2010 Virginia Travel Guide now available

The free 2010 Virginia is for Lovers Travel Guide is now available, featuring stunning photography, insider tips and ideas for RV enthusiasts and other travelers.

The new guide’s commemorative cover spotlights the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Inside, travelers will find information about what's along the route including the best places to visit in 2010 to celebrate 75 years of "America’s Favorite Drive." The 2010 travel guide showcases Virginia’s many hiking and biking trails, state and national parks, fishing, and water and snow sports.

As the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaches in 2011, Virginia’s central role in this important period of American’ history will be front and center. The 2010 travel guide highlights Virginia destinations preparing to commemorate the anniversary. Other guide highlights include Virginia’s four hundred years of history, rich music and cultural heritage sites, movie locations, Virginia Green destinations and hundreds of special events and festivals. The guide also captures the Virginia wine travel experience with info and trip ideas around the state’s nearly 150 wineries.

To request a free copy of the 2010 Virginia is for Lovers travel guide, call 1-800-VISITVA or go to www.Virginia.org, where an electronic version is also available.

Visit Williamsburg, Virginia: Where America Began

Step back into time with a visit to America’s Historic Triangle. Experience this rich history for yourself at Jamestown, the site of the first permanent English settlement and representative government in the New World; at Williamsburg, where the ideas of democracy, liberty and revolution flowered; at Yorktown, where our independence was won with the decisive victory of the Revolutionary War.

Jamestown and Yorktown tell their stories through film, artifact-filled galleries and outdoor living history, these museums engage visitors in nearly two centuries of our nation's history - from the founding of America's first permanent English settlement in 1607 to the decisive Revolutionary War victory in 1781 and implementation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
At Williamsburg, you can walk through time in this reconstructed colonial capitol. Follow in the footsteps of the founders as you walk the same streets they did. Explore history as it comes to life before your eyes.

Besides the history this part of the country also has thrilling theme parks like Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, outdoor activities, and world-class shopping and dining. Check around as there are a number of great packages available that include admission to multiple attractions for a discounted rate.

There are several campgrounds in the Williamsburg area. Anville Campground is the closest to area attractions and the only one to have a shuttle stop from the Williamsburg Area Transport bus service. This service connects visitors to area attractions including Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, Yorktown, Jamestown, shopping and restaurants throughout the city.

Come to Williamsburg. And discover a whole new world.

New Lane Opens on I-95 around DC

Anyone who drives I-95 through or around Washington DC knows there is no end to the traffic, congestion and construction. A little good news came this week. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation a new, fourth lane on Interstate 95 northbound opened. The new lane starts at the U.S. 1 on-ramp near the Woodbridge exit, just beyond the bridge over the Occoquan River. That means Northbound drivers will now have four general traffic lanes on I-95 once they reach Woodbridge.

The new lane can handle an additional 1,500 vehicles an hour along I-95 north. That can save 5 to 10 minutes off the travel time for all drivers, according to VDOT.

This is the first completed section of the $123 million I-95 Fourth Lane Widening Project, a state- and federally-funded expansion of I-95 from three to four lanes from the Fairfax County Parkway to State Route 123.

When finished, I-95 will have four lanes in both directions from the Springfield Interchange to Woodbridge.

First Night Celebrations in New England

Remember the coming of the millennium 10 years ago? Well, the year is about to flip again from a “9” to a “10” ending. If it has been a decade since your last New Year’s blowout (or even if it’s been only a year), it is time to plan the next one. First Night celebrations, small and large, can be found all around New England. The big enchilada is First Night Boston, with tons of fun. For some really chilly but high-quality entertainment, there is First Night Burlington in Vermont. Rhode Island has First Night Newport and Bright Night in Providence. For information, go to VisitNewEngland.com, then to a state home page, then to “Things to Do and See,” and then to “Events – Holidays.”

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Discover Mystic this Holiday Season

Plan a New England Holiday visit in Mystic Country, truly the jewel of New England and make it part of your holiday memories for years to come. Don’t miss these festive events happening in Mystic Country Connecticut.

Through December 27th, Lantern Light Tours at Mystic Seaport - Immerse yourself in an all-new tale of the magic and mystery of Christmas Eve 1876. Stroll a festival holiday village, kick up your heels in a tavern dance, visit with sailors in port for the holiday. Reservations recommended, visit http://www.mysticseaport.org/ for schedule.

Through January 3rd, Twelve Dinosaurs of Christmas, The Dinosaur Place - The second annual "Twelve Dinosaurs of Christmas" fundraising event will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Connecticut. Visit http://www.thedinosaurplace.com/, for more information.

