird can whack you in the back of the head hard enough to do substantial damage to you while probably killing the pet.  For their own safety, keep pets crated or tethered underway. Many types of clever new pet safety devices are available online and at pet stores. 

    * Unless in an off-leash park, pets must usually be kept on a six-foot leash. Break the rules and you can be kicked out of the campground without a refund.  Portable pet “playpens” and “runs” are found in pet supply stores.  Some campgrounds now have premium RV sites with a private fenced area.

    * In state and national parks, you could be fined if you or your pet harass wildlife.  

 

    * Guard your pet against other pets in the campground. Campsites are small and some dogs are very territorial. As you and your pet pass by, they could break through a screen door,  leap out of a playpen or window or otherwise come after you or your pet.

    * Most pet owners are good about cleaning up dog poop, but it’s also important to keep your pet from piddling on other campers’ tires, tent ropes and so on. It’s also offensive to bathe  pets in campground showers.

    * Humans can wipe their feet or slip off their shoes. Pets can’t. I carry extra  matting to provide an extra large area for sand and mud to fall out of Gypsy’s paws before she hops aboard. I also keep a good supply of towels for drying her after we walk in the rain.

 
    What are your tips on travel with pets? E-mail janetgroene@yahoo.com and I’ll share them here. Let me know if we may use your name.

You could be fined or jailed for leaving  pet in a hot vehicle

 

 

 

  

The 4th Edition of the Groenes’ book Living Aboard Your RV, A Guide to the Full-Time Life on Wheels,  is available from Amazon at   https://amzn.to/3knbvll/

The book starts with making the decision to go full-timing. Then it leads you through choosing and outfitting the RV as a home, making money on the go,  home schooling if you have kids on board, finding affordable campsites and more.  It ends with advice on easing out of full-timing, when and if that day comes.  

         CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

This LATE-BREAKING news is gathered from local sources and may be incomplete or premature. It gives you an earlybird view of new and future campgrounds. Follow- up is up to you. 

TRENDING....
    At this time of year.....(*) Check ahead for full and partial campground closings at this time of year. Some seasonal campgrounds will open all year due to the housing shortage.  HOWEVER (*) “Open all year” may not mean fully serviced.  In freezing climates, water may be turned off entirely or to individual campsites. (*)  Know what payments are required at each campground. Some campgrounds are cash only. At others, only electronic payments are accepted.  Some are mixed, such as outside vendors or food trucks that take only cash.

    * New funding will make a big difference for RV travelers to Morgantown, West Virginia. In Phase Two  of an ongoing project, Mylan Park’s KOA Resort & Campground will get will get 169 campsites, four log cabins, new pacing, a clubhouse and bathhouses. The 60-acre city park has athletic fields, indoor spaces for sports such as volleyball and basketball, events and a pool for aquatic recreation. (304) 973-9733, (www.) mylanpark.org

* A long-time favorite family-owned campground in Brunswick, Maine is the latest acquisition by Modern America Campgrounds, one of the largest campground owners in the Northeast. Changes at Thomas Point Beach  will include the addition of 30 RV pads. Now owners of 20 campgrounds, Modern America aims for a portfolio of 33.

    * In a $20.5 million deal,  Melrose Trailer Park and Olive Avenue RV Resort in Vista, California has been purchased by a large investment firm. After being in the same family for several generations, this is the property’s first change of owners.

* Starting this month,  Mohican State Park Lodge & Conference Center, Perrysville, Ohio, will hold an art exhibition of 32 works by 29 Ohio artists. Titled “Folk and Art” the exhibition is here until January 3. See details at the Ohio Arts Council website, (www.) Oac.ohio.gov/  Mohican State Park State Park, Loudenville, Ohio has 100 campsites, half of them with full hookups. There’s also a playground, showers and seasonal facilities including a swimming pool, gem mining and a nature center. For camping reservations call  (866) 644-6727.

