Tawas Vacation Planning

I was going to dedicate this entry to all the people in the midwest, but, the truth is, everyone should take a road trip to Michigan and visit Tawas Bay, also known as the "Cape Code of the Midwest." You haven't heard of Tawas Bay? Well, you're not alone. But, the word is certainly spreading that Tawas Bay is a gem of a vacation spot.

When I heard that Tawas Bay is considered one of the best sailing areas in the United States, I had to include it in my vacation planning. And, I have to say, I certainly wasn’t disappointed.

Tawas Bay is located on Lake Huron in Northeast Michigan, just a three-hour drive from the Detroit area. The winds and protected waters are what makes Tawas Bay so good for sailing. A limestone reef was built in Tawas Bay in 1987, which helped make it one of the finest fishing areas as well.

I went for the sailing, but, oddly enough, ended up having a great time fishing. It was my first time and I have to admit, I wasn’t half bad. I actually caught something. Well, to be honest, my pole caught something. When I felt a fish on the line I quickly gave it to my friend to take over. I’m told I caught a perch.

Fish are quite plentiful in Tawas Bay. You’ll find perch, walleye (a really mean-looking fish if you ask me), brown trout, lake trout, northern pike, bass, coho and Chinook salmon.

Tawas Bay is also home to Tawas Point State Park, which features campsites with electric hookups, modern toilets and showers. In short, my kind of camping. There’s a playground for the kids, and areas where metal detecting is allowed.

While planning a vacation to Tawas, make sure you make time for the Tawas Point Lighthouse, built in 1876. The Tawas Point Lighthouse is open for tours on the weekends, Memorial Day through Labor Day. If you visit the lighthouse, do make sure you take the tour, which allows you to walk to the top of the tower for an incredible view of Tawas Point. Standing 70 feet above Lake Huron, the view from the lighthouse tower will take your breath away.

If you have kids, you might want to plan your vacation to Tawas Bay for the second weekend of June, during the Tawas Point Celebration Days. Many children’s activities are planned during this time, as well as demonstrations of black-smithing, wood carving and weaving, as well as guided hikes and a fishing derby.

My vacation to Tawas Bay is certainly one I’ll take again. Before planning your next vacation, take a look at Tawas Bay, the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”

Grand Canyon Road Trip

Every American (okay, every human for that matter) owes it to him/herself to head to Arizona and visit the Grand Canyon at least once in their lifetimes. It's truly amazing to see how a little trickle of water eventually turned into the Colorado River, which eventually carved out the Grand Canyon.

You can approach a trip to the Grand Canyon in many different ways. One way is to stay within the park at one of the lodges on the South Rim and take time to experience all the different things the park has to offer. The South Rim is the part of the Grand Canyon most people are familiar with because it's in lower elevation and can be accessed all year round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May, and is not as visited as the South Rim.

For those staying on the South Rim, there are numerous trails down the canyon, as well as a trail along the top of the Canyon. If you're staying on top in one of the lodges and are planning a day hike into the inner Canyon, just be aware that you probably cannot make it down and back in one day. A good day hike would be about half-way down and then up.

Some people choose to hike down one day and either camp at the bottom or stay in the Phantom Ranch. Be aware, however, that you have to make arrangements well in advance of your trip if you choose to stay at the bottom. Campers require a backcountry permit, and Phantom Ranch is usually booked months ahead. Permits are sometimes available on that day, but why risk it? For reservations at the Phantom Ranch, you can call 888-297-2757.

The benefit of staying within the park is the ability to take your time to view the magnificent Canyon from different viewing points, which you can access by walking the rim trail or taking a shuttle from point to point. For those of you staying for several days, a trip to the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon would be a lovely addition, though the drive is about 4 - 5 hours long. From mid-May to Mid-October a shuttle provides service from the South Rim to the North Rim.

Some people prefer to view the Canyon and move on. There are numerous areas in Northern Arizona where one can stay and take a side trip to the Grand Canyon, such as Sedona and Flagstaff. While such locations are still lengthy drives (an hour from Flagstaff, two from Sedona), it's still close enough for a day trip. Both Sedona and Flagstaff are lovely places to stay, with Sedona being the most 'touristy" of the two towns. Flagstaff, to me, is the quirkier of the two, perhaps because it is a "university town," home to Northern Arizona University.

