Travel
Trails To Discovery
For many RVers, the joy of camping is getting off the beaten path and discovering new things. Sometimes, though, the best experiences can be found on the connected path. Throughout the United States and in Canada, similar experiences are strung together to create unique “trails” that stretch throughout a region or even a state. California’s wine country trails through Napa Valley are well known, as is Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail. For those who like to wander, here are a few other traditional and not-so-traditional options:
Hot Food Trails. New Mexico’s Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail (bit.ly/grnchli), which includes nearly 70 restaurants throughout the state, was voted Best Food Trail by USA Today. Mississippi’s Gulf Seafood Trail (bit.ly/MStrail), which spans 360 miles, ranked second, and Louisiana’s Cajun Boudin Trail (bit.ly/cajuntrail), for lovers of spicy sausage, came in third.
Another “Trail Travel” discovery is the Sweet Treat Trail, including the Hershey Chocolate Lab at the Hershey Story Museum.
Sweet Trails. Where better to satisfy a sweet tooth — or teeth — than Hershey, Pennsylvania? The home of the country’s largest chocolate factory is one stop on the Sweet Treat Trail (bit.ly/treattrail) that journeys through Hershey and nearby Harrisburg. Connecticut is also home to some world-renowned chocolatiers, and its Chocolate Trail (bit.ly/CTsweets) includes 20 yummy stops.
Art Trails. In the right hands, glass can be turned into more than just something to drink out of. Indiana’s Glass Trail (bit.ly/INglasstrail) is spread over five counties and features artists who turn regular glass into works of art. It showcases the country’s oldest glassworks, glass museums, and glass classes. What do you do with old wine barrels? In Southern California’s Temecula Valley, they turn them into art. Viewing the 33 hand-painted wine barrels on the Barrel Art Trail (bit.ly/winebarrelart) makes for a good daylong experience.
Nature Trails. Newfoundland and Labrador repurposed old railroad tracks and created the 542-mile walking/biking T’Railway Trail (bit.ly/TRailway), which meanders through forests, cities, and sleepy fishing villages. It passes mountains and oceans, as well as old train stations, converted rail cars, relic trains, and 132 restored trestles. For those who prefer to let the trail meander by them, southwest Virginia has an 18-spot Blue Ridge Highlands Fishing Trail (bit.ly/fishtrail) spread over four counties. Tie your flies for trout, smallmouth bass, and musky.
Diving at the USS Oriskany, part of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail.
History Trails. You’ll have to park your RV for this one. The Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail (bit.ly/FLAshipwrecks) is underwater and covers 20 shipwrecks spread about the Gulf of Mexico to explore during a dive, including an old aircraft carrier. For history buffs, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia all have trails that trace various campaigns or battles as part of the Civil War Trails (bit.ly/CivilWarTrails) network. If you like history that goes back millions of years, the Montana Dinosaur Trail (bit.ly/MTdinos) connects 14 prehistoric sites around the state. You can even participate in a site dig.
App File
Movie Mania
Movie night at the campsite.
Can’t decide which movie to watch? Here are three movie review apps that help you pick and then let you post reviews to help others after you.
IMDb: IMDb is the encyclopedia of movies, with news and reviews of already released films as well as the status of upcoming projects and stars in them. Reviews are provided by both professionals and app users. You can watch trailers, get recommendations, track what you’ve seen, and even order tickets for a nearby theater if you want to make it a night out. Free on iOS and Android.
Movies by Flixster with Rotten Tomatoes: The app combines the online movie site Flixster and movie reviewer Rotten Tomatoes to help you find a movie and watch it. It breaks films down into 17 genre categories and then uses an algorithm to help you pick similar movies — or not, if you thought the last one was worth four rotten tomatoes. Free on iOS and Android.
Redbox: Created by the owners of the DVD vending machines, this app also allows you to stream on demand and to buy used movie discs. It works like the dating app Tinder — swipe right if you’ve already seen it, left if you’re not interested or not sure. Based on your swipes, an algorithm narrows down the films to make it easier for you to decide. You can then use the app to find a Redbox near you. Free on iOS and Android.
