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The facts
The latest cuts proposed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger could close up to 220 state parks. The proposal would close the parks to save money through June 20, 2010 and then save even more money if they keep them closed another year.
The closures would include even Humboldt Redwoods State Park, where the world’s tallest tree keeps growing, Bodie State Historic Park, Big Basin Redwoods and Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe. Even if they negotiate the budget cuts, some parks will most likely be closed.
California is the 6th largest economy in the world and this cut is $70 million dollars. That’s not much in the scope of the state budget but it impacts everyone who visits the state and those who like to get away from their own California city.
My take
The California State Park system brings in 80 million visitors. The State Parks Foundation says that the state gets $2.35 back on every dollar it spends on the state parks. The Republicans in the legislature support this cut but it seems like another boneheaded move to me when you consider how many other businesses and people this will impact throughout the state. I have to wonder what the bigger impact on the economy would be. Take just the 2,000 park jobs lost and the subsequent drain on public support systems. Take all the tourists that won’t be traveling in those areas and putting money into motels, gas stations, stores and all kinds of other little independent tourist shops and attractions. What about all those businesses and their employees? No one is going to drive into the boonies to buy a souvenir from a mom and pop shop about a place they couldn’t visit. Wouldn’t those losses just add to the state’s problems? If regular state resident hikers in the state lose their favorite spots, they won’t need to buy gear and shoes as often. They won’t buy as much gas or need as much maintenance on their vehicles. Everything is interconnected in so many ways and I wonder when people will wake up to that. ›Continue reading California State Parks Closure
Something that I both see and hear more and more is about the quality of RVs and the service surrounding them these days. Is it better or worse today? Is it mass production that made them go downhill or do we just have more problems because of the sheer number of them out there. The more RVs there are, the more problems we’ll hear about. The internet makes problems more visible as well. With just a few magazines and clubs in years past, you didn’t likely hear about all the problems that you can now find with a simple search or on blogs and forums.
 Rhyolite, Nevada - Image by AllStays.com RVs are very complicated with many different working parts and products coming from many different vendors and manufacturers. Things eventually go wrong or not work together as they should.
Is it a poor product to begin with? Is it poor quality control at the factory? Is it poor installation? Is it improper operation or maintenance?
Repetition, denial and the importance of the internet
How many times has the same part failed on you? I have learned that if it fails once, it’ll probably fail again. This is a big issue with RVs. The same part is replaced over and over again and the owner is usually charged for it. Even if it is covered under a warranty, it costs you time and transportation. Thanks to the internet, we can find many cases where owners of a particular model will have that same failed part. We can determine that it’s not the owner’s fault and it should be a recalled part or replaced under warranty. But the manufacturer denies the problem. The chassis maker blames the RV company and vice versa. I’ve seen this happen for years and sometimes it is a very dangerous failure that could cause an accident. Admitting fault can cost a company more than replacing thousands of parts, so they don’t do it. They deny it because in the old days, no one would figure it out. We know better today.
Our Camp & RV iPhone app is out. Easily find all kinds of campgrounds, RV parks, Wal-marts (with parking/no parking comments noted), rest areas, low clearance alerts, truck stops, overnight parking spots and RV dealers near you as you travel. Where? What exit? Directions? Use GPS services or use the included manual lookup mode for when service is not available… more
 
Sometimes you can even find a third party that decided to manufacture the part in a better way. You may wind up buying a replacement part from a small machine shop that does it right because the RV manufacturer won’t admit fault or make a reliable part. I have.
Good dealers who can provide reliable service
This is my biggest problem. Finding dealers that I can trust. I have found the lists of authorized service centers to be inaccurate. You call and they won’t work on your RV even though they are supposed to under a contract. Some dealers won’t work on your RV unless you bought it form them. Duh. People travel in RVs. You are not always at home when a problem occurs. That is one of the dumbest business practices I have ever heard.
Even if you have a good dealer in your home town, chances are good that someday somewhere you’ll need to find one on the road. Where do you go? The closest one. And they may be incompetent, careless or just in the practice of price gouging travelers. Try to make a comment in their presence that subtly lets them know you use the internet and are savvy with recommendations and word of mouth. Mention a name club, bureaus, forums, or something like Angie’s List. ›Continue reading Quality issues with your RV?
