SoloWomanRV

Friday, September 11, 2026

Out With RV Water Spots * RV Park News

SCROLLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S HOT-OFF-THE-PRESS NEWS OF PLACES TO STAY IN AN RV

Out, Out, Damned Spot!

You know the scene. Rain or a sprinkler system gave your RV a bath and now it’s covered with ugly, stubborn water spots.

It happens more often these days because sprinkler systems in most campgrounds, cities, developments and golf courses use recycled water that leaves droplets that are ugly and often corrosive. The water was treated and sanitized, of course, but it leaves residues that can be difficult to dislodge.

Mineral spots come from outside sources too. No matter how soft the water, neglected water spots can acquire air particles from dust storms, forest fires or dust from construction sites. Even if you wash in soft water, quick drying is important.

Here, are tips for dealing with water spots.

* Know your RV’s skin. Is it gelcoat, painted steel, aluminum? Are windows and hatches plastic or glass? What kinds of wax protectants are in place now or should be? What kinds of cleaners are best to apply new wax or clean surfaces without removing the present wax?

* Sprinkler heads can get out of adjustment. If you find that your RV site gets overspray from the automatic sprinkler system, the campground manager should be able to readjust the spray pattern.

* If you wash your RV with a hose, buy an in-line filter. If you use a commercial car/truck wash it’s likely their water is already filtered but a quick dry is still important. .

* Don’t use just any detergent. Shop for RV products, which are formulated to be compatible with the RV surfaces and the waxes you use. A telescoping brush helps you reach high spots on the RV.

* Rinse the mop or cleaning rags often in plenty of clean water. Don’t allow grit to build up in the mop, rags, chamois or brush.

* Don’t wash the RV in the sun. Wash small areas at a time. Rinse generously to remove all soap residue and any abrasive dust or grit. Dry quickly with a high quality squeegee and/or chamois or a supersize PVA towel. Invest in a good squeegee for years of outdoor use. Mine, purchased from an RV store, is 20 years old.

* Wax the RV regularly to keep deposits and bugs from getting a grip.

* Thanks for these tips to Star Brite, maker of RV Wash ‘n Wax. It’s a concentrate, more compact to carry, and it’s said to wash thoroughly without removing wax.

COOKING ABOARD YOUR RV

For yourself or a gift, Janet Groene's timeless RV cookbook is packed with shortcuts, tips and 270 easy, delicious recipes to cook inside the camper or outside on the campfire, camp stove or grate. Amazon will wrap and ship it for you.

https://amzn.to/3nNndWY

CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS;

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

NEW RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS

A luxury RV and condo resort is coming to Lake Barkley at Kuttawa, Kentucky The time is now for those are seeking to buy in, but lots will also be available for overnight rentals until they are sold. Lakeview Pointe will be a community of RV lots and single family condos, all set just above the shoreline. It’s a story in the making. Phone: (812) 499-9888

Breaking news is the ground breaking in Palmetto, Florida, where a new RV park is going to have a nature theme. Stay on this news for early reservations to the 53-acre Waypoint RV Preserve. The plans call for 170 RV sites, a nature preserve and resort style features such as pickleball, a clubhouse and swimming pools. The existing Waypoint Bar & Grill will remain on the property. The opening date is said to be December 2027. See WaypoointRVReserve.com/

Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area near Kearney, Nebraska is getting a new, $1.1 million, 20-site campground by next spring. Previously non-electric, the new site is expected to have electric service. During construction the nature center, shooting sports center, hiking trails and west campground will stay open. Some areas will be closed to vehicles. (308) 436-3777

CHANGES, EXPANSIONS, UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS

The waterfront campground in Cambellton, New Brunwick is adding seasonal lots, bringing the total to 37. Another 50 sites are reserved for tourists. 1 844-787-3701

SCUTTLEBUTT

There is still hope in Mount Hope, West Virginia that a new campground will come to town, although the old site seems to be out of the running. A new site is being sought.

