Dennis Brewer

Article / Updated 05-19-2023

If you're new to RV vacations, you might have difficulty in choosing the right campground or RV park, selecting a cool museum to check out, or knowing which national park to include in your route. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Some of the best campgrounds When it comes to choosing a place to stay, it could be as simple as good, better, or best or simply selecting between two choices from what is available in smaller less popular areas. Any campground offers a place to turn off the engine and sleep for a few hours, and sometimes that is enough. Over time you will develop your own criteria. AAA Midway RV Park, Coos Bay, Oregon (541-888-9300): Three blocks from the ocean and convenient to town, this park has 59 full hookups, Wi-Fi, and easy access to great seafood restaurants and markets. The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida (407-939-2267): Fort Wilderness has 694 full hookups near the Disney World action, with transportation to the park. The lake offers boating and fishing, or you can golf or relax in the pool. The Great Outdoors RV, Nature & Golf Resort, Titusville, Florida (800-621-2267): Here, you find 150 full hookups, a lake for fishing, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a heated pool. Harbortown RV Resort, Monroe, Michigan (734-384-4700): Harbortown has 248 paved sites; 130 of them are full hookups, some with 50-amp electricity. It also has an 18-hole golf course; fishing; and a kids’ fun center with miniature golf, an arcade, go-karts, and batting cages that augment the heated pool. Traverse Bay RV Resort, Acme, Michigan (231-938-5800): Traverse Bay has 157 extra-wide, paved sites with patios and full hookups. The park is restricted to motor homes and fifth-wheels that are 28 feet or longer and not older than ten years. Museums that are well worth the visit Admiral Nimitz Museum and National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, Texas: Extensive coverage of World War II battles in the Pacific is located in the restored Nimitz Steamboat Hotel and Gardens. Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia, Alabama: Although the museum contains only the work of musicians who were born or lived in Alabama, the list is extensive, including Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Lionel Richie, and Toni Tennille. It’s a seeing-and-listening museum. Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina: This museum is pricey but worth the expenditure. The massive 250-room Biltmore mansion and gardens give an extensive picture of how the other half once lived. Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming: Five museums are set in a sprawling complex containing the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Cody Firearms Museum, and the Draper Museum of Natural History. You easily can spend an entire day (or more) here. Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland, Maine: This complex of consists of the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Wyeth Center in town, and the Olson House (celebrated in Andrew Wyeth’s painting Christina’s World) in the nearby countryside. Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California: Built from 1919 to 1947, the building was never finished. Four different tours cover the interior and exterior of “The Ranch,” as William Randolph Hearst dubbed his castle by the sea. Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio: The restored 1933 Art Deco railway station is now home to three excellent museums: the Cincinnati History Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the hands-on Children’s Museum. National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, New York: Baseball fans can spend several days perusing artifacts ranging from Ty Cobb’s sliding pads to bats used by Mickey Mantle and Mark McGwire. Ozark Folk Arts Center, Mountain View, Arkansas: The center was created in 1973 to preserve the music, dance, handicrafts, and folkways of the Ozarks. Wander among artisans and craftsmen at work and eat some down-home Ozark food. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland, Ohio: A modern glass building designed by I. M. Pei houses a huge collection of artifacts, such as life-size mannequins of John Lennon, Alice Cooper, and Michael Jackson, plus many of their instruments. National parks along the way Acadia National Park, Maine: This park has a 27-mile Park Loop Road, which makes a circle out of Bar Harbor and offers a good overview of the gardens, beaches, cliffs, and Cadillac Mountain. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico: A variety of caverns offers exciting, colorful underground tours. Join the evening crowd to watch 300,000 bats soar out of the cave for their evening meals. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona: This spectacular attraction can be crowded in summer. A good way to visit is to take the Grand Canyon Railway for a round-trip train ride out of Williams, Arizona. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee: Located at the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the park has an 11-mile, loop road off Newfound Gap Road that’s a must-see. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Texas: Visitors see the birthplace, home, ranch, and final resting place of the former president. The park has two parts: Johnson City, has the visitor center, and the LBJ Ranch. Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert, Arizona: Stop in the visitor center at the entrance to the Petrified Forest to get a map to use a loop road through both areas. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: Skyline Drive begins in this park and heads south into the Blue Ridge Parkway. Three RV campgrounds are located within the park. Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi: This park is the site of one of the most decisive battles of the Civil War. A 16-mile auto tour runs through the park and its monuments.

Article / Updated 05-18-2023

RV camping is for everybody. No other form of travel adjusts so readily to any sort of special need. RV vacations are family-friendly in the extreme. RVing is a cheap and convenient way to take the whole family on vacation, including your pets or elderly parents. In most cases, having the kitchen and bathroom with you makes the “I’m hungry” and “I have to go potty” requests easy to deal with, and traveling together as a family can foster closeness and communication. RVing with kids The simple truth is that kids love RVing and camping. In fact, you can help your children grow into teens and adults who appreciate travel by allowing them to use a paper map, a book like this one, and a time and money budget to plan their own “mystery trip,” with their parents as chauffeurs, over a long weekend. They pick the destination and route, and plan and arrange all aspects of the trip. Veterans of family RV travel suggest involving children in the planning stages, rotating seats in the car or RV en route to the campsite, and assigning duties at the campsite. Older children can be responsible for packing items and handling last-minute duties at home, like locking the doors and windows and removing perishable food from the refrigerator. Even infants can go camping happily. Experts recommend carrying a toddler in a backpack carrier and an infant in a front-pack carrier, both of which are made specifically for hiking. Bring along a folding stroller and playpen, mosquito netting, and a baby guardrail for the bed to use while in camp. A baby seat that clamps to a picnic table also enables a small child to join the rest of the family at meals. Packing sunscreen to protect children’s delicate skin is essential. So is bringing along a gentle insect repellant. For more tips on traveling with kids, check out these websites: Family Travel Network offers travel tips and reviews of family-friendly destinations, vacation deals, and campgrounds. Travel Mamas offers ideas and tips for traveling with kids, including many first-hand accounts and destination reviews by the founder. RVing with pets As you travel, you meet many RV owners who favor their particular brand of travel because they can take their pets along with them. The Travel Industry Association of America says that 6 percent of all traveling dog owners take their pets with them on vacation, whereas only 1 percent of cat owners do. I’m willing to bet that some 50 percent of all traveling dog owners (and probably 25 percent or more of cat owners) take their pets along on their RV vacations. Check campground information in advance to make sure pets are permitted. Some campgrounds assess a surcharge; a few impose pet restrictions, which means that they determine to allow pets on an individual basis, based breed or size. Always call ahead to ask. Although a few campgrounds have fenced dog runs where pets can frolic off the leash, almost all require dogs to be on leashes in the campground at all times. Owners also are required to clean up after their pets. Some campgrounds provide dispensers of plastic bags at the dog runs and receptacles for the used bags. Otherwise, carry your own cleanup bags, and dispose of them properly. Dogs should not be left alone in an RV at the campground or tied up outside the RV while you’re away. Never leave your pet in the RV for more than 10 or 20 minutes in mild weather when you’re running an errand, and don’t leave your pet alone in the RV at all when temperatures are hot. The following tips can help you and Fido have an enjoyable RV trip: Feed pets at night. Feed them after you’re finished driving for the day, especially if they’re susceptible to motion sickness. Give pets water only during the day. Give your pets bottled water, without any additives for taste, which you need to introduce at home before the trip. As you would for humans, use bottled water, because the mineral content in water changes from one campground to the next. A contented tummy is something that you want a traveling pet to have. Bring familiar toys and bedding for the pet. Like security blankets, objects from home can comfort your pet on the road. Help your pet become accustomed to the RV. If you have access to the RV before the trip, spend some time in it with your pet. Keep your cat’s litter box in the shower or tub. Encase the litter box in a 30-gallon plastic trash bag, put the box in the trash bag bottom down, dump a 10-pound bag of cat litter into the box, and snap on the litter-box cover. Carry a couple of small washable throw rugs. Putting a small rug over the RV carpeting can protect it from muddy little cat or dog feet. Debate continues as to whether pets are safer while kept in or out of a kennel crate in a moving RV. Defenders of crates (many of them professional dog handlers who travel to and from shows in RVs) say that occupants are safer when the animal is confined while the vehicle is in motion. People who favor freeing pets during the ride claim that it enables animals to protect themselves from injury. A challenge for a single traveler with free pets is keeping them off the dashboard and out of the windshield, as well as preventing them from blocking the mirrors and clear views of the road. A good online resource for information about traveling with your pet is Petswelcome, which also dispenses medical tips and lists the names of animal-friendly lodgings and campgrounds, kennels, and veterinarians. RVing for people with disabilities Recreational vehicles can be made as accessible and comfortable for the physically challenged — especially those in wheelchairs — as any home. Mechanical seat lifts, either installed at the factory or retrofitted into existing units, can be added to motor homes for people who have trouble climbing steps. Wider doors, raised toilets, roll-in showers, roll-under sinks, lower kitchen counters and cabinets, and a permanent place to lock in the wheelchair while the RV is in motion are options that can be installed at the factory or by aftermarket custom shops. More campgrounds offer handicap-accessible campsites with wide, level paved sites to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and electric scooters. Many provide improved access to public toilets and showers by installing ramps and handrails. Wheelchair travelers aren’t the only ones who adjust well to RVs. Many other handicapped travelers — from those on dialysis to those requiring a supply of oxygen — find much more comfort and security in a well-equipped motor home than they do in an automobile, plane, or train. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA; 703-620-6003) publishes a directory with information about RV accessibility for travelers with disabilities. Another valuable resource is the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (212-447-7284), which offers a wealth of travel resources for people with all types of disabilities and informed recommendations on destinations, access guides, and companion services. Annual membership fees are $49 for adults and $29 for seniors (63-plus) and students.

