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# KOA Campgrounds Family Camping Zone

Family camping advice, handy checklists, campfire stories, family activities, an abundance of fun travel games, vacation ideas, weekend getaways and much more.

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://familycamping.koa.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Pages

- [Home](https://familycamping.koa.com/) - For your next family vacation, use KOA Campground’s Family Camping Zone as a travel resource. You’ll find useful advice, handy checklists, campfire stories, family activities, an abundance of fun travel games, vacation ideas, weekend getaways and much more.
- [Camping Safety](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/) - A camping trip should be an adventure, chock full of excitement, but the right kind of excitement. No accidents. No burns. No poison ivy. KOA wishes you a safe trip, and the best way to stay safe is to be smart about preventing injuries and be prepared for common accidents that may occur. NOAA's National
- [Campfire Stories](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/campfire-stories/) - Here is a collection of spooky stories to make you shudder and huddle closer around the campfire. Print the stories to read out loud, or download the audio recordings to play on your MP3 player or burn onto a CD. MissingBeware! If you are going to explore the campground, you may not like what you
- [Follow Route 66 through California and Arizona](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/follow-route-66-through-california-and-arizona/) - Hike in the Petrified Forest. Rock hounds and photographers will never want to leave Petrified Forest National Park. It is an amazing land of contrasts. Visitors will see evidence of a time when the current arid plateaus were swamps and dinosaurs were residents. The remains of ancient trees lie undisturbed on the ash gray fields.
- [Follow Route 66 Through Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/follow-route-66-through-oklahoma-texas-and-new-mexico/) - Connect with cowboys. Woody Guthrie wrote about Route 66 in his album-liner notes because for him Oklahoma was very much a part of the Route's karma. Guthrie's "Dust Bowl Ballads" put the towns of Arcadia, Elk City, and Texola on the music map. Today Allen Ranch near Tulsa it is possible to take part in
- [Games for the Road](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-with-kids/games-for-the-road/) - Miles and miles to go until the next? Already gasped your way through the 99th verse of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"? Here are some road-friendly games to keep the mental wheels turning. Word Games and Puzzles Print out our travel themed games and puzzles for your trip book. Fun for long drives
- [Route 66 through Illinois and Missouri](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/route-66-through-illinois-and-missouri/) - Meet at Mr. Lincoln's place. Every child of school age has heard of President Abraham Lincoln so a short stop at his house is worth the time, if only to secure bragging rights for the next history class. The two-story home of Abraham Lincoln, the only home he ever owned is open for tours. It
- [Build A Trip Book](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/build-a-trip-book/) - Organize all the resources you'll need on your camping adventure in our handy Trip Book. Create one for the whole family, or make multiple books tailored to each family member. Leave home with a handy resource, and return with a book stuffed full of memories. First, print out our fun Trip Book cover. Add your
- [Craft Projects](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/craft-projects/) - Feeling Crafty? Check out the great project ideas put together just for you! Complete with easy to follow instructions, these fun filled crafts will keep you or your kids busy on a rainy afternoon. Print out the project sheets before you leave, and be sure to bring along the supplies listed with each one. There's
- [Lewis and Clark in Kansas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-kansas/) - KOA Camping in Kansas Experience the wild, wild West. The Frontier Army Museum is part of Fort Leavenworth; it is the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi River. The Fort, critical to the success of westward expansion, was a launching post for thousands of pioneers, soldiers, and adventures heading west. The Museum pays
- [Lewis and Clark in Missouri](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-missouri/) - KOA Camping in Missouri Westward ho the wagons! The Museum of Westward Expansion is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis. This museum is located under the Arch and provides visitors with 100 years of human history related to the American westward movement. This museum is world-class; it provides hours of interesting
- [An Intimate Look at the Civil War in Tennessee](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/an-intimate-look-at-the-civil-war-in-tennessee/) - By Mike and Chi-Chi M., Field Editors, St. Louis, Missouri WE’RE BIG Civil War buffs, so we wanted our grandchildren, Jessica, 10, and Mikey, 8, to experience some Civil War history. But we didn’t want to overwhelm them with a big and crowded historic site like Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. So we looked
- [Fall for Beautiful Burgess Falls](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/fall-for-beautiful-burgess-falls/) - This Tennessee state park features three waterfalls-all within a short hike. Burgess Falls State Park is one of the most beautiful natural wonders in all of Tennessee. Located on the eastern edge of the state's Highland Rim between Nashville and Knoxville, the park features three dramatic waterfalls along the Falling Water River. The first, appropriately
- [Paint This Town Green](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/paint-this-town-green/) - Oua-oua-rons make Rayne, Louisiana a "ribbeting" getaway A smiling bullfrog on a sign along I-10 in south-central Louisiana leads you to Rayne, a hospitable small town known as the "Frog Capital of the World." During Rayne's early days, the surrounding wetlands were hopping with frogs-or oua-oua-rons (pronounced "wah-wah-raws"), as the Cajun townsfolk here call them.
- [A Mountainside Marvel](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/a-mountainside-marvel/) - Breathtaking Ohme Gardens is a little-known natural treasure nestled on a mountainside north of Wenatchee, Washington. Herman and Ruth Ohme created this amazing 9-acre alpine oasis through 60 years of backbreaking labor. It all began in 1929, when the couple married and purchased 40 acres of land that consisted mostly of sagebrush, rock and grass.
- [Highway 101 in Oregon](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/highway-101-in-oregon/) - KOA Camping in Oregon Pacific Coast Highway (a.k.a. 101) in Oregon. With the crossing of the Columbia River the Cascade Mountains provide the horizon mark to the east and the landscape grows more open. The expansive seashore is ideal for kite flying and clam digging. Communities host cowboy breakfasts, conduct cheese samplings and provide gallery
- [Follow US Route 1 Through North Carolina](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-north-carolina/) - KOA Camping in North Carolina From the Virginia line all the way to Raleigh the pace is easy. Farmlands, flowers, smoked ham and smiling faces make a deliberate case for life out of the mainstream. Clotheslines and vegetable gardens, patriotic slogans and mobile homes are common; pick up trucks are even more so. Along the
- [Beauty Beckons Along The San Juan Skyway in Colorado](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/beauty-beckons-along-the-san-juan-skyway-in-colorado/) - By Diane H., Field Editor, Acworth, Georgia It’s no wonder this southwest-Colorado route was one of the National Forest Service’s first Scenic Byways. TO CALL the San Juan Skyway one of America’s most scenic drives may be an understatement. This 232-mile loop through the San Juan Mountains passes through a majestic landscape of alpine forests,
- [Follow US Route 1 through the Florida Keys](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-the-florida-keys/) - KOA Camping in Florida South of Miami, U.S. Route 1 connects a series of keys, each with its own story to tell. Recognized as the Overseas Highway, distance is measured by mile markers for anyone needing to establish a sense of place. The closer to Key West the smaller the number. Along the way are
- [Follow US Route 1 Through Virginia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-virginia/) - Virginia U.S. Route 1 KOA Camping in Virginia As U.S. Route 1 exits D.C. it passes through Alexandria along the same route used by early colonists, perhaps the most noted, George Washington. The Virginia section of the route is lined with historic cities, battleground sites, and energizing state-of-the-art museums. We've selected some of the best
- [Follow US Route 1 through New Hampshire and Massachusetts](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-new-hampshire-and-massachusetts/) - New Hampshire U.S. Route 1 KOA Camping in New Hampshire U.S. Route 1 uses the bridge access from Kittery, Maine to move on through Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Are we there yet? For those traveling with youngsters the Children's Museum of Portsmouth is the place to break from boredom. The facility allows kids to explore, create,
- [Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/quabbin-reservoir-in-massachusetts/) - by Ellen B., North Billerica, Massachusetts THE IMMENSE Quabbin Reservoir in central Massachusetts offers spectacular scenic views, especially in fall. The 39-square-mile Quabbin is the world’s largest manmade reservoir devoted solely to water supply—it provides water for the Boston area, about 65 miles east. It holds 412 billion gallons of water! At the Visitor Center
- [A Beachy-Keen Getaway](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/a-beachy-keen-getaway/) - Tiny Tybee Island combines beauty and history on the Georgia coast. Tybee Island on Georgia's northern coastline is a perfect place to swim, sunbathe and relax. Beyond the 3-mile-long beach and charming, low-key shopping areas, the island is also a marvelous place for history buffs. Fort Pulaski, built just west of the island to protect
- [Follow US Route 1 through Florida](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-florida/) - KOA Camping in Florida From ghost walks along cobblestone streets in St. Augustine to sunset ceremonies in Key West, U.S. Route 1 in Florida is eclectic and enchanting. The route weaves down the coast shadowed by the faster, less interesting I-95. Route 1 connects communities rich in history and waysides endowed with natural beauty. The
- [US Mid West Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Illinois Chicago Kamp Quirky: Odes to Food Kamp Quirky: All Abooooooooard Follow Historic Route 66 through Illinois Follow the Lewis and Clark Trail in Illinois Discover Dinosaurs in Illinois Iowa Des Moines and Onawa Bily Brothers Carved Out a
- [Bring Your Swimming Trunks When You Visit Cascade Falls](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/bring-your-swimming-trunks-when-you-visit-cascade-falls/) - Waterfalls don't get any prettier than the Cascade Waterfall, located near Pembroke in the Jefferson National Forest in western Virginia. To reach this 69-foot-tall beauty surrounded by 200-foot-tall cliff walls, follow the Cascades National Recreation Trail, a 4-mile round-trip hike along Little Stony Creek, a native trout stream. The trail splits into two different routes;
- [Marvel at Mercer's Magnificent Monuments](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/marvel-at-mercers-magnificent-monuments/) - Photo courtesy of Barry Halkin Fonthill Museum An old adage says a man's home is his castle. That certainly was true for ceramic-tile magnate Henry Mercer, who built not one, but three incredible concrete castles in the early 1900s in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. All three buildings-Fonthill Museum, Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works-are
- [Follow US Route 1 in Maryland](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-in-maryland/) - Maryland Carolina U.S. Route 1 KOA Camping in Maryland Bordering Pennsylvania, the upper Chesapeake Bay region is the connection between rural farmlands and picture perfect waterfront towns. Black-eyed susans line roadways and crab cakes mark restaurant menus. U.S. Route 1 heads through Baltimore, a city with dozens of vacation options no matter the season. Start
- [Tracking Dinosaurs on Vacation - USA](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/tracking-dinosaurs-on-vacation-usa/) - From still active dig sites to cool hallways in which immense skeletons loom, to fascinating exhibits which display the most recent theories on lifestyle this list sums them all up. Coast to coast, from sunny California to Connecticut, the U.S. offers dinosaur lovers and their families a chance to get up close and personal with
