Boise, Idaho

Boise is the capital of and the most populous city in Idaho. Boise is located on the Boise River in the southwest portion of Idaho. If you love outdoor activities there is a lot to do here.

You can even surf.

After reading about all of its great retirement attributes, I had to check it out. Boise offers great quality of life, excellent medical, lower taxes and low housing prices. Even though Boise is a fabulous spot, it wasn't perfect for me.

We stayed at the Riverside RV Park 

6000 N Glenwood St.

Boise, ID. 83714 

(208) 375-7432

Although, it's address says Boise the actual address is in Garden City.

Amenities include;

Full hookups

Big Rig Friendly

Large sites w/large area for tow car

Wi-Fi

Picnic tables

Hard packed gravel

Dogs welcome (Best rules ever-"Be Courteous")

This is a no-frills RV park with a great location. It is mostly hard packed gravel with some cement sidewalks. The cement sidewalks are not continuous, so from time to time you will have to travel on the gravel. The Boise River Walk runs right along side the park. The path is a little rough near Riverside RV Park but, the closer you get to Boise the better it gets. If you have any mobility issues I recommend using a scooter or power wheelchair. The Riverside RV Park entrance is right behind the fairgrounds. While we were there I saw signs for horse shows, car racing and even minor league baseball. There is always something going on so make sure you check it out.

I can't let a blog entry go by without mentioning food. I don't claim this to the best but, If you're in the mood for a hamburger and french fries I found this…

Ventura, California

Ventura is located near what is considered the northern end of Southern California. It is roughly 27-miles south of Santa Barbara. 

While you are in Ventura there are three main attractions. Of course… The beach, Downtown(Old town), and The Ventura Mission. 

The mission is located at 211 E. Main St. The admission cost is $4.00 for adults and $1.00 for children

If you're in the mood for shopping and/or food, downtown has a lot to choose from. The shops range from high-end to thrift store. There are a large variety of restaurants as well. Everything is available from fine dining to grab and go… You can even find a Starbucks.

There are many things to do at the beach. You can stroll along the boardwalk and watch the many surfers. Ventura Harbor is a couple of miles south of the pier and has many shops and restaurants. You can rent a wheelchair with balloon tires that can be pushed in the sand. Beach wheelchairs are available through the Ventura California State Lifeguards. Call 805-648-3321. The chairs can be used for one day at NO COST. When you let the lifeguards know what beach and time, a beach wheelchair will be delivered to you. A release of liability form is required.

Also, there is always something going on at the Ventura Fairgrounds.

It is possible to walk or use an electric wheelchair to get to many of the attractions. The distance and some hills might be too much for a manual chair.

** I recommend that both able-body and wheelchair users have a car.

And now that I have talked about the fun stuff,

We stayed add…

Ventura Beach RV Resort

800 W Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 643-9137

The amenities include-

Full hookups

Pull through and back and sites

Tent area

Wi-Fi

Pool

Playground

Laundry

Bathrooms

General store

This park is way overpriced and everything is an extra fee. If you cancel with less than 30 days notice you will be charged. If you change your reservation in anyway you will be charged. If you request a specific location you will be charged. You will be charged if you have a dog but there were no facilities for the dog. They ask you to pick up after your dog but I could not find poop bags or trash cans. Each site has a picnic table and a nice area of grass. But for heaven sake's don't put a mat on that piece of grass because it's against the rules. Also, this park backs up to the 101 freeway and is extremely loud. Unless you are in a back-in spot as far away from the freeway as possible you will feel like a troll sleeping under the freeway. DO NOT ask for wheelchair accessible or you will be placed behind the main building close to a curb and next to the freeway. (Remember that there is an up-charge for changes) One last thing… The staff is extremely rude!! Unsecured property has a habit of walking away due to vagrants/homeless that live in the river bed adjacent to the park.

I have no idea why this RV resort is so popular, except maybe its location. However, the location is not that great. In order to do anything you must travel several blocks south. At a large intersection you will either go West over the train tracks and under the freeway to the beach, or North uphill to downtown. No worries… At the intersection you will find Tony's Pizzeria where you can stop and make your decision.

