Tag: fishing

Best Glamping Cabins to Stay Cozy in this Autumn

It’s autumn and that means cozy cabins are the must-have for your fall glamping adventures. Think rustic, wooded and perfect fall vibes. Check out some of our great cabins that are the perfect accessory to your fall-fun agenda.

A Cabin in the Woods: Head to Door County, Wisconsin’s popular peninsula for a glamping cabin in the woods experience at Tranquil Timbers Campground. The cabins here are set on 50 acres of wooded wonderland and offer the perfect place to enjoy fall colors. Outdoor opportunities here include exploring Peninsula State Park with its fishing, biking and hiking opportunities, apple-picking in the numerous orchards and strolling the charming towns. The Door County Fall Lighthouse Festival is set for October 4 when all 11 of the historic lighthouses will be open for visitors.

Cabin at Seaside RV Campround
Cabin at Seaside RV Campround

A Cabin by the Sea: You can’t get much closer to a cabin by the sea than with a glamping cabin accommodation at Thousand Trails Seaside on Oregon’s picturesque coast. Fall is the perfect time for spotting migrating gray whales while you stroll the beach. For guaranteed marine life views, head over to the Seaside Aquarium which has several touch tanks and underwater exhibits. It’s also a great place to feed the seals! A visit to Seaside is not complete without a walk on “the Prom,” Seaside’s historic 1.5-mile historic promenade along the shore which also has access to several restaurants and shops.

Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground
Cabin at Lake George Escape Campground

A Cabin in the Mountains: Lucky, lucky glampers – there are two choices if the mountains are calling you. The East Coast option is Lake George Escape Campground in the amazing Adirondacks. Late September in the Lake George area is a leaf-peepers dream as the colors are typically in their glory. Enjoy the fall air and the color show by hiking the numerous trails that range from easy to challenging. For a list of trail ideas, head to visitlakegeorge.com/outdoors/recreation/hiking. If you want a seat for the color show, consider a scenic drive on Route 9N or a drive to the top of Prospect Mountain. Fall events in Lake George include the Adirondack Balloon Festival scheduled for September 19-22 or the Lake George Oktoberfest and Fall Festival set for October 11-13. For a Pacific Northwest mountain adventure, rent a cozy cabin at Mt. Hood Village Resort and hop aboard the Fall Harvest Train, which is considered one of the most scenic rides that goes through the Hood River Valley (mthoodrr.com). Another fun fall experience would be to take the 35-mile self-guided Hood River Fruit Loop and visit the orchards in the area. Fall hikes could include the 3.3-mile hike to Tamanawas Falls, the Trillium Lake Loop, an easy hike that could include a lakeside picnic and the more aggressive hike at a little over 8 miles at Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain which offers great views of Mt. Hood.

Cabin at Thousand Trails Bay Landing
Cabin at Thousand Trails Bay Landing

A Cabin in the South: Again, two choices for the lucky fall glamper. There’s a cozy cabin waiting in Bridgeport, Texas at Thousand Trails Bay Landing. Once you’re settled in here explore the area which includes Fort Worth attractions including the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens which will be in full fall color bloom come September and the 138th State Fair of Texas which runs September 27 to October 20. Canoe or kayak the nearby Trinity River or hike Eagle Mountain Park which has 10 miles of trails. If you’re Tennessee-bound, reserve a cozy cabin at Thousand Trails Natchez Trace and drive into Nashville to enjoy the art and music scene that is Music City USA. Or take to the great outdoors and hike trails in the area which include the moderate Meriwether Lewis Loop Trail or the easy Old Trace Trail.

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June is Great Outdoors Month

Cabins at Yosemite Lakes Campground in Groveland, CA

In 1998, President Bill Clinton declared that seven days in the month of June should be set aside to “celebrate our relationship with nature.” That concept resonated so soundly with Americans that successive administrations morphed those seven days into a whole month of celebrating and communing with nature.

June is upon us again and we probably all feel the need to get outside and commune! So, whether you hike, bike, fish, boat or just plain sit in it, get outside, breath the air, and become one with nature.