Article / Updated 04-14-2022

Although an RV campter usually comes fully furnished and ready to go from the manufacturer, you’ll probably want to pick up a few practical tools and gadgets. You can usually find these items at camping-supply stores or sometimes at the small convenience stores at campgrounds. Marching into a specialty store and buying only what’s on the shopping list can be difficult. As you look around, murmuring “Gee, look at that!” or “I didn’t know there was an item like this,” you start dropping objects into your shopping cart — thinking you must have them. Picking up a basic hand-tools kit and an inexpensive auto-tool kit is a practical way to start. Small jobs can be done easily with the right tools. Most RVs arrive with a short sewer hose and sometimes (but not always) a water hose. The first time you hook up, you’ll notice that both are too short to be useful in many campgrounds, so the next items on your shopping list are new, longer sewer and water hoses. Look for a 15- to 20-foot sewer hose made up of smaller sections that twist-lock together and a threaded coupling device that enables you to secure the hose to the campground’s sewer connection. You want a 25- to 50-foot labeled for potable-water hose, that is approved for drinking water use. Don’t use a hose that’s intended for watering the garden or washing the car. Consider using a water-pressure regulator to protect interior pipes. If you have a big, new motor home with plenty of air conditioning, your ideal electrical hookup is 50 amps, but many older campgrounds offer nothing higher than 30 amps, and some state parks only have a maximum of 20 amps. You’ll have a clue right away at the campsite if your plug doesn’t fit the receptacle in the electrical box. What you want are adapters that convert 50-amp to 30-amp service and 30-amp to 20-amp service. To use a 20-amp outlet with your 50-amp system, plug the 50-to-30-amp connector into your main electric shore line, plug the 30-to-20-amp connector into the 50-to-30-amp connector, and then plug everything into the 20-amp outlet — or just look for a 50-amp to 20-amp connector. When you use an adapter, you can no longer run all your electrical appliances, so load management is a must. Many modern motor homes are equipped with an automatic energy management system that dumps loads for you when you’re running on 20- or 30-amp service. At the campsite, you want your RV to be level for sleeping comfort and for keeping the refrigerator level — a must. Although many new motor homes come equipped with automatic hydraulic levelers installed under the body, older RVs may require the use of manual levelers, which can be anything from a couple of pieces of board for each tire to a commercially produced wood or plastic device. Make sure to evaluate a leveler carefully before buying it. Some of the plastic ones may not hold the weight of your RV; some stack-up versions are hard to maneuver the vehicle across. A spirit level (one of those little things with moving bubbles inside) laid on a countertop inside the RV lets you see how level the RV is at the campsite. For TV lovers, a 50-foot length of antenna cable with male connectors on each end keeps everyone happy when the campground offers cable TV hookup. Also bring a female/male adapter because some campgrounds are so equipped. In your cabinets, shelf liner in a ridged pattern helps keep items from sliding while the vehicle is moving; match the color to your countertop or wood tone, if you want. Tension rods of various lengths are useful for installing across your refrigerator or cabinet shelves to keep the items contained within from shifting. I find bubble packaging (an item that I usually get free in shipping boxes) to be a godsend for packing glassware and dishes. Finally, two all-purpose items are a heavy-duty extension cord for outdoor use and duct tape, the wide silver-backed tape (called gaffer’s tape in the film industry) that can hold just about anything together until you can get to a repair shop. On my first RV trip, I carelessly left a roof vent open while picnicking near a Colorado lake during a heavy wind. I even wondered about a white plastic object that I saw cartwheeling down the hill . . . until a rain shower came up and rain started coming in. A hasty retrieval of the plastic vent cover, a trip up the back ladder to the roof of the RV, and most of a roll of duct tape repaired the damage and kept out the rain. How to furnish your RV Manufacturers furnish the typical Type A or Type C motor home at the factory with these built-in features: a kitchen counter and cabinets; a cooktop (with or without gas oven); a refrigerator/freezer; a dinette or free-standing table and chairs; a sofa or easy chair; a double or queen-size bed or short king; wardrobe and drawer storage; a bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower; air conditioning; a furnace; a TV set; and a microwave or combination convection/microwave oven. Some new motorhomes are all electric on the appliances. The driver and front passenger seats (pilot and co-pilot seats) often swivel to face the living area, adding two more comfortable seats to the arrangement. Depending on the vehicle size and the manufacturer, if you order a new RV it may be optioned to include swivel and/or reclining chair, an oven, a microwave or convection oven, a second TV set in the bedroom, a shallow tub with shower head above, a washer/dryer combination, an icemaker, a pullout pantry with wire or wooden shelving, a desk/dressing table combination in the bedroom, and a pull-up table adjacent to the sofa or swivel chair adding uses to the living space. Travel trailers and fifth-wheels contain all these items except the driver and navigator chairs. RV floor plans vary regarding the arrangement of living spaces and the amount of storage available. The clever design of RV interiors incorporates more furnishings than you’d expect, though you may want to add decorations. I like to add flowers and pots of herbs for color, small rugs on top of carpeting or wood floors, colored baskets for decoration and storage in the kitchen/dining area, and additional cushions for color and comfort on the sofa and the bed. In built-in niches around the cabinets, I added handmade wooden carvings to decorate the wood cupboards I picked up on my travels and used glue to affix them permanently; they look factory installed. Books and magazines brighten a tabletop and offer a diversion to occasional bad weather, but you will want to stow them (and any plants or cut flowers) safely before hitting the road.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

Okay, take a deep breath. Get ready to check into an RV campground and spend your first night on the road. If you’re worried about whether you can handle it, don’t fret. How to choose a site When I started RVing, I wanted only model sites, secluded from other campers, surrounded by shade trees, preferably at the end of a row facing a view. The site had to be level — you’d be surprised how few sites outside paved parking-lot campgrounds are really level — with a nice picnic table and fire pit or barbecue. These characteristics still are ideals to aspire to, but I had to get real. If mine was the last RV to pull into the only campground with a vacancy sign at Mount Rushmore National Memorial at twilight on Fourth of July weekend, I took what was left and appreciated the fact that I found a spot. When site selection is abundant, I have a long list of preferences: Large: The site must be big enough to park (and drive through or back in) my 36-foot motor home and still have space for slideouts (portions of the living and/or bedroom walls that open to expand the interior), chairs, table, and charcoal grill, as well as the 16 feet needed for my towed car. Room: The width of a site becomes more important now that so many RVs of all types offer one or more slideouts. Some older campgrounds can’t handle slideouts and say so in their directory listings; others have room for slideouts but no leftover space for you to use as a recreational area. Any campsite less than 15 feet wide limits comfortable use of the site for longer than overnight. Length: The umbilical cords from the vehicle to the electric, water, and sewer connections must reach comfortably. Consider carrying extensions on board to alleviate this issue. Level: Whenever you don’t have a big new RV with hydraulic/electric jacks that level automatically, you have to do plenty of running back and forth inside and outside the vehicle to check spirit levels (those little things with moving bubbles inside). Sometimes, you have to wedge wooden blocks under the tires until that pesky little bubble hits the center. Sometimes, close is close enough if you do not want to buy or use leveling jacks. Location: I want to be away from the highway and campground entrance, and not too near the swimming pool, bathing facilities, office, laundry, dumpster, playground, or dog-walking area. Lookout: Watch for potentially noisy neighbors, any low-hanging branches or wires that can damage roof air conditioners or TV antennas, and wet or marshy ground that can mire you down if it rains all night. In addition, always check the location of trees that can block opening slideouts or awnings, or interfere with reception if you have a satellite TV. A campsite may or may not contain a picnic table, grill, or fire ring (a fire pit encircled by rocks) — critical amenities for tent campers but luxuries for RVers, who already have tables, chairs, and cooktops inside their vehicles. If you’re going to stay in one campground for a while, look for an end site with hookups on the left side of the site so that your door, folding chairs, and picnic table can face open space and perhaps even a view rather than the RV next door and its hookups. If you have no choice but to make your rig the filling in an RV sandwich, consider this: Unlike tent camping, in which campers spend all their waking hours outdoors, RVs (especially motor homes and trailers) enable you to go indoors for privacy. Even when you’re parked only a foot or two away from the neighboring RV, you can close your curtains, draw the shades around your windshield, and turn on some soft music, and you’re totally alone. Park your rig Choosing the spot to park your RV overnight requires looking for the most level area and lining up the hookups in your RV with the connections on the site. If you have a back-in site, ask your copilot (if you have one) to get out and help back you in. If you have a pull-through, pull into the center of the site. In either case, make sure to leave room for the opening of slideouts and awnings. Your exact position, however, depends on your hookups, which are accessible from the left rear of the RV. The electrical connection usually is a metal box mounted on a small post, with the water connection on the same post or nearby and the sewer connection somewhere in the general vicinity. You may have to get out of the vehicle to pinpoint the sewer connection, because it’s usually a small hole in the ground covered with a white plastic cap that may or may not have a cemented collar around it. Occasionally, in older campgrounds, you may find side-by-side connections that allow two campsites to share basic connections, with two water faucets, two electrical connections, and two sewer holes in the same area. Because most RVs hook up from their left rear, you and the neighboring RV would park facing in opposite directions. After you’re in the position you want, level the vehicle by using your built-in leveling system or drive up on blocks under the tires to achieve a level state. This practice is essential not only for your comfort and convenience, but also for the proper functioning of equipment such as the refrigerator. Hook your RV camper up First-time RVers and sometimes old hands may have some fears about the process of hooking up in a campground, but after a few times, you settle into a routine like this: Park and level your vehicle, and hook up. You want a pair of work gloves and, for the sewer connections, disposable gloves. