TRAVEL MORE/SAVE MORE | RV REVIEW: 2015 KEYSTONE CARBON 22 | RESORT UPDATES
TO
CoastResorts.com
SPRING 2015
TO Sante Fe FOLLOW THE LIGHT
Woodstock, Illinois EVERY DAY IS GROUNDHOG DAY
WHERE TO STAY Cypress Camping Resort Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Grand Haven Resort Grand Haven, Michigan Old American Kampground Newport, Washington
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CONTENTS TRAVEL 10 Enchanting Sante Fe GOOD SAM AND CAMPING WORLD CHAIRMAN AND CEO MARCUS LEMONIS marcusvip@GoodSamFamily.com
Follow the light to where art and history combine in New Mexico. BY RICHARD VARR 16 Ready for Its Closeup Groundhog Day comes every day in historic Woodstock, Illinois. BY NEALA SCHWARTZBERG MCCARTEN
COAST TO COAST PRESIDENT BRUCE HOSTER bhoster@GoodSamFamily.com MEMBER SERVICES 64 Inverness Drive E. Englewood, Colorado 80112 800-368-5721 writetous@Coast-Coast.com COAST TO COAST WEBSITE CoastResorts.com
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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DEE WHITED ART DIRECTOR NICK NYFFELER
Volume 34, Number 2. Coast to Coast (ISSN 1093-3581) is published quarterly for $14 per year as part of annual membership fees, by Coast to Coast Resorts, 64 Inverness Drive E., Englewood, Colorado 80112. Periodical postage paid at Englewood, Colorado, and additional mailing offices. Registration Number 558028. Publications Mail Agreement Number 40012332. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to P.O. Box 875, Station A, Windsor, Ontario N92 6P2. U.S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Coast to Coast Resorts, P.O. Box 7028, Englewood, CO 80155-7028. Coast to Coast Resorts assumes no responsibility for unsolic- ited manuscripts or artwork. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any method without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2015 by Coast to Coast Resorts. PRINTED IN THE USA. cover photo : Christo Rey Church, Santa Fe, by Richard Varr
DEPARTMENTS 4 From the President 5 Member Matters 7 You’re the Experts 7 Resort Updates 20 RV Review
RESORTS 8 Cypress Camping Resort MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA 9 Grand Haven Resort GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN 22 Old American Kampground NEWPORT, WASHINGTON
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SPRING 2015 COAST TO COAST
3
Coast to Coast Adds New Resorts!
FROM THE PRESIDENT
T wo of the three resorts featured in this issue are new to the Coast network for 2015. Cypress Camping Resort (page 8) is a wonderful new resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway, the resort is also just a 5-minute shuttle ride from the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. As you might expect, water sports are a highlight of the resort featuring pedal boat, kayak, and pontoon boat rentals as well as swimming and fishing. Cypress Camping Resort even has it’s own private boat ramp and two boat docks on the Intracoastal. Make a point to visit this absolute gem of a resort sometime this year.
of Eastern Washington and enjoy a stay at Old American Kampground.
How will you use your Rec Rewards?
Our parent company recently launched a new credit card, the Good Sam|Camp ing World Visa® with REC REWARDS, issued by Comenity Capital Bank.
PUTTING MEMBERS FIRST
I know what you’re thinking; you don’t need another credit card. But this card is specifically designed to re- ward RVers like you for doing what you love to do—go camping! With our exclusive REC REWARDS program*, you earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards good for dining, shopping, gas, and more at hundreds of name-brand retailers nationwide. You can even redeem your REC REWARDS points for your Coast membership renewal, Coast Trip Points, and for other products and services from the Good Sam and Camping World fam- ily of companies. Best of all, you earn 5 points per $1 spent at participating Coast Resorts and on Good Sam and Camping World purchases, 3 points per $1 spent at private campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada and 1 point per $1 spent everywhere Visa® is accepted. No other credit card rewards RVers like the Good Sam|Camping World Visa®. For more information or to apply, visit www.goodsamcampingworldvisa.com or call toll-free 1-844-271-2591. With spring comes a new year with new friends to meet, new places to explore, and new memories to cre- ate and treasure for a lifetime. Make sure you are taking full advantage of all the benefits of your Coast to Coast membership to help you save money wherever your ad- ventures take you this year. Happy Trails!
We also welcome the new Grand Haven Resort (page 9) to Coast to Coast. This resort is the latest addition to the successful Outdoor Adventures resort group of Michigan, which is celebrating their 20th anniversary as a resort developer this year. The city of Grand Haven, lo- cated on the western shore of Lake Michigan, is a historic and picturesque town with an endless variety of things to see and do: festivals, historic sites, parks, fishing, biking, watersports, shopping, & dining. Grand Haven Resort promises to be one of the crown jewels of the Outdoor Adventures resort system, and a visit here should be on your “must do” list. The third resort in this issue, Old American Kamp- ground (page 24), is one of our old favorites from the KM Resort group which boasts so many great resorts in the Northwest. Located 32 miles northeast of Spokane, Old American is located on the Pend Oreille River and really defines everything you would expect in a scenic outdoor resort. With breathtaking views of the Pend Oreille River, the resort features a quiet and secluded set- ting. Yet from the resort you can walk into the town of Newport for shopping, dining, or one of their many fes- tivals. Make plans to find your way to the great climate While visiting Grand Haven Resort, take time to stroll alongside the pond.