- [US Northwest Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Idaho Coeur d'Alene, Kellogg, Southeastern Idaho, Pocatello, and Montpelier Follow the Lewis and Clark Trail in Idaho Kamp Quirky: Teepees and Trolleys Discover Dinosaurs in Idaho Oregon Klamath Falls, Bend, and Madras/Culver Carousel Museum is A Nostalgic Delight Immigrant Farmer's Elaborate Rock Gardens Amaze Oregon
- [Traveling With Pets](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-with-pets/traveling-with-pets/) - If you're like many Americans with pets, your travel plans may very well include your best friends, Fido and Fluffy. Before hitting the road with your best friend, it's important to take some precautions and be prepared. Traveling with your pet can be a wonderful and bonding experience if you do it right. Here are
- [Poison Ivy](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/poison-ivy/) - Symptoms and Treatment by CORTAID® Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are all plants that contain an oil called urushiol. Urushiol can cause allergic reactions upon contact. While some people are more sensitive than others, the result is often a rash that is very itchy and uncomfortable. Symptoms People who are allergic develop a
- [Discover Nature!](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-with-kids/discover-nature/) - Lose yourself in the fascinating natural world that surrounds you. Hone your observation and orienteering skills, and you'll lose yourself in the beauty without getting lost. Fold a Star Finder: Make your own starfinder - a fun origami toy that also serves as a guide to the constellations visible in the current month. Tonight's Sky:
- [Remarkable Places on Route 66](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/remarkable-places-on-route-66/) - Route 66 Baker's Dozen Stops along the Way.By Nancy Nelson-Duac Follow Route 66 through California and Arizona Follow Route 66 Through Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico Route 66 through Illinois and Missouri From Chicago to LA more than 2,400 miles the route weaves through remarkable places with effortless formality. It is the road that inspired
- [Pop Goes the Festival in Orville Redenbacher's Hometown](https://familycamping.koa.com/pop-goes-the-festival-in-orville-redenbachers-hometown/) - It may sound corny, but a poppin' good time awaits at the annual Valparaiso Popcorn Festival in northwestern Indiana. Always held the Saturday after Labor Day, the festival celebrates native son Orville Redenbacher's memory with over 500 food and craft booths, games, the "Popcorn Panic" run and live music. One of the most popular events
- [This House is Rock Solid!](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/this-house-is-rock-solid/) - A onetime miner carved out his niche-a sprawling 14-room home-in a sandstone cliff in Utah. The unusual Hole N' the Rock, an attraction tucked in a sandstone cliff near Moab in southeastern Utah, is one of those attractions that make backroad travel such a joy. As you head north toward Moab on U.S. Highway 191,
- [Kamp Quirky: Take a Walk on the Wild Side](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/kamp-quirky-take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side/) - How ’bout you driftin’ down in the bayou, searchin’ for the creepy crawlies baskin’ in the Delta sun? You haven’t really seen Louisiana until you’ve skimmed through the cypress groves on a swamp tour. You’ll find plenty to choose from in southern Louisiana, like Cypress Swamp Tours, just a quick half-hour from New Orleans. And
- [Tread on the Oregon Trail](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/tread-on-the-oregon-trail/) - A remarkable chapter in American history is carved in stone in Wyoming! Want to literally get in touch with the Oregon Trail? Head for southeast Wyoming, where you can actually walk in wagon wheel ruts and see pioneer "graffiti" dating back to the mid-1800s. These fascinating remnants of the 1,930-mile-long trail, which stretched from Independence,
- [Vacation Ideas in Wyoming](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-wyoming/) - KOA camping in Wyoming Jackson Breathtaking. Awesome. It's impossible to overstate the grandeur of the Tetons. Of course you'll want to explore Grand Teton National Park (the wildlife is as phenomenal as the scenery), but allow time to savor Wild West-flavored Jackson, with its cowboy bar and elk-antlered archway, the National Museum of Wildlife Art,
- [Lewis and Clark in South Dakota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-south-dakota/) - KOA Camping in South Dakota First encounter of the Sioux kind. Lewis and Clark Visitor Center, was built on a bluff overlooking Lewis and Clark Lake and Gavins Point Dam, on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River across from Yankton, South Dakota. It is an ideal place to learn more about the expedition, the
- [Site Features Fossils Of Mammoth Proportions](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/site-features-fossils-of-mammoth-proportions/) - Peer 26,000 years into the past at a remarkable Ice Age treasure trove in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Photo courtesy of Mammoth Site of Hot Springs You'll be awestruck the second you walk into the fascinating Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota. A building here covers a 120-by-160 foot sinkhole that started to collapse
- [Vacation Ideas in South Dakota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-south-dakota/) - KOA camping in South Dakota Black Hills AreaWhile in South Dakota, visit the Black Hills, considered the jewel of the state. Drive scenic Spearfish Canyon, or stop in historic Deadwood and try your luck at Vegas-style gambling. There are many beautiful caves to explore, or stop and see Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln at
- [Ten Great Places On The Way To The Faces](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/ten-great-places-on-the-way-to-the-faces/) - KOA camping in South Dakota The family vacation... it's a summer rite of passage. Every year, thousands of people load up the car and begin a journey out west that will create lasting memories. This year make your plans to see the Great Faces and Great Places of South Dakota. It'll be an American experience
- [The Spirit of America](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/the-spirit-of-america/) - KOA camping in South Dakota Majestic mountain carvings, rolling prairies, sky-piercing granite needles, glittering lakes, lofty river bluffs and endless wide-open spaces greet visitors to South Dakota. Once inhabited by Plains Indians, fur traders, cowboys, miners and pioneers, it is the state of Great Faces and Great Places. And it's the state of hospitality, hard
- [Pet Emergency Tips](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-with-pets/pet-emergency-tips/) - If you need emergency care for your pet, the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) offers listings for emergency clinics in the United States, Canada and other countries. You can also search for an American Animal Hospital Association-(AAHA) accredited hospital to ensure the highest standards and best care for your pet. The AAHA is
- [Hurricane Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/hurricane-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA's National Weather Service Facts A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone - an organized rotating weather system that develops in the tropics. Hurricanes rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Tropical cyclones are classified as follows: Tropical Depression - An organized system of persistent clouds and thunderstorms with a closed low-level circulation
- [Marvel at Mother Nature's Mischief Makers in Utah](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/marvel-at-mother-natures-mischief-makers-in-utah/) - Utah is full of well-traveled marvels like Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion National Parks. But don't overlook a little-known natural wonder that's equally worthwhile: Goblin Valley State Park. You've never seen such unique and enchanting rock formations. Carved by eons of wind and water erosion, the mushroom-shaped carvings look like so many mischievous
- [Enjoy a Hike To a Spectacular Sight-Stunning Calf Creek Falls](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/enjoy-a-hike-to-a-spectacular-sight-stunning-calf-creek-falls/) - One of the prettiest waterfalls in the region is Lower Calf Creek Falls in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a 1.9-million-acre hiker's paradise in south-central Utah. The stunning 126-foot-high falls cascade over moss-draped red rock into a deep, refreshingly cool pool. The falls mark the end of a fairly easy and level 2-3/4-mile-long developed hiking
- [US Southwest Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. Arizona Flagstaff and Williams Arizona Caverns Reveal Once-Secret Splendors Get Your Kicks in Oatman Old Military Planes Still Soar At Museum Near the Grand Canyon On the Trail of the Old West Along Arizona’s Apache Trail Follow Famous Route 66 through Arizona
- [Nevada's Valley of Fire Blazes with Unique Sights](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/nevadas-valley-of-fire-blazes-with-unique-sights/) - Red sandstone formations and ancient petroglyphs give this state park a mysterious allure. Near Las Vegas is a natural wonder that shines as brightly as neon casino lights: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada's oldest and largest state park. Located in the Mojave Desert, this 34,880-acre park was named for its brilliant red sandstone formations.
- [Follow US 101 through Northern California](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-101-through-northern-california/) - Northern California KOA Camping in California Pacific Coast Highway (a.k.a. 101) in Northern California. Highway 101 along the Northern California coast is even more dramatic than it appears on TV. Rugged picturesque coves with tide pools protected by statue like rock outcroppings vie for attention against giant redwoods, cascading flowers and condors gliding thermals. Pet
- [Follow US 101 through Southern California](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-101-through-southern-california/) - Southern California KOA Camping in California Pacific Coast Highway (a.k.a. 101) in Southern California. Highway 101 from Santa Barbara south provides miles of picture perfect beach. The arid landscape is mixed with blankets of wildflowers and towering eucalyptus trees. Mornings often begin with fog and conclude with sunshine. Cafes and open air markets offer a
- [Get Your Kicks in Oatman](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/get-your-kicks-in-oatman/) - Wild burros turn Arizona town into a walk on the wild side. The historic gold-mining town of Oatman, Arizona, is a great place to stop if you're traveling on Old Route 66. Just be prepared to stop your vehicle for wild burros! Established in the early 1900s, the town is named after Olive Oatman, a
- [Enjoy Milling About This Historic Site In British Columbia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/british-columbia-vacation-ideas/enjoy-milling-about-this-historic-site-in-british-columbia/) - By Jerry and Annette C., Field Editors, Spokane, Washington WE SPENT a fun-filled, educational and interesting day at the Grist Mill and Gardens in Keremeos, British Columbia. The historic flour mill was built in 1877 by Barrington Price and was restored in the 1980s. It now serves as a living history museum it is the
- [Guarding a Colorful Past](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/guarding-a-colorful-past/) - By Helen B., Field Editor, Steinbach, Manitoba AS WE ENTERED the impressive Dauphin Gate at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, the guards abruptly stopped us, suspecting we were spies. Eyeing us suspiciously, they demanded that we tell them who the king of France was—in 1744! After finally
- [Turning the Tide - Explore the ocean floor at New Brunswick's Hopewell Rocks](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/turning-the-tide-explore-the-ocean-floor-at-new-brunswicks-hopewell-rocks/) - By Walt and Julianne G., Christiana, Tennessee TIME AND TIDE wait for no man, Ben Franklin once said. We found powerful proof of that adage at Hopewell Rocks park near the town of Hopewell Cape in New Brunswick. The giant rocks are in Shepody Bay at the northern end of the Bay of Fundy, which
- [Vive L' Acadie!](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/vive-l-acadie/) - By Pat Mestern, Field Editor, Fergus, Ontario EVER SINCE I read Evangeline, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem about the exiled French Acadians, I’ve wanted to visit Acadian Historical Village near Caraquet in northeastern New Brunswick. I finally did so, and it was well worth the trip. This marvelous living-history museum accurately depicts the rich life and
- [Red Coat Trail through Saskatchewan](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/saskatchewan-vacation-ideas/red-coat-trail-through-saskatchewan/) - KOA: Red Coat Trail through "The Land of the Living Skies." KOA Camping in Saskatchewan The Red Coat Trail in Saskatchewan cuts across the southern section of the province following Highway 13 and provides a tribute to the "Land of the Living Skies." The expansive horizons of the southern grain belt meld with glacier terrain.
