Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!
In our never ending research I have started a "Bucket List" in no order of places to visit when we can finally full time.
I just viewed, thanks to my local library, the John Holod RV Adventures collection.
I am wondering if any can suggest DVD's that might include campgrounds as well as the travels?
The RV Adventures DVD's were good "waking up with my coffee" enjoyment but it only wetted our appetite for MORE!
I am looking for suggestions where to begin. We are already addicted to this web site and following several other full timers blogs, please help feed our addiction!
Susan
-- Edited by Hogladyrider on Saturday 29th of August 2009 02:42:51 PM
We haven't been at this very long...but so far in our travels, my pick of places to see/visit::
the Oregon coastline. The movie Goonies had scenes filmed in Astoria, Oregon. I wasn't sure where you call home (didn't check your profile page) so if your from Oregon and this doesn't intrest you let me know and I will come up with #2 suggestion...
Not that it's a gotta-see place, but I have on my bucket list to see the worlds largest ball of twine :) Now that we're in Kansas I plan to take a trip to go see it...it was mentioned in the movie Michael with John Travolta.
__________________
2018 Thor Windsport 35M -- 2018 Camry Toad
-- USAF Retired -- Full-timing since December 2007 - Part-Timing since July 2011
Over the years, before FTing, we have been in some interesting places and stayed in some off the beatten path campgrounds. A lake near Mt. St. Helen. All the fishermen went out with their boats and came back empty. In the mean time my 12 year daughter caught several nice trout and a nice salmon of the dock and showed them to the fishermen when they came back. How about Devil's Tower? A town campground in Valentine, Nebraska The Redwoods of California. STURGISS Some great places in New Mexico ( east face of the Sandia's) The beaches of Florida Panhandle (Emerald Coast) our current location.(WHITE SAND & and water temp 85 +) Winter months in central Florida or Paln Springs, Ca area. Next summer ALASKA! Don't be afraid to stop in small towns. We stopped in Lemon, SD and went to the local museum (a small house) and the kids wound up with a skunk pelt (give to them buy the a lady) that still proudly hangs in our 5er. Try the local coffee shops and strike up a coversation. Iowa. Great small towns. MORE NEXT TIME!
__________________
5er/Ford 7.3 Turbo/WIFE/Spike (Red Poodle) & Lamb Chop (name speaks for it self)
The Rockie Mountains of Colorado,The Cascades in Washington,Civil War battlefields of the South,The history of the New England States.Any where you go in this wonderful country there is something to see.
__________________
RVing probably not a reality any more.It was a good time while it lasted.
We have only been at this 3 months (F/T) but we recommend:
Pontiac, IL (Walldogs & Rt 66 Museum) Mackinac Island Mt Rushmore Badlands National Park Crazy Horse Memorial Tobermory, Canada (on Lake Huron and Bruce Peninsula) Sioux Falls, SD (Sculpturewalk & Washington Pavillion)
__________________
Randy & Pam http://warnerrvnews.blogspot.com 2007 Allegro Bus QSP 40' 2009 Honda CRV Blue Ox Tow System Pressure Pro Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Well one thing I know for sure after living in Florida for 29 years once we hit the road I will not be in a rush to return except to visit! I am looking forward to experiencing some cooler even COLD weather.
The summers here have become unbearable to venture outside. Even when we weekend camp in the summer unless you are outside with your coffee EARLY morning it is just not comfortable and the evenings do not cool down.
I always loved Yosemite Nat'l Park in Calf. Last year we drove the Beartooth Hwy, the N.E. entrance to Yellowstone. It was spectacular. You probably would want to park your trailer before driving over. Yellowstone, Custer State Park in S.D., the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, The Grand Canyon. We are in Vt. now, it and New Hampshire are beautiful. We liked the Ammish country in Pa.also. There is so much to see in our country. We avoid Al. and the south in the summer. The heat and humidity is awful. This life is great, being able to enjoy the best of all possible worlds.
__________________
Allan, Jeanne and Katie the cat Full-timers from Alabama "07 -40' Phaeton & '08 Jeep Liberty
Grand Canyon Petrified Forest Bryce & Zion Canyons Highway 1 from Pismo Beach up through Big Sur and into Carmel, San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge The Redwoods, CA. The Sequoias, CA. Willits, CA. for a ride on the Skunk Railroad. Lake Shasta, CA. Sedona, AZ
And as others have said.... Yosemite and Yellowstone.
