The island of Newfoundland didn’t officially become a part of Canada until 1949, and between its independent history and its geographic isolation, it feels like a whole different world perhaps more than anywhere else in North America. Visitors can see whales and icebergs without even leaving shore, explore both charming fishing villages and the relatively bustling capital of St. John’s, hike the rugged yet accessible northernmost stretch of the Appalachians, and enjoy remarkably close encounters with Atlantic puffins.But planning an epic RV trip to Newfoundland trip can also be a bit overwhelming. My family recently spent five weeks in Newfoundland, so I’m here to share tips on handling the logistical challenges and putting together an itinerary that hits all the highlights of this amazing island.

This is a guest post by podcast correspondent Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road. To listen to Gretchen and Jeremy talk about her trip to Newfoundland please click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your shows.

Planning an RV Trip to Newfoundland 

Newfoundland is still something of an undiscovered destination for a lot of people, particularly in the US. I lost count of how many times I told someone we were going to Newfoundland only to be met with a sheepish admission that they had no idea where Newfoundland even was. Planning a Newfoundland trip can feel much more like starting from scratch than planning a trip to a more well-trodden destination does. So I’ve put together a few tips and Newfoundland details that are good to know in advance to make planning and traveling a little easier.

The tourism folks in Newfoundland put out some of the most helpful marketing material I’ve ever encountered. They’ll send you a very nicely done and extremely thorough printed guide, or you can stick with the handy interactive map on their website. Once you’re on the island, there are several visitor information centers scattered around where you can get in-person touring tips from the super friendly staff.

A lot of first time visitors underestimate Newfoundland’s size and expect to be able to cover the whole island in a short vacation. But it’s actually about the size of Pennsylvania, with so much to see that you could easily spend months exploring and still miss things. If you try to squeeze too much into too short of a trip you risk only seeing things from a moving vehicle. If you only have a week or two to spend in Newfoundland, consider sticking with one area and leaving the rest for another trip.

Finding the best time to travel to Newfoundland is trickier than it might appear. The obvious answer is “summer,” but your trip will be quite different depending on which part of summer you choose. June is iceberg season, but the weather is still quite iffy and some of the places that cater to tourists won’t be open for the season yet. Whale viewing is best in July and August. We hear the weather in September is lovely, but by then migratory animals like whales and puffins are likely to have moved on. So unless you can stick around all summer, you’ll need to think about what you most want to see and pick your dates accordingly.

Summer weather is highly variable. We heard locals refer to June as “June-uary” because it can be so cold and windy, but uncomfortably warm temperatures in late summer aren’t uncommon, either. Rain is a frequent occurrence as well. Lots of layers is your best packing strategy.

Campgrounds in Newfoundland are cheap, particularly if you’re coming from the US and have the exchange rate helping you out. We regularly paid under $30 USD for water/electric sites. Boondocking is also very common and accepted. We didn’t do any, but we heard frequently that it’s okay to pull over and park overnight pretty much anywhere that doesn’t have a sign telling you not to. Gas and food are more expensive than on the mainland, but those low camping fees go a long way in making up for it.

Newfoundland roads are not great. Things are generally fine on the Trans Canada Highway, but secondary roads are plagued with potholes. Be prepared for a rough ride (and to have your alignment checked when you get home!)

Boil water advisories are common, so be prepared to encounter them at campgrounds from time to time (and consider filling up your fresh water when you DO have good water so you can use it when you don’t).

Internet access is spotty. We found that we could usually get a signal in towns, even very small ones, but often had no signal at all on the roads between towns (or in campgrounds outside of town). And, of course, if you’re coming from the US, you’ll want to check with your provider to find out how and if your plan works in Canada.

Newfoundlanders are some of the warmest, friendliest, funniest people you’ll ever meet (and they often have really charming accents, too), so make sure to take the time to chat. Most people we encountered were eager to show off their province and share tips about the best places to go and things to see.

Getting Your RV to Newfoundland

Getting your RV to Newfoundland almost always means booking a ride on a Marine Atlantic ferry from North Sydney in Nova Scotia. The ferry will take you to Port Aux Basques on the southwestern corner of Newfoundland in about seven hours or, during the summer, you can opt for the sixteen hour crossing to Argentia, on the eastern side of the island, about an hour and a half drive from St. Johns. Many people choose to arrive on one ferry, make their way across the island, and leave from the other one. We opted to take the Port Aux Basques ferry in both directions because we were traveling with our dogs and didn’t want to subject them to the longer ferry.

Our best tip for the ferry is to book early! Book as soon as you know your dates, especially if you’re hoping for a cabin. There’s no penalty for cancelling or changing as long as you do it at least 48 hours in advance, so there’s no downside to booking early even if you might need to switch things around later. We booked several months in advance but still found that the cabins were already sold out, and we had to get on the waitlist in hopes of getting one for our overnight crossing.

We worried a good bit in advance about how our dogs would do on the ferry, but Marine Atlantic is very used to dealing with pets and provides a number of options for where your pups can stay during the crossing. The most straightforward option is to just leave your pets in your vehicle. We did this on our return crossing and came back to dogs who were happy to see us but showed no signs of distress. It’s important to note that you won’t be able to return to your vehicle to check on your pet once the boat leaves the dock. There’s also a small indoor kennel area on one of the decks; you can reserve a space here (you must bring your own crate) for your dog for a small fee. The advantage here is that you’re welcome to visit your dog as often as you like…but the strange space and possible presence of other noisy dogs might make your pet anxious.

