RV Nomad Life | Best Kept Secret Campground In Kansas!
They always say Kansas is flat and boring, but in reality, it has some of the best camping in America. Come check out Hillsdale State Park and why it is one of our favorite places to camp in the United States!
We stayed in the Sunflower Campground at Hillsdale State Park. This park is host to a wide variety of activities including camping, boating, fishing, archery, a shooting range, beach, primitive camping, and full hook up RV Campgrounds. They have an excellent cell signal which made it the perfect place to get some work done and relax on the beautiful prairies of Kansas. Each site has a fire pit and a picnic table. The sites are also oversized. Many of the RVers here have boats next to their RVs and still have space! We lived about 30 minutes away for years and never even knew this was here. If you are looking for a good spot to hang out near Kansas City, we highly recommend this location. We paid $160/week.
Check out their website for more information:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
▶About Us: John is a 3x Combat Veteran (Army), Laura was a Veterinary Technician, in 2016 they downsized and sold nearly everything they owned and moved into a 5th Wheel (Cedar Creek), bought a dually and left their former lives behind for travel and adventures. They travel with one cat (Socks) and 2 Dogs (Bullet and Kimber) all over the United States. Their rig went back to the factory in 2017, helped film a movie were cast in the movie RV Nomads, and wrote a book called #RVLife: Seeking Happiness Through A Nomadic Life. #RVLife is the first in a series written about their journey to freedom by bucking societal norms and living their own adventures.
Signing Event Details:
Blog:
Travel Plans:
▶Playlists
Season 1:
Season 2:
Season 3:
Season 4:
Solar Setup:
Going Off Grid:
Becoming Nomads:
Colab:
RV Nomads Movie:
▶Our Book:
▶Channel Swag:
▶Gear Kits:
▶Patreon: patreon.com/hebardstravels
▶Website: hebardstravels.com
▶Facebook: facebook.com/hebardstravels
▶Instagram: instagram.com/hebardstravels
▶Twitter: twitter.com/hebardstravels
▶Pinterest: pinterest.com/hebardstravels
▶RVillage:
▶Filming Gear:
Cannon 80D DSLR
GoPro Hero6
iPhone 8+
Reolink Argus 2.0
HaloView MC7108
▶Editing Programs and Equipment
iMac 2015
Final Cut Pro X
Epidemic Sound
Tube Buddy
▶Camping Memberships:
Xscapers
Boondocker’s Welcome
Faithful Parking
Campendium
AllStays
Access Pass
Thousand Trails
Affiliates can be found by visiting:
Kansas State Parks
Need a getaway? How about spending time at one of the 26 Kansas state parks.
Unplug, and make the time family time. Enjoy Kansas waters, make s’mores under sparkling skies, and then watch the sunrise the next morning from your cabin porch.
Save money when you add a Kansas State Parks Passport to your vehicle registration. Adventures await, in Kansas State Parks. Visit KSOutdoors.com for more information.
Wilson State Park Trip 2019
Tent camping in Wilson State Park, Harrison, MI 2019
Kansas State Parks 2018
In a nation of natural treasures, Kansas’ 28 state parks shine like diamonds.
Some are amid steep, timbered slopes ringed in bus-sized boulders. Others are where prairie grasses and wild flowers stretch towards 10-mile horizons.
It’s no wonder some rank in the top one percent nationally for scenic beauty.
Hundreds of miles of trails can take you places where the steepness of the grade, as well as the view, can literally leave you breathless. There are family-friendly and A.D.A. trails so all can enjoy “look at that!” sights.
Along lakes with clean beaches, most parks are perfect places for a child to catch their first sunfish, or where avid anglers might hook a fish of boat-towing proportions.
You can spend nights in cabins or RVs nicer than many homes. Or stay in tents at secluded spots where a doe and her wobbly-legged twin fawns may be your only neighbors. Sleep will come easy with the relaxing sounds of waves washing ashore and whippoorwills.
We hope you’ll spend some time in Kansas state parks. You’ll find they’re diamonds, one and all.
Visit TravelKS.com for travel information, and inspiration for your next adventure.
MO State Parks Centennial Passport: #15 Meramec State Park
A trip to Sullivan MO to visit Meramec State Park
camping at Sandy Shores @ Kanopolis Lake in Kansas
All the pics shot at Sandy Shores @ Kanopolis Lake in Kansas while we camped there.........