__________________
Larry "Small House, Big Yard " 7 years to go to FT Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe Pickup
We aren't on the road yet, but have our own 'must do - bucket' list which includes most of the places above (with some new great ideas!) plus Nova Scotia and the North Carolina Outer Banks, esp. Ocracoke (preferably not in hurrican season!)
-- Edited by traveljunkie on Monday 31st of August 2009 10:57:38 AM
I have a friend who had the goal of visiting all of the National Parks. After three years, he just accomplished that this summer. I suspect that would take care of what would be on most people’s bucket list.
A method of adding to a bucket list that I have found useful is to first determine what part of the country I want to head to. Then I post a request for suggestions on what to do and see along the way. That way it's a current list. The big attractions are the obvious, but the lesser known ones from the locals always add pleasure to our trips. Like visiting the biggest ball of string, lighthouses in Maine and Michigan, the center of the US, doing a part of Rte 66, or touring an ice cream factory, etc.
I’m sure others could add immeasurably to such a list.
-- Edited by TXRVr on Monday 31st of August 2009 01:00:14 PM
__________________
When it comes to the hereafter, I want to be in the no smoking section.
One of our favorite destinations has been Nova Scotia. We spent 7 weeks there in 2007. I highly recommend it.
On our bucket list -- all the National Parks in Utah Even though we lived in CA until we were in our 40's we've never toured the Nat'l. Parks there. Really want to do that soon.
Have fun compiling your own list.
Margie M. Fulltimer in 2007 Winnebago Tour 40TD 1 DH and 1 Schnauzer
Bear Tooth Highway Yellowstone Alaska The Black Hills - could stay there for months to just explore!!!!
I agree with Racerguy - there are just numerous places in this great country to explore and visit especially if you love history. Our country is full of historical places. I find it is like a domino effect - you think about one place and that leads to another and so on. Good luck in your own personal "bucket list." That is a great idea.
I lived in California for 10 yrs but never got to see the Giant Redwoods or Sequoias. Though I'd like to see much more, including Alaska, these 2 top on my short list. Mt. Rushmore heads my DW's bucket list.
Our S&B has been on the market for 10 months now and still no offers, though we've reduced our asking price below it's tax assessment value. This is about as low as I can go, as anything less would be a short sale (less than owed) and I would be responsible for paying the difference under Lousyana law. I won't joke about is burning down, because as soon as I do, something awful might happen and there's no way I could convince the insurance company I wasn't to blame. Hopefully, this boat anchor will sell before we die, so we can join all you nice folks.
Chip
__________________
1999 National Tropical Class A gasser
Toad - 2.4l Chevy Cobalt SS with 400k miles and counting.
As a suggestions for others, I will mention places I have been and maybe they will interest you.
Outerbanks of North Carolina. Whether you enter from north or south there will be a state rest stop with tons of brochures. Best time to visit is Sep 15ish as tourist are gone and water is still warm and fish are still biting. Way too many things to see to mention here but dont miss Currituck Lighthouse, Wright Brothers Memorial, Jockeys Ridge, Manteo waterfront, breakfeast at Jolly Roger (also have best karaoke) and if you wanna splurge...Owens Restaurant and dont miss lunch at Lone Cedar Restaurant.
Yellowstone...plan long visit and take walk with Ranger to the water fall.
Grand Tetons...don't miss white water rafting in the Snake river canyon.
Las Vegas...take the Duece...strip bus ...pay 1 fee for all day and get off and on at casinos of your choice and back on, they run all day every 5 minutes...cheap transportation with no worry of parking.
Great Smokies National Park which also leads to Gatlinburg Tennessee...Blowing Rock...the Vanderbuilt House (expensive, like $48 each for tour), be sure to rent $5 tour cassette tape, Cherokee Reservation..big area lots to see.
Near Las Vegas and often missed id Valley of Fire State Park $6 per car, when you exit go to Conover I think and find Sugar Babys for great reasonable food, they have a web site.
Red Rock Canyon has horseback riding through the canyon.
Mount Rushmore is another must. And Chief whats his name's monument is also near by.