    *  The new Nature Center is worth a special trip to Dillon State Park, Nashport, Ohio, near Newark. Check out the modern, dog-friendly campground with its full hookups, the swimming beach, marina, hiking trails and the many ranger-led special programs. The famous  Camp Store, dating from the 1960's, is open again after a major  renovation. The park’s phone is (740) 452-1083. For reservations go to https://reserveohio.com/

          * The village-owned James N. McNally Public Campground in Grantsburg, Wisconsin will  double in size. It’s  adding 30 campsites to the present 38. (Most are rented by the season, so jump in early.)  Also added will be new lighting, a shower building and paving. A completion date hasn’t been projected but it’s possible that some  new sites will not have hookups at first.  Call for updates, (715) 463-2405, option 1.  

    * Guadaloupe National Park in Texas, which has three developed, year-round campgrounds,  is going 100% cashless starting November 25. Be prepared to pay with an electronic card.

* Thanks to a grant, the city-owned Oregon Trail Glamping & RV Park in Westmoreland, Kansas is adding rental cabins and more improvements. The park has 16 RV sites with full hookups, Wi-Fi and a dog park. There is no camp host. Restrooms/showers are accessed by code.  (785) 288-9728

    * Word from Howell Township, Michigan is that a former gravel mine will soon have a campground. The 98 acres, now  being developed as a brewing company, has room to add  the proposed Quarry RV Resort with two swimming pools, bathhouses, cabins, glampsites and 252 RV pads.  Keep your fingers crossed.

* Also in the Wolverine State,  a new KOA is being built as the Monroe County/Toledo North KOA in Oetersburg, Michigan. Plans for Phase One  call for two swimming pools, a splash pad, bathhouses and other amenities. A completion date hasn’t been announced but reservations for 2025 are now open at 1-734-856-4972
.
Be the first kid on the block to learn of new and proposed RV resorts, parks and campgrounds. Email janetgroene@yahoo.com, put RV Yes in the topic line, and get a poke when new posts go up here.

 

PREPARE YOUR RV FOR THE NEXT HURRICANE, SUPPLY SHORTAGE, POWER OUTAGE....



    Janet Groene’s Survival Food Handbook is a guide to provisioning your RV pantry for emergencies by using familiar, affordable supermarket foods.   https://amzn.to/3mIfryC

 

 
 

Can You Afford RV Life? + Campground Good/Bad News

Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. 

  SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S LATE BREAKING 

            CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

 RV Life Ahead? First Get a Money Makeover


Some years ago I interviewed a financial expert named Steve Williams on how to do a money makeover. His advice makes good sense still today, especially for anyone who is going headlong into the RV life full-time.


    Could a financial overhaul get you out on the RV road earlier? If you’re already full-timing, could you earn more, or live better for less?  
    Financial guru Steve Williams suggested a five-step program for regaining your fiscal equilibrium. 

 

 
     1. Make an honest assessment of your current finances. Know how much you’re spending each month. Don’t forget to include medications, school lunches, charity, dry cleaning, Williams says. Janet adds: expenses will change in full-timing but list these current costs anyway.  

     2. Decide where you want to be financially.  Setting goals will help you focus. Decide what expenses you can realistically cut (daily lattes, takeout dinners, etc)  This helps  create your action plan, a  road map for reaching your goal. Janet adds: try to have a time line in mind such as when you will start retirement proceedings at your workplace, or buy the RV, or give up your present home and so on.

 

    3.. Pay yourself first, Williams advises.  If you have direct deposit, set aside a certain percentage from each check to go directly to a savings account. If you don’t have the money in your hands first, you won’t miss it so much, he claims. Be diligent about allowing your savings to grow.

     4. Explore re-financing options If you’re mortgage poor (either in a house or motorcoach), re-financing could help ease your financial pain. Check out government programs and any other re-fi programs that are available. Make sure you truly understand the terms of ANY loan you sign. 

 

     5. Money management is the most critical factor in building wealth, so learn to manage the money you have now regardless of the amount.

    Williams told me, “Carve out  time to sit down, grab all of your bills and outline your road map. Simply taking that first step will instill a sense of relief. Once you pass up those first few temptations that would normally have you whipping out your credit cards, you’ll feel good about yourself and you’ll feel your resolve growing even stronger. You’ll reach a point where it feels good to stop spending senselessly.”
    Janet adds: No endorsement is implied. Thank you, Steve, for these opinions. 

