Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Attention, snowbirds: fall is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start thinking about your next jaunt to the Sun Belt. Below are eight spots in Mesa-Apache Junction, Arizona, to include your upcoming snowbird plans.

Mesa and Apache Junction sit not far from Phoenix in the immense Arizona Desert. In these adjacent towns, you’ll find great museums, beautiful desert landscapes and plenty of chances to learn about—and celebrate—the history and culture of the Wild West. Mesa and Apache Junction are also ideal for art lovers, with over 200 outdoor sculptures scattered across public areas.

The Arizona Museum of Natural History

This Mesa museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in paleontology and features the largest dinosaur exhibit west of the Mississippi. Highlights include an animatronic exhibit — Dinosaur Mountain — complete with a three-story indoor waterfall and moving replicas of creatures that lived throughout the various periods of the Mesozoic Era. There’s also a hands-on Paleo Dig Pit for kids who want to play fossil hunter for the day, as well as real jail cells that date to Arizona’s early days as a U.S. territory. If you’re interested in indigenous culture, the Southwest Gallery is definitely worth checking out. It features a solid collection of indigenous art and artifacts from the region as well as replica dwellings of the Hohokam people, who lived in the area thousands of years ago.

Mesa Arts Center

Fans of the performing arts may end up finding themselves at the Mesa Arts Center, a gargantuan complex that’s home to four theaters, 14 classrooms, and the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (MCA). The MCA is divided into four galleries: one hosting paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects from the permanent collection, a second exhibiting the works of Arizona artists, and two others that are used for everything from installations to curated exhibitions.

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RV converters and RV inverters are essential to supply the correct type of electricity to your RV appliances. The video above helps explain why these two devices are essential and where to find them in your RV. But here’s a written breakdown. 

What is an RV Converter?

When you hook your RV up to 30 or 50 amp shore power, that power comes into your RV as alternating current (AC). An RV converter changes that 120-volt AC to 12-volt direct current (DC), allowing you to use appliances that require DC and charge your RV battery simultaneously. Your converter will typically be found next to your RV’s fuse box and breakers.  

What Happens When the RV Converter Goes Bad?

When it goes bad, your converter will give you one of three main warning signs. These can vary depending on make and model, but you’ll typically see one of three things when your RV converter goes bad: 

Both of these final points can be signs that these small RV appliances aren’t getting enough power.  

Many RV owners take their tires for granted. Maintaining your RV and trailer tires is essential to your RV maintenance duties. But what happens when it comes time to replace your RV and trailer tires?

Equipping your RV with the right tires comes down to several factors. Each RV manufacturer recommends metrics and measurements to help you choose properly-rated tires for their RV and travel trailer models. 

Because tires are the foundation of your RV, here’s everything you need to know about RV tires and trailer tires. 

How Long Do RV Tires and Travel Trailer Tires Last?

Because most motorized and towable RVs are driven less than passenger vehicles, their tires tend to last between three and six years on average. The more you drive, the more frequently you’ll need to replace your tires. 

The tread wear is the metric to monitor over your tires’ lifespan. When that tread falls below a depth of 4/32”, it’s time to replace your RV tires. But even if your tires have plenty of tread left, keeping them for more than 8-10 years is not recommended. 

It’s that time of year again! There’s a shift in the temperature, the sun is setting a litter earlier, and the leaves are beginning to turn from their vibrant green to a rich autumn color. For many RVers and campers this change in the season, and the back-to-school grind, ignites this longing inside for evenings around the campfire, cool weather hikes, and s’mores.

Whether you’re looking for a seasonal spot to explore over fall break or a shorter weekend getaway, there are epic destinations located all over the US to scratch that camping itch! Here are a few of our favorites:

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

If you’re in the eastern United States, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a great area to explore. While this is the most visited National Park in the US, the crowds tend to begin thinning out in September making fall the perfect time to plan a visit. Great Smoky Mountain National Park is within driving distance of several eastern US cities, which makes it doable if you only have a weekend to get away.

