Hot Spots: Best Bird Watching Destinations

Bird watching is a wonderful year-round activity. It is a wonderful way to learn about and enjoy many of the delights of nature. In addition, it is an activity that can be enjoyed almost anywhere in the world. Here are a few great destinations in the United States for bird watching enthusiasts to visit.  

01

Pribilof Islands, Alaska

For birders looking to see some northern species of birds, these Alaskan islands are a great option. Located in the Bering Sea, these islands are home to many fascinating species of bird. Visitors will enjoy hiking on the islands trails while also enjoying the relative remoteness of the location. Birders should be sure to keep an eye out for Horned Puffins, Least Auklets and many more species.

02

Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Arizona

Southeast of Tucson, this is a fantastic destination for watching hummingbirds. Birders can see up to 14 species of these fun little birds. In addition, many other species of birds call the canyon home, including red-faced warblers, and many others.

03

Humboldt Bay Complex, California

The mudflats and eelgrass of the Humboldt Bay Complex provide a perfect home for a variety of shorebirds. Visitors to this region of California will have a lovely time exploring the region. Birders should look for shorebirds like willets, sandpipers, herons, egrets and others.

04

San Luis Complex, California

The three refuges within the San Joaquin Valley provide ample opportunity for birders to enjoy many species of California birds. Birders have the opportunity to see mallards, pintails, sandhill cranes, and even Aleutian Canada geese. Visitors to this complex should also keep an eye out for the herds of tule elk that call the area home.

05

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Located on Sanibel Island on the Gulf Coast, and it has one of the country's largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems. These conditions make it a great destination for birders to see the large populations of migratory birds.Within this refuge there are many species of birds and animals that birders can see while hiking on trails, including white ibis and night herons.

06

Hakalau Forest, Hawaii

This beautiful Hawaiian forest on the slopes of Manua Kea on the Big Island is a fantastic destination to see some of Hawaii's unique birds. Birders should be sure to look for the Hawaiian honeycreeper, as well as the Hawaiian Owl, Ducks and more.

07

Snake River Birds of Prey Natural Area, Idaho

The Snake Valley is an unrivaled destination for viewing raptors. There are almost 1,000 nesting pairs of raptors in the area. Some species that birders should look for include, Golden Eagles, Swainson's Hawks, American Kestrels and many more. In addition, other species of birds call the grasslands home, including Violet-green Swallows, ducks, Burrowing Owls and more.

08

Cape May, New Jersey

This New Jersey destination is fantastic for birders. The ecosystems here, such as marshes and coastal woods are excellent for spring bird watching. Over 400 species of rare birds have been seen at this spot. Visitors to this wonderful spot can see hundreds of different species in a single day of bird watching.

09

Klamath Basin Complex, Oregon

This Oregon destination is an amazing bird watching destination. Many types of geese and ducks call this region home. Visitors to the region can see Snow Geese, Canada Geese and a variety of species of raptors including Red-tail hawks, Bald Eagles and more.

10

Zion National Park, Utah

Utah's beautiful Zion National Park is a fantastic destination for birders during the winter. Within the amazing landscape of the park, especially the canyon birders can enjoy a wide variety of species. Zion is home to over 200 species of bird. During the month of December, bird watchers can see canyon wrens, eagles and many more.

Courtesy of Camping.com

Holland, Michigan | Visit the Tulip Time Festival

Each year in May Holland, Michigan welcomes people from all over to celebrate the spring Tulips and the Dutch heritage for the Tulip Time Festival. Through the days of this festival there are many fun events for visitors and locals alike to enjoy. May visitors to Michigan should be sure to plan a stop in Holland.

The Tulip Time festival is a great way to enjoy the Dutch culture and heritage of Holland. Visitors to this area will find a variety of events celebrating this heritage. In 2012 the festivities start on May 5 and continue through May 16. Travelers visiting Holland should visit www.tuliptime.com to check the schedule each year.