MARCUS LEMONIS Chairman and CEO
BRUCE HOSTER President Coast to Coast Resorts bhoster@GoodSamFamily.com
Good Sam and Camping World marcusvip@GoodSamFamily.com
*The REC REWARDS program is provided by Comenity Capital Bank and its terms may discontinue or change at any time.
Offer subject to credit approval. The Good Sam|Camping World Visa ® and Visa Signature ® cards are issued by Comenity Capital Bank, pursuant to license from Visa ® U.S.A. Inc.
4 COAST TO COAST SPRING 2015
MEM BER matt ers MAK I NG T HE MO S T O F Y OUR C OA S T T O C OA S T MEMB E R SH I P
Win with Member Get a Park Program I f you’ve ever visited a resort or campground that you loved and wished that it was a part of the Coast to Coast network, here’s your chance to nominate that park as a potential new resort or Good Neighbor Park. It’s an opportunity for Coast members to help Coast to Coast grow our network, so there are more quality places to stay. If Coast signs a park or resort as an affiliate as a result of a member recommendation, that member will receive a $50 Camping World gift certificate from Coast to Coast To recommend a new affiliate, Coast members must have recently stayed at the facility and must provide the following: - Name, address, phone number, and contact at facility - Indicate whether facility is a membership resort (potential resort) or an open-to-the-public park (potential Good Neighbor Park). - Member’s name and Coast member number - Date that member visited the park or resort - Submit Member Get a Park referrals to: Electronically: CCRPresident@CoastResorts.com Mail: Coast to Coast Member Get a Park PO Box 7028 Englewood, CO, 80155-7028 All Coast members with active memberships are eligible to submit Member Get a Park referrals. In the case that Coast signs a new affiliate that is recommended by more than one member, only the first member recommending the new facility will be awarded the $50 Camping World Gift Certificate.
Travel More/Save More with Coast Travel Services T he very fact that our members love to travel makes the marriage between Coast to Coast and Members On Vacation a natural one. If you don’t already know, through Members on Vacation, powered by Montrose Travel, mem- bers can save up to 50% off more than 75,000 hotels. Save even on Coast Travel Services’ private collection of 4- and 5-star luxury hotels. There’s special savings for military. Coast Travel Services has partnered with vendors like Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Pleasant Holidays to offer special savings to veteran, retired, and active-duty military service members and their families. Book a cruise today and receive the best in special ameni- ties, upgrades, and extra onboard credit. Maybe you’ll need to rent a car at your destination; Through Coast Travel Services you can save up to 25%. Save on flights and receive $100,000 free accident insurance. Montrose Travel is owned and operated by Joe McClure, his wife Julie, and his sister Andi McClure- Mysza. Their motto sums it up: 50 years with One Mission. Exceeding Expectations. “This is a powerful ben- efit for members, we just want to make sure they’re aware they have it and use it,”says Joe McClune. Check out the fabulous savings by logging on to www.coastresorts.com and clicking on Coast Travel Services.
SPRING 2015 COAST TO COAST 5
MEMBER matters
B eing a Coast to Coast member means you receive great savings at more than 125,000 participating locations with Trip Plus: restaurants, groceries, retail establish- ments, golfing, events, and attractions. To get these sav- ings, print coupons from your computer or download the “My Deals” mobile app, which uses GPS functionality to find the nearest deals and then display on-screen coupons that you can “show and save.” For a chance to win a $100 merchandise certificate to Camping World, download and register for the My Deals Mobile App from iTunes Store or GooglePlay with your mobile password by April 30, 2015. The mobile password can be found by logging on to www.CoastResorts.com. Click on “Trip Plus-discounts and coupons” in the Member Benefits box. Then on the next page click on the “Mobile App” tab at the top, and click your device type. Your mobile password is at the bottom of the page and is generated for each user. Then download the “My Deals” app on your mobile device using the mobile password. Iphone users, download from the itunes store, Android phone users from the Play store. Download to Win!
Contest Rules: The winner will be drawn from Coast members who download and register the “My Deals” mobile app from February 1 through April 30, 2015. Drawing is open to active Coast to Coast members only. One $100 Camping World gift certificate will be awarded by a random drawing. Winner will be notified by email or phone. One entry per phone and per member number.
6 COAST TO COAST SPRING 2015
YOU’RE THE EXPERTS
INSIDE INFORMATION FROM COAST TO COAST MEMBERS
I’m able to save propane in cold weather in my Class C motorhome by isolating the cab area. I bought kitchen curtains and an extendable rod that reaches from one side of the rig to the other. After attaching the curtain on the rod, I push the extended
RESORT UPDATES ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO THE 2015 DIRECTORY The 2015 Coast to Coast Resort Directory is packed with everything you need to navigate the network of Coast to Coast Resorts, Good Sam Parks, and Good Neighbor Parks. To keep members up-to-date, each issue of the magazine includes any updates that have occured since the last issue.
rod between the bed mattress and the bed rim, making a cozy living area.