The third and newest option is renting a pet friendly cabin. This is when booking early becomes especially important, as these cabins are both limited in number and very popular. We were lucky enough to get off the waitlist for one on our overnight crossing to Newfoundland, and I think our dogs would tell you that this was their favorite way to travel. Dogs have to remain in your cabin (and someone has to stay with them) except when walking to and from your vehicle or going to make use of the little patch of astroturf provided outside on one of the decks.

Best Things to do: Western and Central Newfoundland

We started our trip on the western side of Newfoundland since we took the ferry into Port Aux Basques. Our first campground was Grand Cordoy RV Park, just about a half hour drive from the ferry terminal. It was great that we didn’t have to deal with a long drive immediately post-ferry, and the campground is lovely with spacious full hook-up sites overlooking the water. The gift shop sells locally made crafts, and the owners will provide you with a map of a driving tour of the area when you check in.

Gros Morne National Park, about 3 hours north of the ferry, is near the top of any “best of Newfoundland” list you might come across and is worth lingering over for as long as you can. Here you’ll find the most dramatic and rugged scenery on the island as well as great wildlife spotting (I think we counted five moose while we were there). We split our stay here between two campgrounds, (NAMES OF CAMPGROUNDS) one on the south side of the park and one on the north, but it’s definitely doable to pick one base camp and day trip around the whole park.

On the south side of Gros Morne, we stopped by the park’s Discovery Centre to pick up an Xplorers book for our 10 year old (the Canadian equivalent of Junior Rangers in the US) and learn about the park’s geologic history. Then we did the easy 4 km Tablelands Trail to see the geologic history first hand. The Tablelands give you the rare opportunity to walk on rock from the Earth’s mantle; it’s a fascinating stroll through a beautiful, otherworldly landscape.

From the Tablelands it’s a short but beautiful drive to the tiny town of Trout River, where we had some ice cream, walked along the shore, and then did one of our favorite hikes of the whole trip: the Eastern Point Trail. This is an easy and short trail once you get past the steep stairs at the very beginning, but every step offers stunning ocean views from bluffs high above the little town.

Suggested Campground: We loved the aptly named Water’s Edge Campground. Like many of Newfoundland’s campgrounds, this isn’t much more than a patch of gravel along the highway, but the location and views more than make up for any shortcomings in the sites. We spent our mornings here drinking coffee while spotting whales just a few feet from us in Bonne Bay Fjord. They also offer activities like kayak rentals and boat tours. W/E sites are $35CAD.

Rocky Harbour, on the northern side of Gros Morne, is the biggest tourist town in the area, with lots of choices for shopping and restaurants. We came here one night to see the band Anchors Aweigh, who’ve been playing traditional Newfoundland music at the Ocean View Hotel several nights a week for many years. The shows often sell out and are for ages 19 and up only.

The Western Brook Pond boat tour is a very popular way to see one of Gros Morne’s glacier-carved fjords up close. Getting to the boat dock requires an easy 3 km hike, where you’ll get a preview of the spectacular views waiting for you from the boat.

Try to time a visit to Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse at low tide; from the trail by the lighthouse you can go down to the shore for excellent rock scrambling and tide pooling. The lighthouse itself houses some great exhibits, including a lot of hands-on activities for kids.

Suggested Campground: The Gros Morne/Norris Point KOA was our base camp for exploring the north side of the park. Some reviews complain about tightly packed sites, and this is true of the full hook-up sites near the office, but if you can forgo a sewer hookup, nearly all the sites in the back of the campground are huge, private, and wooded, and some of them are right on the pond. The campground offers the usual range of KOA amenities like a playground, dog park, jumping pillow, a great walking trail around the pond, and planned activities. No pool (campground pools are exceedingly rare in Newfoundland), but swimming is allowed in the pond, and there are also kayak and pedal boat rentals available. Prices range from around $40-50CDN.

The Viking Trail is a scenic drive that will take you north from Gros Morne all the way to the northernmost tip of the island. June weather kept us from making it all way to the end of the road, but we definitely hope to return one day to see the recreated Viking settlement at L’anse aux Meadows and do some whale and iceberg spotting in St. Anthony.

We did go as far as Port Au Choix, though. This little town, about two hours from Gros Morne, is home to an archaeological site where you can learn about 6000 years of human habitation in the area, and some great hiking through limestone barrens, where you can spot some fragile arctic plants that are found nowhere else in the world.

Suggested Campground: We stayed in the parking lot of the Sea Echo Motel right in town, where spots with water and electric hookups are $20CAD. Or you can go with the Oceanside RV Park, right down the street and run by the local Lions Club. Both have great ocean views and can get very windy.

Most of western Newfoundland is remote and sparsely populated, but Deer Lake and Corner Brook both offer more of the trappings of civilization, like Tim Hortons and Walmart. We spent a couple of unusually hot days in Corner Brook and loved both the air conditioning and the atmosphere at the Sugar & Dice board game cafe and at the Hew & Draw hotel restaurant. The Insectarium in Deer Lake is a fun stop and one of the few good options on this side of the island for a rainy day.

Suggested Campground: Kinsmen Prince Edward Campground is a short drive from downtown Corner Brook and offers private pull-through, full hook-up sites, a very nice bathhouse, and several nice walking trails for $40CAD.

This is part one of a two part series. In the next post Gretchen will share all of her tips for the east side of Newfoundland, Canada.

The post An Epic RV Trip to Newfoundland, Canada (Part One) appeared first on The RV Atlas.

We bought our first RV over 12 years ago and it changed our lives forever. Both of us were teachers at that time and we wanted to get out into nature and enjoy time in the great outdoors with our one-year-old twin boys. Purchasing an entry-level RV seemed like a great investment because we would be able to afford two or three vacations each year instead of one. We would also be able to take a weekend trip every month without breaking the bank.