June in the great outdoors can include:

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village in Welches, OR

Hiking: Hiking doesn’t really require much equipment or any particular level of skill – just some strong legs and lungs, and you’ve got it. Trails abound around the country and we’ve found a few you places you might like to hike. Yosemite National Park has 800 miles of trails to choose from and the scenery is unparalleled! Enjoy the alpine hikes of Mt. Hood, Oregon’s 11,240-foot volcano – two popular hikes are the Tamanawas Falls Trail and the Old Salmon River Trail. Then, relax after a long day on the trails in one of our yurt accommodations at Yosemite Lakes Campground (CA) or Mt. Hood Village (OR).

Cottages in Palm Springs RV Resort in Palm Desert, CA

Biking: Take a seat and use pedal power to enjoy the great outdoors on a bike ride. Some great rides could include the 13-mile city-wide tour of Palm Springs, California, which gives you an idea what the town is all about. Or, pedal around Maine’s Acadia National Park on the 45 miles of carriage roads or the 27-mile Park Loop Road. Add to the fun of your great outdoors experience with a stay in a cute cottage at Narrows Too (ME) or Palm Springs RV Resort (CA).

Cabins at Tranquil Timbers in Sturgeon Bay, WI

Fishing: Reel in the big one during Great Outdoors Month.  Try your luck with some deep-sea fishing in the Florida Keys or see what’s biting in the waters of Wisconsin’s Door County. Our cozy cabins at Tranquil Timbers (WI) or a colorful cottage or tiny house in the Keys can serve as your “fishing lodge” while you write your big fish story!

Fishing at Pacific City in Cloverdale, OR

Taking in the View: Sometimes it’s enough to just be outdoors to enjoy the view, the fresh air, and the magic of nature. Take in the sunsets from Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf; feel the effects of the healing vortexes in Sedona’s Red Rock State Park; enjoy the charm of Leavenworth, Washington, a quaint-as-can-be Bavarian-styled village or marvel at Haystack Rock, nature’s sea stack creation that rises 235 from the Pacific Ocean at Cannon Beach, Oregon. You can also enjoy the view from our cozy cabins in Santa Barbara (Rancho Oso) or Oregon (Pacific City), or from our adorable tiny homes in Leavenworth, Washington, or Sedona’s Verde Valley Resort.

Leavenworth Tiny House Village in Leavenworth, WA

Camping: Of course, there is no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than with a good camping trip. Writer Alice Walker said, “In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect.” Find your perfection and stay with us in one of our Petite Retreats. If you want mountains, we’ve got you covered with locations near Seattle, Maine’s Acadia National Park, beautiful Mt. Hood, and the Adirondacks. If you want seashore, we’ve got you covered with locations in Santa Barbara, the Oregon coast, New Hampshire, and Florida. And if your “perfect” is just gathering friends and family in the great outdoors, we’ve definitely got you covered there!

51 Days and Counting

Circle M • Lancaster, PA

As of August 1, there are only 51 days left of summer, according to the calendar. For some, summer ends when school starts, but the official calendar date is September 21, which is the first day of autumn. Time flies, especially summertime, whether you’re having fun or not.

Bend-Sunriver • Bend, OR

We’ve put together 50 fun things to do before we say farewell to summer. (We’re giving you one day to read this list and create an action plan!)

