Tips for Saving and Sharing RV Travel MemoriesIf you’re like me you can hardly remember what you had for dinner last night much less the details of your last RV or camping trip. But no worries, there are a number of ways that you can remember your RV trips and they can be as general or detailed as you desire. Let me point out a four ways that campers I know record their RV travel memories – perhaps one of these will work for you or perhaps their ideas will be a springboard for your own unique manner of RV trip tracking.
• The Calendar Method: I’ve been full timing since 2000 and can tell you where I was on any given day during my RV travels. The way I maintain my RV memories is in a general manner with a 12 month calendar. When I’m in traveling mode I make sure to record the name of the campground, the town and state that I stayed at the night before using the ever-handy sitemap I received at check-in. (You might even consider rating the park for future reference.) If I’m in a location more than one night I wait until I leave to record my stay just in case I remain longer or leave early. I also note any visitors I have – whether for dinner or overnight, any cool places I’ve visited including National Parks, museums or city spots, events I’ve attended, rig and road anniversaries and more.
• The Photo Log: Some new friends, Kevin and Cheryl, use their digital camera and computer to keep track of and serve up plentiful memories of their RV travels. They bring their camera along most everywhere they go and upon returning home they download the pictures. Their photo program automatically records the date in the file information and they give the photos descriptive names. When they leave a location they create a folder named after the place visited and store all of the pictures taken while there. They then arrange them in month folders (April 07) which are eventually moved to annual folders (2007). Very organized and a wonderful trip down memory lane at the click of a mouse.
• The Cost Tracking Planner: Bill and Susan are smart, love to travel and are methodical in all they do. When they take an RV trip they record many details in a small monthly planner. They are known to return to several favorite locations so the data they track is not only a memory jogger but a way to budget their trip. Some of the items they record are each days starting and ending mileage, mpg, campground, town and state, cost of camping, meals out and fill ups. Their handy-dandy planner stays in the glove box for ease of use.
• Blogging: You might consider a blog (short for web log) an electronic diary – except it’s often shared with friends and family. Connie and Larry have a super blog – Happy Wanderers – that details where they’ve camped and observations along the way. They even recently enjoyed a cruise that they blog about. Folks that are interested in hearing their stories from the road can sign up for alerts whenever a new blog entry is posted. They include photos, stories and “articles” about their RV and any modifications they’ve made, and even have a live webcam that’s turned on whenever they are parked. This type of RV travel journaling really lives the “world wide” part of the web.
Whether you choose to keep track of your RV travel memories using one of the above methods, good old fashioned handwritten journals or modern day podcasting, do make sure to keep some type of journal. Next week, next year or a decade from now you’ll be delighted you did!
Tips for Finding Your Perfect RV ParkNothing can make of break your RV trip like choosing a park not suited to your needs. Love kids and looking for a family park or retired and looking to make new friends. These things matter when selecting an RV park to visit. Check out tips and research ideas that will help you choose the RV park that's perfect for you. Just like fashion and food, campers have their own distinct tastes and desires. This especially relates to finding the perfect campsite for your camping style. In order to find a perfect campground fit you must know what you’re looking for. Are you a camping family with little ones along? An active couple looking for outdoor adventures? Retirees that enjoy on-site activities and the opportunity to make new friends? There are numerous ways to find and research campgrounds. A good place to begin is online at right here at camping.com. Here, searching your target location, you’ll find a treasure trove of information including a description of the park and their rates, an overview of the amenities and even information on local and park activities. In most cases you’ll also be able to see photos of the park, check availability and make a reservation if so desired (Is a reservation really necessary? Keep reading for more reservation thoughts.). Local bookstores, Amazon.com or even your local library will have a large selection of RV camping books for almost any area and camping style you might imagine if that’s your preferred method of research. Some are in story format, some in guidebook format – my favorite.Once I have a good idea of the parks I’m interested in I mosey over to one of my favorite websites – www.camprate.com. This fabulous site offers real-life camper opinions. Log on, click on the state you’re interested in then go to the city/town. Not every campground is reviewed but the ones that are offer a bevy of insight. To reserve or not to reserve? Again, depends on your camping style. If this is a weekend, a long drive away or a place that you have your heart set on then the answer is a resounding YES. Toll free numbers are usually available. If you have any special requests (near the pool, away from the playground, overlooking the river) now’s the time to bring them up – don’t wait until you arrive or you’ll likely be disappointed. Speaking to the park also allows you to confirm any amenities or activities that you are interested in (is the hot tub working?), local area events or activities (does the rodeo operate this time of year?), and any discount programs they participate in (AAA, Passport America, etc.). The moral of this story is the more research you do, the more prepared you are, the happier you’ll be on your RVing adventure. It’s absolutely worth the extra effort.
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Tips for Family Camping and RVing Fun
Camping trips are the perfect time for families to spend quality time together. Spark everyone’s creativity and share the wonders of the great outdoors with these fun, family-friendly activities – a perfect way to while away a perfect camping day.