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of what to do: 1. With clean hands or sterile gloves, connect your RV’s water hose (which is connected to your water intake) to the campground faucet. Using a water-pressure regulator attached to one end of the hose is wise, because many campgrounds have strong water pressure. I carry a small pair of channel lock pliers just large enough to tighten the hose connections, as well as a supply of hose gaskets, which collapse with use and can cause leaks at the faucet or the street connection on the RV. 2. Plug your electrical shore cord into the campground outlet, which is in a metal box affixed to a post and usually located at the left rear of the site. Your RV’s shore power cord is the external electrical cord that connects the vehicle to a campground electrical hookup. Inside the box, you may have several connector choices, which can be 20, 30, or 50 amps. Each amp rating has a unique connection. Most outlets have an on/off switch or circuit breaker that you need to turn to the off position before plugging or unplugging your line. Turning the switch off prevents a surge that can knock out a circuit breaker in the vehicle. If your shore power cord fits into one of the outlets, you won’t need to use an adapter. If the shore cord doesn’t fit, you need the proper adapter for your unit. You’ll soon learn to recognize the amperage of each rated outlet by sight. 3. After you’re plugged in properly, turn on the switch or circuit breaker on the pedestal that powers the campground’s outlet. A good check of electrical service is the timer light on your microwave, which lights up and perhaps starts blinking if you have electricity. 4. If you have an automatic switchover from propane to electric on your refrigerator (as most RVs do), check the indicator lights on the refrigerator control panel to make sure that the refrigerator has set to AC electric. Some models have a toggle button labeled Auto that handles this task for you when it’s switched on. At this point, your electricity is connected and should be working properly. Next comes the part that most novice RVers dread, although it’s as simple as the other two connections. 5. Connect your sewer hose to your RV drain outlet and to the campground sewer pipe. Connect the sewer hose to the drain first; then bring up to the RV. Many campgrounds have threaded connection for an elbow that’s part of your sewer-hose assembly. Insert the elbow and turn it into the drain at least one full turn. Check for a secure connection before hooking up to the RV. The hose connections to the RV and extension hoses are twist-lock connectors. Drain any fluid stored in the tanks when you hook up, rather than the next morning, when you’re in a hurry to get rolling. (If you stay for several days, drain the sewer tank when you hook up and again when you unhook) Drain the black-water tank first, close that valve (it’s labeled), and then open the gray-water valve. This procedure helps you flush the hose while emptying the tank. You can leave the gray-water valve open while camping, but you shouldn’t leave the black-water valve open unless you’re on a level site and the RV is level, because solids that settle in the tank are hard to clean out. You’re finished: Wash your hands, and relax with a cold drink. Campground etiquette In the RVing magazines, a proportion of the letters deal with other campers who failed to show proper etiquette in a campground. Inconsiderate behavior ranges from failing to clean up after your pet to running your generator after hours. To avoid becoming the subject of one of these letters, here are some good rules to follow: Avoid claim-jumping. Anything that marks a campsite, from a jug of water on a table to a folding chair set out in the parking space, means that the site is occupied and that the campers are away in their car or RV. You may not set the marker aside and move into the site. Mind your fellow campers’ personal space. Teach your kids never to take a shortcut across an occupied campsite; they should use the road or established pathways to get where they’re going. No one wants to watch a parade of kids and dogs troop through his or her site. Keep your pets from roaming. Do not let your dog roam free in a campground. Pets should always be on a leash outside the RV and exercised in a designated pet area. Avoid using your generator whenever possible, even within designated generator-use hours, to keep the noise and fumes from disturbing other campers. If using electrical appliances such as microwaves and TVs is that important, you should consider staying in a private campground with hookups, where you won’t need a generator. Avoid loud, prolonged engine revving in the early morning and late evening. Fumes from your engine drift into the open windows of a nearby RV, and the noise can wake someone who wanted to sleep in. Don’t play radios or TVs loudly at any time in a campground. Many of your fellow campers are there to enjoy the peace and quiet. Also, Never, ever dump wastewater from holding tanks — even gray water— on the ground. Although some people claim that it’s good for the grass, wastewater may contain fecal matter from diapers or salmonella bacteria if raw meat has been rinsed in the sink. This material can be transferred to anyone who touches or steps on contaminated ground. Gray or black water belongs only in a dump station or sanitary-sewer system. Don’t cut trees for firewood. Most campgrounds sell firewood at stands or the camp store. Even picking up or chopping deadwood is forbidden in many parks. Watch what you throw in the fire. Never leave aluminum foil, aluminum cans, bottles, or filter-tipped cigarette butts in a campground fire ring or grill to make litter. Also, never crush out cigarettes on the ground without picking up the butts and putting them in the garbage. Don’t leave porch or entry lights on all night in camp. The lights may shine in someone else’s bedroom window.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

Keeping the RV camper as clean as possible day by day while on the road is easier than going through the equivalent of spring cleaning every week or two. A rechargeable vacuum is very helpful for cleaning as you go. Cleaning outside the vehicle Although car owners are accustomed to wielding a hose in the driveway or in one of the little wash-it-yourself bays at a car wash, cleaning the outside of a motor home by yourself is akin to bathing an elephant; you can’t do it in a short driveway or the average car wash even if you want to. Even using a coin-operated car wash with an extra-large bay is difficult but doable if the facility has enough height clearance. It’s easy to run out of quarters and patience long before the job is done. Most campgrounds don’t allow you to wash the vehicle at the campsite. Always check and comply with the rules. Washing For a big-time RV wash, which you want to do after the vehicle has been in storage or slogged through some dusty terrain, look for a truck wash. You’re going to find these on interstate highways adjacent to popular truck stops. Simply get in line behind the trucks; check for enough overhead clearance; and ease your way into the wash bay, where an energetic team armed with hoses cleans your RV, soaping, rinsing, wiping, and (optionally) waxing until your home on wheels is sparkling. For this service, which takes 30 minutes after you get into the bay, expect to pay $30 to $100, depending on the services you select. Be sure that all the windows and roof vents are closed tightly before you pull into the wash bay. While the truck wash crew cleans the outside, you can do some cleaning inside: washing windows and mirrors, and polishing the woodwork and cabinetry. Dusting and debugging To cut down on costly full-vehicle wash jobs, you can use a dry mop from the supermarket. Each evening, after settling in, do a quick once-over on the exterior with the dry mop to get the day’s dust and grime off. Include the windshield and the vehicle’s front end, scrubbing with a wet brush or windshield scrubber to remove the bugs that accumulated during the day’s drive. Putting the job off until morning lets the bugs solidify into something like cement and doubles your job of cleaning. Waxing Before waxing your RV, check the manufacturer’s recommendations for exterior care. Modern motor homes with painted surfaces don’t require waxing at all. Whether you own a motor home, travel trailer, or fifth-wheel, waxing an RV is a big expensive job if done professionally. Many campgrounds and RV-supply stores offer waxes and protective materials. The work is up to you. To spread the joy around: Wax the front of the vehicle one day, half the driver’s side a few days later, the rest of the driver’s side more days later, and so on. After a week, you’ll have cleaned the whole vehicle. you need to do it regularly if waxing is required to save the finish of your exterior. Waxing is much cheaper than a new paint job. Cleaning inside the vehicle Keeping the interior clean is a matter of tidying up daily. Regular tasks, such as cleaning the windows and mirrors, can be done when you stop to fill up with gas. A tank that takes 50 gallons or more of gas takes 10 or 15 minutes to fill, giving the navigator enough time to clean some of the following: Woodwork: Spray polish wood cleaner repels dust and keeps wood surfaces looking clean. Upholstery: RV upholstery is usually tough and hard to stain. I find that spot-cleaning with a spray upholstery cleaner (one that comes with a brush attachment) does the job well. Glass: For windows and mirrors use a spray-and-wipe glass cleaner and a paper towel to make them spotless and shiny again in no time. Floors: A portable vacuum cleaner that can run on rechargeable batteries is handy for quick cleaning or even heavy-duty cleaning in an RV. Spot-cleaning spills on the carpet is not a problem because carpets in motor homes are stain-resistant. I put a washable rug over high-traffic areas including the residential entrance, front of the sink, beside the bed, and between the sofa and easy chair. Kitchen: Wiping up kitchen spills when they happen helps keep the galley clean. I clean out the refrigerator when I bring the RV back home from a trip, and wipe it clean it once a week on the road. I always give the sink a quick wipe-over daily. Holding tanks RVs have two holding tanks — one for gray water (the water from the kitchen and bathroom sinks and shower) and one for black water (the waste from the toilet). Maintenance of these tanks requires using a liquid or powder made for RV tanks that deodorizes and dissolves solids. RV manufacturers