TRAVEL AWAITS: 8 Surprising Stops from Wyoming To Washington

    

                                The complete article was published in Travel Awaits

I wrote about ten scenic stops we enjoyed in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado from my sister-in-law’s home to that of my husband’s daughter. Here, are eight other stops we found as we continued westward to his son's in Boise, Idaho, and my daughter's in Seattle.

1. Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming

This little-known national park may be the least visited—not even 20,000 annual visitors—located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, Wyoming. It's not generally known that it is actually the world’s best collection of fossils from the Eocene Epoch (56 to 34 million years ago), the warm period that produced the very first animals. The Visitor Center alone has over 80 samples, each one incredibly intact, not pieces that need to be assembled. "There are whole fish, crocodiles, turtles, palm fronds, and more from the epoch. In fact, there are trails that will lead you to fossils still intact on the ground, plus some that are still in the process of being excavated."

2. JCPenney Mother Store, Wyoming

On the way back to our campground. we chanced upon the JCPenney Mother Store and Museum. "On a corner of the main street of the small town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, which has a population of under 3,000, it was the first outlet of the department store giant — which today has about 600 stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico — built there in 1902." The tiny home of James Cash Penney, the founder, is just down the road.

3. Lava Hot Springs, Idaho

This is a small town only two hours from Kemmerer on I-30, population  less than 500. Because of its numerous hot springs that are quite good for bathing and the mildly turbulent river running through part of the town that is perfect for tubing, Lava Springs is a popular weekend resort in Idaho and Utah.

4. Boise, Idaho

It was only four hours from Lava Springs to Boise on I-86. It is the largest city and the capital of the state with a population of over 200,000. "My husband’s son is married to a member of Boise’s Basque community. Numbering about 15,000, it is the second-largest such community in the U.S. after Bakersfield, California. It is also the fifth-largest in the world behind Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and the original Basque Country in Spain and France. Downtown Boise features a vibrant section known as the Basque Block where we got the chance to stir the paella cooking in pans of four feet in diameter."

5. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

We usually go through the Yakima Valley to get to Seattle from Boise. But during this trip, we continued west through Oregon to pass by a national monument we were curious to see. It took us four hours from Boise on I-26 to reach the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, composed of three geographically separate units:

At the Sheep Rock Unit is near the town of Kimberly, Oregon, and is composed of the James Cant Ranch Historic District, the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, Cathedral Rock, and both the park headquarters and visitor center. "It is home to fossilized plants and mammals that lived there between the late Eocene, about 45 million years ago, and the late Miocene, about 5 million years ago, later than those found around Fossil Butte National Monument."

The Painted Hills Unit is halfway between the other two units, nine miles northwest of the town of Mitchell, Oregon. The hills are artworks of nature. They looked so fragile and I was afraid they might soon disappear. We enjoyed them so much because we could get up close to them. Besides, there was hardly a soul around. Wondering why this unit was not more famous. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit Clarno.

6. Bruce and Brandon Lee Gravesite, Washington

After a night in Mitchell, Oregon, we reached Seattle in another er six hours on I-90. But first, we visited Bruce Lee’s gravesite in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. After all, it has become a national and global pilgrimage site. Halfway up a hill in Lake View Cemetery,  his space is distinctly marked by evergreen shrubs, the final resting place of the legendary Chinese American martial artist and film star and his son, Brandon, lies.

7. The Gum Wall, Washington

From there, we went to Pike Place Market because right under it, in Post Alley, is the Gum Wall. It is "made of brick but is covered in, yes, used chewing gum. In fact, parts of the wall are covered several inches thick, 15 feet high, for about 50 feet. The tradition began around 1993 when patrons of the Market Theater Box Office nearby stuck gum to the wall. Theater workers diligently scraped the gum away twice but eventually gave up around 1999 when they kept coming back." 

8. The Fremont Troll

The last of our short visits was the colossal statue called the Fremont Troll. It can be found under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. "The troll is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle as if it has just swiped it from the roadway above...In fact, his right eye is a hubcap. Prior to the Troll, the area was becoming a dumping ground and a haven for drug dealers. In 1990, the Fremont Arts Council launched an art competition to rehabilitate it. Four local sculptors, who borrowed the idea from the Norwegian fairy tale Three Billy Goats Gruff, won!"

