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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. 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.

Today we will explore the most popular trains in Texas:

Grapevine Vintage Railroad

Running on a track that used to be known as “The Cotton Belt Route,” the Grapevine Vintage Railroad now makes its trek from downtown Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stock Yards.

Their passengers have the opportunity to explore the restaurants and shops and watch cowboys herd Texas longhorn cattle into stockyard pens before returning to Grapevine on the train. It is a unique look back at Texas history, transportation and ranching.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The railroad runs both steam locomotives and diesel engines on its standard gauge tracks. The rolling stock is comprised of restored 1920s enclosed coach cars and open cars.

Seating Options

All seating is assigned on the train, with two classes of ticketing:

• First Class – Passengers with first class tickets ride in climate-controlled enclosed coach cars with large cushioned seating.
• Touring Class – Passengers with touring class tickets ride in open coach cars with wooden backed bench seating.

There are restrooms and snacks available for purchase on the train.

Riding Options

Travelers on the train have the option of round trip or one-way tickets on their Cotton Belt Route trains. They also offer two different side trips:

• Grapevine One Hour Excursion – This train is a shortened version along the Cotton Belt Route, perfect for families with small children. Passengers leave the Grapevine depot and travel for 30 minutes, then return. Departures are on Saturdays throughout the season.
• Trinity River Excursion – This short trip departs from the Fort Worth Stockyards for a trip along the Trinity River. Because the line is shared with freight trains, this trip operates on a day-to-day basis, with tickets sold to walk-up customers. Announcements about train availability will be made on the train’s Facebook page.

Specialty Trains

Reservations are suggested for all specialty trains, as they tend to sell out.

• Swashbuckler Express – Traveling twice a day on Fridays in July and August, the Swashbuckler Express is a pirate-themed activity train for young mateys. Dress up as Captain Kid and take home a trinket after this one hour ride.
• Jazz Wine Train – Enjoy tastings from eight local vineyards, along with live jazz performances on each coach. Dinner and dessert are included with this excursion.
• Kiss Me I’m Irish Express – Bottoms up on this St. Patrick’s Day train, where passengers toast with craft brews, Irish hors d’oeuvres and dessert.
• North Pole Express – Ride to the North Pole in decorated train cars while enjoying Santa’s special Frosty Chocolate Snow Milk and cookies. Walk through Santa’s workshop, where the elves and Mr. and Mrs. Claus will entertain you, then get a pic with old St. Nick before boarding the train back to Grapevine.

Length of Season

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad runs from March through December, with specialty trains scheduled on specific dates of travel. Take a look at the train schedule for your planning needs.

Texas State Railroad

Originally built by prison inmates in 1883, the Texas State Railroad hauled freight between Palestine and Rusk through the Piney Woods of East Texas until 1921.

The tracks were then leased to private companies, but by 2007 the Texas State Railroad Authority began operating the line as a scenic railroad. Today passengers enjoy luxurious travel in restored lounge, club and coach cars on a four-hour tour through forested land.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The railroad has a number of both diesel engines and steam locomotives running on standard gauge tracks. The rolling stock includes dome cars, renovated passenger cars and open gondola cars.

Seating Options

There are no assigned seats on the Texas State Railroad. However, general seating is designate within six classes of service:

• Presidential Service – Sit in comfortable lounge seats with attentive service from a porter, who will provide a complementary boarding toast with appetizers as you travel.
• Sky High Observation Dome Service – Get a bird’s eye view from the glass observation dome, sitting in leather seats with tables. Service from a valet will include a champagne toast and appetizers along the route.
• First Class Lower Dome Service – An intimate area with tables and seating perfect for families is available for up to 20 passengers. Snacks and beverages are served during the ride.
• First Class Service – An enclosed car with couches and tables provides a comfortable place to enjoy snacks and beverages as the scenery passes by outside.
• Deluxe Coach Service – Enjoy upholstered benches and tables in an enclosed passenger car with beverage service available.
• Coach Service – Ride in an open air gondola car with vintage wooden bench seats for an up close and personal view of the Piney Woods.