Through December 20th, Broadway Live Christmas 2009, Bradley Playhouse, Putnam - A musical spectacular celebrating the spirit of Christmas and the holidays, visit http://www.thebradleyplayhouse.info/.

On December 20th - Don’t miss, the 54th Annual Community Carol Sing at Mystic Seaport - Bring a canned good for a local charity and receive free admission. Visit www.mysticseaport.org for more information.

Catch exciting holiday shows at Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods, visit http://www.mohegansun.com/ and http://www.foxwoods.com/ for schedules.

Step Back in Time at A.H. Stephens Historic Park in Georgia

Visitors to this quiet park can enjoy camping, fishing, horseback riding and other activities while also learning about a key officer in the American Civil War. Named after the vice president of the Confederacy and governor of Georgia, the park features a Confederate museum with one of the finest collections of Civil War artifacts in Georgia, including uniforms and documents. Stephens’ home, Liberty Hall, is renovated to its 1875 style, fully furnished and open for tours.

At 1,177 Acres the park has 2 Fishing Lakes and a campground that can accommodate 25 Tent, Trailer, RV Campsites (prices range from $21-$23). The park also has 4 Cottages, #1 is dog friendly. There are also 3 Picnic Shelters.

Located just north of I-20 yet surrounded by forest, the park is popular with horseback riders who enjoy 12 miles of trails and camping facilities. The lakeside group camp is a popular location for large overnight gatherings.

Park Hours: 7AM–10PM Office Hours: 8AM–5PM Historic Site Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 9AM-5PM; Closed Monday (except holidays), Tuesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Last tour at 4 PM. Historic Site Admission: $2.75–$4.

http://gastateparks.org/AHStephens

I-40 Detours From Tennessee Due to Rockslides

All areas of North Carolina remain accessible for trips to the mountains, Piedmont or coast despite the rockslide that has caused a detour on Interstate 40 near the North Carolina/Tennessee state line. The detour does not impact access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, nor travel to any destinations in North Carolina except directly from Tennessee.

For information on current road conditions, visitors should check the North Carolina Department of Transportation Traveler Information Management System website at www.ncdot.gov/traffictravel/ or call 511, the state’s free travel information line. NCDOT information can also be followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ncdot.

Additionally, U.S. 64 in Polk County Tennessee is closed at mile marker 17.6 due to a major rockslide near the Ocoee 2 Dam. The roadway will remain closed for several weeks.
Visitors coming to North Carolina from that area of Tennessee are advised to take I-75 to Exit 60 (SR-68, Sweetwater) and follow SR-68 South through McMinn County and into Ducktown in Polk County where 68 meets up with US 64/74 East. For a map of the detour, go to http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/US64rockslide/maps/US64Rockslidemap.pdf. For information on the highway, visitors should check the Tennessee Department of Transportation website at http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/US64rockslide/default.htm.

Image above: I-40 Detour Map

Make a Stop at a Gem of a Park Along the Potomac

Westmoreland State Park lies within Westmoreland County, from which it takes its name. The park extends about one and a half miles along the Potomac River, and its 1,311 acres neighbor the former homes of both George Washington and Robert E. Lee. The park’s Horsehead Cliffs provide visitors with a spectacular view of the Potomac River. In addition to the scenic beauty at Westmoreland, the park offers hiking, camping, cabins, fishing, boating, swimming and fossil hunting. Visitors can enjoy the park’s vacation cabins as well.
The visitor center, open during summer, gives an informative historical and ecological perspective to an important natural area on the coastal plain. Westmoreland also offers the Murphy Hall Conference Center and the Potomac River Retreat, which is an upscale overnight accommodation.

Check out the audio Podcast at this link to learn more about this gem along in Virginia.

Too Cold for a Train Ride: Check out these East Coast Indoor Displays

Maybe you had a train layout around your Christmas tree as a kid or perhaps, like me, you have a permanent display in your basement. Either way, there are a couple of places that took the basement train layout to an extreme here on the east coast.

Roadside America: Located in Shartlesville, PA along interstate 78, is an unforgettable panorama of life in rural United States. The exhibit spans more than two hundred years in time and lets you see, in exquisite miniature, how people lived and worked in pioneer days, through the years since then, right up to the present. The exhibit fascinates not only because of its authentic, beautifully crafted miniatures, but because of the excitement of continual movement. Swift trains glide through tunnels and over bridges, a tiny fountain bubbles in the miniature Zoo, a mountain trolley hustles through the woodland, an old-time grist mill slowly grinds grain for flour. This is only a small part of the action at Roadside America. The trains are “O” gauge.

