Monthly Archives: August 2009

Smokey Bear Campground in Gatlinburg, TN

Monty August 31, 2009
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This post is provided by our friends at the Smokey Bear Campground in Gatlinburg, TN.

Smoky Bear Campground is located across from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which is the most visited National Park in America. The Park offers many hiking trails with varying degrees of difficulty. The trails offer beautiful waterfalls, panoramic vistas, and serene old growth forests. For those who prefer to enjoy nature in the comfort of their car, the Park offers many scenic drives such as Cades Cove Loop and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. During these drives, there are many opportunities to enjoy nature and wildlife…..hopefully even see a few BEARS! For the fishermen, fly fishing for native and rainbow trout is a must. The Little Pigeon River located in the Greenbrier section of the Park is only 6 miles from the campground. The real beauty of the area is in the mountains and it is FREE. Bring a picnic basket and wear good walking shoes.

Approximately 12 miles from Smoky Bear Campground is the mountain resort town of Gatlinburg, which has over 400 shops, artisan galleries, and boutiques. A few attractions include: Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium, Scenic Chair Lift, and Ober Gatlinburg, which can be reached by driving your car or riding the scenic aerial tram to the top of the mountain.

Also located in Gatlinburg is the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. Travel the 8 mile Loop to enjoy the area’s time honored mountain crafts and traditional art forms. Over 180 crafts people demonstrate their skills.

For even more shopping and entertainment, Pigeon Forge, only 18 miles from the campground, is the shop-till-you-drop “Mecca” of the South and home to Dolly Wood Theme Park and Splash Mountain. Shopping at the many outlet mall stores will ensure that you save money on everything from clothing to home furnishings. Also visit the many theaters which offer musical productions to entertain you.

Other area options include horseback riding, white water rafting and tubing, boat rental and fishing at French Broad River and Douglas Lake. Golfing options include Bent Creek Golf Course, located only 2 ½ miles from Smoky Bear Campground, rated in the top 50 golf courses in Tennessee and designed by Gary Player.

Finally, come on back to the campground, build a fire, sit back and relax in the quiet setting of Smoky Bear Campground.

Be sure to check out El Monte RV’s Nashville RV Rentals location for all of your Tennessee motorhome rental needs.

Posted in RV Campgrounds, RV Campgrounds, Tennessee RV Vacation | Leave a comment

Fishing New Melones Lake, California

Monty August 27, 2009
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We’re hearing great reports from RV campers who have discovered New Melones Lake in California’s gold rush Country. Nestled in Calaveras County, New Melones Lake is a fisherman’s dream come true. With one hundred miles of shoreline, this scenic lake is home to trout, catfish and bass fishing year-round.

Recent fishing reports from the lake boast of rainbow trout over three pounds. Bass, which are strictly catch and release, are giving fishermen plenty of action. There are also monster catfish at the lake that guarantee some great fish stories back home.

Don’t have a boat? No worries, if you make your RV vacation trip during cooler months. Plenty of fish are caught right off the bank from November to late spring.

The uncrowded shores of New Melones Lake also make it the perfect place to spend an RV camping vacation. Hundreds of campsites managed by the Bureau of Reclamation are located around the lake in scenic campgrounds. Call for reservations before you head for New Melones, to insure the perfect campsite for your stay.

Hundreds of miles of wooded trails make biking and hiking great alternatives for the non-anglers in your party. The abundance of wildlife in the area, including osprey, deer and bald eagles, keep nature photographers busy year-round, as well.

When you’re ready to take a break from fishing, visit Angels Camp nearby. This historic town has preserved the look and feel of a gold rush mining town and makes a great day trip for the fishing party.

For more information on fishing excursions, visit the fishing vacation section of Monty’s Musings. Nearby El Monte RV Rental locations for a New Melones Lake fishing vacation include our Sacramento RV Rentals and Stockton RV Rentals locations.

Posted in CA Freshwater Fishing, CA RV Camping, California fishing, Fishing, Fishing Vacation | Leave a comment

Antique Shopping by RV

Monty August 25, 2009
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By its very nature, antique shopping is a traveling hobby. What better way to do it than in an RV? See: Chasing Antiques Bargains!