Buds are bursting, temperatures are warming and families are making plans for the best-ever camping/RVing trips. Whether it’s a trip to a new “favorite” place or an old standby, family camping trips are what life’s memories are made of. Spend time together with these nifty family camping activities…
Take a hike – Exploring the big beautiful outdoors with your children can be an adventure and an education.
• Prepare a hiking kit for each kid including a magnifying glass, note book and fun writing utensils, a bug, flora and/or fauna identifier or anything else that may help pique their interest.
• Wrap wide masking tape, sticky side out, around everyone’s wrist as a bracelet for collecting flowers, leaves, etc. along the trail.
• Devise a scavenger hunt. Provide each kid a list of several items that are likely to be found on a nature hike, for example, a small brown rock, a leaf at least one inch long, a pine cone, a yellow flower, etc., a pencil, and a large ziploc bag. At the end of the hike check off the items found and give a small treat or prize to all participants.
Build a bird feeder and marvel at your new visitors. You’ll need a large pine cone, peanut butter, bird seed, a long string, a plastic knife or popsicle stick, and a paper plate. Tie a loop with the string around the “stem” of the pine cone making it long enough to hang from a nearby tree branch. Using the plastic knife or stick, coat the pine cone with peanut butter, pour bird seed on the paper plate and roll the coated pine cone in the bird seed. Well done! Hang your bird feeder in a quiet place and enjoy the show!
Bring home a new “pet” – a pet rock that is. This is an easy craft that will continue to deliver memories long after the trip is complete. From home you’ll need a supply of colorful permanent markers, small wiggly eyes, and glue (or small glue dots no larger than the eyes). Find a medium-sized, smooth rock, clean it up and based on its shape, imagine what type of animal it is (think lady bug, frog, beaver, etc.). Using the markers, color/decorate the rock and then glue eyes on “him” or “her”.
And lastly, we can’t leave out that old standby…find a grassy meadow, sandy beach or other comfortable surface, lay down side-by-side and gaze up at the clouds, imagining all the unusual or day-to-day things their forms represent.
Ahhh, it doesn’t get any better than this!
Tips for RVing With PetsI’m always amazed at the variety and number of pets I see at campgrounds around the country. It’s not at all unusual to see 2, 3, or more dogs pile out of any size rig these days. It’s obvious that today’s camping vacations are not complete without Fido, Fluffy or Tweety. I’ve even seen ferrets, geckos, and yes, snakes!! Let’s face it, your pet – four legged or a belly crawler - is a member of the family and likely loves to camp as much as you do. Most private RV parks and campgrounds welcome your pet; however, some parks may restrict certain breeds and/or sizes of dogs or set a maximum number of pets allowed per campsite. Many state and national parks do not allow pets. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to make sure your non-human family member (however human they may seem) will be a welcome guest.
A recent campground amenity you’ll find in many private RV parks is a pet run. Sometimes this is a fenced area, other times it’s a big open space. The idea behind the pet run is to allow your animal to run leash-free (if fenced) and play with you or other pets in the run. Again, check the campground’s website or inquire via telephone or email if this is of interest to you.
It’s crucial that you follow the pet rules set by the campground. I hate it when 1 or 2 careless people spoil it for everyone else. Walk you pet in the designated pet area only, pick up after them, don’t leave them barking their little heads off inside the rig while you enjoy a day out, and be courteous to your fellow campers.
In order to make your trip pleasant for everyone, consider these easy, useful ideas and tips. Print this checklist out and keep it with your camping and RVing gear so you never miss a beat.
_____ Before leaving make sure your pet’s medical needs (shots, medication, etc.) are up to date
_____ Carry your pet’s health certificate with you just in case it’s needed
_____ Make sure your pet has up to date ID tags – consider temporary tags indicating the name and phone number of where you’re camping
_____ Bring baggies for scooping (a must!!) and use the designated pet walk if provided
_____ Bring tick/flea collars or other repellants to combat unwanted “hitchhikers”
_____ Pack your pet’s bag with his/her old familiars - blanket, favorite toy(s), food and water bowls and favorite snacks
_____ Bring along a pet carrier, pet tent or other type of outdoor pet shelter
_____ Take frequent breaks while traveling to stretch, exercise, and walk your pet
_____ Don’t forget the leash (usually required) for getting out and about
_____ Never leave your pet in a hot, non-ventilated vehicle – a car or RV – it takes only minutes for the heat to overcome your pet
_____ Once you’ve arrived please be courteous to your human neighbors (and away from pesky and dangerous critters such as skunks, porcupines, etc.) - keep your pet leashed and well behaved
_____ Be aware of your pet’s fitness level and avoid pushing them beyond their abilities
_____ Don’t leave pet food outside or chances are you’ll have some uninvited “pets”
_____ Never let your pet spend the night outside - one never knows what hungry predators lurk
_____ Physically check your pet daily for anything unusual – limping, excessive scratching, biting of any body part, loss of appetite, excessive water consumption, etc.
With a bit of planning, a well deserved camping vacation can make memories that last a lifetime - a great time had by all!!
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