Long Week-end with the Kids? Visit the Place Where Crayon’s Were Made!

Located in Easton, Pennsylvania along the New Jersey border, the Crayola Factory has something for everyone. You’ll be immersed in color and creativity – a place where there's no limitation to creativity and imagination. You can color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products without the worry of cleanup afterwards. Each creative space invites you to play and explore while learning and having lots and lots of fun. See how Crayola Crayons and Markers are made. Learn about the history of the Crayola brand. Explore dozens of interactive projects and activities. This is not the real manufacturing plant, but instead a visitor center that allows the child inside each person to unleash its creative spirit. Each quarter, themes and projects change, giving visitors a variety of projects to create throughout the year.

Doors open at 9:30 a.m and that's the best time to visit. The Crayola FACTORY begins to get crowded between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so early arrivals have the best experience. Enjoy The Crayola FACTORY during this very festive holiday season. Holiday events celebrated in December include:
· December 1 - 31: Celebrate Christmas and decorate a Christmas ornament.
· December 12 - 19: Celebrate Hanukkah and decorate a Dreidel.
· December 26 - 31: Celebrate Kwanzaa with fun holiday art projects.

Light Up Your Holiday Around Washington DC

If you live around the Washington DC area or are passing through on your annual migration south, this time of the year offers several options for touring drive through Holiday Light shows.

• “Bull Run Festival Of Lights” in Clifton, Virginia is open daily through Jan. 10 from about 5:30pm every evening. This 2 1/2 -mile drive-through display features more than 75,000 lights. It is located in Bull Run Regional Park


• “Light On The Bay” runs through January 3rd from 5:00pm to 10:00pm It features a two-mile drive-through holiday light show with more than 70 displays. This display is in Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis.


• “Symphony Of Lights” in Symphony Woods, Columbia, Maryland is open through January 3rd from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. The tour has more than 70 larger-than-life, animated and stationary light creations


• “Winter Festival of Lights” in Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is open through January 3rd from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Here you will see animated displays created from 1 million twinkling lights in a drive through the park. Canned goods are collected for local food banks.

There are several campgrounds open year-round in the DC to make your stopover convenient.
Check with each festival for specific pricing and details.

Take a video tour of Virginia's State Parks

So, you might ask, what is there for an RVer to do in Virginia? Well, one thing is to visit one (or more) of its 35 state parks, which extend from the mountains to the sea. In this eight minute video, tour some of these parks without leaving the comfort of your comfy computer chair, and learn more about why Virginia calls its sanctuaries "The Treasures of the Commonwealth."

Light up your holidays visiting Thomas Edison

When trying to convince potential patrons to fund work on the phonograph, the motion picture and other projects, Thomas Edison welcomed them into a high-ceiling, book-filled space with lamplight aglow on the wood of shelves and the railings of second- and third-story galleries. His visitors already respected him as the man behind practical electric lighting. Yet to people who had never been able to hear, on a whim, their favorite songs in the comfort of their own homes, this American wizard’s latest endeavors must have sounded like solid investments or at least intriguing possibilities.

Today, you can visit Edson's former haunts at Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey. The elegant library still greets visitors, as does the rest of the newly renovated laboratory complex and the Edison family’s nearby estate.

SHORT OF ENTERING EDISON'S MIND for a peek at his inventions in the form of ideas, you can follow them through various stages of development. The drawings in the drafting room would have functioned like DNA, providing guidance as the raw materials in Edison’s stockroom were brought together into new pieces of technology. The heavy machine shop and the precision machine shop delivered the brainchildren of Thomas Alva, whose progeny also sprung forth from the chemistry lab – a world of ovens and tubes reminiscent of the Centre Pompidou or the workshop of a techno-crazed Santa Claus and his elfin geeks; the pattern shop, whence came wooden models of Edison’s devices; and a rebuilt version of the world’s first movie studio, the Black Maria.

Before or after visiting the birthplace of the cinema and recorded sound, tour the Victorian home that Edison shared with his second wife and his flesh-and-blood children, Madeleine, Theodore, and Charles. Beginning November 27, the halls of Glenmont will be decked with poinsettias, greens, bows, wreaths, and a 10-foot tree. Holidays at Glenmont tours will be offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon until 4 p.m., November 27, 2009, through January 3, 2010. Additional holiday tours will be offered on Wednesday and Thursday, December 30 and 31.

Photo: Thomas Edison with is family at the back porch of Glenmont.