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El Monte RV Promoting Visiting Wine Country in an RV

Monty August 24, 2009
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El Monte RV Rentals is promoting visiting wine country in an RV. See:

If you ever have had the opportunity to check out the prices of the B&Bs and resorts in California’s wine country you would quickly come to realize that an RV rental is an excellent low-cost alternative for visiting wine country.

See the Wine Road Less Traveled’s Wine Events Calendar for more California wine events.

Additional California Wine Country Resources

RV Parks in California Wine Country (Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma)

Some places to stay when RV camping to wine country:

RV Rentals for a California Wine Country RV Vacation

To get set up for the perfect California wine country RV vacation, check out the California RV Vacation and Rental Resources page.

Posted in CA RV Camping, CA RV Vacation, CA Vacation, CA Wine Country, rv vacation ideas, Wine Country RV Vacations | 1 Comment

Buffalo, Rainbows, and Dragons Breath

Monty August 21, 2009
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I recently led an RV Rental caravan from Las Vegas through Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole Wyoming, and into Yellowstone.

The trip itself was a blast and I hope to be able to post details about each major tour area here.

There was one day that made the whole adventure come together for me. We had just left Artists Point in Yellowstone

headed back to camp and a brief rainstorm came and went. My wife and baby were seated in the back of the motorhome and she was still talking about the waterfall we had just seen.

Suddenly we saw coming toward the side of the motorhome what looked like a small wooly mammoth. Snorting and stomping as he came, the buffalo didn’t seem to mind cars, trucks, or motorhomes as he pushed across the road and stopped traffic.

Buffalo

The big fellow joined a herd on the other side of the street. The sun came out of the clouds and above the herd a rainbow grew.

We later came to one of the many geological features of yellowstone, a hot springs area with a particular feature called Dragons Breath.

Dragons Breath
This feature actually puffed steam and made noise that made it seem like a dragon might really live at the bottom of this cave and be puffing steam up to warn us to stay away.

I suppose there are many memories I could keep in my head to remember this trip. I remember early mornings and coffee with friends, and the late nights with campfires and smores and songs and jokes. However, I suppose the lifetime memory I’ll take with me from this trip is sitting in a motorhome with my family after a rainstorm with buffalos, rainbows, and dragons breath.

If you want to go to Yellowstone or another national park and see these things for yourself check out the El Monte RV Rentals National Parks page.

Posted in buffalo, dragons breath, National Parks, RV Rental Yellowstone, wyoming rv vacation, Yellowstone National Park | Leave a comment

Las Vegas: Vacation Ideas for All Kinds of Travelers

Monty August 17, 2009
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Once people have been to the the casinos they think they have seen all that Las Vegas has to offer. That’s a shame, because Las Vegas offers a so much more without ever seeing a slot machine! Keep reading – we’ve put together some great Las Vegas tips for every kind of traveler.

Active Family Vegas Vacation Ideas
Why not give the kids a running, climbing, laughing kind of vacation experience this year? Las Vegas features great destinations offering just that kind of fun! Just a short drive west of the city, you will find Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The Red Rock Canyon NCA is filled with spectacular scenery and rock climbing, mountain biking and trail riding opportunities.

If your kids prefer high-tech fun, you should visit Sega’s GameWorks, right next to the MGM Grand on the Strip. Its acres of games and attractions will thrill the most demanding junior adventurers!

For a memorable, and educational, experience, head to The Mirage’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Within the Secret Garden lives an amazing collection of big cats, thanks to the efforts of Siegfried & Roy. Walk through the gardens to see rare black and white tigers, snow leopards and white lions. Right next door, your kids can take part in the Dolphin Habitat’s Trainer for a Day program, climbing into a wet suit and right into the water with the dolphins!

There’s no shortage of family adventures in Las Vegas. Whether you’re climbing the Red Rocks or riding the Sling Shot at Circus Circus’ AdventureDome, your family’s going to clamor to come back next year.

Art and Culture in Las Vegas
The Gallery of Fine Art at the Bellagio draws visitors from around the world to its remarkable exhibitions. It is an unexpected treasure in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Just a short drive from the Strip, you’ll also find a wide variety of artistic styles displayed at Art Encounters, a popular Vegas gallery.

For ballet lovers, the Nevada Ballet Theatre offers world-class performances with a distinctly Vegas flavor. One more must-do experience for dance aficionados – the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre performs at beautiful Spring Mountain Ranch in Red Rock Canyon to rave reviews.