There is plenty of parking for RV’ers and next store you can visit the Pennsylvania Dutch Gift House. Additionally, there is easy nearby access to the Appalachian Trail near some of the most scenic sections of the trail in Pennsylvania.

There are a number of campgrounds with-in a mile or two of Roadside America including Appalachian Camping Resort which is right across I-78 from the entrance.

Northlandz: Northlandz, bills itself as the world’s largest model railroad. Their trains are mostly “HO” gauge. They are located on US Rt. 202 in Flemington, NJ. They have over 8 miles of “HO” gauge track inside their building. Northlandz is a 16 acre world class attraction. Included in this complex is a doll museum, La Peep Doll House, a 2,000 pipe theater pipe organ and art galleries throughout. You can also check out a video of the display.

Nearby, in Flemington, is Liberty Village Premium Outlets. They feature over 40 outlet stores.
Northlandz has plenty of parking for RV’ers. There are also a number of campgrounds nearby.

Picture Above: A train in Northlandz

North East Camping Suggestions in Winter

For many east coast RV'ers winter means parking your RV until the first flowers of spring. Most campgrounds are closed and driving can be tough, especially after a snowstorm. But there are avid campers, like me, who still want to get away for a weekend even in the dead of winter. For folks who love solitude, winter camping in the East Coast is great. You have campgrounds mostly to yourself and the prices can be lower.

There are a few things to keep in mind – most campgrounds shut off their water to sites after the first frost, and services will be limited, (don’t expect the camp store to carry many supplies.). Here are a few suggested places open in winter:

• French Creek State Park: In Pennsylvania, only 30 minutes to Philadelphia. Sites are well maintained and easy to get into, even for larger rigs.
• Otter Lake: In Marshalls Creek, PA in the Pocono mountains. This private campground is near skiing and has an indoor pool open on weekends. One caution, the road to the campground is winding – so not fun to tackle in snow.
• Normandy Farms: Located near Boston, this is a top of the line four season RV resort with an indoor pool and plenty of winter activities.
• Cherry Hill Park: Located in College Park, Maryland is just 30 minutes outside Washington DC. They provide transportation to DC during peak times but the park is also located with-in walking distance to mass transit.

There are other places. If you have a favorite place to camp in winter in the north east, let us know by adding a comment.

Image above: My children enjoying the indoor pool at Otter Lake.

Visit World’s largest Chocolate Moose

If you are heading north to Maine – make sure you detour to Len Libby Candies in Scarborough, Maine, just south of Portland. They sell handcrafted chocolate and ice cream, but the big draw is Lenny the life size Chocolate Moose (Mousse). Standing eight feet tall and over nine feet from nose to tail, Lenny the Moose is made out of 1700 pounds of chocolate. Unveiled in 1997 he was sculpted in just 4 weeks. There is a video on the Len Libby web site that tells the story of how Lenny the Moose was made along with trivia about Moose in general. They also have a number of Lenny the Moose items available for purchase.

Len Libby Candies first opened for business in 1926. In 1949, Len Libby sold his business to Fernand Hemond who had begun his apprenticeship in the Higgins Beach shop while still in college. From his earliest days with the company, Fern pledged to remain steadfast in his commitment to the shop's original recipes and to the proud traditions of candy-making.

When traveling up to Maine, it’s easy to find Len Libby. From I-95 (Maine Turnpike), take exit 42. Stay straight on Haigis Parkway and take a right onto Route 1 at the lights. Len Libby Candies will be immediately on your right. While there is no designated RV parking, I can tell you from experience that you should be able to find a place to park. Regular Business Hours are Monday - Saturday: 9am-5pm Sunday: 10am-5pm.

Image above: The Hemond Family in front of Lenny the Chocolate Moose.

Maryland State Park passes available for 2010

If you visit Maryland State Parks often, you can save money by purchasing the 2010 Maryland State Park Passport. It costs $75 for Maryland residents or $100 for out-of-staters and may be ordered online.

The pass offers unlimited day-use entry for everyone in a vehicle (up to 10 people) to Maryland's state parks and Cedarville State Forest, unlimited boat launching at most facilities, and a 10 percent discount on state-operated concessions and boat rentals.

For parks with honor box systems, the pass covers entry service charges. The 2010 Passport expires December 31, 2010. Order your pass here.