Campground Spotlight
Downtown Riverside RV Park, North Little Rock, Arkansas
Downtown Riverside RV Park is owned by the city of North Little Rock, Arkansas, and managed by the town’s convention and visitors bureau. City leaders are so proud of it that they gathered this past October to recognize its 10th anniversary.
In September 2008, FMCA members gathered for the 35th Six-State Rally on the banks of the Arkansas River. Fred Kennedy, then South Central Area vice president, noted afterward that nearly 900 occupied motorhomes arrived for the event. The crowds attracted the attention of the North Little Rock mayor and the chamber of commerce president. Why not build a permanent RV park along the Arkansas River, they reasoned. It could attract RVers from all over the United States.
It did. The celebration this past fall honored the positive economic impact the park has made on area businesses, such as restaurants, attractions, and shops – estimated at nearly $16 million. Bob Major, current president and CEO of the North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “Here, guests can park on the Arkansas River with a view of the city skyline, watch the river bridges light up at night, ride their bikes on the Arkansas River Trail, and jump on a streetcar to dining and entertainment, all without having to unhitch their Jeep.”
The park earned a 2018 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for consistently positive reviews. More than 40,000 RVers from all 50 states have visited in the past decade, and occupancy has increased by 34 percent in the past five years.
The park is a gated facility with 61 sites and offers 50-amp electric, water hookups, a dump station, a clubhouse with laundry facilities, free Wi-Fi, and free use of a pavilion. It is open year-round. Up to three pets per RV are permitted (must be leashed at all times; see website for details). The park is a commercial member of FMCA and extends members a discounted rate.
Contact:
Downtown Riverside RV Park, C11584
250 S. Locust St.
North Little Rock, AR 72114
(501) 340-5312
www.downtownriversideRVpark.com
App File
Dining
For those times when you really don’t feel like cooking.
Open Table: A key feature is the ability to peruse what time slots are available at the dining spot of your choice, and then book a reservation. You can browse restaurants in an area by cuisine type and price range, look at menus, and check ratings and reviews by other users. Free for iOS and Android. www.opentable.com/m/mobile-apps/.
Yelp: This is many people’s go-to app when searching for restaurants, but it’s also helpful for finding all sorts of businesses, from fuel stations to RV repair shops to veterinarians. Dining choices can be filtered by the type of cuisine you’re craving, as well as price range. You can also specify if you prefer outdoor seating, a full bar, or a kid-friendly atmosphere. Results appear in the order of what’s closest to you. Free for iOS and Android. www.yelp.com/mobile.
Zomato: This app, previously Urbanspoon, offers plentiful search options so you can browse for nearby lunch, dinner, breakfast, and brunch spots, burger joints, doughnut shops, cheap eats, places that deliver or offer takeout, and more. There’s also a nightlife category (bars and such). Searches can be narrowed by price range and other categories. You can rate each spot and read other people’s reviews. Free for iOS and Android. www.zomato.com/mobile.
Wellness
Digital Weight-Loss Solutions
According to wellness industry veteran and consumer health advocate Merilee Kern, putting a high-tech spin on losing weight can make the journey more interactive, hands-on, and successful. She’s identified some tech-savvy solutions featured at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show that claim to help users shed unwanted pounds. Here’s a few from her list.
TRAQ Smart Shoes monitor one’s activity every step of the way.
1. TRAQ Smart Shoes. Ever hear of wearable technology? These “comfort smart shoes” from Alegria enable users to count every step, thanks to the smart Q-Chip embedded in each shoe. Connect to the TRAQ smartphone app to view daily and monthly step activity. And a bonus: The shoe’s batteries are designed to last for the average lifetime of the shoes. (https://www.traqshoes.com)
2. HealthyWage. This app actually pays you to lose weight. Users determine how much they want to lose, how long they want it to take, and how much they want to wager each month. Reach your goal by the end date of your challenge, and win your prize. Join team challenges, jackpot challenges, and step challenges through the app. (www.healthywage.com)
3. Escali Primo Digital Scale. This device measures in increments of 1 gram/0.05 ounce and can weigh up to 11 pounds of food at one time. The scale features two-button controls for ease of use; a protective shield that prevents spills on the control panel; and auto shutoff to prolong battery life. (https://escali.com)
Merilee Kern reports on market innovations, consumer product trends, and more. Visit her website, www.LuxeListReviews.com.
