Pay the machine, please

A unique RV Park is now open at the ROLLING HILLS CASINO, located next to exit 628 of Interstate 5 in Corning (at Liberal Ave), CA. The gated RV Park welcomes RVs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the self-check-in machine -- credit card or cash accepted.The rate is $25 per night. RVs are accomodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once you've checked in, select one of the 48 full-hookup, pull-through sites. The modern RV Park is designed to accomodate self-contained big rigs...level gravel pads are 75 feet long. Tent camping is not allowed. The RV Park is walking distance to the casino and shuttle service is also available. The RV Park can be reached at 530-385-1445. For RVers who prefer to blacktop boondock, free overnight parking is still available in the truck parking lot, also walking distance to the casino.

Rolling Hills also recently opened a fantastic 18-hole golf course -- Sevillano Links. Designed by professional golfer John Daly, every hole on the course can be converted to a par 5. It can accomodate skins games. But individual RVing golfers will find the course to be fun and challenging. The golf course and the RV Park have teamed up to offer a good buy on stay 'n play packages. For more information call the golf course at 530-528-4600.

More casinos??

Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission is expected to discuss additional casino licenses at their March meeting. Specifically, expansion proponents claim that a second casino near the large Meskwaki Indian Casino resort in Tama would enhance the area as a destination resort. Meskwaki added a 52-space RV Park last year.

In llinois, the state's General Assembly is looking into expansion of gambling as a way to fund bridge, schools and road construction. However, the idea is already facing stiff opposition. Two Casino RV Parks, popular with travelers, are located in Illinois -- Casino Queen in East St. Louis (convenient to I-70/I-55) and Empress RV Park in Joliet (convenient to I-80.)

Massachussetts Governor Deval Patrick is still looking for support for his proposal to license three resort casinos. He recently announced that more than $100 million in casino licensing fees would be passed along to financially-strapped cities and towns in the state in order to cover budget shortfalls. The state does not currently have any casinos.

Feeble casino action in Florida

RVing snow birds wintering in Florida won't find "real" Vegas-style casino action at the land-based Indian casinos in the state. Tampa's Seminole Hard Rock is still running Class II gaming, which means their slots are actually electronic versions of bingo...and (look out!) the machines appear to be heavily stacked in the casino's favor. The only table game offered is poker at low limit tables. RVers will not find a welcome at the Tampa Hard Rock, either. Because of space limitations, the Hard Rock does not permit RVs in their parking lot at any time. Basically the same holds true for the Seminole casinos on the east side of the state. Their parking areas are congested and none of the Florida casinos has an RV Park. The one Indian casino that still offers free overnight parking is Miccosukee Casino on SR-997, just south of US-41 in Miami. It's a convenient stopping-off place for RVers headed down into the Keys, especially since the Wal-Mart in Florida City has no overnight parking signs posted. But Miccosukee, like the other Indian casinos in Florida, is definitely not Vegas-style.

For slot machine fans, there are three "racinos," casinos at race tracks, in Broward County (Hallendale and Pompano Beach), and their machines are Vegas-style. However, the table games are limited to poker -- no other pit/table games allowed. Also, no RV parks at the racinos and the parking lots can be congested, RVers in Florida looking for a casino hiatis are better off taking the trip to Mississippi -- either the Gulf Coast or Tunica. Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis and Sam's Town, Hollywood and the Grand in Tunica all have nice accomodations for RVs.

More Casino Getaways for Snow Birds

RVing Snow Birds are nested in for the winter season across the Snow Belt. When it's time for a casino getaway, here are additional casino RV Parks to consider:

Hollywood RV Park in Bay St Louis, MS is the only casino RV Park on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Everything is new on the Gulf (since they had to rebuild from scratch following Hurricane Katrina.) The RV Park at Hollywood Casino features about 100 full hookup mostly shaded sites. There is 24 hour shuttle service to the modern casino that also has four restaurants. The golf course is beautiful and challenging. The legendary Pete Fountain provides entertainment every Tuesday and Wednesday evening. This month temperatures are in the 70's during the day and 60's at night. The RV Park is very popular, so advanced reservations are suggested. The Good Sam discount is extended.

Pechanga RV Park in Temecula, CA has a full service RV Park with a heated pool and spa. Shuttle service is provided to the casino 24 hours. There are eight dining venues from fine dining to informal and quick snacks. Live entertainment is featured on weekends and you can check out the lineup on the website. The casino has an extensive non-smoking area. Pechanga is located in the beautiful Temecula Valley where outdoor activities abound. The Temecula Wine County is nearby. Advance reservations are suggested -- The RV Park extends Good Sam, AAA and AARP discounts.

Post-Holiday Getaway Offer

Coushatta RV Resort in Kinder, Louisiana -- a favorite casino destination for Winter Texans -- is offering "Stay 3 Nights / Get 4th & 5th Nights Free" with a coupon that can be printed directly from their web site (gccoushatta.com.) The RV Park at Coshatta has roomy full hookup sites and there's reliable 24-hour shuttle service throughout the resort. We've stayed at Coushatta's RV Park many times...it's a comfortable place to just kick back and relax for a few days. The resort is in a quiet rural area and the RV Park is somewhat removed from the noise of the casino/hotel complex. For a January getaway, the free nights offer is attractive. Temperatures in the area this month are in the 70's daytime and 50's at night. The resort has a challenging golf course, several fairly nice restaurants, live entertainment and (of course) the casino. Texas Hold Em tournaments in the Poker Room.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, y'all.

Jack & I send all good wishes to everyone for a happy & healthy 2008 highlighted by safe, fun and exciting travels. We plan to add a lot of miles to the odometer on our rig this year... and you can be sure that a lot of our stops will include casinos. With fuel prices as high as they are, we'll be looking for some good ways to save on other travel-related expenses. The free overnight parking offered at most casinos can help bring down the averages on camping fee expenses.

Nearly 100 casinos located within 2 miles of an interstate exit provide an opportunity for safe and secure free overnight parking without having to burn too much fuel to get there.

This being the week for New Years resolutions, it might be a good idea to review the eight simple rules for proper overnight parking etiquette:

1. Stay one night only.
2. Obtain permission from a qualified individual.
3. Obey posted regulations.
4. No awnings, chairs or barbecue grills.
5. Do not use hydraulic jacks on soft surfaces, including asphalt.
6. Always leave an area cleaner than you found it.
7. If feasible, patronize the establishment as a form of thank you.
8. Be safe. Be aware of your surroundings and leave if you feel unsafe.

Responsible and considerate blacktop boondockers ensure that casinos will continue their hospitality toward RVers.