- [Spring Travel with Pets](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-with-pets/spring-travel-with-pets/) - By Tom James Record numbers of people will take to the road and sky with their pets this year as more and more hotels, resorts and other accommodations roll out the welcome mat. Recreational activities like camping and hiking will also involve four-legged members of family like never before. Why such an upturn in pet
- [Backpacking and Hiking with Pets](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-with-pets/backpacking-and-hiking-with-pets/) - Backpacking and hiking with your pet can be an enjoyable experience, but certain precautions should be taken to avoid injury or becoming separated. Most importantly, be sure you and your pet are in good physical shape to endure whatever trek you're planning. If you intend for your dog to carry his own pack, be sure
- [10 Tips for Traveling with Pets](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-with-pets/10-tips-for-traveling-with-pets/) - 1. Start Early. If you're planning to take your pet with you on trips in the car, start early when the pet is young to get used to the routine. Short jaunts across town and back or easy day trips will get your pet used to the ride. A carsick pet can make the trip
- [Camping with Pets](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-with-pets/) - Everyone has more fun camping with their pet! Whether you're playing fetch with your dog at the lake, taking a hike with your four-legged friend, or just sitting by the fire, your pet will add to your fond camping memories. You and your pet can have a great time exploring a new area together. So,
- [Pumpkin Carving Templates](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/pumpkin-carving-templates/) - Ghost Stories around the campfire, costume parades and campsite decorating during the Halloween season is fun for the whole family. Download and print one of these unique camping themed pumpkin carving templates to take along on your trip, Courtesy of your friends at KOA! KOA Pumpkin Carving Directions Find a special pumpkin that is ripe,
- [Tsunami Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/tsunami-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden displacements in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. In the deep ocean, the tsunami wave may only be a few inches high. The tsunami wave may come gently ashore or may increase in height to become a
- [Severe Thunderstorm Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/severe-thunderstorm-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts NOAA's National Weather Service considers a thunderstorm severe if it produces hail at least ¾-inch in diameter, winds of 58 mph or stronger, or a tornado. Severe Thunderstorms can produce wind speeds in excess of 100 mph. Severe thunderstorm winds can cause damage equal to a tornado. Large hailstones
- [Landslide and Mudslide Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/landslide-and-mudslide-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts Landslides occur in all areas of the United States. In a landslide, masses of rock, earth, or debris move down a slope. Landslides may be small or large, slow or rapid. They are activated by: storms earthquakes volcanic eruptions fires alternate freezing or thawing steepening of slopes by erosion
- [Lightning Facts & Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/lightning-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightning strikes the earth 20 million times. The energy from one lightning flash could light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 3 months. Most lightning fatalities and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon
- [Flash Flood Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/flash-flood-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts Most flash flood fatalities occur at night and most victims are people who become trapped in automobiles. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet; a depth of two feet will cause most vehicles to float. Preparedness Avoid walking, swimming, or driving in flood waters. Stay
- [Camping With Kids](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-with-kids/) - Camping gives families quality time together. It's a chance to break away from the ordinary routine, learn new skills, experience the outdoors, and enjoy each other's company. Of course, it can be challenging to plan a road trip that will be enjoyable for adults and children alike. Drawing on decades of experience, here are some
- [Campground Fun](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-with-kids/campground-fun/) - Group Storytelling: One person starts a story and, after a while, points to someone else, who continues. Player 1: "Once upon a time, there were three princesses living in a …" Player 2: "… river! They were tiny mermaid princesses with purple hair, and they loved to play with the fish and eat tasty …"
- [Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/) - Do you know where you are going, but need some ideas about what to do and see when you get there? Select the Canadian Province, or US Region that you are traveling to on the map below and begin exploring all of the fun, interesting, educational and exciting opportunities in the area!
- [What To Bring Camping](https://familycamping.koa.com/what-to-bring-camping/) - Ready to start packing? Our Camping Checklist will get you started. And don't worry if you forget a toothbrush; the KOA Kampground Store has just about anything you'll need. Whether you choose to sleep in a tree-shaded tent, a cozy Kabin or a spacious Lodge, you'll discover that camping is among the most relaxing, rejuvenating
- [Visit Saskatchewan](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/saskatchewan-vacation-ideas/visit-saskatchewan/) - "Land of the Living Skies." KOA camping in Saskatchewan From almost anywhere one can see forever. The horizon line is sharp, supporting the expansive sky marked by a scattering of picture-perfect clouds. The land spans semi-arid grasslands and grayed coulees to rolling meadows, glacier valleys and boreal forests. Saskatchewan is serene and beautiful. Experience a
- [Visit Quebec](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/quebec-vacation-ideas/visit-quebec/) - The Province with "Joie de Vivre." KOA camping in Quebec Jacques Cartier claimed the land for France and for nearly five centuries the spirit and vitality of French culture has grown. From small seaside villages to world-class cities North America's version of French culture is friendly and welcoming. Québec is a destination for the senses.
- [Quaint Quebec Village Puts a French Twist on New England Charm](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/quebec-vacation-ideas/quaint-quebec-village-puts-a-french-twist-on-new-england-charm/) - By Linda A., Field Editor Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan I’D ALWAYS HEARD that Quebec’s Eastern Townships region is very beautiful. Even so, its charming village of North Hatley, sort of a French version of New England, exceeded my expectations on a recent trip. “Picturesque” hardly begins to describe North Hatley, a dollhouse of a village nestled on
- [Visit Ontario](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/ontario-vacation-ideas/visit-ontario/) - "The Land of Shining Waters." KOA camping in Ontario A tapestry of more than 70 cultures defines the scope of Ontario. The diversity enhances daily activities, sustains its rich history and fuels an attitude for discovery. The province links the cutting edge city-style of Toronto and Ottawa with dramatic waterways, enchanting lakes, mysterious islands and
- [Stroll Through the Treetops in Ontario](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/ontario-vacation-ideas/stroll-through-the-treetops-in-ontario/) - By Marty S., Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania FOR a unique adventure, I highly recommend a walk in the treetops in the Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Preserve, a private 50,000-acre park in central Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands. This hike on an elevated boardwalk some 65 feet above the ground is part of a 4-hour guided trek through
- [RVing In Canada](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/ontario-vacation-ideas/rving-in-canada/) - Make a splash with exciting water-based adventures. Ready for a road trip? Make it a wet trek. In Canada, behind-the-wheel wanderings can easily lead you to water. Experience grand waterfalls and Great Lakes. Historic river towns and classic coastal villages. Get out and explore the area in a canoe or satisfy your aquatic desires from
- [Ontario Amethyst Mine Is a Real Gem](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/ontario-vacation-ideas/ontario-amethyst-mine-is-a-real-gem/) - By Enid C., Field Editor, Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin Rock hounds will “dig” unearthing sparkly souvenirs like the ones my husband and I found at a small amethyst mine in lovely northern Ontario. The Thunder Bay area is well known for its amethyst deposits. A clerk at a local rock shop directed us to the Blue
- [Visit Prince Edward Island](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/visit-prince-edward-island/) - Prince Edward Island Where the Waves Rest. KOA camping in Prince Edward Island Crossing the impressive Confederation Bridge is only the beginning of a marvelous island adventure. Although Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada, it is a cornucopia of culture and filled with vacation possibilities. From potato fields and pastoral pathways to
- [Visit Nova Scotia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/visit-nova-scotia/) - Nova Scotia KOA camping in Nova Scotia With 7,400 kms of shoreline, Nova Scotia is linked to the sea. Discover breathtaking vistas, rocky mist-draped cliffs and desolate beaches; as well as picturesque villages, statuesque lighthouses and friendly people. Acadian spirit, the inspiration for Longfellow's Evangeline, provides a vibrant link with the past. It's the place
- [Shop Helps Preserve Memories From Prince Edward Island](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/shop-helps-preserve-memories-from-prince-edward-island/) - by Velma E., Emery, South Dakota ONE of the most memorable attractions I saw on Prince Edward Island was the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company in New Glasgow. Kilt-clad owner Bruce MacNaughton greeted our group when we arrived. Through a large window inside, I watched workers make his company’s signature low-sugar fruit-laden preserves. Fortunately, test
- [Pay a Call on Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site in Nova Scotia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/pay-a-call-on-alexander-graham-bell-historic-site-in-nova-scotia/) - By Bob W., Field Editor, Ocala, Florida WHILE EXPLORING Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, my wife, Bev, and I found the picturesque village of Baddeck. It's so lovely that telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell chose it for his summer home and burial site. His estate, Beinn Bhreagh (Gaelic for “beautiful mountain”), remains privately owned by
- [Hot Potato](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/hot-potato/) - By Joy L., Golden, Colorado UNTIL I saw chocolate potato cake on a hotel menu while visiting Prince Edward Island, I'd never heard of such a dessert, much less tasted it. But after savoring the moist and somewhat nubby cake topped with a hard chocolate glaze, I had to know what in the world inspired
- [Manitoba Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/manitoba-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Manitoba. Manitoba: The Red Coat Trail over the Prairies.
