RV Living & Travel

If you followed my tips for storing your camping gear over the winter, then all of your gear is safely stowed away, and it’s time to start getting your camping gear ready for spring. Your sleeping pad (or pads, in my case) is another important piece of gear to ready for camping season. This is also a good time to make sure you still have the repair kit for your sleeping pad or a good time to order a new one. As you can see, if you properly store your camping gear at the end of the season, then preparing your camping gear for spring camping trips is a piece of cake!

Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Visitors to the three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park find the dramatic scenery and recreational opportunities awe-inspiring. The Enchanted Highway is a collection of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures constructed at intervals along a 32-mile stretch of two-lane highway in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of North Dakota. North Dakota is the ONLY state in the country to have a National Park named after a president, Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Opening Spring 2021 Heritage Landing in Bismarck will feature a full restaurant and bar and a 4,000-square-foot deck overlooking the Missouri River and the dock for the Lewis and Clark Riverboat in Bismarck.

Today’s guest is Ciara Rounds, Global Media & Public Relations Representative for the South Dakota Department of Tourism. It’s a state that isn’t defined by one thing – though there is something that people tend to focus on when considering a South Dakota vacation… I-90 stretches the width of South Dakota and with five National and State Scenic Byways covering hundreds of miles make it the perfect road tripping state. South Dakota has 56 State Parks and recreation areas and 6 National Parks Service sites, so there is a lot of opportunity for wide open spaces and outdoor adventure.

So that used to be the story that people would kind of think negatively about Michigan because the only thing they’d ever heard were bad news stories coming out of our biggest city, a city that had gone through, you know, decades of challenge and transition because of a change in the world economy. At the same time, the rest of the state probably was a little bit ahead of Detroit in kinda, you know, getting ready for that next, who we are. Where the lower peninsula, a lot of people like to go to the UP to experience the out of doors temporarily and then kind of go back to their city environments later. It’s the kind of place you need to be there for at least a couple of nights to kind of get the sounds of life out of your mind, to really take in the sounds of the clip plops of the horses as they’re carrying people down the roads.

Mankato – Minneopa State Park is known for live bison as well as waterfalls that are easy to access Voyageurs National Park – Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Voyageurs National Park (VNP) are new places certified by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) in 2020. Voyageurs National Park also joined the ranks as a newly certified International Dark Sky Park, offering primetime night sky viewing. The Twin Cities – not just the Mall of America, which we’re known for, but so many museums, attractions, and parks…I’m part of a “Hiking Minnesota” Facebook group where I’ve learned about hidden waterfalls, caves and canyons right here in the Twin Cities.

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If you are planning a trip to this state park or would like to return to this spot, here are some things that will help you to map out your itinerary and make the most of your time! If you start at Indian Falls, you can hike along the yellow trail going down along the river and hook back into the green trail and work back toward Indian Falls. This hike was my favorite because of the sounds of the river and the challenge of the rocky trail as we went deeper into the trail. This is also a good trail to enjoy a picnic lunch or a snack to enjoy the sights and sounds as you go!

A good mid layer, like a fleece pullover, will trap air near your body, allowing your body to heat up the trapped air. Like the shell layer, a good set of pants for winter hiking should keep the wind and water out. For hiking, we will wear a base layer under our pants but rarely wear any sort of mid layer. They aren’t great for super cold temperatures but they work like a champ when you need to keep that bitter wind off your face.

It’s located within walking distance of the Hepburn Mineral Springs Reserve but also has its own spa in the hotel. If you love going to the spa, Daylesford is the place to be as it’s undoubtedly the spa capital of Victoria. Mount Franklin is one of Australia’s most popular drinking water brands, and you’ll get to taste the water free from the source! Lake House is one of the most famous restaurants in Daylesford, located inside of the Lake House Hotel with incredible views of Lake Daylesford.

I find that these habits make for better hikes and outdoor activities as well as just basic consistency in our diet at home and on the road. And if romaine doesn't tickle your fancy, be a rebel and use some arugula or just plain ole iceberg. One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it lends itself well to substitutions and changes based on personal tastes preferences and dietary needs. Crunchy Romaine Toss is a hearty and satisfying salad on its own, but you can easily add a protein of your choice for a complete meal.