K. MIDGE West Branch, Michigan
COAST TO COAST RESORTS CORRECTION: CANADA Bridgeview RV Resort, Alberta
The 2015 Coast Directory on page 7 incorrectly says that Bridgeview RV Resort in Alberta, Canada is “easily accessible from busy Inter- state 5”. Bridgeview RV Resort is actually just west of Lethbridge, Alberta and about 75 miles north of the terminus of Interstate 15 at the Montana/Alberta border. Detailed directions to Bridgeview RV Resort can be found in the resort’s listing on page 189 of the 2015 Coast Directory.
To make use of a small, very shallow, cupboard above the seat in a motorhome, drill two holes and attach two cup hooks in the outer edges of the cupboard. Attach a bungee cord to the two hooks so that it stretches vertically across the opening. This cupboard, which can’t really be used for too much, makes a great place to store CDs and DVDs. Without the bungee cord, the DVDs and CDs fall out when the cupboard is opened.
GOOD NEIGHBOR PARKS GOOD NEIGHBOR ADDITIONS: CALIFORNIA
BARB CLINGENSMITH New Castle, Pennsylvania
Dutch Flat RV Resort, Gold Run (530) 389-8924, info@dutchflatrvresort.com, dutchflatrvresort.com
Open year-round; elevation 3,000 feet; check-in noon-9:00 p.m.; check-out noon; 30 amps; maximum length 65 feet. Directions: from: I 80 Exit 145 Dutch Flat. Go to south side of interstate. Pro- ceed through gas station parking lot to park entrance; 60 miles east of Sacramento, 70 miles west of Reno. Amenities: picnic tables, dump station, beach, entertainment, grocery, hot showers, ice, out- door pavilion, picnic tables, propane, recreation hall, RV supplies, tenting, outdoor pool, hiking trails, biking trails, gas station, con- venience store, gold panning. Nearby: shopping, boating, fishing, golf, winter sports, tourist attractions, historic towns, Monte Vista Inn Restaurant.
GOOD NEIGHBOR PARK UPDATES: FLORIDA Naples RV Resort - Sun RV Resorts, Naples Name change: Naples RV Resort - Naples Gardens - Sun RV Resorts, Naples GOOD NEIGHBOR PARK TERMINATIONS MINNESOTA Kortes Checkers Welcome Campground, Welcome TEXAS Wild Country RV & Recreational Park, New Caney
TRADE MONEY FOR ADVICE You’re the experts on RV travel, and we’d like to hear from you. Please email your tips and accompanying photos or sketches to editor@CoastResorts.com. Make sure to include your name, the name of your Coast to Coast home resort and your mailing address. If your tip is selected for publication, you’ll receive $25.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY WAYNE SHIPP
SPRING 2015 COAST TO COAST 7
MEMBER matters
This new resort offers campers the essence of Myrtle Beach in tranquil surroundings Cypress Camping Resort
According to Fred Neely, marketing director, owners Kenneth and Laura Hucks create a friendly atmosphere where the staff makes it a practice to know all the members on a first-name basis. Although the friendliness is refresh- ing, you’ll also have access to dozens of modern amenities. These include paved campsites, free Wi-Fi, adult and children’s pools, 24-hour security, eco- friendly bathhouses, waterway swim- ming area, nature trails, conference cen- ter, game room, and seasonal weekly planned activities. There are also seven cabins and two bunkhouses for rent. Another unique aspect of this resort is that it’s one of the first Intracoastal Waterway access resorts in the Myrtle Beach area. If you like all things water, take advantage of pedal boats, kayaks, pon-
toon boat rentals, and fishing. Access the Intercoastal Waterway by using the resort’s boat landing and resort boat valet service. For the more active visi- tor, play basketball and softball. Or you can just kick back at your spacious site and watch the many yachts cruise by the resort on the waterway. The peace and beauty of the resort means Cypress Camping Resort will be your beach des- tination for years to come. Cypress Camping Resort is close to many area parks, historical attrac- tions, and world class entertainment venues like Myrtle Beach SkyWheel, Brookgreen Gardens, Wonder Works, Alabama Theatre, Legends in Concert, Medieval Times; the list goes on and on. Need a beach fix? Every day, the resort offers a shuttle service to the shores of the Grand Strand on the At- lantic Ocean.
RESORT TYPE: Coast Deluxe LOCATION: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina SEASON: Open year-round WEBSITE: cypresscampingresort.com
C ypress Camping Resort is poised on the quiet and peaceful Intercoastal Waterway in beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and offers first-class amenities to please everyone in the fam- ily. Built from the ground up in 2012, Cypress Camping Resort has become a family-oriented destination. This is partly due to the fact the resort is a family-run tight-knit organization.
