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fycarmensandiego · 3 years

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A chat with author Melissa Wiley

In 1996, HarperCollins published six Carmen Sandiego chapter books, featuring VILE villains from the then-current "Deluxe"/"CD-ROM"/"Classic" generation of computer games and a new lineup of Acme agents, headed by a Black female Chief (Lynne Thigpen ha impact), and focusing on kid detectives Maya and Ben.

The series included two books each by two writing teams and one solo act, Melissa Peterson. I got in touch with Melissa, who now uses the pen name Melissa Wiley, and she graciously answered some questions about writing the Carmen books and beyond.

To get you caught up to my knowledge before the interview, here's Melissa's website, and here's her bio as printed in the two Carmen books (accompanied by the caricature above):

Melissa Peterson is the author of several books for young readers. Born in Alamogordo, New Mexico, she has lived in eight different states and visited Germany and France. She has never ridden a dolphin, but she did eat a great deal of sour cherry ice cream outside the cathedral in Cologne. [Note: These are both references to plot points in Hasta la Vista, Blarney.] Her research for Hasta la Vista, Blarney included many hours playing Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? An official ACME Master Detective, she lives in New York City with her husband and young daughter.

FYCS: Thanks so much for agreeing to this interview.

Melissa Wiley: What a fun blast from the past! The Carmen books were my first professional writing gig and I had so much fun working on them.

That's so exciting to hear! With that being the case, how did you get involved with the books?

I was an assistant editor at HarperCollins, working for the wonderful Stephanie Spinner. I started out as her editorial assistant at Random House right after grad school and moved to Harper with her a year later, shortly after [my husband] Scott and I got married. Stephanie knew that I wanted to be a writer, and she often sent in-house writing assignments my way (lots of cover copy). When I left Harper in 1995 to have a baby, Stephanie recommended me for several book assignments, including the two Carmen Sandiego novels. That project had been underway for several months—Harper was doing a tie-in with the game and TV show. There were six books in total; two were assigned to me and four went to other writing teams [Ellen Weiss and Mel Friedman, and Bonnie Bader and Tracey West]. I often joke that I got my first modem, my first baby, and my first book deal in the same month!

I loved working with my Carmen Sandiego editor, Kris Gilson. The two books were a blast to write and a great learning opportunity for me. Ellen Weiss remains a good friend of mine. She's a true gem of a person!

Have your experiences writing the Carmen books influenced your work since then?

With Carmen, I discovered how much I love writing humor. Before that (in grad school), my poems and stories were on the serious side. I had so much fun with the playful, sometimes goofy tone of the Carmen Sandiego books that I definitely shifted afterward to more of a focus on humor in my books. I still find writing from a place of playfulness to be my most satisfying kind of work.

Were you familiar with Carmen Sandiego before writing the books?

I loved the computer game! I'd seen several episodes of the show—it's all a bit blurry now and hard to say which I encountered first—and really enjoyed it, but I especially loved the game. Instant classic!

How much guidance did you receive from HarperCollins / Brøderbund? Were the plots your own, or were you given plot outlines?

We were given the basic descriptions for the two kid detectives, and I had a couple of meetings with the editors and the other writers to flesh out the characters a bit more—give them personalities. I don't think Mel was in the meetings, but Ellen was there, and Tracey and Bonnie.

Then I wrote outlines for my two books and the other writers outlined theirs. I was assigned one "Where in the World" mystery and one "Where in Time" mystery. I think I submitted several plot ideas for each—the big challenge was thinking up interesting objects for Carmen and her henchmen to steal. The Blarney Stone and cocoa beans were my favorite ideas and I was thrilled that they got picked!

How did you research the books?

Those were AOL days, and the web wasn't yet a place for intensive research, so I spent a lot of time in the library. For The Cocoa Commotion, I conducted phone interviews with staff members at the Hershey chocolate factory—lots of fun. But I never did get to visit the Blarney Stone!

What was your favorite part of working on the books?

Researching the history of chocolate! Naturally I had to do a lot of sampling in order to describe it properly. ;)

Your author bio in the books mentions that the scene in which Maya and Ben eat sour cherry ice cream in Cologne, Germany was inspired by an actual experience of yours. Did any other experiences of yours make it into the books? Have you had any other travel experiences that notable? (Note: I'm originally from Northern Michigan, so travel experiences involving tart cherries are a high bar to clear for me.)

Ohhh, that sour cherry ice cream! I hope I get to taste it again someday. Apart from eating a lot of chocolate, I can't remember any other personal experiences that informed the books. If I were to write one today, I'd make sure to set a scene in Barcelona. My husband and I spent a week there in 2008 and it was an incredible trip. The paella! The Gaudí buildings! Art on every corner! I'd love to go back someday.

The bio also features a caricature of you with your baby daughter...

That drawing was made by the brilliant comic book artist Rick Burchett, who was working with Scott on Batman comics at the time. Scott was an editor at DC Comics and Rick was one of his favorite artists to work with. When I needed a bio illustration for the Carmen Sandiego books, we commissioned Rick to draw it. I love that piece so much! The baby is my oldest, Kate, who was born right around the time I started working on the books. We still have the original art!

You've written over 20 children's books for a variety of ages, in a variety of genres. Do you have any favorites among them?

That's so hard to say—I'm fond of all of them and I dearly loved creating worlds and adventures for Charlotte and Martha in my Little House prequels—but The Prairie Thief and The Nerviest Girl in the World are extra-special to me. I grew up in Aurora, Colorado and had a summer job at a wildlife refuge on the prairie, a landscape that served as the setting for Prairie Thief. I loved getting to weave secrets into the prairie setting that means so much to me.

Your most recent book, The Nerviest Girl in the World, was published last August. Can you tell us a bit about why you wrote it?

I lived for 11 years in La Mesa, California, a small town just outside San Diego. While I was there, I learned that in the very early days of silent film, there had been a film studio in town. Eventually the studio moved to Santa Barbara, but it was exciting to discover that before Hollywood was the center of the American film industry, little old La Mesa was a moviemaking place. I began reading everything I could find about the studio, and when I learned that many of the cowboys in those early Westerns were real cowboys and ranchers, an idea for a book began to take shape—the story of an adventurous girl who stumbled into work as a daredevil film actress along with her cowboy brothers.

Of course, I'm legally compelled to ask the question that literally every interview currently includes: how has the pandemic changed your job?

LOL! Yes, it's the question right now, isn't it! Well, I've worked at home since the Carmen Sandiego days, and I homeschool my kids, so in the biggest ways our lives weren't hugely affected by the shutdown. But I used to do a lot of my writing in cafés, and I miss that like crazy! I had to think up all sorts of new strategies for staying focused at home this past year. I'm hoping to get back to the coffee shops this summer!

Something I found really interesting is that you have a Patreon, which you explain you started to help pay for medical bills. How has that experience affected your work as an author?

I've played with lots of kinds of content on Patreon and really enjoy having a space to share behind-the-scenes stories. It's a more intimate and personal space than social media, so I feel free to let my hair down and be really frank.

Thanks so much for these fantastic questions! I had so much fun reminiscing about the Carmen Sandiego adventure!

#carmen sandiego #melissa wiley #interviews #mine #csm

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pinnithin-writes · 3 years

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The Valley

The beginning of an original horror I submitted for grad school. 4503 words.

A thin howl stretched lean across the New Mexico dusk. The desert was sleepy, its hot sand settling into a gentle cool like the ticking shutoff of a pickup engine. Porch lights flicked on in time with the stars as the town of Lonely Valley drew inside for the night. This was the hour of dogs.

Lonely Valley was a small town, a generational town, circulating bloodlines and traditions and ghost stories like the pinwheel of stars overhead, and its residents knew not to travel the old dirt roads late at night. Stay inside, leave a light on, let the tumbleweeds pass by, and sweep the paw prints off the porch when the sun comes up.

Jude Garcia knew the whispers, the stories that passed from mouth to ear to mouth across grocery lines and over glasses of whiskey. He was born here, had grown up here, and would likely die here, with Guadalupe County clay permanently under his fingernails. It was later than comfortable to be out walking. The scent of sagebrush sighed in on the cool wind as he crunched down the road toward his house.

He was safe, probably. Safe for now. Even with the distant sound of dogs wailing from the desert beyond, he knew how to avoid them. He remembered his mother’s advice, and her mother’s advice, and so on. Don’t look over your shoulder. Don’t shine a light in the dark. Don’t worry, don’t worry, don’t worry.

And, if all else failed, run to the inn.

Jude didn’t have much to worry about. At least, not much more than the average resident of Lonely Valley did—stuck in the middle of nowhere, living in a rut of habit so deep it was impossible to climb out of. Shitty cell signal. Shittier roads. He jammed his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans, using the emerging moonlight to guide him as he trudged home.

No, he wasn’t worried, just frustrated. He’d already settled in for the night, kicking his feet up on the ottoman to watch Seinfeld reruns when he remembered he’d left his phone at his workstation. A couple beers in, he didn’t feel up to drive, and the thrift store was only a few blocks away, as everything was in Lonely Valley. So he walked, kicking up dry, dusty clay all over his jeans, goatheads embedding in the soles of his sneakers.

Darkness gathered quickly. He was almost home.

He wasn’t worried. He wasn’t. Concerned, perhaps, since he’d gotten the news of his sister’s condition earlier that week, but she was going to be fine. She was folded into the practiced hands of the Santa Rosa hospital staff, and she had a real job with real money in a real town, so she could afford it. Her heart was stronger than his, even with a hole in its tissues.

It was easy not to worry in the daylight, when the eggwhite sun burned hot on their heads. When the nearest beast was the toothy, painted dog sign at the visitor’s center. It was much more difficult now, with the cool air lifting his collar and his worrying forbidden through bloodlines.

A shift of dry sand, a panted breath behind him, and suddenly Jude was no longer thinking about his wallet or his job or his sister. He froze mid-stride on the dirt road, hair on his neck prickling. In the absence of his footfalls, only the sigh of wind and the chirrup of night creatures could be heard, but his heart rate climbed all the same. Don’t worry, he told himself, don’t worry.

Still, nothing came, so he kept walking, alert now to his surroundings. Straining to catch a long black tail, a reflected pupil in the dark. He stopped and started and stopped again, hearing the quiet snick of claws on gravel, or maybe imagining he heard it. His hand found the iron cross in his pocket, and he gripped it tight.

They were following him now. How could they not be, with the emotional racket he had been making? Jude worked his stride up to a faster clip, shoving away the cold pit of dread in his stomach. Squares of yellow melted out into the streets from the houses he passed, banding him with light and agitating the animals that pursued him.

The dogs didn’t like the light, didn’t like to be seen, sticking like tar to the shadows as their breath condensed on his heels. Jude Garcia whispered a prayer under his breath, guessing too late his faith made them hungrier.