RV Bookshelf
Celebrating The Classics
A look at the enduring appeal of yesterday’s RVs.
For Paul Lacitinola, his first experience with a vintage travel trailer involved a dilapidated Shasta in the backyard of his family’s 5-acre almond orchard in Chico, California. His grandfather was a wannabe gold prospector and had stayed in the trailer at his mine. The RV eventually was retired to the yard at the family home and served as a playhouse for Paul and his two younger brothers during the 1970s.
Paul’s family also collected classic cars, so when he and his wife, Caroline, decided they wanted to go camping with their two young children in 2006, it seemed only natural to buy their neighbor’s 1962 DeVille travel trailer. This would become the first of their vintage RV purchases.
It also launched a new hobby that Paul and Caroline learned others shared, and ultimately to the publication of two books. The first was titled Vintage Camper Trailers. The latest is Vintage Camper Trailer Rallies, which focuses on events where hundreds of classic-RV aficionados come together to show off their trailers and share their love of the hobby.
Vintage Camper Trailer Rallies (Gibbs Smith Publishing; $24.99) includes a history of camping trailers, along with information about groups such as Tin Can Tourists, and even a mention of FMCA. The 192-page hardback book is packed with full-color photos of the exteriors and interiors of vintage trailers. It is available at www.vintagecampertrailers.com and in online bookstores.
Travel
Events Spring Up Along The Natchez Trace
The 2019 Natchez Spring Pilgrimage offers visitors entry into beautiful antebellum homes. These include this Greek Revival home: Stanton Hall, a National Historic Landmark built in 1857 and furnished with original family pieces.
RVers heading back north from their winter quarters in the eastern United States may want to get off the interstate and take a road less traveled — specifically, the Natchez Trace Parkway. This 444–mile highway, administered by the National Park Service, stretches from Natchez, Mississippi, north to Nashville, Tennessee.
Each spring, the roadside glows with bright pink redwood tree blossoms; delicate, white dogwood tree flowers; and countless shades of wildflowers and other flora. And little towns and bigger cities awaken with events that may cause travelers to pause. They include a Passion Play, April 18-20 in Kosciusko, Mississippi; the Blooming Arts Festival, March 22 and 23 in Linden, Tennessee; and the month-long Cheekwood in Bloom event in Nashville (March 7 through April 9).
The 2019 Natchez Spring Pilgrimage offers visitors entry into beautiful antebellum homes. These include this Greek Revival home: D’Evereux , currently undergoing period restoration,
The Natchez Spring Pilgrimage, in Natchez, Mississippi, attracts folks from near and far. The town always offers some historic home tours, but during the Spring Pilgrimage, many more are added to the list. Visitors gain entry to some of the most amazing antebellum mansions in the United States, many of which are only open during this time.
Two dozen Southern mansions, constructed from the late 1700s to the 1860s, are part of the event. Inside are original furnishings and mementos; outside, some even have heirloom horticulture. They represent a wide range of architectural styles: French Plantation, Colonial, Greek Revival, and West Indies. Some are designated National Historic Landmarks.
The Spring Pilgrimage runs from March 16 through April 16, 2019. Tour tickets include a few homes each. You can choose your destinations and your entry time (morning or afternoon), and then drive your own vehicle to see the homes at your leisure. Ample parking is offered. Most sites are within a four-mile area.
Before You Go:
Natchez Spring Pilgrimage
www.natchezpilgrimage.com/spring-tours/
(800) 647-6742, (601) 446-6631
Natchez Trace Info, Interactive Maps, And More:
www.natcheztracetravel.com
National Park Service Natchez Trace website*
www.nps.gov/natr/
www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/rvs.htm
*Be sure to check the second website page for a list of parkway bridge clearances and pull-offs closed to RVs.