Category: Campgrounds

8 Great Trails for National Bike Month

Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month was established in 1956 to highlight the benefits of bicycling and to get Americans outdoors and riding high on two wheels. Some of the benefits of bicycling include increased cardiovascular fitness, strengthened bones, improved posture and coordination, and decreased stress levels.

So, while a bike ride is great anytime, May is the designated month to roll out your bicycle and see where it will take you. If you’re lucky enough to be camping anytime this month, check out these trails. Or anytime you’re out and about atop two wheels.

Sedona (AZ)
Ride among the beautiful red rocks of Sedona on the Bell Rock Pathway, an easy 3.7-mile hard dirt trail. The grand prize on this ride is the view of Bell Rock, one of the most photographed spots in the country and also one of Sedona’s natural healing vortexes. Book a stay in a cabin or tiny house at beautiful Verde Valley and bike the Bell Rock Pathway as well as several others in this gorgeous valley.

Santa Barbara (CA)
The Atascadero Creek Trail is a 3.5-mile asphalt trail that begins in Goleta State Beach Park and takes riders to the center of beautiful Santa Barbara. Rent one of the unique accommodations (cabin, cottage, or tipi) at Rancho Oso and enjoy this lovely ride.

Rancho Oso Cabin
Rancho Oso Cabin

Orlando (FL)
The bike ride at Shingle Creek Regional Trail is just as magical as a day spent at the Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Glimpse some of Florida’s wildlife, including river otters, egrets, and Great Blue herons as you ride along this 8-plus-mile nature trail set amid cypress trees. Plan a colorful cottage stay at Tropical Palms and hit this beautiful trail.

Exeter (NH)
Just under 20 miles from the Tuxbury Tiny House Village is Henderson-Swasey Town Forest which offers several mountain-biking trails, with almost all of them designated as “easy” and highly rated by users. Glimpses of wildlife and scenic forest views provide for a beautiful, natural ride! Book a tiny house and enjoy the ride.

Tuxbury Tiny House Village
Tuxbury Tiny House Village

Lake George (NY)
The Warren County Bikeway makes for a lovely paved 9-mile ride through this lovely upstate New York location. Ride among the towering trees and foliage and learn about the history of the area from the historical markers along the way. Plan a stay at Lake George Escape and tool your way around the historic Lake George area.

Bend (OR)
Book a stay in a relaxing yurt at Bend-Sunriver and enjoy one of the trails offered at nearby Shevlin Park. One trail runs along the waters of Tumalo Creek while another 6-mile Loop Trail runs through old growth Ponderosa pine, has a few hills and crosses Tumalo Creek several times.

Leavenworth (WA)
There are plenty of bike trails in and around the Leavenworth area if you’re planning a stay at the Leavenworth Tiny House Village. The Apple Capital Recreation Loop is a 10-mile round trip, paved loop along the both the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers. Another fun way to explore Leavenworth atop a bike is to take one of the Bavarian E-Bike tours offered. For more info on this unique adventure, visit chm.ee2.myftpupload.com.

Cabins at Arrowhead RV Campground
Cabins at Arrowhead RV Campground

Mirror Lake State Park (WI)
This picturesque Wisconsin state park with sandstone bluffs offers five different bike trails including Pinecone Pass (0.4 miles); the Turtleville Trail (2.5 miles); and the three-mile Fern Dell Trail. Mirror Lake State Park is just 20 miles from great cabin, cottage, and vacation rentals at Arrowhead RV Campground.

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5 Things to Do in the Russian River Valley

If vacation plans include a trip to California’s wine country, consider exploring the Russian River Valley, which lies in the heart of Sonoma County. So named for the Russian River that winds through this part of California wine country, the Russian River Valley is full of things to do – including taking in the many wineries. Book a cabin or cottage at Russian River and settle in for a getaway that includes beautiful scenery, plenty of outdoor activity and a few other things we found of interest.

  1. Charles Schulz Museum/Peanuts Sculptures: If you’re a fan of Charlie Brown and his friends, the town of Santa Rosa will be of interest. The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center (schulzmuseum.org) is dedicated to the works of Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz. The museum includes a collection of both permanent and traveling exhibits and a re-creation of the studio where Schulz created the beloved Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and friends. For fun photo ops, there are several over-sized statues of the Peanuts characters around downtown Santa Rosa. Visit sonomacounty.com for a location listing.

