The month of November is plentiful when it comes to special days to celebrate. In addition to Veterans Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving Day (November 24), November also celebrates manatees, sweet potatoes, guacamole, Native American heritage, and much more. Here are a few ideas where you can camp and celebrate some of November’s highlights.
November has been designated as Manatee Awareness Month since 1979 when then-Governor Bob Graham declared the month as such and specified that Florida designate manatee protection zones in the areas where the manatees gathered during the winter. There are plenty of places to see manatees in Florida and plenty of places to camp nearby to these great experiences. Manatees can be seen at “The Seas with Nemo and Friends” exhibit at Walt Disney’s Epcot Center (consider camping at Lake Magic, Orlando, Sherwood Forest or Tropical Palms); Ellis Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (book at stay at Crystal Isles RV Resort in nearby Crystal River); and the Miami Seaquarium (make a reservation at Miami Everglades RV Park).
Did you love model trains as a child; or perhaps that hobby remains fascinating to the grown-up you, as well? If model trains are your thing, you should definitely celebrate National Model Railroad Month in November. San Diego is home to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum which is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A wide variety of exhibits are spread over the 27,000 square-foot museum, which is one of the largest indoor model railroad museums in the world. For details, visit sdmrm.org. A nearby camping choice would be Pio Pico in Jamul.
Of course, a trip to Washington DC’s National Air and Space Museum would be a great way to recognize National Aviation History Month, which is recognized in November and a camping reservation at Harbor View would be the perfect place to stay for a day trip into DC to explore the museum. From the Wright Brothers to outer space travel, all kinds of aviation history wonders are exhibited here. For details, visit airandspace.si.edu.
November 17 is National Take a Hike Day and we’ve got a few ideas where you can do just that while camping with us. Book a stay at Yosemite Lakes and try a few of the trails within Yosemite National Park. Easy hikes include the Sentinel Dome Trails (2.2 miles roundtrip) or the Mirror Lake Trail (2 miles round trip). Georgia’s Callaway Gardens has a wide variety of options for nature trail hikes and is less than three miles from Pine Mountain RV Resort. Nearby F.D. Roosevelt State Park is another option with plenty of hiking trails ranging in skill level. Enjoy the beauty of the Puget Sound area in late fall and celebrate National Take a Hike Day by planning a camping trip to Chehalis and taking in the trails in the area with beautiful mountain views to boot!
To recognize and honor Native American Heritage Month, visit Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park (camp with us at Rancho Oso) or the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC (plan to stay at Harbor View in nearby Colonial Beach, Virginia). Pigeon Forge Landing is a little over an hour’s drive to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, North Carolina, which is open seven days a week.
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