Campgrounds were affordable when we started out as RVers and we loved that aspect of the lifestyle. It also made great sense to us. We were hauling our own accommodation behind us and were responsible to keep it functioning and running right. Camping should always cost less than a house rental or a hotel room for those reasons, right?

But as most of you know–camping has become quite a bit more popular and more expensive over the past few years. And that concerns us quite a bit. We want camping to remain budget friendly so that middle class families like ours can enter the lifestyle and enjoy time with their kids in the great outdoors just like we did. Even though so many campgrounds have raised prices, taking an affordable camping trip is still possible. You just have to know where to go.

With all of that in mind–we have a huge announcement to make!

Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping: A 50 State Guide to Budget-Friendly Campgrounds and Free and Low-Cost Outdoor Activities is coming out next spring. Pre-order your own copy today to show your support for our next book and help launch it out into the wide world of publishing. Pre-orders are incredibly important for books because it helps trigger the Amazon algorithm and gives the book more exposure within the Amazon store–where most of our books are sold.

This book has over 340 budget-friendly campground recommendations in all 50 states–and it is packed with sidebars about free and low cost activities near those campgrounds. It also has recommendations for budget camping gear and so much more! We sincerely hope you pre-order a copy today so that you will have it on the day it comes out.

Here is a brief excerpt from the introduction of the book to give you a flavor of what it offers and how it will help you find hundreds of amazing campgrounds and save you money along the way.

Campground Selection: Campground reservation fees are the number one way you can control your costs when planning a camping trip. If you are staying at multiple campgrounds over the length of a trip, think about the average nightly cost in order to stay on budget. On many of our trips, we will combine state or national park campgrounds with some private campgrounds, averaging out at about $60-$70 per night, well below what it would cost our family of five to stay in more traditional accommodations. 

Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping includes reviews of campgrounds in state parks, country parks, national forests, Army Corps of Engineers, national parks, and affordable mom and pop campgrounds across the country.

Limit Traveling Distance: The farther you travel, the more your camping trip is going to cost. Gas, tolls, and wear and tear on your vehicle can all add up, so picking a location close to home can significantly reduce the total cost of your camping vacation. 

Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping has around 6-10 campground recommendations per state–so there are plenty of great options for camping close to home.

Save on Equipment: Some folks are attracted to the low cost of a camping vacation and then go and blow their budget on a bunch of bells and whistles that they really don’t need. These splurges can range from expensive tents to pricey RVs. We encourage everyone to keep these costs as low as possible until you know you will get enough value out of those purchases. 

Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping is packed with sidebars that include budget camping gear recommendations–RV Atlas favorites like the Estwing Fireside Friend, Toastite Pie Irons, and much more.

Control Food Costs: We save hundreds of dollars on every camping trip by eating at the campground instead of out at restaurants. With a bit of advance planning, we can keep our food costs the same as they are at home, if the budget is particularly tight. When we do eat out, we go during lunch service, which can cut the bill in half. 

Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping has affordable road food recommendations in many states–and also plenty of budget-friendly food hacks for saving money while you camp.

Free and Low Cost Activities: Maximize your enjoyment of the free to low-cost activities that camping provides. Every campground will have unique amenities, but many will offer fishing, hiking, and biking opportunities. Geocaching is a popular campground activity. We also pack our kayaks, paddleboards, or tubes if there are lakes or rivers nearby. We look for swimming holes and local festivals. Many campgrounds will offer a recreation schedule with free activities throughout the day for people of all ages. Some state parks will have frisbee golf courses or archery targets. It is absolutely possible to have an adventurous, jam-packed camping trip without spending a ton of money on activity fees. 

Where Should We Camp Next? Budget Camping has recommendations for free and low cost activities in every single state in the country. These free and low cost activities are near the campgrounds that are recommended in each chapter. 

We are so excited to announce the release of our latest Where Should We Camp Next? book and we hope you pre-order your very own copy today!

See You at the Campground–Jeremy and Stephanie

The post Budget Camping Tips + Huge Announcement! appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Camping in national forests can be wonderful any time of year, but fall is extra special. As the leaves change and the temperatures cool, national forests provide a scenic backdrop for your camping adventures. But, there are some things you need to know to prepare for this unique experience, and we have all the tips and tricks you need for planning the perfect national forest camping trip this fall–or anytime!

Greg M. Peters is one of our country’s leading experts on national forests. He is the author of Our National Forests: Stories from America’s Most Important Public Lands, and he is the former director of communications at the National Forest Foundation. Be sure to check out our prior podcasts with Greg, where he discussed how to camp responsibly on public lands and shared the best national forests in each region. His family has camped all over America in their R-Pod:

To hear Jeremy and Greg’s full interview about camping in national forests, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas on your favorite podcast player.

National forests share some similarities to other types of public lands you might be familiar with, like national parks and Bureau of Land Management locations. It’s often free or very inexpensive to camp on them, and you can find them all across the U.S. They are often remote and beautiful.

Plus, you may find national forests surrounding your favorite national parks, with open camping even when the national parks are booked solid. For these reasons–and more–they are beloved lands, offering a truly special camping experience.

However, camping in a national forest is different from other types of camping, especially if you are new to camping or used to having facilities, services, and amenities. Often, you will be boondocking, camping without hookups, and you may be in a dispersed location, off the grid and in truly remote destinations.

It is really helpful to go into this type of trip with some knowledge, so you are prepared for the experience. Some planning and research will go a long way toward having a fun, successful trip!

Visit the U.S. National Forest to learn about your options. Many locations have designated campgrounds, which may have onsite services and amenities, like pit toilets, electricity, camping pads, and more. You may find reservations offered–or not. Finally, camping may be free or really inexpensive, with sites costing less than $10 or $15 a night.

