Hunting and Fishing News Blog Articles

Grand Canyon National Park is the second-most visited national park, just behind Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s one of America’s most distinguishable natural landmarks, not to mention one of the seven natural wonders of the entire world. 

Even those that don’t venture down into the canyon during their visit are amazed by the geological forces that have shaped the region for millennia. But hiking into the Inner Gorge puts things into a whole new perspective

Why Visit Grand Canyon National Park?

The Grand Canyon is truly a sight you have to see to believe. It’s a mile deep, 277 miles long, and 18 miles wide. Photos or videos don’t do it justice as the canyon’s sheer size is astonishing. 

From many points on the river, it’s impossible to catch a glimpse of the river winding by below. That river is responsible for so much of the canyon’s history, but there’s a story to be told in the layers of ancient rock visible from every angle. 

It’s a bucket list destination and something everyone should see in their lifetime. Its name says it all; it’s truly “grand” and a jaw-dropping masterpiece that will leave you speechless.

When it comes to RVing, having fun isn’t the only prerequisite. There are several essential items you simply must have if you’re looking to get the most out of your adventures on the road.

Everyone has a different idea of what is “essential,” but this collection of all of our must-have lists is a good place to start in customizing your own camping experience.

You’ll find essentials here for a full-timer or weekend warrior, nomads working from the road or escaping the 9-to-5, travelers pulling a travel trailer or driving a Class A motorhome. Your RV trip will be better — arguably your best — if you stock up on everything you must have for RVing.

Must-Have Kitchen Essentials

The heart of every home, even your home away from home, is the kitchen. The table is the place where everyone comes together over a warm meal, a family game, or cozy drinks after a long day. In the kitchen and at mealtime, conversations turn into memories.

So, what are the must-have essentials that take your RV kitchen from standard to superb? I’m glad you asked. Check out the must-have kitchen essentials below:

With so many incredible places to see, how do RVers decide where to go next? Simple. They ask other RVers about the most beautiful places they’ve been! Recently, one of our RV Lifestyle Facebook Group members, Mya, did just that, and boy, she got lots of answers! (Over 500 comments!) It is a bit of a loaded question since beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But lots of comments included obscure, less-known places that offer picturesque views. 

Continue reading 10 Most Beautiful Places According to RVers at RV Lifestyle.

Original link

Facebook Twitter PinterestLinkedIn

Buying a new RV is an exciting experience. However, for a new RVer, there is an awful lot to learn and practice (because practice makes perfect, right?). 

Just like learning about anything else, the best way to learn about RVing is by doing it. But when you are new to the RV lifestyle, owning an RV can be a little nerve-wracking. When it comes to RVing, most of us are never as nervous as we are on that first trip, bringing the RV home from the RV dealer. Aside from the nail-biting first journey home, we’ve wondered what other experiences RVers had as new RVers. 

So, we reached out to the RVing community and asked seasoned RVers to share the best firsthand experience they had as a new RVer. The response from our fellow RVers was enthusiastic, and we have eight wonderful anecdotes to share with you.  

Here are eight firsthand experiences that people had as new RVers. For privacy reasons, I am only sharing the first names of our respondents.

Facebook Twitter PinterestLinkedIn

Prevent Thieves From Stealing Your RV’s Catalytic Converter

Catalytic converter theft has been on the rise in recent years. Also known as the cat, catalytic converters are easy to access and quick for thieves to unbolt or cut away from the exhaust system. Thieves can steal a calalytic converter in minutes, and it is impossible to trace them back to the vehicle they came from. 

Scrap metal buyers pay between $300 and $1,500 for a catalytic converter. This can be a lot of money for just a few minutes of easy work for a thief. They don’t care that this vital part of your vehicle’s exhaust system can cost thousands of dollars to replace. It really makes sense to take steps to prevent thieves from accessing your catalytic converter. In this article, we’ll look at how to prevent catalytic converter theft from your RV or truck.

Why do scrap metal dealers buy stolen catalytic converters?

Catalytic converters were developed in the early 1970s to help reduce vehicle emissions. Your converter uses the precious metals palladium, platinum, and rhodium to create a chemical reaction that results in fewer harmful emissions.   

It’s not hard to figure out why scrap metal dealers are so eager to buy catalytic converters from thieves. On the commodity market, palladium and rhodium have really gone up in value over the last five years. While the value of platinum has fallen over the last year, it’s still worth a lot of money. To see why scrap metal dealers like buying catalytic converters from thieves, let’s look at a five-year price comparison:

Are you the type of camper that loves to cook delicious meals at the campground while keeping your family on the go? RVs with a kitchen island make it easy to serve your family and guests. See seven of our favorite floorplans available for RVs with kitchen islands below and find the perfect fit for your family!

This Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pack 355PACK14 toy hauler fifth wheel is an excellent example of how a kitchen island can make an RV feel like a home away from home! The kitchen features an island bar with stools to make breakfasts and lunches with your family easy and fun! Inside, you’ll find a spacious separated garage with 14′ of storage space.