My RV Life 88: Free RV Parking at Meade City Park, Kansas
I made it to Meade, Kansas!! And guess what I found...a FREE, did I say FREE? Why yes I did. Meade City Park is a free RV overnight parking area spread across a few acres of land. It was wide open because it was just me and some kids playing. The facilities were clean and heated, their playground was amazing, and the weather was cold. Lol.
You can see all of the activities that happen at Meade City Park here:
Take an adventure and get out and explore!
Keep A Smile ~
Schooniebird
* Follow me on:
Instagram:
Twitter:
* Follow my Journey Through my Blogs and Journal Entries here:
#schooniebird #practicingretirement #myrvlife
Leaving the Cold for Milford Lake in Kansas
Hi, we are Marshall and Tonya and our 2 girls (Shih Tzu's) Phoebe and Penny. We made the decision to sell our home and all our belongings, and downsize to a Class C Tioga RV FULL TIME. We will be documenting our journey along the way, so we hope you will watch and enjoy our story as we travel along wherever the road takes us.
Join us on Patreon
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Amazon Product Links:
Instant Pot -
George Foreman Grill -
Graniterock 12 Pan -
Cuisinart Microwave Popcorn Maker -
Silicone Ice Trays -
Flexible Plastic Cutting Board -
Pampered Chef Silicone Prep Bowls -
AcuRite Wireless Thermometer -
TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver
Novatel Verizon Wireless Jetpack 7730L 4G LTE Advanced Mobile Hotspot -
Nest Security Camera -
weBoost Drive 4G-X RV -
The Green Pet Shop Dog Cooling Pad
EternaBond Sealant Tape
Quake Hold
Magic Erasers
Pocket Hose
Industrial Strength Velcro
Knife Magnet
LED Light Switch
Magnetic Spice Tins
Moisture Eliminator
Filmed on
Canon EOS 80D
GoPro Hero 5 Black
SJ4000 Plus Waterproof Sport Action Camera
Galaxy S8 Plus
Lens’
Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Wide Angle Lens
Canon EF-S 8114B002 18-55mm IS STM
Mics
Rode VMPR VideoMic Pro R with Rycote Lyre Shockmount With Rode DeadCat VMPR and 9V Rechargeable NiMH Battery
BOYA BY M1 Lavalier Microphone
Stabilizers
Feiyu G5 V2 Updated 3 Axis Splash Proof Handheld Gimbal for GoPro
Opteka X-GRIP Professional Camera / Camcorder Action Stabilizing Handle- Black
Music: youtube.com/audiolibrary
Highway Girl by RIOT
Around Kansas - State and National Historical Sites in KS - Nov. 18, 2015
(Deb) Welcome back and Frank and I are always encouraging you to get out and see the state and there's so much to see and do of course. And again, following up on a theme of what to get people for Christmas, there are memberships available at the friends' groups that support a lot of our state and national historic sites. But there's a few in particular I wanted to share with you today. And the Parks and Tourism asked me to write a blog for them a while back and we'll share that link for you. They wanted me to name my ten favorite sites and I thought, well that's the way to make enemies, you know, win friends and influence people. So, what I did was preface what I wrote about by saying if it's a state site or if it's a national site, it's so designated for a good reason. And those are places that you just ought to see. Period. So, with that being said, what's your favorite state or national site? (Frank) Oh boy... (Deb) What's one you love to go see? (Frank) Well I think, the Tall Grass Prairie. (Deb) Oh yea. (Frank) I mean it's a beautiful, beautiful place. It's been well preserved. And you can go there and just kind of spend a couple hours or you can go there and actually spend a week if you want because of all the hiking and camping trails and all that. And any time of the year is a good time to go there because it changes with the seasons. So, Tall Grass Prairie, I think is...now that's a national site... (Deb) It's beautiful. (Frank) It's a beautiful place. (Deb) It's beautiful. When my sister came out to visit a few years ago, that's one of the places I took her to because it so much exemplifies the prairie and that era, when the farmhouse was built there. So that's a beautiful, beautiful site. Now, one of my favorite state sites is the Pawnee Indian site, in Republic County, because it's on an actual site of an Indian Village. It's so unique. It's one that is sort of off the beaten path So, a lot of people don't pass it every day. You have to sort of be on your way to get there. But that's one, everybody's got to see that one at some point. So, let's take a look at a few others. The story of Kansas is interpreted through dozens of historic sites around the state. Each tells one piece of the story whether it is westward expansion, the struggle for statehood, or the rich and varied cultures that have called Kansas home. There are four National Park Service sites: Forts Scott and Larned, Brown V Board, and Nicodemus. In addition, the