Monty's Musings

Old Growth Redwoods

The California redwoods are a spectacular sight, and the coast of the state is the best place to see these magnificent trees. You can reap the pleasures of a redwood adventure in Northern California all the better when traveling in an RV motorhome. Although this is a year-round destination, nothing can really beat the springtime for some of the best in nature experiences. Start out at Humboldt Redwoods State Park where you can make your home base. There is an entire redwood ecosystem here and it is part of the largest old-growth forest in the world.

First establish your campsite in the park. The campgrounds will accommodate RVs up to 33 feet. Then you can begin your exploration. Start with Founders Grove where you can hike along shaded trails and witness the beauty of these giant redwoods. The Dyerville Giant is a must-see, a fallen redwood that was about 362 feet tall. Take the Mahan Loop for some more sights and to learn some history of the area.

When you have had some fun exploring the park, you can then take Briceland Thorn Road from Humboldt State Park to Shelter Cove. This takes you to the coast where you can adventure along the shores and have some fun tide-pooling. There are unique creatures in the waters and you will have an interesting time trying to identify them. In town you will find wonderful food. Comb the beaches or hike the trails in the area. There are many things to do.

As you drive back from Shelter Cove to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, stop in Garberville. This quaint town has a number of unique shops where you can pick up some gifts for friends and neighbors back home. You can find some great places to eat as well, or to stock up on food in your RV kitchen. In the summer there are festivals and craft fairs to enjoy.

Back to Humboldt State Park after this scenic journey and you are ready to embark on the wonderfully scenic Avenue of the Giants, a 32-mile odyssey that you’ll never forget. Here you will see the most redwood giants and can take time out as desired for some outdoor fun. Have a picnic with the ancient redwoods towering over you. Fish the streams or bike ride on trails in the forest.

Go north on this scenic byway and when you reach Redwood Highway continue northward for more vacation delights. You will come to Scotia where you should stop and take in the historic charm of this California town. Once you reach Ferndale you will be intrigued by the antiques, art galleries and the stunning surroundings. Be sure to drive the Mattole Road while here, as this takes you on a 28-mile scenic drive through the forest and gives you access to many trailheads and hiking adventures.

This is one Northern California RV trip you won’t want to miss. Perfect for spring and perfect for a relaxing getaway.

A spring vacation in Kansas offers more than you may think. In fact, any time from spring through to fall is the ideal time to visit these Midwestern plains. Historical sites and lovely vistas await you as well as numerous festivals throughout the summer. You should also allow time to explore the area’s many museums.

Shunganunga Boulder and Lawrence, Kansas City Hall

For this trip, start out in Lawrence, Kansas. RV camping is plentiful. If you have kids, you may want to try Kansas City Jellystone Park, with Yogi the Bear in fine form. Adults only may prefer RV camping in Clinton State Park, with plenty of campsites with electrical hookups and up to 50 amps. Once you are settled in, you can begin to explore the sights in Lawrence before moving along our route to Topeka.

The KU Natural History Museum is nationally recognized with many exhibits showing the diversity of the Great Plains. Folks of all ages enjoy the living exhibits, with a fabulous working beehive and the snakes and fish from around the state. If you love bugs, you’ll love “Bugtown” with its interactive exhibits. If you don’t love bugs, you may like this special display anyway.

Following up the Natural History Museum you will want to go for the real thing. At Prairie Park Nature Center you can walk the trails to see the real live birds and other wildlife so abundant here. Perhaps you will spot a beaver gnawing on a tree or building his dam. You may spot a bobcat or a deer wandering in the woodlands. You have 80 acres to enjoy of forested lands, prairie and wetlands. You can also fish on Mary’s Lake.

Another great park to visit in Lawrence is Clinton State Park. Drive the park roadways to view the wildlife and feel the grace of the prairie grasses bending softly in the breeze. Spring is the ideal time to see the wildflowers blooming, too. Listen for the quiet cries of the waterfowl and the musical notes of the songbirds. A wonderful place for an escape from the big city.