- [Terrific Trails In Canada](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/british-columbia-vacation-ideas/terrific-trails-in-canada/) - Explore natural wonders in the western provinces. An abundance of hiking trails awaits you in Alberta and British Columbia. The area welcomes you with natural wonders stretching from the turquoise waters off Vancouver Island to the towering glaciers hanging from ragged Rocky Mountain peaks. KOA welcomes you, too, providing clean, comfortable base camps amid all
- [Visit Alberta](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/alberta-vacation-ideas/visit-alberta/) - KOA Alberta "Where the Prairies Meet the Rockies" KOA camping in Alberta Alberta is an IMAX experience. Prairies blanketed with wild flowers blend with rolling fields of wheat framing river valleys. Expansive grasslands stretch to each horizon meeting the ancient gray-walled canyons of the Badlands. A never ending blue sky joins the prairie to the
- [The Icefields Parkway through Banff and Jasper National Parks](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/alberta-vacation-ideas/the-icefields-parkway-through-banff-and-jasper-national-parks/) - Breathtaking scenery awaits you! The Icefields Parkway takes you on an unforgettable 140 mile scenic drive through Banff and Jasper National Parks in Canada. See breathtaking turquoise colored lakes similar to Lake Louise, walk on a glacier at the Columbia Icefields, and see amazing waterfalls like Athabasca Falls. Hike on some of the 600 miles
- [Alberta Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/alberta-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Alberta. Alberta, where the Prairies Meet the Rockies ... Vacation Destinations - The Icefields Parkway through Banff and Jasper National Parks Camp Quirky - Ghost Towns and more! Oh Canada! Big beautiful Canada really has it all! Terrific Trails - Explore natural wonders in the Western Provinces
- [Follow US Route 1 Through Pennsylvania](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-pennsylvania/) - Pennsylvania U.S. Route 1 KOA Camping in Pennsylvania As in Colonial times, Route 1 departs the New York area with Philadelphia as its focus. The transverse through New Jersey has commercial distractions and industrial symbols that are very much part of this eclectic roadway. Slow going most of the time, but Philadelphia is worth the effort. Provided
- [Quirky Rock Museum in North Dakota Leaves No Stone Unturned](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/quirky-rock-museum-in-north-dakota-leaves-no-stone-unturned/) - You don't have to be a rock hound to "dig" the Paul Broste Rock Museum in tiny Parshall, North Dakota. As you stroll through the museum, you'll become totally fascinated with its amazing rock collection inside-nearly 700 in all. Many of the rocks came from the surrounding area, but others originated in countries all over
- [Kamp Quirky: Trees, Teepees and Trolleys](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/camp-quirky-trees-teepees-and-trolleys/) - Camping at KOA is one of the best ways to enjoy nature. Your unique accommodations at a KOA might include staying in a: Tree house-In Michigan, at the Monroe County/Toledo North KOA, you can spend the night high in the sky-in a tree! Teepee-Several KOAs in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Missouri invite you to try
- [Kamp Quirky: Odes to Food](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/kamp-quirky-odes-to-food/) - So where can you celebrate a true slice of Americana? At the Spam Museum! You’ll find this memorial to meat in Austin, Minnesota, home of Hormel Foods. How about the Jell-O Gallery in LeRoy, New York? Take home a nifty “Brain Mold” and fill ‘er up with your favorite Jell-O fruit flavor. Mt. Horeb Mustard
- [Kamp Quirky: Made in America](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/kamp-quirky-made-in-america/) - Hey Batter, Batter! See how the original Louisville Slugger baseball bat is made-in Louisville, Kentucky, natch! Tour the factory of Hillerich & Bradsby to watch how white ash is whittled and shaped into the All-American icon used by your kids and baseball stars. For Mother's Day, the Newburgh KOA in New York hands out craft
- [Kamp Quirky: Ghost Towns and More](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/ghost-towns-and-more/) - In Canon City, Colorado, Buckskin Joe Frontier Town features 30 buildings from several ghost mining towns to recreate an Old West frontier town-with gunfights, hangings and medicine shows. Check out modern cowboys at work at the American Royal Rodeo Week in Kansas City, where cowboys rope, wrangle and bull ride in late October. From the
- [Kamp Quirky: Famous Halls](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/famous-halls/) - Want a reel kitschy vacation photo? Then head for Hayward, Wisconsin, and the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. View world-record trophy fish and fishing hooks removed from various parts of the human anatomy. Or stand on the observation deck and wave to the family from the jaws of a 143-foot-long muskie. You can find
- [Kamp Quirky: Crazy Contests](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/kamp-quirky-crazy-contests/) - Cowboys trade lassos for literature each January at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada. If tossing out rhymes is not your style, how ’bout tossing some cow chips? Beaver, Oklahoma, hosts the World Championship Cow Chip Throwing Contest each April. KOA’s offer plenty of fun ways to test your prowess too. You can
- [Kamp Quirky: Balls of Twine and Other Oddities](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/kamp-quirky-balls-of-twine-and-other-oddities/) - You can't cover quirky attractions without mentioning Darwin, Minnesota, home to the nation's largest ball of twine. Other towns have tried to top it, but Darwin's twine ball-protected in a glass case near the town's water tower-is the largest completed by one person. The string sensation measures 11 feet tall and weighs in at 8.7
- [Kamp Quirky: All Aboard!](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/kamp-quirky-all-aboard/) - Immerse yourself in railroad nostalgia at the North Alabama Railroad Museum in Huntsville. Take a ride on a vintage train and walk through the Chase depot, possibly the smallest union depot in the country. The Little Toot offers a big ride in Flora, Illinois, as this steam locomotive chugs along through Charley Brown Park. In
- [Saskatchewan Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/saskatchewan-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Saskatchewan. Land of the Living Skies KOA: Red Coat Trail through Saskatchewan Oh Canada! Big beautiful Canada really has it all!
- [Quebec Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/quebec-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Quebec. Quebec: The Province with "Joie de Vivre." Quaint Quebec Village offers New England Charm Kamp Quirky: Balls of Twine and other Oddities Oh Canada! Big beautiful Canada really has it all!
- [Ontario Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/ontario-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Ontario. Ontario: The Land of Shining Waters Stroll Through the Treetops in Ontario Amethyst Mine Is a Real Gem Kamp Quirky: Famous Halls Oh Canada! Big beautiful Canada really has it all! RVing in Canada - Make a splash with water based adventure
- [Meet the Sunrise](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/newfoundland-vacation-ideas/meet-the-sunrise/) - KOA Campgrounds in Newfoundland Unspoiled and waiting to be discovered, the far east of the West is geographically unique and culturally inspiring. Anchored by the northern most extension of the Appalachian Mountains, the dramatic terrain features undulating meadows, misty-laden fjords, sculpted sea stacks and even a few sand dunes. Experience a sense of place. Anointed
- [Newfoundland Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/newfoundland-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Newfoundland. Newfoundland: Meet the Sunrise Oh Canada! Big beautiful Canada really has it all!
- [Maritime Provinces Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/maritime-provinces-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. New Brunswick Vive L' Acadie! Turning the Tide - Explore the ocean floor at New Brunswick’s Hopewell Rocks Nova Scotia Discover the Breathtaking vistas of Nova Scotia Guarding a Colorful Past Pay a Call on Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site in
- [The Red Coat Trail through Manitoba](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/manitoba-vacation-ideas/the-red-coat-trail-through-manitoba/) - Manitoba: The Red Coat Trail over the Prairies. From east to west, level plains of the Red River Valley meet the uplands and wandering channel of the Pembina River. Dominant then as now, the Turtle Mountains were described by the adventurous explorer La Verendrye as "the blue jewel of the prairies." The original Red Coat
- [Oh, Canada!](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/oh-canada/) - Spectacular scenery and unique adventures await you When it comes to a vacation destination, big, beautiful Canada has it all: two stunning coastlines, the world-famous Canadian Rockies, Great Plains, Great Lakes and great people. Your options for adventure in Canada are as varied as its vast borders. Sip café au lait at a Montreal sidewalk
- [British Columbia Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/british-columbia-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in British Columbia. British Columbia, offering more shades of green than you can imagine. Enjoy Milling About This Historic Site In British Columbia Oh Canada! Big beautiful Canada really has it all! Terrific Trails - Explore natural wonders in the Western Provinces
- [Visit British Columbia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/british-columbia-vacation-ideas/visit-british-columbia/) - British Columbia KOA camping in British Columbia Offering more shades of green than can be imagined, plus clean fresh air, dramatic mountain peaks, raging white-water rivers, and miles of shoreline framing brilliant blue-green sea. British Columbia offers nature lovers a vacation smorgasbord. Leading edge sport and recreation options provide endless choices for a vacation. Experience
- [Vacation Ideas in Utah](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-utah/) - KOA camping in Utah Green River Utah's Green River area is a paradise for outdoors-lovers. Fly fishers perfect their art in the Green River (several outfitters offer guide service), while brave souls take on the whitewater thrills of the Colorado, Green, and Salmon rivers on guided rafting trips. To completely get away from it all,
- [Rich New Mexico History and Heritage Shake Hands in Old Mesilla](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/rich-new-mexico-history-and-heritage-shake-hands-in-old-mesilla/) - By Bernice M. Weatherford, Texas WE’VE VISITED New Mexico often. But my husband, Henry, and I somehow missed picturesque Mesilla until recently, when an RV park owner steered us that way. Many of the village’s adobe buildings near its central plaza date to the 1850s. In fact, the historic building that houses La Posta de
- [Divine Carvings Amaze Guests at Albuquerque Church](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/divine-carvings-amaze-guests-at-albuquerque-church/) - You shouldn't pass through Albuquerque, New Mexico without taking time to stop at Santuario de San Martin to marvel at Juan Sandoval's incredibly detailed and inspirational woodcarvings. Housed in an unassuming, circular adobe church atop a hill in suburban Westgate Heights, the carvings will leave you breathless. There is no way to describe the beauty
- [Vacation Ideas in New Mexico](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-new-mexico/) - KOA camping in New Mexico Albuquerque Back in the 1970s, the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta consisted of 13 balloons in a shopping mall parking lot. That was then. Now, it's huge, huge, huge-a colorful extravaganza featuring nearly 900 balloons that draws more than one million spectators. It is, they say, the most photographed event in the
- [Vacation Ideas in Nevada](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-nevada/) - KOA camping in Nevada Ely They call it "the loneliest road in America." Once the path of the Pony Express, U.S. Highway 50 has nary a traffic jam as it stretches through 400 miles of Great Basin country. You won't wait in line to get into Great Basin National Park (in Ely), one of America's
- [Sonoma-Mendocino Coast Scenic Drive](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/sonoma-mendocino-coast-scenic-drive/) - An Outstanding Way to Experience the California Coast The Sonoma-Mendocino Coast scenic drive takes you along California's magnificent Pacific coast from the Marin Peninsula north of the Golden Gate Bridge to south of Eureka. See interesting historic sites, old growth redwood forests, and beautiful beaches. This scenic drive ranked as one of the top five
- [Catch a Wave at Santa Cruz California Museum](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/catch-a-wave-at-santa-cruz-california-museum/) - By Janice Austin, Salinas, California I’VE NEVER tried surfing. But I dove right into the sport’s history at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum in Santa Cruz, California, overlooking the famous Steamer Lane surfing spot. Housed in a little brick lighthouse and staffed by surfing enthusiasts, the museum showcases surfing memorabilia donated by area surfers. You’ll
- [Go with the Flow Near Dunsmuir, California Where Waterfalls Double Your Fun](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/go-with-the-flow-near-dunsmuir-california-where-waterfalls-double-your-fun/) - By —George A. Redding, California WATERFALLS are abundant in northern California, but the remote town of Dunsmuir boasts two cascades that are easy to reach. Hedge Creek Falls is in Hedge Creek Park on the north side of Dunsmuir, just west of I-5. The trail to the 30-foot-high falls starts by a picturesque little picnic
- [See Tufas at California's Eerie Mono Lake](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/see-tufas-at-californias-eerie-mono-lake/) - The limestone towers, spires and knobs that rise from the saltwater lake at Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve are among the most memorable of the natural wonders around Lee Vining, California. Mono Lake is over 750,000 years old and 2-1/2 times as salty as the ocean, and 80 times as alkaline. The tufas form when
- [Go with the Flow at Lava Beds National Monument](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/go-with-the-flow-at-lava-beds-national-monument/) - This little-known park gives new meaning to the words, "tunnel vision." Every year, millions of people visit popular national parks like Yosemite and Yellowstone. In the process, they overlook amazing places Lava Beds National Monument, tucked away in the northern reaches of California's high-desert. Lava Beds offers fascinating natural sites mixed with intriguing history and
- [Indian Canyons is a Palm-Filled Oasis](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/indian-canyons-is-a-palm-filled-oasis/) - Most people think of Palm Springs, California as the playground of the rich and famous. But it's also home to the most beautiful palm-filled canyons in the world. Indian Canyons is owned by the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla Indians and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The centerpiece is Palm
- [Perfect Harmony](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/perfect-harmony/) - Artisan community on the California coast hits all the right notes. If you're ever near San Luis Obispo on the southern California coast, be sure to stop in the charming little hamlet of Harmony, population 18. Harmony used to be centered around a dairy, the Harmony Valley Creamery Association, founded by Swiss farmers in 1869.
