Tag Archives: travel blog

campground review: Pony Express RV Resort in Salt Lake City

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Pool at Pony Express

Go for a swim at the Pony Express RV Resort.

Why camp here? There are lots of reasons to visit Salt Lake City. It was just a stopover for us this time due to other time commitments, but we hope to stay longer next time to explore the area. The 35-acre Temple Square, the most-visited attraction in the state, is top of the list of places I’d like to see. I also want to tour the Territorial Statehouse  since we enjoyed our visit to the Wyoming Territorial Prison so much. There’s a nice list of locals’ favorites on the Visit Salt Lake website, including the Epic Brewing Company and Tony Caputo’s regional market with, get ready for this, a state-of-the-art cheese cave, old-world butcher shop and the nation’s largest selection of ultra-premium chocolate. A cheese cave and ultra-premium chocolate? Count me in! Continue reading

colorado cheeseburgers i love

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Horsefly Brewery

A couple of 50/50 burgers, a Six Shooter and a Bug Eyed Blonde at Horsefly Brewing Co. in Montrose.

Happy National Cheeseburger Day! In honor of this national holiday (it is a holiday, right?), here are my five favorite Colorado cheeseburgers, in no particular order. Continue reading

campground review: Blue Ox RV Park

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Springhill Winery

One of the many perks of camping in the Willamette Valley. This is at the Springhill Winery.

Why camp here? This was one of three stops during our trip through Oregon. We visited places that were new to us and chose Albany because it’s close to my cousin and his family. Boy, did we luck out. It’s smack dab in the Willamette River Valley!

The Blue Ox RV Park is located close enough to I-5 to be really convenient, but not close enough to hear the traffic. There are lots of stores, services and restaurants nearby, plus the Timber Linn Park with paved walking trails, bike lanes and the nicest dog park I’ve ever seen. Continue reading

month 2: getting the hang of it

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State map

We’ve visited seven states in our first two months on the road.

Wow, our second month on the road flew by! We covered a lot of ground, visited some wonderful places, learned some things and spent time with family. Seems like we’re getting the hang of this full-timing gig.

Here are the facts and figures, the highs and the lows, and some random fun stuff from our first two months on the road. We’ve… Continue reading

life’s a beach in charleston, oregon

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On the beach at the Oceanside RV Resort in Charleston, Oregon

On the beach at the Oceanside RV Resort in Charleston, Oregon

Camp on the beach on the Oregon coast? Yes, please! Let me tell you, a week at the Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort in Charleston was a treat.

Our campsite wasn’t actually on the beach, but it was just about a quick walk and we could hear the ocean from inside the camper. I love falling asleep to the sounds of the waves hitting the shore almost as much as I love walking on the beach. Getting to do both every day for a week was wonderful. If you’re wondering, those are my shoes and that’s my glass of wine, but that’s not us walking on the beach. Continue reading

campground review: Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort

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The beach at Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort.

The beach at Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort.

Why camp here? I think the name explains why! The Oceanside Beachfront RV Resort resort is located on the beach at Coos Bay in Charleston, Oregon. We can’t see the ocean from our site, but we can hear the waves and the foghorn from the Cape Arago Lighthouse, and can walk to the beach in less than two minutes. There are tent sites that are actually on the sand. Continue reading

a summertime visit to leadville and twin lakes

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Lunch at the Twin Lakes Inn.
The gardens at the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin in Leadville, Colorado.
Our campsite at the Whitestar Campground in Twin Lakes, Colorado.

 

Here are a few photos from our stay in Leadville and Twin Lakes in July. Such a beautiful place to spend a week. Read my campground review for more details. Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more Tales From the Empty Nest. Continue reading

campground review: White Star Campground at Twin Lakes, Colorado

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Whitestar Campground at Twin Lakes

White Star Campground at Twin Lakes

Why camp here? Tucked away in the San Isabel National Forest on the banks of the Twin Lakes Reservoir, the scenery alone makes it a destination in and of itself. Throw in the largest glacial lakes in Colorado, excellent fishing and proximity to Leadville, Buena Vista and Aspen via Independence Pass, and the better question is “why not camp here?” There are trails for hiking, biking and OHVs, boat tours to the historic Interlaken Resort, kayak and canoe rentals and the well-stocked Twin Lakes General Store. The Dayton Room at the Twin Lakes Inn is a real treat; call ahead for dinner reservations during July and August. Continue reading

i am NEVER going camping again!

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Camping at Taylor

Oh, the irony. Sixteen years ago this month, we embarked upon our first family camping trip. Much like the Griswolds, we were ready enjoy the open road with the kids. Our destination? Taylor Park Reservoir, a dirt-bike-riding mecca that friends and family members have been enjoying since the 60s. The same spot where I’m sitting right now, writing in our camper.

This took place in 1998, so the kids were 4 and almost 6. The perfect ages to get them started on the joys of camping in the mountains, right? That was the plan. We lived just north of Kansas City at that time, in Smithville, Missouri. Escaping the heat sounded pretty good. Continue reading

saying goodbye

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View from our Home

The view from our former home.

Leaving home is always tough, but leaving home and completely changing your lifestyle is a doozy. We’ve been full-timers for a little over a week now. I’ve been thinking about this post the whole time and believe I’m ready to write it without crying. If you don’t know this about me, I cry a lot. Television commercials make me cry, along with buying greeting cards and seeing anyone else cry. Don’t even get me started on weddings, babies and funerals. (Watch for upcoming blogs posts, “Things That Make Me Cry, Parts I, II and III.”)

Traveling around the country in the RV is a long-time dream of ours. It’s on the official bucket list. I am truly grateful that we have this opportunity while we’re this young. That being said, it’s still a lot of change. Change is good, right? Continue reading