  2. Outdoor Adventures: There is so much outdoor activity to be had in Sonoma County from biking to hiking to whale watching and, of course, sipping wine in the sun. Check out some of the vineyards as you bicycle by on the Santa Rosa Creek Trail, a 2.14-mile paved trail complete with scenic views. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers a hike with a waterfall while Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve features hikes among giant redwoods. Cloverdale River Park is great for water-based activities like canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on the Russian River.

  3. Jack London State Historic Park: If The Call of the Wild is one of your favorite books, or other works by Jack London top the list, head to Jack London State Historic Park, which contains the cottage where London wrote as well as several other historic buildings related to London and his life. Free guided tours are available and the Park also has hiking trails and opportunities for wildlife viewing and picnicking. For details visit jacklondonpark.com.
Sonoma County Winery
Sonoma County Winery
  1. Wineries: Of course, wineries have to be part of an itinerary for a trip to Sonoma County and the Russian River Valley. There are at least 425 in Sonoma County alone and the best way to see them is on a tour. Whether you want a private tour, a walking tour, a group tour, a biking tour, or a trolley tour, they are all offered here. Check out sonomacounty.com to see the various tours available. Reds, whites, bubbly, rose, sustainable, rustic, majestic – the wineries here serve up something for everyone.

  2. Cheese Trail: If you’re not into wine, or just want a little cheese to go with your wine, consider exploring the California Cheese Trail. While the trail stretches from northern California on south to San Diego, there’s plenty of cheese to be found in Sonoma County. Visit cheesetrail.org to find cheese near your cabin at Russian River as well as other Sonoma County locations.
Russian River Cabin
Russian River Cabin

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(Natural) Springs Travel

Spring break time may be over but what about planning a springs break? As in heading out to take in a spring or two. Natural springs, hot springs, thermal springs, and mineral springs – there are plenty around the U.S. and they are more than bodies of water. Thermal springs are naturally heated while mineral springs contain mineral deposits but aren’t necessary naturally hot. These springs are believed to have healing powers. And that theory of the healing powers of water dates to circa 360 BC when Hippocrates began to study the benefits of water from a therapeutic standpoint.

Palm Springs (CA): It’s all about the healing and soothing waters here – waters which are naturally super-heated and sulfur free. And, while most of the soaking waters are located within spas and private establishments, day passes to enjoy the restorative waters are available. Check out visitgreaterpalmsprings.com to find out where day passes are available.

Warm Mineral Springs (FL): Noted as having one of the highest mineral contents of any natural spring in the United States, Florida’s Warm Mineral Springs is believed to possibly be the “fountain of youth” Ponce de Leon was seeking. Open to the public daily, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors (for a small entrance fee), can enjoy the water that contains more than 50 minerals, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium – all of which help with aches, pains, and general well-being.

Pool at Rambler's Rest
Pool at Rambler’s Rest

A cottage rental at Rambler’s Rest in nearby Venice is an excellent location to stay while enjoying the waters!

Saratoga Springs (NY): While most people can say they’ve experienced a wine tasting or two, how many can say they’ve tried a mineral spring tasting? Cross this one off your bucket list if you’re planning on heading to the town of Saratoga in upstate New York. There are more than 20 springs throughout the city, all of which you can taste and, due to the mineral make-up of each, they all taste a bit different. And, just like the taste, the health benefits said to be derived from each spring also differ. Clear up your skin, aid your digestion, or strengthen your blood. For information about the springs, visit saratoga.com/things-to-do/parks-landmarks-nature/mineral-springs.

Book a rental cabin at Lake George Escape, which is just 30 miles from Saratoga, while you sample the springs.

Paulina Hot Springs (OR): The Paulina Hot Springs, which contains five geothermal pools, are best when visited between May and July, for optimum water coverage. Located within the Deschutes National Forest, the springs are a result of a collapsed volcano crater filling with water. The pools can be found along Hot Springs Beach within the forest. As this is a geothermal spring, there is no sulfur smell with this dip!