Bookshelf
Kid Camping Basics
As summer heats up, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has announced the release of The Kid’s Guide To Camping (Falcon Guides $14.95). Family travel expert Eileen Ogintz offers a fresh, interactive take on camping, including a barrel of tips, tricks, facts, and fun.
Ogintz writes directly to kids in this colorful book. She begins by outlining the types of camping — including RVing, of course. Subsequent chapters help her readers understand what’s involved, with such titles as “Road Trip!” “Setting Up Camp — What’s Your Job?” and “Camping Fun For All Seasons.” It also includes games and puzzles to enjoy.
Scattered throughout the book’s 128 pages are quotes from “KOA Kids” — children of KOA campground owners — who share their own thoughts about camping. Info boxes highlight various topics, including what can be seen in the night sky. Another defines camping lingo, including “snowbird,” “potable water,” and “bear canisters” (those hard-sided food containers that deter nosy bears at national parks). Let ’em learn young.
In addition to books about family travel, Orgintz also writes a nationally syndicated column, “Taking The Kids.” Her website, www.TakingtheKids.com, helps families make the most of their vacations.
In this book, she sets the scene for young campers: “And when you’re done with your adventure of the day, you’ll still have lots of fun — playing cards, helping to cook over an open fire, racing around on your scooter or your bike, kicking around a soccer ball, playing catch, and telling scary stories around the campfire.”
Let’s go!
The Kids Guide To Camping is available from online retailers and also may be purchased at select KOA campgrounds.
Campground Spotlight
Jellystone Park At Mammoth Cave, C12269
Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave offers shady, scenic spots among its 220 campsites, which are available year-round.
Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the most popular destinations in the United States. More than half a million visitors pack the central Kentucky landmark each year, with many of them walking, crawling, or spelunking their way through a sampling of the more than 400 miles of caves that have been explored. It’s one of those classic bucket list locations.
One might think that would be enough to fill nearby campgrounds, and campground owners wouldn’t have to worry about going to any extra lengths to enhance their visitors’ experiences. That may be true at other facilities, but it is clearly not the philosophy of Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave. In fact, the owners go out of their way to make the campground more like an above-ground destination of its own.
The center of the campground is a 2.3-acre swimming lake known as Karst Beach, but it also includes (big deep breath) two swimming pools, a waterslide, splashpad, floating obstacle course, two jumping pillows, five playgrounds, a Gaga ball pit, rope spider web, pedal carts, basketball and volleyball court, mini golf course, amphitheater, and fishing pond. (Whew!) Every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there’s also a themed activity, which continues on the weekends during nonpeak months, including six — six! — Halloween-themed weekends.
“We want to create family-friendly activities and an atmosphere that brings the family together to create lasting memories,” said campground president Emily Moss. “We want to create those same memories year after year.”
The efforts were enough to garner it Park of the Year in 2019 by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, as well as the Jellystone Camp-Resort of the Year in 2019. It’s the third-oldest campground of the 75 in the Jellystone Park franchise and has been family-owned since 2004.
The campground has 220 RV sites. Some are primitive; others are “ultimate sites,” with a paved pad and patio, charcoal grill, ADA fire ring, shepherd’s crook, two-person glider, and upgraded picnic table. Plus, 93 cabins are available. The campground stays open all year, although the water-based activities stop at Labor Day.
The campground also is a good central point for visiting other nearby attractions, including the Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo — pet a kangaroo — and Adventures of Mammoth Cave, which includes a zipline, aerial course, horseback riding, and canoe and kayak paddling. Or, just hang out, because Yogi, Cindy, and Boo Boo are always walking around looking to see what’s in your pic-a-nic basket.
Details
Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave
950 Mammoth Cave Road
Cave City, KY 42127
(270) 773-3840
www.jellystonemammothcave.com