Many forest lands offer dispersed camping, which means you won’t have designated campsites and may, instead, camp anywhere in an area as long as you follow the guidelines. It’s up to you to find out about accessibility and rules to make sure you understand where you can stay, what is allowed, and whether there are any alerts in place to be aware of.

Some campgrounds and dispersed camping areas are appropriate for RVs and allow them, while others are much less accessible and have more restrictions. It’s important to understand the road conditions. Are you driving on a dirt road? Do you need high clearance? Again, research the options to figure out where you can go–and where you’ll personally be most comfortable!

Most importantly, do your research! Each national forest location is unique. Learn about the landscape and wildlife, especially if you are camping in a national forest far from your home region.

Never hesitate to call the district office for the national forest region where you’d like to camp. The professionals answering the phones can help you understand the landscape and current conditions. This is one of the best ways to figure it all out, especially if you are new to the region or new to this type of camping.

Just remember that budgets are limited and the professionals manning the phones may also be in charge of lots of other duties. Or, they may be volunteer camp hosts who aren’t paid. Also, customer service isn’t their first priority. While they may be helpful, you are certainly on your own more than you would be at a private RV park or state/national park campground.

The main message: Do your homework! Set your expectations!

Fall is a great time for camping in national forests:

However, as with any time of year, you must prepare, especially if you’ll be off grid. In fall, you might find changing weather conditions. Be prepared for sudden drops in temperatures or for handling rain.

Here is Greg’s list for how to “level up” for fall camping:

Fianlly, remember that hunting is often allowed on national forest lands, so be aware of local policies so you will understand whether this will affect your plans for hiking and etc. Also, keep in mind that the daylight hours are shorter, so plan your schedule to get set up before dark. Then, enjoy the campfire and stargazing!

Finally, Greg reminds everyone to download/print everything you can before you set out for your destination. Connectivity may be very limited!

While national forest camping can involve extra preparation, especially for the shoulder seasons like fall, it is worth the effort! It’s a special experience out there waiting for you–just do your homework first so you can have a comfortable, successful stay!

A huge thank you to Greg for sharing these tips and details! Don’t forget you can click play on the media player or find this podcast episode to hear the full interview, which is chock full of great information.

The post Tips for Camping in National Forests This Fall…or Anytime! appeared first on The RV Atlas.

We are huge pickleball fans here at RV Atlas headquarters. We keep a set of paddles and balls in our garage, and in our RV. But we are rank amateurs–to say the least. We have been playing quite a bit over the last two years, but we have not been following the official rules. In fact–we pretty much change the rules every time we play.

On today’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast (and here on the blog) we are leveling up our game. We have wanted to do a podcast episode about pickleball at RV resorts for a long time–but didn’t have the perfect guest to bring on the show–until now.

Julie Gallutia is the author of the brand new book PICKLEBALL POINTS: 125 Interesting and Fun Facts for the Pickleball Enthusiast and she has become a friend of The RV Atlas on social media over the last year. When we saw her post a picture of her new book we knew we needed to have her on the podcast STAT to give us a 101 style intro to the game of pickleball. Julie and her partner Katrina are full time RVers who are also avid and competitive pickleball players. In the podcast interview we talk a lot about RV life and culture and how it intertwines with pickleball. Julie truly was the perfect person to come on the show and talk about this rapidly growing sport–especially as it pertains to #rvlife. 

In this episode we cover three basic topics:

To listen to Jeremy interview Julie about all of the topics listed above, click on the media player at the top of this post or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your shows.

Or just read on for an excerpt from Julie’s book! This small sample will leave you wanting more! So make sure to order a copy right here.

Julie was kind enough to provide us with a terrific list of great campgrounds that have pickleball courts. If you really want to take your next vacation at a campground that has pickleball this list should help you get started. There are so many great campgrounds here. Thanks Julie!

The post Pickleball Mania Sweeps RV Resorts Across America! appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Taos offers up a taste of the Southwest in a style all its own, mixing phenomenal natural landscapes with a notable arts scene. Smaller than its sister to the south, Santa Fe, Taos similarly offers a strong sense of place and culture. Here’s everything you need to know about what to do, where to stay ( Taos Monte Bello ), and where to eat in Taos, NM!

Taos and Santa Fe are just 100 miles apart. Travelers can take the Low Road to Taos to follow the Rio Grande River gorge (which is what we did while towing) or take the High Road to Taos, which goes up in the mountains. Both offer spectacular scenery. We took the Low Road when moving from Santa Fe to Taos and did the High Road as a separate scenic drive.

You might wonder if its worth moving your RV when Taos and Santa Fe are so close, close enough for an easy day trip, and I say YES. Each town has a lot to see and do, requiring more than a single day trip. Enjoy the drive and the awesome RV parks, including Santa Fe Skies, which was covered in the paired post about Santa Fe: New Mexico Road Trip Part 1.

This is a guest post by Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy. To listen to Jeremy and Kerri talk about Taos and to hear a campground review of Taos Monte Bello, click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

To listen to part one of this two part New Mexico road trip series please click here.

Taos Plaza: Downtown Taos has block after block of restaurants, shops, and art galleries centered around the downtown Plaza. Like Santa Fe, the architecture is all adobe. Taos’s galleries were more relaxed, approachable, and quirkier, in my opinion. Though we didn’t purchase any art (other than jewelry), I felt like I could.

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge: This bridge over the Rio Grande is one of the highest bridges in the US and one of the highest highway spans, with a 650-foot drop. You only need 10-15 minutes to do the walk across the bridge and to the scenic overlooks, and it’s worthwhile to marvel at the landscape and engineering! There are also trails to explore.