Lawrence Parks & Trails offer a wide variety of recreation. For instance, at Broken Arrow Park in town you can play traditional horseshoes at the horseshoe courts. Neighborhood parks include Water Tower Park, Chaparral Park, Deerfield Park and Parnell Park. There are many others. As well, there are preserve areas which give you a real taste of pure nature, and other spots where you can relax such as Japanese Friendship Garden or Sesquicentennial Point.

Take Highway 24 towards Topeka but detour four miles north on Highway 237 to Perry State Park where hiking and biking is at its best. Ride on horseback over twenty-five miles of trails. The rolling hills make for exciting exploration of the upland forest. Then there is Lake Perry where you can cast a line and hook some channel catfish. RV camping here is also great! All the sites are first-come, first-served.

You will finally reach Topeka, Kansas after a wonderful drive. With so many attractions here, you won’t have a lack of anything to do. You may choose as your first stop the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site where southern and national history was made. Admission is free and you will get the opportunity to see how legal segregation was finally ended in public schools and the role this Supreme Court decision had in the Civil Rights Movement. This historic event was more than some parents suing to get their daughter into an all-white school. Learn all about it.

Whether kids are along for your spring RV vacation or not, you will want to visit the Gage Park Mini-Train & Carousel on Gage Blvd. in Topeka. The carousel was built in 1908 and is a beauty to behold. The mini-train will take you on a mile-long scenic ride through the park which thrills young and old alike.

Before you even think about leaving and heading home, be sure to stop at Heartland Park Topeka for some exciting motor sports racing. One of the best in the nation, this race track boasts many races throughout the year with happy crowds yelling with joy as the winners come down the track to the finish line.

This Kansas getaway will be one of the top on your RV vacation list. So many different sights and so many friendly people! The whole family will be talking about it for years to come.

Picture credits: The picture of the Shunganunga Boulder and Lawrence, Kansas City Hall is from the Wikimedia Commons. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Linville Gorge in the Pisgah National Forest.

Spring in the Appalachian Mountains has no compare. What a thrill to spend a spring vacation in this gorgeous area! The Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina offers so much for those who want to get away from it all and bask in the beauty of nature. Towering peaks, sparkling waterfalls and dense forests all provide the inspiration you have needed all year. Hiking, fishing, biking or horseback riding provide only some of the outdoor fun you’ll find here. RV camping is plentiful too. Stay at the Black Mountain Campground where you will have lovely campsites with tables and fire rings with grills. Although there are no hookups, you will have showers and restrooms with flush toilets handy.

The Appalachian Ranger District of the forest is one of the best areas to visit. This region stretches from the eastern edge of Great Smoky Mountain National Park to the Blue Ridge Parkway near Tennessee. Some of the best trails to hike or bike here are the Bear Pen Trail, with cascading waterfalls and lots of camera-ready sights, and the Staire Creek Trail, taking you through some lush forests with streams and more waterfalls.

Near the Tennessee state line in the Appalachian Ranger District you can reach Max Patch, an incredible view from 4,629 feet up. This is an ideal place to fish, hike or view all the wildlife in this area. Wildflowers will be in bloom this time of year, too. Picnic, gaze out at Mount Mitchell and the Great Smoky Mountains. Views like you won’t believe!

In the Pisgah Ranger District, the Lake Powhatan Recreation Area offers great fishing. There are thirteen man-made lakes and ponds into which you can cast a line. Hike the loop trails or take the more challenging trails for added excitement. When you take the Shut-In Trail, you will get to hike through a black bear sanctuary and get an experience like you’ve never had before. If you love fishing, catch some rainbow or brown trout in Bent Creek or the French Broad River. Lake Powhatan has plenty of great places to fish along the shore or from the fishing pier by the dam.

Make your way to the North Carolina Arboretum, a lovely area with gardens, hiking trails and exhibits of plants, including a fine bonsai collection. There are 434 acres of inspiring beauty where you can collect your thoughts and prepare yourself for even more adventures to come.