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Oxford is a city that revels in its eccentricity. Street-performers, gowned students punting up the Cherwell river, mad dons conversing in pubs – all of these make up the bizarre and wonderful landscape that is Oxford, coexisting with Medieval and Neo-Gothic buildings and the staid formality of the University of Oxford’s cerebral influences. Here are five moments, places, or activities in Oxford that capture some of the city’s blend of tradition and insanity. If you’ve visited the Oxford colleges and found that, while beautiful, they seemed empty without their students, here is a chance to experience the vibrancy of life within and without.
1) Buskers on Cornmarket Street
In most cities, the bustling road that houses all the area’s necessary chains is a painful necessity. But in Oxford, the pedestrianized Cornmarket street is home not only to the requisite McDonald’s, Pret, WH Smith, and Orange shops, but also to a variety of buskers, from the moving to the tone-deaf. Recently on view were a capella groups, soulful guitarists, men inexplicably in top hats and tails in the late afternoon, and, most bizarrely, a man playing the Irish fiddle while traversing a portable tightrope. Also to be found are leaflet-distributers, from pro-life and political causes to Muslim and Christian groups seeking converts. All these groups make up Oxford’s wonderfully weird anthropological landscape.
 Cornmarket Street - Photo by flickr's dlisbona ›Continue reading The Magic of Oxford
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Lancaster, Pennsylvania Amish country is a good hour and half drive from Philadelphia, but one doesn’t have to leave downtown Philadelphia to find a huge selection of authentic Amish food.
A stop at Reading Terminal Market, located at 51 North 12th Street, is home to row after row of merchants including a dozen Amish vendors who sell the same homemade selections you’d find in Amish country.
Baked goods, homemade candy and fudge, fresh produce, farm raised meats and home style favorites such as ribs, barbeque, blueberry pancakes and much more is available, all in one location.
There are plenty of tables available for those who want to eat in the marketplace. In addition to the items already listed, other Amish staples, such as apple butter, chow chow and an endless list of other home canned goods are also available for sale. ›Continue reading Authentic Amish Food in Philadelphia
- A Vacation with the Lancaster Amish
If visiting the beautiful Amish country of Lancaster, Pennsylvania sounds appealing, there is a way to find many of the important elements of such a vacation in one place.
No visit to Lancaster wou... - Amish Country Etiquette
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Kentucky, a state that is known as the ‘Bluegrass State,’ is a destination that is popular with tourists. Scenery of the best kind is what draws most people to Kentucky, but there are a million other reasons to come. Thoroughbred horse racing is another popular tourist draw in the commonwealth of Kentucky, but if you want to stay off the beaten track, there is much to see and do. Find your own niche in Kentucky tourism by visiting some of the more unique Kentucky vacations.
One of the most prominent features of Kentucky’s geography may not even be apparent to many who visit. Kentucky is actually home to the world’s largest cave system; one place to definitely see while in the state is Mammoth Cave, which is both a national park and a World Heritage Site. The cave affords visitors the chance to see some spectacular underground scenery, so make sure it is on your Kentucky itinerary. The Mammoth Cave area is also home to the Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum and the Mammoth Cave Wax Museum, both of which are interesting stops. ›Continue reading Unique Travel Fun in the Bluegrass State
Most places that make for interesting travel also have some frustrating quirks that just a small amount of advice can help you avoid.  Italy is no exception. From shop closures to regularly scheduled transportation strikes, there are some easy ways to avoid common pitfalls that can mar your travel experience. Hopefully an Italian dream vacation is on your horizon and not a comedy of travel errors.
A difficult night can be avoided by verifying what time the hotel you will be staying in closes for check-in. Coordinating your flight to have a good cushion time in the event of a delay is vital if you are staying in a smaller hotel, especially in the smaller cities. Many of the smaller and boutique hotels do not offer check-in later at night, but with larger hotels this should not be a problem. A good resource for minimizing flight delays is to check with http://www.bts.gov/xml/ontimesummarystatistics/src/index.xml, which is based on the US Department of Transportation statistics.
›Continue reading Italy Tips and Quirks to Know
As Africa’s second tallest peak, Mt Kenya is a challenging technical climb for those who want to reach it’s summit. Made up of the three peaks, Bation is the highest point at 5199m and Nelion, the second highest at 5188m is adjacent to it. To summit either of these peaks requires rope work and good technical climbing experience. The grades of the climbs are not extreme but the combination of altitude wind and icy weather make it a challenging type of expedition.
