Copyright Janet Groene 2025. This site has had more than 265,000 views.
GIFT IDEAS FOR THE RV-ER IN YOUR LIFE
* Give gifts that say “I get you."
* Order personalized, imprinted note cards, paper napkins or “business” cards with an RV theme. Many RV travelers have “stay in touch” cards to give to people they meet along the way and hope to meet again.
Many state parks and private campgrounds offer gift certificates in almost any amount. They may be good for campsites, the camp store and even online purchases. Read the fine print for rules such as expiration dates, activation fees if any, and blackout dates.
* For a few dollars, give a supply of disposable paper party goods from the dollar store. Buy them in the color scheme of the recipient’s RV or favorite sports team or the next holiday. Eco-friendly disposables can be burned in the campfire.
* Did they name their RV? How about polo shirts or baseball caps embroidered with the name of the recipient’s rig?
* Almost anyone can use a new belt. Make it RV-specific with a big, shiny camping-theme belt buckle from Etsy.
* Insulated glasses or mugs keep drinks hot or cold longer in the outdoors.
* For about $1 each, pick up a bouquet of three, six or a dozen solar stake lights that are easily placed around each campsite, then easily removed.
* Do you have a great photo of the person with their rig? Order an 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 and puffy, down-filled comforts and clothing. Bonus points if it’s personalized with the name of the rig or the purpose such as “Ben’s Bedding” or “Betsy’s Parkas”.
*. Any camp cook will welcome a bright new pair of kitchen gloves.. Bonus points if you add a barbecue apron. Double points if the apron is personalized. Colorful, inexpensive garden gloves are ideal for handling frozen foods. Fireplace gloves are a must for the campfire.
* The campfire is the heart of the campsite. Give a cluster of fatwood fire starters, artificial logs, a tabletop fire, 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 you made with coffee grounds or dryer lint when you were in Scouts.)
* Give the camp chef a basket filled with three or more bottled hot sauces from all over the world. Not everyone likes spicy food. The basket can be passed at the table and added to taste. The colorful labels are conversation starters.
* Find Compact, simple games such as a bright new pack of fancy playing cards, a bag of marbles or jacks, dominoes, ring toss, age-appropriate crosswords. Suduko, Word Search, adult coloring books. Put the phones away and play old-fashioned games with loved ones.
Summing up: Keep it compact, practical, useful and perhaps disposable or edible.
Where is your next RV road trip? See postings by Janet Groene of places and events near and far, sooner and later, free or fee, active or lazy. https://janetgroene.blogspot.com
CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
Come back each week to see news leads we harvest from our local sources in tourism real estate. Get the news before it hits the RV websites. Then pounce on reservations before they are gone. The news may be incomplete or premature and is presented here so you can check it out on your own.
NEW AND FUTURE RV PARKS CAMPGROUNDS’
New in Cullman, Alabama is JG’s Campen Life RV Campground wirh 57 sites, a golf cart trail, gated dog park, virtual golf, pickleball, two fish ponds, a camp store, playground, hiking trail, private bathhouses and a nearby creek for kayaking. (256) 930-3060, jgscampenlife.com/
The multi-million-dollar expansion to Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri is so massive, it’s impossible to tell all here. Most importantly, its campground will be a lollapalooza and the total resort will be one of the Heartland’s largest resorts and entertainment centers. Here’s just a partial schedule of special events for next year. Also be added w ill be a nightly parade twice as large as the current parades.
Spring Exposition: April 2 – May 4
Bluegrass & BBQ: May 7 – 25
Summer Celebration: June 6 – August 2
Southern Gospel Picnic: August 27 – September 7
Harvest Festival: September 11 – October 31
An Old Time Christmas: November 7, 2026 – January 2, 2027
New for 2026 in Stateline, Nevada, Round Hill Pines Resort at Lake Tahoe has more than 50 sites, a secluded sand beach, a lakeview restaurant with beach bar, a marina with watercraft rentals and yacht cruises, bathrooms, volleyball courts, picnic areas and patios for special events and photo ops. See RoundHillResort.com/
The 115-site Whistle Stop RV Resort in Abilene,, Texas, has new owners. The resort covers up to 50-plus acres and has a swimming pool, laundry, playground, dog park, volleyball pit and pickleball . Will there me changes under new owners? Check it out.
Piney Grove Campgrounds on Bay Springs Lake in New Site, Mississippi, along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway is due to reopen in March next year. Check it out.
Phone: (662) 728-1134
SCUTTLEBUTT
Arkansas is about to have a new state park with the acquisition of Blanchard Springs Caverns. We don't know yet about facilities or camping but this massive cave system has always been will be worth a special trip.
North Dakota’s Pembina Gorge is set to open Phase One of its new state park and 55-site modern campground next year. Adventures will include fossil hunting, hiking, kayaking and white whitewater rafting. Get updates at www.parkrec.nd.gov or call (701) 549-2444.
CLOSINGS
After next year, the ever-popular Fisherman’s Landing Campground, in Muskegon, Michigan will be just a footnote in local history books. The waterfront will be redeveloped. Present plans do not include a campground in the new project.
Bay View Campground, a Cape Code favorite in Bourne, Massachusetts, is said to be closing permanently after the 2026 season. (508) 759-7610.
The city of Muncie, Indiana will not lease campsites at North Shore Campground, Prairie Creek Reservoir for the 2026 season. Other facilities will remain open. (765) 747-4872,.
COME BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE LATEST NEWS
No comments:
Post a Comment