Restrooms and a concessions car are accessible to all classes during the train ride.

Riding Options

The railroad offers two upgraded riding options with very limited seating:

• Caboose Ride – Limited to 8 passengers, a ride in the caboose includes plush over-sized seating with your own personal valet serving beverages and appetizers.
• Engine Ride – Limited to one passenger per train, a ride with the engineer and conductor in either a diesel or steam engine will be a treat that will not soon be forgotten!

Specialty Trains

• Pints in the Pines – Enjoy an evening train ride, tasting Texas brews as you roll through the Piney Woods, then partake in a BBQ dinner spread when the train reaches the Rusk Depot.
• Wines in the Pines – An evening filled with wine, chocolate and a romantic train excursion is a package that most can’t resist. Top it off with a BBQ dinner as the train pulls into the Rusk Depot, and you’ve got yourself a great date night activity!
• Pumpkin Patch Express – Put the kids in their Halloween costumes and hop on the Texas State Railroad to the Pumpkin Patch. That’s where you’ll find hayrides, trick-or-treating and games. Take home your own pumpkin to carve, as well.
• Polar Express – Participate in a holiday classic as the whole family becomes part of the Polar Express. Ride to the North Pole as chefs serve cocoa and cookies and read from the much-loved children’s book. Then tell Santa exactly what you wish for Christmas. Everyone who “believes” will receive their first gift of the season, a silver bell.

Length of Season

The Texas State Railroad’s season extends from March through December, with specific dates for specialty trains scattered throughout. Check the train schedule to find the excursion that’s right for you.

Jefferson & Cypress Bayou Railway

The Historic Jefferson Railway, more commonly known as the Jefferson & Cypress Bayou Railway, is an unusual railroad in that it wasn’t built as a train line to haul freight and passengers. Unlike most excursion trains, it has no history as a public transportation line.

Instead, the tracks were purchased and moved from an amusement park in Florida, with the intent of creating an attraction along Big Cypress Bayou. By 2002 today’s existing train ride was showcasing the dense Piney Woods and shoreline of the bayou to visitors far and wide.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The Jefferson Railway utilizes both steam and gas-powered locomotives on its narrow gauge tracks. The cars are open air covered gondola cars.

Seating Options

All seating is open with no assigned seats. Passengers travel in open air cars, which are covered for protection against the elements.

Riding Options

The 40-minute train ride leaves the depot in Jefferson and follows the shoreline of Big Cypress Bayou through the Piney Woods, with one stop at the Diamond Don Gator Pit. Watch the feeding of the live alligators that live there, before returning to the depot. There are no one-way tickets.

Specialty Trains

• Terror on the Bayou Runaway Fright Train – What’s more spooky than riding a train through the bayou at night? Riding it there during the season of ghosts and goblins!
• Rail of Lights Christmas and New Year’s Train – Celebrate the holidays Texas style, with lighted evening trains in the Piney Woods.

Length of Season

The Jefferson & Cypress Bayou Railway runs trains on Saturdays during the months of June, July and August. Specialty trains are scheduled on specific dates throughout the year, so check the train calendar for more information.

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.

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With a yearly attendance of 300,000 one would think that not many people know of the extreme seclusion and overwhelming peace found at Anacapa, Santa Barbara, San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands only 20 miles away from the coast of California. And they would be correct. Channel Islands National Park is a respite from the fast-paced, crowded city life across the bay. Kayaks are the main form of transportation around these islands, which harbor 145 plant and animal species not found anywhere else in the world.

Those few who have discovered the park’s charms come to see whales migrating north and south, go spearfishing through giant kelp beds, and explore amazing sea caves. It is here, in a land stripped to its bare essentials, that these travelers seek to recover their own equilibrium through self-sufficiency and preparedness required for Mother Nature’s best offerings.

