Wisconsin is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes out there. You have access to The Great Lakes, several other smaller bodies of water, beautiful forests and woods, rolling farmland, and so much more.
Much of The Badger State’s most beautiful land open to hikers and campers can be found in the state parks. If you’re looking for a good place to take your family, then you should check out these awesome state parks.
High Cliff State Park
Image from Getty
Open year-round, High Cliff State Park is located on the northeast corner of Lake Winnebago near Sherwood, Wisconsin. The park offers beautiful views of the largest lake in Wisconsin and wonderful hiking trails. It gets its name from the limestone cliff on the eastern shore of the lake.
The park is perfect for hiking, biking, boating, canoeing, kayaking, and other watersports. There’s a large marina at the lake with over 100 slips that you can rent if you want to bring your boat along. Even if you’re not much one for the water, this park offers plenty of picnic and playground areas as well as the opportunity to see wildlife.
If you want to camp, you can do so right in the park. There are 112 campsites at the park’s campground and 32 of these offer electric hook-up. The camping facilities offer bathroom facilities and showers as well as a dump station. If you’re interested, you can rent a cabin, too. High Cliff State Park is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Wisconsin, and if you’re close, you better make a point to stop and check it out.
Big Foot Beach State Park
Big Foot Beach State Park is a 271-acre park on the shore of Lake Geneva. It’s a fantastic place for year-round outdoor activities and is popular among campers and outdoors people.
The park features six and a half miles of hiking trails through beautiful, lush forests and meadows. The trails are not too difficult and perfect for families. Lake Geneva is right there and perfect for boating, swimming, and watersports. The lake is known for its clear water. additional activities at the park include fishing, archery, hunting, trapping, picnicking, and playgrounds.
You can camp right in the park. There are several campsites, 14 of which offer electric hook-up. The camping area also offers bathroom and showers as well as a dump station.
Pattison State Park
Image from Getty
Pattison State Park is best known for its beautiful waterfalls. However, there’s so much more to see of this beautiful wilderness. The park offers over seven miles of hiking trails, offering stunning views of wildlife and nature in general. The park is also a great spot for picnics, swimming, fishing, hunting, trapping, and cross-country skiing.
The park is open year-round and also offers camping. The campground has 59 family campsites and three backpacking campsites. Of the family campsites, 18 of them offer electric hookups. There is sanitary dumping and bathroom and shower facilities on-site.
Do you have any parks you’d add to this list? Leave a comment below!
We know many folks think of New England for their fall foliage road trips, but don’t forget there are many great stops in the south to see nature’s paintbrush while competing with fewer crowds. Consider one of these fabulous destinations in Utah, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina that can be enjoyed in the offseason.
Utah
Image by Barth Bailey from Unsplash
Mid-September to mid-October (and even into November) is a terrific time to see the splendor of the great Southwest. Not only have the daytime temperatures come back down to a reasonable level, but Utah’s wide array of national forests and parks provide a diverse foliage spectacle.
The range of elevation allows you to visit in early or late fall and still enjoy the breathtaking colors courtesy of the canyon maples, quaking aspens, scrub oaks, and hawthorns to name a few. Utah has so much to offer, it is hard to recommend just one location but if you only have time for one choose Zion National Park.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of visiting Zion National Park, in particular, is the opportunity for great hiking with fewer crowds and more reasonable temperatures. Start with the regularly-scheduled shuttle bus along the six-mile Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, which travels along the North Fork of the Virgin River through some of the park’s most outstanding scenery.
Even better you can enjoy it through the month of October and into November. If you want to hit the road yourself, try the 54-mile (one way) Zion Park Scenic Byway which will provide you with plenty of opportunities to pull off the road and take all the photos your heart desires.
Stay at the Zion River Resort RV Park & Campground just thirteen miles from Zion National Park. This beautiful facility offers a wonderful place to rest between your sightseeing adventures. When you’re ready to head to the park, they offer a shuttle to Springdale for only $7.
Texas
Image by Kristopher Roller for Unsplash
Texas is such a large, diverse state you could travel around it the entire year and not see all it has to offer. However, this fall I recommend you pay a visit to the Texas Hill Country in the center of the state. Known for narrow canyon walls along the Guadalupe River, visitors can enjoy a wide array of vibrant fall foliage as Mother Nature turns the Sumac’s red, the Cottonwood’s yellow, and the Sycamore’s orange.