Exploring More of Las Vegas
Still haven’t seen just what you want for your next Las Vegas trip? Why not plan to tour the unusual and historical side of Vegas? You’ll find fantastic displays of high performance vehicles at the Carroll Shelby Museum on Speedway Drive. For something to really rock your world, experience the power of a simulated atomic blast at the Atomic Testing Museum‘s Ground Zero Theater.

To round off your trip, interact with famous figures at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. Where else can you get your picture taken with Elvis and George Clooney on the same day? And don’t forget to stop by Ethel M’s famous Chocolate Factory and Botanical Cactus Gardens in nearby Henderson.

No matter what your taste, there’s something to savor in Las Vegas. Gamble to your heart’s content, but don’t miss the chance to really get to know the treasures Sin City has to offer.

RV Camping in and Around Las Vegas
There are many RV parks in or near Las Vegas, one of which is on the strip, and several others that are very close. A sampling of RV parks on or near the strip includes:

And if you need an RV Rental for your Las Vegas RV vacation, check out El Monte RV’s Las Vegas RV Rentals Location.

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Mohave County Arizona RV Parks

Monty August 14, 2009
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The County of Mohave Arizona operates two parks that accommodate RV camping.

Davis Camp, Bullhead City, Arizona

Davis Camp is located on a mile and a half stretch of the Colorado River. It has 151 pull through sites with full hookups (50 amp service, some with wireless internet) for RVs and trailers. Other features and activities include:

  • A sanitary disposal (dump) station
  • 8 shower buildings located throughout the park
  • Laundry facilities
  • Swimming beaches
  • Boat launch.
  • Jet Ski
  • Fishing (Catfish, Striped Bass, Trout)

Other area attractions include:

Hualapai Mountain Park, Kingman, Arizona

Hualapai Mountain Park encompasses 2300 acres with elevations ranging from 4984 to 8417 feet. For RV campers, 11 spaces are offered with water, sewer, electricity and barbecue grills that can accommodate vehicles of up to 25 feet.

  • Features and attractions include:
  • 100 of miles of ATV Trails
  • 10 miles of trails for hikers

El Monte RV can take care of all of your Arizona RV Rentals needs from its Phoenix RV Rental location.

Posted in Arizona RV Camping, Arizona RV Vacation, RV Campgrounds, RV Campgrounds | Leave a comment

Fishing Lake Amistad, Texas

Monty August 12, 2009
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Lake Amistad National Recreation AreaLake Amistad straddles the border between Texas and Mexico. The Amistad National Recreation Area is the United States portion of International Amistad Reservoir.

The not so well kept secret of Lake Amistad – top-quality year round fishing. While Amistad is well known for fantastic bass fishing, including largemouth, smallmouth, and striped bass, other fish that can be caught here include: catfish, crappie, various species of sunfish, and alligator gar.

According to the National Park Service, “To maintain the high-quality fishery, “Catch and Release” is encouraged.”

The Amistad NRA hosts a number of organized fishing tournaments throughout the year.

Camping Lake Amistad

The Amistad NRA area has 4 campgrounds, all of which are primitive without RV hookups. RV parks and campgrounds with full facilities are located nearby, including:

For more information on the area, see the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce website.

RV Rentals for a Lake Amistad Fishing Trip
El Monte RV can set you up in luxury motorhome accommodations from its San Antonio RV rentals location.

Other Resources

Some things to note when fishing Lake Amistad: Law requires that those who travel to and from Mexico to have a passport. This is not a requirement for fishing and boating on Lake Amistad. Those fishing Mexico side of Lake Amistad are required to have a Mexico Fishing License. However, if you beach your boat on the Mexico side of the Lake and step foot on land in Mexico, law requires that you re-enter the US through customs with a passport.

Posted in Fishing, Fishing Vacation, rv vacation ideas | 1 Comment

Shady Rest Resort and Campground on 1 of 10,000 Lakes

Monty August 10, 2009
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This was provided by our friends at the Shady Rest Resort & Campground in Villard, Minnesota.