8 COAST TO COAST SPRING 2015
Discover a campers’ paradise near the shores of Lake Michigan Grand Haven Resort
the beautifully wooded surroundings. “There’s lots of character and history to the park,” says Dee Dee Bernhardt of member services. “There’s an amaz- ing miniature golf course and go carts. There are 16 rental accommodations, plus two very large pools and play- grounds. The resort is definitely family oriented. Tap into your inner race car driver with the go-cart track. For those who just want to relax, they are more than welcome to come sunbathe along- side our pool.” And its location is certainly a plus. On the beaches of Lake Michigan, along the shores of Spring Lake, and onto the adventures found in the bayous and coves of the Grand River, you’ll find picturesque settings for swimming, sunbathing, sunset strolls, or a leisurely picnic. Poet Carl Sandburg called this breathtaking coastal system a “signa- ture of time,” ranking it among the greatest natural wonders in the United
States. In August 2013, CNN Travel named Grand Haven as its No. 14 “Must See U.S. Beach” alongside Siesta Key in Florida, South Padre Island in Texas, and Papakolea Beach in Hawaii. In addition to great shopping and delightful dining, the city of Grand Haven is also home to the world’s larg- est musical fountain of its kind. Visit the fountain and stay for the synchro- nized water and light show accompa- nied with music of all varieties, which plays daily at sunset from Memorial Day through Labor Day; Fridays and Saturdays only in May and September. While comfortably parked at Grand Haven Resort, begin map- ping out an excursion to many of the nearby lighthouses. Check out www.lighthousefriends.com/lake_ mi.html for a map that indicates where each of the dozens of lighthouses are located around the picturesque body of water.
RESORT TYPE: Coast Deluxe LOCATION: Grand Haven, Michigan SEASON: Year-round beginning May 1, 2015 WEBSITE: outdooradventuresinc.com
G rand Haven Resort is filled with beautiful scenery—from the ex- panse of pine and maple trees that line the campsites, to the breathtak- ing color change that happens every fall. It’s one of the newest resorts in the Outdoor Adventures Inc. stable of great resorts and this one has one of the best locations—near the shores of Lake Michigan. Once onsite, visitors will notice
SPRING 2015 COAST TO COAST 9
Enchanting Santa Fe
Where art and history blend in magical light By Richard Varr
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SPRING 2015 COAST TO COAST 11
Clockwise: The scenic byway to Taos. Statuary and rock wall in Chimayó, New Mexico.
I ’ve been in Santa Fe for two days and I’m still trying to understand “the light”—trying to find the right words to describe what has lured artists here for more than 100 years. To do so, I stroll along the crisscross of down- town’s historic streets, ducking in and out of galleries seemingly at every turn. I see contemporary paintings streaked in screaming red and cerulean blue hues. Golden and earthen pigments highlight more traditional high-desert landscapes against a backdrop of silver-tinted clouds. And as for “the light,” it doesn’t take long before the words start to flow. “The light is glorious, sort of lumi- nous. It’s apparently a privilege to paint in this kind of light,” surmises Denise Phetteplace with downtown’s Blue Rain Gallery. “Certainly the elevation is part of
it; we also have very blue skies. And low humidity probably changes the way the light sort of hits things because the atmo- sphere is not as thick.” “It’s magical,” asserts New Mexican artist Barry McCuan who also painted in the South of France—in a similar light where the great Impressionists created their masterpieces. “In New Mexico, you have clarity to see vast distances. And when it’s clear, it’s absolutely incredible,” continues McCuan, speaking with me along Canyon Road, an old mountain trail now lined with the city’s largest concentration of galleries. “The lack of humidity and pollution and the high alti- tude create the light.” At more than 7,000 feet, Santa Fe is both the highest and the oldest capital city in the U.S. Adobe buildings abound, their earthen facades adding to the
Spanish and Native American heritage of this four-century-old city. And, art is everywhere—traditional, contemporary, and abstract; paintings, sculptures, pub- lic art, and handicrafts. “You just can’t throw a rock and not hit an artist in this town,” says Rod Lambert with the City of Santa Fe Community Gallery. With more than 250 galleries, the city is deemed the second largest art market in the country. Artworks for sale—including contemporary paint- ings with squiggly lines and strategically placed blotches—can bring in $300,000, $600,000 and upwards of $1 million. “This is serious art, something to get excited about,” says Kathrine Erickson, owner of the EVOKE Contemporary gal- lery and president of the Santa Fe Gallery Association. “It’s putting Santa Fe on the map in a big way.”