  1. Go to a waterpark
  2. Read at least one book from your summer booklist
  3. Eat outdoors
  4. Go fishing
  5. Try to learn a new watersport, like stand-up paddling or wake surfing
  6. Go to a local pool and enjoy getting splashed
  7. Visit a lemonade stand
  8. Watch the sun rise
  9. Watch the sun set
  10. Camp out in your backyard
  11. Glamp at your favorite Petite Retreats location
  12. Enter a watermelon seed spitting contest
  13. Take in a theater production under the stars
  14. Spend one day off grid – no social media, no TV, no podcasts (best paired with #11!)
  15. Catch fireflies
  16. Bird watch
  17. Take a walk in the woods
  18. Visit a farmer’s market and create something delicious with seasonal produce
  19. Make s’mores and then make more
  20. Enjoy an outdoor musical event
  21. Build a sandcastle
  22. Go to a carnival
  23. Ride a rollercoaster and scream at the top of your lungs
  24. Run through a sprinkler, even if it’s someone else’s!
  25. Listen to the crickets
  26. Pick berries
  27. Go to a baseball game – local or professional
  28. Eat corn on the cob
  29. Take a road trip (for as long as you can)
  30. Visit a national park
  31. Visit a national monument
  32. Visit an old friend
  33. Spend a day volunteering
  34. Spend a day watching old movies
  35. Go to a drive-in movie
  36. Grab some chalk and make sidewalk masterpieces
  37. Have a water balloon fight
  38. Have a squirt gun fight
  39. Fly a kite
  40. Try Goat Yoga
  41. Spend a day being a tourist in your own city
  42. Catch a parade
  43. Go on a picnic
  44. Visit a planetarium and enjoy summer’s night skies
  45. Eat popsicles
  46. Grill the perfect hotdog/hamburger
  47. See this summer’s blockbuster movie at a midnight showing
  48. Carefully enjoy a slip ‘n slide
  49. Glamp in a unique accommodation – yurt, teepee, tiny house
  50. Make a to-do list for next summer!

Goat Yoga

Go Big in Bend

Kayaking • Bend-Sunriver RV Campground

Bend, Oregon is one big playground regardless of the season. But come summer, Bend is bursting with things to do under the sunny skies of the Pacific Northwest. There are all kinds of adventures to be had from rustic to urban, and from relaxing to exhilarating. There is music, art, a rodeo, theater, fishing, hiking, and the list goes on and on. No matter what your fancy, you’ll find something to tickle it when you visit Bend.

Fishing opportunities in Bend are about as abundant as the fish you can catch when you cast your line here. Consider fly fishing, and if you’re new to this sport, River Borne Outfitters offers a 2.5-hour class that covers the basics regarding terminology, casting, and knot tying. If you feel like you’re beyond beginner but still need some fishing tips, they also offer a 6-hour course that has you fishing the Crooked River. Check out www.riverborneoutfitters.com for more information.

Fishing • Deschutes River

Of course, if you’re a seasoned fisherman, just head down to the Lower Deschutes River which is one of the most popular and prolific places to fish in Oregon. Statistics show that more than 3,500 trout run per mile of water in this area. Make sure to obey all the state rules and regulations, and that you have a license to fish. For licensing information, visit www.odfw.com.

If you prefer dry land to water, and art to fishing, then the Roundabout Art Route might be of interest to you. The Roundabout Art Route is a collection of 20 pieces of art that are on display throughout the city. Stop by the Bend Visitor Center to pick up a map, then get rolling on your art adventure. The name of the route should give you a hint as to where the art installations are located, but we are going to give away the secret. Just head into downtown Bend and get ready to glimpse a bronze logger, a bronze grizzly, the Sunrise Spirit Column, and the High Desert Spiral, which at 39 feet is the tallest public art sculpture in Bend, to name a few.

Take a hike up Pilot Butte and you’re guaranteed a breathtaking vista no matter which of the three trails you choose. Pilot Butte is visible from downtown Bend and is a 500-foot high lava dome created from an extinct volcano. Visit www.oregonstateparks.org for information about the state park and the trails.

Cabin • Bend-Sunriver RV Campground

Tour-wise, there’s plenty of ways to see Bend while eating and drinking some of the city’s offerings. There is the Bend Ale Trail, which offers a do-it-yourself way to visit Bend’s 18 breweries at your leisure. If you want someone else to do the heavy lifting when it comes to touring the breweries, check out the offerings of The Bend Tour Company, which not only offers a craft beer, wine and spirit tasting tour, but also other adventure tours such as an arts and cultural tour of Bend, and a stunning Cascade Sunset tour. Check out what they offer at www.thebendtourcompany.com.

