Connect with us

Destinations

Travel America’s West Coast This Summer in an RV

Published

on

There’s so much to take in

The west coast has much to offer everyone, from crowded sunny beaches, lush woods, and sand dunes to magnificent rocky coasts. As more families are renting RVs for their family vacations take a look at these stunning locations in California, Oregon, and Washington to add to your trip itinerary.

There are also some of the top restaurants and museums in the country.

Interstate 1

Highway 1 runs along the coast for more than 655 miles, beginning at Dana Point, just south of Los Angeles, and providing vistas and intriguing stops along the way.

Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Solvang

Santa Barbara and Ventura are located halfway between the large cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Santa Barbara is a little more formal, but Ventura has a more carefree surfer attitude. Despite their distinct differences, these two cities have a lot to keep tourists occupied.

Try Faria Beach Park in Ventura for beachfront RV camping, with breathtaking views of the Channel Islands.

Look into Rancho Oso RV & Camping Resort if breathtaking mountain vistas, riding horses, and convenient museum access to the Sea Center at Santa Barbara are more to your liking. 

Consider taking a day excursion to Solvang if you plan to remain in this region for a few days. There are many things to do in this “small piece of Denmark,” including wine sampling and delectable Danish pastries. 

Big Sur

Big Sur, a rocky coastline with breathtaking Pacific Ocean vistas, may be found farther along Highway 1. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, dubbed “little Yosemite” and located on the Big Sur River, provides 1,000 acres of hiking and animals under the forest’s magnificent and ancient West Coast monarch. You can only find these oldest living trees along the West Coast.

While in the area, you may want to think about going to Hearst Castle to see the magnificent house of the late William Randolph Hearst, which has spectacular pools and unrivaled vistas of the San Simeon region. After the tour, stop by the Hearst Ranch Winery, close to the museum entrance, for a quick sample of regional wine. 

Oregon 

Although there are many lovely places in California, it’s not the only western state. Oregon boasts numerous worthwhile interior road excursions and stunning and distinctive coasts. 

Crater Lake

Go inland to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, a deep lake inside a dormant volcano. A massive volcanic explosion 7,700 years ago resulted in the crystal-clear, deep-blue lake formation. It’s incredible, to put it mildly. 

Coast of Oregon

Oregon’s shoreline is distinct and stunning, marked by spires and other rock formations, dunes, and lush woods. These West Coast road journeys will likely pass through many lush vegetation and woodlands.

Bandon

Bandon is a stunning section of the Oregon coastline that is home to an abundance of marine birds and is well-known for more than just its granite spires and offshore rock formations. Consider lodging at Bullards Beach State Park, which has a lighthouse at the end of the beach and provides plenty of hiking opportunities.

Portland Dunes

Don’t overlook the Oregon Dunes, stretching over forty miles along the shore. You may find great day-use places, just south of Florence, including Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park and the Oregon Dunes Overlook.

Tillamook

Are you an ice cream fan? Or is eating cheese more your style? Visit the Tillamook Creamery for lunch and a behind-the-scenes tour of their business. If dairy does not satisfy your appetite, try fresh seafood or a craft beer from the North Coast Food Trail, which includes establishments from all over Oregon’s North Coast. Before continuing your journey north, stop to see “Terrible Tilly,” the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse.

Washington State

Both Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens are stunning in their unique ways. At almost 14,000 feet above sea level, Mt. Rainier provides breathtaking vistas and outdoor recreation. At the same time, Mt. St. Helens is home to a museum that overlooks and honors the location of the amazing 1980 eruption.

Island of Orcas

Horseshoe-shaped Orcas Island, located among the magnificent San Juan Islands, is a must-see. This beautiful paradise provides infinite outdoor activity, fine art and culture, clear lakes, and thick woods. Moran State Park, Mount Constitution, and the many farms dotted across the island are other must-see locations. Also, don’t pass on taking the island’s breathtaking driving tour.

Try Oceanfront Camping at Quinault Casino in Washington if you want a break from your west coast road adventures.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Destinations

Most Beautiful Spring Vacation Destinations in the US

Are you looking to plan a spring break destination but wanted to stay away from the Frat boy party? Not everyone wants to wake up hungover with permanent marker drawn all over their faces and for those proud people, we have some beautiful places they can visit.   For those of us trying to enjoy the wonders of our country without being blackout drunk, search no more. Here are six awesome choices for travelers looking for beauty instead of the party. Check out the most beautiful destinations in America this spring.

