The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Burning Man

The Burn started with an amazing fireworks show. Towards the end of the show the man started to burn first from the chest and then the legs. Pretty amazing...

Burning Man 2009 Fireworks

Burning Man 2009 - The Man Burning

Burning Man 2009 - The Man Completely Engulfed

Also see:

• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Black Rock Brews
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Technology of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Creativity of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Sunrise on the Playa

RV Vacation Idea - Exploring California Ghost Towns

We've had so much fun delivering the goods on great ghost towns in other states, we almost forgot to include California! For an RV camping vacation that's hauntingly spectacular, use these tips for exploring California ghost towns on your next trip.

San Bernardino Area Ghost Towns
Very near our El Monte RV Rentals San Bernardino RV Rentals location, you can explore ghost and historic mining towns to your heart's content. Twin cities along the Santa Ana River were once the largest between Los Angeles and New Mexico. A devastating flood in 1862, however, destroyed most of Agua Mansa and La Placita. Today, ghost town fans can visit the historic Agua Mansa Cemetery, with graves dating back to the 1840s, to learn more about San Bernardino County's earliest non-native settlers.

Ten miles from Barstow, discover Calico Town, the historic silver mining town that's a treasure for the entire family. With one third of this once-bustling mining town's structures still standing, your RV camping trip to Calico Town will provide an unforgettable glimpse into the California silver rush. Pan for gold, shop at the Mercantile and take the kids for a ride on the narrow gauge railway. A large RV campground onsite offers the amenities you'll appreciate after a day exploring Calico Town.

One more area for hardcore ghost town fans to explore is the Wildwash mining area east of Victorville. Numerous working mines, abandoned mines and rock houses can be found. Pay attention to private property signs and plan to hike this area to find clues of mining towns now vanished. While visiting both the Wildwash area ghost towns and Calico Town, why not park your RV at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park campground? These lakeside campsites are sure to soothe your spirits after a long day of hiking.

Sacramento Area Ghost Towns
Swing by our El Monte RV Sacramento Rentals location for the perfect motorhome rental, and then head south to the historic town of Locke. Locke is a delightful place to spend several days exploring. Built in 1915 by Chinese merchants, it has remained a marvelously quirky village with narrow streets, abandoned buildings mixed in with thriving businesses and its own unique atmosphere. Explore the only completely Chinese California ghost town, and stay in waterfront luxury at Snug Harbor RV Park in Walnut Grove.

While in Sacramento County, be sure to visit Folsom. Although still a living city, Folsom has incorporated its mining town past into an intriguing historic district. Located on the beautiful American River, just twenty miles from Sutters Mills, you'll find plenty of gold mining history to keep you busy in Folsom.

San Diego Area Ghost Towns
There are several fascinating ghost towns in the San Diego area. Start your trip at Stonewall Mine in Cuyamuca State Park. The collapsed mine shaft and a few ruins, as well as a cabin/museum mark a place where over one million dollars in gold was mined.

Vallecito stage station was rebuilt in the 1930s so that visitors to the area could have a taste of California's early history. To the north, visit Banner to see the remains of a mining town struck by three floods and a fire before being abandoned. While you're in the area, don't miss Julian, CA, a beautiful historic gold mining town that caters to history buffs. If San Diego County is your preferred ghost town exploration destination, be sure to reserve your RV first at our San Diego/Santee El Monte RV Rentals location.

Learning about the past while exploring abandoned or historic towns in a fantastic way to spend an RV camping vacation. Choose a comfortable RV as your home for the duration, and pack your camera and hiking boots. Who knows? Exploring ghost towns in California just might become a lifetime obsession!

Top Ten RV Camping Activities

Although the luxury of an RV might tempt you to stay inside on your next vacation, there are dozens of things to do outdoors, too! No matter what type of activity you enjoy, making a motorhome your home base gives the perfect blend of comfort and the great outdoors.

Use this list of the Top Ten RV Camping Activities to plan your next RV jaunt.

1. Fishing: Whether angling for bass or hoping to land a trophy trout, great fishing can be found at many fantastic RV camping destinations. Check local lakes and rivers, or branch out to state lakes and national parks to hook a great campsite close to the water. For up to date fishing reports, try ReelReports.com, and to find nearby campgrounds, check websites like GoCampingAmerica.
2. Boating: Love to hit the lake for a weekend of boating fun? Tow your boat behind a comfortable RV and you'll have a great place to relax back on-shore. Lakes and rivers throughout the US offer boaters a variety of experiences. Whether it's canoeing or kayaking at Delaware Water Gap or sailing on one of the Great Lakes, there are sure to be scenic RV campgrounds nearby.
3. Hiking: Pick a trail, map your course, and park your RV in a wooded campground for a wonderfully relaxing getaway. Most US National Parks have hundreds of miles of trails to hike, so why not plan a vacation there? Many eastern National Parks include sections of the Appalachian Trail, and the hiking possibilities in Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Bryce Canyon can keep an RV camper busy for weeks.
4. Nature Photography: One of the favorite activities RV campers report is taking photos of their surroundings. Whether you're one of those shutterbugs who'll climb a cliff for a great shot, or you prefer to take wildlife photos close to your campsite, spending time camped in the woods with a good camera can be very rewarding.
5. Horseback Riding: Spending time out in nature on the back of a horse makes for some wonderful memories, too. Many venues now offer scenic RV campsites and trail rides to campers. Here's one example in Missouri that promises plenty of family fun.
6. Mountain Biking: For a real adrenaline rush, plan an RV camping vacation around mountain biking trails. Some perennial favorites? Try the trails around Snowmass and Aspen, Colorado, or Porcupine Rim Trail near Moab, Utah. Make sure you ride the trails around Lake Tahoe, too, for a once in a lifetime experience.
7. Whitewater Rafting: If paddling through rapids and blasting past rocks in a raft gets your adrenaline pumping, whitewater rafting is one don't-miss RV camping activity. Use this site to find the right river for your next adventure, and get ready for some watery fun.
8. Skiing: What could be more luxurious than coming home after a long day of skiing to the warm and comfort of a motorhome? Smart RV campers know there are plenty of places they can ski that have campgrounds near the slope. Leave time on your next RV camping trip to the mountains to get in time on the slopes.
9. Golfing: Have a golfer in your camping group? Be sure to check out local greens when planning your RV trip. Or, plan an entire trip around playing eighteen holes at notable golf courses. Either way, golf is a natural activity for active RV campers. Here is a nice resource listing RV Camps with Golf courses.
10. Scenic Drives: And, don't forget why we travel by motorhome in the first place! Viewing beautiful scenery from the comfort of a motorhome will give you a whole new outlook on vacation travel. The America's Byways website has in-depth information on the most scenic drives in America. As you plan where to camp, plan time seeing the scenery that makes America beautiful.