Bend-Sunriver Yurt
Bend-Sunriver Yurt

(A cabin, yurt, or cottage rental at Bend-Sunriver is a nearby accommodation.)

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Happy Birthday, Florida!

The Sunshine State celebrates 177 years of statehood this March 3rd, so come celebrate the state that provides miles of coastline and sandy beaches, the subtropical wilderness known as the Everglades, and of course an abundance of sunshine.

With so many great places to stay with us in Florida, you can celebrate the whole state. Sunny getaways abound all around the state from cottages at Bulow, Sherwood Forest, Sunshine Holiday Daytona, Pioneer Village, and Fiesta Key; cabins at Miami Everglades and Peace River; and adorable tiny homes at the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village (to see all the great Florida locations visit petiteretreats.com and book now). Spend time on the Gulf Coast, drive over to the Atlantic coast, discover Central Florida, and explore the Keys – whatever you choose, celebrate the Sunshine State this March.

Florida Festivals: Thanks to the great weather, there’s always something being feted, and March has plenty of events! There’s the Strawberry Festival in Plant City (March 3-13); Daytona Bike Week (March 4-13); the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival (March 12-13); the Marathon Seafood Festival (March 12-13); and Carnaval Miami, which celebrates all things Miami, and runs from February 26 through March 13.

St. Augustine, FL Skyline
St. Augustine, FL Skyline

History Lessons: Why not visit Florida’s (and the nation’s) oldest city, St. Augustine, to learn the history of Florida and life way back in the 1500s? Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Mose Historic State Park, and perhaps the Pirate & Treasure Museum are a good place to start. The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Clewiston provides visitors insight into the history and culture of the Seminole, who are an integral part of Florida’s history. Other options for history trips can include the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West or the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee.

Funky Florida: Get a little off the beaten path of the typical tourist and celebrate Florida’s wild side. Up-close-and-personal experiences can include swimming with the manatees in Crystal River, learning all about sea sponges at Sponge-o-rama in Tarpon Springs or an iconic airboat ride through the Everglades. Spook Hill in Lake Wales supposedly defies gravity and is haunted while Robert the Doll, who can be found at Key West’s Fort East Martello Museum, is guaranteed to give you the willies. Funky underwater experiences can include Neptune Memorial Reef in Key Biscayne, the underwater statue of Christ, known as Christ of the Abyss, which can be found in the waters off Key Largo, or the one-of-a-kind swimming mermaids in Weeki Watchee Springs State Park.

Top Attractions: Florida’s long-standing highlights include Walt Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center, Busch Gardens Tampa, and the beautiful beaches. Top-rated beaches include South Beach, Cocoa Beach, St. Pete’s Beach and Fort Myers Beach.

Cottage at Peace River Camping Resort

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4 Ways to Celebrate National Goof Off Day

March 22 is not a solemn occasion – and yet, there is a recognized national day that falls on March 22; and yes, it should be honored…. but only in the silliest ways you can think of because it’s National Goof Off Day. And we think it falls at the perfect time – winter is officially over as the spring solstice began on March 20 which means more glamping and more outdoor fun.

National Goof Off day has been around since 1976 and as for goofing off – the phrase became popular in the mid-1940s as an armed forces term meaning to waste time or loaf. BTW – goof off can be a noun or verb. So, when March 22 rolls around, here are few ideas for any of you goof offs who want to goof off.

Cabin at Natchez Trace Campground
Lodge at Natchez Trace Campground

Act Like an Animal: Visit one of national zoos and see who can do the best imitations of their favorite animal. The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere has more than 339 species to choose from to try your best at “being an animal.” Check out Rowan, the zoo’s two-year old giraffe who came to the zoo in October 2021. Or maybe you and your favorite “kid” want to see what the kangaroos are up to at the zoo’s Kangaroo Kickabout. Book at stay at one of the tiny houses or cabins at Natchez Trace in nearby Hohenwald.