CLOSURES

In Sandstone, Minnesota, Banning State Park’s campground will reopen in 2028 after a major up-grade. At present the 34-site campground on the Kettle River has no showers nor flush toilets. Get current status of reservations availabillity at https://reservemn.usedirect.com/

EVENTS

It’s time for the Fall Camp and Ride at the Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, Live Oak, Florida. Bring your horse and set up camp with or without electric and water for a weekend of camping, trail riding, seminars, BBQ, campfires and camaraderie. Dates are October 23-25. For information, requirements and reservations contact jthomas@youthranches.org/

Are you an accomplished artist? Apply now for an Artist-in-Residence cabin or campsite in one of the South Carolina state parks. The deadline to apply for a 2027 grant is September 30. See https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14434

Friday, September 4, 2026

RV Safe Water+ Just-in News of RV Parks

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S NEWS BRIEFS ABOUT NEW, CHANGING AND FUTURE RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS

Q&A> RV Water Filters

When do you need them? You never know when you'll fill up with water that looks bad, tastes bad or is hard as a kidney stone. That’s why water filter(s) are so important in an RV. As we travel, each fill-up is from a different water supply. While most campground water is usually safe by community standards, it may not suit your personal standards for taste, clarity or mineral content. A load of hard water can leave you with a bad hair day, coffee that tastes like mud or a tummy upset for yourself or a pet.

Why does your RV need them? Crusty build-up from minerals can leave water spots and clog sensitive spots in delicate RV plumbing such as the water heater or showerhead. Start with a sediment filter to catch particulate matter such as sand, rust and silt before they can build up in finer filters down the line.

A filter cartridge on the hose is easy to add, remove, stow, change

How do they save space and money? Extra weight costs highway fuel money. Bottled water is heavy, bulky and a burden on landfills. Countertop and screw-on water filters are always in the way. Built-in filters, by contrast, save weight and space.

How Many Water Filters? To me the most important filter is the cartridge type filter under the kitchen sink. It has its own faucet and assures consistent taste. Use it only for cooking and drinking water. If you have a household type refrigerator, it may have a filter for the water dispenser and ice maker. Don’t forget to change it as needed.

What features do I look for, RV-wise? What is the cost in dollars and labor to change filter cartridges? Is it an established brand, likely to have replacement cartridges in stock for the future? Is maintenance a DIY job or is a plumber required?

Water treatment technology is constantly changing and so are the hazards in water supplies. Carefully compare competing brands, claims and total costs as they apply to your rig and your type of RV travel.

See dates and details for this year's Withlacoochee Bluegrass Festival in November. Come for one day or camp here all week. Also see tons more RV road trip ideas near and far, sooner and later, here and there. https://janetgroene.blogspot.com

CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

This is hard news from our local sources. It's not complete for travel planning. It's up to the reader to run with the news and follow the story as it develops.

CHANGES, UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS

For now it’s business as usual at Niagara Falls Campground & Conference Center, Appleton, New York while sllers seek new owners. Included in the $3.5 million price tag are RV and tent campsites, cabins, homes, a 60-bed dormitory, banquet and conference facilities, a swimming pool, sports courts and mini-golf, The resort is 28 acres with access to Lake America.

Also for sale after 50 years with the same owners is a lakefront campground in Naples, Maine. The 117-acre Colonial Mast Campground sits on Long Lake near Sebago Lake. The deal includes 110 RV sites, some of them open year 'round.

In the province of Alberta, the former Marie Lake campground is getting a new life after the Municipal District of Bonnyville (Alberta) council approved plans to re-establish the site with 150 campsites. The existing layout will be retained, with a new inventory reaching 150 sites. The campground will have walking trails, an office with camp store, playgrounds, pavilions, portable toilets and bearproof trash and recycling facilities. It will be open May through September, with exact dates to be announced.