Additional Features:

Another option for taking your toys on the road is the Keystone Outback 355CG toy hauler travel trailer with a dual entry bathroom and more! The 21′ awning ensures you always have plenty of shade at the campground, and you’ll love the power ramp door for loading and unloading your toys. There’s sleeping for up to six in this unit!

Additional Features:

As the world’s first cave to be named a national park, Wind Cave is an outstanding addition to the National Park Service. It is the world’s longest and most complex cave system, with 149 miles of explored passages containing intricate box work and frostwork formations.

Many miss its allure by only noticing the undulating prairie that lies above this geologic anomaly. In fact, the cave’s discovery by white Americans came from two brothers peering into a 10” x 14” hole as the wind whistled out of it. By knocking the hat off the boys’ heads, Wind Cave acquired a name and a reputation.

Why Visit Wind Cave National Park in an RV?

Wind Cave is an excellent destination for RVers who enjoy hidden gems underground and the rolling hills and ranchland above. The park has one campground with plenty of space for motorhomes and travel trailers.

After hiking over scenic trails, then cooling off in the cave, RVers quickly realize that Wind Cave National Park has even more going for it.

The park lies amid many other nationally recognized attractions. In fact, its northern border is next to the popular Custer State Park. Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore National Memorial are also nearby.

One of the most exciting aspects of camping begins when the sun goes down, and the stars come out. By the warmth of the campfire, you can toast marshmallows to make the most epic S’more while listening to the lovely sounds of nature.

But beyond the campfire glow lies the dark of night, and what you can’t see can often ruin a good time. Luckily, camp lanterns can save the day — or rather save the night – by illuminating more of your campsite and providing a valuable backup light source in the event of an RV power outage. Not only for RVs, camp lanterns also prove handy to have for the home as an essential part of any storm kit.

From lanterns that double as bug zappers (like the Personal Mosquito Zapper with LED Lantern) to Bluetooth speakers that look like lanterns (like the iJoy Lumina Light-Up Lantern Speaker), you have plenty of options to light up your campsite and let the good times continue as long, and as late, as possible.

Not sure which camp lantern is best for you? No worries. Check out this guide to camp lanterns and let Camping World light the way.

The Brightness of Your Camp Lantern

Before choosing a type, ask yourself how bright you want your camp lantern. Lumens, which measure and determine how bright a light is, are the metric to look at in terms of a lantern’s light output. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light will be.

One of the most common sustainability goals I hear from friends is to create less waste. In particular, they want to use less plastic, which isn’t surprising. Plastic and our planet’s overflowing landfills are at the forefront of many conversations these days.

We see stories about plastic debris absolutely everywhere, littering RV parks and campgrounds, piling up in our oceans, and killing wildlife. It’s easy to vilify plastic, especially when you see the disturbing pictures of nature’s plastic victims — adorable seals tangled in plastic bags, birds with six-pack plastic rings on their necks, and the most recent I’ve seen; a raccoon with its head stuck in a plastic bottle. These environmental effects of plastic are heartbreaking and often point directly back to the use and improper disposal of single-use plastics. I’ll teach you some tips and habits to reduce your plastic pollution. Together, as mindful travelers, we can make healthy choices that benefit animals, the environment, and ourselves.

Is All Plastic Bad?

Plastic, in general, isn’t all bad news. We encounter hundreds of plastic things a day. Just look around. You’re surrounded by it, just like I am.

My computer is plastic. As I look forward, the RV cab’s dash is plastic, the laundry basket to my right is plastic,  and even the many polyester-blend clothing items inside it, yep, those too are another form of plastic.

Plastic makes our lives easier and is a truly extraordinary material. So I try not to lump all plastic together in the “you’re-bad-and-I-must-avoid-you” category.

Camping is all about being engaged in your surroundings — soaking in all that mother nature has to offer by way of breathtaking views and dreamy weather. However, being one with the environment doesn’t have to mean subjecting yourself to unfavorable weather.

How do you achieve this? How do you enjoy the benefits of nature without suffering the consequences of its bad days? With a canopy tent, that’s how. Canopy tents allow you to be in, around, and one with nature without being overheated, drenched, bitten, or stung by it.

Not sure how to choose the best canopy tent for you? No worries. We’ve got you covered. (See what we did there?)

What to Look for in a Canopy Tent

The first thing to note is that canopy tents go by several different names. Why settle for one thing when you can be many, right?

Canopy tents are also known as portable shelters, screen houses, outdoor tent canopies, pop-up canopies, canopy shade tents, and other monikers.

Make the most out of the waning days of summer and early fall. These legendary Midwest locations will treat you to thrills in the heartland.

Go from big city to small town in the Land of Lincoln, and check out some natural attractions along the way.

Walk Chicago’s Magic Mile

Known as the Windy City, Chicago’s skyline dominates the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and many visitors put the Magnificent Mile at the top of their lists. Just a few blocks from the lake’s shoreline, this stretch of Michigan Avenue is lined with upscale boutiques, gourmet restaurants, museums, and fancy hotels. If you prefer fresh air, hang out at Millennium Park near the lake and gawk at your reflection on the giant Bean sculpture.