Build the Best Sand Castle: Challenge your camping mates to a sand castle contest. After all, what’s goofier that playing in the sand? Beach worthy glamp options include a tiny house at Sunshine Key Tiny House Village or a cottage at Fiesta Key – both located in the Florida Keys. Sand castle experts recommend using moist sand – if a ball of sand stays together while you roll it around, it’s perfect for castle construction! 

Tropical Palms Cottage
Tropical Palms Cottage

Visit the Goofiest Guy of All: Head to Orlando, Florida, and make a date with Goofy at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Goofy’s full name is Goofy Goof and to find him at the Magic Kingdom visit Pete’s Silly Sideshow tent. Goofy also is known to hang out at Epcot and participates in the Park’s Festival of Fantasy Parade. Of course the Magic Kingdom is by nature a great place to goof off, so visiting with Goofy aside, there’s plenty of things to do here that can be considered good for goofing off.  Head to Tropical Palms in nearby Kissimmee, book a colorful cottage, and get your goofy on! Play Outside: Book a tiny house at Leavenworth’s Tiny House Village and get ready to enjoy the outdoor playground in this great Washington State destination. The wonderful thing about Leavenworth is there are so many ways to play outside here from hiking to biking, fishing to ziplining, and so much more. Consider a guided horseback ride into the Cascades or a carriage ride around the quaint town. There may still be snow fun at Leavenworth Ski Hill or listen to live music, eat some great German food, and loaf the day away in Leavenworth.

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5 Things to do In…The Florida Panhandle

Florida’s Panhandle, that handle-type stretch of land in the far northwest portion of the state that runs roughly 200 miles, is home to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches, several of which are consistently named to the ranks of America’s best beaches by beach expert, Dr. Beach. If you plan on hitting some of these beaches or checking out the places we’ve named to our 5 Things to Do list, plan a stay at Live Oak Landing. Offering studio and one-bedroom resort cottages as well as RV sites, Live Oak Landing is just 30 minutes from scenic Highway 30A and all that silky sand. The resort sits adjacent to the Choctawhatchee River and has plenty of amenities including a pool, boat ramp, a floating dock, and opportunities for onsite fishing. Cottages are fully furnished with kitchens or kitchenettes (depending on cottage selection), linens and towels, outdoor picnic tables, and TVs. So, make your reservation, pack your sand toys and swimsuits, and get ready to explore the Panhandle.

  1. National Naval Aviation Museum: Of course, you can find this in Pensacola, which is home to Naval Air Station Pensacola, considered the Cradle of Naval Aviation. The Museum will provide thrills for everyone, whether you’re a Navy buff or an aviation buff. MaxFlight 360 Simulators allow visitors to experience air-to-air combat as well as stunt flying missions while the Naval Aviation Memorial Theater provides an unparalleled “am I really flying” kind of screen event. There are also virtual flight deck and cockpit training experiences to be enjoyed. Exhibits include several aircraft galleries as well as a one-quarter scale replica of the USS Nimitz. For information, visit navalaviationmuseum.org.
  2. Shell Island: Shell Island is truly an example of undeveloped space when it comes to things that mar our beautiful beaches. This 7-mile barrier island has no hotels, no restaurants, no buildings, not even a trash can it is said – just sand, water, and natural flora and fauna. It’s a great place to see bottlenose dolphins; in fact, a resident pod is there all year long so as long as the sun is shining, you just might see a dolphin whenever you visit. Snorkeling and shelling are two more activities that make Shell Island a great place to visit.
  3. The Destin History and Fishing Museum: It’s not all about the history of fishing here, there’s also a science exhibit that explains why the sands of Destin are white and several Native American history displays. But yes, there’s fishing history here shown through artifacts, fishing equipment and of course, mounted fish upon fish, all caught locally. Visit destinhistoryandfishingmuseum.org for more details.
Downtown Tallahassee, Florida
Downtown Tallahassee, Florida
  1. Day Trip to Tallahassee: Florida’s capital, Tallahassee is about 130 miles east of Live Oak Landing and is worth a day trip. The Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park bills itself as a “masterpiece of floral architecture” with gardens upon gardens, a reflection pool and plenty of walking trails as well as opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. Peak blooming season runs through April. Other Tallahassee highlights include Railroad Square Art Park, Goodwood Museum and Gardens, the Tallahassee Automobile Museum with its more than 150 vehicles on display, and the Lewis Spring House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
  2. Sculpture with a twist: Who doesn’t love a sculpture park? Florida has a good one located in the Panhandle, except there’s a twist here – it’s underwater! Located about a mile off the sandy shores of Grayton Beach State Park, the Underwater Museum of Art was opened in 2018 with just 7 sculptures. There are now 19 sculptures residing some 50 feet below the surface that have become living reefs for fish and other sea life. To dive to see the sculptures up close you must be certified, but snorkelers can view the “museum” from above the installations. For details visit umafl.org.
Live Oak Landing Cottage Interior
Cottage at Live Oak Landing in Choctawhatchee Bay, FL

