Friday, November 16, 2012

Living Memorial Sculpture Garden

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   We stumbled upon this place years ago and make it a point to always stop when we’re in the area. Miles from any large city and surround by trees, it’s a very peaceful. The sculptures are expressive and haunting, a tribute to soldiers without glorifying war.

  There are ten sculptures. Four can be seen without leaving your vehicle. The others are located at the ends of short paths which are very bumpy and uneven. Most wheelchair users will need to have some help.

  The parking lot is very large. Trees with branches that overhang the road make it impossible to drive a large vehicle to the sculpture site but it’s not a long walk. The road is paved but it’s pretty rough. Sculpture
41.54297, -122.23063
007004006
california1

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Siskiyou County Museum

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   Native Americans, trappers, gold miners, loggers, and pioneers – this small museum has very good displays covering the human history of the area. A little village of relocated and recreated buildings in included in the admission price.

  The parking lot is large enough for RVs if parked across the spaces.

  The museum is accessible. A stair climber lift, which requires a transfer, accesses the second floor. The village is closed for the season but we peeked through the fence and could see a least one ramp and a wide paved path.  Museum
41.72384, -122.63853
california1

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Golden Ghost Town

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  This beautiful little church, a old store building, a former residence, and a shed are all that’s left of this gold mining town. It’s state heritage site now and there are plans to restore the buildings. A few interpretive signs are located on the grounds. Hydraulic mining caused a lot of ecological damage to the surrounding area. Some restoration has been attempted. You can see the damage and restoration by walking the short trail that’s located across the street and down the hill from the store.

  Nothing is accessible but it’s possible to view the buildings from your vehicle.

  The road to Golden is paved, a bit narrow with curves. Several pullouts across from the store are large enough for RVs.  Golden
42.68168, -123.33087
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Seven Feathers Casino

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   Follow the signs for RV parking. The lot is large and flat with some noise from a large HVAC unit. The casino is a good distance away, walkable but uphill so wheelchair users will need to have some help. The employees’ lot is nearby so a shuttle with a wheelchair lift makes regular rounds.

  The casino has easy to move chairs. Most of the machines have card and money slots that are easy to reach.  Casino
42.94162, -123.28436
oregon1

Monday, November 12, 2012

Wildlife Safari

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  We’ve been to many zoos but this is the first time that we’ve visited a drive-through park. The animals have so much room and seem very content. We were happy to stay warm and dry inside the RV. :- )  Admission is half price with a zoo pass. Even if you don’t go on the drive stop in and visit the mini walk-through zoo.It’s free and has smaller animals and birds. Everything is very well maintained.

  RVs are permitted on the drive. The only vehicles not allowed are convertibles and motorcycles.

  Most of the mini zoo is accessible but some of the trails are not paved and some of the paved trails are steep.  Safari
43.14085, -123.42744
042053
oregon1

Douglas County Fairgrounds Campground

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  Close proximately to I-5 makes this campground a convenient stopping spot but it also makes it a little noisy. Some of the sites are full hookup and pull through. All have water and electric. They’re all the same price. No tables and very little room between the sites. Restrooms with showers and a dump station. There’s not an office or camp host, just a self pay station.  Campground
43.19328, -123.36011
oregon1

Museum of Natural and Cultural History

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  This is a small but very good museum. The main displays are about Native American cultural history in Oregon. A hands-on gallery about mammal evolution and paleontology is in the final stages of development. Visitors are invited to try the exhibits and post feedback on the walls or the website.

   Everything is accessible.

   I don’t recommend driving a RV around Eugene. Many of the streets are one way or dead end. The museum is located on the campus of the University of Oregon so parking is scarce. The museum has a small lot where vans or very small RVs will fit. Museum
44.04299, -123.06874
oregon1

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Valley River Mall and Riverbank Trail

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   This is a treasure for blacktop campers. Not only is overnight parking permitted but the lot gets little traffic so it’s very quiet. The best part is the easy access to a wide, paved, well maintained bike trail which follows the Willamette River.

   Overnight parking for self contained RVs is permitted for two days. A security car makes the rounds often. Visitors are given a pass and a list of basic rules.

  The bike path is one of the best – wide, flat, and peaceful with beautiful scenery. The trail totals over twelve miles with paths on both sides of the river and several bridges so that shorter loops are possible. Trail     Mall
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Friday, November 9, 2012

Jackson-Frazier Wetland Boardwalk

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  Approximately 2/3 of a mile long, this boardwalk winds through several different types of wetlands which provide a protected area for plants, birds, and other wildlife.

The boardwalk is all accessible. The unusual construction, with boards placed in the same direction as the walkway, make the ride much less bumpier than normal.

Parking is along the street which dead ends at a large turn around. Boardwalk
44.60399, -123.23989
oregon1

Polk County Fairgrounds Camping

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   Fairground camping areas are usually pretty utilitarian and this one is no exception – a gravel lot with water and electric, restrooms, and a dump station. The website states that they are opened all year but the utilities and the dump station were locked when we arrived. There aren’t any notices about where to pay and nobody ever came around to our site.

  This is a reasonably priced place to camp while visiting Salem but call the campground before you plan to arrive especially if you want water or electricity. Fairgrounds
44.924, -123.22536
oregon1