- [Vacation Ideas in California](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-california/) - KOA camping in California Mendocino This picture-perfect village looks so "New England," it stood in for a town in Maine in the TV series Murder, She Wrote. Visit charming shops and galleries, wander along glorious beaches, watch harbor seals lolling on the boulders at Laguna Point in MacKerricher State Park, and take a whale watch
- [On the Trail of the Old West Along Arizona’s Apache Trail](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/on-the-trail-of-the-old-west-along-arizonas-apache-trail/) - By Bob W., Field Editor, Beverly Hills, Florida THE NEXT TIME you’re in Phoenix, Arizona, consider a day trip through history along the Apache Trail, also known as State Highway 88. The trail used to be a raiding route for the Apache Indians as well as a stagecoach and freight wagon route between Mesa and
- [Planes of Fame](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/planes-of-fame/) - Old Military Planes Still Soar At Museum Near the Grand Canyon Near the Grand Canyon in Arizona is a great, but little-known attraction-the Air Museum Planes of Fame, based at the Valle Airport in Valle. This collection of about 30 aircraft was established in the 1950s by Edward Maloney, a plane enthusiast who was dismayed
- [Arizona Caverns Reveal Once-Secret Splendors](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/arizona-caverns-reveal-once-secret-splendors/) - There are many commercial caves in North America. But little-known Kartchner Caverns State Park in southeastern Arizona ranks right up there with the best of them. Amateur spelunkers Randy Tufts and Gary Tenen discovered the stunning limestone cave in 1974. Concerned that a crush of unregulated visitors would ruin it, they kept the cave a
- [Vacation Ideas in Arizona](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-arizona/) - KOA camping in Arizona Flagstaff Where do Arizonans go to escape the summer heat? To this delightfully cool mountain town, tucked into a stunning landscape of lofty peaks and ponderosa pines. Some weird and wonderful things to see here include a meteor crater, created 50,000 years ago, a mysterious blow hole (at Wupakti National Monument),
- [US South Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Okalahoma, Tennessee, and Texas Alabama Beauty and History Abound in Alabama State Park Kamp Quirky: All Abooooooooard Arkansas Hot Springs, Little Rock, and Murfreesboro Don't miss the Unusual PurpleHull Pea Festival held in Emerson Mountain View Arkansas Is Truly A Noteworthy Destination Louisiana Baton Rouge, New
- [Vintage Windmills Still Spin At Unusual Museum in Texas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vintage-windmills-still-spin-at-unusual-museum-in-texas/) - One of the world's most comprehensive collections of historic windmills is on display at the American Wind Power Center and Museum in Lubbock, Texas. You needn't be a windmill "fan" to enjoy this 28-acre indoor and outdoor museum. Outside, you'll admire 47 huge windmills spinning atop tall towers. One even has twin wheels! Inside, you'll
- [Ezekiel Airship Beat the Wright Brothers to the Punch](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/ezekiel-airship-beat-the-wright-brothers-to-the-punch/) - In 1902, one year before Wilbur and Orville Wright made history at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, an airship built by Baptist minister and inventor Burrell Cannon took flight in Pittsburg, Texas. Today, you can see a full-scale replica of Reverend Cannon's unusual Wheel-Within-A-Wheel Airship in the Cotton Belt Depot Museum, part of the Northeast Texas
- [Vacation Ideas in Texas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-texas/) - KOA camping in Texas Fredericksburg There is no place like Texas Hill Country in the spring, when Texas bluebonnets and range-red Indian paintbrush wildflowers set the hillsides ablaze with color. Fredericksburg is the heart of the region, offering old-fashioned German charm, wineries, a butterfly ranch, and the Nimitz Museum (great for WWII buffs, unexpectedly interesting
- [Vacation Ideas in Tennessee](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-tennessee/) - KOA camping in Tennessee Chattanooga One of America's best family-friendly cities, Chattanooga offers an irresistible blend of old and new. Retro favorites like Rock City, Ruby Falls (wildly lit as ever), Lookout Mountain, and the Incline Railway still dazzle small fry and get big points for nostalgia, while the state-of-the-art Tennessee Aquarium draws crowds and
- [Vacation Ideas in Eastern Tennessee](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-eastern-tennessee/) - KOA camping in Tennessee Rock City Gardens in Chattanooga High atop Lookout Mountain, explore the massive ancient rock formations, botanical and geological wonders and marvel at the panoramic views. Its inviting slogan, "See Rock City," has been painted on barns and birdhouses throughout the Southeast since it began in 1932. It still beckons today. Everything
- [Vacation Ideas in Middle Tennessee](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-middle-tennessee/) - KOA camping in Tennessee Belle Meade Plantation Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation is a 30-acre historic site representing 200 years of Tennessee history that features an antebellum mansion, frontier log cabin and seven outbuildings. This Greek revival house was home to five generations of the Harding-Jackson family, original owners of the Belle Meade Farm. In the late 19th
- [Vacation Ideas in Western Tennessee](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-western-tennessee/) - KOA camping in Tennessee Stax Records The Stax Museum of American Soul Music includes more than 2,000 cultural artifacts, music exhibits, video footage, and items of memorabilia designed to preserve and promote the legacy of American soul music, particularly that of Stax Records. Stand on the exact spot where all of the great Stax music was
- [Woolaroc Honors Magnate's Zest for the Old West](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/woolaroc-honors-magnates-zest-for-the-old-west/) - Near Bartlesville, Oklahoma stands Woolaroc, a novel reflection of one man's fascination with the untamed Old West. Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum, established Woolaroc in 1929. A colorful and adventurous sort (he was the only white man to be named an honorary chief of the Osage Indian Nation), Phillips witnessed the last years of
- [Folks Always Come Back To the Kumback Lunch](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/folks-always-come-back-to-the-kumback-lunch/) - For great homestyle meals, good conversation and a cup of hot Joe, head for this friendly small-town diner in Oklahoma. If your stomach starts to growl as you're driving through north-central Oklahoma, head for the homey Kumback Lunch in Perry, Oklahoma. Established in 1926 by a big-hearted soul named Eddie Parker, the Kumback is a
- [Har-Ber Village Honors America's Pioneers](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/har-ber-village-honors-americas-pioneers/) - This eye-popping Oklahoma museum exhibits all things American. Har-Ber Village has to be one of the best-kept secrets in Oklahoma. Har-Ber Village has been called a "love-America theme park," and the description fits. This amazing collection of American artifacts fills more than 100 buildings. Located in northeast Oklahoma near Grove, Har-Ber is named for its
- [Vacation Ideas in Oklahoma](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-oklahoma/) - KOA camping in Oklahoma Oklahoma City OKC, as the local folk call it, still retains a dash of cowboy character. Just the right setting for the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, where Western art and cowboy poetry celebrate the lives of those who rode the range. To get the full story, include the Red Earth
- [Vacation Ideas in Mississippi](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-mississippi/) - KOA camping in Mississippi Dentzel Carousel, Meridian The Dentzel Carousel was built for the St. Louis Exposition (1904) by Gustav Dentzel, a cabinet maker. It was purchased by the city of Meridian in 1909 for $200. It is a beautiful, classic building that is well worth your time to visit! The carousel is in a
- [Kamp Quirky: Take a Walk on the Wild Side](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/take-a-walk-on-the-wild-side/) - How ’bout you driftin’ down in the bayou, searchin’ for the creepy crawlies baskin’ in the Delta sun? You haven’t really seen Louisiana until you’ve skimmed through the cypress groves on a swamp tour. You’ll find plenty to choose from in southern Louisiana, like Cypress Swamp Tours, just a quick half-hour from New Orleans. And
- [Vacation Ideas in Louisiana](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-louisiana/) - KOA camping in Louisiana Baton Rouge Fans of R&B music are richly rewarded here; Baton Rouge grooves to the blues. Baton Rouge Blues Week brings live performances and cultural events; year-round, catch great blues acts and up-and-comers at local clubs such as The Varsity, Chelsea's, and The Bayou. Best place to hear the hum of
- [Mountain View Arkansas Is Truly A Noteworthy Destination](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/mountain-view-arkansas-is-truly-a-noteworthy-destination/) - By Deb M., Field Editor, Rogers, Arkansas IF YOU PLAY an instrument, bring it along when you visit Mountain View, Arkansas. As you take an evening stroll through this cute little hamlet, you’ll realize in no time flat why it’s known as the “Folk Music Capital of the World”. People come from miles around to
- [Gentlemen, Start Your Tillers!](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/gentlemen-start-your-tillers/) - When the dust clears at the PurpleHull Pea Festival, a new world-champion tiller will be crowned. If you can describe a festival by using the words "thriller" and "tiller" in the same sentence, it's bound to be pretty wacky-and the annual PurpleHull Pea Festival in Emerson, Arkansas is no exception. This unusual, but fun festival
- [Vacation Ideas in Arkansas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-arkansas/) - KOA camping in Arkansas Hot Springs America's oldest national park, Hot Springs is 40 years older than Yellowstone. (Who knew?) "America's Spa"-not to be confused with Canyon Ranch, but nevertheless intriguing-encompasses eight historic bathhouses plus 47 hot springs and their watershed. Tour Bathhouse Row, hike along the forested Ouachita Mountains, and drive to the observation
- [Natural Beauty and History Abound in Alabama State Park](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-south-region-vacation-ideas/natural-beauty-and-history-abound-in-alabama-state-park/) - Terri Z., Field Editor, Paulina, Louisiana WHEN my husband, Rusty, and I visited Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, we knew we’d discovered something special. We are history buffs, so we loved the more than 45 historic buildings scattered throughout the 1,500-acre park, including a pioneer farm with live animals, a gristmill and a cotton gin.