Loving the Lakes

North of Peoria, Spring Bay offers a homey Midwestern getaway. At 200-acres, Sankoty Lakes treats visitors to three clear blue lakes, each more than 60 feet deep, along with a mile-long trout stream. Visitors also can go kayaking and canoeing on the water or hop on a Spirit of Peoria Cruise to explore the Illinois River.

Facebook Twitter PinterestLinkedIn

Once you decide to hit the road full-time, you’ll want to consider all the items you’ll need for RV living. Having the right tools, home items, and accessories with you can make all the difference between misery and comfort. Especially if you like to boondock or are in the middle of nowhere.

Everyone’s RV camping style is different. But most people will find this list of full-time RV living accessories helpful for both short and long road trip adventures.

A tragic robbery-gone-wrong murder in an Alabama national forest last week, many wonder: Are off-grid robbers hiding out on public lands? You can hear this story for yourself in Episode 410 of the RV Podcast, in which we also report a grisly mystery has rangers at Yellowstone National Park wondering about a human foot - in a shoe - found floating in a dangerous hot spring at the park. Also this week, we preview of the upcoming Hershey RV Show – known as America's Largest RV Show - with an interview with the show director. This is a must-attended event if you’re looking for a new RV. Plus, we answer your RV Lifestyle questions and share RV tips. 

Continue reading Are Off Grid Robbers Hiding Out on Public Lands? at RV Lifestyle.

Original link

Facebook Twitter PinterestLinkedIn

Top-Rated Campgrounds In Bar Harbor, Maine

For the most part, you don’t have to worry about camping in Bar Harbor, Maine when it’s hot. Although it sometimes gets into the upper 80s here, the nights cool down into the 60s. You might even need to pack a few sweatshirts. 

If you camp in Bar Harbor, you will find many things to do for adults and kids. Even your dogs are welcome on most Acadia National Park trails and in many water areas.

Check out my list below of the 10 best places to RV in Bar Harbor. I also included some bonus things to do. You can find more great places to go camping in Bar Harbor, Maine on RV LIFE Campground Reviews or while planning your travels with RV LIFE Pro. 

Dreaming of a warm weather winter destination with numerous opportunities to enjoy nature, be on the water, in the sun, and be a part of a thriving RV community? Whether you’re a family seeking a place to enjoy all winter long, or a couple looking for a winter getaway, then the Florida Keys might be the right winter destination for you!

Make the Keys the end, or beginning, of your RV road trip through Florida. Here’s what you need to know about visiting Florida in an RV. And a few of the The Best Campgrounds on the Beach in Florida. Are you in the tropical mood yet? 

RVing the Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are divided into 3 regions: Upper Keys, Middle Keys, and Lower Keys. Together, the keys make up 800 keys in total and stretch over 180 miles into the ocean off the southern tip of Florida. You might’ve heard of Key West or Key Largo, but explore some of the Lesser Known Florida Keys for RV Camping too.

The Upper Keys offers delicious restaurants and tourist attractions and is your last closest stop to mainland Florida. Key Largo is at the tippy top of the Keys and is the beginning of the Florida Keys experience. It’s just across the bridge from the southern Florida mainland and is home to the first Florida State Park in the Florida Keys.

John Pennekamp State Park

John Pennekamp offers 39 full hook-up RV spots that are within walking distance of the state park beach and kayak/boat launch. The best thing about visiting this State Park is the maze of mangrove kayak trails! These trails will accommodate any small boat such as kayaks, canoes, or paddle boards and you’re sure to see a ton of Florida wildlife!

The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, so naturally, the sentiment stands up even in your home away from home as well. If you find that your heart isn’t skipping a beat or causing those butterflies in your belly to flutter, then it might be time for some upgrades.

Whether your kitchen needs a full renovation or a few tweaks here and there, we have ten RV kitchen remodel ideas that will take your space from dated to amazing in one weekend. I know they say if you can’t stand the heat to get out of the kitchen, but with items (and prices) this hot, there’s nowhere else you’ll want to be.

FloorPops Raven Peel-and-Stick Floor Tiles

Let’s start from the bottom and work our way to the top with the FloorPops Raven Peel-and-Stick Floor Tiles. The marble-inspired design gives a polished, high-end look at a fraction of the cost. Dark gray hues make a bold statement while the water-resistant vinyl remains easy to clean. Installation? A piece of cake! Simply peel and stick, trim with a utility knife when necessary, and skip the grout as it isn’t needed. What else could you ask for? Cake? Agreed.

Shop all tile flooring options.

Dometic Americana II Refrigerator

The quickest way to update the look, feel, and function of your RV kitchen is by upgrading the appliances. The Dometic American II Plus Refrigerator has a solid steel frame and convenient design features to give you the best of both performance and appearance. A flexible shelf system, adjustable door bins, and electronic controls all work together seamlessly so your kitchen is a space that stays organized and ingredients are ready when you need them to whip up your next recipe. Let me know when that is, by the way. I’m an expert taste tester.