Category: Small Town America
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Puttin’ on the Ritz
We left Wednesday morning with the Channeled Scablands in our sights – a 225 mile return to eastern Washington’s Coulee City, maybe play 9 holes at The Vic or take a dip in Baker Lake for old times sake. Ten days and 1446 miles to get from Tacoma Washington to Taos New Mexico or about…
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This Seat Is Saved in Coulee
The extensive list of rules for the Coulee City Campground are posted next to the computerized kiosk that accepts bills or credit cards for payment. Pick an empty spot. Park your rig. Pay for your spot. Once paid, you have one hour to establish your camp. It’s so easy to do, and it turns out,…
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Northrup and the Vic in Scablands
Was there ever a time when the Grand Canyon was NOT a major tourist destination? We’ve been there a couple of times and it is awe-ways inspiring. It was also hard to find a parking, the trails were crowded and a camping spot was out of the question; those were reserved 11 months in advance….
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Coulee-0
Nine out of the Top 10 hikes in Glacier National Park are on the covid-closed East side with no indication of opening. With an on-the-fly itinerary in play we narrowed our options … 200 miles south to Teton and Yellowstone, continuing south thru Colorado and New Mexico through the summer or 800 miles west to…
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Where there’s a Wills, there’s a way
There’s a fine line between brave and stupid. When a cold snap hit Cumberland on Friday with temperatures dropping into the freeze zone, most Rocky Gap campers hunkered down into hibernation mode, or left. These campers bundled up with every piece of winter clothing in the coach for a day of mountaintops and Friday night…
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Bird, Bet and Bike at Rocky Gap Casino and Resort
The injured birds of prey at Rocky Gap State Park may not get altitude. But, they certainly give attitude at the campground aviary. While there are no regular visitation hours, you can stop by in the morning. Arrive with a staff member during feeding time. Go Eagles! Eat the Patriots! Gamble at Rocky Gap Casino…
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Cumberland by eBike
Eight miles of rolling hills separate Rocky Gap from historic Cumberland. 10 minutes on I-68N and you’re downtown ordering ‘two wit’ at Curtis’s Famous Coney Dogs. 30 minutes on your pedal assist e-bike and you’re riding a two-wheel friendly route with a rolling tour of a geographically significant city on the comeback trail. Hill Helper…
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Blazing Trails at Rocky Gap State Park
Eight miles and 4 hours of see your breath hiking with nothing but the sound of crispy brown leaves crunching underfoot gives mind and body the freedom of space and time to wander. It can be a clear your head or get inside it moment. It all depends on how you choose to channel your…
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Maryland Mountain Mission
It’s hard to find fresh lacinato kale (LK) in Bethesda. Safeway and Harris Teeter used to carry it, but wilted greens don’t sell so they stopped stocking it. Trader Joe sells it cut in a bag under the name Tuscan Kale, but it’s rib-rich, which is the inedible part that is banned in all recipes. …
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Tangier Island: The sinking softshell capital of the world
Mainland Marylanders know that crossing the Bay Bridge on a Friday afternoon in the summer can be a slow and torturous process but if you want to jump waves and crack crabs it’s all part of Goin’ down the Ocean, Hon. On a Wednesday in September it’s clear sailing and instead of destination Ocean City,…