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Top U.S. Tours to Take

When it comes to seeing what any location you visit has to offer, certainly the local Visitor’s Guide and suggestions from friends and family who have visited the area can work for creating a great itinerary. But why not let someone else do the heavy lifting and sign up for a tour experience with a local provider. There are all kinds of tours ranging from history and architectural to sampling local foods and bevvies or getting your scare on with a spooky ghost tour. Consider the tours we’ve listed here next time you’re in the area! 

There are plenty of Jeep tours around the U.S. that give visitors an off-road experience like no other. Planning a tiny house stay at Verde Valley in Sedona or a cabin rental at Las Vegas and consider booking a trip with pinkadventuretours.com and let the cool Pink Jeeps be your guide. An open-air red Jeep and Joshua Tree National Park combine for a one-of-a-kind experience if you’re visiting Palm Springs and want to see the rugged desert landscape surrounding the area. Visit red-jeep.com for tour info. Planning a trip to Bend, Oregon? Try a yurt or cabin rental at Bend-Sunriver and then check out Bend Jeep® Tours for a great way to see Deschutes National Forest.

Foodie tours are a great way to get to know the history and culture of a city and there are several that stand out. Book a tiny house or cabin stay at Natchez Trace and take in Nashville’s culinary experience. Bites and Sites is a walking tour that combines attractions and food on a walking tour while Nashville Food Adventures are driving tours that offer food and drink experiences. Both are offered through nashvillefoodtours.com. According to Tripadvisor, the food and cultural walking tour of Seattle’s Pike Place Market is one of the most booked food tours in the U.S. Rent a yurt at nearby Tall Chief and head into Seattle to experience this 100-year-plus historic market that is considered “the soul of Seattle.” Visit savorseattletours.com for tour details.

Arrowhead RV Campground
Arrowhead RV Campground

Did you ever ride a duck? What about touring the waters of your vacation destination on a duck? We’re not talking about the waterfowl here but instead the unique amphibious tour bus. If you want to experience the original duck tour rent a cabin at Arrowhead in the Wisconsin Dells where the duck tours originated in 1946 using the decommissioned amphibious trucks introduced in WWII. Since the original duck tour was quite popular with visitors, others began to pop up around the U.S. and similar duck tours can now be found in Boston (book a cottage Gateway to Cape Cod); South Beach and Miami (stay with us at the Miami Everglades RV Resort); and Seattle (Tall Chief is a great location to stay for a Seattle duck adventure).

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Sense-ible Glamping

Of course, glamping is good for the soul as it provides the opportunity to disconnect from everything and reconnect with nature. It’s good for the body too as it lowers stress levels and provides plenty of opportunity for exercise in the great outdoors. Glamping is also good for the senses – and we found some locations that will delight all five of them. Next time you’re planning a trip, keep these sense-sational spots in mind.

Touch: Sand – gritty, soft or silky. Tree bark – rough, smooth, notched. Snow – cold and wet. There are so many tactile experiences to be had while glamping. See how the beach feels beneath your feet when you stay Oregon’s beach town location of Pacific City or the cold snow falling on your face when you stay in a tiny house at Leavenworth Tiny House Village in winter. How about a healing touch? The vortexes of Sedona are said to provide just that. Book a cabin or tiny house stay at Verde Valley and see if you experience this unique touch of healing energy.