We continue to change our routes so we may discover more of these remarkable landmarks.

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5 Quaint Stops from Washington to Oregon to California

 

TRAVEL AWAITS: 10 Great Stops from Kansas to Colorado

The complete article was published in Travel Awaits 

The road from Pittsburg, Kansas, to Westminster, Colorado, is one we drive regularly because of family. The route takes us through four states: Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado. On our last trip and visits to the twin national monuments on the North Platte River Valley in Nebraska, we stumbled upon four roadside attractions and another four after them. They made our last go-through slower (four days instead of two) but much more exciting.

The Blue Sky Sculpture in Newton, Kansas

About 30 minutes north of Wichita, Kansas on I-135 there is a stunning sculpture considered one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Art. The Blue Sky Sculpture is at the Centennial Park in Newton, Kansas. Made of cobalt-glazed tiles, it is fluid and eye-catching, exhibiting unobstructed movement toward the natural sky.

Mennonite Heritage And Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas

Less than 30 minutes north of the sculpture is a museum that tells the story of the Mennonites, Russian emigrants who settled near present-day Goessel, Kansas in 1874. They brought with them a winter wheat variety called Turkey Red that became the foundation of the Kansas and Great Plains agricultural economy because it produces flour containing more protein. The part of the museum called the Turkey Red Wheat PalaceMuseum showcases farming mechanization from the 1800s to the mid-1960s.

The World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas

Cawker City, Kansas is two hours northwest, after I 135 turns into Highway 81 and then, further west, into Highway 24. That's where you will find the world’s largest ball of twine with a total length of more than 7 million feet. The tradition was started in 1953. When we stopped to admire the ball, a car pulled up and two ladies gave us 20 yards of twine to add to it. More length is added every August during a “Twine-a-thon.”

Giant Van Gogh Painting in Goodland, Kansas

Three hours later and further west, you will see, right from your car on Highway 24, a 24x32-foot reproduction of Van Gogh’s “Three Sunflowers in A Vase.” It rests on an 80-foot steel easel, much like a painting in Manitoba, Canada, and another in Emerald, Australia. The Giant Van Gogh painting is even more of a spectacle in the dark.

Scotts Bluff National Monument in Scottsbluff, Nebraska (please see headline photo) 

This was what took us off our direct route. From Goodland, Kansas, we went north to I- 80 and then northwest on 1-26 to visit the 3,000-acre national monument. It preserves overland trail remnants on mixed-grass prairie amid towering bluffs that were important landmarks to wagons that once carried over 250,000 emigrants westward between 1843 and 1869. "It was good to set foot on such historically significant land."

Chimney Rock National Historic Site in Bayard, Nebraska

Just 30 minutes northwest, also in the same North Platte River Valley, there is another prominent geological rock formation standing 4,228 feet high. It also served as an important landmark along the trails of those westward emigrants. Since we visited during the fall, both national monuments were lovelier with autumnal colors.

Big Boots in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Back on I 135, less than two hours southwest, is Cheyenne, Wyoming. There was a giant eight-foot-tall (from heel to top of the pull tabs) and eight-foot-long (from pointy toe to the back of the heel) boot at the small visitors' kiosk inside the railway station. And we found out that there were 19 others, painted by various artists in 2005 to showcase the history of the city. They are hosted by different businesses. We launched a hunt and felt a feeling of accomplishment after taking the photo of the 20th boot!

Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado

Less than an hour south of Cheyenne on Interstate 25 is Fort Collins, Colorado. When we walked the streets downtown, the buildings, especially the Old Firehouse Bookstore, looked so familiar, like deja vu. Understandably because it was Fort Collins’ Harper Goff who helped Walt Disney sketch up plans for Disney’s Main Street U.S.A. Old Town Square in Fort Collins served as his inspiration.

Pianos About Town in Fort Collins, Colorado

My husband noticed an artsy piano in Fort Collins’s Jazz Alley. Later, we saw a few more. They were all part of "Pianos About Town," a collaborative project hosted by the city and supported by a number of organizations that combine music and visual art. The pianos were painted at the Old Town Square, then distributed throughout the city. During winter, they are moved to several indoor locations. 