Published

on

Are you looking to plan a spring break destination but wanted to stay away from the Frat boy party? Not everyone wants to wake up hungover with permanent marker drawn all over their faces and for those proud people, we have some beautiful places they can visit.   For those of us trying to enjoy the wonders of our country without being blackout drunk, search no more. Here are six awesome choices for travelers looking for beauty instead of the party. Check out the most beautiful destinations in America this spring.

 

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston South Carolina is a great place to start any list of cute springtime cities. The cobblestone streets bring a real uniqueness to the city. You’ll feel like you stepped back in time with the vintage restored homes and moss covered trees. It feels like walking through a storybook here, you’ll fall in love for sure.

 

Ennis, Texas

This small Texas town is home to the most outstanding collection of wildflowers West of the Mississippi. The prairie here in spring erupts with purple and blue wildflowers and is truly remarkable. The small town is very open to tourism and actually keeps track of where the best flowers are, so check before you go.

 

The Grand Canyon

Springtime in the Canyon is the perfect time. The weather is great, not too cold and not too hot, just right for hiking and exploring. Officially the offseason or shoulder season, the Grand anyone is quiet this time of year. The lines are manageable and the parking lots are half empty. Take a donkey tour to the bottom or make a weekend of it and camp out near the flowing Colorado River. The hidden waterfall of the Grand Canyon is flowing super heavy now and the beautiful pool underneath is waiting to be swum in.

 

Holland, Michigan

The tulip fields of Holland Michigan are spectacular and so wonderfully majestic. If the views here don’t bring a tear to your eye then you aren’t truly appreciating the beauty. Each May, millions of tulips come into full bloom here and the annual Tulip Time Festival is raging. The town’s Dutch heritage isn’t lost as its architecture shines, with windmills and all.

 

Savannah, Georgia

Enjoy the Deep South before the heat and humidity of summer take over. Savannah is glorious during the springtime and tourists should play attention. The cute little city has plenty of Spanish moss and bright azaleas to make it so picturesque. The riverfront area is alive with tall ships and modern yachts cruising by.

 

Washington, DC

Every spring our Nation’s capital is covered in beautiful pink flowers as the Cherry Blossom trees bloom. Originally given to America as a gift from Japan, the Cherry Blossoms are planted all around the National Mall, which has all our monuments. The National Cherry Blossom festival happens the first weekend of bloom for these trees and is a spectacle to be seen. The city is alive with tourists and fun events for the entire family. Highlights include the cherry blossom parade and kite festival.

 

Continue Reading

Destinations

Best Architecture in the US by City

America is a country full of history and its cities show some serious architectural range. These 10 cities have awesome and unique architectural styles throughout them and have some pretty special buildings that should be visited. I compiled a list of cities in the US that have very unique architectural styles and interesting buildings.

 

Published

on

America is a country full of history and its cities show some serious architecture range. These 10 cities have awesome and unique architectural styles throughout them and have some pretty special buildings that should be visited. I compiled a list of cities in the US that have very unique architectural styles and interesting buildings.

 

Norfolk, VA

Norfolk Virginia is a port city that has been around since the 1600s. Neighborhoods with fancy and ornate plantation style estates are surrounded by dense city centers.   Very interesting row houses are typical here showing their rich history and beauty. Come for the near by Virginia Beach boardwalk and stay for the very inspiring Scope Arena. Hosting bands like the Grateful Dead and The Rolling Stones, the arena is stylish and futuristic looking.   Side note, the arena is built on a marsh and is slowly sinking at an average of 5 centimeters a year.

 

Las Vegas, NV

What is this “city” doing on this list? Well, Vegas is special because it has every style thrown together in a hodge-podge on the famous strip. Casinos are awesome and grandiose if they are anything. The newer buildings are so epic that even purists enjoy them.

 

Pittsburgh, PA

For a region that is so ruggedly beautiful the Steel city’s architecture actually matches the surrounding area pretty well. The downtown high-rises are spectacular and the Victorian homes on the North Side are eloquent. With tons of scenic vistas, the city has an excellent cityscape and skyline that’s pretty impressive.

 

Philadelphia, PA

The other side of the state of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is known for eclectic styles and American history. From the Liberty Bell to Constitution Hall, Philly is full of Colonial American style. Check out Loews Hotel for an awesome architectural hotel.