 

Veterans Day activities fill a four-day weekend in Palm Springs, California and the highlight is a spectacular parade at 3 p.m on November 11. Honor veterans at this stirring parade. Walk to downtown Palm Springs from your RV site at the Happy Traveler RV Park. The park, which is adults only in the winter season,  has a swimming pool, spa and many planned activities and events.  (760) 325-8518; email happytrav@hotmail.com/

 

The 4th Edition of the Groenes’ book Living Aboard Your RV, A Guide to the Full-Time Life on Wheels,  is available from Amazon at   https://amzn.to/3knbvll/

The book starts with making the decision in the first place, then leads you through choosing and outfitting the RV, making money on the go,  home schooling if you have kids on board, finding affordable campsites and more.  It ends with advice on easing out of full-timing, when and if that day comes.  

 

Janet Groene’s RV-ready recipes are posted weekly at Camp And RV Cook. 

        CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
 

 This is late breaking news from our local sources, presented for you to follow up as the stories develop. No endorsement of any park or campground is implied.   

* Here's a new RV park in the heart of Kentucky’s tourism region. The new E-Town RV Park & Storage in Elizabethtown, Kentucky  has full or partial hookups, a dog park, a dump station, laundry, asphalt RV pads plus a side pad for the car and Wi-Fi.  A community building is coming soon. Ask about short-and long-term rates.(270) 734-4700, (www.) ETownRVPark.com/   

* Just opened in Seller, South Carolina is the Midpoint I-95  RV Park with 63 RV sites for now. More will be added. Amenities include a stocked fish pond, fishing pier, nature trail, fire rings, a Gaga Ball pit and playground for the kids, horseshoes and a laundry. Go to www.midpointi95rvpark.com/

    * Benefiting local charities, the Harvest Nights Music Festival is scheduled for November 23-24 at the John Jimmie Rodeo Grounds in Immokolee, Florida. Camping packages are available for RV’s and tickets. Headliners are Def Leopard, Brad Paisley and Train plus a galaxy of country, rock and pop performers. See www.TheCharityPros.org/

    * The National Park Service has announced that starting in 2026, vehicles  longer than 35 feet nine inches, wider than seven feet 10 inches, or taller than 11 feet four inches (which includes most motorhomes but may exclude some pop-up campers) are not permitted to drive  the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway into the East Entrance of Zion National Park.

* Good news! The 296-acre Van Buren State Park in Van Buren, Ohio now has 51 newly upgraded campgrounds with modern, year-round RV sites with full hookups, a new playground and dump station and a new basketball court.  The park is known for its serene and scenic haiku trails, peaceful woodlands, horseback riding, fishing, and disc golf. Phone (419) 832-7662. Camping reservations, (www.) ReserveOhio.com

    * More good news!  A developer plans to turn The Lake Ponemah Mobile Home Park park in Fenton Township, Michigan  into a campground retreat. The new RV park will be named The Ponemah Lakeside Resort. Plans are not yet approved, so stay tuned.

    * The Gretna KOA Holiday in River Ridge,  Louisiana will expand by 19 areas. This will bring more and larger RV sites as well as additional  amenities that go with the KOA Holiday lifestyle. Said to be the closest campground to the French Quarter, the pet-friendly  park offers cable with 20+ channels, concrete pads, free Wi-Fi  and full hookups including 20/30/50 amp power. Ask about military discounts and Care Camps specials offering a second night free. Big rig, small rig and handicap accessible sites are available. Their website advises using their directions, not GPS.  (800) 562-5110

* The gated,  234-site Waterside Campground & RV Park in Lewistown, Pennsylvania has new owners.  Come enjoy waterside views of the Juniata River and old Pennsylvania Canal. The park has full hookups, RV storage, a camp store, heated pool and seasonal activities such as boat rides and kayak rentals. (717) 248-3974.

    * Are you planning to winter in Arizona sunshine? Glendale, Arizona is about to get a new RV park to serve tourists who come to this attractions-rich city NNW of Phoenix. With a working title of Glendale Recreational Vehicle Resort, the park will offer concrete RV pads, full hookups, a convenience store, Wi-Fi,, laundry, fitness center and a clubhouse with big-screen TV. Maximum stays will be 30 days. No opening date for the 17-acre resort has been announced and it doesn't appear to have a website yet. Check with the tourism bureau at (www.) VisitGlendale.com/

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