Tallgrass Prairie Natural Preserve celebrates the grassland ecosystem of the Great Plains. Five nationally recognized trails cross Kansas: the Santa Fe , with more miles in Kansas than any other state; the Pony Express; the Oregon; the California; and Lewis and Clark. Signage and sites along the way, in addition to pre-recorded audio tours, are available for the explorer. The Kansas State Historical Society administers several sites including its museum and the newly restored statehouse. They are Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Fort Hays, Grinter Place, Hollenberg Station, Kaw Mission, Shawnee Indian Mission, Pawnee Indian Museum, Red Rocks, Home of William Allen White, and Mine Creek Battlefield. Self-guided sites are Iowa and Sac & Fox Mission, Pawnee Rocks, and Marais des Cygnes Massacre site. Partner sites are Cottonwood Ranch, the First Territorial Capital, Goodnow House, and the John Brown Museum. Merely listing these names gives you an idea of the variety of eras and stories represented at each of these places. Many of them have Friends Organizations and gift shops. Support those with your dollars. Take the kids. Take the grandkids. Pick up a National Park Service passport and encourage your family to begin collecting the stamps from across the nation, Kansas first. Often, we plan trips to experience something new when we haven't even experienced what we have here at home. Click your heels and repeat, There's no better history than in Kansas, There's no better history than in Kansas, there's no better history than in Kansas! (Frank) Gee, we're out of time again. So well, I'm Frank. (Deb) I'm still Deb. (Frank) And we'll see you, somewhere... (Both) Around Kansas.
KANSAS VACATION | MrConstantComments Vlog
SUBSCRIBE to the vlog:
Exploring Kansas | Home State Surprises | RV Travel | Ep. 1
How can you live nearly your whole life in one state and leave so many treasures undiscovered?
One of the first things we learned when we started traveling in our RV is the states we grew up in are more exciting than we ever imagined. Growing up as a Girl Scout in Kansas, I thought I'd pretty well explored the state. A recent trip to central Kansas proved I was very wrong!
We discovered canyons, unique rock formations, ghost towns and more at our recent trip to Kanopolis Sate Park.
------------------------------- [In This Video] ------------------------------------
Kanopolis State Park:
------------------------------- [Social Media] ------------------------------------
Facebook:
Instagram:
Twitter:
On the Web:
------------------------------------- [Credits] --------------------------------------
Music by Epidemic Sound (
--------------------------------- [Other Stuff] ----------------------------------
~Trail Less Traveled, All Rights Reserved
~Do your own research before making travel or RV decisions. We are not professionals or experts in RVing or travel. These videos were created solely for entertainment purposes.
~We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Camping in Kansas
Tyler De Jong hitchhikes across the entire friggin' United States!
Finding Winter in Kanopolis State Park
Earlier this winter Mountain Hardwear sent me one of their excellent jackets along with some other goodies, with the goal of going out and exploring in some winter conditions. Unfortunately, since I am in Kansas for graduate school right now it needed to be a quick adventure, and needed to be somewhere close. Kansas doesn't exactly have intense winter conditions, but we made do with what we could find and I was able to test how the jacket responded to intense wind at least. I shot these time-lapse videos while we were at our campsite, setting up, enjoying the fire, and breaking down camp.
Music is Dry Air by Podington Bear (podingtonbear.com/)
Migration Stories: Don Stull-Why Did People Move to Southwest Kansas?
The Migration Stories Project at the University of Kansas presents: An Interview with Don Stull.
In this segment, Dr. Stull answers the question, “What brought all of these people to southwest Kansas?”
Don Stull, Professor Emeritus of Sociolcultural Anthropology at the University of Kansas and author of the book Slaughterhouse Blues, is an applied cultural anthropologist who has conducted research throughout the United States. For the past 20 years his work has focused on the meat and poultry industry in North America, rural industrialization and rapid growth communities, and industrial agriculture's impact on farmers and rural communities. Don is currently studying the impact of the 2004 termination of the federal tobacco program on tobacco farmers in western Kentucky. Don was editor-in-chief of Human Organization, the leading international journal of applied social science, from 1999 through 2004, and president of the Society for Applied Anthropology from 2005 to 2007.