recommend using biodegradable toilet paper, which breaks up more readily in the tank. Look for RV-approved toilet paper, septic-tank-approved, and septic-safe when you choose a brand. If you’re not on an extended stay, keep the black-water outlet closed when you’re hooked up to the sewage drain in a campground. The gray-water outlet can remain open. When the gauge informs you that it’s time to empty the tanks, close the gray-water outlet to allow water to build up in the tank, and empty the black-water tank first. Flush out the tank at the end by pouring three gallons of water in the toilet. When finished, close the black-water valve. Next, run about a gallon of fresh water into the gray-water tank from the kitchen faucets; then open the gray-water valve. This flushes the hose as the gray-water tank empties. Close the valve, unhook the hose, and flush the hose again before storing. Wear disposable rubber gloves when handling sewage hoses and fittings. Storing your RV When you live in a city condo or a homeowner-association development, needing an RV storage area is often a fact of life. Many people in suburbs and cities face parking limits for their RVs as well. Smaller units, like a folding camping trailer or truck camper, can be stored in garages, and a van camper may be kept in the driveway as it resembles a family car. But motor homes and trailers often need to be stored somewhere away from the residence. Outdoor-storage fee average $75 to $100 a month for a 36-foot motor home. Covered or indoor storage can cost twice as much. When storing the vehicle, do the following: Clean and defrost the refrigerator, leave the door open, and put an open box of baking soda inside. Disconnect the coach and vehicle battery. Empty the holding tanks, leaving a bit of water and deodorizer in the tanks to keep the seals moist. Add 2 gallons of RV antifreeze when you’re storing the vehicle where temperatures fall below 40°F; one surprise hard freeze can do a lot of damage. Close the propane-tank valve. Draw all the shades and close the windshield curtain to keep the shaded and interior cooler. Lock all doors and outside compartments. Fill the lead-acid batteries to the top of the split ring with distilled water. When you store an RV in a cold climate, drain all the freshwater supply tanks, add some nontoxic RV antifreeze to the black-and gray-water holding tanks after they’ve been emptied and cleaned, empty the water heater, and pump antifreeze into the supply lines to each faucet. If you’re not well versed in doing these jobs, I recommend using the services of a licensed plumber, camping-supply store’s service department, or an RV dealer that offers this winterization service. If the work is done properly, the annual cost of about $200 can save you many costly repairs in the spring.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

Driving an RV isn’t difficult, but the experience is different from handling the family car. No special license or driver training is required in most states, depending on the size of the rig. Before hitting the road for your RV vacation, you’ll want to know a few basics and brush up on your road etiquette. Focus on the basics Wherever you rent or buy your RV, someone will go over all the details with you, from driving the rig to hooking it up at the campground. Don’t nod along, pretending that you know what he or she is talking about. If something isn’t clear, ask questions until you understand. If you’re a novice RV driver (or even an experienced one), getting accustomed to a different model or type may mean having a round of practice at driving in a large, empty parking lot. After you get into the driver’s seat and adjust your mirrors, ask someone to walk around the vehicle so you can identify blind spots. Most new motor homes have a rearview camera fixed on the rear of the rig with a monitor on the dash; these cameras help when the time comes to back up. In addition, many have side-view cameras that turn on with your left and right turn signal lights — a feature that’s very useful in high-volume-traffic areas. The increased length and width of an RV makes turning more awkward. Making adjustment is easy: You have to make wider turns. When turning right, keep your vehicle closer to the left of your lane than you would with your car, and drive farther into the intersection before turning the steering wheel to the right. When turning left, make comparable adjustments: Keep your vehicle closer to the right, and turn when you get farther than usual into the intersection. Always signal your intention to turn or change lanes well ahead of time. Your vehicle isn’t as agile as the ones around you. When you’re backing into a campsite or getting out of a tight situation at a gas station, you want someone outside and behind you giving you hand signals or, better, giving you directions via a walkie-talkie. On the road, or in lots or parking lots, check your position often in the rearview, side, and center mirrors or the rearview camera. Always be aware of the relationship of your vehicle to the painted lines marking traffic lanes and the edges of the roadway. Wind is a special consideration to bear in mind when you’re driving an RV. The large, flat surfaces of a trailer or motor home will rock or sway when a heavy wind blows broadside. Be aware that you’ll feel gusts of wind when large trucks pass you at high speeds. You’ll also be buffeted by wind when you pass another vehicle or when one passes you, so expect a little push, and carefully compensate for it. Maintain awareness of passing vehicles by frequently checking the side mirrors. The biggest chore is mental. Take it easy on the road, slow down, and allow more room to change lanes or stop. Be aware of how much bigger, longer, and heavier your RV is than the average car or pickup on the road, and drive with that awareness in all actions you take. Road etiquette Only the most self-centered RVer is bad-mannered on the road. But like you, I’ve been in the position of following a big, tall, slow-moving RV that doesn’t pull over to let me pass when the opportunity arises. To maintain harmony on the road, I offer these tips: Don’t hog the highway. Pull over at turnouts or into slow-moving lanes so that vehicles behind you have a chance to pass. (In some states, laws stipulate that a slower-moving vehicle must allow following vehicles to pass at the first opportunity when five or more of them are trailing.) Allowing cars to pass not only makes the drivers behind you happy, but also makes you more relaxed. Stay in the right lane except when passing another vehicle. When you do pass, make sure that you have the speed and space to do so quickly and easily. Some motor homes don’t have the necessary power to overtake vehicles on an incline (uphill), especially if the other driver happens to speed up as you attempt to pass. The possible exception to the rule to stay in the right lane applies to expressway/interstate driving. Constantly being in the merge-off or merge-on lane can be problematic for a large, heavy motor home. You’re required to brake or speed up to integrate the cars that are coming up on your right side from the expressway on ramps. This isn’t so easy when you’re driving a 28,000-pound motor home that’s 38 feet long plus 20 extra feet when it has a car in tow It’s much easier and safer to be in the lane to the left of the far-right lane, which can often mitigate the merging-traffic issue. Turn off your high beams. As you do when driving any other vehicle, turning off your high beams for an approaching car is a must. Doing so when you’re driving into a campground after dark is also a good idea. Make a friendly wave to oncoming RVs. This customary practice is especially important when the other vehicle is similar to your own. Beyond the basics: Expert tips Having logged many miles in RVs and towing trailers, I consider myself to be an expert on the subject. What follows are just a few of the driving tips I’ve picked up along the way to share with you: Buckle your seat belt. When the vehicle is in motion, everyone inside needs to be in their seats with seat belts fastened. Wait until the RV is safely parked before getting up and walking around, fetching a cold drink from the refrigerator, going to the bathroom, or cooking something on the stove. Drive with headlights on in the daytime. If your motor home isn’t equipped with daytime running lights, turn on your headlights. This safety measure makes your vehicle more visible in marginal light and from a greater distance, especially on long, straight expanses of highway. Many states require the use of headlights during the daytime, and I favor making this practice mandatory. When visibility is hampered in any way by natural conditions, fog, overcast skies, pollen clouds, or smoke from brush fires, I always turn on the headlights and taillights so that my RV is easier for other motorists to see. Memorize your RV’s height, weight, and width. You need to know quickly whether your vehicle fits the parameters when you see a sign ahead, warning about a bridge with a 5-ton limit or a tunnel with 10 feet of clearance. Watch for cautionary road signs. Everyone in the RV, not just the driver, needs to keep a lookout, especially for signs denoting a tunnel ahead and listing maximum clearance. Signs that warn about narrow clearances in construction zones require slower speed and very alert driving. I’ve had to drive my motor home, which is more than 8 feet wide, down many miles of 9-foot roadways in construction zones sided with concrete barriers. You can do this with calm, caution, slower speeds, and ample references to the rearview and side mirrors. Take precautionary actions even if you don’t see cautionary road signs. Sometimes on streets in a town or city, you don’t get ample warning of low-clearance tunnels or bridges. When a road dips to go under a railroad trestle you may have to stop and have the co-pilot get out to make an assessment. Slip on a pair of yellow sunglasses (sold in ski shops as ski goggles). These sunglasses combat glare, fog, snow, and headlights when you’re driving after dark. Some of these glasses are clip-ons that fit over your regular glasses. Scan the road ahead with binoculars. Before you change lanes in heavy traffic, the co-pilot can use binoculars to check out the road signs ahead. Binoculars are useful for trying to determine whether interstate entry/exit ramps require you to be in the right or left lane; they also help the co-pilot read signs at intersections. Try to avoid driving at night. I prefer starting early in the morning and stopping for the day by midafternoon. This schedule enables me to hit the road before most vehicles do and see what there is to see. After all, why drive along the spectacular California coast if you can’t see it? Drive defensively. Other drivers don’t seem to realize that motor homes are like big tractor-trailer rigs; they can’t stop on a dime. Drive a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you in case you need to slow or stop unexpectedly. Many other drivers also make the erroneous assumption that RV drivers are elderly slowpokes when most of us drive at or just below the prevailing speed limit with the rest of the traffic. We’re always half-expecting a driver to pull out of a side road in front of us, and we’re rarely disappointed on that account. One rule to follow: If you see a pickup truck waiting at a side road to pull into traffic, you can count on it pulling out in front of your RV. Control your speed Although exceeding the speed limit is never a good idea, doing so can be especially inconvenient Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. These states aren’t signatories to multistate agreements that provide some level of mutual information-sharing and enforcement when you’re traveling out of your home state. What that means is that drivers with license plates from these seven states are subject to having their licenses confiscated and being required to go to the nearest office of a judge, sheriff, or justice of the peace to post bond and/or pay a fine. If an official isn’t available, drivers may be jailed until a court appearance can be arranged, which may take several hours.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