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DOWNTOWN SANTA FE Advertiser Index BT Bu aloThunderResort&Casino CA CityofAlbuquerque CT CityofTaos CM CourtyardSantaFebyMarriott CR Cumbres&ToltecScenicRailroad CS CutleryofSantaFe DC DelCharro DT DoubleTreebyHilton DG Dressman'sGifts EH EldoradoHotel&Spa FS FourSeasonsEncantadoResort GD GoldenDawnGallery HS HotelSantaFe IL Inn&SpaatLoretto IG Innof theGovernors LF LaFondaon thePlaza MS MartySanchezLinksdeSantaFe NF NimanFineArt OC OjoCaliente OV OtraVez PM PlazaMercado
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17
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33 SantaFeBotanicalGarden (MuseumHill) 34 SantaFeCommunityCollege 35 SantaFeCommunityConventionCenter 36 SantaFeCountryClub 37 SantaFeOutlets 38 SantaFePlaceMall 39 SantaFeUniversityofArtandDesign 40 SantaFeVisitorCenter/ SantaFeSouthernRailway/ NewMexicoRailRunner 41 SantuariodeGuadalupe 42 SITESantaFe 43 St. John’sCollege 44 StateCapitol 45 Wheelwright Museum of theAmerican Indian (MuseumHill) MS
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EXIT278 CERRILLOSRD
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Santa Fe now has three art centers: Downtown, Canyon Road and the recently developed Railyard Arts District. Home to a farmers’ market, Railyard is where a former Sears and old beer ware- houses have been transformed into high- ceiling galleries and exhibition space. Native American artisans sell their more traditional jewelry, leatherwork, and crafts every day under the shaded terrace of the 1610 Palace of the Governors, flanking one side of down- town’s treed and grassy central plaza. The adobe-walled building is now a his- tory museum and has the distinction of being the country’s oldest public build- ing in continuous use. Visitors frequent chic shops and pricey restaurants along downtown streets including the Old Santa Fe Trail, once part of the 900-mile route from
Missouri. Along the trail is one of the country’s oldest houses of worship, the San Miguel Mission Church. I step inside and feel the history here with its massive adobe walls and a 780-pound bell cast in Spain in 1356. Also on the trail is the Loretto Chapel, completed for the Sisters of Loretto and modeled after Paris’ stained-glass paneled Sainte-Chapelle. Now a museum, the chapel is famous for its central wooden staircase that winds upward to the choir loft. What’s unique is that the staircase, with 33 steps and two full 360-degree turns, has no central support. When the church was completed in 1878, as the story goes, the sisters soon realized the church’s small space limited the building of a conventional staircase. That’s when a carpenter mysteriously rode in on a donkey and, with only a few tools, built
the stairwell and then left without seek- ing payment. The grand St. Francis Cathedral, remi- niscent of European cathedrals, is just a block off the plaza. Completed in 1886, the Romanesque structure was built where an 18th-century adobe church and the previous 1626 church once stood. The country’s oldest Madonna stands upon the alter—a wooden statue known as “Our Lady of Peace” or “La Conquistadora”— adorned in colorful garb from a wardrobe of more than 200 garments. “The statue was carved well over 600 years ago in Spain, made its way to Mexico, and was brought here to this site in an oxcart in 1625,” explains docent Michael Weigand. “For the community, when you’re troubled, this is where you go. She’s been the mother for all genera- tions. People have grown up on stories of
SPRING 2015 COAST TO COAST 13
Clockwise: Sculptures and paintings at the Allan Houser Studio and Sculpture Garden in Santa Fe.
their family praying for ‘Our Lady.’” Santa Fe’s art museums include the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum with more than 1,100 of the artist’s drawings, paintings, abstracts, and sculptures, with depictions ranging from New York cityscapes to New Mexico’s rugged land- scape. Housed in a pueblo-like building, it’s the country’s only museum dedicated to a famous woman artist. On nearby Museum Hill, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture has an incred- ible collection of exhibits showcasing the history and contemporary life of the Navajo, Apache, Pueblo, and Hopi cul- tures. Our guide points out 9,000-year- old spear points and, what I find most interesting, a 13th-century 150-foot- long net for catching rabbits made from human hair. Across Museum Hill’s wide plaza is
what the locals will tell you is Santa Fe’s best museum, the Museum of International Folk Art. Dioramas with ceramic model huts, houses, and carved figurines showcase cultures from around the world spanning different centu- ries—recreating a pueblo feast day, a 19th-century U.S. town, and a Chinese Village, to name a few. I leave Santa Fe on U.S. Route 84/285, turning onto State Road 503, the start of the so-called High Road to Taos. The curving road takes me along craggy hills of stratified rock layers before reach- ing the small town of Chimayó where I visit the Santuario de Chimayó, a simple adobe and wooden church where pil- grims talk of miracles and healing. The church was supposedly built on the spot where a crucifix mysteriously appeared to villager Don Bernardo Abeyta
in 1810. “Legend says the man who found the crucifix took it to the nearest Catholic church about ten miles from here, but it kept appearing back here,” says sanctuary spokeswoman Joanne Dupont Sandoval. “They’d take it back, but it kept reappear- ing back here again.” The church, completed in 1816, now houses the crucifix within the main altar. On the left of the altar is a small room with “holy dirt.” Pilgrims hoping and praying for miracles and healing can take small scoops of the sacred dirt home. “As the crucifix is inaccessible anymore for people to touch, the healing powers got attributed to the dirt,” Sandoval explains. “As human beings we sometimes need something tangible to be able to connect with God.” The next day, I head south of Santa Fe to see the bronze, steel and stone sculp-
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Clockwise: Art found alongside Santa Fe streets. Interior of St. Francis Cathedral, Santa Fe. A variety of paintings and sculptures are found in Santa Fe art galleries.