Of course, perhaps the greatest adventure is traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic vistas will take your breath away. Originally built to connect Great Smoky Mountain National Park with Shenandoah National Park, this byway is a drive you will never forget – 469 miles of nature at its best.

Another place to stop and explore is the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Day hiking is a favorite here on the Cold Knob Connector Trail, Chestnut Cove Trail or Boyd Branch Trail. You can also fish, ride horses or just settle in for a delicious picnic at a quiet spot.

Yes, nothing like a trip to Pisgah National Forest for an inspiring spring RV vacation!

Aerial View of Branson Missouri

Taking an RV vacation to Branson, Missouri raises the bar on vacations. It is all about music and entertainment, outdoor recreation and wildlife in the Ozark Mountains. Besides all that, you can enjoy spas, shops, boutiques and galleries. The opportunities for fun are limitless. You can find plenty of RV camping so you will have a base to operate from. Oak Grove RV Park may be the ideal choice of RV campgrounds in Branson. Here you will be close to many local attractions as well as discover amenities galore, including full hookups, dump station and laundry facilities.

One of the top attractions in Branson is Talking Rocks Cavern. Touring caves in the Ozarks really has no compare. People have been exploring caves around these hills for decades. Another place to enjoy is Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure where you can walk among thousands of butterflies. See the film about the Monarch migration and experience the Living Rainforest Science Center.

There are all sorts of unique sights in the town. For instance, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! offers some amazing out-of-this-world facts that can almost overwhelm you with their strangeness. You don’t, after all, have to travel to Hollywood to see these incredible exhibits. Then there is the World’s Largest Toy Museum. It doesn’t matter if you have kids with you or not. Certainly many of these toys will bring back memories. You will discover more than a million toys, including Barbie dolls, NASCAR toys, Disney toys and so many more. View the old lunch boxes that kids scrambled for at the start of a school year.

Time to see some wildlife! You don’t have to venture out into the wilderness either! The National Tiger Sanctuary has many exotic and domestic animals. You will love the wonderful lions and tigers that have been rescued from certain death. After seeing this attraction, head over to the Promised Land Zoo: Branson. There are actually two parks, one where you can take a foot safari and another that is a drive-through adventure.

No one wants to miss their chance to see some ghosts. You have that opportunity at Branson Ghost and Legends in downtown Branson. This nighttime tour has been an on-going affair for many years. Many have a ghostly experience along the way, while down some dark alley. Learn all about Branson’s spooky past.

One of the best ways to see the area is on Branson Scenic Railway. This 40-mile trip takes you through the Ozarks like no other mode of transportation. The greatest part of the journey is crossing bridges and spotting wildlife from the train as you pass. You will also hear much of the history of the region and actually feel like you have stepped back in time to experience rail travel from long ago.

Now is the time to get outdoors for some recreation. At Dogwood Canyon Nature Park you can get out there in the wilderness and explore Native American Indian trails. Ride horseback or take a Segway around and about. However, book early as these activities get filled up quickly. You can also try a lake cruise at Main Street Lake Cruises. A sightseeing tour around the lake is something to do for a really great time. Bird watchers will see eagles, wildlife lovers will view animals on the shore, and those who just want to enjoy nature will get a full serving on one of these cruises.

Next be sure to Ride The Ducks, a unique and exciting tour of the scenic forests and waterways in the Ozarks. You get music, fun and history, and maybe a little wet too! It is a 70-minute boat ride you will never forget. If your children are with you on this RV adventure, you certainly won’t want to neglect to take them on a duck tour.

After a long day of excitement and fun, you may want to enjoy some musical shows. Branson is well known for entertainment and live music extravaganzas. For example, May is a big month in this town. Tribute Theatre is holding a tribute to the Eagles during May, which is a great way to spend an evening after adventuring outdoors all day. At God and Country Theatre in Branson, you can enjoy some great gospel, country or rock and roll and wonderfully funny comedy shows that will have you singing and laughing all the way home.

Branson, Missouri is always a popular destination in the spring. The opportunities seem never-ending for a lot of amusement and entertainment. Don’t miss your chance for an RV vacation to remember in the Ozarks.