History of Channel Islands National Park

Because archaeologists don’t believe the Channel Islands were ever connected to the mainland, the islands contain several animal species not found anywhere else. There is also sign that ancient man was here 37,000 years ago, and a couple of human bones on the islands are 13,000 years old, making them the oldest remains ever found in North America.

Modern man was discovered living on the three northern most islands when Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo landed there in 1542. Two to three thousand Chumash Indians greeted him, and it was discovered that the ancestors of these Native Americans had been inhabiting the islands for over 8,000 years.

The Chumash had a highly evolved society here and developed trade between islands and on the mainland by building tomols, redwood canoes in which they could travel. But as Europeans began to move into California, they brought with them diseases that almost annihilated the Chumash people. Today about 5,000 tribal members live on the mainland.

While California filled with Spanish and Mexican settlers, the abundant fish in the area were not exploited until the Chinese discovered the Channel Islands and their brimming waters. Abalone was captured in record amounts in the late 1800s, and by 1915 California had to outlaw its shipment to China, as the popularity of the shells became even more profitable than the meat.  Now no abalone is harvested here, in hopes of encouraging the mollusks’ comeback.

By 1932, when a lighthouse was finally built on Anacapa Island, the National Park Service was alerted to the Channel Islands’ significance, and in 1938 President Roosevelt created the Channel Islands National Monument to protect the unusual species of animals, plants and natural history of the islands.

But it wasn’t until 1980 that three of the five islands in the monument were named a national park. By 2000 Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz had been added to Anacapa, San Migue, and Santa Barbara, as all became Channel Islands National Park.

Why Visit Channel Islands National Park?

Travelers will not get to the islands with their RV, but they will get pretty close. Ventura, California is the mainland destination, where boat service will take visitors to the Channel Islands, just 20 miles across the water.

Once on Santa Cruz or any of the other islands, let your feet do the hiking over hills, to sea cliffs and onto the beaches of America’s version of The Galapagos. Or sign on with a guide service and explore the many sea caves in a kayak. Return to the mainland when you are ready, and your home away from home will be waiting for you.

Places to Go

Here’s a look at some of the most important and interesting places you can visit while you’re at the park.

Lagomarsino Visitor Center

Located in the town of Ventura on the mainland, this center has information and exhibits about each of the islands, along with a bookstore and ranger-led programs on weekends and holidays.

Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center

This small visitor center is located in the coastal mainland town of Santa Barbara. It has information not only on the Channel Islands National Park, but the Maritime Sanctuary and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

Anacapa Lighthouse

The lighthouse has been guiding ships through the Santa Barbara Channel since 1932 and is still in operation today. Because of that, there are no tours inside the building, but an exploration of the area around it is enlightening.

Buildings originally used to house a crew and their families are today used by park employees. An antiquated, yet useful water collection system was set up and can still be seen here.

Things to Do

There are numerous activities on the islands, but visitors are reminded that there are no services. If choosing to participate, come well organized, trained and equipped for your activity, as you alone will be responsible for your success.

Sea Kayaking

Visiting any of the five islands in the park by sea kayak is an exhilarating experience. However, it is strongly suggested that novice kayakers use a guide service, because of the high risk for injury with quickly changing weather. Bring your own kayak or rent one on the mainland, and hire a concessionaire to take you across the channel, as there are numerous hazards there.

Santa Cruz Island is a popular place to kayak, with easy access to beaches, clear ocean water and a shoreline with sea cliffs and caves to explore.

For the most experienced kayakers, San Miguel and Santa Rosa islands offer extremely challenging ocean conditions and weather.

Hiking

There are several miles of trails and dirt roads on the islands, making them great hiking paths. Each island is different, however, so here are links to the hiking opportunities on each. They include maps and descriptions:

• Anacapa Island hiking
• Santa Cruz Island hiking
• Santa Rosa Island hiking
• San Miguel Island hiking
• Santa Barbara Island hiking

Camping

Camping is available year-round on all five islands, with one maintained campground on each. Reservations are required, and each campground has pit toilets, but freshwater is only available on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa islands.