Budgeting for a trip in an RV has a few different wrinkles from a vacation on which you’re not driving your accommodations around. You won’t be able to figure out to the last cent how much you’ll be spending, but the RV Vacations For Dummies Cheat Sheet and the information in this article can help you develop some reasonable estimates for building your travel budget. Transportation Transportation — renting or buying and maintaining an RV and then filling the gas tank — is the biggest chunk of your budget. For information on renting, see “Testing the Waters: RV Rentals.” Even after you own an RV, you must pay attention to the cost of filling the gas tank and maintaining the vehicle in top working order. You’ll want to prorate your annual maintenance costs, insurance, license, scheduled maintenance, and minor repairs on a per-mile or per-month basis. The total cost of fuel depends on how much time you plan to spend on the road. Your gas price per day goes down considerably if you spend some days hiking, fishing, or doing local sightseeing. To get an estimate, drive mentally through your trip, adding up the mileage as you go based on the estimates in this book. (You can confirm the mileage online at sites such as Google Maps and MapQuest.) Next, settle on an expected average per-gallon price for gas. You can take an average figure per gallon from the signs at your local service station. Knowing the exact price of gas in the future or even two or three states down the road is impossible, but GasBuddy can give you current retail prices throughout the country, including the lowest prices in a particular area. Divide the daily or total trip mileage by the estimated miles per gallon that your RV gets, and you can get a good idea of how many gallons you’ll use per day or for the entire drive. Maintenance costs vary according to the type of RV you have. A towable has fewer motor-related costs than a motor home, of course, but your towing vehicle may require some maintenance. A rental unit should be in tip-top condition when you pick it up, so maintenance costs will be minimal. If you own the RV, you face unexpected road risk costs; roofs can peel off, flying debris can shatter windows, and tires can fail. Your warranty or RV insurance may cover such incidents. Along with regular engine and vehicle upkeep on a long haul, spend that little bit of extra money on RV service when necessary. If you own your RV, it’s a good idea to get an annual multipoint checkup at your dealership, performed by a qualified RV technician. The added expense can save money in the long run. Be aware that when you travel on back roads, you not only drive slower (not a bad idea when sightseeing), but also avoid the toll roads that charge fees based on the number of axles on your rig. Parking charges may double or triple for RV drivers. My 36-foot motor home takes up two parking meters (three or four with the tow car), and all those meters must be fed. Parking lots may charge additional fees depending on the size of your rig. Always be mindful of your overhead-clearance requirements when attempting to use pay-for-parking lots. Saving money on fuel Fuel conservation is important for all RVers. Cutting down on the amount of fuel you use helps not only your budget, but also the environment. What follows are tips for conserving and finding the best fuel prices: Consider staying longer in one location. Because I’m so happy and comfortable in my newer, larger motor home, I find myself staying longer in each place than I used to. This practice cuts fuel costs by reducing the average number of miles I drive per day. I get almost the same gas mileage in my 36-foot motor home as I did in my old 24-footer. Contemplate not taking the tow-along, and walk or bike. Enjoy a walk of a mile or two to the market, a museum, or a restaurant. Other RVers carry bicycles for making short trips from and around the campground. Mind and maintain the speed limit. Experts say that observing the speed limit saves fuel because the fuel economy of your vehicle decreases at higher speeds. Cruise control (for those vehicles that have this feature) also contributes to fuel savings because it helps you maintain a constant speed. Being light-footed on the gas pedal rather than applying too much throttle also saves gas. Keep your air filter clean. Make sure that your air filter is checked and replaced often. U.S. Department of Energy studies say that a dirty air filter can raise fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. Keeping your engine tuned and not carrying any extraneous weight also helps. Take advantage of gas competition. I carry binoculars to check out posted gas prices along an interstate exit or on the outskirts of a town. Always go for the cheaper price, even when doing so requires turning around. Even in the same area, prices can vary a lot. A helpful website for finding the lowest prices in any area is GasBuddy. Pay cash when you can. Sometimes, the cash price for gas is lower than the price if you pay by credit card. If you prefer using a credit card, watch for stations where prices are the same. If nothing is posted, ask before filling your tank. RV and camping supplies You can purchase most RV and camping supplies at your local supermarket. Specialty items such as storage-tank deodorizers, biodegradable toilet paper, and other RV items are available in RV stores and auto-supply shops. For a list of what I consider to be essential supplies, check out the RV Vacations For Dummies Cheat Sheet.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

Renting presents a great opportunity to try the RV experience before you buy into it fully. Trying different styles of RVs by renting them first has the potential to help you make the best purchase decision if you’re on a path to buy one. Renting an RV every summer for vacation is another alternative to buying; you get all the benefits of going on vacation in an RV without the added responsibilities of ownership. When to rent If you don’t own an RV, you need to rent or buy one for your trip. How do you decide which to do? In the following circumstances, renting an RV makes more sense when You’re setting out on your first RV journey. You’re thinking about replacing your current RV with a different type. Your family takes a two-week vacation every year and wants to do so in an RV. That way, you can test-drive different models each year, and when the time comes to buy, you’ll know what you want. You want to travel for several weeks in a location far from home. Fly-and-drive packages are available from several rental companies. You want to drive a rough or rugged stretch of road without subjecting your own RV to wear and tear. You want to travel a long haul (such as Route 66) in only one direction. How to rent Several companies rent RVs. To find one near you, go to the Recreational Vehicle Rental Association (RVRA) website, or look in your local telephone directory. Make reservations for your RV about three months in advance, especially for holiday periods and peak travel seasons, when tourists from Europe, Australia, and New Zealand that like to rent them for visits to national parks or drives along the California coast. During the off season, however, you may be able to book a spur-of-the-moment rental for a few days or a week, especially from a nearby dealer. The most common rental unit available is the motor home — the Type C mini-motor home — which accounts for 90 percent of all rentals. Prices begin at around $1,000 per week plus a fee for miles driven. For tips on negotiating a rate, see “How to get the best rate.” Keep in mind, however, that your rental rate doesn’t include The use of the generator: You need the generator for operating the ceiling air conditioner, microwave oven, and TV in places that don’t have electrical hookups. When you return the RV, the dealer reads the generator counter (usually located near the on/off switch) to determine the use-time you logged. Certain furnishings and utensils: Some companies offer a furnishings package with bedding, towels, dishes, cooking pots, and utensils for a flat rate of about $85 per trip. Other companies offer add-on kits containing power cords and hoses, plastic trash bags, toilet chemicals, and a troubleshooting guide. Sometimes, purchasing these packages, or bringing items from home makes more sense than spending vacation time searching for them. Ask the rental company for a list of what’s included in your rental so that you’ll know what you need to bring or buy. Connections for travel trailers: When you find a company that rents travel trailers, you may be required to furnish your own tow vehicle and hitch, as well as electrical hookups on the tow vehicle. Insurance: Insurance on a rental RV normally isn’t covered in your own automobile insurance, so ask your insurance agent for a binder that extends your coverage to the RV for the rental period. Many dealers require a binder before you rent a vehicle. Most rental centers request a cleaning deposit, which isn’t returned if you bring the vehicle back with the holding tanks full or the interior dirty or damaged. Some companies offer free airport pickup and return if you notify them of your flight number and estimated arrival time. At the dealership, make sure that the dealer demonstrates all the components and systems of the RV you’re renting. Take careful notes. As you would with a rental car, check for dents and damage from previous use, and document the damage with the dealer before leaving the lot. Also make sure that you’re given a full set of instruction booklets and emergency phone numbers in case of a breakdown. Having a 24-hour toll-free number to call in case of a problem is best. If you fall in love with your rental vehicle, you may be able to negotiate a purchase price that subtracts your rental fee from the total. You may get a good deal if the vehicle is a few model years old; most rental dealers get rid of vehicles after two or three years. How to get the best rate For the best rental rate, follow these tips: Check prices with several companies before making a decision. Establish exactly what the lowest-priced rental includes, such as free miles, the price per mile beyond the daily or weekly limit, amenities such as dishes and linens, and breakdown service. Try to plan your trip during the off season or shoulder season (the period between the most popular and least popular travel times). The times of year for these seasons vary, depending on the area where you’re renting. Find out whether your own automobile insurance covers rental insurance for an RV. Your agent usually can provide a cheaper rate than the rental company. Try to plan your trip in a loop so that you can avoid drop-off charges. The rental agency serves as the starting and ending point. Negotiate based on selection. The more RVs a rental company has, the wider your range of choices. If you’re flexible about what sort of rig you rent, you may be able to negotiate a better price when the selection is not limited.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