This web series is a part of the Migration Stories project and is sponsored by the Kansas African Studies Center and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Migration Stories seeks to gather stories in various forms about both the experience of immigration for Africans and the impact of changing demographics for Midwestern communities. Throughout our history, personal stories have played a crucial role in defining what it means to be American and in illuminating the meaning of America as a country. For immigrants, stories are a way to integrate themselves into the narrative of the nation even as their stories of migration change that narrative. For those who are a part of host communities, stories about migration are a way to understand the place of new arrivals in their midst, and a way to transform our ideas about what it means to be American.
Free Camping
Van dwellers ,and other like minded nomads, often post about camping free in the desert on BLM land. This winter I wanted to experience that too. But you really don't have to go that far to find free/inexpensive camping in a natural setting.
I had already discovered that small towns in Kansas often have a community park with camping spots. Sometimes they are free. Generally these campgrounds are in a beautiful area and are well maintained.
But MISSOURI is dotted with Conservation Areas...land set aside for hunting, fishing, boating and camping. They aren't all beautiful. I once stayed in one that was basically under the highway bridge, lol. Not aesthetically pleasing. However, many are incredibly beautiful and quiet (although maybe not on the weekends). The Pony Express Conservation Area was one such place. Set on the edge of a large lake this primitive campground had about 10 designated campsites with tables and fire rings. But for a vanner, there were other places to park and enjoy the lake up close. I wish I had had the time to stay a couple days. I will be going back again. For more information on this and other conservation areas see
In Nebraska I found a city park, with electric sites, shelter, picnic table and fire pits, in the town of McCook. Right off a main, busy, road but still a nice setting. There is supposedly a 3 days limit on your stay there.
I had often eyed the southwest corner of New Mexico as a place I'd like to explore so I set my sights on El Malpais (which I mispronounce in the video..it's like mal-peas ). There are two El Malpais..one is a National Monument while the other is managed by the BLM. The latter is a no fee area. So no entrance fee, no fee for camping. There is a ranger station but not much else for 20 miles so came prepared. Here's a link to their website:
The last 3 free camping places I mention in this video are in Arizona which has a lot of BLM land. I stayed in Timber Camp Recreation Center a few nights. It was a little chilly at night but I had the place to myself. Wooded setting, picnic table, pit toilets, fire ring. This is actually managed by the Dept of Agriculture...another agency that offers camping around the country
On the other side of Phoenix ,my first dispersed camping BLM style, began at Saddle Mountain near Tonopah, AZ . Lots of space, no amenities. Pack it in, pack it out. I was pleased that there was NOT a lot of litter. I saw a soda can that's about it. I was there Christmas week and there were very few campers and a moderate amount of locals coming for the day.
Check out the Hot Springs while you are there
I moseyed over to Quartzsite just to see what all the excitement was about. There wasn't any when I was there, lol. It was quite chilly and all the outside vendors were closed . I was there for New Years so many businesses were also closed. The BLM campground I stayed in a few miles north of Quartzsite was the Hi-Jolly. It was practically empty. In fact, Quartzsite all around it was practically empty. Not what I had expected.
How do I find these places? Here are the apps I use primarily
I have also used but found it to be wrong several times.
And before I take a major trip I check
and mark anything interesting on my Google maps app.
Well, I hope this is helpful information
Episode 1 - FUNemployment, Buying an RV, and Kansas City
Finally got our first video edited! Unfortunately we ended up having to upload it at a coffee shop in Minneapolis because the internet at our campsite is terrible.
In this video I talk about the first few weeks of being fun-employed and buying the RV. Then we make our first drive to Kansas City to visit family. I don't have a lot of footage from Kansas City because we spent the bulk of our time just hanging out with family, but I think I got some good beer footage.
Check out and like our Facebook page for photography and location updates at
Email us at TheCreativeStates@gmail.com if you have any questions you want answered on air or any ideas for videos. We will gladly do Q&A sessions on any topic you think of.