Campers must pack water, food, and equipment in and pack out equipment and trash, as there are no receptacles. No fires are allowed, but campers can use enclosed gas stoves.

SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling

The waters in the Channel Islands offer some of the best snorkeling and diving opportunities in the world. Because of extremely windy conditions around San Miguel and Santa Rosa islands, it is suggested that divers explore the waters around Anacapa, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz islands to venture through sea kelp and caves.

There are also several shipwrecks to investigate, like the Winfield Scott, which sank in 1853. There is a guide service with rentals available on Santa Cruz Island.

Spearfishing

Many divers come to the islands with one intent, as the Channel Islands are considered one of the best spearfishing locations in the world.

All fishing on the islands requires a permit, and because some of the waters around them are included in 13 marine protection areas, fishermen should be aware of their location and limitations. It is illegal to fish in those areas.

Wildlife Viewing

There are more endangered species in this national park than in any other, so wildlife viewing can be extraordinary! Whale watching is a sport here, with 27 different whale species passing by the park. And seals, sea lions, and sea otters are found in massive numbers on the beaches and rock formations around the coastlines of the Channel Islands. Huge pods of dolphin play in the waters here, as well.

Underwater life is also colorful, with anemones, sunflower stars, garibaldi, sea bass and spiny lobsters. So be sure to bring your snorkeling gear!

When to Visit Channel Islands National Park

The Channel Islands are open year-round, and different seasons bring different opportunities. Winter can bring rough waters, so what might be a good time for whale watching is not the most enjoyable for boating. Kayakers await the calmer summer winds to explore sea caves and enjoy playful sea otters.

Huge colonies of brown pelicans breed here between January and October when they dive for anchovy to feed their young. Many travelers to the park do not care what time of year it is.  They have come to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, finding that somewhat elusive quality of peace and quiet on an island full of wonder.

Where You Can Stay

There are no fancy RV parks on the island, but each does have a primitive campground. So bring a tent and sleeping bag with you when you boat to the Channel Islands and enjoy a night or two under the stars.

If, however, you choose to use your motorhome or travel trailer as a home base on the mainland, here are a few campground options:

• Ventura RV Beach Resort – offers a wide variety of RV sites, tent sites and rental units with full amenities
• Ventura Oaks RV Park – located 10 miles from the ocean in the countryside, this campground has 60 full hookups
• Rincon Parkway Campground – located right on the Pacific Coast Highway, self-contained RVs park on the pavement with the highway on one side and the ocean on the other.

Getting to and Around Channel Islands National Park

To access Channel Islands National Park, visitors must take a boat. Boats leave from Ventura Harbor, and to get there take the Victoria Avenue exit off of Highway 101. Turn left on Victoria, right on Olivas Park Drive and right on Spinnaker Drive. Follow signs to “Island Tours/Island Packers” to catch a boat.

There is no transportation on any of the islands and no bicycles are allowed, so getting around is done by foot, boat or swimming.

Nature Straight Up

Coming to Channel Islands National Park is a conscious choice, as so much preparedness and self-reliance is required here. It won’t be a casual visit, but one that tests the metal of its participants. Do you want to experience nature without all the trimmings? No back-up, no assistance, but also no exhaust fumes, no drive-thrus, no racing to the office.

Just you and the wide-open land and water, experienced just as it was thousands of years ago. The Channel Islands are representative of Mother Nature without any filters, a perfect challenge for the adventurist.

Have you ever been to Channel Islands National Park?  What were your experiences there?

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If you’ve ever imagined setting up camp in wine country, California, or on a gorgeous sprawling ranch just outside of Yellowstone National Park, but couldn’t front the costs at the time, you may be interested in the Worldwide Organization of Organic Farming (WWOOF).

Where Does WWOOF Happen?

Many WWOOF opportunities exist just outside of highly-desirable, and often cost-prohibitive locations, placing them within an average (or frugal) camper’s reach. WWOOF sites exist around popular skiing locations, amusement parks, world-acclaimed museums, major cities, and beyond.