There. His house. Leaning wearily in the darkness up ahead. A rush of air left him, and he fished in his jeans for his keys. A fumbled jingle rang out in the night, stopped short by the pair of eyes that met him on the front porch steps.

The black dogs of Lonely Valley weren’t necessarily dogs but something like them, with long legs and long ears and long red tongues hanging from their pointed jaws. They kept to the shadows so their limbs could not be counted, and one could never quite be sure of how many eyes they had, twin rings blinking white and watchful from the dark.

Snarls and snaps came from the surrounding night, and he realized he was encircled by a whole pack of them.

He ran.

---

Ramona used to tell people she knew the desert better than she knew her own mind. Growing up, this had always been the case—she’d spent hours in the sagebrush and sand, learning the names of the wildlife, the sound of the wind, and the smell of an infrequent storm rolling in from the west. She knew every rock in Guadalupe County and every creature that lived underneath them, and she did not know herself.

At eighteen, she’d since stopped saying this, as it was no longer an impressive boast but a sad fact.

This was because she was a Lopez, and every Lopez knew Lonely Valley intimately but were strangers to themselves. This was so with her two brothers, father, and her mother, she assumed, though she never knew her. The four of them lived and worked at the Black Dog Inn, hub of Lonely Valley—or, at least, that was what the sign said. The red and blue neon still worked even after seventy years, flickering and humming out hope in the canine darkness.

On most mornings, Ramona would sweep up the dust in the front lobby and knock the spiderwebs from the corners of the rooms, but today was unusual because they had a guest. This was heralded by a pounding on their door around ten o’clock last night, when the moon was thin and the night was close and purple, and Jude Garcia had come tumbling in their front door. Ramona and Luca, her younger brother, had been working the front desk—if chucking a stress ball back and forth over the counter qualified as working—when it happened.

It wasn’t the first or last time the desert dogs had hunted someone all the way to the inn. Their family had a reputation for protecting the townspeople and the secrets they ran from. Luca handled the guest—the patient, really—and Ramona handled the dogs. This was how they always did it, because Ramona was bad with people and Luca was bad with dogs, not necessarily because either of them preferred their respective duties.

She’d swung open the screen door and rang the old iron bell the animals hated so much until they melted back into the darkness. They’d be back, but not for a while. When morning broke, safe and silent, Ramona made herself scarce while her father checked on the guest. Most often when they had visitors, they’d stay a night, recover in the morning, and return home safely that day, trusting the Lopez family to keep their secrets as they always did. Sometimes, when the dogs were especially hungry, the person they fed on would have to stay for weeks or months, remembering who they were, but that hadn’t happened since Ramona was twelve.

Sometimes, they never remembered who they were and wandered into the desert to never return. But that hadn’t happened in Ramona’s lifetime.

The town of Lonely Valley was nine square miles of nothing, cupped by shallow mesas furred up and down with juniper and pinyon pine. A train track cut through the landscape like a spinal column, whistling in the night in a mournful way that haunted visitors and comforted residents. Ramona and her brothers used to stack pennies on the rails and wait for the locomotives to come chugging through, fishing the flattened copper out of the wells between the tracks after they’d passed. Luca liked to claim these were luckier than regular pennies, while Ramona argued that luck didn’t exist and it was all science. When pressed, Dominic would say luck was something you made yourself, revealing a mysterious smile before pocketing his coin.

Dominic didn’t go down by the train tracks much anymore. He was busy trying to make his own luck by applying to jobs in places far away from the valley. His smile was reserved only for interviews, and it was no longer mysterious.

Places like the railroad were where Ramona tended to hang out in the summer, because adults didn’t feel much like picking their way through the briars and camelthorn just for a couple of parallel lines and occasional passing freight. Adults needed more reward for their efforts, like a fantastic view after a mindless, exhausting hike, or a business deal after a mindless, exhausting meeting. It wasn’t enough to just dwell amongst the larkspur in your sunhat and listen to the approaching chuggachuggachugga while a jay screamed. It wasn’t enough to just sit and be.

Ramona liked the railroad, and she liked the dump site on the outskirts of town with its overturned, out-of-tune baby grand, and she liked the Dollar General parking lot and its sun-buckled blacktop. She liked haunting odd, undesirable places, because no place was really undesirable once she got to know it. Ramona spent a lot of time getting to know places nobody wanted anything to do with, and often she found herself falling in love with them.

She was down by the tracks right now, in the shade of a pathetic, scraggly spruce, throwing pieces of gravel at the steel beams from a few yards away to make a ting sound. It was a few hours past noon, and her cuffed jeans were dusted with clay after digging around in the rail wells, nearly washing them the same color as her red-brown hotel T-shirt. It was originally a bright, cheerful scarlet, but the sand and sun had bleached it out to a fine dirt color, as it did with most things here.

Inez Ferro’s arrival was announced only by her shadow falling across Ramona’s line of sight. Ramona threw another rock, missed, and frowned. She watched the shadow curl against itself as Inez bent to pick up a pebble of her own. A flick of a wrist in her periphery, and it went sailing past Ramona to ping solidly against the rail.

Some people, when they said they were born in Lonely Valley, really meant they were born at the hospital in Santa Rosa forty miles away. When Inez Ferro said she was born in Lonely Valley, she meant the bathtub in her parents’ double wide, because her mother didn’t believe in hospitals or medicine or anything else that wasn’t mentioned in the fat leatherbound Bible she kept on her nightstand. Inez had come screaming into existence seventeen years ago and hadn’t stopped screaming since, meeting the world with knives in her boots and sharpened knuckles. Her mother called Inez her prickly pear. Her father called Inez dead weight.

Inez didn’t much care what others called her, so long as they kept out of her business. What Inez did with her spare time only made sense to Inez, and the people who got along with her best were those who had given up trying to understand her. Once, Inez told Ramona she was her worst friend by far. Ramona wore the sentiment like a badge of honor.

Inez’s voice was low and rough as the wind in scrubgrass when she asked, “They got another one?”

Ramona let the rest of the rocks in her hand fall to the dust at her feet and turned to look at her. Inez was staring at Ramona with a dark, piercing stare that always looked accusatory, even when it wasn’t. The bones of her shoulders stood out where she cut the sleeves off her black graphic tee. Pointy thumbs hooked in her belt loops. Inez was always taking a knife to her appearance, hacking away her hair and slicing through her jeans. Ramona tried not to worry about what else Inez’s blades touched.

“Mister Garcia,” Ramona affirmed.

“That guy who works at the thrift shop?”

“Yeah.” Then, as an afterthought, she added, “He’ll be fine,” even though she knew Inez didn’t really care.

“You’re feeding them tonight,” Inez said, sharply. Everything about her was sharp—elbows, fingers, smile. It wasn’t a question.

Ramona gnawed on her lip as hot wind blew in her face. “You can come,” she answered.

Inez was very good at appearing disinterested when she was in truth very interested, but because Ramona had spent years digging into her mind, she knew what the glint in her eye meant. To her credit, she managed to pull off a lackadaisical shrug that almost looked casual. “Sure. Didn’t have any plans otherwise. I mean,” she paused, smirking, “unless you count being a general delinquent.”

Ramona snorted, recalling her older brother’s choice words for them. In all reality they should have been spending their evening being general delinquents. This was their last summer here in the sun-baked valley of their hometown before their final year of high school, and after that they were expected to apply for colleges or join the military and move away. Each graduating class got a little bit closer to escaping, but a few always remained, either for familiarity or bad luck’s sake. Ramona knew she’d probably be one to stay behind and was almost certain Inez would skip town as soon as she turned eighteen.

She wanted to make the most of their last summer together, kicking around in the dry riverbed and making fun of Elliot for his accent and getting chased away from the gas station by Miss Barela and her broom. Biting down on the inside of her cheek, she looked away, her throat suddenly tight.

“I’ve still got to pick some stuff up,” she said once she’d dragged her facial expression back to something manageable. She rattled the bag over her shoulder, jostling the railroad spike and the copper coins inside.

“I’ll help,” Inez intoned.

“Sure.”

It wasn’t fair; Ramona was never allowed to offer her own assistance to Inez, whose mouth would cut until Ramona backed off. But she wasn’t about to open old wounds now.

Loaded down with supplies, Ramona and Inez’s hike back to the inn concluded with soft guitar music on the porch. The setting sun bathed the adobe walls and a pair of dusty boots kicked up on the railing a warm red. Ramona recognized the voice crooning from her porch swing immediately. It blended sweetly with the soft plucked chords.

Was a cowboy I knew in south Texas

His face was burnt deep by the sun

Part history, part sage, part mesquit

He was there when Poncho Villa was young

And he'd tell you a tale of the old days

When the country was wild all around

Sit out under the stars of the Milky Way

And listen while the coyotes howl

At this, the singer’s curly head tipped back and he let out a loud “awoo!”

The distant song that answered him was too long and lonely to be a coyote, and it made the hair on the back of Ramona’s neck rise.

The best place to hide secrets was in plain sight, and this held true for the desert dogs of Lonely Valley as much as any other secret. A hundred miles north of Ruidoso, the town didn't get much traffic beyond the pronghorn herd that clouded in and around Guadalupe County, so it sold itself on ghost stories to turn a profit. Many residents who didn’t work in the city peddled whispers and worries alongside T-shirts and trinkets to any travelers passing through. The long black dogs that fed on feelings were a curiosity of the town, a charming oddity that drew road trippers off the highway for a tamale and a picture in front of the town sign.

Local shops had paw print keychains at the register next to the little trays of geodes, and the cashier would smile and wink when their total came out to $6.66. Ramona was particularly fond of the gas station tees that read “Don’t Eat Your Feelings” printed over a dog silhouette. Visitors were warned not to stay out past dark in Lonely Valley, and they usually didn’t, because there was nothing fun to do in Lonely Valley past dark, anyway.

This left a small, curious minority of ghost hunters, vloggers, and conspiracy theorists who hungered for the supernatural. The Lopez family buffered these visitors as best as they could, though often their curiosity was sabotaged by local teens making noises in the dark, freezing their blood to ice with a bucket, a stick, and some creative mimicry. Most of the morbidly nosey cleared out after a night in the Russian olives with only the moon for company.

That is, save one person, who prickled Ramona like a burr stuck to her sock. Elliot James.

He was a Lonely Valley resident only by technicality, living with his aunt in the summer while his musician parents went on tour. He flew back to Austin every fall when school started up, to clean the dirt out from under his nails and forget about the desert for nine months, and for this crime Ramona habitually disliked him.

Inez, however, enjoyed his company because he was loud and weird and lovely and her parents hated him. She let him in on the secret of the desert dogs when they were fifteen, and Ramona had eventually forgiven this discrepancy after several months of seething. She didn’t care if Elliot tagged along anymore—he had proven his value to the creatures of the night with the lovesick collection of B-sides he could strum on his acoustic.

