Tag Archives: RV Trip

Photo Journal of an RV Adventure – Part 2

10 Friday Nov 2017

Posted by in The Great Outdoors, Travel Destinations

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RV AdventureIf you missed Part 1, be sure to go back and enjoy the adventures of Coach-Net member, Sharon B., as she takes you through her travels from Florida to the West Coast. She continues her journey in Part 2 to the Canadian Rockies — enjoy the ride!

I had a couple of weeks at home to plan the next leg of my 2017 Walkabout to the Canadian Rockies. I had never seen the rhododendron bloom on the Blue Ridge Parkway, so that was the start of my trip North.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

Rhododendron Bloom

Rhododendron Bloom

Roan Mountain Sunset

Roan Mountain Sunset

You can see why it is hard to leave the Blue Ridge, there was so much to see, and it was less crowded than Smoky Mountains National Park.  Plus, this was June and there was still snow in the Canadian Rockies. I didn’t want to drive in snow. I had never seen Grand Teton National Park, so I headed west. Here are a few reasons why Grand Teton National Park is now one of my favorite places.

Sunset at Glacier Point

Sunset at Glacier Point

Schwabacker's Landing with Aplenglow

Schwabacker’s Landing with Aplenglow

Dawn at Oxbow River

Dawn at Oxbow River

Antelope Flats

Antelope Flats

After a week at Grand Tetons, I headed to Glacier NP via Beartooth Highway.  We boondocked at a pullout on top of the mountain. In the morning, a herd of mountain goats greeted us.

Lily and a sunset - Beartooth Highway

Lily and a sunset – Beartooth Highway

Baby mountain goat - Beartooth highway

Baby mountain goat – Beartooth highway

I had a boondock site in West Glacier, but it was so far away, I drove to the park early to snag a “first come, first served” campsite. I discovered a once-in-10-years Beargrass superbloom at Logan Pass, hiked a bit, and enjoyed the waterfalls.

Wild Goose Island

Wild Goose Island

Beargrass Superbloom

Beargrass Superbloom

Waterfall

Waterfall

Finally, it was time to head across the Canadian Border to Banff.  Moraine Lake was crowded at 7PM! And Lake Louise – I was there before sunrise to find parking. It paid off when the clouds turned pink.

Moraine Lake, Banff

Moraine Lake, Banff

Lake Louise, Banff

Lake Louise, Banff

While Lake Louise gets all the press, here are two very beautiful, less known photo hot spots.

Two Jack Lake, Banff

Two Jack Lake, Banff

Peyto Lake, Banff

Peyto Lake, Banff

Heading up the Icefields Parkway toward Jasper, you find Bow Lake,  Bow Glacier, the Columbia Icefields Visitor Center, and Athabasca Glacier.

Bow Lake, Banff

Bow Lake, Banff

Bow Glacier, Banff

Bow Glacier, Banff

Athabasca Glacier, Icefields Parkway

Athabasca Glacier, Icefields Parkway

Icefields Parkway

Icefields Parkway

I scouted Jasper for a week, but it was blanketed by smoke from wildfires that caused an evacuation about 50 miles the west.

The smoke cleared one day for a photo of Lake Mystaya, but that was all, so I headed South down the Icefields Parkway, back to the US border. I wasn’t quite ready to go home, so I turned West again…but that is another blog

Lake Mystaya, Jasper

Lake Mystaya, Jasper

Wildfire Smoke, Jasper

Wildfire Smoke, Jasper

About the author:

Coach-Net Member, Sharon B., has a passion for landscape photography and loves to RV with her cat, Lily.  You can also follow her on Instagram @sharon.burgess_.

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Destination Highlight- Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin

08 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by in Travel Destinations

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Lake Winnebago

At 30 miles long by 10 miles wide, Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin is the largest lake in the Badger State. It is perhaps Wisconsin’s centerpiece of outdoor recreational activities and offers some exceptional opportunities for the RV’er.

Basic Information

Lake Winnebago is located in East Central Wisconsin, and has 88 miles of shoreline. It is one of the largest inland lakes in the country, and has two large tributaries, The Fox and The Wolf Rivers. It is a shallow lake, with an average depth of about 15 feet. It is a natural, not a man-made lake, although a couple of dams on opposite sides of Doty Island control the lake level.

Public Parks

In spite of its size, there is only one State Park along Lake Winnebago. Located along the lake’s northeast corner, High Cliff State Park offers camping and incredible views of the lake. Calumet County Park and Columbia County Park also offer camping and recreational activities.

Lakeside Park is a 400-acre recreational area that offers a variety of outdoor fun. Lakeside has bumper boats, picnic areas, a boat ramp, a carrousel, and even a petting zoo. Menominee Park in Oshkosh has trails, piers for fishing, a zoo and a small amusement park.

RV Opportunities

Besides High Cliff State Park, Calumet County Park and Columbia County Park, Lake Winnebago offers multiple other opportunities for the RV owner. Lakeview Campground along the eastern shore is about a 50-acre campground with facilities for RVs. Kalbus’ Country Harbor has been privately owned since the 1940’s and offers the lake’s only opportunity for lakeside camping. Boerger’s Lakeview Campground is a 50-acre private campground near Chilton, Wisconsin, and has nice wooded sites, a heated pool and more. The Fond Du Lac KOA is also privately owned and is close to the Ice the National Scenic Trail. It has a pool, hot tub and bike rentals.

Recreational Activities

Besides the amenities available at the campgrounds, Lake Winnebago offers plenty of opportunities for boating and fishing. A variety of watercraft rental facilities are available, and fishing, particularly for walleye, is extremely popular. There are also a variety of annual events scheduled throughout the summer around the lake to keep even the most active camper entertained.

Perhaps the best part of Lake Winnebago is its relative seclusion. It is just two hours from Chicago but you get a sense civilization is much further away! After all, isn’t that one of the best parts about owning an RV?