Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Page 1 Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Table of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1: The Pacific Coast States 2 Chapter 2: The Northern Midwest States 6 Chapter 3: The Mountain States 9 Chapter 4: States Surrounding the Great Lakes 13 Chapter 5: Southern States West of the Mississippi 18 Chapter 6: Southern States East of the Mississippi 21 Chapter 7: East Coast Delaware to Virginia 25 Chapter 8: East Coast from North Carolina to Florida 29 Chapter 9: Middle Atlantic States 32 Chapter 10: New England 35 Conclusion 38 Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Page 1 Introduction “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” - SAINT AUGUSTINE When traveling the United States in your RV, the journey and the destination can be seen as one and the same. The roads you travel merely connect the many sights and sounds that cover this great land of ours. The options are plentiful, but without a proper guide, you could spend your days driving around with no real place to go. This e-book will highlight the many sights and sounds available to you as you make your way across the United States, experiencing the majesty and splendor of our great country. Explore the road less traveled with new and exciting state parks featuring an abundance of wildlife and activities, such as fishing, hiking, and camping under the stars. Discover quaint coastal towns packed to the brim with beautiful beaches and fun activities, such as whale watching and surfing. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Page 2 Chapter 1: The Pacific Coast States The Pacific Coast of the United States hosts some of the most popular vacation destinations in the country. Washington, Oregon, and California offer RV enthusiasts unlimited opportunities for idyllic outdoor adventures. The choice is yours. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Chapter 1: The Pacific Coast States Page 3 Washington Washington State has several options for outdoor enthusiasts – magnificent mountains reach- ing 14,000 feet into the sky, beautiful rainforests, graceful rolling rivers, and endless miles of oceanfront beaches. Explore Washington by driving along the Cascade Range, from Olympic National Park to North Cascades National Park. This 200-mile trek offers exceptional beauty through the flora and fauna living within this majestic mountain range. Measuring more than 600 miles, the trails of Mount Rainier National Park are well known for their alpine wildflower meadows, dense forests, glacial runoff, and gossamer waterfalls. Visitors who are drawn to Washington for the water will like Westport Beach near Seattle, which has a family-friendly atmosphere that appeals to surfers and beach dwellers alike. Overall, Washington State provides exceptional opportunities for visitors to enjoy nature. Pop- ular activities include hiking, biking, scuba diving, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, strolling along the beach, observing marine and wildlife, and riding on horseback. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Chapter 1: The Pacific Coast States Page 4 Oregon Continuing down the Pacific coastline, many visitors will appreciate the warmer temperatures, the Lewis and Clark expedition at the Columbia River Gorge, and the numerous relaxing destinations brimming with local flavor. On a clear day, it is possible to see 40 miles out into the ocean as the water spans along more than 150 miles of Pacific coastline around Cape Perpetua. Equally fascinating is the display of water that sprays up into the air from the Devil’s Churn and Spouting Horn. In the Nestucca Bay area, visitors can enjoy a relaxing ride in a kayak or canoe. In the Sitka spruce forests, 300-year-old trees are nestled among crystal-clear waterfalls and brilliant wildflowers. The wonder of Oregon’s nature continues through its protected wetlands and the Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge. Sand dunes anyone? Come rent a dune buggy at the Umpqua Dunes. The glorious sand mountains reach up to 500 feet – just before they plunge into the Pacific Ocean. The entire state of Oregon offers popular historical and natural attractions as well as secret getaways. Which one will become your new favorite? Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Chapter 1: The Pacific Coast States Page 5 California Many would consider California to be paradise on earth. The combination of perfect weather, the beautiful Sierra Mountains, and endless beaches leave visitors in awe. Traveling down the coastline is a good way to get the most from your trip. Some RV travelers recommend driving from Channel Islands National Park to Sequoia National Park, where miles of lavender fields, pine forests, and citrus orchards await. Another popular spot is Kings Canyon National Park, where hikers can ponder their existential purpose while studying granite, trout-filled lakes, ancient bristlecone pines, and glacier-carved valleys. Whether you wish to spend your time whale-watching, surfing, or watching the sun rise and set over the Pacific, California will not disappoint. City dwellers will find authentic cuisine and culture in the center of every city – LosAngeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. There is no limit to the fun activities, organized tours, and unencumbered wilderness in boundless, sunny California. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Page 6 Chapter 2: The Northern Midwest States If you are looking for a wild, outdoor adventure, you will surely enjoy the northern states that lie just west of the Mississippi. At first look, this region may appear to offer only land-based activities because (except for Minnesota, which borders Lake Superior) North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Iowa are all landlocked. However, this region is adorned with hundreds of lakes, rivers, and streams. Year round, visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, and other fun outdoor activities. Let’s take a look at a few of them. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Chapter 2: The Northern Midwest States Page 7 Lake Metigoshe State Park A quiet spot for a lakeside vacation lies at the Canadian border in North Dakota. Biking on paved or mountain bike trails, hiking, fishing, canoeing, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing are just a sampling of the activities available. Lake Metigoshe is a relaxing getaway in which to enjoy the great outdoors. Custer State Park In South Dakota, the spectacular granite peaks at Custer State Park present a pronounced challenge for rock climbers. Beyond the cliffs, 70,000 acres of land invite you to hike, bike and horseback ride. In the summer months, visitors swim, boat, and jet ski on the lakes. One of the most popular attractions is the abundant wildlife. Custer State Park is home to 1,300 bison, as well as pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, and a variety of fish. Niobrara State Park Did you know the word “Nebraska” is derived from a Native American word that means flat water? Nebraska’s Niobrara State Park is situated on the Niobrara River near the point that joins the Missouri River at the state’s northern border. Although swimming, fishing, and boating on the river are quite popular, the park also features many other outdoor recreation options, such as horseback riding, hiking, and watching the resident white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, beavers, muskrats, minks, and many species of birds. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Chapter 2: The Northern Midwest States Page 8 Pomona State Park Traveling with children? Pomona State Park in Kansas is a family favorite. It offers visitors more options than you can imagine for outdoor recreation. The well-shaded campsites provide a pleasant home base for the 490-acre park. While dad takes the boat out onto the 4,000-acre Pomona Reservoir, the kids can swim, play volleyball or basketball, or just romp around on the playground. In addition, families may enjoy horseshoes, disc golf, or an afternoon picnic. Flandrau State Park Looking for a winter wonderland? Flandrau State Park in southern Minnesota is an ideal destination for relaxing fun in the great outdoors. Guests of all ages will enjoy ice skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing. But the fun doesn’t stop there! In the summer months, the park also provides opportunities for swimming, volleyball, playing on the playground, and hiking. The prized feature is the Big Cottonwood River, which runs through the park and provides breathtaking scenery and wildlife habitats. Backbone State Park Iowa’s first state park gets its name from the meandering ridge of bedrock carved by the Maquoketa River, known as the Devil’s Backbone. The outdoor activities available at Backbone State Park are limitless. The river dam forms Backbone Lake where visitors can enjoy boating and trout fishing. No matter the weather, 21 miles of trails are available for mountain biking, bicycling, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and much more. Rock climbers specifically will enjoy climbing and rappelling from Backbone’s rugged dolomite limestone cliffs. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Page 9 Chapter 3: The Mountain States Numerous attractions in the mountain states draw thousands of tourists each year. According to the United States Census Bureau, the mountain states include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Exploring all of this region’s attractions could occupy RV travelers for the rest of their lives! We will cover just a few of the national parks in the region to give you a taste of the outdoor activities they offer. Fantastic RV Destinations Across the U.S. Chapter 3: The Mountain States Page 10 Yellowstone National Park America’s first national park was established in 1872 to preserve the thousands of naturally occurring geysers, such as Old Faithful. The park covers the upper northwest corner of Wyoming with portions extending into Idaho and Montana.