Sight:  What can be more picturesque than field upon field of blooming tulips? Check out the Skagit Valley come spring and stay at La Conner. Or, catch the spectacular views from Yosemite National Park any time of year. Plan to stay in a yurt or cabin at Yosemite Lakes and see just how beautiful every inch of this treasure is. The Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys made the list of the “50 Most Beautiful Places in the U.S. You Can’t Afford to Miss” (according to attractionsofamerica.com), so book a colorful cottage stay at Fiesta Key RV Resort and Marina and find out why after a short drive along the Overseas Highway.

Sound: Rolling waves hitting the sand; wildlife sounds in the night, the clip clop of horseshoes, the rustle of the trees – can you hear these sounds? Most definitely if you glamp with us at California’s Rancho Oso where guided horseback rides are available. Or, rent a tiny house at the Sunshine Key Tiny House Village and let the sounds of the ocean relax you – it’ll be right outside your window. So many of our locations are nestled in the woods or in the quiet wilderness. What about the sounds of camp-side laughter? Wherever you’re glamping, gather your crew at dusk and recap the day, tell jokes, and play games to evoke this always-pleasing sound.

Bend-Sunriver Yurt
Bend-Sunriver Yurt

Smell: How about the smell of a pine forest – check into a yurt at Bend-Sunriver and check out Deschutes National Forest, which is home to thousands of fragrant Ponderosa pines. The smell of Seattle’s Pike Place Market is a mix of exotic spices, flowers, coffee beans, and more mixing to make it memorable for sure. Add in another yurt experience with a stay at Tall Chief and see how many scents you can identify at one of Seattle’s most visited attractions. What about the plethora of smells emanating from a botanic garden? Plan to stay in a cabin at Bay Landing and head into Dallas to experience the scent-sations of the blooms found at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Garden.

Cabin at Miami Everglades
Cabin at Miami Everglades

Taste: How do you taste glamping? Well, for our purposes, you glamp near a unique foodie experience. For example, sample succulent Maine lobster when you stay at our Bar Harbor resorts or try an iconic Door County, Wisconsin, fish boil when you stay in a cozy cabin at Tranquil Timbers in nearby Sturgeon Bay. Enjoy the fruits of the sea when staying at our Pacific Northwest locations and taste seasonal Chinook salmon, Dungeness crab, or Oregon Pink Shrimp or oysters. A stay at Natchez Trace means Nashville’s culinary treats, which include hot chicken (named for the healthy dose of cayenne pepper used), buttery, flaky biscuits, and the oh-so-gooey and sweet Goo Goo clusters. Miami is all about classic Cuban cuisine which can be experienced through a food tour. Check out miamiculinarytours.com when you stay with us in a cabin at Miami Everglades.

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Visit an Art Museum Day

Pointillism? Dadaism? Modern? Portraiture? What’s your favorite style of art? Maybe one style speaks to you or maybe you find something in all works of art that can be found in museums around the country. Perhaps that’s the purpose behind November’s Go to An Art Museum Day – you discover and explore the many genres created to delight the eye, among other senses. And while November 9 is the date of this celebration, we think any day is a good day to visit an art museum.

Sacramento: The Crocker Art Museum, in California’s capital city, is home to a collection of California art dating from the Goldrush to present day. Exhibits also include one of the largest international ceramics collections in the U.S. The museum has the distinction of being the oldest art museum in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River. The museum’s collections are on display both in the original Crocker Mansion and Art Gallery, which dates to 1872 and is both a California Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as in the Teem Family Pavilion which was completed in 2010.

Both Snowflower and Lake of the Springs are a little over an hour from Sacramento. Choose from cabins, yurts, and cottages based on your destination. 

Santa Barbara: The California city of Santa Barbara itself can be considered a work of art from the beautiful Spanish-revival architecture to the breathtaking sunsets, but this ocean-side getaway is also home to two wonderful art museums. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (sbma.net) is home to a collection of art that spans more than 4000 years while the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (mcasantabarbara.org) exhibits some of the best in contemporary works and offers free admission.

Book a cabin, covered wagon, or western themed cabin at Rancho Oso to be near the SB art museum scene.

