Posted by Claire on May 16, 2012
Buying an RV is an investment, not only in money but in lifestyle choice. People who purchase RV motorhomes and travel trailers typically enjoy the outdoors. They enjoy traveling and exploring. They enjoy seeing new sights and meeting new people. They enjoy the freedom of being able to go where they want when they want. But even diehard RVers recommend that you rent an RV and try it out before you buy one.
It is easy and affordable to rent an RV online. RVT.com lists 183 RV rental dealers in the U.S. and Canada that offer quality motorhome rentals at discounted prices. Our handy search feature allows you to find RV rental dealers in your home state or in the area where you’ll be vacationing. To make the most of their vacation time, many families to fly to their vacation destination to pickup their RV rental.
Before purchasing an RV online, veteran RVers recommend taking one or two weekend trips to nearby attractions or state parks. If you enjoy your RV experience, try a week-long vacation. Choosing a different type, make or model RV each time you rent will help you determine which type of RV best fits your personal needs so you’ll know what you want to buy when you start shopping for your own RV online.
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Posted by Claire on May 14, 2012
When you were a kid, roadside attractions were a highlight of family vacations. Highway signs announcing the House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin or the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota or the Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida made you eager to see the promised wonders –and they never disappointed!
Florida offers a wealth of these wacky reminders of yesteryear and a golden opportunity to show your children the quirky wonders of the road less traveled. During your next RV trip to Disney World pull your motorhome off the freeway and explore a few of Florida’s old-time attractions.
- Orange World (near highway 192, Kissimmee) is a great place to stop for a snack. The “Largest Orange in the World” is surrounded by fruit stands where you can buy fresh-picked oranges, grapefruit, bananas and berries.
- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (intersection of SR 50 and Highway 19, Spring Hill) is the home of the famous Weeki Wachee mermaids. A water park, canoe rentals and ranger tours make this a nice place to cool off on a hot day.
- The Water Ski Hall of Fame and Museum in Polk City is in the heart of Florida’s water ski district where 554 lakes offer plenty of opportunities to try the sport or watch skiers performing amazing tricks.
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Posted by Claire on May 11, 2012
One of the nice things about RV travel is the ability to stop along the way and check out some of the interesting, unusual and sometimes truly oddball attractions that dot America’s highways and byways. It’s surprising how often the best memories of an RV vacation are not the main attraction but the unscheduled stops you made along the way. Mouse-eared ice cream bars at Disney World are a delightful treat, but it’s the hot fudge sundaes you slurped down at an old-fashioned ice cream parlor in some tiny town that your kids will remember. Epcot’s giant sphere is an amazing sight, but it’s the giant pink dinosaur you stopped to see that your kids will tell their friends about when you get home.
We Americans love our quirky attractions — and Florida is littered with them. Remnants of another era, roadside attractions dotted Florida’s highways from the early 1900s until Disney World and the theme park era spelled their death-knell in the 1970s. Despite hard times, some of these amazing sites still remain, eliciting sighs of nostalgia from the now-grown children who once marveled at their magnificence.
If you’re planning to a family RV vacation to Disney World, pull off the freeway occasionally and take an occasional excursion back in time to show your kids the real Florida!
Next time: Florida’s quirkiest attractions
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Posted by Claire on May 09, 2012
Many RV families are avid bike riders. It’s common to see a rack of bikes strapped to the rear of a motorhome or travel trailer. New bike rack designs allow RVers to easily haul half a dozen bikes safely and securely.
Added security is the reason many biking families prefer toy hauler RVs. Toy haulers combine the benefits of RV camping with secure indoor bike storage. To maximize living and sleeping areas, toy haulers can be outfitted with wall and ceiling-mounted racks to hold bikes and helmets. Toy haulers offer maximum storage space for bikes and other “toys” while you are on the road, but quickly convert to living space when you reach your destination via cleverly designed drop-down tables, seating and beds.
America offers cycling enthusiasts a wealth of great biking destinations. Among our favorites are:
- Spokane, Washington is crisscrossed with paved bike paths that offer safe, family biking along scenic routes.
- Ocean views along mostly flat, smooth roads make Block Island, Rhode Island a biker’s paradise.
- Acadia national Park in Bar Harbor, Maine offers 45 miles of beautiful 16-foot wide pathways that wind across streams and past waterfalls.
If you and your family are avid cycling enthusiasts, look for toy hauler RVs on RVT.com. You’ll also find state-of-the-art bike transport options under RV Accessories.