tures at the Allan Houser Studio and Sculpture Garden. Houser was a legend- ary twentieth-century Native American artist whose parents belonged to the Chiricahua Apache tribe at the time of Chief Geronimo’s surrender to U.S. Government forces in 1886. The artworks include Native American themes and figures, where replica cast- ings now fill the halls of museums around the country. One prominent work, Sacred Rain Arrow, portrays an Indian warrior about to shoot an arrow straight up. The story is in times of drought, they’d choose a young man from the tribe based on purity of heart, says guide Santanna Ortiz. They’d have a huge ceremony and he’d go the highest point on the moun- tain and shoot it off in hopes of rain. I drive south along State Highway 14,
popularly known as the Turquoise Trail, a National Scenic Byway, into the old mining town of Madrid (pronounced MAD-drid). “I haven’t quite found the right words to describe Madrid,” says Melinda Bon’ewell, owner of the Mine Shaft Tavern. “It’s something you’ll find nowhere else—kind of like a blending of the Wild West. People are proud to be different.” Once known for gutting 2,500 foot- deep mineshafts to fill truckloads with hard and soft coal, Madrid today is a unique artist community. Hippies and artistic types moving here in the 1970s helped revive what had become a ghost town 20 years earlier. Nestled within the surrounding barren and rocky hills, a string of shops and boutiques line this colorful stretch of Highway 14— Madrid’s Main Street.
Flower pots hang along the storefronts of maybe 40 businesses: art galleries, trading posts, cafes and clothing shops selling classic Wild West boots and antique jewelry. Others have old miner and ghost town references. Freshly paint- ed and rusted mailboxes stand along curbs near old cars. “I call this the heart of the Turquoise Trail,” says Bon’ewell.
For More Information www.santafe.org
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By Neala Schwartzberg McCarten
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Interior and exterior of the Woodstock Opera House that appeared as the Pennsylvanian Hotel in the movie.
A beautiful theater, a leafy park surrounded by historic buildings, and welcoming businesses combine to make Woodstock, Illinois, famous. Although it’s also part of the Chicago metro area, Woodstock maintains a small-town feel and has been named one of the nation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations (2007) by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. These and more are reasons to visit, but that’s not really why it’s famous. It’s famous because so many scenes from the 1993 movie classic Groundhog Day were shot in and around the town. Woodstock’s undeniable charms were showcased and movie viewers soon became Woodstock visitors. In the story, the definitely egotisti- cal weather reporter Phil Connors is dispatched to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Once there, he becomes stuck in a time loop, waking up each morning to the same day. Over and over.
The movie chronicles his evolution and ultimate redemption and his successful wooing of Andie MacDowell.
in Woodstock. The town provided a perfect green space in the center of town surrounded by many historic building. A number of places in town “star” in the movie, and visitors can pick up a walking tour pamphlet at the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, 136 Cass Street. There are also plaques at the sites of major movie events, including one on the curb at 108 Cass Street where Bill Murray jumps over the persistent puddle. But in order to fully appreciate Woodstock, don’t jump right into visit- ing the movie sites. Instead stroll through the town and experience its true delights. The Woodstock Square Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, contains major 19th- century buildings.
Although ostensibly set in Punxsutawney, the producers weren’t convinced that it was actually the best location to shoot the movie—it didn’t have quite the right feel. Woodstock’s former under-the-radar existence gave way to star status when director Harold Ramis saw it and felt it looked just the way Punxsutawney should look. Ramis, who died in February 2014, noted that it was the town square that convinced him to film
Woodstock Opera House The Woodstock Opera House is
a delightful pastiche of architectural styles. Constructed in 1889 as a multi- purpose building, it contains City Hall
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Clockwise: Today the Old Courthouse and jail houses an art gallery and restaurant. The Woodstock Square is a lovely park in the center of town and the site of the prognostica- tion in the movie. Buildings such as this one are being renovated to their original look.
in Chicago. The theater saw the start of famous performers such as Tom Bosley, Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, and Shelley Berman. In the film, the Opera House became the “Pennsylvanian Hotel” where Andie MacDowell stayed. It’s also in the back- ground of many of the shots taken in the town park, and the site of one of Murray’s suicide attempts, as he leapt from its tower. McHenry County Courthouse Another major historic building is the Old McHenry County Courthouse. Although constructed in 1857, the architectural style was that of the 16th- century Italian Renaissance. Thirty years later the sheriff’s house and jail were added. Today visitors can enjoy dining and perusing the galleries of the Old Courthouse Arts Center. This building also appears in the background of several scenes of the movie but is a bit harder to spot. Central to both the town and the
movie is the verdant Woodstock Square Park. Most of the historic district of the city and some of its inviting shops are arrayed around the park. Of course, in the movie the southwest corner was the site of Gobblers Knob. The Band Stand Dance is at the center of the park. The Royal Victorian Manor Perhaps the most famous building in the movie is the Cherry Street Inn, the Victorian B&B in which Bill Murray awakens every single morning to the radio station playing Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe . Lovingly shot from vari- ous angles, the 1894 building started as a private residence but became a B&B after the movie. It is now open for guests as the Royal Victorian Manor. Interior shots were filmed off-site, and its location is different in real life—at 344 Fremont Street rather than over- looking the town center. Of course, Groundhog Day has since become a major event in the city. Although Woodstock never celebrated
and various city departments. But it’s also home to an auditorium that hosted its first performance in 1890 and has been hosting performances ever since. “It’s one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country,” notes Managing Director John Scharres, of the Woodstock Opera House. And it has encouraged some of the country’s most famous actors and direc- tors. Orson Welles made his directorial debut there at age 19. After a rather chaotic early life, Welles found a home at the Todd School, a residential school for boys, and a mentor in Roger Hill, teacher and then headmaster at the school. Sadly, Grace Hall, the 1915 Prairie-style dormitory where Welles lived as a stu- dent, was demolished in 2010. The Opera House has seen many other film and movie stars, often before they were famous. In the late 1940s, Woodstock was home to hope- ful actors who had just graduated from the Goodman School of Drama
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The garden and façade of the Royal Victorian Manor stood in for the B&B in which Bill Murray woke up every morning.