The dogs loved him. Sometimes, perhaps, more than they loved Ramona, which was another obstacle of dislike she was working on clearing. It didn’t help he held an uncanny ability to show up all over Lonely Valley unannounced and uninvited.

“Lovely night for a hike!” Elliot said in lieu of greeting, silencing the still humming strings of his guitar with a flattened palm.

He smiled sunnily as Ramona ascended the porch steps with Inez trailing behind her. Elliot James was handsome in the way a well-made armoire was, warm and loved and handcrafted. He was the only outsider who was welcome in Lonely Valley because he disarmed and charmed in equal measure with his lovesick songs and his starfield of freckles. Elliot dropped his boots to the deck with two solid thunks as he stood, angling the neck of his guitar aside to bump knuckles with Inez as she joined them on the porch.

Ramona crossed her arms, determinedly resistant to his charm. “I guess you’re coming too, huh?”

Elliot’s smile was unwavering. “Oh, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Lonely Valley’s favorite tourist rounded out the trio of teens who kept the desert dogs fed. Ramona still wasn’t sure why her father had so willingly accepted both Inez and Elliot into the fold when he himself had never been permitted to bring along friends growing up. But perhaps that missed childhood opportunity was the reason.

Inez leaned against the railing, studying Elliot. “You sure? Last time you cried.”

Elliot pressed a dramatic hand to his chest, feigning insult. “And? It was helpful, wasn’t it?”

Ramona shifted the bag she carried to her other shoulder. “I’ve just gotta grab some stuff inside, and we can go,” she said. Her eyes fell to the acoustic Elliot carried. “I hope you're bringing the guitar.”

Elliot patted the polished wood good-naturedly. “Her name,” he corrected without venom, “is Winona. Of course I’m bringing her.”

Swinging through the screen door, Ramona left her friends to wait on the front porch. She tried not to think about how similar her name sounded to ‘Winona’ in his voice.

---

The sagebrush snagged at their ankles as they climbed. Ramona’s rucksack banged against her back, and dust caked beneath her fingernails. This last scramble was short but strenuous, pulling at the tendons in their calves, grabbing at their shoulders, beckoning the climbers back to the safety of the valley. The dog-sounds that cradled the hikers sent tremors through their ranks.

Mesa Luna was a sacred place, if only to the shivering pines that crested it and the children traipsing to its summit. It was built upon rumors and rattlesnakes, and its sharp, thin line on the horizon was the sun’s eternal hurdle to jump. It was a giant at night, blue and looming. Standing atop its siltstone table, Ramona always felt cosmic—detached in a way—like Lonely Valley and Mesa Luna and Ruidoso and Guadalupe County were all just meaningless labels for a cupped handful of miracles. Here, the land didn’t have names; the night creatures sang, and Ramona Lopez was one of them.

Generation to generation, each member of the Lopez family found their own way to feed the hounds. Emilio used to drive his battered white truck out to Holy Point and play a fiddle on a schedule kept like clockwork. His mother Gianna before that sank to her knees in Wolf Creek, shivering out prayers until the surrounding dogs were satisfied. Her mother preceding her sat on the back porch of their very inn, reading stories out loud to the quiet, panting night, a gentle flirtation with nightmares.

Ramona climbed to the top of Mesa Luna and frightened herself.

In the most recent years, she had helpers, but prior to that she would scale the tallest Ponderosa that hugged the cliff face and lean out over the rocky riverbed below. With nothing between her and the ground but the cool, empty air, Ramona would cling to her nerve and the tree bark while her heart threw itself against her ribcage. And the dogs would gather below her, hungry and expectant, until it was time to disperse.

These days, it was different. These days, it was a little easier on her heart. Ramona had been hesitant to allow Inez, and later Elliot, to join her out under the swathe of stars, but now it was a comfort. This was no longer a lonely ritual built to scare her soul. This was a commune with the gods, and Ramona did not know or care whether those gods were the creatures of the night or the three teenagers who ventured into it.

The three sat together in the dust around an empty fire pit that had lain cold since the annual burn bans rolled in. Ramona carried a walking stick with an iron nail driven through the bottom, wood grain worn under generations of fingers. A lacework of satin ribbon tied in knots of threes sat against Inez’s collarbones. Elliot kept sprigs of rosemary and dried chili peppers in his pockets.

They could sense the dogs nearby in an eruption of goosebumps on their arms, the hair rising on their necks. Ramona meticulously unpacked her rucksack and withdrew what she needed. Copper pennies, tossed in a circle around them. A dogeared book of Anne Carson poems. The industrial flashlight her father kept in his pickup. And the old iron bell, just in case, the clapper wrapped in cloth to keep it silent.

The dogs could draw near, but they could not make contact. There was debate among Lonely Valley residents if the talismans and the pennies and the prayers said in triplicate did any good. A trick of the light, of the mind, a placebo to keep the thoughts from wandering. The Lopez family straddled the line between arguments. If it worked, did it matter if it was real or not?

Ramona angled her chin to Elliot, speaking in a low voice. “You wanna start this time?” Behind his shoulder, she could see a pair of round white eyes watching from the surrounding ink. The animals were hungry.

Elliot’s smile was not as sunny as it had been on the porch of the Black Dog Inn, but he made a valiant attempt as he fingered a chord on his guitar and strummed.

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger

Traveling through this world below

There is no sickness, toil, or danger

In that bright land to which I go

I'm going there to see my Father

And all my loved ones who've gone on

I'm only going over Jordan

I'm only going over home

And so it went. Each took their turn leaving offerings, feeding off one another’s emotions with as much voracity as the dogs fed on them. They crooned and cried and sang and the dog’s voices joined them. Ramona recited passages from the book that made her heart ache. Inez chilled them to the bone with a ghost story and a Zippo under her chin, making the dogs flicker on the edges of their vision.

The animals circled and drank up their feelings, genuine heart song rising on the mists of their breath into the air. When it came time for them to disperse, the moon was a cold, bright point overhead. Sated, melting ink stains, the dogs were there and then were not, their absence noted by the warming of the night. The tension ebbed from the trio’s shoulders.

Quiet lay the valley. The town was at rest once more. Ramona never felt more alive than she did during these times; this was in her blood and her nerves and every particle of her heart, and though she did not know herself, she knew where she belonged.

#ink #the valley #fiction #horror #mystery

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passiongracelb · 5 years

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Bucket Full of Memories, Theme Parks around the United States

I love going to theme parks so here is a list of all the theme parks from around the United States

