Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco and as RVers we also get to fall in love with America’s best cities, parks and off-beat attractions. Now that fuel prices are less scary and the economy is doing better, this is shaping up to be a great year for RVing. No matter where you love to roam, the U.S. has many terrific destinations big and small, like those on my own personal list of the top three RV destinations for 2016:
First stop: Big Bend National Park, Texas
The National Park Service is turning 100 this year and there’s no better way to celebrate this milestone than trekking to Big Bend National Park, one of the most magnificent landscapes in the west. This park’s extreme remoteness and rugged terrain make it a jaw-dropping American treasure that you won’t soon forget. If you
love stargazing into pitch black night skies, hiking challenging desert trails and immersing yourself in the culture of the American west, put Big Bend on your 2016 bucket list.
Keep in mind that Big Bend National Park isn’t the kind of place you visit on a whim: it’s located five hours from any major city and requires thorough, advanced planning. For instance, nearly all of Big Bend’s RV-friendly campsites are non-reservable dry camping spots that go fast during peak times like spring break so it’s best to visit during quieter times. You’ll also want to make sure your RV is mechanically sound and stocked with provisions before heading out, since modern conveniences like cell service and grocery stores are hard to come by in these far-flung borderlands.
Next up: Cooling off in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains
When you think of Colorado you probably envision the Rocky Mountain peaks that embrace Denver’s skyline, but there’s another section of the Rockies that you might find even more spectacular: the San Juan Mountain Range in the southwest corner of the state, near Durango. The sharp peaks and deep valleys embedded into the steep volcanic mountain range are the starting point for much of Colorado’s best four- wheeling, fishing and backpacking.
Telluride and Durango are two of the San Juan’s most well-known destinations but I prefer the terrain surrounding the former mining meccas of Lake City, Ouray and Silverton. The three historic communities retain a rustic, pioneering feel that more upscale San Juan communities lack. They’re especially fun to visit since the towns are connected by the Alpine Loop, an epic 65-mile four-wheel drive trail that shows you the “real Colorado” as you traverse through terrain as high as 12,000-feet above sea level along a stunning moonscape of alpine tundra and crystal clear skies.
Great base camp RV parks in the area include:
- Ouray’s 4J+1+1 RV Park, a small family run spot just steps away from relaxation at Ouray’s public hot springs pool.
- Lake City’s Woodlake RV Park, a rustic campground with a family-friendly feel close to Lake San Cristobal, the second-largest natural lake in Colorado.
- Silverton’s Silver Summit RV Park, where you can hop on the famous Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad or rent ATVs for an Alpine Loop excursion.
Last Stop: Falling for Vermont
As native Californians, my husband and I prefer the more remote spaces of the west but there’s one eastern state we’ll gladly visit, especially now that fuel is more affordable. That state is Vermont, home to the progressive college town of Burlington, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and one of the funniest characters I’ve ever met on the road, the one and only Roy Egg. This eccentric and lovable Americana artist paints portraits of noble chickens and pastoral farm scenes on eggs, one of which was selected for an exhibit at the White House. His gallery is open on weekends and I guarantee you’ll have a ball if you make the trek.
Your Vermont stay is even better if you check into Burlington’s North Beach Campground, a pretty public campground on the shores of Lake Champlain. After Burlington head south to watch the leaves turn in the southern Vermont town of Manhattan. There’s a lovely family-owned riverfront RV park called “Camping on the Battenkill” with fantastic leaf peeping opportunities. But don’t stay too long, since winter will be just around the corner.
You never know where you’ll leave your heart in this great big country, but as an RVer at least you always have the option of returning for more fun in places you love most. I hope you won’t let this year go by without packing up your RV and hitting the road at least a few times, if not for good like I did!
About the Author:
Rene Agredano, a Coach-Net member since 2015, is a self-employed full-time RVer who enjoys writing, jewelry design and animal advocacy. Her adventures with a three-legged dog and husband Jim are chronicled at LiveWorkDream.com.
For those who store their RVs during the winter months, it’s important to keep in mind that your generator will still need some regular attention if you expect it to be in good running condition when you get back on the road. While it is always important to consult your generator manufacturers documentation regarding maintenance and storage, some of the procedures are fairly complex. I will guide you through the basics of how to prepare your generator for storage, without the need to perform all the steps outlined by the major manufacturers.
It is a good idea to perform a full oil and filter change prior to putting the generator in storage. This ensures that the oil is clean, preventing particulates suspended in dirty oil from settling on engine components. It is also a good opportunity to inspect the spark plugs, air filter, as well as external wires and hoses for wear or damage. A quick external wipe-down is not a bad idea.
Taking a Christmas RV road trip is a fun way to experience the many ways our nation celebrates the season and rings in the new year. From the blustery shores of New England to the sunny beaches of Southern California, hitting the road in December might be a little crazy because you’re taking a chance that Mother Nature will play nice, but the risk usually pays off with an unforgettable look at holiday traditions that our fellow Americans hold dear.
Since I’m a cold weather wimp, one of my favorite Christmases on the road was while camping along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. On a warm, sunny December morning while waiting for NASA’s space shuttle to launch at our Cape Canaveral RV park, a fire engine rolled into the resort with a wailing siren. Like any nosy neighbor we peered outside and were thrilled to see cheerful waves from a full-bellied Santa leading the park’s Christmas parade! As the fire engine merrily meandered while playing Christmas carols over the bullhorn, the tropical, beachy scene was right out of a Jimmy Buffet song.