- [Old Ways Live Anew in the Great Smoky Mountains Region of North Carolina](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/old-ways-live-anew-in-the-great-smoky-mountains-region-of-north-carolina/) - By Hank Basham, Field Editor, Panama City, Florida DURING A VISIT to the Great Smoky Mountains region of North Carolina, my wife, Grettis, and I found a fascinating attraction: Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee. What we experienced here you just can’t get from a history book! At this authentic replica of a 1750 Cherokee community,
- [Lovely Looking Glass Falls Reflects North Carolina’s Natural Beauty](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/lovely-looking-glass-falls-reflects-north-carolinas-natural-beauty/) - By Harold O., Tahlequah, Oklahoma WE FIRST SAW delightful Looking Glass Falls, located in western North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest, at midday with an overflow crowd of tourists. But early the next morning, we visited again and had the waterfall—one of 250 in Transylvania County—all to ourselves. The soft light was perfect for photographs, and
- [Vacation Ideas in North Carolina](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-north-carolina/) - KOA camping in North Carolina Asheville Big-city sophistication meets Southern hospitality in Asheville, where the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the Biltmore mansion and wildflower-studded valleys beckon photographers, nature-lovers, even llama-trekkers. Cape Hatteras Black-and-white, spiral-striped Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has protected generations of sailors from the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," the storm-whipped Outer
- [Follow US Route 1 Through South Carolina](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-south-carolina/) - KOA Camping in South Carolina South Carolina welcomes U.S. Route 1 shortly after Rockingham. The way is rural with deep sandy ridges, pines and oaks. The state is known for traditional Southern friendliness that is enhanced by local cuisine. Expect to find grits and country fresh ham; look for Frogmore Stew and Pee Dee Chicken
- [Plantation Grounds Showcase Art & Mother Nature in South Carolina](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/plantation-grounds-showcase-art-mother-nature-in-south-carolina/) - By Shirley B., Conway, South Carolina I FOUND a lovely oasis south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Brookgreen Sculpture Gardens, the oldest and largest attraction of its kind in the United States. Philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, Anna, a sculptor, turned the former Brookgreen Plantation into a showcase for art and native plants and
- [Georgetown, South Carolina Is a Tidelands Treasure](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/georgetown-south-carolina-is-a-tidelands-treasure/) - By Ann P., Field Editor, La Follette, Tennessee LOOKING to visit a peaceful town that’s full of interesting attractions? Well, my husband, Jim, and I highly recommend Georgetown on the South Carolina coast. Originally established in 1729 as a shipping point for rice and indigo grown on area plantations, this cute little seaport on the
- [Vacation Ideas in South Carolina](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-south-carolina/) - KOA camping in South Carolina Charleston Bring a good pair of walking shoes when you visit Charleston, for this is a city best experienced on foot. What better way to work off that delightfully rich South Carolina Lowcountry cuisine? Few visitors can resist a walking tour of Charleston's lavish antebellum plantations, while the city's downtown
- [Follow US Route 1 Through Georgia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-georgia/) - KOA Camping in Georgia U.S. Route 1 enters Georgia at Augusta and angles toward the coastline, passing through an area known for sweet onions, fruitcakes and rattlesnakes. Because the direction is toward the sea, included below are a couple of suggestions east of Route 1 before it meets Florida. Take a ride along the Augusta
- [Wing It in Georgia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/wing-it-in-georgia/) - Don't let the superb Warner Robins Museum of Aviation fly beneath your travel radar. The Warner Robins Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia has to be one of the best-kept secrets in the South. With 43 acres of exhibits indoors and out, it's one of the country's largest aviation museums. You should allow at
- [Pig Out on Heavenly Barbecue At Humble Georgia Restaurant](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/pig-out-on-heavenly-barbecue-at-humble-georgia-restaurant/) - The first time you see the GA. Pig, you might be tempted to keep on driving. But don't be fooled by the restaurant's appearance-it serves some of the best barbecue you'll find anywhere. The building itself is basically a shack-but it's clean. The barbecue is cooked over an oak fire behind the counter, and the
- [Vacation Ideas in Georgia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-georgia/) - KOA camping in Georgia Atlanta If it's been awhile since you've done Atlanta, treat yourself to an old-and-new tour: visit CNN's high-tech studios, then take in Margaret Mitchell' s house. Forsyth The past doesn't seem so long ago here, where gracious old homes and moss-covered live oaks abound. Enjoy the slower pace with a canoe
- [Launch a Quiet Vacation](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/launch-a-quiet-vacation/) - In the shadow of NASA's Cape Canaveral, this seashore offers miles of secluded beaches. Children laugh and squeal as they frolic in the surf. A few fishermen cast their lines into the waves. Toddlers build sandcastles on lovely stretches of deserted beach while their parents sunbathe. It's hard to believe that this placid and peaceful
- [Vacation Ideas in Florida](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-florida/) - KOA camping in Florida Ft. Myers/Pine Island Here is one of South Florida's best-kept secrets. Eat fresh seafood in the fishing village of Matlacha, rent a kayak in Bokeelia and paddle around pristine islands and lagoons of tangled red mangrove. Orlando This vacation playground is not just for kids anymore. Walt Disney World's Epcot features
- [US Southeast Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-southeast-region-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina Florida Ft. Meyer's / Pine Island, Orlando, Sugarloaf Key, Naples Marco Island, and Perry In the shadow of NASA's Cape Canaveral, this seashore offers miles of secluded beaches Kamp Quirky: Odes to Food Kamp Quirky: Famous Halls Follow US Route 1 through
- [Highway 101 in Washington](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/highway-101-in-washington/) - KOA Camping in Washington Pacific Coast Highway (a.k.a. 101) in Washington. The dramatic beauty of America's most western route is a tribute to the nation. Diverse, eclectic and dramatic from north to south to the road provides a journey for the senses. Circling the Olympic Peninsula HWY 101 weaves through cool hunter green forests draped
- [Lewis and Clark in Washington](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-washington/) - KOA Camping in Washington Sing walla walla bing bang! The Fort Walla Walla Museum has more than 14 restored buildings most dating from 1850 to the turn of the century. The collection contains about 35,000 pioneer, agricultural and military artifacts including historical objects, textiles, and photographs. The dedicated staff provides living history performances every Sunday
- [Snoqualmie Falls Is an Awe-Inspiring Sight](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/snoqualmie-falls-is-an-awe-inspiring-sight/) - By Bob and Sally W., Field Editors, Issaquah, Washington EVERY TIME we see Snoqualmie Falls, we’re amazed by its beauty and power. The waters plunge dramatically from a height of 268 feet, almost 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls, and the mist from the gorge below often rises all the way to the nearby observation
- [Vacation Ideas in Washington](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-washington/) - KOA camping in Washington Spokane This big little city is full of surprises. One of the largest urban waterfalls in the U.S. rolls right through downtown; flanking the falls is 100-acre Riverfront Park, site of the 1974 World's Fair. Now, it's a favorite hangout for all, with an IMAX theater, a tour train, outdoor art,
- [Lewis and Clark Trail in Oregon](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-trail-in-oregon/) - KOA Camping in Oregon Brrr, it's cold out there. The Fort Clatsop National Memorial is located within the forests and wetlands of the Coastal Range where it merges with the Columbia River Estuary. The Fort, historic canoe landing, and spring provide a fascinating backdrop for interpreters to demonstrate their stories. Costumed rangers provide visitors with
- [Immigrant Farmer's Elaborate Rock Gardens Amaze Oregon Visitors](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/immigrant-farmers-elaborate-rock-gardens-amaze-oregon-visitors/) - Sometimes during a vacation, it's good to find a place where peace and quiet prevail. Petersen Rock Gardens near Redmond, Oregon is just such a place. The 4-acre rock gardens, full of structures, ponds and bridges, are an amazing sight. A Denmark immigrant farmer named Rasmus Petersen created them, starting in 1935 as a hobby.
- [Carousel Museum is A Nostalgic Delight](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/carousel-museum-is-a-nostalgic-delight/) - Anyone who loves carousels will definitely want to give the International Museum of Carousel Art in Hood River, Oregon, a whirl. For carousel lovers, this attraction is the crown jewel of merry-go-round memorabilia. It houses the world's largest collection of carousel art, which includes 132 animal carvings and an antique steam engine. There's also a
- [Vacation Ideas in Oregon](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-oregon/) - KOA camping in Oregon Klamath Falls Check out the eerily surreal landscape at Lava Beds National Monument, where you can rent a flashlight and a lamp for exploring underground caves and trails. Guided trips are also available. Don't miss a visit to Crater Lake National Park, where a trip around Rim Drive will reward you
- [Lewis and Clark in Idaho](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-idaho/) - KOA Camping in Idaho Places time forgot. Meriwether Lewis' August 12, 1805 campsite, in Lemhi Pass is believed to be the first Lewis & Clark campsite west of the Continental Divide. Through the Bureau of Land Management visitors are provided enhanced access to several portions of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. This is
- [Vacation Ideas in Idaho](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northwest-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-idaho/) - KOA camping in Idaho Coeur d'Alene Coeur d'Alene is a beautiful place to visit. It has the world's longest floating boardwalk where you can spot wildlife and see the amazing lake views. It was built in 1986 and is over 3/4 of a mile long. The Coeur d'Alene City Park and City Beach area is
- [West Virginia River Is Absolutely Gorge-ous](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/west-virginia-river-is-absolutely-gorge-ous/) - By Dorothy A., Fayetteville, West Virginia FOR some of the most breathtaking views in the East, you can’t beat the New River Gorge in the heart of southern West Virginia. The New River—actually one of the oldest rivers in the world—flows north from North Carolina. Over the eons, it has carved its way through the
- [Vacation Ideas in West Virginia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-west-virginia/) - KOA camping in West Virginia Southern Region The scenic mountains, forests, and rivers of West Virginia offer many recreational opportunities. Bluestone National Scenic River runs 11 miles and contains natural and historic features of the Appalachian plateau. The lower Bluestone River offers excellent warm water fishing, hiking, boating, and beautiful scenery. North of the Bluestone
- [US Northeast Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/) - The US Northeast Region is a great place to visit! Here are some fun ideas for you to check out while you are there! Connecticut Make Tracks For Dinosaur Park in Connecticut Discover Dinosaurs in Connecticut Delaware Discover Dinosaurs in Delaware Maine Bar Harbor, Saco/Portland and Augusta One of World's Smallest Deserts Lies on Maine
- [Heat of the Battle](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/heat-of-the-battle/) - Re-enactment in Virginia sheds new light on the Civil War. For revealing insights into the Civil War, take a trip to Middletown in northern Virginia some October and watch a re-enactment of the little-known Battle of Cedar Creek. This exciting 2-day event takes place on the actual battlefield outside Middletown and draws more than 5,000
- [Vacation Ideas in Virginia](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-virginia/) - KOA camping in Virginia Front Royal/Washington, D.C. Don't miss Skyline Drive, one of the most scenic driving routes in America. Shenandoah National Park is rich with wildlife and great hiking trails (Limberlost Trail is great for families). Few can resist a tour of Luray Caverns, home of an underground organ and the site of many
- [Vacation Ideas in Vermont](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-vermont/) - Vermont Teddy Bear Company Come tour the factory of the largest handmade Teddy Bear company in America, located in Shelburne! The tour lasts about thirty minutes and admission is fairly inexpensive. In those thirty minutes, you get to see firsthand how the bears are made. Each bear is designed, sewn, and hand stuffed at the
- [Vacation Ideas in Rhode Island](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-rhode-island/) - Newport Rhode Island is a place full of history, and Newport is a wonderful place to experience it! Newport is a great place to sail through the bay, look at the ancient mansions, or enjoy the Newport nightlife. Newport boasts numerous cultural events; festivals, concerts and shows. Its fresh seafood and ambiance are an authentic
- [Pennsylvania Music Museum Hits High Note with Visitors](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/pennsylvania-music-museum-hits-high-note-with-visitors/) - Do you remember the sweet sounds of Grandma's nickelodeon, or her 19th-century music box? How about the brightly painted organs that made the rounds at county fairs and amusement parks? The DeBence Antique Music World Museum in Franklin, a town in northwestern Pennsylvania, has them all-and more. Its collection of more than 100 working musical
- [Vacation Ideas in Pennsylvania](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-pennsylvania/) - KOA camping in Pennsylvania Southeast Pennsylvania is home to many historical landmarks and museums. Lights of Liberty in Philadelphia let's you experience the American Revolution through beautiful hand painted images that are projected up to 50 feet high onto the buildings where the events actually took place over 200 years ago. Visit the National Constitution
- [Follow US Route 1 Through New York City](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-new-york-city/) - New York City U.S. Route 1 KOA Camping in New York Leaving Massachusetts the route continues through Rhode Island and Connecticut. It meets with New York and provides visual chaos as part of its charm. Only the most ardent of road adventurers will attempt to follow the route through the densely populated New York area.