Alabama Alabama Splash Adventure, Bessemer Southern Adventures, Huntsville Spring Park, Tuscumbia Waterville USA, Gulf Shores Alaska Roadrunner Amusement Park, Anchorage ArizonaEdit Castles N' Coasters, Phoenix Enchanted Island, Phoenix Funtasticks Family Fun Park, Tucson Golf n' Stuff, Tucson Golfland Sunsplash, Mesa Schnepf Farms, Queen Creek Wildlife World, Litchfield Park Arkansas Fast Lane Entertainment, Lowell Funland Amusement Park, North Little Rock Magic Springs and Crystal Falls, Hot Springs California Northern California Blackbeard's Family Entertainment Center, Fresno Boomers, Fresno Funderland, Sacramento Fun Town at Micke Grove, Lodi Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy Golfland, Castro Valley, Milpitas, Roseville, San Jose, and Sunnyvale Kiwanis Kiddieland, Merced Roseville Golfland Sunsplash, Roseville Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz Scandia Amusements, Rohnert Park and Sacramento Sonoma TrainTown Railroad, Sonoma San Francisco California's Great America, Santa Clara Children's Fairyland, Oakland Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, San Jose Pixieland Amusement Park, Concord Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo Los Angeles Golf 'N' Stuff, Norwalk Mountasia Family Fun Center, Valencia Pacific Park, Santa Monica Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia SpeedZone Los Angeles Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City Orange County Adventure City, Anaheim Boomers, Fountain Valley Disneyland Resort Disney California Adventure, Anaheim Disneyland, Anaheim Golfland, Anaheim Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park Riverside County Castle Park, Riverside San Bernardino County Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Big Bear Lake Boomers, Upland Fiesta Village Family Fun Park, Colton Scandia Amusement Park, Ontario and Victorville San Diego Belmont Park, San Diego Boomers, El Cajon Frasier's Frontier, El Cajon Legoland California, Carlsbad SeaWorld San Diego ColoradoEdit Elitch Gardens, Denver Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs Heritage Square, Golden Lakeside Amusement Park, Lakeside Mile High Flea Market, Henderson City Park, Pueblo Santa's Workshop, Cascade ConnecticutEdit Lake Compounce, Bristol Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury Delaware Funland, Rehoboth Beach Jungle Jim's Adventure World, Rehoboth Beach Florida North Florida Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach Big Kahuna's, Destin Cobra Adventure Park, Panama City Beach Fast Eddies Fun Center, Pensacola Race City PCB, Panama City Beach Sam's Fun City & Sam's Surf City, Pensacola Shipwreck Island, Panama City Beach Wild Willy's Adventure Zone, Fort Walton Beach Central Florida Andretti Thrill Park, Melbourne Boardwalk Amusements, Daytona Beach Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa Celebration Station, Clearwater Daytona Lagoon, Daytona Beach Dinosaur World, Plant City Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island Legoland Florida, Winter Haven Weeki Wachee Springs, Weeki Wachee Greater Orlando Fun Spot America - Kissimmee, Kissimmee Fun Spot America - Orlando, Orlando Gatorland, Orlando Give Kids the World Village, Kissimmee Holy Land Experience, Orlando Magical Midway, Orlando Old Town, Kissimmee SeaWorld Orlando Discovery Cove, Orlando SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando Universal Orlando Universal Studios Florida, Orlando Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando Walt Disney World Disney's Animal Kingdom, Bay Lake Disney's Hollywood Studios, Bay Lake Epcot, Bay Lake Magic Kingdom, Bay Lake South Florida Kidstar Park, Port Charlotte Santa's Enchanted Forest, Miami Uncle Bernie's Amusement Park, Fort Lauderdale Zoomers Family Amusement Park, Fort Myers Beach Georgia Adventure Crossing, Augusta All American Fun Park, Albany Alpine Park, Helen Black Mountain Alpine Coaster, Helen Fun Spot Atlanta, Fayetteville Lake Winnepesaukah, Rossville Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell Wild Adventures, Valdosta Hawaii Maui Golf and Sports Park, Wailuku Sea Life Park Hawaii, Oahu IdahoEdit Silverwood Theme Park, Athol Wahooz Family Fun Zone, Meridian Yellowstone Bear World, Rexburg Illinois Donley's Wild West Town, Union Enchanted Castle, Lombard Go Bananas, Norridge Grady's Family Fun Park, Bloomington Grizzly Jack's Grand Bear Resort, Utica Haunted Trails, Burbank and Joliet Knight's Action Park, Springfield Odyssey Fun World, Tinley Park Pirates Cove, Elk Grove Village Safari Land, Villa Park Santa's Village AZoosment Park, Dundee Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Gurnee Indiana Team Combat, Tactical Laser Tag for Adults, Teens & 8-12 Year Olds, Hobart Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus Indiana Beach, Monticello Iowa Adventureland, Altoona Arnolds Park, Arnolds Park Lost Island Amusement Park, Waterloo Kansas All Star Adventures, Wichita Kiddieland, Pittsburg Kentucky Beech Bend Park, Bowling Green Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville Malibu Jack’s Indoor Theme Park, Lexington Louisiana Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin', Baton Rouge Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, New Orleans Celebration Station, Baton Rouge Maine Funtown Splashtown USA, Saco Palace Playland, Old Orchard Beach York's Wild Kingdom, York Beach Maryland Adventure Park USA, New Market Baja Amusements, Ocean City Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Ocean City Jolly Roger at the Pier, Ocean City Laugh Out Loud Stations, Greenbelt Six Flags America, Upper Marlboro Trimper's Rides, Ocean City Wisp Resort, McHenry Massachusetts Edaville USA, Carver Salem Willows, Salem Six Flags New England, Agawam Michigan A-Maze-N Mirrors, Mackinaw City Adventure Island Family Fun Park, Cadillac Arzo Sports & Fun Park, Alpena Cedar Valley's Wild Frontier Fun Park, Comins CJ Barrymore's Family Entertainment Center, Clinton Township Deer Acres Storybook Amusement Park, Pinconning Full Blast, Battle Creek Funland Amusement Park, Houghton Lake Jeepers, Sterling Heights Kokomo's Family Fun Center, Saginaw Michigan's Adventure, Muskegon Nelis' Dutch Village, Holland Minnesota Como Town, St. Paul Nickelodeon Universe, Bloomington Paul Bunyan Land, Brainerd Spirit Mountain, Duluth Valleyfair, Shakopee Mississippi Brookhaven Exchange Club Park, Brookhaven Missouri Branson Coaster, Branson Branson Tracks, Branson Branson Mountain Adventure Park, Branson Hydro Adventures, Poplar Bluff Miner Mike's Adventure Town, Osage Beach Mountain Adventure Resort, Branson Silver Dollar City, Branson Six Flags St. Louis, Eureka Worlds of Fun, Kansas City MontanaEdit Amusement Park Drive In, Laurel Big Sky Water Park, Columbia Falls NebraskaEdit Fun-Plex, Omaha SkateDaze, Omaha Nevada Adventuredome, Las Vegas Akita Plaza, Las Vegas Buffalo Bill's, Primm Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix, Las Vegas Playland Park, Reno New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas Stratosphere Las Vegas, Las Vegas Wild Island, Sparks New Hampshire Attitash Mountain Resort, Bartlett Candia Springs Adventure Park, Candia Canobie Lake Park, Salem Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park, North Conway Clark's Trading Post, Lincoln Fort Jefferson Fun Park, Jefferson Fun-World, Nashua Santa's Village, Jefferson Story Land, Glen New Jersey Action Park, Vernon Blackbeard's Cave, Bayville Bowcraft Playland, Scotch Plains Casino Pier, Seaside Heights Central Pier Arcade & Speedway, Atlantic City Clementon Amusement Park, Clementon Fantasy Island, Beach Haven Funplex, Mount Laurel Gillian's Wonderland Pier, Ocean City iPlay America, Freehold Jenkinson's Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach Keansburg Amusement Park, Keansburg Land of Make Believe, Hope Morey's Piers, Wildwood Playland's Castaway Cove, Ocean City Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Steel Pier, Atlantic City Wild West City [1], Byram Township, New Jersey Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Township New Mexico Cliff's Amusement Park, Albuquerque Western Playland, Sunland Park New York Downstate New York Adventureland, Farmingdale Adventurers Family Entertainment Center, Brooklyn Country Fair Entertainment Park, Medford Boomer's Family Fun Center, Medford Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Brooklyn Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel, Flushing Fantasy Shore Amusement Park, Staten Island Kids 'N Action, Brooklyn Luna Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn Playland, Rye Victorian Gardens, New York City Upstate New York Darien Lake, Darien Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Old Forge Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Cortland Hoffman's Playland, Latham Holiday Valley, Ellicottville Huck Finn's Playland, Albany Magic Forest Park, Lake George Fantasy Island, Grand Island Midway State Park, Maple Springs Legoland New York, Goshen (starting construction in 2017, planned to open in 2019)[1] Party Zone USA, Middletown Santa's Workshop, Wilmington Seabreeze Amusement Park, Rochester Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, Sylvan Beach North Carolina Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park, Carolina Beach Carowinds, Charlotte Deadwood, Williamston Ghost Town Village, Maggie Valley Great Wolf Lodge, Concord NASCAR Speedpark, Concord Santa's Land, Cherokee Tweetsie Railroad, Boone North Dakota Grand Forks Theme Park, Grand Forks[citation needed](Scheduled) Super Slide Amusement Park, Bismarck Ohio The Beach at Adventure Landing, Mason Cedar Point, Sandusky Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark Comfort Inn Splash Harbor, Bellville Coney Island, Cincinnati Coshocton Lake Park Recreational Complex, Coshocton Erieview Park, Geneva FunTimes Fun Park, Alliance Howard's Apples Farm Market, Bainbridge Jungle Jack's Landing, Powell Kings Island, Mason Lincoln Park Family Aquatic Center, Marion Long's Retreat Family Resort, Latham Memphis Kiddie Park, Brooklyn Pioneer Waterland & Dry Fun Park, Chardon Richland Carrosuel Park, Mansfield Sluggers & Putters, Canal Fulton Stricker's Grove, Ross Swings-N-Things Family Fun Park, Olmsted Township Tuscora Park, New Philadelphia Oklahoma Bell's Kiddieland, Tulsa Eagle Park, Cache Frontier City, Oklahoma City Kiddy Park, Bartlesville Oregon Enchanted Forest, Turner Oaks Amusement Park, Portland Pennsylvania Brandywine Picnic Park, West Chester Carousel Village at Indian Walk, Wrightstown Camelback Mountain Resort, Tannersville Conneaut Lake Park, Conneaut Lake DelGrosso's Amusement Park, Tipton Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown (Dorneyville) Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster Fun Fore All, Cranberry Township Hersheypark, Hershey Idlewild and Soak Zone, Ligonier Kennywood, West Mifflin Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg Lakemont Park, Altoona Pocono Play Park, East Stroudsburg Sesame Place, Langhorne Split Rock Resort, Lake Harmony Waldameer Park, Erie Rhode Island Adventureland, Narragansett Atlantic Beach Park, Westerly South Carolina Broadway Grand Prix, Myrtle Beach Carowinds, Fort Mill Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach O.D. Pavilion Amusement Park, North Myrtle Beach Pavilion Park, Myrtle Beach Pedroland, Dillon South Dakota Evan's Plunge, Hot Springs Flags & Wheels Indoor Racing, Rapid City Rush Mountain Adventure Park, Keystone Storybook Island, Rapid City Thunder Road Family Fun Park, Aberdeen Tennessee Anakeesta Gatlinburg Goats on the Roof, Pigeon Forge Dollywood, Pigeon Forge Fun Stop, Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster, Gatlinburg Incredible Pizza Company, Cordova The Island in Pigeon Forge, Pigeon Forge NASCAR Speedpark, Sevierville Ober Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Rockin' Raceway, Pigeon Forge Rowdy Bear Mountain Gatlinburg Sir Goony's Fun Zone, Chattanooga Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, Pigeon Forge Wilderness at the Smokies, Sevierville Texas Adventure Kingdom, Lumberton Aquatica, San Antonio Austin's Park N Pizza, Pflugerville Downtown Aquarium, Houston Elise's Family Fun Center, Winnie Funtrackers, Corpus Christi Funplex, Houston Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier, Galveston Grand Texas Theme Park, New Caney (planned, opening April 2020) Joyland Amusement Park, Lubbock Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah Kiddie Park Of San Antonio, San Antonio Morgan's Wonderland, San Antonio NRH2O, North Richland Hills Sandy Lake Amusement Park, Carrollton SeaWorld San Antonio, San Antonio Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington Tilt Studio, Katy (inside Katy Mills) Wonderland Park, Amarillo YesterLand Farm, Canton ZDT's Amusement Park, Seguin Zuma Fun Center, Houston Utah Boondocks Fun Center, Kaysville-Draper Cherry Hill Resort, Kaysville Lagoon Amusement Park, Farmington Vermont Bromley, Vermont's Summer Adventure, Peru Killington Resort, Killington Virginia Atlantic Fun Park, Virginia Beach Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg Central Park Fun-Land, Fredericksburg Go-Karts Plus, Williamsburg Kings Dominion, Doswell Motor World, Virginia Beach Washington Pier 57, Seattle Remlinger Farms, Carnation Riverfront Park, Spokane Washington State Fair, Puyallup Wild Waves Theme Park, Federal Way West VirginiaEdit Camden Park, Huntington Wisconsin Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay Knucklehead's Bowling & Family Entertainment, Wisconsin Dells Little Amerricka, Marshall Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, Wisconsin Dells Paul Bunyan's Adventure Golf, Wisconsin Dells Riverside Amusement Park, La Crosse Riverview Park & Waterworld, Wisconsin Dells Timbavatvi Wildlife Park/Storybook Gardens, Wisconsin Dells Timber Falls Adventure Park, Wisconsin Dells Wyoming Cowboy Carousel Center, Buffalo Puerto Rico Cayo Lobos Marine Park, Cayo Lobos Children's Dream Park, Añasco Fun Valley Park, Arecibo Jungle Park PR, Bayamón Parque de las Ciencias, Bayamón Villa Campestre, Guaynabo

#Adventure #Explore #Themeparks #Vacation #Relationships #Family #Friends #Children #Love #Hobbies #Fun and Games

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nationalparkposters · 4 years