also some special events and surprises. If you’re planning to visit, check out their website for specific days and times: woodstockgroundhog.org. You can also call their hotline number: 815-334-2620. Beyond GroundHog Day Although it did not make an appear- ance in Groundhog Day, on your stroll admire the black and gold ornate clock on the southeast corner of the square. Erected after the movie was shot, “it is part of the revitalization of the sidewalk and streetscape to enhance the down- town,” says John Scharres, managing director of the Woodstock Opera House. A new group, Woodstock Celebrates, has been formed to focus on the fascinat- ing history and characters who have left their imprints. For 2015, Woodstock Celebrates will focus on Orson Welles 100th birthday celebration with a film festival to be held May 6 through 9. In future years, the group plans to explore other famous Woodstock folks. Writing in 2005 about his original
review of Groundhog Day and his later thoughts, Roger Ebert (who died in 2013) admitted he underrated the movie in his original review. But, he notes, “There are a few films, and this is one of them, that burrow into our memories and become reference points. When you find yourself needing the phrase ‘This is like Groundhog Day ’ to explain how you feel, a movie has accomplished some- thing.” And then he upped the rating from 3 to 4 stars. As a result of the movie, millions of viewers have fallen in love with Woodstock and many travel from all over the world to see the places that paraded across the screen. And when they come, they also enjoy a small taste of one of America’s quintessential charm- ing towns. For more information about Woodstock, Illinois: www.woodstockil.gov
it before, with visitors from around the world wanting to experience a bit of the movie’s magic. the town has created its own fun version. Activities certainly center on February 2, but there are special events tak- ing place on the nearest weekend as well. It starts with the Awakening of the Groundhog when a mascot of Woodstock, Willie, appears on the bal- cony of the Opera House. Free Saturday and Sunday morning showings of the movie that started it all take place at the Woodstock Theater. Of course, there must be a prognostication event, and there is. A relative of the groundhog who appeared in the movie does his own prediction at 7 a.m., February 2. The fun rounds out with walking tours of the movie sites. “Saturday and Sunday about noon we have a walking tour around town with funny stories about making of the movie,” explains Rick Bellairs, a member of the Woodstock Groundhog Day Committee. Each year there are
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RV REVIEW
Small but mighty toy hauler 2015 Keystone Carbon 22
T oyhauler is a description as much as it’s a type of RV. Perhaps a better label would be “base camp” for these mobile garages. Frankly that’s what this type of trailer really is — once you get to where you want to play with your toys it’s going to be where you start and end your adventures. That’s why these units are continuing to grow in popularity and also why they have spread from high-end fifth-wheels to smaller travel trailers that don’t have to cost a bundle. The Keystone Carbon 22 is the second smallest of the Carbon lineup yet it still offers a full rear drop-down ramp with decent transport space inside for two toys. Take your pick: motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, or even non-motorized vehicles. The first thing I noticed when doing my walk-around was the ground clearance height of the trailer. I estimate it to be around 14-inches clear. When you consider where you might be towing this trailer, the height really starts to make sense. My tow vehicle was the all-new 2015 Ford F-150 and with its
four-wheel drive capability, which needs to be paired with a trailer that will go wherever the truck can go, too. But, there were a number of other design features I noticed that would also help in this goal. For starters the twin axles are almost perfectly centered on the frame meaning the tail droop was minimal. Up front the bottom third of the nose is covered with chrome checker plate—attractive and good stone-chip protection. Around the rest of the trailer that checker plate line is carried along each side in a tough plastic body mould- ing — again for protection. The underbelly of the trailer is fully enclosed too. Of course this does double duty for insula- tion of the tanks and keeping a warm floor for winter trips. Twin propane tanks and the battery are both protected by heavy plastic covers mounted on the A-frame. So these innovations will get you to your riding spot, but chances are that now you’re well off the beaten path, which means dry camping. The Carbon 22 carries 60 gallons of freshwater. The LPG twin tanks are ample to run every-