Combine these with the Bigtooth Maples at Lost Maples State Natural Area where you can enjoy over 10 miles of hiking trails, including a loop that takes you along the top of a 2,200-foot cliff.
If you’re visiting with the family, you’ll be happy to know that Texas State Parks offer a Junior Ranger Program similar to the National Park Service. Just pick up a Junior Ranger activity journal at the headquarters and complete the required activities for a badge. Lost Maples State Natural Area has the added benefit of a monthly dark sky program when visitors can explore the night sky.
If you’re looking for a fabulous RV resort to call home during your visit, look no farther than Buckhorn Lake Resort in Kerrville, Texas. The drive from Kerrville to Lost Maples is an hour and a half of some of the most scenic byways in the state.
Florida
The sunshine state doesn’t always come to mind when planning a fabulous fall trip, but let me tell you why it should. For starters, fall is when the weather is still warmer than many locations, but the humidity has dropped to a comfortable range. That means you can leave the cooler confines of many states to the north and still enjoy days and nights outdoors with jackets.
A benefit of heading here in the fall is the chance to see manatees. As the water in the Gulf of Mexico cools, these warm-blooded mammals gravitate towards warmer spring-fed waters. Be sure to take the 45-minute riverboat tour along the Wakulla River. It takes visitors on a two-mile loop downstream and back among the bald cypress trees, wading birds and alligators.
Only 15 minutes away is Wildwood Golf & RV Resort. As the name implies, it is home to an 18-hole championship golf course. Even if you’re not a golfer, you will enjoy its proximity to St Mark’s Bike Trail. Fall is the perfect time to enjoy this 16-mile stretch of converted railway that let’s bikers and hikers go from Florida’s capital to the Gulf of Mexico.
Tennessee – North Carolina
Image by Chad Madden from Unsplash
I would obviously be remiss if I covered fall camping in the south without mentioning the Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddling the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. Beginning in mid to late September, glorious autumn colors develop above 4,000 feet.
This display usually reaches a peak at lower elevations between mid-October and early November. Basically, that means you can experience the reds and yellows of the changing leaves light up the Smokies for an entire month as the change moves down the mountainsides from the highest elevations to the foothills.
Yes, the weather is cooler here. You’ll definitely need a coat at night, but it sure does make for a fabulous campfire! And everyone knows that cool weather makes comfort food even better. Another great benefit of camping in the Smokies in the fall is the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival. This 3-month long celebration of the fall season lasts from early September through the end of November 25.
Pine Mountain RV Park in Pigeon Forge is the perfect base for your Smoky Mountain adventures. Located close to the national park as well as the tourist towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, there are plenty of activities for everyone.
What do you think of the suggestions above? Anything you’d like to add? Leave a comment below!
Many times camping trips involve exploring new territory and discovering enticing attractions along the way. Passenger tour trains have that magnetic appeal for many RVers, providing a novel way to see hidden countryside not normally viewed from the road. Railroad passengers learn about local history, culture and the many colorful characters from the communities visited. And Camping World wants to make sure you don’t miss the departing whistle, so we have created a series entitled RVing the Rails. You will find the most popular excursion trains to ride in each state, complete with any specialty trains they might offer.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Today we will explore the most popular trains in Washington:
Yakima Valley Trolleys
Photo Credit: YakimaValleyTrolleys.org
Operating on the original 1907 tracks of the Yakima Valley Transportation Company, the trolleys connect the towns of Yakima and Selah, Washington. The Union Pacific purchased the track, with plans to utilize the interurban cars as freight runners to their mainline.
But as personal automobiles became more popular, the need for streetcars waned, and the line was discontinued in 1947. By 1985 Union Pacific abandoned the line, donating the equipment to the city of Yakima. Today, the town has rejuvenated streetcar traffic, giving new generations insight into transportation innovations of the past.
Railway and Locomotive Types
The Yakima Valley Trolleys run on overhead wire electrical lines by power provided from the original stone powerhouse and substation. Two streetcars travel the five miles from Yakima over the Naches River and through the Selah Gap before returning.
Seating Options
There is no assigned seating on the trolleys. All tickets are round-trip fares.
Riding Options
Photo Credit: Robert Ashworth (CC BY-SA 2.0)
There are two options for a trolley ride:
Selah Line – Transportation from Yakima to Selah and back is offered with this ticket.