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Best Things to do at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Best Things to do at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park: Deep, Steep and Narrow Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. With two million years to work, the Gunnison River, along with the forces of weathering, has sculpted this vertical wilderness of rock, water, and sky. My name is Rob Decker and I'm a photographer and graphic artist with a single great passion for America's national parks! I've been to 51 of our 62 national parks — and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has much to offer! You can hike the inner canyon, kayak the Gunnison River, rock climb, ride horses or explore the night sky! If this is your first time to the park, or your returning after many years, here are some of the best things to do in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park! Established October 21, 1999, the park is located in western Colorado and managed by the National Park Service. The park itself contains the deepest and most dramatic section of the canyon, but the canyon continues upstream into Curecanti National Recreation Area and downstream into Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. The Gunnison River drops an average of 34 feet per mile through the entire canyon, making it the 5th steepest mountain descent in North America. By comparison, the Colorado River drops an average of 7.5 feet per mile through the Grand Canyon. The greatest descent of the Gunnison River occurs within the park at Chasm View dropping 240 feet per mile. The Black Canyon is so named because its steepness makes it difficult for sunlight to penetrate into its depths. As a result, the canyon is often shrouded in shadow, causing the rocky walls to appear black. At its narrowest point the canyon is only 40 ft wide at the river. The main attraction of the park is the scenic drive along US Highway 50 and Colorado Highway 92, as well as the south rim. The east end of the park, where it meets Blue Mesa Reservoir at Blue Mesa Point, is the area most developed for camping, as well as canyon tours, hiking, fishing and boat tours. The west end of the park has river access by automobile, as well as guided tours of the canyon. A short hike at Blue Mesa Point Information Center heads down to Pine Creek and the Morrow Point boat tours, boating, fishing and hiking. At the south rim there is one campground for tent and RV camping, one loop of which has electrical hookups, and several hiking and nature trails. The north rim is also accessible by automobile and has a small, primitive campground. Best Things To Do at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Hiking Trails Trails for all abilities are available on both South and North Rims. Routes to the river are extremely strenuous due to steep drop offs, loose rock, and prolific poison ivy. Hiking the Inner Canyon Extremely strenuous hikes to the bottom of the canyon in steep, unmaintained and unmarked gullies. Scenic Drives Gorgeous scenic routes are available along the rims and down to the river. Fishing The Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is well known for outstanding trout fishing. Kayaking This stretch of the Gunnison River is only for the most experienced kayakers. Rock Climbing All the climbs in the Black are multi-pitch traditional routes and not for the faint of heart. Wildlife Watching Black Canyon provides a unique vertical environment for wildlife. Horseback Riding The Deadhorse Trail on the North Rim is the ONLY area open to horses or pack animals for day use/recreational riding in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Explore the Night Black Canyon offers night sky viewing opportunities throughout the year. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Poster is an original work by Robert B. Decker and is also part of the Colorado Collection. The poster was created in the style of the Works Program Administration of the 1930s and 1940s, when the Federal Government started the Works Progress Administration (or the Works Program Administration), and commissioned hundreds of artists to create thousands of posters designs from which literally millions of prints were made. At that time, there were only 26 National Parks. And only 14 parks had posters created during the WPA. At that time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison was not yet a National Park! See the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park poster here! Click these links to learn more about Colorado's other National Parks! Best Things to do at Rocky Mountain National Park Learn About Great Sand Dunes National Park Best Things to do at Mesa Verde National Park PLUS! Click here to learn about the National Parks of the Grand Circle https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/best-things-to-do-at-black-canyon-of-the-gunnison-national-park?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=Sendible&utm_campaign=RSS

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arplis · 4 years

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Arplis - News: New Good Sam Parks for 2020

A new decade brings in more opportunity to camp and save with Good Sam! Were continuing to unlock access to unique outdoor experiences in thousands of locations, for less. And weve expanded our list to add another 207 RV campgrounds awesome news for RV enthusiasts. Discover the bestcampgroundfor you!

New Good Sam parks in Canada.

Get the most our of your travel dollar. Good Sam members save 10% at Good Sam Parks. Thats over 2,400 locations across North America where you can save and spend more on adventure. With our exclusive Good Sam rating system, youll be sure to find a Good Sam Park to fit your needs.And were always adding new Good Sam Parks to our amazing community!

Alabama

Big Wills Creek Campground & Tubing, Attalla Enjoy creek tubing, a sandy beach, playground, canoeing and paddleboats, along with a pool, store, bathhouse and laundry.

Alabama Coast Campground, Foley Find lots of pull-through sites in a park thats Minutes from OWA Amusement Park, Tanger Outlet Mall, Waterville USA, The Wharf, the Track and beautiful beaches.

Alaska

Ocean Shores RV Park & Resort, Homer Located on the bluffs of the scenic town of Homer, this park enjoys spectacular views of Kachemak Bay.

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Arizona

Mountain View RV Park, Huachuca City This pet-friendly, all-ages RV park is a favorite of locals, travelers and snowbirds alike!

Agave Village RV Resort, Mesa Guests will discover an assortment of exciting nearby pursuits, including arts and cultural venues, upscale shopping, delicious dining options, golf and more.

Desert Palms RV Resort, Salome Fine desert living is the name of the game here, where golf, socializing and other pursuits fill the schedule.

St Johns RV Resort, St. Johns A temperate climate, reasonable rates and outstanding surrounding area make this a superb park.

Visit Arizona

Copper Mountain RV Park, Tacna RVers looking for that perfect getaway spot for ATVs and other toys can enjoy adventure here. Take advantage of pull-thru sites for nightly and weekly stays.

Raptor Ranch RV Park & Campground, Williams Camp at a wildlife-education facility, bird-of-prey breeding project and home of the Northern Arizona Raptor Foundation.

Shangri-La RV Resort, Yuma This year-round resort is perfect for big rig RVs on short overnight stays or for a whole season. Guests enjoy the many shade trees; there is a tree at almost every site.

Arkansas

Forest Lake Estates MH and RV Community, Conway Guests feel right at home at a three-time Best of Conway Award-winning community.

California

Shady Haven RV Park, Bakersfield This park is gated and quiet, with a wellness community that includes a pool, Jacuzzi and beautiful sites to fit any size RV.

The Springs At Borrego RV Resort & Golf Course, Borrego Springs Nestled within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, The Springs at Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course provides spacious RV park sites, fully-furnished park models, top-notch amenities and recreational activities.

Denise Vasquez

Crestview MH Community, Lancaster This community has everything a visitor could desire, including a pool, playground and more.

Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort, Lewiston The Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort is located in the small mining town of Lewiston in Trinity County. Its within walking distance of the old single-lane bridge which spans the Trinity River.

Hat Creek Resort & RV Park, Old Station Located directly on the banks of Hat Creek in pristine Lassen National Forest, Hat Creek Resort & RV Park offers the finest fishing youll find, right on the park property.

Fairplex RV Park (formerly Los Angeles/Pomona KOA), Pomona Magic Mountain, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and Raging Waters lie just miles from this fun park.

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Emerald Forest Cabins & RV, Trinidad This park is a Shamballa of sorts: a high-elevation dwelling in the hush of the forest with nearby access to beaches and the friendliest community on earth.

Friendly RV Park, Weed True to its name, Friendly RV park delivers all the amenities youd want in a pleasant environment.

Willits KOA, Willits The Willits KOA features an Old West theme and is laid out on a peaceful country setting with rolling hills and trees.

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Colorado

Saddleback RV, Battlement Mesa With Bridal Veil Falls, Carbondale Creative District and Glenwood Hot Springs nearby, you can be confident that this is a great place for your family.

Durango KOA, Durango Just a short drive from this mountain sports town and the depot for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the Durango KOA provides a panoramic view of the jagged San Juan Mountains.

Black Bear Motel & RV Park, Howard Enjoy stellar sunsets and sunrises in the rugged terrain of Colorado.

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Connecticut

Natures Campsites, Voluntown This park is covered with towering pines and one of New Englands top-rated rivers to canoe and fish, by Alex Wilsons Quiet River Canoe Guide.

Florida

Bonita Lake RV Resort, Bonita Springs Nestled between Naples and Fort Myers and only 6 miles from the Gulf, this park is an all age resort and pet friendly.

Pioneer Creek RV Resort, Bowling Green This park features a relaxed atmosphere in natural surroundings in the heart of Central Florida, close to major tourist attractions but far from congestion.

Breezy Acres RV Park, Chiefland Breezy Acres RV Park and Campground is a quiet, adults-only clean park to relax in a rural setting.

Rainbow Chase RV Resort, Davenport Rainbow Chase RV Resort is a quiet, clean, well-maintained park with a clubhouse, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits and planned activities.

Everglades Isle Motorcoach Resort & Marina, Everglades City This Class A and Super C resort has sites for rent or purchase with tropical landscaping, full hookups and brick paver pads.

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Fort Myers RV Resort, Fort Myers This resort is nestled between Tamiami Trail and Ten Mile Canal, offering the quiet peace of the country, yet close to many Fort Myers attractions.

Orange Harbor Co-Op & RV Resort, Fort Myers Orange Harbor RV Park is located on the Orange and Caloosahatchee Rivers. Its famous for beautiful sunsets, manatee and dolphin sightings, great fishing spots & boating. Minutes from downtown Fort Myers.

Shady Acres RV Park, Fort Myers Shady Acres is constructed within Mother Natures natural environment. Far off the busy roadways, the park offers a safe and quiet location for guests.

Moonshine Acres RV Park, Fort White If youre seeking an adventure youll be talking about for weeks, welcome to Moonshine Acres RV Park.

Calypso Cove RV Park, Freeport Calypso Cove RV Park, located in scenic Freeport Florida on the Choctawhatchee Bay, features a tropical setting amongst the palm trees.

Moss Landing RV Resort, La Belle With a small-town feel, this tranquil Old Florida area on the waterfront near Fort Myers provides residents with the natural amenities of nearby lakes, rivers, parks and walking trails.

Blue Parrot RV Resort, Lady Lake This resort is close to major Florida tourist attractions, yet a world apart with peaceful surroundings.

Lake Placid Campground, Lake Placid This resort enjoys a centralized location on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida, where great weather is abundant. Guests are just minutes to many Florida Attractions.

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Ridgecrest RV Resort, Leesburg Serenely situated in central Florida, this park is close to top local attractions such as Disney World, SeaWorld, Kennedy Space Center and Holy Land Experience.

Madison RV & Golf Resort, Madison This resort features access to world-class golfing, top-notch amenities, close proximity to area attractions and much more.

Enchanted Lakes RV Resort, Malabar Campers can enjoy a fun-filled experience with a host of amenities and a friendly, efficient staff, minutes from all major attractions, shopping, hospitals and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean.

Wild Frontier RV Resort, Ocala This campground is located about 10 minutes from downtown Ocala. The unique location ensures guests enjoy a quiet visit far from city noise.

Lakeside North RV Resort, Okeechobee This fully fenced community has sites with patios. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, crystal-clear pool along the waterfront and tiki hut with picnic table.

Fishermans Cove RV Resort, Palmetto Situated on secluded Terra Ceia Bay frontage leading to the Gulf of Mexico, this resort lies within reach of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota.

Panacea RV Park, Panacea Stay at a quiet park in the town of Panacea, just three blocks from the Gulf of Mexico.

Oak Springs RV Resort, Port Richey Campers can visit all the major tourist attractions of Central Florida. Try local food and buy some gifts at the Greek Sponge Docks. Play golf, swim, fish or relax.

Sundance Lakes RV Resort, Port Richey Guests will love the unhurried lifestyle and many activities here. World-famous tourist attractions, golf and marinas are close.

Rice Creek RV Resort, Riverview Close to Disney World, Legoland and Busch Gardens, guests at this park can stroll down the wide paved streets surrounded by massive oak shade trees.

Hawaiian Isles, Ruskin In a centralized location on the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida, where sunshine is a way of life, the resort has an Olympic-sized pool and more.