This year saw unusually warm weather during the month of March, which has lead to the early blooming of the tulips. Visitors can come early to Holland if they want to see the wonderful display of flowers. One essential aspect of this festival are the millions of tulips that bloom throughout the parks and streets of the town. Visitors will be delighted by the gardens at Centennial Park and can also enjoy six miles of tulips along the streets.

On May 5 the events start with the Tulip Time Run, and this is just the start of the many different events of this festival. After the run visitors should walk through the Art and Craft Fair or take a Tulip City Tour. Some events continue throughout the festival, and others are one day only events.

Visitors won't want to miss the Dutch Dance events. These take place every day of the festival, and performers can be as young as 8, called Kinder dancers. Over 1,000 locals perform the traditional style of Dutch dances. These performers dress in traditional Dutch costumes. Visitors are sure to enjoy these fun celebrations of the Dutch heritage of the town.

After enjoying all of the different events of the festival, visitors can continue their exploration of local Dutch heritage by visiting other points of interest. The Windmill Island Gardens are a beautiful stop, where visitors can enjoy thousands of tulips with a working windmill, a museum and much more. Another great destination is the DeKlomp Wooden Shoe and Delft Factory, where artists hand carve and handpaint wooden shoes.

Throughout this region of Michigan there is a strong Dutch heritage and visitors can learn about and enjoy this heritage each year at the Tulip Time Festival in Holland. There are many wonderful events for visitors to enjoy. After the festival the exploration doesn't have toss stop, there are many other fantastic destinations in the area, where visitors can learn even more about the region's history.

Courtesy of Camping.com

RV Refrigerator: Shopping, Packing and Performance Tips

Stay Fit on The Go!

Let's face it - sometimes it's hard to find time to work out. Whether you're on the road, at work, or at home, you can always find a few more ways to squeeze in exercise between projects, no matter what you're doing. The biggest change you have to make is in your attitude - just train yourself to be on the lookout for ways to fit in a little fitness, and you'll soon be reaping the rewards.

Walk, Don't Drive
As you go about your day, look for opportunities to walk. When you go to the store, purposefully park far away from the door so you can enjoy a nice stroll on your way into the shop. While you're shopping, look for ways to turn it into a quick workout. Split up your shopping list among your group and see how quickly you can each collect your items. If you're shopping on your own, resist the urge to lean on your cart, and try to keep your pace up. Remember to never shop on an empty stomach!

Try Seated Isometrics
An isometric is a strength-building exercise you can do without weights or equipment. You just use the power of your own body to create resistance. For instance, if you press your palms together in front of your chest and push with each hand, you'll work your biceps, shoulders, and pectoral muscles. Isometrics are a great thing to do while you're seated during long drives, movies, or long bouts of time at work.

Lift It!
Any time you find yourself with something weighty in your hands, give it a few curls. This works with canned food, grocery bags, backpacks, luggage, and anything the least bit heavy. If the curls are easy, then do some more. Or, if you prefer, raise your arm over your head and lower your hand behind your head for some triceps extensions.

Playtime
Playing with kids, dogs, or by yourself is a great way to get a workout. The same goes for dancing, roller skating and ice skating, canoeing and kayaking, and games like tennis, ping pong, basketball, and softball. If your kids or grandkids like to play with a Wii, don't just sit on the couch and watch. Give it a try! You'll get a surprising workout and have a lot of fun at the same time.

Lunges, Squats, and Leg Lifts
If you have a spare moment (and no one is watching), why not do a few lunges, squats, or leg lifts? You can do these in place or, in the case of lunges, moving across the room. If you're near a wall, try a wall sit with your back pressed against the wall and your legs bent so that your thighs are parallel to the floor. Stay in that position as long as you can. Do this every day and you'll develop real strength in your quads.

Courtesy of Camping.com

HOW TO: Replace an RV Skylight

Tips for Saving Money While RVing

Let’s face it, everyone likes a deal…to save some cash or get a little something extra. Fortunately for today’s RVers there’s a nice variety of campground discount programs to choose from and easy ways to find campgrounds that take those discounts. Typically “membership” clubs require an annual fee to join, these programs offer anywhere from 10 to 50% off at specified campgrounds and RV parks across the country and in Canada. Once you join keep your membership card handy so you’ll reap the benefits.