The Grand Canyon

We stayed at...

Grand Canyon Railway RV Park
601 W. Franklin Ave.
Williams, AZ 86046
1-800-843-8724

The amenities include…

Full hookups

Wide spacious sites

Wi-Fi (could not stay connected)

Laundry

Large clean showers

Large barbecue area

Basketball

Volleyball

Horse shoes

Playground

(The office and playground are across the street)

The RV park is walking distance to downtown Williams Arizona. You'll be able to find restaurants, bars and gift shops with a cowboy feel.

The main attraction in Williams Arizona is the Grand Canyon. One of the options for getting there is the Grand Canyon Train. The other is to drive. Both have their advantages. The Grand Canyon Railway RV Park is across the street from the train station. It is expensive but looks like fun and I was told that they do have accommodations for wheelchair users. Taking the train allows you to sight see and enjoy. The train will take you on a scenic tour up to the South Rim. You will then be able to wander and explore on your own. The main area is accessible to wheelchairs with plenty of scenic view points. Beyond that the trail would be difficult for wheelchair users. The other option is to drive, which is what we chose, because we did not think our 15 year old dog would enjoy having to stay in the RV Parks kennel. It's an easy drive from the RV park to The Grand Canyon. The trip is less than an hour. If you have a disabled placard you will be given an access code and will be able to drive through an area that is otherwise only accessible by hiking or taking the bus. The bus is free but I am not sure if it is wheelchair accessible. Along the way you will find plenty of handicap accessible spots to pullover and easy walking trails to check out. Don't be surprised if you end up with 2000 pictures before you're done. The main visitor center is very accessible. The area is completely paved and relatively flat. You can learn the history, do souvenir shopping and have lunch.  Arrive early, especially when school is out or on the weekend. There is a lot to see!

However you choose to get to the Grand Canyon, make sure you catch The Wild West show. The show is early in the morning before the train leaves the station.

When you get to the park entrance ask the Ranger about the AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - ACCESS PASS. It is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Each pass covers entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation. A pass covers entrance and standard amenity fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free. The cost of the annual pass is $80 but it is $10 for US seniors and free for military and US citizens with permanent disabilities.

On our way out we were stopped by one of the residents.

Memphis, Tennessee

ELVIS
 

We stayed at:

The Graceland RV park

3691 Elvis Presley Blvd

Memphis, Tennessee 38116  

(901) 396-7125

The amenities include:

Full hookups

Wi-Fi

Cabins w/ AC and Heat

Tent area

Convenience store

Bath and laundry facilities

Picnic tables

Playground

Large area to walk your dog

24 hour security

The park is well maintained and the spots are wide. It is mostly hard packed gravel and grass. It's mostly flat and relatively easy for wheelchairs to maneuver. However, to get to the playground and dog area you must cross a bridge which is not very wheelchair friendly.

The very best thing about this park is its convenience to Graceland. A walk-through gate connects to the Graceland parking lot. 

 

GRACELAND

Living Room

Jungle Room

 

Pink Cadillac

Whether you are a fan of Elvis Presley or not, you should visit Graceland. You will see exactly why he was and still is an international superstar.

I recommend buying the Graceland Platinum Tour.  It's a very cool self-guided iPad tour, narrated by John Stamos. This package is about $50 but definitely worth it. You will want to see it all.

** Note to wheelchair users

- The shuttle van to the museum has a wheelchair lift but I think only one van has that set up, so be patient.

- The mansion will be completely accessible except for the lower level music room.

- You will not be able to get into the airplanes. But without buying the extra airplane ticket, they will let you in to the area. You will be close and can take pictures from the outside.

Everything will take you about four hours. Arrive early because it does get very crowded. Also, eat a meal before you get there. The food at Graceland is very expensive and not very good. I would recommend that you avoid eating at The Chrome Grill. The food SUCKED.

At the end of my experience at Graceland, I could feel the deep love that Elvis had for life, his family, his friends and his fans!!  In my opinion he was definitely deserving of the title… 

THE KIND OF ROCK 'n ROLL

When you are in the area you will also want to visit Beale Street. On Beale Street you will find funky gift shops, back-ally BBQ joints and the music scene. A shuttle is available, however I'm not sure about its handicap accessibility.