The Springs RV Resort, Silver Springs Silver Springs has one of the largest artesian springs in the world. Take a glass-bottom boat tour to view the areas wealth of aquatic life.

Steinhatchee River Club, Steinhatchee Nestled in the heart of Floridas Big Bend, the resort gives visitors the best the Gulf has to offer with unbelievable views and unbeatable fishing.

Sunkissed Village RV Resort, Summerfield Enjoy a park with an unhurried lifestyle and many activities. World-famous tourist attractions, golf and marinas are close.

Southern Aire RV Resort, Thonotosassa Perfectly blended with a wilderness atmosphere, this resort has lots of amenities, including a newly renovated large pool area and shuffleboard courts.

Stage Stop Campground, Winter Garden This campground is designed with you and your familys stay in mind and is conveniently located near all the major Orlando theme parks and historic downtown Winter Garden.

Forest Lake Estates RV Resort, Zephyrhills This RV resort in Zephyrhills offers resort-style amenities, beautiful landscaping and convenient location.

Palm View Gardens RV Resort, Zephyrhills This park features a stocked fishing lake, spacious rec hall with many activities and proximity to tourist attractions.

Ralphs Travel Park, Zephyrhills This is the perfect Florida getaway with low annual rates and just minutes from shopping, golf, restaurants, medical centers and hospitals.

Georgia

Flint River RV Park, Bainbridge There are numerous nearby sites to be seen as well, including the Tampa Palms Golf Club, Lettuce Lake Park, and Flatwoods Wilderness Park.

Jennys Creek Family Campground, Cleveland This park enjoys a central location in the heart of the North Georgia Mountains. Sites are available on the private fishing pond and alongside Jennys Creek.

Eastern Pines RV Park, Thomasville Southwest Georgias many shopping, dining and recreation possibilities are within reach for guests who stay at this park.

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Idaho

Y Knot Winery & RV Park, Glenns Ferry This RV park is located directly across the street from the namesake winery. It has large shade trees and offers full hook-ups for both large and small units.

Kasota RV Resort, Heyburn Southern Idahos newest camping destination is a lush grass RV park with plenty to do, including onsite golf, zip line, water park, walking path, baseball and tennis.

Wakeside Lake RV Park, Rexburg This park sits on lakefront property with fishing, swimming and paddleboarding. Nearby are St. Anthony Sand Dunes and Bear World.

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Illinois

Glenwood RV Resort, Marseilles This resort offers lots of activities in a convenient location in a beautiful part of the Prairie State.

Rustic Acres Campground, New Douglas Nestled on 47 country acres, Rustic Acres Campground boasts two fishing lakes for the avid anglers. The more-than 170 campsites are tucked among the serenity of beautiful oak and hickory trees.

Oak Terrace RV Resort, Pana Located on 600 acres, this resort has something for everyone. Relax by the Lake, play golf, unwind at LakeView Spa, rent a boat, check out the Indoor and Outdoor Pools and more.

Indiana

White Oaks Mobile Home Park, Marion Unwind in a country setting with quiet, peaceful living and great neighbors. A privacy fence surrounds the community.

Terre Haute Campground, Terre Haute This beautiful RV park and campground sits just a couple of miles off of exit 11A on Interstate 70 in Terre Haute.

Vincennes RV Park, Vincennes Enjoy a relaxing RV park in the Hoosiers State near the Illinois border.

Iowa

Valley Village MH Community, Ottumwa Guests can enjoy country living with all the amenities in this beautiful park.

Kansas

Flamingo Flats Mobile Home & RV Park, Hutchinson This charming park gives guests everything they need in the heart of the Sunflower State.

K & R RV Park, Wichita Close to Wichita, this park welcomes extended-stay guests as well as short-term visitors.

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Kentucky

Happy Camper RV Park, Somerset This brand-new park features new level spots and pull-throughs for RVs up to 40 feet. Meet friendly neighbors and enjoy fun events all summer.

Louisiana

Blue Heron RV Park, Iowa Brand new with huge concrete RV sites, this park sits just 9 miles east of Lake Charles. Its perfect for traveling RVers as well as extended-stay guests.

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Maine

Sandy Pines Campground, Kennebunkport Tucked into a secluded beach forest, bordered by a salt marsh, the tranquil setting for this campground is enhanced by ocean views and salty breezes.

Two Lakes Camping Area, Oxford This beautiful waterfront park puts guests in a beautiful location in the Pine State.

Massachusetts

Bonnie Brae Cabins & Campsites, Pittsfield This campground sits just minutes from many of the Berkshires main attractions and is a short ride to others. Its an enjoyable, relaxing camping experience in a beautiful part of the Bay State.

Pine Lake RV Resort & Cottages, Sturbridge Take advantage of amenities like a spa, miniature golf, pickleball, basketball and Wi-FI at this beautiful getaway.

Marthas Vineyard Family Campground, Vineyard Haven Located in a beautiful island setting, this peaceful campground offers the opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of the outdoors.

Michigan

Ber Wa Ga Na Campground, Vassar Occupying over 67 acres, this park caters to sporting enthusiasts as well as casual hikers. Enjoy jogging, swimming, hiking, golfing, biking, basketball, relaxing morning walks and more.

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Minnesota

Eagle Cliff Campground & Lodging, Lanesboro Accommodations here include riverfront tent sites, electric-only sites, water-electric sites and full-hookup sites. Theres also a five-room motel on site.

Wildwood Campground, Shafer Amenities here include minigolf ($3 for 18 holes), a heated pool (Open Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day), basketball, volleyball and Horseshoes. Hit the bike trail or nature trail (self-guided).

Mississippi

Martin Lake Resort, Biloxi This private, membership-only park is nestled among beautiful pines overlooking the crystal-clear, spring-fed lake. Its excellent for fishing and swimming.

Green Tree RV Park & Campground, Morton Green Tree RV & Recreational Park is dedicated to providing high-quality service. Staffers will do everything they can to meet expectations.

Hollywood Casino Hotel & RV Park, Tunica Camp in a beautiful RV park near the gulf then win big and enjoy entertainment at the casino.

Missouri

Black Oaks MH and RV Community, Boonville This community sits in a shady, quiet, low-traffic setting with city conveniences. There are lighted, paved streets for easy access.

Branson View Campground, Branson Branson View Campground is a full-service campground located on State Highway 265, just two miles off Bransons famous 76 Strip and entertainment district.

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Montana

Beaverhead River RV Park & Campground, Dillon Stay at a well-appointed RV park sits next to a river with lots of fishing.

Red Eagle Campground, East Glacier Park Stay near spectacular Glacier National Park in a park with roomy sites and gorgeous views.

Yellowstone RV Park, Gardiner Sitting on the Yellowstone River, this campground is right next door to Americas first national park.

Hansen Family Campground & Storage, Havre Whether youre traveling alone or with a group, this park accommodates RVers with 23 full-hookup sites including pull-through spaces.

Chewing Black Bones Campground, St. Mary Perched on the banks of the Lower Saint Marie Lake, this park offers beautiful views and ample amenities.

Nevada

Comstock Country RV Resort, Carson City Camp amid lots of trees in with roomy, full-hookup sites, a campground store, exercise room and more.

Desert Sands RV Park, Henderson Now under new management, this park offers a pool and hot tub (open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day Weekend), updated bathrooms and showers, laundry room and common area with Wifi.

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Cactus Petes RV Park, Jackpot Win big at the casino near the comfortable and well-appointed RV park. Enjoy outstanding dining as well.

Circus Circus RV Park, Las Vegas The only RV Park on the Las Vegas Strip has 170 RV spaces on 10 acres with full water, sewage and electrical hook ups.

Angel Lake RV Park, Wells Located amid ruggedly beautiful Western scenery, Angel Lake RV Park is a full-service park with easy access 48 pull-through spaces.

Silver State RV Park, Winnemucca This park has improved many amenities, including upgraded Wi-Fi and a general store with RV supplies.

Winnemucca RV Park, Winnemucca Conveniently located just a few hours from Reno, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, Winnemucca is a celebrated hotspot thats half-way to anywhere you want to be!

New Hampshire

Twin Mountain Motor Court & RV Park, Twin Mountain This is the perfect spot to take in the scenery or enjoy as a home base to visit nearby attractions. All sites are affordably priced, with full hook-ups and cable.

New Jersey

King Nummy Trail Campground, Cape May Court House Located near the beautiful coastal town of Cape May, this campground offers swimming pools and more.

Holly Acres Campground, Egg Harbor City Opened in 2019, Holly Acres is nestled on 40 acres. Guests can relax by the pool or sit by the campfire for quality time with family and friends.

Pleasant Acres Farm RV Resort, Sussex This park is built on a working farm in North Jersey. Guests can go on wagon hayrides and pet baby animals.

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New Mexico

Cuervo Mountain RV Park and Horse Hotel, Moriarty This family-friendly RV park caters to both RV travelers and equestrians. A dog park accommodates your furry companions.

Ridgepark RV, Silver City This well-manicured park sits near the Continental Divide in the foothills of the Burro Mountains. Just 14 miles north is Silver City.

Blaze-in-Saddle RV Park & Horse Hotel, Tucumcari Get personalized attention and service in a park located in one of New Mexicos most beautiful locations.

New York

Niagara Shores Campground & Conference Center, Appleton Occupying 35 acres of land located on the shores of Lake Ontario, the park is just a scenic drive away from Niagara Falls. Great for conferences, retreats, weddings and reunions.

Whippoorwill Motel & Campsites, Lake George Up-to-date facilities combine with comfortable, clean and budget-friendly accommodations provide guests with an ideal place to relax and enjoy beautiful Lake George.

Babbling Brook RV Park, Westville Center With Salmon River frontage, the RV park offers several comfortable sites and is located near several area attractions.

North Carolina

Pine Lake RV Resort, Aberdeen The campground occupies 100 acres property thats home to long-leaf pine trees with three lakes, running creeks, hiking trails and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Land on three sides.

Beaufort Waterway RV Park, Beaufort Stay at a brand-new RV park with a great location on North Carolinas Intracoastal Waterway. The pet-friendly park boasts large sites.

Fort Wilderness Campground and RV Park, Cherokee Occupying 11 acres, this park puts guests within reach of Harrahs Casino, the Nantahala Gorge and the Smoky Mountain Railroad.

Rutledge Lake RV Resort, Fletcher Rutledge Lake is a top Asheville camping location with easy access to all area attractions and cultural events with a relaxing atmosphere.

Stonebridge RV Resort, Maggie Valley This 18-acre resort is perfectly situated for trips to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Cherokee, Biltmore Estate & many more attractions.

Peachtree Cove RV Park, Marble Sitting on the banks of the Valley River, this park has several sites close to the creek that runs through the property.

Tom Johnson Camping Worlds Mountain Resort, Marion Stay in a beautiful setting and then go shopping for a new RV at a Camping World & Gander RV and Outdoor retail location.