The cool gadgets in this list—from smartphones to CB radios—will make your RV vacation easier and take away many of the petty annoyances involved in getting where you’re going. Smartphone As an RV traveler, you probably need to give up your flip phone. Smartphones and the apps that run on them can do just about anything but the laundry. You can use them to check Facebook, tweet, and pin; surf the web; text, message, or email; and play sweet games. And don’t forget that they can make calls to other cell and landline phones from just about anywhere. Some aspects of smartphones make them indispensable for RVers. They have navigation apps and phone service, and they can be used as Wi-Fi hotspots to connect other devices to the Internet. Navigation apps. All smartphones offer some form of navigation capability, often built into the phone’s standard software and accessible by voice command or from within the web browser. Get accustomed to using these navigation apps by taking car trips to places you know and have gone to before, such as the grocery store or the mall, and listen to and follow the turn by turn directions to get there. This way, you will be familiar with how the apps work when you need them to lead the way. There generally are settings in the apps to rule out road types, like secondary, and having to use a ferry boat to get there. Learn all the settings you can adjust so that you can tune the device to work its best for you. Study a paper map and know where you are going before you depart in your RV. Smartphone GPS navigation apps are generally programmed to direct a car, pickup truck, or SUV, or perhaps a semi-truck, not a motor home that needs 12 feet, 7 inches of overhead clearance or weighs in over 28,000 pounds. They also have a tendency to take you along the shortcut, not the big truck route by-pass you really need to use, so some knowledge of your desired routing is necessary so you know when to not “turn right here” as the app directs. It’s a phone, too. No more hunting for the phone booth needed across 90 percent of the places you will travel in the U.S. and Canada. All the major carriers publish a map showing where they think they have coverage for voice and data. When you shop for a smartphone, consider one with a large screen. Find a case or holder that keeps the phone firmly fixed near the driver’s or navigator’s seat. Also, find a handsfree Bluetooth earpiece or headset that lets you communicate with the phone if your motor home’s radio isn’t Bluetooth-capable. Practice using the phone and its features when someone else is driving. If you’re going to do the driving, set the navigation app before you start out. If the app fails, find a safe place to pull over and reset your routing on the application. NOAA weather radio The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather-radio channels may not cover all the areas you travel across or stay in, but having a NOAA radio is still essential for those times when it does. In most areas, a NOAA weather radio can keep you informed so that you can keep yourself and your family safe when the weather doesn’t cooperate with your plans. A NOAA weather radio tunes to all seven VHF frequencies from 162.400 MHz to 162.550 MHz. Here are where you can find NOAA coverage maps for the US and Canada: USA NOAA coverage maps Canada coverage maps Having a smartphone, radio, TV set, and weather radio on board increases your chances of staying connected to weather information and warnings, which can help you make safe travel decisions. Dedicated hotspot device A dedicated hotspot device can maintain an Internet connection for the kids or travel companions without interfering with what is happening on your smartphone. Most all of the major carriers sell a dedicated hotspot device that you can keep in the motor home to provide Internet connectivity for all those other devices you need these days. Adding one of these devices to your cell phone plan will cost a bit more, but it can be well worth it to carry the convenience of Internet access with you on the road. It also provides the option to keep something in the RV connected to the Internet when you are on an errand or daytrip somewhere with the tow car or truck. You can also use the hotspot WI-FI device to connect some GPS models to the Internet for live weather and traffic information. Consider buying one of the newer superfast 5G capable hotspot device. Soon the nation will be covered with 5G capable towers giving superfast data speeds to meet your on-the-road connectivity needs. Also consider buying one that can connect to an external antenna. This will give you a more stable connection and increase the distance from which you can stay connected to a cell phone tower. RV-specific GPS device This indispensable gadget helps you maintain turn-by-turn awareness, safety, and convenience while driving your RV. One big benefit of having a Global Positioning System (GPS) device specifically designed for RV use is that it can take into consideration your vehicle’s characteristics, such as overhead clearance; it won’t take you down a road with 10-foot overhead clearance when you need 12 feet, 8 inches. Another great advantage of a GPS designed for RV use is lane-awareness and lane-change advice, which is particularly useful in large cities; many major highways and interstates require prompt lane changes. RV-specific GPS devices are available in two different styles: a dedicated GPS function or a tablet with a GPS feature that will also do other things. Some models include bells and whistles such as a dashboard camera and trip recorder. As with any tech gadget, learn to use it before you need it. Consider favoring a larger viewing screen when you decide which model to buy. Make sure that the device is in RV mode for height clearance and weight when you’re pulling your fifth-wheel or driving your Class A or class B motor home down the highways and byways of North America. Some of the most useful features to look for include RV routing based on size and weight, phone connectivity for traffic updates, preloaded points of interest, voice-enabled command features, and preloaded information on campgrounds. Digital tire-pressure gauge A small digital tire-pressure gauge is an indispensable tool for checking the tires of your RV, trailer, fifth-wheel, or tow car on a frequent basis. Knowing the recommended tire pressures for all vehicles and trailers and checking them frequently enables you to catch tire problems before they become big problems. It is good practice to always check your tire pressures first thing in the morning before leaving on the trip or your days travels. Having one tire out of four or six running a pressure 10 percent or more below the other tires is a clue that it’s time to get some service on that tire when you’re near a service facility. If all tires’ pressures are low by an equal amount after a big swing in outdoor temperatures, you may just have to add a little more air before getting on the road again. Your trailer, RV, or towed car performs best when all the tires are at recommended pressure. A handy digital pressure gauge helps you keep tires in spec, improves gas mileage, and reduces uneven wear, extending the life of the tires while contributing to on-the-road safety. Multimeter This little electronic test meter helps you make sure that your RV’s house or coach batteries are charging properly (13.8 to 14.7 volts DC) regardless of the source of charging current. The on the engine alternator, on-board generator, or the AC to DC converter when connected to campground AC power should all produce a charging current in that voltage range. You can also use this meter to check for adequate AC voltage in an outlet or camp power pedestal. A multimeter can also identify whether a house or clearance light bulb is burned out and whether a fuse is blown. Learning how to use this testing tool and how your RV’s electrical system operates can save you many service bills and trips to the dealership, and help keep your rig, lights, and devices properly powered. Rechargeable battery-powered vacuum cleaner Some big rigs and even class Cs have built-in vacuum cleaners. For the rest, you benefit from having a battery-powered handheld or standard-size rechargeable vacuum cleaner on board. From cleaning up beach sand to desert dust and pet hair to getting rid of angry unwelcome insects, a portable vacuum cleaner helps keep the RV clean and tidy. You can also use it to clean the carpets in the tow car or the pickup truck that pulls the trailer. Charge the vacuum’s battery every time you’re hooked up to a campground power pedestal, and keep all the attachments in one place, such as a bag or toolbox. CB radio Most folks consider a citizens’ band (CB) radio to be “old-school,” and it is. But old-school isn’t no school. This radio can still be helpful; many over-the-road truckers and RVers have a CB turned on, monitoring channel 19 to hear what’s happening up ahead as they roll down the road. Some police agencies monitor channel 9 (the help channel), so you can shout out to them if necessary. Consider buying a pair of handheld CB portable units so that you can use them in and around the campsite to call the kids in for dinner or s’mores around the campfire. Small oil-filled electric heater Even though your RV is likely to be equipped with a propane furnace, heat pump, or resistance-heat-assisted air conditioner that can provide heat on cold nights, this gadget can help. You can use a small radiator like liquid filled electric heater to warm up the sleeping area or take the chill out of a bathroom. This type of heater is a low-cost alternative to draining the propane tank; also, it’s quiet, giving light sleepers a bit of heat without the noise of the built-in heating alternatives. When you need a little bit of heat in a small space without going over a 20- or 30-amp hookup limit, a small heater can fill the bill on chilly but not-quite-freezing nights. Emergency signs and lights RVers hope that they’ll never have tire failures or mechanical breakdowns. If misfortune should strike, though, it’s helpful to warn other travelers that your vehicle is disabled on the side of the road. Most states have move-over laws that require motorists to slow down or move over a lane away from stalled or disabled vehicles. Triangular warning signs and emergency warning lights placed behind your vehicle warn other motorists of your plight and keep you safe. States that have move-over laws are listed online. As a courteous RV driver, however, you should always get over if you can safely do so. Some RVers carry railroad flares for night warnings, and using them is okay, but you should consider the flames and the risk to users. LED light kits are a safe alternative.