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thing for several days. Without an electrical hookup, the house battery may need some help from the truck to make it through the weekend. Where the Carbon shines is in its ability to carry 30 gallons of gas for the toys. This integrated fuel tank is as easy to fill as the truck’s fuel tank and it has an electric pump for dispensing. I think the beauty of this will really hit home when you realize you no longer need to lug (and store) gas cans. Inside the 22, the first impression is clean lines, efficiency emphasised design and simplicity. This is not a fancy trailer, instead it’s meant to do several things well. The garage bay in this trailer is also the main living space—so as a garage it has a tough easy-to-clean floor with heavy D-rings flush mounted to secure vehicles. Incidentally the inside wall to front wall length of the garage space is 12 feet 6 inches. Drop the rear wall ramp and back out and the garage bay is empty. Now, it serves its second purpose by housing two fold-down couches, which face each other with a large free- standing pedestal table in between. These are utilitarian in design; however, they are much more spacious than a dinette and easier to maneuver around as the table moves. A not- so-obvious benefit of this arrangement is that when the rear ramp is open, it offers a panoramic open-air view. To that end, a retractable screen is offered as an option. However, when night comes or weather demands closing that door, it’s a 15-second one-handed operation thanks to heavy-duty return springs. Because the spring is installed at the junction point between the bottom of the door and the trailer floor, there are no overhead torsion bars and steel cables. This
makes the door operation better and means no unintended cable obstructions. Inside you’ll note the ceiling height is more than you’d ex- pect and this is not an accident. Again, a dual-purpose design accommodates roll cages but it also allows wall-mounted cupboards—front to back—cupboards that touch the ceiling and that pretty much stay out of the way of vehicles but still offer lots of storage space. The other purpose of those fold-flat sofas is sleeping. By adding a small center cushion, a large bed is formed (as wide as the trailer). However the main bedroom is up front and is just separate enough to make for reasonable privacy and of- fers a lot of storage. The bathroom, just behind the bedroom wall, is large—in keeping with the current trend. The shower is tall and has a skylight as well as a deep floor pan. The porcelain toilet is foot-operated and the vanity sink has both a cupboard below the counter and a large opening medicine cabinet above it. Mind you, the outdoor shower will get plenty of use during milder weather. In the galley, the double sink and tall gooseneck faucet are nice, but they eat up most of the counter space. The two- burner stove should be enough for most meals; however, the microwave will probably be used more than normal in this unit—but not when dry camping. The fridge is ample and the vented hood is a must in a smaller space. For entertainment there is a 32-inch LCD TV mounted on the exterior bathroom wall and there is a prep kit in the front bedroom for a second TV, though I can’t see wanting more than one in a unit this size. Décor-wise, despite its use as a rolling garage, the finishes are nice, clean, and even have radius corners. Some of the faux wood is distressed and in general fit and finish is good. As for towing, the unit is stable and despite its height didn’t lean. Nor did it feel loose in crosswinds. I attribute this to good tires and decent axles. One other thing I noticed, with today’s tall trucks I often need a drop hitch to get a level attitude on a trailer—not so with the Carbon. It sits tall and it hooked up dead even to the truck on a straight hitch. — Howard J. Elmer
2015 KEYSTONE CARBON 22 SHIPPING WEIGHT: 5,420 pounds CARRYING CAPACITY: 5,400 pounds HITCH WEIGHT: 660 pounds LENGTH: 26 feet, 2 inches HEIGHT (W A/C): 12 feet, 3 inches
FRESHWATER: 60 gallons GRAY WATER: 30 gallons BLACK WATER: 30 gallons
LP GAS: 40 pounds AWNING: 16 feet
12’6”Garage
4’4”
Single30gal.FuelTank
O/H
O/H
Shower
Refer
Flip Sofa
TV
QueenBed 60”x80”
Flip Sofa
Wardrobe
O/H
O/H
16’ElectricAwning
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RESORT REPORT
CHECKING IN AT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE RESORT AFFILIATES
Year-round fun in Eastern Washington Old American Kampground
abundant wildlife and offers natural, historical, cultural, and scenic points of interest. “It’s a small campground and is right in the town of Newport,” said Scott Abercrombie, director of park operations. “But once you pull into the campground, you don’t even realize you’re in town.” The proximity to Newport makes it perfect for exploring the town on foot—grocery shopping, dining at a restaurant, etc. According to Abercrombie, nearby you can explore Lake Pend Oreille with a surface area of 148 square miles, which adds more opportunities for water sports. Since the resort is avail- able year-round, snow skiing, sledding, and snow boarding is not so far away at Mount Spokane and Silver Mountain
in Idaho. The campground is actually located on the border between Wash- ington and Idaho. So finding recreation areas in either state is an option. The river is one of the main points of recreation for Old American Kamp- ground, complete with a marina and opportunities for all types of boating and river swimming. The area also of- fers miles of hiking and biking trails. Stop to pitch horse shoes, have a pic- nic, or plan to meet new friends at the clubhouse. Or you can just relax at your spacious campsite. There’s year-round fun on the river. Each summer the Pend Oreille River plays host to hydroplane races, snowmobile races, the Tri-town Float Down, and the infamous Pend Oreille Poke Paddle, which is now in its 32nd year.
I f you love water and a great climate, then head your rig to Eastern Wash- ington and check in to Old American Kampground in Newport, Washington. The water component is the nearby Pend Oreille River, which is one of the few U.S. rivers that flows north. The area around the river is home to RESORT TYPE: Coast Deluxe LOCATION: Newport, Washington SEASON: Year-round WEBSITE: www.kmresorts.com/old-american-kampground/
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