B. BOOMER
lost somewhere in america
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Joined: 07/10/2004
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bigred1cav
We definitely do the "tourist travels" with our {truck}camper -- AND before that with our "35' fiver" ... Over the years, we've found that for us it's actually easier to be "tourists" with a smaller set-up 
We do a lot of "seeing the sights while we're on the road" -- so for us, we mostly allow for FOURS HOURS OF TRAVEL A DAY MAX = four hours travel and 2-4 hours sightseeing. Usually we've checked for places that sound exciting on the route we're headed BEFORE we start out ... but sometimes we're driving down the road AND see something that looks interesting AND our truck just seems to "head in that direction" 
THEN when we get to one of our major sightseeing destinations -- We CAMP out for awhile 
We've found that one of the most helpful items to have while you travel is GOOD MAPS and GREAT UP-TO-DATE TOURIST INFO - {not trying to push AAA but that's what we use -- I believe others use Woodalls and find that equally valuable}. There are others BUT regardless of which you choose  they are an invaluable resource for the "traveling tourist".
So BEFORE you leave home, lay out a map of America/Canada. Circle the points of interest and places you definitely already want to see/go - then you have a better idea of a route. AND you already have a wealth of terrific suggestions/replies  to get you started!!
Be flexible ... leave the freeway for side-trips - and IF you don't have a set schedule or rigid time frame, you can make lots of "detours for those interesting sights you spy along the way". PLUS allow for plenty of extra "days of just plain rest  which may also be called 'camping' "
Your Golden Age/Senior Interagency Pass gives you half off at most Fed/Gov Campgrounds -- usually comes to $10 or less a night to stay. The more popular places you may want to RESERVE ahead of time
http://www.recreation.gov/
Some are first come - first serve -- and that is where planning to arrive earlier in the day is a good idea.
The above link will also give you good info on National Parks/Monuments and Federal Recreational Activities.
Lastly pack a light rain slicker {which can be worn over a jacket}. The Pacific Northwest can be beautifully dry and sunny in May/June - yet also wet and chilly -- AND sometimes all in the same day!! Schools don't usually get out until mid-June in the PNW ... so you'll get a head start on the "rest of the tourists"
Have a great trip
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B. BOOMER
lost somewhere in america
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Joined: 07/10/2004
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Here's a link for fly fishing in Idaho:
http://www.idahoflyfisher.com/
fly fishing in Oregon:
http://www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=14547
fly fishing in Washington:
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/
And a link for info on fishing in Washington State
http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/
If you want to go Salmon Fishing, the best way might be to go out of either Westport or Ilwaco, WA - or Depoe Bay, OR on a Sport Charter fishing boat in the Pacific -- {the salmon river seasons have been shortened and are frequently subject to change!!}
link for Ilwaco:
http://portofilwaco.com/business-guide/
link for Wesport:
http://www.westportgrayland-chamber.org/fishing_info.htm
link for Depoe Bay
http://www.depoebaychamber.org/attractions.aspx?ID=39&Type=Fishing
Hopefully this will at least get you started. I'm sure there are many others on Open Roads who can give you more details
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tatest
Oklahoma
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Joined: 05/14/2005
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I wouldn't venture to guess how most RVs are used.
I use mine for touring, thus many of the RVers I meet are also touring. Within our RV club, about half the members tour, a couple of families snowbird, one uses his RV primarily as a "house at the lake" at whichever lake he is currently fishing for food. All of our members use their RVs for club "campouts" which are not really camping, since we spend most of our time in a clubroom and use the RVs as motel rooms.
I do camp, but that's something different, in a tent.
On the Interstate highways you should not encounter any grades or curves that your Pace Arrow can't handle. It has a much better power to weight ratio than all of the big trucks that drive these highways every day. If it is in good mechanical condition, it can handle any roads on the Interstate system, and most other primary highways.
I tend to get off the Interstate system onto the the U.S. numbered primaries and some state highways. In the mountains, grades on these may be slightly steeper, and the roads often much curvier. I still find that I can keep up with traffic, because the speed limits come way down on curvy mountain roads. The phase where it takes some special effort is downhill, where engine braking is usually needed to maintain safe speeds (often 35-45) for the curves. Speed control is less a problem on mountain Interstates with 60-70 mph curves and 6% grades, as my RV will hold 60 mph on 6% grade, in direct gear.
I've not found a lot of overnight private RV parks close to the Interstates at $10 a night. Most have been more like $20 to $30. I think they are safer than $40-60 motels, most have an owner/manager resident to keep people in line. The parks right next to the highways tend to be noisy from highway traffic, and the lower cost parks not terribly pretty, and partly filled with long-term residents.
I've found a few municipal and county parks at $5 to $10. In some places the authorities running them enforce short stays, but others have been mostly full of down and out homeless staying long term in RV wrecks or living in cars and trucks. That may or may not bother you.
I find these low cost places by stopping at state welcome centers and local tourist information offices, where there is often a listing available. There is also a "free RV parks" web site where some of these places are listed, along with a lot of other places you might stay that are not actually RV parks (like shopping center parking lots).
You may utilize any of the National Parks with campgrounds, for overnight stops, if your route takes you there. You can also use National Forest campgrounds, and National Recreation Area campgrounds. Depending on your route, you may go past a lot of them, as you get into the mountains.