Special summer events in Bend include the Bend Summer Festival, July 12th-14th that will feature food, music, an art fair, and plenty of family fun. July 26th-28th brings Balloons Over Bend to the city as hot air balloon fun takes center stage. Help celebrate a milestone at the 100th Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo scheduled for July 31st-August 4th. This year’s theme is “100 Years of Fun Since Day One.” Bend Brewfest is scheduled for August 15th-17th and features craft brewers, wineries, and cideries set on the banks of the Deschutes River.

Sunset • Bend-Sunriver RV Campground

Of course, when the day’s fun is done, you’ll need a place to bunk in until the next adventure, so consider adding to the experience by staying in a yurt, cabin, or cottage at Bend-Sunriver RV Campground. Situated on the banks of the Little Deschutes River, this 283-acre campground has plenty of onsite fun including fishing opportunities, swimming, pickleball, tennis, and mini-golf.

Plan your time to Go Big in Bend, visit www.RVontheGo.com and reserve your stay today!

It’s a Dad Thing

Fishing • Father and Son

An official “Father’s Day” has been celebrated in the US since the early 1900s but it wasn’t until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson issued a presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.  In 1972, it became a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed the proclamation into law.

This year, Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 16, and Dads around the country will receive plenty of ties, golf balls, and pasta artwork to honor them. They will then most likely spend the day with family, partaking in some of their favorite pastimes, which include the following Dad-oriented activities:

  1. Fishing: Whether it’s a deep-sea adventure off our coastlines or taking a rod and reel to a local lake, plenty of dads will spend Father’s Day trying to catch the big one. Top fishing spots in the US include the Florida Keys (tarpon, marlin, swordfish), North Carolina’s Outer Banks (striped bass), Door County’s Sturgeon Bay (bass), pier fishing at California’s Santa Monica Pier (halibut and surfperch), and Fish Lake in Leavenworth, Washington (trout). Looking for a fishing spot near you? Visit www.takemefishing.org.Leavenworth RV Campground • Leavenworth, WA
     
     
  2. Beer: Yes, for some reason dads and beer seem to go together. Whether it’s a refreshment after yard work or a side dish while watching sporting events, beer = Dad’s drink of choice many times. Consider spending the day touring a craft brewery.

Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, has both a brewery tour option as well as a tasting room. Founded in 1988, Deschutes favorites include Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale.  For info, visit www.deschutesbrewery.com.

First brewed in 1984, the Boston Beer Company’s Samuel Adams Boston Lager might well be the brew that kicked off the modern craft brewing trend. Tours of the company’s Boston brewery are available Monday through Saturday but you can bring Dad back on Sunday to enjoy the Tap Room. For tour info and hours, visit www.samueladams.com.

  1. Baseball: On Father’s Day, Major League Baseball teams around the country will wear specially-designed uniforms accented with light blue to honor Dads. Additionally, a symbolic blue ribbon will be worn on all uniforms to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer. The MLB has partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation since 1996. Match-ups this Father’s Day include California Angels vs. the Tampa Bay Rays in Tampa, Texas Rangers vs Cincinnati in Cincinnati, and the Arizona Diamondback vs. the Washington Nationals in Washington.
  2. Cars: From building model cars to tinkering under the hood of a real car, the male species has always had a fascination with the automobile since they first arrived on the American scene in the late 1800s. Take a drive and visit an automobile museum.

The Antique Automobile Club of America Museum (Hershey, Pennsylvania) is open daily and has a collection of cars, buses, and motorcycles dating from the 1890s to the 1980s. It has 3 of the only 50 Tucker automobiles produced in 1948. Museum information can be found at www.aacamusuem.org.  The Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, Michigan) offers a Ford Rouge Tour which details the history of the automotive industry and gives visitors an inside look at how the Ford F150 truck is built. Visit www.thehenryford.org for details on the museum’s other exhibits as well as admission prices and hours of operation. On the West coast, check out the Peterson Automotive Museum, in Los Angeles, California. The museum has more than 300 vehicles on display and a current exhibit, Hollywood Dream Machines, which features vehicles from Hollywood’s science fiction and fantasy productions.  Visit www.peterson.org for more information.