Big Rig Friendly Resort, West Columbia, South Carolina, has grown even bigger and better. New are 11 premium concrete RV sites, Ripple Fiber internet throughout and a re-designed entrance. The resort has a large clubhouse, laundry, playground with gaga ball, swimming pool, pavilion, dog park and gym See. BigRigFriendly.com/ (803) 708-5122

In Kimbolton, Ohio, the Kimbolton/Rocky Fork Ranch is now a KOA Holiday resort. The resort offers horseback riding, fishing hiking trails, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a clubhouse and planned activities 740-498-4134

Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania now has a new look. Wi-Fi is upgraded, 50-amp service is in and there are more premium patio RV sites, gathering places and outdoor seating areas. The KOA has a swimming pool, playground, mini golf, gem mining, bicycle rentals, a pet playground and nature trail. Phone: (717) 642-5713

Know before you go. Ongoing construction at Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island, Texas is causing confusion, confusion and closures while RV-ers are eager for reservations at the 577-site park. Check with the resort, not the website, before you go. Online reservations are now open at Cameron County Parks & Recreation, (956) 761-3701.

EVENTS

The Suwannee Roots Revival Weekend at the Spirit of Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak, Florida is scheduled for October 8-11. In a strict, drug-free environment you'll hear family-friendly music from some of the South’s biggest names in hip hop, rap, African, electronic, R & B and more. Enjoy arts and crafts vendors, food galore, workshops, exhibits and the amenities of a full-service campground on the Suwannee River. All ticket prices include primitive camping. See suwanneerootsfestival.com/

This year’s iconic Withlacoochee River Bluegrass Festival is schedules for November 19-21 in Dunnellon, Florida. Come just for the weekend or arrive in an RV and camp here all week. Electric and water hookup sites are going fast. Dry sites are also available and generators are allowed. Hear nonstop music on two stages. Headliners include Red CaMel Colective, Dave Peterson and 1946, Redkindled Bits of Grass and many more bluegrass greats. Don’t miss Saturday’s Gospel Sing with Mike Robinson. Lots of food and crafts vendors will be on hand and the flowing Withlacoochee River provides photo ops. (352) 472-2703 or (570) 721 2760 | mandolindan2005@yahoo.com

BE PREPARED

Stuff happens when you're away from home too. Be prepared for delays, breakdown, sudden evacuation, can't find ice, fire ban, supply chain interruptions, civil disturbances. How much food will you need for a week in the woods for two adults and two kids? A month in a remote fish camp? A two-week power outage? See Survival Food Handbook for tips on buying, stowing, and making meals from ordinary supermarket supplies that need no fresh ingredients.

This book was written for campers, RV travelers and boaters who have limited storage space. It's not about having a year's supply of dried food in your cellar.

Friday, August 28, 2026

RV Dark Side? Fireflies! + Just-Iin RV park News Items

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S ROUNDUP Of RV PARK NEWS HOT OFF LOCAL PRESSES U.S. & CANADA

Summer is Winding Down but There' s Still Time for

RV TRAVEL FOR FIREFLY SEASON

After dark your campsite turns into a firefly fairyland

Remember those days in your childhood when families gathered to watch the firefly show on summer evenings? Those times can still be rekindled if you know where and when to find these incredible bugs wIth their flashing fannies.

Sad to say, fireflies aren’t as abundant as before, due to factors such as loss of habitat and use of pesticides. On the plus side, the 165 species of native fireflies are still seen and often celebrated with festivals, concerts, hikes and tours. On the science side, they are the subject of seminars, workshops and programs.

Here’s just a sample of ways to add firefly magic to your RV travels each year. Seasons vary depending on latitude and each place's temperatures and rainfall . Generally fireflies put on their best show May through August and, in some areas, well into September and October.

The most famous firefly events occur during the synchronized firefly seasons at Smoky Mountains and Congaree national parks. At these times, the little sparklers flash in sync as a way of attracting mates. However, these events have become so popular, attendance is by lottery. Sign-up begins weeks ahead so plan now for the show in 2027.

Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania is a long-time favorite for firefly fans. Blue Spring State Park in Florida is also named as a good location and, because of the warm climate, firefly season may start as early as March or April and last into fall months.

Here’s another way:

Do browser searches for Firefly + State Name or Firefly + Festival or Firefly + Campground. Try Firefly + State Park. Also search for Lightning Bug by state. A new website, SpaciousSkies.com names dark sky campgrounds, where astronomy is the focus but dark nights may also be best for viewing fireflies in season.

The Little Smokies Firefly Watching Workshop in Portsmouth, Ohio, usually scheduled in June in Tremper Mound Preserve, costs $300 per person including some meals and a personalized course. Wall Doxey State Park in Mississippi offers guided firefly tours for families during the last weekend of May. Madison, Georgia holds its Firefly Festival the last weekend in July. In Alabama, Huntsville Botanical Gardens has firefly tours in season for the price of garden admission.

Be patient, Be choosy.. Some firefly events are actually concerts, art shows or carnivals that have nothing to do with the actual insect. Some firefly events are in dark sky locations and require advance reservations. Some are free. Some change admission. Many are in parks or places with RV camping on site.

For more information: See Firefltatlas,org for a map of North America showing firefly sites. Filter by month and type of firefly. Also see an excellent guide to firefly sightings, places and events at https://theexploreist.com/usa/best-places-to-see-fireflies-in-the-united-states

CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

These news breaks are from our local sources and are not intended for travel planning. Note the news and follow up on your own to get an earlybird chance at reservations.

NEW RV PARKS, CAMPGROUNDS, FACILITIES

The Hillview Recreation Area, Hinton, Iowa expects to have its new equestrian campground open before the season ends in mid-October. Accommodations will be provided for horses and for campers including fire ring, picnic table and grill at each site. Space will be provided for RV and trailer parking. The 580-acre county recreation area also offers campgrounds, swimming, hunting, hiking, biking, cabins, picnic shelters and playgrounds. The spring opening date is May 1. (712) 947-4270

A new, 50-site RV park is planned for Salt Spring, British Columbia, but it sounds more like a project to provide affordable housing for locals than a destination for RV travelers. The plan calls for 40 permanent rentals and 10 short-term pads, The park will have a laundry, showers, recreation areas and a community building. Check out the developing story at rvalliance.ca/

The Tourism Information Centre is at (250)-537-5252 · Toll-free: 1-866-216-2936

CHANGES, UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS

Now open again after upgrades, the campground in By-Mac Park in Houston, British, Columbia has 24 RV sites with access to water and 30-amp electric. The campground also has a boat launch on the Morice River, a new wash house, upgraded day use facilities and, better parking. \ Some work continues so check ahead at District of Houston, (250) 845-2238, doh@houston.ca /

RV travelers will have to wait a little longer for the opening on the upgraded campground at Otsego Lake State Park, Gaylord, Michigan. A lightning strike delayed the opening of the 44 new, fully serviced RV sites. It’s hoped that the new campground will open by Labor Day. (989) 732-5485

After a century of serving vacationers, the 11-acre Little Boy Resort and Campground in Longville Minnesota is for sale. Owners are retiring. The resort has nine cabins, 18 campsites, 25 RV sites, and a tavern and a new lodge. (218) 851-5692

EVENTS

See the firefly feature above for information on connecting with firefly seasons. These events, many of them at campgrounds or in national and state parks with campgrounds, are heavily booked during firefly season, so the time to make reservations for 2027 is NOW.

October 31 is the date for this year’s Fall Festival at Vogel State Park, Blairsville, Georgia. Enjoy music, crafts, vendors, demonstrations, arts and lots of great Georgia food, all in the color and cool nights of autumn in Chattahoochee National Forest, with Lake Trahlyta in the background.