This park is situated on the border of east Tennessee and western North Carolina and offers beautiful hikes, history, and scenery. When visiting this park be sure to check out Newfoundland Gap for epic views, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail where you can find historic log cabins as well as spot a black bear or two, and Cades Cove with countless waterfalls off this loop.

If you have a little more time on your hands, you can even begin or end your drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway when visiting the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. One more thing to do while you’re visiting is hike seventy-one miles of the famed Appalachian Trail. Make it a point to add part of that trail to your bucket list!

Whether you’re hosting guests in an RV park or setting the kids up outside so mom and dad can enjoy some privacy, you’ll need the right camping tent. Camping tents are made for different seasons and different purposes, so there’s more to consider than you might think. 

Whichever tent you choose, you should also be familiar with ways to make tent camping more comfortable. Tips like “the water bottle trick” will help you avoid sleepless nights and uncomfortable mornings when tent camping. 

But for now, let’s focus on how to choose the right camping tent for your RV and camping lifestyle. 

Why Do You Need a Camping Tent?

There are many ways to spend a comfortable night in nature. While RVers love the added amenities of their motorhome or towable, here are some reasons you might need a camping tent as well: 

While you can always rent an RV to explore camping, tent camping is a great entry into the world of sleeping outdoors. 

Campground picnic tables often become the hub of a camping trip. It’s where we eat, lounge, play games, and have fun.
It made me think that we should treat our picnic tables like our coffee tables at home. We could leave out a good book filled with interesting trivia, fun facts, or ideas for our next road trip. 
So, I went on the hunt for some coffee table books perfect for your next camping trip. Here’s what I found!

Continue reading 10 Coffee Table Books for Your RV Picnic Table at RV Lifestyle.

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Are you gearing up for game day? Check out these amazing tailgating recipes that are perfect for sharing with friends. You’ll love making these easy camping recipes for friends and families while you celebrate your team!

Easy Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

Recipe is adapted from one on 31Daily.com

Ingredients:

Instructions

BBQ Chicken Bites

Recipe adapted from one on LeCremeDeLaCrumb.com

Ingredients

Instructions

Mini Muffulettas

Recipe adapted from one on SouthernLiving.com

Ingredients

Directions

Easy Philly Cheese Steak Dip

Recipe adapted from one on LittleSpiceJar.com

You’ve seen it on the covers of magazines. You’ve scrolled by beautiful images on social media. You’ve heard it discussed on your favorite outdoorsy podcasts. Van life has taken the RV community by storm while attracting a whole new generation of RVers.

Now, more than ever, the idea of seeing the country while living and traveling in an RV seems like a dream come true. For many young RVers, especially those with remote jobs, hitting the open road and taking your home with you is an appealing option worth exploring.

What is the best, most convenient RV for living out your dreams on the road? The Class B, of course! Smaller than the Class A and Class C, the Class B is the perfect choice for anyone wishing to live a more compact lifestyle.

Check out a few of our favorite Class B RVs for van life below.

Thor Tellaro

With all the features you love in a larger RV in a compact and easy-to-drive design, the Thor Tellaro will have you living van life in style. The no-hassle parking combined with safety features like electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes make the journey just as amazing as the destination every time.

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Virginia is a gorgeous state that’s full of rolling hills, lush forests, and scenic lakes. As such, it’s a popular destination for many RVers. If you want to go deep into these forests and enjoy a wonderful experience, put the Floyd Family Campground on your traveling bucket list!

This is a very highly rated park in Virginia. Almost every guest has had a stellar experience, and it’s easy to see why. It’s an ideal setup for traditional camping, plus it has all the amenities that modern RVers need. The location is also perfect because it puts you within striking distance of a few national and state parks. 

If you want to experience some of the best camping that Virginia has to offer, you should definitely keep Floyd Family Campground on your list. Below we’ll cover some of the aspects that make it so worthwhile. 

Go camping near the Blue Ridge Mountains

Floyd Family Campground is located at 2697 Franklin Pike SE, Floyd, VA. The park is also close to Rocky Knob Recreation Area and Fairy Stone State Park.

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Washing Dishes In An RV: What’s The Best Method For Handwashing?