- [The Adirondacks in Northern New York](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/the-adirondacks-in-northern-new-york/) - So much to do, you'll want to plan to stay a while! Scenic byways, majestic mountains, and pristine lakes await you in the Adirondack region of Northern New York. Adirondack Park is the largest forest preserve in the eastern United States. The Adirondacks were voted the second most popular travel destination in North America for
- [A Life and a Father’s Love Are Carved in Stone in New York](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/a-life-and-a-fathers-love-are-carved-in-stone-in-new-york/) - by Jeff B., Bloomfield, New Jersey WHENEVER we travel near the Catskill Mountains in New York, we like to visit Pratt Rocks, a little-known collection of mountainside carvings just east of Prattsville. Mount Rushmore may be grander, but the Pratt Rocks relief carvings are older, some dating to the 1840s when local tannery owner and
- [Vacation Ideas in New York](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-new-york/) - KOA camping in New York Ausable Chasm A walk along the chasm's rim inspires "oohs" and "ahhs." Chasm visitors can also opt for a (fairly tame) raft ride in the Ausable River. Cruise the Lake Champlain ferry to bustling Burlington, Vermont. Cooperstown Of course, the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a major-league draw, but
- [Vacation Ideas in New Hampshire](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-new-hampshire/) - KOA camping in New Hampshire New Hampshire Attractions Enjoy the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire. Take a drive through or hike and fish the White Mountain National Forest and then ride on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Walk the nature trail at Flume Gorge, then visit the working Grist Mill that uses 48-inch mill
- [Vacation Ideas in Massachusetts](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-massachusetts/) - KOA camping in Massachusetts Concord Literary lovers always find their way to Author's Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, gravesite of Thoreau, Emerson, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts. Tour Minuteman National Historical Park-spanning Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln-to soak up some 1775 spirit. Stand on North Bridge, listen closely, and you may hear echoes of the "shot heard
- [Vacation Ideas in Maryland](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-maryland/) - KOA camping in Maryland Hagerstown, MD & Harpers Ferry, WV Come explore the history Maryland has to offer. Take a walk into the past and visit the Hager House built in 1739 and the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum to learn about railroad history. The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has an outstanding collection of exhibitions,
- [Follow US Route 1 Through Maine](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/follow-us-route-1-through-maine/) - Maine U.S. Route 1 KOA Camping in Maine Beginning at Van Buren on the US/Canadian border U.S. Route 1 winds its way to the rocky northern coast at Perry. One of the best places to watch the highest tide changes in the continental U.S. is at the park and boat landing on Route 1 in
- [The Other Long Island](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/the-other-long-island/) - This coastal Maine retreat is a great place to relax. Long Island is one of 14 year-round communities off the coast of Maine. Whether you visit during the summer or the off-season, this is a great place to get away from it all. You can only get here by ferry from Portland, and the hour-long
- [One of World's Smallest Deserts Lies on Maine Coast](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/one-of-worlds-smallest-deserts-lies-on-maine-coast/) - You don't need to travel to the Southwest to see a desert-just visit the Desert of Maine near Freeport! Though small in area, this is a true desert, sand dunes and all. At 300 acres, it's even smaller than Alaska's 462-acre Carcross Desert, which makes it one of the world's smallest deserts. In the 1700s,
- [Vacation Ideas in Maine](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-maine/) - KOA camping in Maine Bar Harbor The magic of Bar Harbor...romance, adventure, the rock-bound coast and soaring granite cliffs. From the stonewall-lined and tree-covered road leading you into our village, to the sweeping vistas from atop Cadillac Mountain, there is a special mystique to Bar Harbor. Nestled on the east side of Mt. Desert Island,
- [Make Tracks For Dinosaur Park in Connecticut](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-northeast-region-vacation-ideas/make-tracks-for-dinosaur-park-in-connecticut/) - One of the world's largest concentrations of dinosaur tracks is the star attraction at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, near Hartford in central Connecticut. Nearly 2,000 dinosaur tracks are perfectly preserved in sandstone. Roughly 200 million years old, the tracks were uncovered in 1966 by a bulldozer during excavation work. To protect the rare
- [Lewis and Clark in North Dakota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-north-dakota/) - KOA Camping in North Dakota Welcome to the real world. The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center has been described as both exceptional and world-class. Overlooking the Upper Missouri River the Interpretive Center has displays and exhibits that make the Corps of Discovery's journey seem very real. There is an enormous river canoe carved from the
- [Riverfront Town Is an Unabridged Delight](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/riverfront-town-is-an-unabridged-delight/) - Bridges are small North Dakota town's claim to fame. While not as tall as the Golden Gate Bridge or as famous as the Brooklyn Bridge, the eight graceful bridges in Valley City are definitely special in their own right. Known as "The City of Bridges," Valley City straddles the meandering Sheyenne River, which is why
- [Vacation Ideas in North Dakota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-north-dakota/) - KOA camping in North Dakota Bismarck While at the capital of North Dakota, stop at the former Governor's Mansion and The Heritage Center to learn about the history of North Dakota. Then, ride the Lewis & Clark riverboat on the Missouri River to Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. Minot Visit the Roosevelt Park Zoo or
- [Follow Lewis and Clark in Nebraska](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/follow-lewis-and-clark-in-nebraska/) - KOA Camping in Nebraska Flowers, bones and Lewis & Clark. The Corps of Discovery Welcome Center is located at the intersection of The Lewis & Clark Trail and The Pan American Highway (US 81). The facility features exhibits about the Missouri River and the culture and heritage of the area. A dedicated staff of volunteers
- [See How America Grew](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/see-how-america-grew/) - "Warped" collection of Americana offers a fascinating and far-flung look at bygone days. Should you find yourself passing through south-central Nebraska via I-80, take a detour and visit the Harold Warp Pioneer Village in Minden. Billed as the world's largest private collection of Americana, the village was conceived in 1948 when Chicago industrialist-and Minden native-Harold
- [Bridging the Past](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/bridging-the-past/) - Suspended above I-80 in Nebraska, "The Arch" honors America's great Westward migration. Travelers in central Nebraska near Kearney usually do a double take when they see the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument looming 30 feet high over I-80. "The Arch," as locals call it, is the only tourist attraction in the United States built
- [Vacation Ideas in Nebraska](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-nebraska/) - KOA camping in Nebraska Grand Island More than 80,000 people flock to this region from March to mid-April to witness the annual spring stopover of a half-million sandhill cranes. It's really something to see-these three-and-a-half-foot tall birds seem to fall from the sky, landing feet-first into the Platte River. Nearly 90 percent of the world's
- [Lewis and Clark in Montana](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-montana/) - KOA Camping in Montana All hail the Little Chief. Pompey's Pillar National Monument is located near Billings. This 200-foot sandstone outcropping displays the only graffiti left by the expedition. On the return trip, Clark carved his name into the huge rock. The rock got its name because Clark called Sacagawea's son "Pomp" which in Shoshoni
- [World’s Shortest River Fed by Giant Spring in Montana](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/worlds-shortest-river-fed-by-giant-spring-in-montana/) - By Nancy J., Field Editor, San Dimas, California MY FAMILY always enjoys stopping at Giant Springs State Park in Great Falls, Montana. The park is named for the huge spring discovered in 1805 by the Lewis & Clark expedition. Giant Springs is one of the world’s largest freshwater springs, with a daily flow of 338
- [Vacation Ideas in Montana](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-montana/) - KOA camping in Montana Glacier National Park Area With more than one million pristine acres, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is a must-see destination. Drive scenic Going-to-the-Sun Highway, walk along trails lined with ancient cedar trees and white-blossomed Montana beargrass, and look for bears and mountain goats on the mountain slopes and hillsides. Whitefish/Kalispell Its wonderful
- [Reach For the Stars at Kansas Space Museum](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/reach-for-the-stars-at-kansas-space-museum/) - From Sputnik to Apollo and beyond, the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center has the right stuff. You'd never expect to find one of the world's most comprehensive space museums in the middle of rural Kansas. But that's exactly what awaits you at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum in Hutchinson, located in south-central Kansas. Believe
- [Vacation Ideas in Kansas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-kansas/) - KOA camping in Kansas Goodland and Wakeeney Visit Goodland in late summer and you will see the beautiful fields of sunflowers and know why it is called the sunflower capital. This area is also known for its pheasant hunting opportunities. Learn how pioneers lived by visiting the High Plains Museum and see the full-sized automated
- [Breathtaking Black Canyon Leaves Visitors Speechless](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/breathtaking-black-canyon-leaves-visitors-speechless/) - By Diane H., Field Editor, Acworth, Georgia WHEN I first read about Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in southwest Colorado, I seriously doubted it would live up to its lofty billing. But when my family and I arrived at the first overlook, words couldn’t describe the magnificent stark beauty of America’s third-smallest national
- [Sheepdog Showdown](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/sheepdog-showdown/) - At Colorado's Meeker Classic, canines and their handlers vie to become top dogs of the sheep herding world. In early September, the remote northwestern Colorado town of Meeker-population 2,300-hosts North America's biggest sheepdog herding competition: the Meeker Classic. If you've never attended a sheepdog trial before, you don't know what you're missing. There's nothing more
- [Family-Style Home Cooking Reigns at Juniper Valley Ranch Dining Room](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/family-style-home-cooking-reigns-at-juniper-valley-ranch-dining-room/) - For hearty homemade country cooking with all the fixin's, you can't top the Juniper Valley Ranch Dining Room near Colorado Springs in central Colorado. Run by the Parker family for four generations, the rustic eatery has offered the exact same menu since it opened in 1951: skillet-fried chicken or baked country ham, plus side dishes
- [A Fairy-Tale Fortress](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/a-fairy-tale-fortress/) - Bishop Castle is a monument to one man's sheer determination and imagination! Nestled among the pine tree-covered mountains in south-central Colorado stands a totally unexpected sight-a fantastical Medieval-style castle with 1-foot-thick stone walls. This gigantic 160-foot-high castle is still growing, week by week, month by month, year by year, courtesy of visionary Jim Bishop, who's
- [Vacation Ideas in Colorado](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-colorado/) - KOA camping in Colorado Estes Park A bronze sculpture of an elk-Samson-welcomes visitors to Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Take a ranger-led tour to look for these majestic creatures (hear elk bugle in the fall), hike to alpine lakes and waterfalls, and take an amazing car trip over the Continental Divide.