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Posted by Claire on May 07, 2012
A shady place to sit and sip a cold beverage, read a book or play board games with the kids can turn a sweltering summer day into a pleasant afternoon. But shade can be scarce in RV parks. The solution is simple: carry your shade with you! RV awnings are one of the most popular RV accessories. They provide comfortable shelter from the sun and double as a giant umbrella when it rains.
It you’re shopping for an RV online, purchasing a motorhome with a factory-installed awning will make summer camping more pleasant. If the RV you own does not have an awning, a wide variety of after-market awnings are available which can be installed by most RV service centers. Many RVers prefer automatic awnings as they can be opened and closed easily with a remote, no hand cranking required.
Even though the air temperature is the same in the sun as it is in the shade, it can feel as much as 30 degrees hotter in the sun because we are feeling not just the heat in the air but the heat absorbed by our bodies and clothing and the things around us. An RV awning provides instant shade so you feel cooler.
Look for RV awnings under RV accessories on RVT.com and stay cool this summer!
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Posted by Claire on May 04, 2012
You’ll find many RV campers at the forefront of the green camping movement. RVers have always been respectful and fiercely protective of the beautiful natural world that draws us to explore America’s most scenic nooks and crannies. Many of the eco-friendly technologies now available as standard equipment or affordable options on RV motorhomes and travel trailers made their debut on the motorhomes of handy do-it-yourselfers dedicated to preserving the natural environment.
Today, RVers who want to “Go Green” can choose from a wide selection of sustainable and energy-efficient RV purchase options and aftermarket products. Some of the most popular green RVing options include:
- Solar panels are replacing gas-powered generators.
- Propane kits allow RV owners to convert onboard gas generators to cleaner-burning propane fuel.
- Bio-diesel fuel is being used to power diesel generators.
- RV campers are avoiding plastic plates and silverware in favor of washable dinnerware and biodegradable paper.
- RVers are replacing standard light bulbs with LED lights.
- Catalytic heaters, which do not require electricity, are becoming popular.
- Eco-friendly, biodegradable GEO products are replacing heavy chemicals in holding tanks.
- Some RVers are installing wind turbines to generate battery power and reduce reliance on electrical plug-ins.
Are you going green? Comment and share your green tips on RVT.com.
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Posted by Claire on May 02, 2012
One of the most exciting trends in the RV industry is the development of extremely lightweight RV travel trailers that can be pulled by the average family sedan, negating the need for a special tow vehicle. With gas prices expected to remain high, the fuel savings offered by ultralight travel trailers resonates with RV buyers. But ultralight popularity is also being driven by Americans’ interest in living a greener, more sustainable lifestyle. Ultralight RV travel trailers fuse both goals, reducing fuel consumption by replacing steel and wood chassis with lightweight aluminum and sustainable or recycled composite construction materials.
To meet mileage and tow weight goals, most ultralight manufacturers have had to sacrifice square footage. Ultralights are generally more compact that full-size travel trailers and may not offer as great a range of luxury options. However, improvements in ultralight technology and composite materials are creating a wider range of options for ultralight fans. Livin Lite recently introduced a line of larger ultralight travel trailers that can be towed by a number of full-size sedans, most minivans and SUVs, and Jeep Wranglers. Constructed of aluminum and composites, the company’s lightweight RV travel trailers are 98% recyclable and start at a feathery 600 pounds dry weight. Even the largest model weighs in at just 2,999 pounds!
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Posted by Claire on Apr 27, 2012
You may have noticed the new category on RVT.com, RV Property, and wondered why someone who has chosen the exciting, carefree life of a modern-day vagabond would want to purchase property. After unchaining yourself from the responsibilities and expense of home ownership to embrace RV living full time, why would you want to plant your feet in one zip code again?
Purchasing RV property may seem contradictory to the on-the-road RV lifestyle, but can actually enhance it if you are a full-time RVer. RV owners who have purchased RV property say they enjoy the best of both worlds: the ability to travel freely when the spirit moves them and the benefits of putting down roots in a permanent home base.
RV resorts and specialized RV communities have been growing in popularity as more people have embraced full-time RVing. They are particularly popular in Florida and Arizona where many full-timers spend the winter months in residence before hitting the highways for the summer. RV properties provide a convenient permanent address for mail, taxes, vehicle registration, insurance, etc. They offer a neighborly social community of like-minded friends Most also offer enjoyable leisure activities such as golf courses, fitness centers, ham radio stations, woodworking shops, club houses, scheduled social events, and more. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
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