Article / Updated 02-12-2020

If you can’t check out the world’s largest ball of string or take a look at the corn palace while on an RV vacation, when can you? Countless gems like that ball of string are located all over the United States. This list shares some of those places (one per each state you might visit by RV). Read about places to play, see, find adventure, just rest, learn something new, stay for a longer while, dine, or shop. Alabama High is very relative term. At the highest point in Alabama, set above what is now the Talladega National Forest, Cheaha Mountain is 2,407 feet above sea level form which you can view much of the surrounding countryside. At the Cheaha Mountain overlook, you’ll find a tower that was built in 1948 by the Civilian Conservation Corps at the overlook. To get to Cheaha Mountain from Intestate 20, take exit 191 south using US 431. Turn south to use the Talladega Scenic Byway, then use Route 281 South. Follow that along to Cheaha State Park. Drive the marked road up to Bunker Tower. We recommend visiting early in the morning or late in the evening. An enjoyable side trip unless the forecast calls for snow, rain, or lightning. Alaska As the economics changed in Alaska, native villages and totem were abandoned. In 1938, the US Forest Services began saving and restoring the totems at Totem Bight State Historical Park. It is a ferry ride to get there. Learn more at the ranger stations and on the website. Ketchikan Ranger Station, 9883 N Tongass Highway, Ketchikan, AK 99901 907-247-8574. Arizona Reputed to be the best cowboy bar in the west, Big Nose Kate’s Saloon is an ideal place to dine and have a cool sarsaparilla. Park your RV somewhere safe on the back streets and walk through the town. If you pay to see the gunfight reenactment, you can get a free period newspaper down one of the side streets from the time of the famous gunfight. Receive a reprint of the 1881 Epitaph with the original Gunfight reports as part of your O.K. Corral admission ticket. Check out the gunfight reenactment at the OK Corral and the little boot hill cemetery on the edge of town while you are there if you have time. Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, 417 E. Allen Street, Tombstone, Arizona 520-457-3107. Arkansas Southern Tenant Farmers Museum is located on the Sunken Lands Cultural Roadway and is the trailhead for the Tour duh Sunken Lands annual cultural cycling event. Photographs, oral histories, and artifacts tell the history of sharecropping, tenant farming, and labor movements, featuring prominently the history of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union. Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, 117 South Main Street, Tyronza, AR 72386 870-487-2909. California Elmer liked glass and old things and put them together in very artistic ways. Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch is a unique roadside stop that rivals many others, including the largest ball of twine and TP village. Please don’t drive by this one without a stop and look-see. Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch, 24266 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368. Colorado To complete a visit or simply find a reason to go to Colorado in the first place, take in a trail ride at High Country Trails, billed as the true adventure of the West. All ages from 7 years old and up and riding skill levels are accommodated. Select to go to the top of the mountain trail and overlook Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, and Grand Lake off in the distance. Trail rides can take six hours and more. Located at Shadow Mountain Guest Ranch. From Interstate 70 take exit 232, take US 40 driving through Winter Park, Fraser and Granby. Two miles west of Windy Gap take Colorado Highway 125 north for about 5.5 miles. Look for them on the right side of the highway. High Country Trails next to 5043 CO-125, Granby, CO 80446 970-887-8991 or 801-372-9868. Connecticut Visit the Glass House, designed by Philip Johnson. Yes, that’s correct — a house made mostly of glass. Those residents who should not throw stones! The house was built in 1948–49 on Ponus Ridge Road in New Canaan. The tour takes a bit over an hour. Tickets are required for admission and access to the home site is only via the paid tour. Advance reservations are required as tours often sell out. Visitor Center + Design Store, 199 Elm Street, New Canaan CT, 06840. For tickets by phone, please call 866-811-4111. For more information call 203-594-9884. Delaware It was a long walk, a bit of controversy, and a few lawsuits and good number of years to get from cast records to today’s digital sound technology. Learn the beginnings of sound recording and history of the influential Johnson Victrola Museum. The museum features the achievements of Delaware’s native son, Eldridge Reeves Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company and an early pioneer of the sound-recording industry. Johnson Victrola Museum, 375 S. New St. Dover, DE 19904. 302-739-3262. Florida The Dora Canal Eco-tour is a two-hour narrated tour by boat that will make you feel like you are starring in an Indiana Jones move. The tour takes you into a Cypress Swamp that is chock full of wildlife and ecological wonders. Among the 2,000-year-old trees, you see native herons, egrets, turtles, and alligators in their natural habitat. After the tour, find some good eats at O'Keefe's Irish Pub & Restaurant, 115 S Rockingham Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778. Premier Boat Tours, 100 N. Alexander Street, Mount Dora, FL 32757. Please call ahead for reservations, the boats can fill up fast on any given day. 352-434-8040. Georgia Something everyone should see at least once even if you don’t like trains. At the Folkston funnel, the train track is the route into Florida for eastern United States and east coast trains. From the platform, you can observe the trains pass and hear the engineers talk to each other and their company control centers as they negotiate their turn to pass through the “funnel”. Great photo opportunity to get photos of the engines and graffiti street art that covers many of the box cars, and talk to people who are more into trains than one could even imagine. Here’s a hint: The numbered engines actually have names! Folkston funnel, 16 Oakwood Street, Folkston, Georgia 31537. Hawaii At the center of Oahu, fairytale-like Wahiawa Botanical Garden is a picturesque, peaceful place. Home to a variety of plants and relaxing walking paths. Located on a high plateau in central Oahu between the Waianae and Ko’olau mountain ranges, the garden features native Hawaiian plants, including aroid plants, tree ferns, and epiphytic plants. Wahiawa Botanical Garden, 1396 California Ave. Wahiawa, HI 96786. Get more information about the garden and its plants by calling 808-621-7321. Idaho The Idaho Potato Museum celebrates potatoes like no place else on earth. Open year-round from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and to 7 p.m. in June, July, and August. Plenty of room in the south parking lot for your RV. Learn the history and importance of potatoes and some of the early potato pioneers and their contribution, such as Russet Burbank. Pick up one of the recipe books while you are taking a walk through the gift shop. The Idaho Potato Museum, 130 Northwest Main Street, Blackfoot, ID 83221. 208-785-2517. Illinois General Ulysses S. Grant Home belongs to the state of Illinois. The gift of this home exemplified the appreciation of fellow residents of Galena, Illinois, to the General for his service in the Civil War. Designed by William Dennison, originally constructed in 1860 for Alexander J. Jackson. Thomas B. Hughlett, on behalf of only a small group of local citizens bought the house for $2,500 in June 1865 and gifted it to General Grant. The home is attractive and furnished is located on Bouthillier Street. The restored house is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency as the US Grant Home State Historic Site. The Grant Home, 500 Bouthillier Street in Galena, Illinois 61036. 815-777-3310. Indiana The town of Decatur, Indiana, yields two very meaningful visits for RV travelers. One is the American Coach/Fleetwood factory tour. The other is the juried metal sculpture art exhibit tour all around town every summer. Either one or both make the detour to Decatur worthwhile. The sculpture tours are free and self-guided. Takes about 2 hours to walk the area, or you can drive block to block and park and walk. The factory tours are free and available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Iowa Madison County is the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa, perhaps of the world, and is home to a large group of covered bridges that exists in one small area of the Mississippi Valley. The tour to see the bridges inspired the book and then the movie, The Bridges of Madison County. Madison County’s bridges are on small roads, so you will want to pay to take the tour. Madison County, Iowa, Chamber & Welcome Center, 73 Jefferson St., Winterset, IA 50273. 515-462-1185. Kansas Prairie grass once covered 170 million acres of North America yet only about 4 percent remains, much of it in the Kansas Flint Hills area, where you can find the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. A few rare patches of these grasses remain in other areas of the country that are hard to find. This is the grass that fed the buffalo that fed the first to arrive Native tribes and later the early American settlers. Find out how large a role this grass played in the development and settlement of the west and why most of it was plowed under or burned away. Visitor Center — Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 2480B KS Hwy 177 Strong City, KS 66869. 620- 273-8494. Kentucky Need a costume, wig, or mask? Enjoy seeing things too odd to describe? Caufield’s Novelty is the place for all that and more they have something for every season, holiday, or event. Caufield’s Novelty, 1006 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202. 800-777-5653. Big rig parking is rare, so this is a car or cab trip. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday; and closed on Sundays. Also closed November 1 for inventory. Louisiana Who doesn’t love a rose garden? When Gardens of the American Rose is in bloom, it is one of the best. This is the largest, (at 118 acres), park dedicated exclusively to roses. Also find sculptures and water fountains that also provide a focal point for the roses and more reasons to take pictures while you are visiting. Gardens of the American Rose, 8877 Jefferson Paige Road, Shreveport, LA 71119. 318-938-5402. Maine The Kenneth E. Stoddard Shell Museum is housed in a little covered bridge. There is mini golf, an ice cream parlor, and an arcade nearby. The museum houses seashells from the Pacific Ocean that Kenneth, was a US Navy sailor, who collected seashells from beaches and islands during World War II. Street parking is available. This museum is operated by Kenneth’s son, Lee. The Kenneth E. Stoddard Shell Museum, 510 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, ME 04537. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. mid-May to mid-September. Maryland Bel Air Armory is a historic Army National Guard armory located at Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. It was constructed in 1915 of Port Deposit granite. Go just to see the building or get in on some of the events that happen here throughout the year. The building by itself is amazing dating to 1915. Get to it by car or by cab, no nearby big rig RV parking. Bel Air Armory, 37 N Main St, Bel Air, MD 21014. 410-638-4506. Massachusetts The Titanic Museum is run by the Titanic Historical Society, Inc., whose purpose is the preservation of the history of the famous ocean liner RMS Titanic, which sank by hitting an iceberg on its voyage to New York from England in 1912, one of the best-known losses in maritime history. The Titanic Museum, 208 Main Street, Indian Orchard, Massachusetts. Open: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Closed Sundays & Holidays; Admission: $4 adults, $2 children. Michigan Take in the Elk Ride Tour though the elk preserve and enjoy a great dinner in the Elk Antler Cabin halfway through the ride at Thunder Bay Resort. During the tour, Jack Matthias (the owner) or one of his docents will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Michigan elk herds, and you will see many elk in their natural Michigan habitat as you take the wagon tour pulled by draft horses or sleigh in the winter months. Get there at least a day early and take in a round of golf, visit some of the local wineries, or get in on one of the shipwreck glass-bottom boat tours in Alpena. The RV park is the best in the area. Some of the nearby waters provide some of the best brown trout fishing in Michigan when in season. Plenty of rooms at the resort if you want to take a break from the RV for a few days or a week. Try one of the pizzas from the clubhouse to make this a no-cooking-needed visit. The pizza here is rated by some guests to be one of the top three in the nation, the second best in Michigan. Getting a site at the campground is no problem usually, except for busy holiday weekends. Call ahead for elk ride and dinner reservations, this is a frequent stop for tour buses because it is so unique. Thunder Bay Resort, 27800 M-32, Hillman, MI 49746. 