February News Roundup

_Wanting to know the ins and outs of the RV world? Want to stay up-to-date with Harvest Hosts locations? You’re in luck! Check out our February News Roundup. _

Host Highlight: Golden Oldies Retirement Home for Cats, Dogs, and Horses – Trenton, FL

Harvest Hosts has something for every type of person. If you’re an animal lover, you might check out this animal sanctuary located in Northern Florida near Fanning Spring State Park. 

At the Golden Oldies Retirement Home, you’ll be offered a two-night stay to enjoy the area and have the chance to pet and feed the cats, dogs, horses, and two pigs on the grounds.

Which Reservations Do You Need To Make Now?

The level of appreciation that national parks have gotten over the past decade is incredible! But with the increased popularity comes some restrictions that need to be put in place to protect them from having too many visitors. And over the past few years, we have seen more and more parks require reservations.  

In 2023, there are 10 different National Parks Service sites that require reservations. But below we’ve listed the top 4 reservations you need to make this February.

• Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park won’t require you to have a reservation to enter the park. However, one of the most popular sites—or roads—will need a reservation. The Cadillac Summit Road is a great place to see the sunrise or even to catch a beautiful view midday. If you make a trip to Acadia, you’ll want to be sure to get a reservation.  

Reserve your Cadillac Summit Road pass in February for May visits. 30% of reservations can be made 90 days in advance, and 70% can be reserved two days ahead of time. Don’t wait until you get there. Reserve them now here.

• Arches National Park

Arches National Park will have a timed entry system between April 1 and October 31 in 2023. This means you’ll need to book well in advance and have a ticket with you. This reservation can be made on Recreation.gov. As of February 1, you can make your reservations for the month of May. This is a great time to visit Arches National Park!

• Haleakala National Park

Cars entering Haleakala National Park between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM—for the famous Haleakala Sunrise— will need a reservation . You can book in February for your April trips. Your reservation is good for three days during your visit to Hawaii. (https://media.graphassets.com/sfcXBt34TU6yQUa8qigx)

• Yosemite National Park

Inside Yosemite National Park you can experience the illusion that a waterfall is on fire. This illusion happens during the last three weekends in February, and takes place at Horsetail Falls. To experience this, you’ll need a reservation. These reservations take place the day before each weekend. For example, you would need to make a reservation on February 9 for the weekend of February 10, 11, 12.  

Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama

Fat Tuesday and the Mardi Gras celebration is quickly approaching. On Tuesday, February 21, thousands of people will be gathering in cities across the United States to celebrate the event. Obviously, the largest and most chaotic gathering is held in New Orleans, where there will be feasting, dancing, parades, and plenty of other shenanigans happening. But did you know that the first Carnival Celebration in the United States didn’t take place in New Orleans? 

The first ever celebration took place in Mobile, Alabama. So if you really want to get a different flavor of Mardi Gras, check out Mobile, AL.  

And there are several other cities that put on a great Mardi Gras experience too. Whether you are on the west coast, east coast, in the south, or in the midwest, you aren’t too far from a great Mardi Gras celebration. Check out these top spots for Mardi Gras: read more here.

A Highlighted Event: The Great Outhouse Races

In the rugged peaks of the North Carolina mountains, you can participate in a very unique event. Each year on the Saturday of President’s Day Weekend—February 18th this year—you can attend The Great Outhouse Races at Ski Sapphire Valley.  

The Great Outhouse Races is a full blown event with the race being the main attraction. There will be food, music, a parade, and other festivities to make this a great day for everyone. It is really an event to make people come together, laugh, and create memories in a ridiculous way where you can’t help but have a good time.  

Read More Here.

Until Next Time, Harvest Hosts Members!

You can stay connected with us each month as we bring a monthly roundup of news that revolves around the RV world. We will consistently highlight new RVs, tech that can make your travels better, and of course, some of the best farms, wineries, breweries, and more around North America. In the meantime, you can stay in touch with your Harvest Hosts team through our chat system at HarvestHosts.com.