Pine Street Line – Ride up and down Pine Street, hopping on and off the trolley at your leisure. The ticket is good for the entire day.
Specialty Trains
Halloween Trolley – A spooky trip on the Halloween Trolley will scare any ghost or goblin!
Trolley Mysteries – Take a mysterious trolley to the Yakima Valley Museum for an evening of wine and beer tastings, music and a silent auction.
Santa Claus Trolley – Don’t disappoint Old Saint Nick by missing his official ride for the season!
Length of Season
Photo Credit: Yakima Valley Trolleys Facebook
Running on weekends from Memorial Day through the end of September, the Yakima Valley Trolleys leave at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm.
Chehalis Centralia Railroad & Museum
Photo Credit: SteamTrainRide.com
Built along tracks from the original Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway, this train was put together piece by piece. The inspiration for today’s railroad was a 1916 steam locomotive that had been in a Chehalis city park.
Restoration on the engine took two years, giving local volunteers time to find passenger cars and gain use of the old rails from Chehalis to just past Milburn for coach and dinner excursions.
Railway and Locomotive Types
The Chehalis Centralia restored a steam engine that had been in a city park on display for thirty years, then added authentic 1920s passenger cars to run on standard gauge rails.
The train runs through hills and over wooden trestles along the Chehalis River for approximately 10 miles.
Seating Options
Seating on the regular trains is open, without assignment. Passengers are encouraged to explore any or all of the cars and can sit where they like.
Dinner trains have assigned seating at tables of four. The railroad also offers an upgrade ticket to ride in the cab of the locomotive with the train engineer.
Riding Options
Photo Credit: SteamTrainRide.com
The railway offers two round-trip rides through the farmland of the Chehalis Valley:
Coach Train Rides – Enjoy a slightly shorter excursion along the Chehalis River.
Dinner Train Rides – Four-course meals are served in a dining car as passengers enjoy the surrounding countryside.
Specialty Trains
Murder Mystery – Become a sleuth on this evening dinner train, solving a murder case while enjoy a hearty meal.
Sweetheart’s Train – Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic evening train ride through the Chehalis Valley while dining on a scrumptious four-course meal.
Eggspress Train – Bring your own Easter basket for a Spring train ride and egg hunt. A visit from the Easter Bunny is guaranteed!
Pumpkin Train – Enjoy an Autumn ride on the steam train to a pumpkin patch, where kids can select their own pumpkin for carving.
Polar Express – Take the kids on a magical train ride to the North Pole while the story of the Polar Express is read. All will enjoy hot cocoa and cookies as Santa visits with starry-eyed children.
Length of Season
Photo Credit: SteamTrainRide.com
The railroad season runs on weekends from May through October, with both coach trains and dinner trains. Specialty trains run on specific dates throughout the year, so please check the calendar to schedule your excursion.
The rail lines in northern Clark County, Washington were first built in the 1880s but went through numerous ownership changes. From the Vancouver, Klickitat and Yakima Railroad to the Northern Pacific, today’s train had many names over the years, but initially was created to service the lumber industry.
Passengers caught a ride when they could find a seat in engine, caboose or on freight cars during the heydays of logging. But eventually the railroad became less and less important and parts of the line were abandoned. By 1998, a group of local volunteers began restoring the rails and equipment, and the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad began excursion service in 2001.
Railway and Locomotive Types
Diesel locomotives push (and pull) the train on standard gauge tracks from Yacolt to Lucia and back. The rolling stock consists of several cabooses, a Pullman car, and an open-air car. A steam locomotive is also utilized for special occasions and weekend traffic.
Seating Options
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Open seating on the train gives all passengers the chance to enjoy enclosed coach travel as well as open-air cars on warm summer days.
Riding Options
The railroad offers two types of trips, both along the same tracks. They run on separate schedules, so be sure to check the train calendar to see which is available on your day of travel.
Diesel Trains
Steam Locomotive Trains
The schedule provides a nice selection of dinner and wine trains available, as well.
Specialty Trains
Robbery Train – Don’t bring too many valuables on the train, as thieves have been known to “hold up” the Iron Horse on some of its excursions.
Headless Horseman Train – Enjoy the spookiest of adventures as passengers travel the Chelatchie Prairie with a headless horseman.