Taos Pueblo: This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been continuously inhabited over 1000 years. It is a living community, but it opens several times a week for visits. Merchants and artisans have shops open. You can also take a guided tour to learn about the Native American history and cultures.

San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church: This National Historic Landmark was built in the 1700s and is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Taos. It has been famously photographed by Ansel Adams and painted by Georgia O’Keeffe. We were disappointed to find it being work on during our visit, but it ended up being really interesting because one of the craftsmen told us about the history and the adobe architecture.

Enchanted Circle Drive: This was my favorite experience! This 80-mile scenic byway goes up into the Sangre de Christo mountains, following the Red River part of the way. It passes several cute towns and Eagle Nest Lake, making it easy to spend a half or full day doing the loop and making stops.

The highest elevation point is the town of Red River (at 8600 feet). It has totally different weather and landscapes than Taos and feels like a real mountain town. We walked a short trail through the woods along the river just off the town’s main strip. Take fishing poles for trout fishing in the river, or go boating and paddling on Eagle Nest Lake.

Wild Rivers Recreation Area: If you’re looking for outdoor recreation, this is one spot to check out. The Rio Grande and Red River come together here. You’ll find rugged trails, scenic drives, and locations for fishing.

Since we had such a great stay at Santa Fe Skies, we were worried we wouldn’t love our campground in Taos nearly as much. We opted to stay at Taos Monte Bello and could not have been more pleased! The name translates to “beautiful mountains,” and that is a perfect name. This charming park is located just 15 minutes outside of Taos on the wide-open mesa. The owner personally greeted us and told us about the park and Taos.

Aside from the wonderful owner, the other most wonderful thing about Taos Monte Bello is the views. The Sangre de Christo Mountains line the horizon. Behind the park is a large field with walking trails. You have spectacular sunset views! As the sun sets, the mountains turn a reddish hue, giving them their name. The colors changed from minute to minute and from night to night.

More features of Taos Monte Bello campground:

This is the exact kind of campground I love most because it has full hookups, a reasonable price, and awesome scenery. It really checks the boxes.

We tried not to stuff ourselves everyday on this trip, but it was hard because there was so much temptation! Here are a few of our favorites we tried in Taos:

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Taos and would definitely visit again and just park ourselves in Taos Monte Bello park and spend more days eating and visiting galleries.

Don’t forget to check out New Mexico Road Trip: Part 1 about Santa Fe, if you haven’t yet!

This was a guest post by Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy. To listen to Jeremy and Kerri talk about Taos and to hear a campground review of Taos Monte Bello, click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

The post New Mexico Road Trip Part 2: Taos and Taos Monte Bello appeared first on The RV Atlas.

If your dream vacation includes a mix of natural landscapes and cool towns to explore, New Mexico has you covered. This underrated camping destination is packed with unique destinations. Santa Fe is one of those storied towns, known for its arts, history, and culture–and the adobe architecture–all with mountain views and a national forest nearby. Read on to find out what to see, where to camp, (we loved Sante Fe Skies) and where to eat when planning a trip to Santa Fe.

We had previously visited Santa Fe in 2015 for two days, and we always wanted to return to the region to visit Taos. On this visit, we spent two days in Santa Fe and five days in Taos. Even with that time, we didn’t get to see and do nearly everything Santa Fe has to offer. But, we did, again, appreciate the city’s beauty and charm.

This is a guest post by Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy. To listen to Jeremy and Kerri talk about Santa Fe and to hear a campground review of Santa Fe Skies, click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Santa Fe Plaza: Located at the heart of downtown, the Plaza offers shopping, restaurants, galleries, and museums. You might find live music, food trucks, and more in this lively spot. The historic Palace of Governors is a must see, built in 1610. Native American artisans sell jewelry and other crafts on the long patio. Plan a few hours to stroll and explore the many avenues of art.

Meow Wolf: This immersive art experience opened its first location in Santa Fe in 2016. Over 100 artists contributed to the unique environment that allows open exploration—or attempt to solve the mystery, with clues hidden throughout the many rooms and habitats. It is weird and quirky and so much fun! Every turn has a totally different environment. You might even hop in a washing machine and slide to another dimension or crawl into a fireplace and find yourself in a new room! I especially love that this is a place teens and tweens can enjoy with parents, which is a rare find. Other locations have opened in Denver (which we also visited!) and Las Vegas, and one is coming to Texas.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: Georgia O’Keeffe is one of those artists whose legacies is really tied to a place. She lived between Santa Fe and Taos for decade, growing inspiration from the landscapes for some of her most famous works. On the Plaze, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum tells her story and showcases some of her works. The short film is a must see. Tours are also available of her two homes.

Ghost Ranch: One of O’Keeffe’s homes was at Ghost Ranch. Though the NM landscapes are beautiful in general, Ghost Ranch has an extra burst of beauty, with some unique rock formations and hills similar to the Badlands. We did the guided tour with the extended sketching time, which allowed for independent exploration. We spent a hour of hours walking around, painting and taking pictures. It was nice to have an outdoorsy experience different from our traditional national parks visits.

Turquoise Trail: This scenic byway connects Santa Fe and Albuquerque. It passes through some mining towns and by quirky roadside stops and has great views of the Sandia Crest. Don’t just drive…make time for stops to explore the scenery and shops. When traveling with our kids, we had so much fun at Connie’s Photo Park, which has fun photo ops near Madrid, NM.

Through we had stayed at the Santa Fe KOA on a previous trip and enjoyed it, this time, we opted for Santa Fe Skies.

Santa Fe Skies Park Features:

We loved this campground a lot, partially because we just might have had the best campsite in the park! It felt like we had a personal front-row show for the sunset. It’s literally in the park’s name. Even if you don’t get our same campsite, most also have views. I really liked the back-in sites near the patio since they seemed well spaces. This park is not as kid oriented, but kids can enjoy the trail and displays. The KOA where we stayed previously has family activities and more shade. But, the views from Santa Fe Skies make it a special spot to stay!