Buffalo Bill’s Grave in Lookout Mountain Park, Colorado

Lookout Mountain Park, part of the Denver Mountain Parks system, is about one and a half hours south of Fort Collins. And there, you will find the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave where William F. Cody is buried. He was born in 1846 and nicknamed Buffalo Bill because of his skill as a buffalo hunter. It overlooks the Great Plains and the Rockies. 

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8 Fantastic Sights around a Wedding in Anaheim, California

12 Interesting Finds on American Roads, Going West from Kansas to Washington

A Wagon in the US Midwest

In my last post, I wrote about six of nature’s best spots that we were lucky to see on our road trip west to Washington from Kansas. In this sequel, I focus on the twelve interesting finds on the same 7-state, 10-day trip. They are works of art, unusual creations, and one-of-a-kind historical sites.

Blue Sky Sculpture

 

Blue Sky

About two hours from Kansas City, this Sculpture at the Centennial Park in Newton, Kansas is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art. Designed through the joint efforts of artists Phil Epp, painter, and Terry Corbett and Conrad Snider, ceramists, it is made of cobalt-glazed tiles. The artwork seems to have eye-catching, unobstructed movement towards the natural sky which is the artists’ goal.

                  

Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum

Mennonite Museum and Agricultural Museum

Less than thirty minutes north of Blue Sky is a Museum that tells the story of Mennonites who emigrated from Russia in 1874 and settled near present-day Goessel in Kansas. The Agricultural part showcases the progression of farming mechanization from the 1800s to the mid-1960s in the Turkey Red Wheat Palace. These immigrants brought Turkey Red, a winter wheat variety, to Kansas and the US.

The World’s Largest Ball of Twine

World's Largest Ball of Twine

Two hours further north, in Cawker City, Kansas, a ball with total twine length that has surpassed 7 million feet is kept growing by the city. In 1953, Frank Stoeber started it and then donated it to the town in 1961 when it had grown to 1.6 million feet of twine. Every August, there is a "Twine-a-thon" to add more. When we were there, a car pulled up and two ladies also gave us some to add!  

Giant Van Gogh’s Painting  

Van Gogh's Giant Painting

Three hours to the east, there is a visually unique attraction. It’s a 24’ by 32’ reproduction of Van Gogh's "3 Sunflowers in A Vase." It rests on an 80-foot steel easel. There are three such Big Easels erected by Cameron Cross: the first in Manitoba, Canada, in 1996, the second in Emerald, Australia in 1999 and this one in Goodland, Kansas in 2001. We returned to see it glisten at night, braving light showers and high winds!

Cheyenne Big Boots  

Big Boots in Cheyenne

It took us one whole afternoon to hunt down all 20 giant boots around Cheyenne, Wyoming. Each one is 8 feet tall from heel to the top of the pull tabs and 8 feet long from the pointy toe to the back of the heel. Painted by various artists in 2005 to showcase Wyoming's and Cheyenne's history, they were later purchased by civic-minded businesses to display at their locations. An excellent way to spend an afternoon!

Old Town Fort Collins 

Old Town Square Fort Collins

Less than an hour south of Cheyenne is Fort Collins, Colorado. When you walk the streets of Old Town Square, the buildings, especially the Old Firehouse Bookstore, will make you think the place looks so familiar; déjà vu! Fort Collins’ Harper Goff helped Walt Disney sketch up plans for Disney’s Main Street USA. And that is why you will Old Town Square such a charming place to stroll around on a lazy day.

Jazz Alley  

Some of the Pianos

A lover of jazz, Bill noticed an artsy piano in Old Town Square Fort Collins. Later, we saw a few more.  “Pianos about Town” is a collaborative project between the city and some organizations. The pianos are painted from May-October right in the Square and at several indoor locations during winter months. The completed pianos are distributed throughout the city, inviting people to enjoy the art and play a tune.

Buffalo Bill’s Grave

at the Grave of Buffalo Bill

About one 1/2ours south of Fort Collins is Lookout Mountain Park, part of the Mountain Parks System of Denver, Colorado. You will find the one and only grave of William F. Cody there. It is one with a view as it overlooks the natural beauty of the Great Plains and the Rockies. Born 1846, his skill as a buffalo hunter gained him the nickname "Buffalo Bill." And all of you know I love the name, Bill!