WWOOFing offers a unique opportunity for campers to have access to such sites at dramatically-reduced costs. If you have an interest in sustainability, travel, and learning more about the culture and community of whatever locale you’re visiting, joining WWOOF is an excellent option for you.

What Is WWOOF Exactly?

The WWOOF movement links volunteers with organic farmers all around the world, offering unique opportunities for full-timers, part-timers, and workampers alike. Full-time RVers might be especially interested in this organization, as it allows for travel without additional expenses. Many WWOOF farms will even feed you three square meals a day in exchange for a few hours’ work. 

Every WWOOF site is different. As a WWOOFer and RVer, you’d have an endless amount of places to go, set up camp, and gain firsthand experience of the land and culture of the place you chose to visit. WWOOF USA offers over 2,100 sites to choose from. Simply choose your destination, choose a timeline (open now; immediate availability; or open next season) and length of stay, and select a farm type. Vineyards, homesteads, ranches, orchards, communities, and more are offered as farm type options. 

WWOOF farms often have full hook-up for rigs, making long-term stays a breeze. Workampers and short-term campers will find plenty of opportunities through the WWOOF organization. A free site to boondock temporarily outside of national parks or other vacation destinations would be worth a few hours of volunteering, particularly if you’re trying to preserve your cash flow.

How Does It Work?

A single WWOOF membership costs $40 annually, and $65 annually for couples, which gives you access to all of the hosts’ contact information, details about their farms, reviews, ratings, and an automatic insurance policy that covers most accidents that might occur while volunteering. Volunteering can be easily tailored to individual needs: from a single-day visit to long-term stay, for an individual or the whole family.

Typically, a day would consist of four to six hours of volunteering: the details of which you can work out beforehand, with the host farm. Hosts are expected to provide basic accommodations and meals. Some WWOOF sites offer a small wage, in addition to accommodations and meals.

Be sure to ask about what projects are available before going, as hosts may require more hours during certain harvests and seasons. Before discussing the details of your stay, you’re encouraged to inquire about how your host will accommodate your RV or camper.

You’ll also want to ask about the sites available for your stay. Is this a full-hookup site, complete with water, electric, and sewage? Is the site a pull-through, with easy drive-thru access? Does it have hose bibs for water access, a sani-dump or dump station for your wastewater, and hook-ups for electricity? If not, ask your host to provide and confirm details about where you can access these utilities for longer-term stays. Boondocking is definitely worth your consideration for short-term stays in desirable locations.

Additional Things to Know about WWOOF

After your stay at the WWOOF site, you can leave a review and rating about your experiences. The host will, in turn, leave a review and rating for you. As a member, you’ll have access to all of the reviews left by previous volunteers, which you can access before even contacting the host.

These two-way reviews include clear, factual accounts intended to help future volunteers find the right community for them, and to help hosts improve the experiences they provide for volunteers. Personal opinions and impolite accounts are discouraged, and third party information is never shared. Disputed accounts of WWOOF experiences are reviewed by their board. 

In addition to the review and rating system for members and hosts, WWOOF offers a Verification Program for hosts, which ensures that the host is following these five requirements: 

1. Practicing organic or sustainable growing methods.
2. Providing an educational experience and sharing knowledge with WWOOFers.
3. Providing adequate food for three meals per day.
4. Providing suitable and sanitary living accommodations.
5. Asking WWOOFers to help for a maximum of half a day (between four to six hours), five and a half days per week.

These requirements are verified by a representative who has visited the site and confirms that the host is providing a safe, educational, and comfortable environment for volunteers. You’ll see the searchable, “WWOOF-verified” badge on the farm’s website. 

Whatever site you choose, an adventure surely awaits! Explore the North American continent and beyond from the comfort of your home-on-wheels. Conserve your savings while visiting popular vacation destinations. Learn about, and foster a real connection to nature and the ways of the land while volunteering at the WWOOF site of your choosing.

Have you ever volunteered with WWOOF or a similar organization? What was your experience? Leave a comment below!

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