If you're in the mood for the Royal experience, a pink Cadillac will pick you up for free and take you to Marlow's barbecue. Again, not sure about wheelchair accessibility.

This area of Memphis is old and very run down. The streets are in poor condition. Our GPS had us a little turned around but luckily I had read someone else's review. It said to look for a pink Heartbreak Hotel sign and the driveway for the RV Park would be right behind it. This is definitely NOT A great area to be in, but once you're in the RV park with 24 hour security all is good.

"Thank you. Thank you very much" for reading my blog.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina. It is a beautiful mountain city on the east side of the Smoky Mountains. The University of North Carolina, Asheville has a campus here which gives the area a college vibe. The beauty of this area is indescribable. It certainly didn't hurt that we arrived just at the peak of the fall colors.


We stayed at Bear Creek RV Park & Campground
81 South Bear Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 253-0798
camping@ashevillebearcreek.com

Amenities include…
Full hookups
Tent areas
Wi-Fi (signal was hit and miss)
Cable TV
Swimming pool (seasonal)
Playground
Laundry

All of the sites are paved and you will find that some are wider and/or longer than others. The majority of the campground is on a hill but the bottom is mostly flat and fully wheelchair accessible. We chose a spot at the top to take advantage of the view. The entire campground would be accessible in a scooter. The campground is located at the South-West corner of Asheville. Other than freeway access, there is nothing close by and a vehicle is necessary.

There are quite a few interesting and fun things to do while you are in Asheville. Although our primary mission for the trip was to find a new location to live, we did manage to do a few touristy things.

THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY


The Blue Ridge Parkway was built to connect Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Parkway is America's longest linear Park. It runs 469 miles through North Carolina and Virginia. Although the Blue Ridge Pkwy. is not an actual "National Park", the land on either side of the road is owned and maintained by the National Parks Services. Construction began during Pres. Franklin D Roosevelt's administration, September 11, 1935.  It took 52 years to complete. Originally called America's Scenic Highway, the name was changed by Congress to the Blue Ridge Pkwy.

While in the area make sure you take an amazing scenic drive through the Blue Ridge Pkwy. It's hundreds of miles of jaw dropping gorgeous. Be prepared for nonstop picture taking. We couldn't get enough and did the drive twice. Once at the beginning of our stay and one at the end. Each time was completely different. My husband is a cyclist and went back for a long ride through the breathtaking beauty.

Along the route you will find several designated viewpoints to safely get out of your car. The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center is accessible to wheelchairs but some of the amenities may not be. There is a Park Ranger there so you can learn more of the history and buy plenty of souvenirs. Parking, scenic views, and the visitor center are easily accessible. There are also hiking trails and a picnic area(unsure of accessibility). Due to freezing of the bridges, certain areas of the park are closed to vehicles during winter. I recommend a visit during Fall(Leaf Season). Make sure you bring proper attire as it gets cold as you go up the parkway.  Make sure the camera is fully charged with plenty of disk space.






BILTMORE ESTATE

The Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned residence in the United States. The mansion was built by George Washington Vanderbilt in 1895. The architecture, antiques and gardens are stunning.



* Advice… If you are a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility, you will be told to have someone drop you off at the mansion and then drive back down, park your car and take the shuttle back. The trip will take that person up to 45 minutes. After touring the mansion someone will have to take the shuttle back, get your car and take you to the gardens. In the rebel spirit we parked in the lot behind the Gardens and toured the gardens first. We walked from the Gardens to the Mansion. A scooter could easily navigate the walk but a manual chair would probably need assistance on the hills.

The mansion does have an elevator that was built for Vanderbelt's mother. However, one of the floors is inaccessible and another is closed to the public. They have a video tour of what you missed (It is more of a slideshow and it feels a bit cheesy). The wheelchair discounted price is around $50. A two day pass is available but personally I don't think it's necessary. Also, if you have hearing or visual limitations you are able to take the audio tour for FREE. Wine-tasting is also available. You have to drive a couple of miles to the winery, which was originally a dairy farm. The wine tasting is really more of sampling before you buy. THE GOOD NEWS IS… they don't seem to limit your samples. The winery, mall, and parking were easily accessible. There is an elevator in the winery to get to the tasting room and store.