Whispering Pines RV Park, Morehead City Located along North Carolinas Crystal Coast, Whispering Pines RV park is a family campground with a private boat ramp and day dock.

The RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads, Roanoke Rapids This is a new RV park located less than a mile from Interstate 95, just south of the Virginia border. Guests can enjoy wide streets and roomy sites for their vehicles.

Flaming Arrow Campground, Whittier Located south of Cherokee and close to the Smoky Mountains, this park gives guests a chance to enjoy whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River.

Ohio

Roundup Lake Campground, Aurora Located on the water, Roundup Lake Campground has over 350 camping sites, plus lodges, cottages and log cabin rentals.

Alton RV Park, Galloway Located just nine miles west of downtown Columbus and 11 miles from Ohio State University, this quiet park has 35 full-hookup spaces.

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Oklahoma

Do Drop Inn RV Resort, Calera Minutes from Choctaw Casino & Lake Texoma, this resort has trails, kayaks and games. See beautiful sunsets from the pool or hot tub.

Duncan Mobile Village, Duncan Stay at a great 185-space RV and Mobile Home community on 40 acres with ample trees and green grass located off of Route 81.

Elk Run RV Park, Elk City Located near historic Route 66, this RV park offers roomy spaces.

Bobcat Creek RV Park, Sayre Located less than a quarter-mile off Interstate 40 on Highway 66, this campground offers nature trails as well as a gathering garden. Pets are welcome.

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Oregon

Crown Villa RV Resort, Bend The resorts wide sites are covered in pavers, each with a patio and many with storage. Work out in the exercise room or relax in the spa.

Clatskanie River Inn & RV Park, Clatskanie This beautiful property is just off the Columbia River and only 35 minutes from the beautiful Oregon coast city of Astoria. Portland is 60 miles away.

The Old Mill RV Park, Garibaldi Tillamook Bay gently laps the shores of this 40-acre property with scenic mountain views along with over 90 RV spaces, plenty of tent camping and many amenities.

Pennsylvania

Mountain Pines Campground, Champion Boasting the largest swimming pool in Pennsylvania, this park sits close to several fun surrounding attractions, including Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater.

Drummer Boy Camping Resort, Gettysburg Just minutes from downtown Gettysburg with 400-plus sites available for seasonal and short-term rentals, this park has modern amenities, swimming pool and golf cart rentals on site.

Round Top Campground, Gettysburg This spacious Pennsylvania family vacation-oriented campground sits just off the Route 134 Exit from Route 15 and has amenities that include a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, outdoor pavilion, game room and more.

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South Dakota

Custer Crossing Campground, Deadwood This park sits in the heart of the Black Hills and close to major attractions. Enjoy steak and burgers at the Last Stand Cafe every Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Tennessee

Old Hickory MH Community, Madison Choose from 276 modern home and recreational sites with all utility hookups. Camp under mature trees with beautiful views of the Cumberland River.

The Ridge Outdoor Resort, Sevierville The newest RV and Glamping Resort lies the heart of the Smoky Mountains, just two miles from Dollywood close to all the area shops, shows and dining attractions!

Bigfoot Adventure RV Park & Campground, Tracy City Relish some peace and quiet on Monteagle Mountain, where adventure opportunities in the surrounding area abound.

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Texas

Alamo Rec-Veh Park/MHP, Alamo This 55-plus RV and mobile home resort sits in the beautiful, semi-tropical Rio Grande Valley with room for blacktop areas, space for large RVs and concrete pads among the 450-plus lots.

Alamo Rose RV Resort, Alamo This resort is less than an hour from South Padre Island with swimming, dolphin watching and deep-sea fishing and even closer to Mexico for great shopping.

Trophy Gardens, Alamo Stay freeway-close to all that makes South Texas the winter destination for many RV Travelers. Head to the beach or Mexico to shop

Winter Ranch RV Resort, Alamo Surrounded by citrus groves in a beautiful subtropical setting, this gated community is a perfect place to enjoy the best of South Texas. Its close to Gulf beaches and Mexico.

Browders Marina RV Park & Campground, Coldspring Located on the southern tip of Lake Livingston in San Jacinto County, the resort puts guests in the middle of the beautiful pine trees of East Texas just an hours drive north of Houston.

Marina Village Mobile Home & RV Community, Corpus Christi Take a dip in the swimming pool and enjoy the recreation facility, laundromat, bathhouses, and bay access.

Puerto Del Sol RV Park, Corpus Christi For travelers escaping the winter chill, this RV park is located on the waters edge of Corpus Christi Bay.

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El Campo Lost Lagoon RV Resort, El Campo This 40-acre resort boasts the worlds largest RV resort pool, as seen on HGTV. A cafe, bar, arcade and more keep guests entertained.

Mission Trail Mobile Home & RV Village, El Paso Check out pull-through sites with full hookups (30/50 amps), restrooms and showers. This is the place for quiet family living.

Buena Vista Wildlife Safari and RV Park, Evant This park sits in a preserve populated by animals from all over the world. Stay in a comfortable site, then go on a safari to observe these fascinating creatures.

Blue Water RV Resort, Freeport This brand-new resort is a fishermans paradise. Walk or take a golf cart down the 21 miles of beach, cast your line from your RV site or sip a cocktail from our bar.

Texas Freedom RV Village, Gonzales Relax in a quiet country setting in historic Gonzales, a short drive to the Alamo, San Antonio Riverwalk, Gruene Hall, Schlitterbahn Water Park, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World and more.

Fig Tree RV Resort, Harlingen Now under new ownership, this resort comes with a friendly staff and onsite massage therapist. Relax in the heated pool and hot tub and enjoy the Rio Grande Valley.

Park Place Estates, Harlingen A 9,600 square-foot ballroom lets you swing your partner to Big Bands. Relax by the pool or spa or enjoy our many planned activities.

Texas RV Park, Hitchcock Reserve a spot in a brand new park conveniently located two-and-a-half miles south of Interstate 45, close to outlet malls, Galveston Bay, boating, restaurants and more.

Jetstream RV Resort at NASA, Houston This park combines stylish comfort with an outstanding location near several major aerospace, healthcare and technology firms.

South Main RV Park, Houston A wooded country atmosphere prevails in the heart of Houston, with a beautiful park, with courtesy shuttles to the Medical Center and friendly staff.

Safari Mobile Home & RV Community, League City This park is a community within a community with both paved and gravel streets, laundry room, showers, pool and book-swap library.

Opdyke West RV Park, Levelland Find comfort and convenience in a park located right outside of Lubbock on Highway 114, minutes from Walmart and an upscale laundromat.

Highway 90 RV Resort, Liberty This beautifully designed destination RV park is perfectly located between Houston and Beaumont with amenities that include a stocked fishing pond.

Lazy Palms Ranch RV Park, Linn Unending vistas and proximity to Padre Island are just a few of the charms of Lazy Palms Ranch, the essence of the wild Texas heart. Enjoy regular shindigs, barbecues and resort-style amenities.

Country Living Retreat, Mineral Wells As the name implies, this RV resort puts guests in roomy sites amid the wide-open landscape.

Bluebonnet RV Resort, Mission Get treated to outstanding customer service and enjoy high-quality amenities like a heated indoor pool and live entertainment. Its close to Mexico for great shopping.

Baron Mobile Estates & RV Park (MHP), Odessa Stay in community with clean, large lots, most with large trees in a safe, secure area connected by lighted streets.

Texas Trails RV Resort, Pharr Warm and sunny Pharr is a great place to shop with lots of fine restaurants. Warm temperatures and a pool help make it a perfect place to be a winter Texan.

Tip O Texas RV Resort, Pharr Visitors can experience great weather, abundant shopping and planned activities. The resort sits close to beaches and Northern Mexico for more shopping.

Tropic Star RV Resort, Pharr This resort has the largest ballroom dance floor in the Valley and the top caller. Its only an hour from Gulf Shore Beaches, where you can lounge, swim or fish all day.

Shark Tooth RV Ranch, Pilot Point Stay in the Texas-size pull-throughs, enjoy Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch and a great meal in the Tipsy Pig at the Bears Den.

R & R RV Resort & Casitas, Port OConnor While here, plan to take advantage of Port OConnors laidback lifestyle, incredible birding & fishing opportunities and beautiful beaches.

Lagoons RV Resort, Rockport Stay at a resort that boasts 360 beautiful sites with patios and tables. Its ideal for group camping, rallies, and snowbird and family gatherings.

Woody Acres Mobile Home & RV Resort, Rockport As one of the largest RV, cabin and mobile home resorts in Texas, Woody Acres offers fully furnished cabins and RV rental units, with unique waterfront sites along its five acres of lakes.

Texarkana RV Park, Texarkana Located on the border with Arkansas, this park allows guests to enjoy two states in a pleasant atmosphere.

Alamo River RV Resort, Von Ormy Conveniently located off IH 35S just minutes south of downtown San Antonio, this veteran family-owned-and-operated park gives discounts to current and retired service personnel.

Lake Waco RV Park & Marina, Waco The beautiful RV park sits alongside the shores of Lake Waco and is just minutes to downtown Waco and the famous Magnolia Silos.

Riverview Campground, Waco Located in the Central Texas region near the wonderful city of Waco, this park has abundant trees and a place you can fish right across the street.

Winnie Inn & RV Park, Winnie Located east of Houston, this well-appointed RV park caters to its guests needs. Its location near Interstate 10 adds to its appeal.

Utah

Iron Springs Adventure Resort, Cedar City Centrally located near Utahs top national parks, the park has first-class amenities like the Luxury Lodge and Cabins, Country Store, Event Center and elaborate World Class Mountain Bike and Off-Road Trails.

Yonder Escalante, Escalante Undergoing a renovation, Yonder Escalante, formerly Shooting Star RV Park, is in the Heart of Southern Utahs Red Canyon Country and is the perfect base camp for adventure.

Bryce-Zion Campground, Glendale Take easy day trips to Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon North Rim, Coral Pink Sand Dunes and Cedar Breaks Nat Monument from this resort. Afterward, relax in the pool and take advantage of the convenience store, hot showers and more.

Crazy Horse RV Resort, Kanab Fantastic renovations at the Crazy Horse Resort will enhance your guest experience. Campers enjoy city conveniences with quiet, spacious sites and plenty of local outdoor adventures. Zion, Bryce and other attractions are just a short drive away.

Leeds RV Park & Motel, Leeds Situated in the heart of Dixies Color Country at the base of Pine Valley Mountain, this small, quiet park lies within reach of Zion National Park, Red Creek State Park and more.

Virginia

Madison Vines RV Resort & Cottages, Madison Sitting in the Shenandoah Valley between Historic Fredericksburg and Shenandoah National Park, this park puts guests within reach of vintners in historical settings.

Explore Park, Roanoke Near the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 115, this park encompasses hundreds of acres of rolling hills, pristine woodlands, hiking trails, river frontage, outdoor adventure and a visitor information center.