Stone Mountain Park Offers Camping Package

Located just 30 minutes north east of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park is a great place to visit. Use it as a destination vacation or as a base to explore Atlanta.

The park covers 583 acres. Its centerpiece is a solid granite mountain 825 feet tall that towers over the surrounding area 1,683 feet above sea level. On the face is the Memorial Carving which depicts three Confederate heroes of the Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee and Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The carving measures three acres, larger than a football field and towers 400 feet above the ground and is recessed 42 feet into the mountain.

Besides the carving and the mountain, the park offers plenty to see and do including hiking trails, an aerial tram to the top, a train the circles the mountain, laser light shows in summer, shops, an Antebellum Plantation and Farmyard and much more.


There is a hotel in the park along with a 452 site campground.

For the Holiday season, the park is offering a special “Camping/Tickets/Christmas Package.” From $115 and up you get:
· Two (2) nights at any full or partial hookup campsite
· Up to four (4) two-day All Attraction Passes including Stone Mountain Christmas
· One (1) bundle of firewood
· A S'mores Snack Pack
· 2-Day golf cart rental (Premium Package ONLY)
Additional nights & tickets can be purchased separately. Packages must be booked more than 3 days before arrival. Full details can be found on the Stone Mountain web site.

For winter operating schedule click here.

New England’s Largest RV Show Comes to Boston

January may be cold and bitter in the East Coast, but it’s a great time to visit the Bayside Expo Center in Boston, for the New England Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association’s Boston RV & Outdoor Show. The Expo will feature over 240,000 square feet of contiguous floor space displaying the latest models in recreation vehicles, fifth wheels, travel trailers, pop-up campers, camping supplies, accessories, campgrounds and travel information centers. There is no better location in New England for families to explore their camping needs, activities and destinations.

The expo will run from Friday, January 15th, 2010 through Monday, January 18th. Discount coupons are available on-line.

Get In The Christmas Spirit; In Hershey!

Looking for a fun week-end getaway central to East Coasters? The magic and spirit of the holidays come to life in the little town that chocolate built. Hershey, Pennsylvania is a magical place at Christmas. The whole town lights up and joins in the celebration. Your first stop should be Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. They have a million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, and great festive decorations that anyone would love! Candylane is open almost every day through New Year’s – but it’s best to check their web site for specific times and events. There is plenty of parking for even the largest Motorhome.

Also, don’t forget to take a drive through downtown Hershey where the lampposts are literally shaped like Hershey Kisses. While driving, you can also enjoy the holiday lights drive-thru called Hershey Sweet Lights. They have nearly 600 illuminated and animated displays you view from the comfort of your car as you drive through two miles of fields and wooded trails. RV’s and buses are permitted but in past years they could only drive part of the display. If you plan to drive your RV – it’s best to call and ask.

Nearby, Hershey’s Highmeadow Campground is open year round – depending on capacity they may even run a free shuttle over to Candylane. The campground is owned and run by Hershey and is less than a mile from the park.

Watch Eagles in Kentucky

The Kentucky State Park’s are once again hosting Eagle Watch Weekends in January and February of 2010. According to the State Parks web site, American Bald Eagles gather around the major lakes of Western Kentucky and South-Central Kentucky as they look for food during the winter.

The tours take place at four parks during weekends in January and February. Depending on the park you may travel on an excursion yacht, barge, pontoon boat or van. All tours are led by state park naturalists.
Prices range from $20 to $55 a person and last about 3 hours.

Details for the tours are:
· January 15-16; January 22-23; February 5-6 at Dale Hollow State Resort Park
· January 15-17 at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
· January 29-31 at Lake Barkley State Resort Park
· February 5-7 at Kenlake State Resort Park

Contact the parks directly for registration and details.

Lay-offs By State of PA. To Impact Parks

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the State of Pennsylvania will lay off 319 more employees across 10 state agencies, bringing to 769 the total number of government jobs cut over the past year. The State is blaming the tough economy and deep budget cuts. The majority of the latest cuts are in environmental protection and state parks.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which runs State parks, will be cutting back on educational programs and shortening seasonal hours at pools, beaches, and campgrounds.

Reductions at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, means suspending services at six historic sites, closing the state museum in Harrisburg two days a week, and eliminating all new exhibit spending. The educational programs and other services at these historic sites will be discontinued and buildings mothballed.

Conservation Goups Buy Major Parcels in Maine

According to the Bangor Daily News, a coveted tract of land stretching from Moosehead Lake to Baxter State Park has been placed under permanent protection from development.