Washing dishes in an RV is not that much different than handwashing dishes at home. However, in an RV, we’ve got limited space.

When we’re boondocking, we’re trying to conserve water and keep the gray tank from filling up too fast. Once we run out of water or our gray tank is full, we have to pack up camp to get the freshwater tank filled and to empty the gray water tank. No one wants to do that more than they have to.

Conserving water while handwashing dishes can save you from having to run to the dump station to empty your tanks. Over the years, we’ve discovered some hacks for washing dishes in your RV that you might not have heard of. Here’s what we’ve found to be the best way to handwash dishes in your RV.

Assemble your dishwashing tools

You’ll need to get a few things together. Here’s what you’ll need:

The popularity of teardrop campers has skyrocketed in recent years. From national parks to high-end RV resorts, you’ll see them everywhere. But there are so many designs out there that it begs the question: which teardrop camper is right for you? 

What is a Teardrop Camper?

Teardrop trailers are named for their iconic shape. From a profile view, the teardrop begins wider at the front of the trailer and tapers off towards the rear. They are also known to be lightweight and compact, but they can vary dramatically in size, weight, and shape. 

Teardrop campers are an excellent first step into the RV world for those who are tired of tent camping. While most aren’t fully self-contained like larger RVs, they will eliminate the hassle of dealing with a wet tent first thing in the morning. 

Without investing in a massive RV or travel trailer, teardrops get you off the ground and provide a more sturdy hard shell exterior to protect you from wildlife and the elements. Dealing with rain, snow, and other inclement weather is much easier in a teardrop than in a tent. 

The Pros and Cons of Teardrop Campers

It helps to know if a teardrop camper is the right RV choice for you at all. The debate over towable versus motorized RVs has raged on for years, but teardrops have specific advantages and disadvantages. 

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We rounded up some of the best RV trips in the South where you can experience all the wonder the lower half of the nation has to offer. The South is famous for white sandy beaches, down-home cooking, blues and jazz music, along with manners. “Yes, ma’am” and “no, sir” are staples within many Southern citizens’ vocabularies. You can find even more great RV trips in the South while planning your travels with RV LIFE Pro.

1. Charlotte, North Carolina

Situated conveniently on the North Carolina/South Carolina border, Charlotte offers up a large variety of indoor and outdoor activities and attractions.

Known as the Queen City, Charlotte is also home to one of the state’s largest theme parks, Carowinds. Spaced out over 400 acres, this park has a little something for everyone. A ticket to the theme park also grants you entrance to the attached Carolina Harbor Waterpark for even more fun under the Carolina sun.

Set up camp at the theme park’s campground and you’ll be just a few steps away from all the action. Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort offers full hookups and paved sites for RVs that are less than 41 feet long. The amenities are nice, ranging from a pool to a game room and a camp store for everyday needs.

Many people associate RVing with retirees who have saved for years to travel in an RV. While they make up a good portion of the RV community, so too do young solo travelers, couples, and families in all stages of life. Many have even sold their houses and embraced the full-time RV lifestyle.

There are a lot of benefits to living in an RV, but if you’re wondering whether the RV lifestyle suits your preferences, you should know that renting an RV is a great option when you start. That way, you’ll have more experience to draw from when deciding whether to buy a new or used RV.

The Benefits of Living in an RV

There are many benefits of living in an RV, from the flexibility to work anywhere to the chance to set up a seasonal RV basecamp for your favorite adventure sports. Full-time RVing isn’t reserved for retirees anymore. 

Here are a few reasons people are choosing the RV lifestyle.

Live Simply

The idea of downsizing and traveling lightly appeals to many. RVing forces you to consider every item you bring on your journey, forcing you to purge possessions that might be weighing you down.

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Kids will love recording their outdoor adventures in this new National Parks Journal by Jason and Abby Epperson. Recently published in August 2022, the beautifully designed journal contains a variety of guided activities as well as fun questions, park trivia, and space to log up to four national park trips. 

“This journal provides a fun and interactive way to capture all the memories made by your child in our beautiful national parks. They’ll have so much fun journaling their adventures, they won’t even realize they’re learning along the way!” —Marissa Moss, Less Junk