Storytellers will be at Possum Holler and there will be pumpkins, trick or treating, hayrides and a cake walk. The campground offers hookups, playground, dump station, boating, fishing, mini-golf, hiking and mountain biking trails and a visitor center. (706) 745-2628

Fall foliage meets red rocks at the Fall Festival in Slide Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona on October 3. Although the traditional apple picking isn’t offered in the park this year, it’s the historic site of a 43-acre orchard founded in another era. The festival offers interpretive programs, a bird walk and a geology walk with park rangers, a presentation on the role of bees and apple orchards and history talks about the old apple barn, the orchard and the area. For information go to https://azstateparks.com/slide-rock/events/fall-fest-at-slide-rock/ Phone: (928) 282-3034 The park is day use only. Campgrounds are minutes away in scenic red rock country.

CLOSURES

Be prepared for some closures of some camping facilities now through spring, 2029 at the Ridge Campground in Cook Forest State Park, Leeper, Pennsylvania. The park is getting a new shower house and other new, modern facilities. Closures will be random as needed, so check ahead. (814) 744-8407

Camp cooking is part of the fun. See tidy, practical, easy recipes for the campfire, camp stove or RV range at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com

Friday, August 21, 2026

Best RV Travel Gear? A Sarong! + RV Park News

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S ROUNDUP OF JUST-IN NEWS OF NEW AND PENDING RV PARKS

Yes You Can, Girlfriend! Go RV-ing and Rule the Roads

Say Hello to the Practical,

All-Purpose, Unisex Sarong

Most North Americans use the sarong (also known as a pareo, pireo or lava-lava) only as a swim suit cover up, but in Pacific nations it’s worn by both women and men as a skirt, dress, head scarf/shawl and even pantaloons. It makes for a fun afternoon at a girls’ get-together to see how many different outfits you can create from one.

For little cost and space you can have a large wardrobe of sarongs in your RV closet for everyday and dressy occasions.

Do a Google search for “sarongs” and you’ll find a huge choice of readymade pareos ranging from imported Balinese batiks to African prints and ruffled silks. It’s easy to make your own, even if you’re not a seamstress. A pareo is simply a rectangle of cloth without slits, straps or buttons. If you want other features, let your imagination go the limit.

Buy two yards of 36-, 45- or 48-inch-wide fabric. The width of the fabric determines the length of the sarong. If you're XL, you may need up to 2.5 yards. Hem the raw edges. If you don’t know how to sew, use iron-on fusing or hemming tape.

Choose a cotton or blend in a tropical weight that's supple for easy tying and draping. If the fabric is too heavy it gets too thick in spots where it’s folded or tied. If it’s too thin, undergarments (or body parts) will show through. See-through sarongs make good cover-ups and scarves, but now we’re talking about sarongs as garments that require little or no other clothes. Underwear optional.

See instructions for half a dozen or more ways to tie a pareo online at sites such as

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-tie-a-sarong. With practice you can tie it so it stays put all day without pins. (Full disclosure. I’m good, but not that good, so I have safety pins in several sizes.) I carry at least two sarongs, usually more, lots more. I use them as garments, picnic table covers, beach blankets and a light cover for a cat nap. They wash and dry as easily as handkerchiefs.

COOKING ABOARD YOUR RV

https://amzn.to/3nNndWY

CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS;

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS

These reports from our local sources are time-sensitive news and are not intended for travel planning. It's up to you to follow up as the story develops. Destinations are in boldface; dates are in red.

NEW & FUTURE RV PARKS and CAMPGROUNDS

The new, full-service RV park at the Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg, Michigan (near Traverse City) is now open for overnight or extended stays. The park has a 24-hour clubhouse, laundry, restrooms, showers, a fenced dog park and shuttle service to the Casino with its restaurants and games. Reservations are at

https://book.rguest.com/onecart/unit/offers/759/Turtle-Creek

Nearing completion at the Rock & Brews Casino in Braman, Oklahoma is a 21-site, full service RV park. It should be ready by October. The casino is also adding a major venue for shows. The new R&B Live Entertainment Center is expected to open in August, 2027.