FMCA

Family Motor Coach Association is a club for motor coach owners offering a campground discount program as part of their membership benefits. To join you must own a Motorhome or Class C – not a towable – and the first year’s fee is $45/year dropping to $35/year thereafter. Discounts of 10% are available at FMCA commercial members and 15% at Outdoor Resorts of America.

Escapees

The Escapees Club is the RV club for full-time RVers. Escapees make their own deals with parks providing a 15% discount to card carrying Escapee members. They also have their own park system that offers very reasonable rates to SKPs (say it and you’ll understand what SKP means…see). The park discounts Escapees provide are a side bar to their main full-timer benefits so, discount speaking, the fee is steep at around $60/year.


AAA

The Automobile Club of America is a club that many campers belong to for their everyday auto travels but they can also receive camping discounts. Typically 10%, AAA members of every state simply show their membership card when checking in to parks offering this benefit.

AARP 

AARP offers membership – at $12.50/year – to those over 50 years old. Like many of the other clubs, camping discounts are but one of the many benefits of membership. Show your AARP card at check-in and receive a 10% discount at participating campgrounds.

Find Campgrounds and RV Parks that Accept Discounts

The easiest way to find RV parks and campgrounds that honor these discounts is by using an online campground directory like the one found on camping.com. Where you can search for campgrounds by affiliate discount program and other amenities, since a discount might not be the most important part of choosing the RV Park.

Save More Money Make Reservations Online
With easy access to high-speed internet and a world of campgrounds just a few clicks away reserving a campsite online has never been easier and it can save you time and money on phone calls or minutes on your cell phone bill.

Courtesy of Camping.com

The Best RV Leveling Blocks

Celebrate Spring with a Wildflower Road Trip

Spring is a fantastic time of year to take a road trip through the southern United States to enjoy the wildflowers. Here are a few fantastic destinations for road trippers to explore during a trip to the south during the spring. 

1

West Virginia Wildflower Pilgrimage

Starting at Blackwater Falls State Park, this event is a great way to enjoy all beauty spring in West Virginia has to offer. The state park acts as a launching point to explore the wildflowers and natural beauty in the surrounding area. Held annually, visitors can see a wide variety of wildflowers, wildlife, birds and the natural features of the region.

2

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

This park is 105 miles long, and it stretches from Front Royal to Waynesboro-Charlottesville. It is a wonderfully diverse plant life. Visitors can take the Skyline Drive, which is the scenic drive through the park, and it is a fantastic way to enjoy the park. Along this drive travelers can enjoy a wide array of wildflowers, especially the azaleas.

3

Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee and North Carolina

Located in the southern Appalachian Mountains, the Cherokee National Forest is an excellent spring destination for flower viewing. Roan Mountain within the forest is a fantastic destination to see the rhododendrons. These beautiful plants bloom in mid-June and are a wonderful display of colors.

4

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an amazing place to enjoy the natural splendor of Tennessee . Visitors can enjoy over 800 miles of trails, as they check out the wide array of flora and fauna. During the spring and summer the mountains host a beautiful range of wildflowers, well worth the visit to the park. The park is often known as the "wildflower national park," puts on a special show in the spring when the flowers burst into color. The Great Smoky Mountains Wildflower Pilgrimage is a great opportunity to see the wildflower, on one of the wildflower walks and more.

5

Bluebonnet Festival, Chappell Hill, Texas

To the west, Texas has some wonderful spring flower destinations. One great Texan even is the Bluebonnet Festival. You’ll see Indian Paintbrush, Black-eyed Susans, and the world-famous Texas Bluebonnets at this fun and lively festival, held each year in mid-April.  Texas Hill Country is awash with beauty in the spring, particularly in March, April and May (the bluebonnets reach their peak in April).

Courtesy of Camping.com