If the campgrounds have opened for the season (your trip plan is for a time when it is still winter on the northern plains and in the mountains), those in the National Parks with big tourist may get very busy, but stopping early might get you space available sites. This might be very early, like in the morning when people start leaving.
I find National Forest campgrounds not so busy, they don't draw 10s of thousands of visitors per day.
I plan for about 6-8 hours per day, driving and touring, when using the RV. Some days, my drive is less than two hours. Other days, I might drive six hours, but it is the rare day that I don't find some place I want to visit for at least a couple hours. Generally, I plan for about 150-200 miles per day.
I start most trips with a detailed plan, times for all the enroute stops. That lasts about 1 or 2 days, once I decide a stop isn't worth the time and I get ahead, or I find some places to visit where I planned a six-hour drive through, and instead take four days to go that 200-300 miles.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Joined: 08/11/2007
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Pawz4me wrote:We're tourists who prefer our RV over hotel rooms. yep!! us to.
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AuntSmurf
Branson MO
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Joined: 09/07/2008
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Here's a link that may help you find an inexpensive place to stay:
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/index.aspx
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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We do both. Most of our trips are camping--going to one destination and staying put. Since the teens are still in school our touring is limited to summers only. We have taken one long (2 month) tour of the western U.S. and a couple short tours (New Orleans, and Florida). I can't say I prefer one kind of trip over another. I enjoy getting out in the woods or up to the mountains. Every summer we take a week at Topsail Hill Preserve SP. Right now I've got the itch to get on the road but it will have to wait until June, if then.
Two more years and DD16 will be off to college...
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
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nickelAF
Charleston, WV
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Joined: 02/01/2009
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Pawz4me wrote:We're tourists who prefer our RV over hotel rooms.
Yep!
07 Arctic Fox 31WRB
04 6.0L 4X4 Excursion
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nickelAF
Charleston, WV
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Joined: 02/01/2009
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snowyowl.13 wrote:We travel and stay in our 5er while we are doing so. Camping and rving are two very different beasts. We stay in a new place, we are tourists, looking around, exploring the area, whatever. I rarely refer to "camping" when staying in the rv. To me camping is cooking over an open fire, sleeping on the ground, fighting mosquitoes and bears. We are RVers not campers but we are definitely tourists.
Yep!
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Ron Butler
Federal Way WA.
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Joined: 02/29/2004
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DesertHawk and Chuck & Gail beat me to it! The suggestions of DesertHawk is right on. The Oregon coast is great and the Oregon State Parks along the coast are great. They have the premium spots over the private parks! Yeah - one for the public!!
Here's what we have learned in our 4 years of traveling.
1. As said before, tear up a schedule and throw it away. You've been controlled by that all your life, travel on your own time now, not an artifical one!
2. By all means, get OFF the interstates and use the backroads! Will see much more of the country that way. We took Highway 118 through the Davis Mts. in TX. to Fort Davis today. Much more scenery than the main road, NO trucks. Much slower, but we got in before dark, so no big deal!
3. Don't be afraid to be spontainious and flexible. If you only get 50 miles or less because you found some great museums to go through or other points of interest, so what? See #1 above!!
4. We don't like reservations. They interfer with points 1, 2 & 3 above!! Once in a while, we will make them because if he stop at a membership campground for a period of time, you need them, however, I will build some lag time in, even if we have to Walmart it a night or two before the reservation starts.
5. This hasn't come easily. Even after 4 years, we're still working at perfecting the above points! Even my very structured better half is getting more and more at ease with our loosey goosey mode of travel. Much more relaxing and enjoyable, for us!
6. The rule of thumb we heard when we started out was drive 200-250 miles a day, stay 7. As I said, sometimes that means 50-75 miles a day, stay 2-5 days for us. A lot of it depends upon the area we are in and what strikes our interest. Warmth has a lot to do with it as well!!
The main thing, relax, travel at the pace you feel comfortable with for what you want to see and do, and most important of all, have FUN while your doing it!!
Good luck.
Ron & Carolyn
Sadie - Irish Terrier
Happy - Lakeland Terrier
From sailing yacht to land yacht
KE7BZC
M/V Lothlorien
Come join us at the Northwest Spring Rally, May 14-16, or check out other rallieshere.
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geezer34nh
New Hampshire
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Joined: 10/22/2007
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We are tourists who travel in a big RV and use campgrounds. part of my career was spent traveling the world, living out of a suit case, and schleping though airport after airport. And with a walking disability that was a real pain in the ---. I love to travel. I love warm weather in the winter and our country home in New Hampshire in the summer. We have traveled all over the US being mobile 6 months out of the year. As I write this we are in the mountains just outside of Ashville North Carolina heading to Florida. This year we decided to take a month to get from New Hampshire to Florida, so we use campgrounds as waypoints to stop and use the toad to explore the local that we are in. Now we drive our home, and stop where we please, put down roots for a bit, and then move on. We call it RVing.
Brad, Lucy, and the two kitty kats Earl and Max.
Brad & Lucy aka the Geezer & The Hedgehog
1990 Foretravel 38' DP
Kitty Kats: Earl and Max
Subie the Subaru riding the car trailer
Navigation: CoPilot 9 on a lap top
ASE Master Technician
SAE
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