This is a guest post by Kerri Cox from Travels with Birdy. To hear Kerri’s full campground review of Santa Fe Skies, click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

You have to eat some New Mexican cuisine while in Santa Fe! The region is known for its food. Here are a couple of places we enjoyed:

Check out New Mexico Road Trip Part 2 to hear all about Taos!

For more about planning a terrific road trip to New Mexico, check out our previous posts on Albuquerque, the Albuquerque KOA, Enchanted Trails RV Park, and Carlsbad Caverns, a popular national park destination.

The post New Mexico Road Trip Part 1: Santa Fe and Sante Fe Skies appeared first on The RV Atlas.

America’s national parks are filled with beauty, wonder, wildlife, and adventure–but many of them also feature grand lodge’s that offer exquisite culinary experiences. If you have ever enjoyed a popover at Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park, or had a slice of Boysenberry Pie in Yosemite–then you know what we mean. Linda Ly’s new cookbook, The National Parks Cookbook, gives its readers a “food-driven tour” of America’s National Park Lodges from Acadia to Zion. This delightful cookbook features recipes from and inspired by America’s National Parks–so some of the recipes come directly from the parks themselves and others are Ly’s original recipes that are inspired by her time visiting them.

Ly is a former tent camper and current RV owner with a lifetime of experience in our country’s amazing national parks and she is also a master chef and cookbook author. So it is no surprise to us that she has delivered such an excellent book about the cuisine in our parks while simultaneously adding her own unique recipes to the mix.

All of these recipes look amazing ( there are over 75 of them) and also feature world-class photography by Ly’s husband Will Taylor. Together this husband and wife team are making some of the best outdoor cookbooks that are being published today.

The National Parks Cookbook is Linda Ly’s newest book, but her back catalog is definitely worth exploring. Linda appeared on the RV Atlas podcast last summer for an episode called “Quick Tips and Delicious Recipes for Dutch Oven Cooking” which you can read about or listen to right here. The tips and recipes from that blog post and podcast episode were pulled from The Backyard Fire Cookbook and The New Camp Cookbook–both modern classics for outdoor cooks.

To listen to Jeremy interview Lindy Ly about The National Parks Cookbook please click on the media player above–or subscribe to The RV Atlas podcast wherever you get your favorite shows.

The National Parks Cookbook features a front section that includes kitchen essentials and know-how, a list of recommended tools, a list of commonly used ingredients from the recipes in the book, and concise descriptions of standards and techniques that are also used in may of the recipes. These sections really do help set the reader up for success before heading into the recipes.

There are four major sections of recipes in the book. The first section features recipes from each of the top ten most visited National Parks in the United States. In the podcast interview Linda discusses “Roosevelt Baked Beans” from Yellowstone National Park, and “Perfect Popovers” from Acadia National Park. The second section is packed with recipes from the National Parks of the American West. In our RV Atlas interview Linda discusses her “Shroom Jerky” inspired by Joshua Tree National Park, and the “Navajo Fry Bread” that is associated with Mesa Verde National Park.

The last two sections of the book are filled with recipes from the National Parks of the Midwest and East and from the National Parks of Alaska. The recipes she features from the Midwest and the East are the Mile-High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie from Shenandoah National Park and the Fried Fish and Fungi With Creole Sauce from Virgin Islands National Park. As you can see, The National Parks Cookbook really does cover our parks from coast to coast and from sea to shining sea.

The National Parks Cookbook ends with a delightful section filled with recipes from Alaska’s National Parks including Beef Kofta with Chermoula from Denali, and Wild Caught Copper River Red Salmon with Onion Gastrique from Wrangell-St. Elias.

Every inch of this book is beautiful and it is filled with delightful sidebars and historical and cultural introductions to each of the recipes.

If you are a National Parks lover you need to get this book.

If you are a foodie you need to get this book.

If you are a foodie and a National Park’s lover–your really need to get this book!

The National Parks Cookbook is a modern classic in the outdoor cooking category–and it is truly a unique and original book.

Now please excuse us while we try to recreate the Mile-High Blackberry Ice Cream Pie. We are so ready for a slice! If we can’t recreate it we may just head back to Shenandoah National Park for a slice. We want to try it that badly!

The post The National Parks Cookbook: Recipes from Acadia to Zion appeared first on The RV Atlas.

You’ve heard of house flipping, but have you heard of RV flipping? Whether you are interested in renovating used pop-up campers for profit or for personal use, we have some tips for you. Imagine buying the oldest, ugliest, cheapest RV out there and turning it into a beautiful retreat, updated with modern style and amenities.

Lisa and Wes Rice of Rice Camp know this story well. For over seven years, the couple has been buying and flipping used pop-up campers. They share the journey online, giving followers tons of information and inspiration on Instagram, YouTube, and more. While decor design is central to the process, there’s a lot more to know about renovating used pop-ups.

To hear Lisa and Wes give tips for renovating used pop-up campers, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

With so many types of RVs on the market, what draws the Rices to pop-ups? First, pop-ups are open and airy. showcasing the connection to nature. Second, pop-ups are easy to tow and store. They don’t take up too much space in the yard or garage during the renovation process. Plus, this towability appeals to a larger audience of buyers, as most pop-ups don’t require a large tow vehicle. Practically anyone can pull a pop-up.