Christmas Tree Special – Bring the family to ride the train to a Christmas tree farm, select the perfect evergreen and bring it back on the train!
Length of Season
Photo Credit: Chelatchie Prairie Railroad website
The Chelatchie Prairie Railroad runs on weekends from May through December. Check the train schedule to find the excursion that best meets your needs.
Join the thousands of RVers that have a love affair with trains and ride the rails on your next camping trip. Check out the other excursion trains available on a state-by-state basis in our series, RVing the Rails.
In this episode, Sam interviews Ian and Jordan Knoll, Real Estate Investors from Grand Rapids, Michigan who have been married for five years. They are hitting the road in their 1989 Toyota Itasca Spirit with their Chihuahua, Bella, and heading for Mexico! Ian and Jordan have a love for travel and adventure and are excited to embrace full-time RV life. Check them out on Instagram @jordanandiantravel.
Tune in to hear Ian and Jordan share what it’s been like to prepare for this lifestyle, how they’ve built a real estate portfolio to fund their travels, and what they hope to see and experience on the road!
What we talk about in this episode:
1:00 – Preparing to hit the road and building real estate portfolio
8:30 – Choosing a rig and planning travel
17:00 – Advice for RV life
23:00 – Stories about preparing to hit the road
26:30 – Last minute preparations
Advice from Jordan and Ian
There are so many great resources on the internet for full-time RVing! Look for these types of resources:
When it comes to maintaining a motorhome’s engine, most people focus on oil changes—making sure they’re done on schedule.
Changing your engine air filter on a regular basis is just as important. Here’s why.
The Engine Air Filter Is the Number One Defense Against Dust & Dirt
Image from Camping World
Modern motorhome engines, just like automobile engines, are built with very specific tolerances. Any dirt or dust introduced into the system, no matter how minimal, is going to lower the performance of your engine.
Dirt in an engine is extremely abrasive. The tolerances referenced above mean each component of an engine is engineered and manufactured with precision accuracy, so each piece fits and moves perfectly within the system.
Engine air filters have a limit to how much dirt and dust they can filter. As they get older and more clogged, more dirt is going to get through to sensitive engine parts.
When dirt is introduced, the seal and fit of engine components degrade more and more, decreasing the power and efficiency of your engine.
Engines on Less Developed Roads Need More Filtration
It’s one thing for an engine to be running down the interstate for hundreds of miles at a time. It’s a different situation in the places some people try to get with their motorhomes.
You may be looking for open land and fresh air at your destination, but the journey can be harmful to your engine.
Whether it’s a local campground with unpaved sites, boondocking on public lands, or trekking deep into state parks, kicking up the dirt around you will introduce more contaminants close to your engine air intake.
Without a clean engine air filter, that dirt and dust won’t just end up on your hiking boots. It’ll make its way into sensitive engine compartments.
A Clogged Engine Air Filter = Reduced Performance in Every Way
Image by Sean Pierce from Camping World
So what do we mean by “reduced performance?” This can manifest itself in several ways.
Lower Fuel Efficiency
Fuel is one of the top expenses when it comes to RVing, and in the most basic sense, fuel + air is what moves your motorhome down the road.
When airflow to the engine is reduced by a clogged air filter, there’s simply no way it’s running as efficiently as possible. When it needs to work harder, you’re just burning more fuel.
Slower Acceleration
While we’re not expecting to go 0-60 like a sports car, slower acceleration can be not only frustrating but dangerous.
A clogged air filter can cause an engine and motorhome to feel sluggish—slow to respond to the gas pedal.
Anyone who’s driven an RV knows how much extra time and space you need to pull into traffic. The worst-case scenario here is that you start pulling out of a parking lot and the motorhome just doesn’t respond as quickly as you expect, disrupting cars on the main road and putting you in danger of a collision.
Less Towing Power
Many motorhome owners tow another vehicle, or “toad,” so they can leave their RV at the campground and easily get around. Some tow boats, 4x4s, or equipment for other outdoor activities.
As we know by this point, a clogged air filter means a less efficient engine—something you’ll definitely feel when you need more torque to pull that second vehicle along.
This is only made worse if you’re traveling in the mountains with lots of uphill pulls to get to your eventual destination.
Your motorhome’s engine air filter is an often-overlooked component that needs to be replaced on a regular schedule. Keep it clean and you’ll have no problem getting your RV anywhere you want to go.
