News Briefs

Oregon Renews RV Friendly Signs
Businesses that want to attract RVers in Oregon can now apply to add an RV Friendly symbol to their listings on the blue signboards maintained by the Oregon Travel Information Council on Oregon highways. The symbol is a bright yellow circle with the black letters RV.

The program applies to signs on Interstate 5 from the California border to just south of Portland, on Highway 101 on the Oregon coast, and on highways from the coast to the Cascade Mountains and into the Bend-Redmond area. To qualify, a business must meet certain standards, such as having two or more parking spaces that are 65 feet long and 12 feet wide, an ample turning radius, and adequate clearance under canopies.

The Federal Highway Administration has authorized Oregon to conduct the RV Friendly program for two years, building on a small test program that was conducted on a portion of Interstate 5 a year ago. The project originated with Frank Brodersen of Springfield, Oregon, who conceived the idea of using highway signs to alert RVers to gas stations, restaurants and other businesses that can accommodate RVs. For information about the program, contact the Travel Information Council at (800) 574-9397.

Road to Whistler Stays Open
The Sea-to-Sky Highway is being widened and improved in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Games, but the work is having only limited impact on vacation travel between Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia, according to tourism officials in Whistler.

The road is open without delay Friday through Sunday, but motorists can expect one-hour delays Monday through Thursday in October and November. However, there will be no road closures during Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 24-29, or during the months of December, January and February. Links to highway travel information can be found at www.mywhistler.com.

Nevada Offers Prize to RVers
RV travelers who visit Nevada from now through July 29 of next year can enter a drawing to win a $7,500 camping trailer. The winner of the “Haulin’ in Nevada Sweepstakes” will be selected in August.

The grand price is a Haultent, a trailer that has a flat top that can be used to transport gear such as ATVs and kayaks without needing extra racks. The trailer converts into a camping tent. The drawing is open to non-residents of Nevada who mail an entry form postmarked in Nevada to the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Entry forms are available in publications and at www.travelnevada.com.

Pro Golfers Travel in RVs
Nineteen players on the Professional Golf Association tour are traveling on the tour in motorhomes this year, compared with just three a few years ago. The trend was noted in recent articles in the New York Times and Golf Digest.

Pro golfer Rory Sabbatini said that being able to travel in a motorhome with his wife and infant son “has allowed me to relax and play more events without getting fatigued or stressed out.” Golfer Davis Love III told Golf Digest: “I’ve got my bed, my pillows, my satellite card, my underwear and socks on the RV. Having all your clothes in the motorhome and not having to pack suitcases, you can get used to that. Plus we can take our motorcycle. It fits right underneath (in the RV’s storage area).”

Nevada Travel Guide Is Available
The Nevada Commission on Tourism has published a new travel booklet called the Wide Open Adventure Guide. The 107-page, pocket-sized booklet lists outdoor activities, directions for getting there, where to find lodging and other information. It contains sections on hiking, biking, climbing, backcountry, off-roading, water sports and air sports. The guide can be ordered by calling (800) NEVADA-8 or can be seen online at www.travelnevada.com.

Camping Open at Texas Speedway
At press time, Texas Motor Speedway reported that good camping spots were still available for its Championship Weekend, Oct. 15-17, when the Indy Racing League IndyCar series champion will be crowned. The Chevy 500K will be run on Oct. 17 and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Silverado 350 K on Oct. 17. For camping information, contact the speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.

Nuclear Testing Now a Tourist Stop
The Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas shows visitors how atomic weapons were developed during 982 nuclear tests on the Nevada desert 60 miles northwest of Las Vegas from 1951 to 1992. Tests were conducted above ground until a 1963 treaty required underground testing.

Visitors to the museum can enter a simulated underground testing tunnel, view films, watch detonations in the Ground Zero Theater and learn about radiation monitoring. The museum is on the first floor of the Frank H. Rogers Science and Technology Building at the Desert Research Institute at 755 E. Flamingo Road. Exhibits currently are housed in a temporary gallery, while permanent exhibits are being installed. The grand opening of the permanent exhibit area is tentatively set for early 2005. The museum is sponsored by the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation. For information, see www.ntshf.org.

KOA Conducts Camper Study
Campers in the U.S. and Canada spend more than 107 million nights each year in commercial campgrounds, according to a new study commissioned by Kampgrounds of America (KOA) of Billings, Montana.

More than 5,500 households were contacted for the study, which was conducted by Precision Research of Phoenix, Arizona, from April to June. The study found that two-thirds of the users of commercial campgrounds are RVers.

About 11 percent of all households in the U.S. have camped overnight in the past year, the study found. And one-quarter of those said they had either camped during a family reunion or group get-together. About a third of RVers were under 45, with the average age being 52.

Tread Lightly Opens New Campaign
Tread Lightly, a nonprofit organization based in Ogden, Utah, has develop a new public service announcement campaign, entitled “Play Nice,” to encourage outdoor enthusiasts to protect the environment.

The focus of the campaign is to educate recreationists to stay on designated roads and trails. The print ads are designed to be printed in magazines, maps, posters, brochures and other publications. For information, see www.treadlightly.org or call (800) 966-9900.