Miami: Florida’s vibrant city of Miami is another location that can itself be considered a work of art thanks to its Art Deco architecture and the colorful palette of these historic buildings. However, Miami is also home to plenty of art museums, each offering something different. The Bass, housed in the city’s former library, focuses on contemporary art as does the Rubell Museum, whose collection includes works by Keith Haring and Jeff Koons. The Museum of Graffiti specializes in street art and exhibits include an interactive field trip featuring outdoor murals around the museum’s location. Exhibits and collections at the Wolfsonian-FIU focus on functional art and design and include furniture, graphic design, and advertising pieces. 

To explore Miami’s art museums, book a cabin stay at nearby Miami Everglades.

Nashville: Speaking of Art Deco, Nashville, Tennessee’s Frist Art Museum is currently featuring the exhibit “American Art Deco: Designing for the People, 1918-1939” that includes approximately 140 objects from the Art Deco era. The exhibit runs through January 2, 2022. The Frist is also home to the Martin ArtQuest, an interactive, hands-on art experience. If poster art is your thing, don’t miss Hatch Show Print, which offers tours and how-to demonstrations highlighting the famous show and event posters created by Hatch for more than 140 years (hatchshowprint.com).

Lodge at Natchez Trace Campground
Lodge at Natchez Trace Campground

Choose a Petite Retreat accommodation such as a tiny house or cabin at Natchez Trace for your Nashville art tour.

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Best Desert Vacations

Plan a trip to the desert or a desert town for your next vacation getaway. There are several located in the western part of the U.S. and typically, the towns are not crazy crowded with tourists and tend to enjoy a quieter lifestyle, while the desert landscape is a sight to see.

Book a stay in a cottage at Palm Springs and you’re in prime desert country. Located in the town of Palm Desert, which is situated in the Coachella Valley, the north-western extension of the Sonoran Desert, trips to nearby Joshua Tree National Park, desert excursions with Red Jeep Tours (red-jeep.com), and a visit to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens are all possibilities when you stay here. Instagram memories can be made with a hike to the Palm Desert Cross via the Cross Trail. Hiking through classic desert terrain, you’ll be rewarded with the view of the 30-foot cross.

Yakima Valley Washington

A desert town in Washington State? Doesn’t sound likely, but in fact Yakima, Washington, presented plenty of tumbling tumbleweeds and sagebrush when early pioneers came upon this area of the Pacific Northwest. In fact, the surrounding Yakima Valley is considered a semi-arid desert. Through ingenuity and hard work, the town was transformed to the city it is today and the area is one of the world’s leading producers of apples and produces a whopping 75% of all the hops grown in the U.S. Not bad for a desert climate! Plan a stay at Leavenworth Tiny House village and take a day trip to Yakima. The Yakima Valley Museum, a hike or bike ride on the Cowiche Canyon Trail, or a tour of the Hop County Craft Beer Trail (putting all the hops to good use) are itinerary options.

Situated in Arizona’s High Desert, part of the Sonoran Desert, Sedona is a great destination any time thanks to its year-round mild climate. Make a tiny house or cabin at Verde Valley your home base as you hike, bike, or horseback ride through the scenic Red Rock State Park. Or maybe take a day trip to the Grand Canyon, which is just over 100 miles from Sedona. Or stay local and visit a spa, enjoy a round of golf, ride the Verde Canyon Railroad, or simply stroll Sedona’s Main Street. Make your friends jealous with your Insta-worth shots from a Boynton Canyon Trail excursion which includes spectacular Subway Cave.

Oddly, an area that is known for its bright lights and late nights is also home to the driest, and smallest, of the four American deserts. Las Vegas is surrounded by the Mojave Desert, which is named after the Mojave Indians. To experience this part of the Mojave, which actually extends through four states, check out Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, home to 4000-year-old petroglyphs, to start. The Petroglyph Trail presents the easiest of the trails to tackle in order to view the petroglyphs. The Valley of Fire is another great spot for petroglyphs and petrified trees dating back some 2000 years. Another Mojave experience could be a visit to Red Rock Canyon, which features a 13-mile, one-way driving option, which can also be enjoyed on bike. Additionally, there are several hiking trails here. Reserve a cozy cabin at Las Vegas RV and you’re all set for a memorable Mohave adventure.

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