Minnesota is called the land of 10,000 lakes, but they probably just got tired and stopped counting at that point and went fishing. Smack in the middle of them all is the “Alexandria Lakes Area” where thousands of years ago glaciers carved their way through the area, leaving behind hundreds of lakes, nestled in the wooded hills and boundless prairie. Here you’ll find Shady Rest Resort and Campground on beautiful Lake Amelia.

The Langhoff family has been providing a family vacation destination since 1978 offering exceptional lakeside cabins, overnight RV sites, and seasonal RV sites. Shady Rest Resort is open from May to October and located just 2 hours from Minneapolis. We have 2 tennis courts, pontoon and fishing boat rentals, bait and tackle shop, safe beach with a swim raft, great fishing, and much more.

For over 100 years families have come to Alexandria, Minnesota and the neighboring Town of Glenwood to get away from the heat of the city, relax by a lake and do a little fishing or hunting. Today, more than ever, the area is the top Minnesota vacation destination for families. Alexandria offers visitors lodging at the many hotels in the city or a cabin or RV site overlooking a lake from one of the numerous local Resorts.

For the fisherman, Lake Amelia has a little bit of everything, including black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, largemouth bass, Northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white Sucker, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch.

Alexandria may also be the real “Birthplace of America”. At the Ruinstone Museum in Alexandria you’ll find the actual stone left by adventuring Vikings over 100 years before Columbus came to America and discover the mysteries about the stone that are still debated.

There is also the Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum where you’ll find the great history of resorts, grand hotels, fishing clubs, and classic boats

The area is also known for it’s numerous antique shops and shopping, great golf courses, fabulous dinning, an indoor water park, 2 race tracks and the state’s largest winery, Carlos Creek Winery.

For more information you can visit the Shady Rest Resort and Campground.

Posted in Minnesota RV Vacation, RV Campgrounds, RV Campgrounds | Leave a comment

How About RV Camping Historic Route 66?

Monty August 5, 2009
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“Now you go thru St. Looey…Joplin, Missouri!
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty.
You’ll see Amarillo…Gallup, New Mexico.
Flagstaff, Arizona: don’t forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino“

- From the song (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 by Bobby Troup

US Route 66

US Route 66 is a former semi-trans continental highway. Established on November 11, 1926 as one of the original U.S. highways, it’s route spanned 2,448 miles miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles California passing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona along the way. Route 66 has also been known as known as the “Main Street of America” or the “Mother Road“.

Decline of Route 66

Over its history, starting in earnest in 1956 with the signing of the Interstate Highway Act, Route 66 was slowly replaced with more direct routes. The last section of Route 66 was decommissioned in Arizona with the completion of Interstate 40. US 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System on June 27, 1985.

Portions of the old US Route 66 in many states are now designated as “Historic Route 66” and other portions have been designated a National Scenic Byway. In Southern California, portions of the road have been designated as State Route 66.

In 2008, The World Monuments Fund added US Route 66 to its World Monuments Watch list of 100 Most Endangered Sites.

Importance of Route 66

The National Historic Route 66 Federation characterizes traveling Route 66 as taking “the offramp into a bygone era.” As Route 66 was decommissioned, entire communities declined or perished. What has been left behind is a microcosm of roadside America stuck in time. Traveling the route (and 85% of it is can still be traveled) is like driving into a time machine to see the U.S. as it was. Tourists from around the world come to the United States to travel Route 66.

RV Camping Along Route 66

Why not travel Route 66 in you own accommodations. An RV is a great way to see the attractions of Route 66.

There are many RV campgrounds along the entire distance of Route 66. The Campgrounds page at Route 66 News site lists 10 Illinois RV campgrounds, 22 Missouri RV campgrounds, 1 Kansas RV campground, 13 Oklahoma RV campgrounds, 12 Texas RV campgrounds, 33 New Mexico RV campgrounds, 24 Arizona RV campgrounds, and 9 California RV campgrounds. The resource does not claim to be a complete list but it does appear to be up-to-date.

How About a One-Way RV Rental to Travel the Distance?
How about renting an RV at El Monte RV’s Chicago RV Rentals Location at the start of Route 66 and dropping it off at any one of several Southern California locations, including:

Other Route 66 RV Camping Resources

Other Route 66 Resources

And Remember…

“If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, the highway that’s the best.
Get your kicks on Route 66!“

- From the song (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 by Bobby Troup

Posted in Route 66, rv camping, rv vacation ideas | 2 Comments