JC Penney’s Mother Store

JC Penney Mother Store

We were driving from Fossil Butte National Monument to our hotel when we chanced upon the JC Penney Mother Store. On a corner of the main street of Kemmerer, Wyoming (population, 2,600), the first store of the department store giant (with almost 1,100 stores in 49 states) was built in 1902.  We later learned that JC Penney’s tiny home had become a museum and was just down the road.

Bruce and Brandon Lee’s Grave 

Bruce and Brandon Lee's Graves

In the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington is an unusual attraction that has become a national and global pilgrimage site. In Lake View Cemetery, halfway up a hill with unobstructed views of Lake Washington, one space is marked by evergreen shrubs.It is the final resting place of Bruce Lee, legendary Chinese American martial artist and film star. His son, Brandon's tomb, lies beside his father’s.

The Market Theater Gum Wall

Gum Wall

The Gum Wall, made of brick, is covered in used chewing gum in Post Alley under Pike Place Market in Seattle. Parts of the wall are covered several inches thick, 15 feet high for about 50 feet. The tradition began around 1993 when patrons of the Market Theater Box Office nearby stuck gum to the wall. Theater workers scraped the gum away twice but eventually gave up around 1999. Too bad we didn’t have gum to add!

The Fremont Troll

The Fremont Troll

The Fremont Troll is a colossal statue under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge in Seattle, Washington. It is clutching an actual Volkswagen Beetle as if it had just swiped it from the roadway above. 18-feet high and 13,000 lbs. in weight, it is made of steel rebar, wire, and concrete. His right eye is a hubcap. It is hard to find a place to park and to wait our turn to get pictures.

The area under the bridge was becoming a dumping ground and haven for drug dealers. In 1990, the Fremont Arts Council launched an art competition to rehabilitate it. The Troll was sculpted by four local artists: Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead. They borrowed the idea of a troll living under a bridge from the Norwegian fairy tale “Three Billy Goats Gruff.”

Our road trips are always made more precious by the natural landmarks we get to see along the way. But interesting finds like these intriguing works of art, unusual creations, and one-of-a-kind historical sites add exotic spices to an already flavorful dish!

6 of Nature's Best on American Roads, Westward from Kansas to Washington

Scotts Bluff in Western Nebraska

We began our westward road trip from Kansas on the last week of August 2016. I had joined Bill for our 8^th wedding anniversary in Kansas City and visited his sister and hometown in Pittsburg, Kansas. We had to drive back to Seattle, Washington to take a flight to Alaska in the first week of September.

We crossed Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon in ten days leaving no time for either relaxation or boredom. And, just as we expected, the six Nature Spots that shaped our itinerary gave us so much about which to write. Here comes another dose of America, the Beautiful!

The Lovely Sunflowers of Kansas

Sunflowers in Kansas~

Kansas is known as the Sunflower State which has been its official floral emblem since the late 1800’s. But it was in 1903 when the Wild Sunflower became the official state flower of Kansas. Lawmakers praised the Sunflower as a symbol of the state’s “frontier days, winding trails, (and) pathless prairies.”

August is just the right time; wild ones spring up all along the roadsides in western Kansas. The plants reach up to nine feet high and feature leggy stalks and broad round flower heads with bright yellow faces. They are a photographer’s dream, and mine, yellow being my favorite color!

We stopped in Goodland, Kansas where they farm the large industrial varieties for seeds and oils, used for cooking and as an alternative to biodiesel fuel. I was ecstatic to have my pictures taken with them those large dinner plate-varieties!

Natural Landmarks on the 19^th Century Westward Migration Trails

the Louisiana Purchase, 1803

Most of the Midwest was added to the US in 1803 with Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase of $15M from the French. That began the western migration of eastern settlers and the expansion of the US as we now know it. It was exciting to trace their footsteps and to see these landmarks as they saw them.

One natural landmark they encountered is Chimney Rock in western Nebraska. It rises above the plains to a peak of 4,226 feet above sea level. By the middle of the 19th century, it had become a stunning sight for those on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails, visible for many miles along US Route 26.