800-729-9375. Minnesota Minnesota is reputed to have 10,000 lakes. The water is so clear in so many of them that you can see the bottom. Pick one to enjoy, as there are so many. A favorite for many travelers from the US and Canada is Rainy Lake. Go to fish, just enjoy the views, or take a boat ride. Rainy Lake is in Voyageurs National Park on the Canadian border. Rent a canoe or kayak with Voyageurs Outfitters in International Falls. International Falls is just across the river from Fort Frances, Ontario, so you might want to bring your passport. International Falls, Rainy Lake and Ranier Convention and Visitors Bureau, 301 2nd Avenue, International Falls, MN 56649. 800-325-5766. Mississippi Erected in 1848 and Biloxi Lighthouse was one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South. The lighthouse is in the middle of US 90 at Porter Avenue, south of the new Biloxi Visitors Center, and just west of I-110 loop. 228-374-3105. Missouri Glore Psychiatric Museum, one of the St. Joseph Museums, ranks high on the list of unusual museums. This place chronicles the history of the state hospital’s mental care and represents artifacts and information from a few hundred years’ worth of mental health treatment. It is a do not miss for fans of the book, play, or movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Glore Psychiatric Museum, 3406 Frederick Avenue, St. Joseph, MO 64506. 816-232-8471. Montana With consideration for historical timing, Frontier Gateway Museum presents prehistoric times into the 21st century in seven buildings and outdoor displays in relevance to Montana involving Native Americans, early homesteaders, cattlemen, and railroad artifacts. Frontier Gateway Museum, 201 State Street, Glendive, MT 59330. 406-377-8168. Nebraska The Joslyn Art Museum’s collection includes over 11,000 works featuring artists and cultures from ancient times to the present. Featuring temporary exhibits as well. Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68102-1292. 402-342-3300. Nevada Forget the slot machines in Vegas pan for gold here. Rye Patch State Recreation Area is a 2,400-acre state park when you can still pan for gold. Trails system use it to see wildlife such as eagles, owls, antelope, fox, and deer. The park also is a stopping off place to go ghost town exploring and gold prospecting. Rye Patch State Recreation Area, 2505 Rye Patch Reservoir Road, Lovelock, NV 89419. 775-538-7321. New Hampshire The Strawbery Banke District is on the National Register of Historic Places. A living history museum, the Strawbery Banke District preserves the history of the area and people who lived there. Be sure to see the centuries of houses and there is much more to see. Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth NH 03801. 603-433-1100. New Jersey Thomas Edison National Historical Park contains multiple building preserves and celebrates much about the great inventor and industrialist Thomas Edison's laboratory and residence, Glenmont, in Llewellyn Park in West Orange in Essex County. Thomas Edison National Historical Park, 211 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052. 973-736-0550 (choose extension 11, and leave a message). New Mexico Turner Inn and RV Park, Mountainair, NM 87036, In this tiny town on US 60 (about 70 miles south and east of Albuquerque) is the host town for seeing the ruins of the Salinas National Monument old mission ruins. Ruth and Kevin at the Turner Inn and RV Park (pet friendly) are excellent hosts and are always willing to chat with visitors about the area. fees are $28 or $30 per night if you want to stay a while there are weekly and monthly rates available. A few of many reasons’ folks stay a while is the opportunity to find precious gems on the public lands or collect wildflower seeds or to visit the ruins. There is also an active local artist community, Manzano Mountain Art Council and a showroom at (Cibola Arts Gallery 217 W. Broadway, Mountainair) for the artists and artisans m to display their amazing art works for sale in the quaint little downtown area. Turner Inn & RV park 503 East Broadway, Mountainair, NM 87036 505-847-0248. New York West of Canandaigua, the Bloomfield Antique Country Mile is a busy mile-long cluster of antiques shops along routes NY 5 and US 20 near Bloomfield. With plenty of shops lined up back-to-back, this cluster of shops is a terrific place for antique hunting. Keep a compartment empty for your finds. North Carolina New Burn Moore’s Old Time Barbeque and nearby Birthplace of Pepsi Cola If your traveling though North Caroline and you have had enough fish and seafood dinners or just want to take a break from the saltwater sourced foods then the ride up or down the coast a way to New Bern, North Carolina, to check out a lunch or dinner at Moore’s Olde Tyme Barbeque. Moore’s Olde Tyme Barbeque. 3621 Doctor M.L.K. Jr Boulevard, New Bern, NC 28562. 252-638-3937. If you have time, check out the nearby birthplace of Pepsi: The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, 256 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560. 252-636-5898. North Dakota Scandinavian Heritage Park is an outdoor museum that showcases interesting artifacts from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Features include a 240-year-old log house from Norway, a replica stabbur (storehouse), 27-foot-tall Swedish Dala horse, Gol Stave Church Museum, Finnish style sauna, and a Danish designed windmill, various statues, picnic shelter, walking trails, and gift shop. Scandinavian Heritage Park, 1020 S. Broadway, Minot, ND 58702. 701-852-9161. Ohio Even if you never wanted to visit any place in Ohio; if you ever watched a MASH 4077 episode on TV or seen the play, this is the place to go for one or more Tony Packo's Original Hot Dogs, also known as the Hungarian Dog. “Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger” played by Jamie Farr (who was born in Toledo in 1934), from the TV show Mash 4077, set in Korea during the Korean Conflict, talked about missing Packo Hot Dogs as his all-time favorite food from home. When you go there you can find memorabilia connected with the show and many of the actors. Tony Packo's Restaurant, 1902 Front Street Toledo, OH 43605. 419-691-6054. If you need another reason to go to Toledo check out the Toledo Art Museum or the Toledo Zoo. Oklahoma Take the ride up and over to the far side of Mount Scott from near Lawton and Fort Sill to Meer’s Store and Restaurant for a Longhorn burger and a slice of pie. Meer’s doesn’t serve just a burger; it serves a Longhorn Burger. To learn the difference, you just have to taste it. Meer’s Store and Restaurant, 26005 OK-115, Meers, OK 73057. 580-429-8051. Oregon Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the United States. Crater Lake was created when a volcano blew its top. Learn about the many ecosystems found inside the park. Go to Rim Village first then start your tour around the lake. The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. State route 62 takes you there. Crater Lake National Park Crater Lake, OR 97604. 541-594-3000. Pennsylvania Want to see why maybe Einstein was so smart? The Mütter Museum is the place that houses slides of his brain tissue. The museum houses many permanent exhibitions, including the Soap Lady and a new Civil War medicine exhibition. The Mütter Museum, 19 S. 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19103. Call ahead: 215-560-8564. Rhode Island Open seasonally, Green Animals Topiary Garden is the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the United States. Green Animals Topiary Garden, 380 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Call for ticket prices. 401- 847-1000. South Carolina While in South Carolina, visit the World's Smallest Police Station. Dating back to 1940, this small (very small) police station functioned until 1990. This place is one of those places that you can miss in the blink of an eye, but it’s worth seeing just for bragging rights. World's Smallest Police Station, 170 South Dogwood Avenue, Ridgeway, SC 29130. South Dakota Museum of Geology features mounted skeletons of dinosaurs, mammals, marine reptiles, fish, and fossils from the White River area badlands. South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, 501 E. Saint Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701. 605-394-2467. Tennessee Lane Motor Museum includes mostly foreign cars, cars, and more cars that qualify as cute, rare, classic or antique, and also includes Mignet Aviation aircraft, bicycles, floating vehicles, and motorcycles. You may want to go more than one day. Lane Motor Museum, 702 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210. 615-742-7445. Texas The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza tells the story of a dark day in American History, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. A rifle was found on the 6th floor of the building shortly after the assassination. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, 411 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75202. 214-747-6660. Utah Visit Nine Mile Canyon, Carbon County, to see “rock art” of Archaic, Fremont and Ute peoples. In the canyon, you can find rock art, often called petroglyphs, dating back over a thousand years. There are also historical ranches and structures along the route, which is over 40 miles long. Location: 20 miles north of Wellington, UT. Vermont Sugarbush Farm, Inc., is a 500-acre farm in central Vermont just beyond Woodstock. Visit the farm, and meet the maple trees that yield that ever so sweet syrup. Watch a movie about producing the syrup, and buy a bottle or two to take home. Sugarbush Farm, Inc., 591 Sugarbush Farm Road, Woodstock, VT 05091. 800-281-1757. Virginia The Flying Circus Airshow is hard to describe in modern terms. This airshow has a parachute jumper, a wing-walker, and super cool and classic aircraft winging their thing to amaze and amuse. The airshow runs every Sunday, May through October. It will not disappoint! The Flying Circus Airshow, 5114 Ritchie Road (Route 644), Bealeton, VA 22712. 540-439-8661. Washington Indianola Pier, this pier hundreds of feet into the bay is another great spot to test your fishing skills and to get out and enjoy a few hours or a day near the water. It is also notorious for star gazers to get a look at the night sky. If you’re going to fish make sure you have season limits for each species of fish and license information. Indianola Pier 19839-19829, Indianola Rd NE, Indianola, WA 98342 West Virginia There are many beautiful state capitol buildings around the nation, but the West Virginia State Capitol Building is particularly worth seeing. The building is built from marble from three states and was designed by Cass Gilbert from Zanesville, Ohio. West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, The Culture Center, Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, WV 25305-0300. 304-558-0220. Wisconsin Kopp’s Frozen Custard is a landmark in Wisconsin. Custard is 6% butterfat unlike ice cream, it is rich and old fashioned and delicious. The Greenfield store location is modern and comfortable, and the flavors change daily. If you have every enjoyed an ice cream cone, you will love Kopp’s frozen custard. Caution though — you might want to give up RVing and move nearby after your first taste. Kopp’s Frozen Custard, Greenfield Store, 7631 West Layton Avenue, Greenfield, WI 53220. 414-282-4312 Flavor-of-the-day hotline: 414-282-4080. Wyoming After or during a trip down Interstate 80, take exit 68 to Little America, a respite from the road first opened in 1952. The Little America Hotel and Travel Center and Convenience Store are a welcoming and refreshing rest. Little America, Interstate 80, Exit 68, Little America, WY, 82929