Salt Lake City....Mormon's Tabernacle is a must. What a grand place.
Here is a little known place -- Indian Springs RV resort near American Falls, Idaho. It had been closed for years but this summer a new owner started rebuilding it and is doing a wonderful job. It is closed for the winter now but it will be open in May 2010 for the summer. It has a huge swimming pool heated by hot springs to 90. All the water in the park is also 90! It has over 200 acres to park on. I'm not sure how many full hook-ups it has but it has a lot. DW and I volunteered there this past summer (we had camped there before) and had a lot of fun.
I am not a f/t as yet but my bucket list includes all the state parks here in Texas, (when I buy my new 5er) and the Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, and make the national park loop with my grand-kids.
__________________
Bubbadan
Speak your mind but ride a fast horse, don't look back someone may be shootin and don't miss the stirrup gettin on.
The TV show Cash and Treasures made are bucket list longer !
First is that Diamond State Park in Arkansas,go dig for diamonds, somewhere along the line pan for gold, walk the beaches with a metal detector....etc...etc...
__________________
"HONEY" whats that noise ??? Ken and Cindy---- 08 MONACO CAMELOT 43'
NASA has a campground for it's employees and guests right on site and have started a workamper program this year but we are booked thru October '10. We did applied for winter positions at KSC and Merritt Island NWR. Starting November 15 we will be at Everglades NPS. Me working with maintenance and DW in the visiter center. That's another one off the Bucket List.
__________________
5er/Ford 7.3 Turbo/WIFE/Spike (Red Poodle) & Lamb Chop (name speaks for it self)
While we are not full timing, still working ,we do plan on extended trips in 2010. With that in mind here is the start of my bucket list:
Southern Black Hills of South Dakota, Spring desert, Florida Keys, Great Lakes Lighthouses (my wife loves lighthouses), Oregon coast, Yellowstone & Shenandoah National Parks to start with.
-- Edited by Dakota Grey on Friday 13th of November 2009 10:57:31 PM
__________________
Ken & Pam
2006 Dutchmen, 26 L - DSL, pulled by a 2000 F 350 SRW, 7.3 Power Stroke.
While we are trying to sell the house to begin the full-timing life, and a few years need to pass before we actually do MAJOR traveling, Jo and I plan to go to an area and find a long term (thinking months here) camping place. Once in an area, we will research what is in the region and visit those in our Explorer.
Long term places include RV parks that allow that and mobile home parks that have hookups for RV'ers that plan to stay quite a while.
As an example, we might stay somewhere in SE Utah and then drive to all the National Parks in Utah and northern Arizona. (Those are definite places to go.)
By staying "long term" we wouldn't be pressed to have to see everything in a short period of time. Life is supposed to be enjoyable, so why rush things? Besides, one might miss a state park or other attractions that aren't so readily known.
Plus, there is a lot of America to photograph and that takes time.
Terry
__________________
Terry and Jo
2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3 2008 Ford F450 2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout
Our house has been on the market for three years, so we decided we can wait no longer (Age 79/78). We searched until we found a smaller, older and cheaper (But quality built) 5th wheel and we are heading south for the winter. If and when the house sells we will move up, but it will no longer be the deterent to our RV dreams, sold or not. BTW, in our travels we have found that stoping at county airports, to eat our lunch and run our Golden Retriever, usually produces interesting surprises in the way of old/odd aircraft/autos and such, in and behind hangers. The same goes for eating in small town cafes and asking the locals what is of interest in the area.
I have to throw in my $.02 fro the Florida Keys. If you stay in the town of Marathon, you're right in the middle of the Keys so you can go north or south for an easy day trip & see all of the Keys. Swim w/dolphins, sunsets on Key West, Sombrero Beach, Pigeon Key....wish I was there right now!!
And make sure you have some fresh fish for dinner while in the Florida Keys! There is nothing like it, but be sure and visit in the winter time the heat is unbearable in the summer.
Yes, I forgot all the metal detecting at beaches and campgrounds and paning for gold on the American River. On our way north this year we will be stopping to dig for diamonds in Arkansas.
__________________
5er/Ford 7.3 Turbo/WIFE/Spike (Red Poodle) & Lamb Chop (name speaks for it self)