If you enjoy our content and want to help out paying for gas, you can donate at We will personally thank every donor on-air unless you'd prefer to remain anonymous. Also if you want to donate funds towards a specific activity, review, or type of video, we are open to that as well! Just let us know in your donation comment.
Around Kansas - How Barbed Wire Settled the West - March 30, 2016
(Frank) We're back again on this Wednesday morning. (Deb) So, we were out at La Crosse a few weeks ago and the Barbed Wire Museum in La Crosse. I had heard about it many times, but I had not had the chance to go. It is wonderful. Wonderful. Number one, it is really extensive. It's huge. And it is beautiful. It is so well done and all these samples of barbed wire. You're like, Really, big deal? But nothing, other than the railroads, nothing changed the West like the introduction of barbed wire. So, it is hugely important to our history. Brad Penka there was just amazing. He opened the museum for us so that I could get in and take pictures to share with you. I think the museum opens for the season maybe at the end of April or first of May, something like that. So, make sure you put La Crosse on your travel plans. But they also have the Post Rock Museum there and they've got Bank Museum. (Frank) Another rock. (Deb) You know, I'm thinking rock of the week. What do you think Frank? (Frank) Yea. We've had Teter Rock and Pawnee Rock. (Deb) Castle Rock and Pawnee Rock. (Frank) A lot of rocks here in Kansas. (Deb) We've got rocks and then we've got the Point of Rocks. I know that I talked about that out at Cimarron. There's just no end to the rocks we have and they're really cool rocks. I was thinking actually driving over today, we should just do a rock of the week. If you've got a cool rock that we don't know about... (Frank) Now, do you know who actually invented barbed wire? I was hoping you did, because I have no idea. (Deb) Glidden. (Frank) You mean the paint guy? (Deb) Yea, yea. (Frank) Really? (Deb) Maybe we'll talk about that. I thought... (Frank) So, we had, he invented barbed wire and then he invented paint, and then painted the barbed wire. I don't know. But that's what the story is about, is we're going to go to this museum in La Crosse and we're going to look at a lot of barbed wire. I think we're ready to see the story. (Karla) First there was nothing but a vast open range. Native bison roamed free. Then came the settlers, and with them, a need to define their territory. Soon, miles of fences were built. Territorial disputes ensued, rights came into question, and the character of the land began to change. When the dust settled, people were once again able to live relatively in peace. The days of the open range were gone. In La Crosse, Kansas, a museum complex celebrates the seemingly mundane chore of fencing with displays on post rock and barbed wire. Some say it was the six-gun that settled the west. Others know better. It was an unusual invention that in a few short years grew into a multi-million dollar industry: barbed wire. It was a simple invention originally designed to protect a small family garden. Within a few short years of its invention, its use had spread across the prairie and eventually around the world. Barbed wire made a number of important contributions to western history. It redefined the landscape. The legal dispute that erupted between its inventors made its way to the United States Supreme Court set a precedent in patent law. It made men wealthy and their wealth built public buildings, and a major university. It was a simple invention that changed the direction of history and its impact resonates today. The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum is devoted solely to the history and legend of this part of American history often referred to as the “Devils Rope”. On exhibit are over 2400 barbed wire varieties; including samples manufactured between the years 1870 and 1890. Hundreds of antique fencing tools illustrate the inventiveness of pioneers. The museum presents interesting ways to learn about one of the Midwest’s most important contributions to America's history. Dioramas of early barbed wire use, a theatre featuring educational films, the Barbed Wire Hall of Fame, the museum archives room, and a research library all help to conjure up images of settling the Midwest, range wars between homesteaders and cattlemen, and the transformation of the open prairie into America's bread basket. Brad Penka is president of the Kansas Barbed Wire Collectors Association and you will count yourself lucky to have him show you around. His passion is contagious. The collections are displayed so artfully, so thoughtfully, that I can promise you will never again take barbed wire for granted. Nor will you look at those picturesque rock fence posts in quite the same way. This museum complex is located next to the city park so there's lots of room for the kids, who can't be fenced in, to run off some energy. A must for your Kansas bucket list!
15 Cool and Unusual Places to Visit in Kansas
Which of these places worth visiting? Comment below.
15 Cool and Unusual Places to Visit in Kansas
Craig and Jennifer let Wilson Lake KS USA have it
Craig and Jennifer let Wilson Lake KS USA have it
2019 Kanopolis Evacuation
{I do not own the rights to this music}