Gemstone Hunting RV Camping Ideas in Connecticut

For a fantastic northeastern gem hunting experience, plan some motorhome camping time in Connecticut. There are numerous old and currently operating mine sites that allow prospecting.

If you choose Connecticut for your next RV camping and prospecting trip, definitely do some research on the Roxbury Falls area, where some of the world's best almandine garnets have been mined. Start at Green's Farm Garnet Mine near Roxbury. This former mine site still yields deep red garnets.

Another easy place to prospect in Connecticut is Old Mine Park in Trumbull. The Park Rangers can guide you to a construction site where topaz, beryl and an interesting form of emerald are being found.

These are only a few of the gem fee mining sites that can spark an entire RV camping vacation. Whether you find yourself hunting Herkimer Diamonds in New York, or digging for sapphires in Montana, it's a great way to spend time out in the wild with your family. Dig some more for fee mining sites in America, and prospecting is liable to become your favorite motorhome camping activity!

Utah Freshwater Fishing Destinations

Does the idea of dropping a line in a clear, cool lake have you reaching for your fishing tackle? RV campers from all over are discovering the joys of freshwater fishing in Utah. Huge lake trout, abundant striped bass and tiger muskie that will give you the fight of your life are all waiting for you in Utah. Here are some places RV campers report make a great fishing vacation destination.

Lake Powell
Deep blue waters and amazing red rock canyons are only two of the reasons motorhome campers who love to fish love Utah's Lake Powell. Located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which stretches from northern Arizona into Utah, Lake Powell has thousands of miles of shoreline waiting to be explored. Every campground on this enormous lake offers scenery that will have your camera clicking. Fishing for striper is especially popular at Lake Powell, and this handy Fishing Lake Powell guide will point you to the coves with the most action.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Located near the Utah/Wyoming border, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area has spectacular scenery, woodland RV campgrounds and thousands of trophy-size rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout! While you're in the area, fish the Green River in the scenic canyon below Flaming Gorge Dam for record-breaking brown trout. This popular RV camping destination does require campground reservations, so use this Camping at Flaming Gorge Reservoir link to make yours.

Jordanelle State Park
West of Salt Lake City in the front range of the Wasatch Mountains, you'll find Jordanelle State Park, home to abundant fishing opportunities. It's famous for its smallmouth bass population, and also offers plenty of cutthroat, brown trout and perch fishing. Nearby, Rivers Edge at Deer Park Resort features picturesque, tree-shaded RV campsites and fly fishing adventures on the Provo River.

Ready to find your own trophy trout in Utah? Our Salt Lake City RV Rentals location is ready to provide you with a well-equipped RV for your Utah camping and fishing trip. The fantastic scenery, comfortable RV campgrounds and memorable fishing experiences make Utah one of the best places you'll ever visit. Let us know what your Utah fishing adventure reels in!

RV Camping Outside Yellowstone

With boundaries in three states, and millions of acres of forest land surrounding the Yellowstone National Park, there's no shortage of scenic RV campgrounds outside Yellowstone. West Yellowstone, Montana, for example, boasts more than a dozen RV campgrounds.

Towns like Jackson and Cody, Wyoming also offer campgrounds close enough to use as your base camp. Many offer bus tours to the Park, so why not plan to spend at least one day getting familiar with Yellowstone with an experienced guide?

Use this link to choose the state and town you'd like to camp in and make your reservations early! The National Parks Service site also has a wealth of fascinating information to make planning your trip to Yellowstone easier.

The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Man

This is part of a series of posts about Burning Man 2009 submitted to us by a friend who attended the event...

"The Man" at Burning Man 2009 consisted of irregular wooden triangles surrounding The Man; no two triangles were alike. It was supported by a central tree, with a beribboned double helix. The structure changed appearance unexpectedly during the week, time of day, weather and finally the burn.

The Man at Sunrise

The Man Early Evening

The Man at Night

Also see:

• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Black Rock Brews
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Technology of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Creativity of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Sunrise on the Playa