RVers really know how to show their holiday spirit in RV parks and campgrounds. To the Scrooge types out there (like my husband who insists on limiting our décor to one shoebox), Christmastime decorations seem like a waste of perfectly good RV storage space. But I keep a few on board because I think they’re an excellent way to remind us that we should take time to celebrate making it through another year, healthy and happy.
Many full-time RVers travel with heaps of holiday décor, but for those of us living in smaller rigs we have to pick and choose our decorations carefully. If you live with a Scrooge who doesn’t want to give up his sock drawer for your ornaments, you might be able to win your case by agreeing to only keeping multi-purpose decorations in the RV, like all-occasion twinkly lights. Another way you can stay festive during your Christmas RV road trip is to buy cheap holiday decorations at a thrift store, then donate them back when January 1st rolls around. Your RV park might also appreciate these gently used items.
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without the multitude of sugary treats everywhere you turn. These white chocolate wonders are great for parties or to give as gifts. And, with less than 30 minutes to prep and only 3 ingredients, you will have plenty of time for gift wrapping, decorating and fun with family.
Even the greenest RV newbie has a well-established relationship with the open road. By the time we get our first RV, most of us have carried a driver’s license in our wallet for decades. But this familiarity often works against us when we become RVers, making many of us lazy and reluctant to learn new rules of the road. Unfortunately this attitude puts us at risk of common newbie RVer mistakes, like overheated brakes and collisions with stationery objects. The good news is that you can avoid the hassle of these preventable RV repairs, by reviewing the Top 5 Rules of the Road for RV newbies.
If you’re like most RVers, your road tripping wanderlust probably began with epic cross-country road trips in passenger cars. And like most new RVers, you were probably surprised to find that taking an RV road trip is more physically and mentally taxing than a typical automobile road trip. Starting, stopping and navigating a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds more than a passenger car forces us to be more alert to road conditions, which is mentally exhausting at day’s end. Driving a rig also requires patience, because a 10-hour driving day in a passenger car is about the equivalent of a five hour day at the helm of a recreational vehicle. Tackling too much driving in one day leaves us physically exhausted and puts our safety (and that of our passengers) at risk. As RVers we must plan our routes and trips accordingly.
Passenger car drivers rarely consider the height or weight of their vehicle on the open road, but when you drive a home on wheels it’s critical to know the physical dimensions and capabilities of your rig. Those clearance signs at gas station overhangs and low bridges all take on new meaning when at the command of a RV. Everything from the tires on your wheels to the height of your air conditioner can mean the difference between an uneventful driving day or becoming a Darwin Award Recipient 
Just because you may have limited space and resources in your RV kitchen doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a true Thanksgiving dinner. Try this easy Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Cranberry Dressing recipe and you may never go back to the traditional way again.
While snowbirds seek the warmer climates during the winter, there are other RV owners who choose to face the winter head-on. RV’ing in the winter can be a wonderful experience, as long as you take simple steps to ensure you stay warm and your RV stays safe from damage.
Make sure you are carrying propane onboard and not butane. Butane has a boiling point of 32 degrees F., whereas propane is -40 degrees. Therefore, in cold weather, butane may not properly vaporize, causing combustion problems with the appliances. If you have problems getting your appliances to function, you should re-fill your container with propane.
In terms of your own comfort inside the RV, be sure to pack plenty of winter clothes and footwear. You may choose to pack electric blankets and even electric heaters to supplement the coach heating systems.
Located in southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley, Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park lie side by side to form “The Land of the Giants”. These two majestic national parks received this very-appropriate nickname due to the significant giant sequoias found there. They are two of the nation’s oldest national parks and include a spectacular range in elevation from warm foothills to cold alpine peaks. Be sure to stay long enough to explore both parks as you don’t want to miss the natural beauty they offer. Take some time to hike a trail, take a wilderness trip, visit a cave, explore the ski and snowshoe trails during the winter, go horseback riding or just take in the scenery. There is plenty to do and see.
The centerpiece of this national treasure is the Giant Forest. The largest trees on earth are found here, including General Sherman, which is the world-record holder for the most massive living thing. Dozens of magnificent groves of sequoias can be seen in just 3 square miles.
Moro Rock
Kings Canyon National Park was established in 1940 and covers 461,901 acres and consists of 2 sections. The smaller, General Grant section includes the famous General Grant Tree, and the Redwood Mountain Grove. This Mountain Grove is the largest remaining natural grove of giant sequoias in the world with 15,800 sequoia trees. This section is accessible by way of paved highways.
Zumwalt Meadow
There have been many articles written about how to extend RV battery life while dry camping. Many of these involve the addition of batteries and solar panels. While these articles are great for do-it-yourselfers who have the time and money, for many of us this is either not desirable or not an option, given space, time, ability, or cost limitations. In this column, I will provide alternative tips that are inexpensive and simple and don’t require modifications to your RV.
12V appliances such as televisions and DVD/Blu-ray players don’t draw much power, nor do the 120V versions of these when run through a small inverter (around 200W). I highly recommend carrying at least one of these inverters in your RV, as they are also good for powering other appliances such as laptops (although you would want a true sine wave version for sensitive electronics). This is not large enough to power a coffee maker or toaster, but will work for most other things.