Tag: beach

Top 10 October Activities for Your Glamping Getaway

October is more than leaf peeping, pumpkins and Halloween (although we will point you toward some Halloween fun). October is the tenth month of the year so we found 10 ways to celebrate when glamping with us.

Apple tree in Julian, California
  1. National Apple Month: Julian, California is considered the “Apple Capital of Southern California” and is about a half hour drive from Thousand Trails Oakzanita Springs, which makes it the perfect place to spend the day on your travels. For a list of orchards, check out visitjulian.com. If you want to just eat apple pie, consider Mom’s Pies or the Julian Pie Company. If you want to taste apple cider (the hard kind), check out the Julian Hard Cider Tasting Room (julianhardcider.biz). 
  1. National Dessert Month: Celebrate with dessert all month as October is National Dessert Month. If you’re glamping in the Florida Keys, then Key Lime Pie is the dessert du jour. Book a glamping stay at Sunshine Key RV Resort or Fiesta Key RV Resort and check out these spots, which according to authenticflorida.com have some of the best: Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Shop in Key West or the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar on Islamorada.
Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington
  1. National Seafood Month: Since 1990, October has been designated as National Seafood Month. Hmm – seafood. How about lobster in Bar Harbor, Maine while enjoying a glamping cabin at Narrows Too Camping Resort (Stewman’s Lobster is always a good choice)? If you’re glamping at Tall Chief Campground, take a drive into Seattle to taste the offerings of fresh seafood at the famous Pike Place Market.  
  1. Fossil Day: If you dig fossils (get it?), then spend National Fossil Day, October 14, searching for treasure. Some great glamping locations for this can include Florida’s Thousand Trails Peace River as the Peace River is a great place to hunt for shark teeth and marine and reptile fossils; Thousand Trails Lake Tawakoni in Texas, which is just under an hour’s drive from Ladonia Fossil Park, or California’s Pacific Dunes Ranch where nearby Pismo Beach is known for its marine fossils dating back to the Pliocene epoch. 
  1. Sweetest Day: Even though its original purpose was to perform random acts of kindness for those less fortunate, Sweetest Day, which falls on October 17 this year, has evolved to Valentine’s Day Part II in the US. So, whether your random act of kindness is to take a friend glamping or to spend the day glamping with your sweetie, rent a cozy glamping cabin or cottage at California’s Thousand Trails Idyllwild and spend the day glamping surrounded by the beauty of the San Jacinto Mountains.  
  1. Howl at the Moon: On October 26, people are encouraged to step outside and howl at the moon. Some of the best places to see the moon is over the ocean on a beach in Miami (glamp at Encore Miami Everglades); at Maine’s Acadia National Park’s Jordan Pond (glamp at Narrows Too Camping Resort) or in California’s Joshua Tree National Park (glamp at Thousand Trails Palm Springs) which is designated as an International Dark Sky Park. 
  1. Eat a Pretzel Day: Where better to enjoy Eat a Pretzel Day, October 22, than in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, known for their soft pretzels. Check in to a glamping cottage at Thousand Trails Circle M and check out the plentiful pretzel offerings in the area (check out discoverlancaster.com/blog/10-places-to-get-pretzels-in-lancaster-pa) head over to the pretzel master, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, and take a class on pretzel rolling (https://juliussturgis.com/). 
Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley
  1. Global Champagne Day: Enjoy a glass of bubbly on Global Champagne Day, October 24, in California’s Wine Country which produces many champagnes in addition to all the wines. Book a glamping cottage at Thousand Trails Russian River and check out Domaine Carneros, Buena Vista Winery and Schramsburg Winery.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
  1. Visit a Cemetery Day: Well, it is October after all. And October 25 to be exact is designated as Visit a Cemetery Day. One famous burial places to visit when staying at Thousand Trails Soledad Canyon in California is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the final resting place of Judy Garland, Rudolph Valentino and George Harrison among other famous celebrities. Another is the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California which boasts 17 Academy Award winners and 5 US Presidents buried there. 
  1. Halloween: If you’re looking to get into the Halloween spirit, check out all the events at Florida’s Walt Disney World. Book a colorful glamping cabin at Encore Tropical Palms in Kissimmee and get ready for frights galore!  

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Explore Endlessly on these 3 Short Road Trips

Boston to Tuxbury Pond: Hit the road and head north from Boston to South Hampton, New Hampshire where you can delight in staying in a tiny house at the Tuxbury Pond Tiny House Village. Come summer, Hampton Beach State Park will be the spot to soak up the sun during the day and enjoy the variety of entertainment planned for summer events including Monday night movies, Wednesday fireworks and weekly concerts. Mark your calendar for the Sand Sculpture event set for June 18-20 or the end of summer Seafood Festival, set for September 11-23. Check out Odiorne State Park for miles of hiking trails, ocean views, remnants of historic military encampments and the Seacoast Science Center that offers plenty of exhibits and special events.  