A zoning change has been approved for a new, 99-acre RV park in Wakefield, Louisiana. The park will proceed in three phases, opening with 16 concrete RV pads around a 55-acre fishing lake. The name and details of the new park near St. Francisville have not yet been announced.

In Ellsworth, Maine a 28-site RV park is getting closer to creation. The Anchor Inn will have full hookups. See DisoverEllsworth.org/

EVENTS

This year’s Warren, Wisconsin Cranberry Festival will be held September 26-27. The Lions Club provides dry camping at the festival grounds. Ttwo full-service RV parks, Jellystone and McMullen, offer shuttle service to the festival. Make reservations ASAP. For the 53rd year tlocal folks will put on a party that includes 100 food booths, 100 farmers market stalls, 300 flea markets, 100 or more arts and crafts vendors, a parade, the election of a queen, walking tours of the cranberry marsh, a cranberry pancake breakfast and music everywhere. See Cranfest.com/

CHANGES, UPGRADES, NEW OWNERS, EXPANSIONS

Now known as the Keeshkeemaquah Campground & RV Park, the former Shady Oaks RV Campground between Sidney and Austin, Manitoba, continues as a family friendly getaway under the new name. Enjoy a prairie landscape, full hookups, a swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, a pavilion, high speed internet, washrooms and showers, an open area for sports and trails for walking the meadows and oak forests. At an altitude of’ 1, 249 feet the park claims to have fewer mosquitoes. Go to keeshcampground.ca/

The 30-site Oak Grove Campground in in Lincoln National Forest, El Paso, Texas is now open again following extensive repair and clean-up after the devastating 2024 South Fork Fire. The campground has vault toilets, fireplaces, tables and trash pickup. No hookups, no reservations. Sites are available only to small RV rigs, 18 feet or less. See (www.) fs.usda.gov/r03/lincoln/recreation/oak-grove-campground/

Also reopened is the RV campground in Madera, California at the district fairgrounds. Fifteen sites have full hookups; the rest have water and electric. The rate is $65 nightly and there is a three-day limit. Reserve now for the fair in September. https://www.camplife.com/7060631/reservations/

Good news from in the Beaver State. The Philomath, Oregon’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve major additions to the city's Tall Timber RV Park. Guests will soon find new sports courts, a community gathering area, a propane fueling station and many other new amenities to the 47-acre park overlooking Newton Creek. For details try City Parks at (541) 929-6148 ext. 7

CLOSURES

Larrabee State Park, Bellingham, Washington will close its campgrounds and day use areas on September 15 until next May, 2027. During a massive underground project, old water systems will be replaced. Park areas that do not provide water, such as trails and boat launches, will remain open. Reserve early for RV sites with modern water service next year. (360) 676-2093

Buck Hall Recreation Area in Francis Marion National Forest, McClellanville, South Carolina is closed until next spring. Thanks to an $8 million project, aging infrastructure from the 1960's and ‘70s is being replaced with updated electric, water and restrooms/shower houses. The area, which is on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, was settled as a plantation in the 1700's. See recreation.gov or SM.FS.fmrd@usda.gov

WHAT IS FULL-TIME RV TRAVEL REALLY LIKE?

We tell the whole story, from making the hard decision to sell everything and go on the road, to a happy ending when we became part-timers again.

We traveled full-time for 10 great years.

Do you dream of living and traveling in a complete home on wheels? Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition by Janet Groene & Gordon Groene is a total guide to the full-time life on wheels. Should you sell the house or rent it out? Downsize possessions or put them in storage? Too young to retire? See our chapter on ways to make a living anywhere. Kids on board? We cover home schooling and also an exit strategy if and when it's time to settle down. Order at any book store or let Amazon gift wrap and ship it for you. https://amzn.to/29XFEkq

Camping cuisine is part of the fun, the art, the sport of RV travel. Save money. Make friends around the grill or campfire. Eat healthier. See weekly tips and recipes at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com