Pop-up camper renovations are also popular because there aren’t as many new pop-ups on the market. Many manufacturers have discontinued their pop-up lines, instead moving toward the larger travel trailers and fifth wheels. Despite the lack of new pop-ups (or because of it), there is a flourishing market in used pop-ups. A simple search on Facebook Marketplace and similar sites with turn up dozens of used pop-ups for sale.

Plenty of availability in the used market also makes it easy to find a good deal on a used pop-up. Prices are generally reasonable, meaning you won’t have to break the bank to purchase one. Then, if you do flip it, there’s a market of buyers. If you sell at the right time of year (usually spring or early summer), you’ll have plenty of interest and are likely to have a quick sale.

Finally, there’s the fun factor! Pop-up buyers are often pretty excited to get what might be their first camper. Or, they might have fallen in love with the beautiful renovation. At the end of the day, you just want the renovated camper to go to a home where it will be loved.

When selecting a pop-up camper for renovation, Lisa and Wes recommend keeping these tips in mind:

After giving your pop-up purchase a deep cleaning, it’s time to tackle the renovations. Lisa likes to start with the paint. Paint immediately makes a huge difference. Here are some tips for painting a pop-up:

Click play on the media player above to find out Lisa’s favorite colors for painting pop-ups and more tips for renovating used pop-up campers!

Since pop-up campers are so small, one easy way to renovate the flooring is to buy remnants. Check your local hardware and flooring stores, as well as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, and you’ll find lots of leftovers from larger jobs. Since the floors are so small, you don’t need a lot of flooring. Generally, you’ll need just 1-2 boxes.

Also, use LVT flooring. It is lightweight, thin, and water resistance. The Rices recommend avoiding peel-and-stick tiles. Even though these seem appealing, they won’t stick well due to temperature and humidity fluctuations.

When selecting the flooring color, consider having a nice balance between dark and light tones on the floors and cabinets. If your paint color is darker, go for lighter flooring and vice versa. While it’s nice to get a good deal on flooring, it’s better to get the right match than to get a good deal. Don’t hesitate to pay for new materials if that’s what will work for your design.

You’ll be working in a small space and need to do a lot of custom cuts. Make sure to leave room for an expansion gap. You can use paintable PVC trim to cover these. Also, think about the layout so you don’t end up with a very thin strip of flooring in a highly visible spot. And, you may find that the flooring is higher than the threshold at the door. A small bit of trim can help smooth out this transition.

One very important tip: Before installing the flooring, set a piece up against the doors to make sure they can open properly. If your flooring is too thick, you may have trouble opening the fridge and cabinets. And, that’s a big problem!

Your vintage camper is likely to have some vintage cushions! Whether these are tacky or trendy, you may want to replace or modify them to help freshen the space. The Rices’ motto is: If you can fold a present, you can recover a cushion!

If you’re good a sewing, you may want to sew new cushions–however, this does take some skill. Instead, Lisa likes to use the fold-and-staple technique, and Wes recommends using a nail gun with staples to get a firm hold. Check out the Rice Camp YouTube page to learn more of their secrets and to see demos!

Consider vinyl or faux leathers for easy cleaning. Also, again, keep the cushions neutral if you’ve used a bolder paint color. Plus, this keeps the focus on the nature instead of the decor. Complement the outdoors instead of competing with them.

Click play on the media player above to hear the Rices describe their cushion-replacement techniques and more tips for renovating used pop-up campers!

In some pop-up campers, the curtain fringe runs around the whole top of the camper, making this an important part of any renovation. After trying many methods of securing replacement curtains, the Rices developed their own clips, which are available for purchase in the RiceCampShop on Etsy. They have more to come!

There are plenty of cheap ways to get materials for curtains. Lisa has used pre-made curtains, tablecloths, shower curtains, and more. Just add a simple hem, and you are good to go!

Another great tip: Before tossing the old curtains, use them as a template for cutting the new ones.

The Rices want you to know that if they can renovate used pop-up campers, you can, too! It just takes a little practice and a lot of patience. Give Rice Camp a follow on Instagram, YouTube, and Etsy to keep the information and inspiration coming. You can also find them on TikTok, Pinterest, and more! In addition to giving their own tips, they interview other renovators who share their tips and tricks.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out the Silver Moose Restoration and our very own Penny the Pop-Up Renovation.

Thank you to Wes and Lisa for sharing these amazing tips!

The post Tips for Buying and Renovating Used Pop-Up Campers appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Most campers that visit North-South Lake for the first time fall in love with its fragrant wildflowers and pristine waters. The campground here is the most popular in New York State’s Catskill Forest Preserve and it is easy to see why. The campground is beautiful and it is surrounded by lush forests filled with great hiking for a variety of skill levels. You can depart for many of those hikes, including the popular hike to Kaaterskill Falls, directly from your campsite–so there is no need to battle for parking at overcrowded trailheads. This direct access to several of the area’s best trails is one of the campground’s best features.

North-South Lake is not a state park, but it is run by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. This DEC site includes a campground with seven loops and over 200 sites for tents and RV’s. It is also included a popular day use area that encompasses both lakes and both swimming areas. Both campers and day trippers can enjoy swimming, fishing, and kayaking in both of these tranquil and peaceful mountain lakes. We have long believed that New York State is one of the most underrated states in the country for camping–and North-South Lake is just one of the many reasons why.

Loops one through six at the campground wrap around North Lake. Loops five and six have a series of sites that are right on the water. Most would consider them to be the best sites at the campground–but they are also the hardest to reserve. Some of these sites have panoramic views of North Lake while others are more deeply wooded and offer partial views of the water. All of these sites are large and quite desirable. Grab one of them if you can.