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village

Portland to Mt. Hood: Blink twice if you’re heading from Portland to the Mt. Hood area! At just under an hour, it feels like leaving the city behind occurs “in the blink of an eye.” Once you arrive and settle into your unit at the Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, get ready to go “off grid” like never before. A four-season destination, the Mt. Hood area has something to do no matter the time of year or the weather forecast. Skiing, hiking, mountain biking, wildflower viewing and birding are just a few options. Check out the historic Timberline Lodge, attend the annual Sasquatch Festival, visit the wineries, enjoy the wildflower blooms in Mt. Hood National Forest or drive the Mt. Hood Scenic Loop Tour.  

Vacation Cottages at Thousand Trails Palm Springs
Vacation Cottages at Thousand Trails Palm Springs

San Diego to Joshua Tree: The drive is a little over 2 ½ hours, but the change of pace from go-go to go-slow is worth every minute. Book a cabin or cottage at Thousand Trails Palm Springs and plan to get in touch with nature at nearby Joshua Tree National Park. Go rock climbing, walk the trails, explore the cacti grove, stay for the sunset and enjoy stargazing since Joshua Tree is a designated International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree also has 18 known vortices which are said to have healing powers and spiritual energy. And if this city vibe is still pulling you, keep in mind there is plenty to do in Palm Springs including shopping, dining, and the weekly VillageFest on Thursday evening that features live entertainment, food vendors and artisans in a street-fair style event.

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5 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, SC

Why visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina? For one, there is more than 60 miles of wide beach peppered with charming beach towns to explore as you wind your way through the sand. Another reason is the fabulous glamping location that is Carolina Shores RV Resort where the vacation cottages provide the perfect accommodations for a beach vacation. On-site amenities include a swimming pool, a lazy river, mini-golf and beach access. And here are just a few don’t miss things when visiting the area:

Lazy River at Carolina Shores RV Resort
Lazy River at Carolina Shores RV Resort

1. Myrtle Beach State Park: Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s, this 312-acre state park was the first state park to open in South Carolina. Since 1936, visitors have been fishing for flounder, mackerel and trout, to name a few, and catching glimpses of native wildlife. Several hiking trails will lead you to the beach while the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail will take you through a maritime forest. Swimming, birdwatching, geocaching and bike riding are also great activities that can be done here.

Beach at Carolina Shores RV Resort
Beach at Carolina Shores RV Resort

2. Broadway at the Beach: If you can’t find something you like to do at Broadway at the Beach, then you might not know what fun is. And if that is the case, you will definitely find the meaning of fun out here. The question here is not “what can I do here?” but more “what can’t you do here?” at this 350-acre entertainment venue that has everything from ziplining adventures to live theater. Shopping, restaurants, escape rooms, the Ripley’s Aquarium and more can be found here. Check out broadwayatthebeach.com for details.

Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, SC
Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, SC

3. Brookgreen Gardens: Initially built as a retreat for his ailing wife, the founder of the gardens, wealthy industrialist Archer Milton Huntington later turned Brookgreen Gardens into a place with a mission to exhibit and preserve American figurative sculpture; to exhibit and preserve the plants of the Southeast; and finally, to exhibit and preserve the animals of the Southeast. Visitors today can stroll through the Botanical Garden which features Live Oak trees dating to the 1700s, the Sculpture Garden with over 2000 works on display, and the Lowcountry Zoo. For hours of operation, visit brookgreen.org.

Charleston, SC - The Historic District at Twilight
Charleston, SC – The Historic District at Twilight

4. Day Trips: A longer day trip would include the 90-mile drive to Charleston to see the historic Charleston City Market, Fort Sumter or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city that highlights the antebellum mansions, the beautiful gardens and the city’s landmarks. A 75-mile drive will put you in Wilmington where the USS North Carolina, the World War II battleship that earned 15 battle stars, resides. The Wilmington Railroad Museum is also here. You could also take a drive to Pawleys Island, which is about 30 miles from Myrtle Beach and home to some of the best hammocks you can find at the Original Hammock Shop, which has been making comfortable hammocks for over 130 years. And even closer, and apparently, a seafood lovers’ haven, is Little River, which is great for fishing, eating seafood and visiting the La Belle Amie Vineyard, the local vineyard and winery.

5. Stroll the Boardwalk: While the original boardwalk dating to the 1930s is long gone, a casualty of age and weather, the new boardwalk was completed in 2010 and has been ranked #3 in the country by National Geographic and #2 by Travel and Leisure. Running a little over one mile along the ocean with lovely views and plenty of shops and restaurants, a stroll on the Boardwalk is a must. And there is also the SkyWheel, which stands 187-feet tall featuring 42 glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled gondolas and a spectacular vantage point!

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