Sedona and Flagstaff are also visually different. Flagstaff sits amongst a pine forest, while Sedona is in "red rock" country. Sedona abounds with numerous high-end resorts, galleries and expensive eateries. Flagstaff is cheaper all-around, with inexpensive lodging and restaurants. Both are close enough for a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Gas Saving Tips

Road trips are great. They allow you travel to out-of-the-way places and see the places you'd miss by plane or train. But, what about the cost of gas? And, where do you go?

I'm constantly in search of interesting places in the USA to travel by car, and will share these places as I find them. I came across an interesting article about saving gas, written by an RVer. See if any of the gas-saving tips can help you.

RV Fuel Economy

By Mark Polk

I for one am not going to let sky rocketing fuel prices change my plans for using and enjoying our RV. So, with that said and a motor home that averages 7 to 8 miles to a gallon I am forced to find ways to save on fuel rather than waiting and hoping that fuel prices will go down. After a little research I was surprised to learn how easy it can be to improve our fuel economy. Whether you’re towing a trailer or driving a motor home there are many ways to improve fuel economy. By performing some simple maintenance procedures and changing our driving habits a little we can save a significant amount of fuel.

One shocking discovery was that for each 5mph you go over 60mph is equivalent to paying 10 cents more per gallon. So if you’re traveling down the Interstate at 75 mph add 30 cents to the price on the pump! Wow, that can add up quick. If fuel prices drop to $2.65 a gallon you’ll still be paying $2.95 a gallon.

So how can we improve our fuel economy?

Talk to other RVers that have a motor home or tow vehicle and trailer similar to yours. Compare gas mileage. If there is a significant difference compare notes and try to determine what makes the difference.

Something as simple as a clean air filter can improve your fuel economy up to 10%.

Checking and adjusting your tire pressure to the proper pressure can increase fuel economy by 3%, not to mention preventing premature tire wear and failures or blowouts caused by over or under-inflated tires. Tires can look normal when they are seriously under-inflated. Use a quality air pressure gauge and check your tires when they’re cold, before traveling more than one mile.

Excessive idling wastes fuel. If you’re going to be sitting still for more than a couple of minutes shut the engine off.

Using overdrive whenever you can saves fuel by decreasing the engines speed.

Using the cruise control whenever possible saves fuel because it keeps the vehicle at a constant speed rather than variable speeds. This applies when you are driving on a relatively flat surface. Keep in mind the over 60 mph rule applies here too.

Keeping the vehicle tuned up and in top running condition saves fuel. A poorly tuned engine can lower fuel economy by 10 to 20%.

Poor emissions and / or a faulty oxygen sensor can cause a 40% reduction in fuel economy. Can you believe that? A 40% REDUCTION.

Following the recommended service and maintenance schedules will save you fuel.

Using the recommended grade of motor oil will increase fuel economy by 1 to 2%.

Using synthetic oils will increase fuel economy by 2 or more percent.

Speeding and rapid acceleration reduces fuel economy anywhere from 5 to 33% depending on your individual driving habits.

Added weight that you don’t need reduces fuel economy significantly. We’re all guilty of this one!

Only using the dash air conditioner when it is absolutely necessary will save a significant amount of fuel.

Use regular gas unless your owner’s manual specifies a higher octane gas. You’re just throwing money away when you pay the extra money for premium fuel.

We may have no control over the prices at the pump, but as you can see we have total control over getting the most out of the fuel we put in our tank.

Happy Camping!


Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101


About the Author:

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. Sign up for your free "RV Education 101" Newsletter http://rveducation101.com/email/
Mark Polk is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three, specializing in wheeled and track vehicle fleet maintenance operations. In addition to owning and operating RV Education 101, (based in North Carolina) since 1999, Polk also has a very extensive RV background working in RV service, sales and management.

Polk has a degree in Industrial Management Technology and his 30 plus years of experience in maintenance includes working as an RV technician, a wheeled vehicle and power generation mechanic, an automotive maintenance technician, Battalion and Brigade level Maintenance Officer, an RV sales manager and also in the RV financing department as the Finance & Insurance manager. http://www.rveducation101.com/

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