Loop seven sits alone above South Lake–but not directly above it. It would take a short walk to get to the water. This loop almost serves as an overflow loop for the campground and it looks like it was added at a later point to increase capacity. That being said it is still pretty and the sites are still big–but it is a further walk away from most of the activities and amenities. Some may prefer this loop for that reason–because it could, hypothetically, be quieter here on busy summer weekends. But it would be our last choice when booking sites at North-South Lake.

If you can’t get a waterfront site then do what we did and get one of the sites on either side of the meandering stream that cuts through loops one, two, and three. Almost every single one of these stream side sites are excellent and we liked them almost as much as the sites that are directly on North Lake. Children can play in the stream and spend hours wandering around and enjoying nature. When we were in early June the stream was a bit low and a little bit buggy. But we used bug spray and were totally comfortable. When the water is running a bit higher in early spring these sites must be absolutely dreamy. We look forward to visiting again earlier in the season.

The amenities at North-South Lake are fairly standard for a public campground in the Northeast. There are no hookups at any of the sites, but there is a dump station, and there are clean restrooms and showers. Some of the restrooms are dated and could use an upgrade–but they are kept clean and most are conveniently located within each loop. The campground also offers canoe and kayak rentals in season, guarded swimming beaches in season, a fishing pier, and horseshoe and volleyball courts.

The trailhead to Kaaterskill Falls can be accessed on the far side of South Lake. Get up early and go if you want peace and quiet. This iconic hike gets crowded–especially on summer weekends. The entire hike is lovely and the waterfall is astonishingly beautiful. Believe it or not, at 260 feet, this is New York State’s tallest waterfall. It is 90 feet taller than Niagara Falls. The entire hike is less than two miles round trip.

There is a viewing platform above the falls, and you can also hike right down to the falls. The hike down to the falls would be challenging for those with mobility issues, We loved hiking down to the falls and spend a good hour lingering there and dipping our feet into the water. This would be a nice place to bring a picnic lunch and stay awhile. But if you do this please pack out all of your trash. We were disappointed to see a lot of garbage left on the trail and in the woods on either side of it. 

There are many other good hikes nearby. The second most popular hike is really more of a short mountain ramble up to the former home of the Catskill Mountain House. This is an easy walk up to a spectacular view that can be enjoyed by hikers of all skill levels. We also love that you can take off for this hike right from your campsite. The trailhead can be accessed right near the volleyball courts on North Lake.

There are two really cool places for food and supplies near North-South Lake. Circle W Market (pictured above) s just a short drive away from the campground and it offers a cute little general store for glampers and fancy campers with organic soaps, local sodas and snacks, and even camping lanterns and supplies from hip companies like Barebones Living. The coffee is good here and so are the sandwiches.

Twilight General Store is right outside of the campground and offers a more down-to-earth old fashioned camp store experience. This store is privately owned, but it basically functions as the camp store for North-South Lake. The have all of the basic camping supplies you could need and they even have replacement parts for classic Coleman lanterns! We loved the old-school vibe here and the ice cream. But you could also pick up study tent stakes, a six pack of beer, and a wide variety of souvenirs that range from corny to classic.

The Overall vibe at North-South Lake was awesome. There were campers of all different kinds at North-South Lake–and even from all over the world. It was so nice to see such a diverse group of people enjoying the great outdoors together. Things didn’t quiet down too early at North-South Lake–but the sites are big enough and private enough that that didn’t matter to us one bit. The sounds of laughter and conversation filled the air until almost midnight–but they blended in with the sounds of nature in a way that charming and far from annoying.

A large group showed up after midnight and blew up a series of air mattresses for about 15 minutes. This woke us up–but we drifted right back to sleep when they were done. The mountain air was cool and refreshing and a light breeze was blowing through the campground all weekend long. We had perfect sleeping weather on both nights of our visit. If you want to go somewhere where quiet hours are strictly reinforced then North-South Lake might not be for you. But if you enjoy sharing the great outdoors with others and don’t mind a little ambient camping noise at night–then this might be your new favorite campground.

We loved every inch of it.

The post Campground Review: North-South Lake in the NY Catskills appeared first on The RV Atlas.

Are you looking to up your burger game at the campground this summer? Then you need to grab a copy of The Great American Burger Book: How to Make Authentic Regional Hamburgers at Home by world-renowned burger scholar and burger impresario George Motz. This terrific book was recently expanded and updated and is fast becoming a classic among foodies and burger aficionados around the world.

The book showcases regional burger styles and cooking methods from around the United States and even has a new section on international burgers inspired by American classics. Each burger gets its own historical and cultural introduction alongside of a recipe with step-by-step directions for making the burgers at home–or in our case–at the campground.

When it comes to making great burgers George Motz believes in keeping it simple and limiting the number of ingredients and tools needed to make your masterpiece. This translates very well for us camp cooks that love delicious food but have limited storage space for hauling gear and ingredients.

To listen to Jeremy interview George about nine of the burgers from The Great American Burger Book click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

To listen to George Motz and Jeremy talk about great burger joints near great campgrounds on the RV Atlas podcast back in 2019–please click here.

For a sneak peek of the burgers that are discussed on this episode of The RV Atlas please keep reading just below.

Here are the burgers that George discusses on the podcast:

As a bonus George also talks about his “Hamburger Stuffing” which sounds pretty darn amazing. Want to find our more about about this recipe or any of the other burgers listed above? Then make sure you pick up a copy of The Great American Burger Book by George Motz. George is an American original and his book is an American classic. You can grab a copy right here.

We hope this episode inspires you to make better burgers at the campground this summer. We also hope that it inspires you to seek out some of the classic burger joints that are highlighted in this book. The great American burger is something you can create yourself at home or the campground with the right technique and the right ingredients–but it is also something you can seek out on a great American road trip. George’s book will inspire you to do both–and give you a roadmap to get there.

We promise.

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