The Appalachian Mountain Club purchased nearly 30,000 acres of land along 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail and The Nature Conservancy purchased 15,000 acres of the Moose River Landscape. With the deal, more than 650,000 contiguous acres are protected between Moosehead Lake and the northernmost section of Baxter State Park.

The easements will be held by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Budget Challenges in Massachusetts, Prompt Search for New Ways to Manage State Parks.

Massachusetts, Governor, Deval Patrick has asked the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to get public input on options for changes in administrative structures and programs to meet environmental goals in light of the State's budget challenges.

From a State Park standpoint, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Commissioner Rick Sullivan is looking to see if there is potential for greater sharing of responsibility for the management and operation of DCR properties with other public and private entities.

The EEA has scheduled six “listening sessions” and is also looking for comments in writing. Details on the locations and times for the listening tour and ways to comment can be found on the EEA web site.

Catch New York City’s Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade

The 83rd annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks-off Thanksgiving Day at 9:00 am in New York City. If you've always wanted to see the parade in person instead of on TV, a little planning should make your life easy. First, note that this year’s route has been changed. Instead of marching down Broadway the parade will head down 7th Avenue. According to the official parade web site, plan to get there early for the best viewing spots and note that the city will not allow the use of folding chairs.

Keep in mind New York City is not a place to try and drive a Motor Home. Use Park and Ride lots outside the city to park your camper and drive in with your car. Also, in New Jersey, Liberty Harbor RV Park is open all year. The Park has views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. It provides easy access to the ferry’s to New York and is only 5 blocks from the PATH subway line into lower Manhattan. Call to confirm availability and the transit schedule for Thanksgiving week-end.

Another alternative is to drive your dingy through the Lincoln Tunnel and park in the Port Authority Garage right as you exit the tunnel. There are also plenty of other parking garages around the city and traffic should be relatively light on Thanksgiving Day. A great resource is the Icon Parking Web Site which lists locations for all their garages along with prices and coupons if available.

Pets May Get More Access to Maryland State Parks

The Maryland State Park Service is considering pet policy changes at parks across the state. If approved, people would be able to take their dogs to more campgrounds, trails and day use areas in the park system. The Maryland Park Service is accepting public comments on the proposed pet policy until Monday, Nov. 30. To read the proposed policy and comment go to: http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/petpolicy/comment.asp

After the comments are reviewed, Park Service Superintendent Nita Settina will decide whether to approve the changes. If approved, Park Service officials hope to have the changes in place by late winter or early spring.

Maryland State Parks Adjust Holiday Schedule For Service Reduction Days

It looks like Maryland's state parks are another victim of on-going state budget shortfalls. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Maryland State Parks and other public lands managed by the State will be closed during service reduction days for the 2009 holiday season, as part of the State’s Furlough and Temporary Salary Reduction Plan. Public use parking lots, buildings and other facilities will not be available on those days. State parks will remain open on Thanksgiving, Native American Appreciation Day and New Years Day. The Holiday closing schedule is as follows:

• November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving) –State service reduction day
• December 24 (Christmas Eve) –State service reduction day
• December 25 (Christmas Day) – Holiday
• December 31 (New Years Eve) - State service reduction day

All state park camping and cabin reservations will be honored on those days. Law enforcement personnel (Maryland Park Service Rangers and Natural Resources Police) will be on duty during the holidays and service reduction days.

South Carolina Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests to Waive Fees on Veterans Day

According to the USAToday, the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests in South Carolina will waive fees and charges at recreation sites and trails on Nov. 11, in celebration of Veterans Day. Fees at all-day use (including motorized trail fees) and overnight camping sites will be waived, except for camping facilities included in the National Reservation System. More information about this National Forest click here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/

I-95 Construction Update

For anyone heading south this fall, construction on I-95, the east coast’s main north south artery, seems to be at an all time high, thanks in part to stimulus dollars. The stretch just north of Baltimore is especially bad. It’s best to travel through this very busy corridor after 10:00am and before 3:00pm if possible. Some of the work is being done at night so evening travel can be disrupted. For up to the minute traffic updates you can check out the I-95 Information Guide.

East Coast Fall Color Update

The forecast for the East Coast this week-end is for perfect fall weather! Great timing to get out and check the changing forests. Peak season is almost over along most of the north east but further south into North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee there is still a colorful show going on. For up to date information, The US Forrest Service monitors fall colors. Time to get out one more time before the winter really gets here.