 Arrive early to avoid the crowds.

BILTMORE MALL

The Biltmore Mall is an outdoor mall with shops, restaraunts, book store, movie theatre, and more. It is completly accessible and even has a water fountain for dogs.

DUPONT FOREST
The Dupont Forest is in between Hendersonville and Brevard. It has amazing beauty, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. There are trails of all types. From narrow trails that can be difficult in spots to groomed fire roads that would be no problem for a scooter and mostly accessible to a rugged manual chair with assistance. I am not 100% sure but my understanding is that some of these roads are opened to vehicles as well.

RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS
Neo Burrito – Biltmore mall, Asheville
Vinnys Italian restaurant – 641 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville
Flat Rock Wood Room BBQ - 1501 Greenville Hwy, Hendersonville




BLACK MOUNTAIN
Black Mountain is a small town close to Asheville. You will find a lot of shops and restaurants. I highly recommend lunch at Black Mountain Bistro. They have a killer chicken berry salad. I swear that I would drive across the country just to have that salad again!

Nashville, Tennessee

A MUSIC LOVERS DREAM…

We stayed at the Nashville KOA

Nashville KOA
2626 Music Valley Dr.
Nashville, TN
(615)889-0286
(800)562-7789
www.nashvillekoa.com






I feel so fortunate that we found this place. It's friendly, clean and the sites are large.

Amenities include…
Full hookups
Large big rig sites
Cabins and tent areas
Wi-Fi
Cable TV
Pool and playground
Showers
Café
Shuttle (the shuttle DOES NOT have a wheelchair lift)

** Try to arrive during daylight because the park is dark.

They don't call this music city for nothing. The RV park is located around the corner from the Grand Ole Opry. Downtown you will find The Country Music Hall of Fame. (When you visit the Hall of Fame I recommend using the audio tour). With the use of an elevator, the entire exhibit is fully accessible. Carve out at least four hours in order to take it all in. The cost of the Hall of Fame is approximately $30. You can add a visit to the famous RCA Studio B for about $10 more.





The Country Music Hall of Fame
222 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
(615)416-2001

RCA Studio B

1611 Roy Acuff Place

Nashville, TN 37246
(615)416-2001

Downtown is full of great honky-tonks, bars and restaurants, where you will find great food, fun people, and free live music.

Word of advice...
Downtown is full of steep hills. Try to get dropped off at the door or be prepared for quite a workout. If you do not use the shuttle, public parking is about $7.

Other Nashville attractions include...
The Andrew Jackson museum
Civil War sites
The zoo
Shopping
And of course, FOOD

Located just steps away from the RV park you will find
Cock Of The Walk (Southern fried... Everything)
I highly recommend this Nashville gem. 

 

We stopped in Nasheville for a day, to break up the cross country drive. Next time through, we plan to stay longer, to take in more of the numerous attractions.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

It was an easy drive on I-40 from Albuquerque, NM, until we got to Oklahoma City. The freeway junctions had multiple options and even with gps it was difficult at times to pick the correct one.

We stayed at the Twin Fountains RV Resort.
2727 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK
(405) 475-5514
http://www.twinfountainsrvpark.com/directions.html

The amenities include…
Full hookups
Pull through and back in cement spaces
Each space includes barbecue, picnic table,large grassy area and trees
Wi-Fi
Seasonal pool and spa
Playground
Miniature golf
Fishing pond
Laundry
Convenient store
Pizza
Shuttle

I found this park to be very clean and quiet. The staff. was super friendly.

**  Note for people with accessibility issues
This park is on rolling hills however they do have spaces available at the entrance which are perfectly flat.

RV in rolling hills spot

Lower flat spots

And the absolute must see is The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
1700 N.E. 63rd Street
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111
(405) 478-2250

It is extremely close to Twin Fountains RV Resort.

The entire museum is completely accessible and all on one level. Arrive early, there is a lot to see.

Don't be afraid of eating at the museum. The prices are reasonable and the food was pretty good.