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Washington

Northern Quest RV Resort, Airway Heights Stay at one of 67 high-end RV sites or 18 luxury cottages, all with a full complement of amenities. Play at 24/7 Vegas-style casino gaming, multiple dining options, entertainment and an iconic golf course.

Kalispel RV Resort, Cusick Just steps away from the rollicking Kalispel Casino, guests can enjoy several fantastic dining options, quick access to a fresh market grocery and convenience store and a brand new Chevron fuel station.

Sunbanks Lake Resort, Electric City On the shores of Banks Lake near Grand Coulee, this resort has miles of natural beauty, making it ideal for camping, watersports, fishing and other outdoor activities.

Liberty Lake RV Campground, Liberty Lake Stay within walking distance to shopping, entertainment and dining options downtown. Plan a day of fishing, boating or hiking at one of the areas many lakes, mountain resorts or other regional attractions.

Clark County Fairgrounds RV Park and Storage, Ridgefield Accommodating larger RVs, Clark Countys newest RV park sits next to the Clark County Fairgrounds and Sunlight Supply Amphitheater, just minutes away from Ilani Casino.

West Virginia

Revelles River Resort, Bowden Sites for all RV sizes are available. Stay along the river in your vehicle or sleep in a cabin ranging from small sizes to accommodations that sleep up to 15.

Blue Spruce MH Community, Milton Large spaces with many mature trees and beautiful views thrill guests, all in a quiet country setting with city conveniences.

Wisconsin

Uncle Saltys Golf and Camp, Holcombe The property has a nine-hole golf course, a 42-site campground, mini-golf, party pavilion and alcohol. Two public boat landings within a quarter-mile give access to Lake Holcombe.

Lake Of the Woods Campground, Wautoma Good times abound at Wisconsins Summer Fun Destination, located in scenic Marquette County. The resorts 122 wooded acres give guests room for favorite activities, special events and family vacations.

Dells Camping Resort, Wisconsin Dells Now under new ownership, this fully wooded campground offers overnight and seasonal camping in addition to several rental cabins. A short drive takes campers to all the fun of Wisconsin Dells, and a pool gives guests more reasons to stay.

Wyoming

Pony Soldier RV Park, Lingle Explore a region immersed in pioneer history, from Chimney Rock to Guernsey and Casper. The park is conveniently located on U.S. Highway 26 between Fort Laramie and Lingle.

Mountain View RV Park, Wheatland Experience this beautiful corner of the Cowboy State with full hookups, Wi-Fi, a brand new building, coin-op laundry facilities and coin-op shower facilities. Large pull-through sites are available for campers.

Canada Good Sam Parks

Alberta

CampN RV, Lloydminster Check out this family-run RV park offering year-round camping and RV storage services in a historic town.

British Columbia

Golden Municipal Campground, Golden In the midst of six National Parks, its the perfect base to explore and enjoy a vast array of outdoor activities.

Riviera RV Park & Campground, Grand Forks Come and relax in a beautiful, fun and friendly environment. The park is surrounded by mountains in a wooded setting.

Moon Shadows RV Park & Campground, Merritt Easily accessible, Moon Shadows provides spectacular destination family camping combined with an ideal location for many day outings.

Desert Gem RV Resort, Oliver So-named because its situated in the only desert in Canada, Desert Gem RV Resort is nestled in the town of Oliver, near the south end of British Columbias Okanagan Valley.

Manitoba

Aspen Grove Campground, Oak Lake Enjoy amenities like private, full-service 30/50-amp power along with pull-though sites. Wi-Fi, picnic tables, fire pits, heated pool and public bathrooms.

New Brunswick

Bouctouche Baie Chalets & Camping, Bouctouche Just a five-minute walk from the beach, this campground has a heated swimming pool, old-fashioned arcade, bicycle trails and plenty of activities for the entire family.

Sunrise Campground, Miramichi Stay at one of the beautiful sites along the Miramichi River. The family-friendly campground also has a pool.

Newfoundland Labrador

Pirates Haven RV Park & Chalets, Robinsons Go for an ATV trip or cast a line for big fish amid stunning scenery in untamed Newfoundland.

Nova Scotia

The Lakes Campground, N.E. Margaree Situated on the Cabot Trail at beautiful Lake OLaw, the park is surrounded by the Cape Breton Highlands in the lovely Margaree River Valley.

Ontario

Bingemans Camping Resort, Kitchener Partake in lots of things to do and take advantage of seasonal camping, group camping and tours to the beautiful surrounding area.

Oakridge Family Campground, Lambton Shores Located in Northville (just south of Grand Bend), this fun-filled campground is surrounded by the Carolinian Forest and is only a 10-minute drive from the sandy beaches of Lake Huron.

Heritage Trails Campground, Marmora This campground has all of the amenities a camper could ask for, including hiking trails, lots of games, heated outdoor pool and golf cart rentals.

Gullivers Lake RV Resort, Millgrove Situated on the shores of a spring-fed lake, this resort offers fantastic family fun and recreation.

Willow Lake RV Resort, Scotland A vacation experience for the whole family, the park includes a 13-acre spring-fed lake with a water slide and floating raft.

Quebec

Camping Melbourne, Melbourne Enjoy a pleasant French-Canadian camping excursion on beautiful grounds and close to area attractions.

Camping du Vieux Moulin, Saint-Barthelemy About 60 miles north of Montreal near the St. Lawrence River, this scenic RV resort occupies lush, tree-shaded grounds along the shores of a lake.

Resto Camping Capitaine Homard, Sainte-Flavie Lobster is king here, and when youre not enjoying fabulous camping on the grounds, take a seat at the onsite restaurant for the succulent crustacean.

Were here to do good and ensure you have a good trip. Search for any of our 2,400+ amazing RV parks below. Welcome to the Good Sam family.

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Dug Up at Dogster: April 2018 Dog Events

Celebrate April with your furry best friends. Read on for some April 2018 dog events we can’t wait to check out!

Month-long Holiday Observances:

Brush up on dog first aid and emergency protocol in honor of Pet First Aid Awareness Month. Photography by absolutimages/Thinkstock.

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Related reading: Celebrating Those Who Prevent Cruelty to Animals

Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Related reading: 5 First Aid Tips and Tricks for Your Dog

15 Must-Have Items for Your Dog First Aid Kit

When Should You Call an Emergency Vet and How Do You Find One?

How to Assess Your Emergency Situation with Pets

A Pet Parent’s Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Dogs

Prevention of Lyme Disease Month

Related reading: Lyme Disease in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

National Heartworm Awareness Month

Related reading: The Weird and Insidious World of Heartworm in Dogs

Through July 2018: “Celebrating the Year of the Dog” Exhibit at the Met

Catch the “Year of the Dog” exhibit at the Met. Photography by Eric Nathan/Alamy Stock Photo.

Dogs-in-art lovers won’t find a better way to commemorate this Chinese Lunar New Year (the Year of the Dog!) than going to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (at the Met Fifth Avenue). The “Celebrating the Year of the Dog” exhibit features selected remarkable works — paintings, metal work, pottery, etc. — from The Met Collection illustrating dogs’ “close association with Chinese daily life.” You’ll have plenty of time to catch the exhibit, as it runs through July 4, 2018. See metmuseum.org for details.

Saturday, April 7: Paws in the Park 2018

You’ll find more than 25 dog rescue groups and 150 vendors at this Charlotte, North Carolina, event located at the Pineville Lake Park. Enjoy live band Caution Blind Driver, demonstrations, food trucks, a dog walk and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by Black Dog Appreciation Day & Black Dog Walk and Charlotte Black Dogs.

Saturday, April 7: Every Day Is Tag Day Holiday Observance

Double check the info on your dog’s microchip and tags in honor of Every Day Is Tag Day. Photography © Tetra Images Janie Grill/Getty Images.

If your dog doesn’t have a tag and isn’t microchipped, run right out and get that done. Dogs without tags or micro-chips rarely make it home if they get lost. Plus, a microchip is the best way to legally show that a dog is yours. If your dog has tags and a microchip, take a moment to update the info. If you’ve got this one in the bag, celebrate this day by reminding family, friends and neighbors.

Tuesday, April 10: Available now — My Patients and Other Animals

My Patients and Other Animals by Dr. Suzy Finchman-Gray.

Have you ever wondered how veterinarians see their patients? Go behind the consulting room into the life of Dr. Suzy Fincham-Gray. Her heartwarming memoir is filled with stories of love, loss and hope with her patients and their owners. Retails for $27; published by Spiegel & Grau.

Friday, April 13: Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero premieres

Stubby animated. Photography courtesy Fun Academy Motion Pictures.

Based on a true story of a stray dog rescued by an American soldier on the eve of WWI, this animated feature film looks at the unbreakable bond between a young soldier and his dog. Sgt. Stubby — a true American hero — is still recognized today as the first dog promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army and the most decorated dog in American history. He’s widely considered the forerunner to the U.S. Army’s working dog program. Perfect for the whole family, the film features the voices of Logan Lerman, Helena Bonham Carter and Gérard Depardieu.

Friday and Saturday, April 27—28: America’s Family Pet Expo

America’s Family Pet Expo. Photography courtesy AFPE.

Find plenty of dogs, cats and lots of other furry and non-furry friends in Costa Mesa, California, at this three-day expo. Dog-specific events include a dog stunt show, dock jumping, pup adoptions and innovative pet products. Go to petexpooc.org to find out more.

Saturday and Sunday April 28—29: 1st Annual Furbaby Ball/Fashion Show

Head to Virginia Beach to attend the Age of Enlightenment Ball, presented by G Girl Productions and Virginia Beach’s local The Royal BB Girls to raise money for nonprofit Lady’s Grace, which helps military members and vets in the Hampton Roads and around the country. This event will help them supply food to pets for the vets in need plus support Hounds for Vets. The Fashion Show begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The pet-friendly two-day event takes place at the Founders Inn & Spa. Go to enlightenmentball.com for more details.

Sunday, April 29: Long Island Veterinarian Open Houses

Paumanok Veterinary Hospital and LIVMA give animal-lovers a behind-the-scenes look into what goes on at an animal hospital. Photography courtesy of Paumanok Veterinary Hospital.

Paumanok Veterinary Hospital, along with other members of the Long Island Veterinary Medical Association (LIVMA), is hosting an open house for pet owners and animal lovers from 1 to 4 p.m. This is your chance to find out what goes on behind the scenes at an animal hospital. Paumanok’s barnyard-themed open house features dog teams from the Patchogue Rotary Animal Assisted Therapy Program (PRAAT), pet adoption, fire safety, info on pet health and wellness, pony rides, canine demonstrations, pet photography, wildlife rescue with Sweetbriar Nature Center and more. For more info, call 631-475-1312.

Thumbnail: Photography by Claire Plumridge/Shutterstock.