 

New Orleans, LA

If it were up to just me, I’d put New Orleans at the top of the list. The Cajon city has so much rich history with French, Spanish, Creole, Caribbean and European influences. The French quarter may be the most popular among tourist but it’s the stereotypical shotgun homes Victorian mansions that really shine.

 

Charleston, SC

Populated by church steeples and classic row houses, Charleston is not your stereotypical architectural city. The downtown area is walk able and a dream for fans of cobblestone streets and a distinctly European feel.

 

Providence, RI

All you have to do is head to College Hill and hang around Brown University. The school has a rich history and beautiful buildings. With a mix of revolutionary war era homes to cape cod bungalows, Providence has plenty to look at.

 

Chicago, IL

After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Chicago had to switch from wood to metal. Gone were the stereotypical wooden row houses and replaced by huge steel behemoths. Chicago has an impressive skyline with so many tall skyscrapers. The bridges that cross the Chicago River are the real stars. You have so many drawbridges in the downtown areas that bridge fans can spend weeks here.

 

Savannah, GA

Come to Savannah for the perfectly maintained and preserved downtown neighborhoods. Houses look exactly like they did 200 years ago and are restored with amazing accuracy.

 

Buffalo, NY

The number one city on our list is Buffalo New York. The birthplace of American Architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright, Buffalo is a dream. Filled with beautiful old school architecture mixed with incredible forward thinking modern designs.

Continue Reading

Destinations

New Banksy Hotel Opens in West Bank

International street artist and controversial figure Banksy has struck again, and this time it’s in the West Bank.   The Artist Banksy secretly opened up a nine-room Palestinian guesthouse/hotel in Bethlehem last weekend. The hotel has a catchy name too, The Walled Off Hotel.

The street art filled hotel is set to open on March 11, and is open to journalists now. Rooms are available for $30 a night, so it’s quite affordable. The hotel is situated right next to the West Bank separation barrier built by Israel to fend off Palestinian attacks. The views from the hotel are of the wall and that’s it.

Published

on

International street artist and controversial figure Banksy has struck again, and this time it’s in the West Bank.   The Artist Banksy secretly opened up a nine-room Palestinian guesthouse/hotel in Bethlehem last weekend. The hotel has a catchy name too, The Walled Off Hotel.

The street art filled hotel is set to open on March 11, and is open to journalists now. Rooms are available for $30 a night, so it’s quite affordable. The hotel is situated right next to the West Bank separation barrier built by Israel to fend off Palestinian attacks. The views from the hotel are of the wall and that’s it.

Each room features the stereotypical satirical artwork from acclaimed artist Banksy.

Reporters got a sneak peak this week and took pictures of the artwork. The stand out was from room ‘Three” called the Banksy Room, had a giant mural of a Palestinian and an Israeli having a pillow fight.

This isn’t Banksy’s first trip to the area, last year satirical artwork sprung up all over the Gaza Strip. Banksy claimed responsibility for these graffiti attacks. Politically charged art has fueled Banksy’s success and has turned street art into an expensive art form.

The small boutique style hotel has a presidential suite and a museum displaying many of the artist’s more politically charged work. The museum looks like an old gentleman’s club from colonial times. It has a life-sized statue of Arthur James Balfour in it who created the Balfour declaration, which led to the creation of an Israeli state.

The secret project took 14 months to complete and was supervised by the mysterious artist himself. This hotel is the artist’s biggest collection of work in years and has no end date as of yet.

Banksy has been putting up politically charged street art here and in the nearby Gaza Strip. Known for satirical stencil art, Banksy has long been a thorn in the status quo. From humble beginnings in London, Banksy has become a worldwide phenomenon.
So, who’s coming to Bethlehem with me to stay at the Walled Off Hotel and see this amazing street art in person? I’ll pay for the hotel, just saying, I think I can afford the $30 a night price tag.

Already accepting reservations, the hotel will surely book up fast; let’s just hope the conflict doesn’t take this hotel as a victim.

The artist has recently dropped pieces in the area on a two-story building that was destroyed in a battle between the Israeli forces and Palestinian people. Children are living through this never-ending conflict and at least now they have some attention brought to them that isn’t negative. I can’t even imagine growing up in these types of situations and I feel for any child who has to deal with that. Unfortunately these kids have no choice as to where they are raised but Banksy sees that and is making it’s a cause we can all get behind.

Check out this awesome art experiment and support artists like Banksy who see an issue and is doing something about it.

Keep fighting the good fight y’all.

 

 

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Facebook

Tags

Trending