Texas Offers Plenty Of RV Destinations

The Lone Star State is filled with RV adventure according to Keven Ann Willey in a The Dallas Morning News feature story.

Texas has over 120 state parks, with two dozen within a two-hour drive of Dallas, and RV parks ranging from the simple to the luxurious. Texas state parks experienced more than 9 million visits in 2007.

It not just retirees and the wealthy who go RVing. Willey reports that the typical RV owner is 49 years old, married, with an income of $56,000.

Source: The Dallas Morning News

Couple shares their RV journey to the Panama Canal

The American Statesman features a story on one couple's RV journey across Central America to visit the Panama Canal.

Harriet and John Halkyard share how they took their RV from Houston, Texas on a trek across Mexico and Central America, ending at the "Bridge of the Americas" that spans the Panama Canal.

The Halkyard's RV trip had its bumpy moments dealing with unpaved roads, mountain and jungle climates, and finding gas.

You can read more about Harriet and John Halkyard at 99daystopanama.com

Source: American Statesman and 99daystopanama.com

Campers enjoy the Hamptons for cheap

The Hamptons, towns of Southampton and East Hampton on the South Fork, Suffolk County, New York on the east end of Long Island, are famous for pricey real estate and vacationing celebrities.

The New York Times reports that the Hamptons also boast "the finest campgrounds in the Northeast, like Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton and Hither Hills State Park in Montauk."

Parks like Cedar Point and Hither Hills offer vacations in the Hamptons for modest camping fees, far cheaper than vacation cottages that can cost thousands.

Camping may not feature the pampering of an expensive resort, but Hamptons campers do bring their high-end camping gear to get the most out of outdoor life.

Source: The New York Times

NASA's concept for "Moon RV" boldly goes where no RV has gone before

Image source: NASA

Future astronauts could explore the moon's surface in comfort from an RV-like lunar rover.

This concept for a new lunar rover was revealed by NASA at the Space 2007 conference in Long Beach, California.

While first lunar rovers were open to space, requiring the driver to wear a spacesuit, the new lunar rover is a rolling habitat for astronauts: climate controlled and loaded with features...like any good RV should be.

The two spacesuits on the side are connected to the rover. Astronauts can climb into the suits to examine rocks and features on the surface, then climb out without the hassle of having to unpressurize the rover.

This lunar RV is just a concept for now. The real version could look much different.

No word if there will be new laws on the moon to restrict rover parking in front of lunar bases.

Image source: NASA

Souce: Wired Blogs, Space.com, and NASA

One family's RV road adventure in Utah

The Fortune Small Business site on CNN.com features the story of a family trip across Utah.

Taking a break from the stress of their busy lives, writer Eilene Zimmerman and her family rented an RV and left behind the cell phone and TV for 5 days of travel.

The article describes how the family planned their trip and the destinations they visited in Utah, including Snow Canyon and Zion National Park.

Winter Texans start returning home

The Browsville Herald features a story on the departure of Winter Texans from an RV park.

Winter Texans are RVers from all over the US and Canada who flock to Texas as their refuge from frigid winter temperatures. Many Texas RV parks cater to Winter Texans by offering activities and meals.

As weather warms up, the Winter Texans return home...till next year.

Are you a Winter Texan? Do you have a favorite RV park in Texas where you wait out the winter? Leave a comment and tell us your story.