- [US Mountain Region Vacation Ideas](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mountain-region-vacation-ideas/) - Great ideas for vacation travel in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Colorado Estes Park and Ouray Visit Bishop Castle Family-Style Home Cookin' Reigns at Juniper Valley Ranch Dining Room Sheepdog Showdown At Colorado's Meeker Classic Breathtaking Black Canyon Leaves Visitors Speechless Beauty Beckons Along The San Juan Skyway in Colorado
- [Built with the Wright Stuff](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/built-with-the-wright-stuff/) - For Frank Lloyd Wright, there literally was no place like home-his beloved Taliesin. Even if you know nothing about Frank Lloyd Wright, you'll enjoy touring Taliesin, his fascinating home that's often been described as his autobiography in wood and stone. For nearly 50 years, Wright lived and worked in Taliesin, which overlooks the picturesque southwest
- [Vacation Ideas in Wisconsin](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-wisconsin/) - KOA camping in Wisconsin Madison Set in the heart of dairy land, this energetic little college town boasts plenty of fun freebies. Check out the big cats at Henry Vilas Zoo, walk through a faux cave at the University of Wisconsin 's Geology Museum, and check out the lively scene at Capitol Square, site of
- [Expect The Wurst](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/expect-the-wurst/) - Ohio town honors its German roots by serving up tons of savory bratwurst-you never "sausage" a sight! In August, the residents of Bucyrus, Ohio hang out the "Wilkommen" sign and hold a hearty celebration of their German heritage with a rousing Bratwurst Festival. As you might guess, this celebration revolves around bratwurst, a German pork
- [Vacation Ideas in Ohio](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-ohio/) - KOA camping in Ohio Canton Sure, you could visit Canton strictly for the National Pro Football Hall of Fame, but why stop there? Make it a Hall of Fame-o-rama: cruise I-77 to take in the Inventor's Hall of Fame, in Akron, and Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Too ambitious a plan? There's always
- [See Sharks at Wildlife Museum in Springfield Missouri](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/see-sharks-at-wildlife-museum-in-springfield-missouri/) - by Joyce S., Field Editor, Dell Rapids, South Dakota THE AMERICAN National Fish and Wildlife Museum was the main reason we decided to take a short vacation to Springfield, Missouri. This impressive attraction is as fun as it is educational. We couldn’t believe the wide range of interactive exhibits packed into two floors, including a
- [Vacation Ideas in Missouri](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-missouri/) - KOA camping in Missouri Branson Prepare to be amazed with the natural beauty, culture and a whole host of shows to suit every taste. Branson is rich in history and offers three large lakes to enjoy boating, fishing and water sports or lazy days on the water. Great shopping, a super selection of restaurants and
- [Wing It Over to Red Wing](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/wing-it-over-to-red-wing/) - Quiet Minnesota river town is a great place to escape. The charming town of Red Wing, Minnesota is nestled on the banks of the Mississippi River. It's named after the symbol of the Mdewakanton Dakota tribe, which was a swan's wing dyed red. If you're a history or architecture buff, don't miss the St. James
- [Wade Across the Mighty Mississippi in Minnesota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/wade-across-the-mighty-mississippi-in-minnesota/) - Did you know you can wade across the Mississippi River? Yes, you can cross the legendary river on foot in 32,000-acre Itasca State Park in north-central Minnesota, where the river begins its 2,552 miles journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Here at the river's headwaters, it's just a small stream that you can cross on
- [Go Greyhound at Unique Museum in Northern Minnesota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/go-greyhound-at-unique-museum-in-northern-minnesota/) - Most people don't know that Greyhound Bus Lines was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota-or that it's also home to an interesting museum that traces the company's history. The Greyhound Bus Museum features hundreds of Greyhound artifacts and memorabilia, including driver uniforms, depot signs and, best of all, actual buses. Especially interesting is the 1914 Hupmobile that
- [Vacation Ideas in Minnesota](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-minnesota/) - KOA camping in Minnesota Cloquet/North Shore Towering pine forests and crystal-blue Lake Superior provide a dazzling setting for outdoor fun. Take a harbor cruise out of nearby Duluth, ride your bikes along scenic Superior Trail, paddle a canoe through a gentle stretch of river, or hike a nature trail in Superior National Forest. Minneapolis/St. Paul
- [Vacation Ideas in Michigan](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-michigan/) - KOA camping in Michigan Detroit/Ypsilanti Ann Arbor, next door to "Ypsi", is a classic college town, with pretty quads, scads of bookstores, and good hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Things do get crazy when the Wolverines (the University of Michigan's football team) play a home game. In the Motor City, Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum are
- [Scenic Kentucky Railway Leads to Old Mining Camp](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/scenic-kentucky-railway-leads-to-old-mining-camp/) - By Joseph S., Alexandria, Kentucky A COAL MINE may not sound like it’s worth a side trip, but Kentucky’s Blue Heron Coal Mining Camp certainly is. You can get there via the Big South Fork Scenic Railway, an open-air train based in the small town of Stearns. At its peak, the remote mine employed 300
- [The Old Kentucky Home](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/the-old-kentucky-home/) - Oh, the sun shines bright on this charming river town. It's easy to see why folks believe that charming Augusta, Kentucky inspired composer Stephen Foster to write My Old Kentucky Home. After a visit here, who wouldn't long for this picturesque Ohio River town and its 1,400 friendly residents? You can drive to Augusta, but
- [Vacation Ideas in Kentucky](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-kentucky/) - KOA camping in Kentucky Horse Cave Some of the most intriguing sightseeing in Kentucky is underground-the state's system of caves is legendary. The best way to get acquainted with this labyrinth subterranean world is via guided tour. Mammoth Cave National Park offers cave tours for every level, from young children to serious spelunkers. Louisville The
- [The Kentucky Derby Region](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/the-kentucky-derby-region/) - From weekend getaways to week long adventures, Shepherdsville and Bullitt County has you covered. In Bullitt County alone, we have the Jim Beam American Outpost, museum house and distillery. This 200 year old landmark features the fascinating art of bourbon making as well as the Beam family history. From moonshine to modern manufacturing, you will
- [Lewis and Clark in Iowa](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-iowa/) - KOA Camping in Iowa Sit at the crossroads of history. . The Council Bluffs Western Historic Trails Center can be found on the prairie. The contemporary building provides a visible link between then and now. The town is on the confluence of the Lewis and Clark, Oregon, Mormon and California Trails. The Center has exhibits
- [Iowa's Oldest Restaurant Still Going Strong](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/iowas-oldest-restaurant-still-going-strong/) - One of Iowa's hidden culinary treasures is Breitbach's Country Dining in Balltown, Iowa, near the Mississippi River. Housed in an old stagecoach house, Breitbach's serves great food made from scratch-and lots of it-at reasonable prices. Founded in 1852 under a permit issued from President Millard Fillmore, it's been owned by the Breitbachs since 1891 and
- [Bily Brothers Carved Out a Timeless Legacy](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/bily-brothers-carved-out-a-timeless-legacy/) - Two Iowa farmers turned a winter hobby into an astonishing collection of intricate wooden clocks. The Bily Clock Museum in Iowa is probably one of the most unusual museums you'll ever see. It stands in pretty Spillville, a Czech community of 400 or so residents. The town has an Old World feel, complete with an
- [Vacation Ideas in Iowa](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-iowa/) - KOA camping in Iowa Des Moines There is fun for the whole family in Des Moines. Kids of all ages will enjoy the water parks and aquatic centers. Guided tours are available at the State Capitol building and other historical sites in the area. There are many Art Galleries and Museums to visit and learn
- [Lewis and Clark in Illinois](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/lewis-and-clark-in-illinois/) - KOA Camping in Illinois The story of two centuries. Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Interpretive Center is located at the mouth of the Wood River and across from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. This area, known as Camp Dubois, was the launching point for the journey. The almost 60 acres includes
- [Vacation Ideas in Illinois](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/us-mid-west-region-vacation-ideas/vacation-ideas-in-illinois/) - KOA camping in Illinois » Chicago Towering skyscrapers, colorful neighborhoods, wonderful museums, friendly local folk-is it any wonder that the Windy City crops up on so many “Best City” lists? Visit, or re-visit, Chicago's premier attractions at Museum Campus on the Lake Michigan shorefront: Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium/Oceanarium (the largest indoor aquarium in the world),
- [Weekend Getaways](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/weekend-getaways/) - Weekends are made for two things: rest and rejuvenation. Got any of it lately? We thought so. Quick weekend trips are the answer to long workweeks, homework, housework and all things reserved for Monday through Friday. It's amazing how a person's perspective changes after a quick trip. Weekend Getaways Offer Easy, Inexpensive Retreats. Weekend trips
- [More Great Campfire Stories](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/campfire-stories/more-great-campfire-stories/) - Here's another collection of spooky stories to make you shudder and huddle closer around the campfire. Print the stories to read out loud. The Ghost TrainThe old station and tracks had been idle for years…or had they?Print this story Saved by BoomerPay attention, you never know who or what you might see on your trip
- [Color Your Own Postcards](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/color-your-own-postcards/) - Download and print these postcards on sturdy card stock. Cut them out, color the pictures, and write your message. Fold each card in half along the dotted line, tape shut, address, and mail. Please note: These cards may be heavier than regular postcards, so be sure to mail them with first-class letter stamps, not postcard
- [Coloring Pages](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/coloring-pages/) - Print out these coloring pages to take on the road with you! DownloadPDF (428KB) DownloadPDF (356KB) DownloadPDF (360KB) DownloadPDF (384KB) DownloadPDF (368KB) DownloadPDF (384KB)
- [Camping Activities](https://familycamping.koa.com/camping-activities/) - Whether you're on the road, at the campground or enjoying a hike in the wilderness, we have an array of activities to absorb and inspire you.
- [Water Safety: Common Sense Counts](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/water-safety-common-sense-counts/) - By Tom Britz A large part of the appeal of the camping experience is the unexpected adventure. But when it comes to enjoying the water, every camper should know how to keep the unexpected from transforming fun into misfortune. Old-fashioned common sense is probably the best safeguard around water, and the specific precautions are easy
- [Tornado Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/tornado-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts Produce wind speeds in excess of 250 mph. Can be one mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles. Tornadoes can occur any time of year. Tornadoes have occurred in every state, but they are most frequent east of the Rocky Mountains during the spring and summer
- [Rip Currents Facts and Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/rip-currents-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches. Rip currents typically form at breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as jetties and piers. Rip currents are quite common and can be found on many surf beaches every day, including Great Lakes
- [Home Safety While You Are Away](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/home-safety-while-you-are-away/) - A list of simple suggestions to make your home look lived-in while you're gone. You want your home to look as if you aren't gone while you're away. Taking these precautions will help. Arrange to have mail, newspapers, packages and flyers picked up daily. Ask the sheriff or police to check your home periodically. Leave
- [Earthquake Facts & Preparedness](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/camping-safety/earthquake-facts-and-preparedness/) - Provided by NOAA'sNational Weather Service Facts An earthquake is the sudden, sometimes violent movement of the earth's surface from the release of energy in the earth's crust. There are over a million earthquakes that occur annually, including those too small to be felt. One earthquake is felt approximately every 30 seconds. Preparedness Know what to
- [Camping Information](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/) - Where will you find both the fun of camping and the comforts of home? At KOA, of course! Whether you escape to the outdoors in a tent, RV, Kabin, Kottage, or Lodge, you'll have a safe comfortable, place to sleep, surrounded by the beauty of nature. Can't wait to hit the road on your next
- [USA and Canada](https://familycamping.koa.com/about/vacation-ideas/usa-and-canada/)