If planning to climb these routes it is highly recommended that you hire professional local guides. Their knowledge of the mountain and climbing expertise can make the difference between a successful summit and a frustrating climb. Most local operators provide an all inclusive package which includes tented accommodation, meals, guiding and transportation to and from Nairobi.
›Continue reading Climbing and trekking options on Mt Kenya
Florence has been a favorite travel destination for centuries, and that will not change any time in the foreseeable future. The city is geared towards tourism, with every conceivable type of lodging, restaurant and entertainment. Combine these things with the amazing collection of art and architecture that the city boasts and you can see that everyone from the student or backpacker on a shoestring budget to the five-star all the way traveler happily find their way to the cradle of the Renaissance.
 Photo by Jim Linwood When you are looking for a place to stay when heading to Florence you will be astounded how many options that a city of less than 400,000 residents has to offer. From hostels in virtually every quarter to family owned bed and breakfasts to large hotels and culminating in Four Seasons Florence you literally can find a room from about 30 Euro a night to 15,000 Euro a night. The damper that the economy has placed on tourism has had a big impact on the prices of hotel rooms in the city, with prices dropping typically about 30% over what they have been the last few years. If you are aware of how consistently high the prices on hotel rooms in Florence tend to be, then you realize how significant that is.
›Continue reading The Basics of Florence
Lose the Khaki:
There is only one place for khaki, and that is in the bush when you on a game drive or bush walk and want to avoid being noticeable to a slightly peckish lion. So keep the khaki firmly tucked away in your suitcase until such time as you are in the game reserves. Wearing it whilst browsing Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront just shouts tourist a mile away.
Giant water bottles:
This one is my personal favorite. I have travelled to many countries worldwide and I am yet to see any locals lugging their daily water supply with them, unless it’s in rural Africa. But tourists for some reason can never be found without their 1,5 litre water bottles. The tap water in South Africa is safe to drink, pretty tasty and it’s free. A small 500ml bottle that can fit into your bag is adequate if you are exploring the cities as there is always a tap or corner store where you can replenish your supply if needed.
Camera happy:
Yes South Africa is indeed a beautiful country, but if you want to blend in you may just want to keep one camera around your neck as opposed to three. Nowadays there are comfortable camera specific backpacks which make it easier to store and carry your cameras around if you are an avid photographer. It’s also a safety issue, I am sure your cameras are very valuable, and the last thing you want is some dodgy person deciding they need one of your cameras more than you do.
Feel at home:
South Africa, and particularly cities like Cape Town are very cosmopolitan. Dress as you would at home and it’s quite likely you will fit right in. Unless of course you have terrible dress sense, and believe that socks and sandals go together – in which case you are entirely on your own!
Most people visit Miami for the shopping, people-watching, the beaches and the fabulous dining. I came to Miami for the Everglades, one of the natural wonders of the world. Heading out of the sprawling city early, I drove down the aptly named Tamiami Trail. This two-lane highway was considered a feat of engineering 75 years ago as it cut through the sandy pines, oak hammocks and inhospitable swamp land. As the sun warmed the banks of the drainage ditches on either side, alligators lumbered ashore and lay out for a day’s sunbathing, a bit like their two-legged counterparts back in Miami. The ditches gave way to canals, then after a couple of sluice gates, opened out into the mighty Everglades; 70 miles of slow-flowing River.
 Photo by milan boers Passing the last casino, I stopped by an Indian village and waited under a porch. A weathered Indian ambled towards me and nodded to the airboat. With earplugs in and perched on a bench, the huge air propeller on the back roared into life and we were off. Zipping through the eight foot high reeds and disturbing wading birds, herons, egrets and more, a tiny frog jumped and landed right on the front windscreen!  Stopping eventually at a boardwalk in the middle of nowhere, I explored an Indian hammock settlement and saw the biggest alligator yet – all eleven feet of him. I bought beads from the Indian women and smiled at the children playing before boarding the airboat again. Flying back towards civilization, the wind in my face, I laughed as the airboat turned sharply and spray flew up in our wake. These airboats are so agile, noisy and exhilarating. Back on dry land I shook hands with my new friend, one of the last Miccosukee Indians, and returned to the 21st century again.
By Gillian Birch
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