Primitive Camping

What is primitive camping? It is where you'll find campsites, usually further out in nature and away from towns, that are not developed. You'll usually have toilets (but not always) and not much else. No hookups, no running water, no showers, no fancy buildings or amenities. The site may be totally free or a minimal charge that you pay on the honor system. It is usually the Forest Service or BLM that controls these lands. The sites will always accommodate tents and maybe small RVs. It is more difficult to go to these kind of places with big RVs. They may be on remote forest roads or on top of mountains. You may even have to hike or boat in to a site.

Primitive camping is common out west where there is more land. Generally, in the eastern half of the United States, you won't find as many primitive options.

We love primitive camping and are expanding our listings to include every place we can find, no matter how small or remote. We added some large map pages that help show all places to camp in a state, including primitive campgrounds. We plan on adding more features related to primitive and tent camping in the near future. We realize not everyone has a big rig or wants to stay in crowded RV parks.

State of Nevada campground example

Haunted Hotels Provide a Chill to the Night

The air is getting cooler outside. The weather forecast is for a warmer than normal fall and winter but you can still get a chill from a more spooky source. Whether you are on a Halloween spookaway or looking for dying leaves, we found some places that just may put a chill in your pajamas. Across the country and around the world, there are many places where you can stay the night alone, with a loved one or perhaps with someone of a ghostly nature. From the US-Mexican border and southern plantations in the southeast to the heart of hollywood in California, you can explore a bit of history and maybe even feel the past come back to you.

There are places in almost every state in the United States, in all different price ranges and AllStays is constantly adding more as they find them and try to fill in the history. For something warm and near the southern border, try Douglas in southern Arizona.

Many employees and guests of the Gadsden Hotel have had encounters with the Gadsden Ghost. The ghost has been reported mostly in the basement and is said to be a tall man in black clothing and often with no head. Some believe this ghost is the ghost of Pancho Villa himself. At the time of his death in 1923, Pancho Villa was reported to have a hidden treasure somewhere in the mountains of Northern Mexico. The only map to this location was tattooed on Villa's head. It is said that upon his death, Villa's loyal followers cut off his head and buried it under the ashes of the recently burned Gadsden Hotel in order to forever keep the secret location of the treasure concealed. Unknowingly, the Gadsden Hotel was re-built over the top of the skull and Pancho Villa remains wandering the dark damp halls of the Gadsden basement searching for his head and the map to his treasure.

Another Arizona location is the Hermosa Inn in Scottsdale. A cowboy and artist named Lon Megargee owned some land in Paradise Valley in the 1930s. After building his home by his own hands, he had to pay for the house's maintenance. One solution was to rent out rooms to travelers. Finally, in 1941, he was forced to sell what he called "Casa Hermosa" along with all of it's contents, furniture, and artwork. Even today, photos of Lon and his original art still hang on the walls. Not wanting to leave after his death in 1960, Lon still makes appearancs in his cowboy dress. He is a pleasant, friendly ghost, only flushing toilets and breaking a few glasses.

One night after an argument with her husband, Sallie White, a chambermaid at The Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, stayed at the hotel (presumably with another man). The next day her husband threatened to kill her. On March 28, 1876, Sallie was attacked by her husband and she died two days later. The hotel paid for the funeral cost of $32, as recorded in the hotel ledger. Legend has it that Sallie White still roams the halls of the Victorian wing of the hotel. A few years ago, a guest wanted extra towels. He opened the door of his room and called out to a maid who ignored him. The guest called the front desk to inquire why the maid was so rude. He described the maid and her uniform -- one that was worn in the late 1800s.

If smaller places are more to your interest, there is the R and R Station Inn located in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania. The restaurant inn was built in 1883 and has some customers that checked in more than 100 years ago and remain there today. Things would disappear and then reappear later. The owners heard footsteps when no one was there, and would hear children bouncing a ball upstairs and pots and pans would fly off the racks. The evidence points to numerous ghosts including a couple of former owners. The current owners embrace the past and have events and tours around it.

And there is always the most haunted town of all. Gettysburg is a not just a town with a haunted hotel. Wherever you stay, you may feel or see something out of time and earthly place. Overall, you'll find no shortage of ghostly phenomena around town. Most common reports have been on the battlefield and the Gettysburg College. There is a ghost tour at night, like many historic cities are now doing, that highlights the area haunts.

"Ghost encounters are never for certain. In fact, most of these places only have a few documented events spread out over many years. It's more about the history, the imagination and what you think could happen while visiting. You just never know what may be around the next corner, in the shadows or what may wake you up at night. It's fun and adds a little something to another night away from home."

So if you are looking for something really different in this world, try spending some time at places with occasional visitors from another world. Plan ahead if you are looking to stay around the end of October as many of these places are busy or have special events for Halloween. Some of them wish the ghost would move on and others relish the added attention and business. Many of the larger hotels will not deal with reserving of a particular room tied to a ghost story, but you may get lucky. Or unlucky depending on your point of view.

Haunted Hotels: That Time of Year

It's always a great time of year to spend the night with a ghost but now it's October. And you know what October leads up to....Halloween. Make your plans now to find a room at a haunted hotel this month. Many of them are booked many months in advance, and some hotels do not guarantee a particular room, so you may even want to think about next year as well.

Not traveling? Well they are all around the country so a ghost is probably within a couple hours of you right now and just waiting to cuddle, snuggle and chill you all night. Or just sit back with a drink, listen to some rustling leaves outside your unlocked screen door and read the stories here at our Haunted Hotels Guide.

Yoga Retreats May Be A Passionate Vacation Choice

Whether you've been doing yoga for years or just began recently, the time to go deeper may be here. Whether you teach others in a local class or practice alone in your own living space, you can take it higher. You can make it a vacation that you can take home with you. A yoga retreat vacation works from the inside out. And the wonderful feeling lasts longer. The return airporttrek and the first visit with your boss can't take it away from you. Full story

Remote Getaways

Need to getaway? Far far away?

Here are a few places that will get you away from it all. Far far away from it all....From forest fire look out towers to rusti cabins. These are cheap on the wallet but not easy to access. Full story

Extended Stay Hotels Provide More Comfort

You may not need to throw the leftovers away or sit in the lobby to find a comfortable couch and internet service. Extended stay hotels are more common and more affordable for everyone these days.

Are you a modern day road warrior or just the occasional traveler who wants a few comforts of home? Perhaps you want to save some money and stock your own food and drinks while attending that conference. Maybe you are part of a family who needs to stretch the vacation budget without signing charge receipts or leaving tips for every hunger pain. Full story