Chimney Rock in Western Nebraska

Based on sketches, paintings, and written accounts, Chimney Rock was taller when it was first seen, but it has since become shorter due to erosion and lightning. Chimney Rock, rising 286 feet above its surroundings, is a National Historic Site operated by the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Twenty miles north of it is another landmark, especially for settlers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails. The Scotts Bluff National Monument (operated by the National Park Service) is a collection of bluffs, the first large rock formations where the Great Plains start giving way to the foothills of the Rockies.

Scotts Bluff National Monument, Western Nebraska

Scotts Bluff, which rises over 800 feet above the plains, is the most prominent, but there are five other rock formations: Crown Rock, Dome Rock, Eagle Rock, Saddle Rock, and Sentinel Rock. Wagon trains used the bluff as a major landmark for navigating through Mitchell Pass before going deep into the Rockies. For Bill and me, it was travel to the past, at the time of the settlers.

Fossil Beds of the Eocene and Miocene Periods

After these historic landmarks, we visited two national monuments that preserve plant and animal life from millions of years ago in the fossil beds of Wyoming and Oregon. They were not only educational visits, they were also spectacular Nature spots.

Fossil Butte National Monument in Wyoming

The Fossil Butte National Monument, also managed by the National Park Service, is located 15 miles west of Kemmerer, Wyoming. It centers on possibly the world’s best collection of Eocene Epoch (56 to 34 million years ago) fossils found in Fossil Lake, the smallest of three great lakes at that time.

When the fossils were discovered, miners dug them up to sell to collectors. Commercial fossil collecting is not allowed within the National Monument, though. The Visitor Center features over 80 fossils, incredibly found intact, not merely broken pieces that need to be assembled, including those of fish, crocodile, turtle, and palm frond.

John Day Sheep Rock Unit, Oregon

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument lies in east-central Oregon. Located within the John Day River basin,{ it is} also managed by the National Park Service. Fossil plants and mammals lived there between the late Eocene, about 45 million years ago, and the late Miocene, about 5 million years ago, later than those found in the Fossil Butte National Monument.

There are three geographically separate units: Sheep Rock, Painted Hills, and Clarno. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit Clarno. The Sheep Rock Unit is near the town of Kimberly. It is composed of the James Cant Ranch Historic District with the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, Cathedral Rock, and other areas. Both the Park Headquarters and Visitor Center are in this Unit.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Painted Hills Unit

But it was getting late so we hurried on to the Painted Hills Unit where we wanted to spend more time.  Halfway between the other two Units, it is about 9 miles northwest of the town of Mitchell. I was complaining that the hills were not quite as colorful as I expected them to be when, suddenly, one by one the scenic beauties appeared, art works of Nature that seem fragile and may soon disappear.

Lava Hot Springs of Idaho

Between Fossil Butte and John Day lies Lava Hot Springs, a small town with a population of less than 500, part of the Pocatello Metropolitan Statistical Area of Idaho. It is a popular weekend resort location because of its numerous hot springs for bathing. There is also a mildly turbulent river running through part of the town that is perfect for tubing with those large yellow tubes so radiantly bright!

Lava Hot Springs, Idaho

These six nature spots were each a sight to behold, and we were glad we got to see all of them on our
westward drive from Kansas to Washington. On my next post, I will detail 13 interesting finds on these American roads, each adding spice to this 10-day nature road trip of August 2016.

Wonderings on Wanderings: Picking Our Top Five Neighborhoods

beautiful campsite

We have lived in more than a hundred homes in the last five years. That is because our home is wherever the RV happens to be parked. Technically speaking, the RV is our only home so the statement should read “more than a hundred neighborhoods”. This post lists our picks: a National Forest Service campground, two duos of national parks, and two Equity Lifestyle Properties.

Big Sur view

1. The National Forest Service’s Kirkwood Campground in Big Sur.

another view from Big Sur

We were looking for a place to stop for the night as we were negotiating the drive through Highway 1, running through Big Sur and widely considered to be one of the most scenic driving routes in the US, if not the world. Big Sur is the sparsely populated region that has the Sta. Lucia Mountains rising sharply out of the Pacific Ocean! As we left Monterrey Bay, Carmel, and Pebble Beach, one stunning scene after another held our breath. It was even more incredible that we found a campground (we had no reservation) of the National Forest Service right there between the mountains and the deep blue sea! It was the perfect place! We hiked to a small beach below through some trails along the ridge. The beaches of Big Sur are unsuitable for swimming, however, because of unpredictable currents and frigid temperatures. A photo of Bill on a chair carved out of a tree perched on a ridge is a priceless treasure! For more of Big Sur, click http://rvcruisinglifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/11/driving-down-west-coast-big-sur-and-san.html

Yosemite National Park

2. Yosemite/Sequoia National Parks in Central California 

                       

Sequoia National Park

At Sequoia, in what is called the Giant Forest, five of the ten largest trees in the world stand. General Sherman, the largest living thing in the world, stands 275 feet, with over 50,000 cu. ft., base diameter at 36.5 feet.  But nearby Yosemite is the park many consider to be the most beautiful of all national parks. There are three main sections. The fields and clear streams in Yosemite Valley were ablaze with the colors fall.  Up at Tuolumne Meadows, we still found lots of snow as we stood overlooking the tops of the mountains. At Glacier Point, higher than the mountains, is a spectacular vista of the gargantuan gray granite rocks. The national park has several campgrounds and we stayed at the only one with available slots, nearest the entrance, farthest from the amenities and facilities of the small city in Yosemite: the department and grocery store, specialty retail outlets, movie theaters, restaurants and fast food outlets. For more of this duo, go to http://rvcruisinglifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/10/driving-down-west-coast-yosemite-and.html              

Grand Tetons National Park

3. Grand Tetons/Yellowstone National Parks in Montana/Wyoming.   

Without any reservations (the system is first-come, first-served), we early to Grand Tetons National Park and got 5 nights! Grand Tetons is a breath-taking experience. There are three well-known peaks that are close together: the Grand Teton (the highest at 13,770 ft.), the Middle Teton, and the South Teton. Mt. Teewinot is the most pointed and closest to Grand and Moran, a little further removed, has a famous skillet glacier.  The 50-mile mountain range sprung up when the Teton fault moved and sank the valley below. There are no foothills, making the peaks more jaggedly dramatic. For more on the Grand Tetons, click http://rvcruisinglifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/08/getting-high-at-grand-teton-national.html

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

From there we also got 4 nights at Yellowstone NP!  There are about 900 geysers in the world, over 500 are in Yellowstone. The NP is home not just to geysers (like the tallest in the world, Steamboat, at 400 ft. or Old Faithful that gushes faithfully every 90 minutes to as high as 150 feet), mud pots (Mud Volcano), steam vents (Black Growler), and hot springs (Grand Prismatic Spring). There are lodges, inns, cabins, RV campgrounds, and tent villages from which to base an exploration of Yellowstone.  Seven distinct areas are equipped with general stores, service stations, dining facilities, and other amenities.  For more on Yellowstone, click http://rvcruisinglifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/08/gushing-over-yellowstone.html

by the sea

4. Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys

alligators in Florida

As you drive through the Florida Keys, the long narrow highway has blue-green water and swaying palms at each side. For Bill and me, it ranks alongside the Dempster Highway going up the Arctic and Big Sur along the West Coast for scenic beauty. Sunshine Key Resort at Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys sits on a piece of sandy land that juts out into the sea so there was water on all three sides. The campground was the entire key! Everyone sunbathed around the huge pool where country music was provided by a live entertainer and tropical drinks were being served for free! There was an exercise room, a good country store, and a marina filled with boats. And Key West is a short bus ride away! For more, please go to rvcruisinglifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/04/spending-winter-in-florida-2-florida.html

campsite with orange tree

5. Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort in Arizona

pool at the second clubhouse

This is the least nature-inspired of our favorite neighborhoods, but it is a real resort!. Viewpoint is the place we chose for a six-month winter hibernation. It has 2 clubhouses, 2 golf courses, 10 tennis courts, a ball park, 5 pickleball courts, a fitness center, craft rooms, computer room, library, 50 clubs, and a bar/lounge/restaurant.

We have so many more favorite neighborhoods but for these five alone, it will be worth getting an RV from any one of the reputable dealers like Camping World or Lazy Days. Or if you are not ready to own one and would just like to try this lifestyle that we so love, just get away for a weekend or two with a rental RV. There is a reliable company for that, RVShare.com "The World's Largest RV Rental Marketplace." You can go to this link to find out more:  http://rvshare.com/how-it-works