Wondering about Florida Camping for Snowbirds following Hurricane Ian? You may be surprised by what Florida campground owners have to say. Contrary to some media reports, they're saying the snowbird camping season is still very much on! That's the main topic in Episode 417 of the RV Podcast as we talk to Bobby Cornwell, President and CEO of the Florida RV Parks & Campground Association.
Continue reading Florida Camping for Snowbirds: Post-Hurricane Update at RV Lifestyle.
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Enchanted Rock State Park is a must-see in Texas Hill Country
Texas isn’t all flat. These Texas Hill Country RV parks are a great base camp to explore the crossroads where West Texas, South Texas, and Central Texas meet.
Many people view Hill Country as the dividing line between the southwest part of the country and the southeast. Covering 41 counties, Texas Hill Country features rugged terrain consisting of hills made of granite and limestone.
Most of the hills stretch around 500 feet above the valleys and plains. Packsaddle Mountain stretches 800 feet above the Llano River. The country’s second-largest granite dome, Enchanted Rock, is found in Texas Hill Country.
With nearly 3.2 million annual visitors, Indiana Dunes National Park was the ninth most visited National Park in 2021. It is marked by towering sand dunes overlooking the shore of Lake Michigan, beautiful beaches, and a very diverse ecosystem.
This national park might be the fifth smallest by landmass, but it is also the fifth most biodiverse park in the country. And that’s just a small sampling of why RVing in Indiana Dunes National Park is a very sought-after experience.
The midwest isn’t known for beautiful sandy beaches, but come summer, Indiana Dunes National Park has many incredible spots for freshwater swimming. Within the 15 miles of picturesque shoreline, nine designated beaches are absolutely perfect for cooling off.
If you are interested in the biodiversity of Indiana Dunes National Park, you’ll be thrilled to know that 1,960 different species call this park home — including rare and endangered species. Of the rare plant life, you’ll see Black Oak Savannas, carnivorous plants like the American Pitcher, and 43 different types of orchids that call this area home.
Indiana Dunes National Park’s 15,000 acres of land is actually split in half by Indiana Dunes State Park. The state park has another 2,182 acres and three more miles of Lake Michigan coastline to explore with similar features as the national park. Whether you only go to Indiana Dunes National Park or you visit both parks, there will be plenty to see and do in the area.
There are many reasons you might burn through your propane: big outdoor barbecues, camping in cool temps and cranking your RV furnace, running your RV refrigerator when boondocking, and more.
No matter how good you are at conserving propane in your RV, you’ll eventually need a refill. Luckily, Good Sam members save 15% when refilling propane at Camping World locations. That kind of savings can really add up.
In addition to this member perk, there are a few very easy ways to reduce propane usage so you can keep your RV adventures rolling — and save money too.
Your RV isn’t insulated like your home — most RV windows are not double-pane. Most of the heat loss in your RV happens through your windows. The more heat that’s lost through your windows, the more propane you will burn to keep your RV at a comfortable temperature.
Travel trailers and motorhomes built with dual-pane acrylic windows help to minimize heat loss. But if your RV features single-pane windows like most, adding reflective foil is a great way to reduce heat loss and conserve propane.
Let's face it, RVs can be stinky. Between the black water tank and the smells that come with adventuring, you need to following RV deodorizing tips to keep your RV smelling clean...
Continue reading 10 RV Deodorizing Tips to Keep Your RV Smelling Clean at RV Lifestyle.
Work camping is an excellent way to pay for your travels AS you travel! You can find temporary work camping jobs all over the country using the following job finding resources...
What Kind of Work Camping Jobs are There? How Well Do Work Camping Jobs Pay?
Read More about the Best Resources to Find Work Camping Jobs:
1. Workamper News
2. Volunteer.gov
3. Amazon Camperforce
4. CampHost.org (Vista Creation)
5. Kamper Jobs
6. WorkampingJobs.com
7. Helping Hands
8. National Parks Arts Foundation: Artist in Residence Program
9. Happy Vagabonds
10. Individual State Opportunities
And hear about a Real-Life Workamping Couple.
Continue reading Work Camping Jobs: 10 Best Resources for Workamper Jobs at RV Lifestyle.
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RV camping in the fall brings cooler temperatures, less bugs, and quieter campgrounds. Photo from Shutterstock
However, many RVers overlook fall as a truly amazing season for RV camping. Let’s look at seven reasons why it’s easy to love fall camping in your RV.
Summer is the most popular time of year for camping. This is largely due to the fact that kids are out of school and families can find time together to go camping. In the fall, you’ll find that many great campsites are available in absolutely gorgeous campgrounds. This is especially true on weekends.
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Generally, you’ll declare your RV as a primary residence when you get financing from a dealership or other lender
When you buy an RV, one of the main ways you can pay for it is with an RV loan. But if you’ll be living in it full time, one option is financing an RV as a primary residence. Here’s how!
If you declare your RV as your primary residence, you’ll be able to deduct your loan interest on your taxes, among other benefits. But there are some requirements that not all RVs will meet. And even if you do qualify, there are some things to keep in mind before taking the plunge.
So, how does financing an RV for full-time living work? Is financing your RV as a primary residence right for you?
Jennifer and I got our first eBikes back in 2018. And boy, do we love them!
We started with some great Rad Power Bikes and have recently upgraded to a new foldable eBike from Lectric that fits into our RV Lifestyle a little better and is soon to be on a rack on our motorhome and our 5th wheel!
I’m going to tell you about those bikes and more! Including discussing whether or not an ebike is right for you.
Continue reading eBikes for RVers: Should You Get One? at RV Lifestyle.
Perhaps one of the most underrated states in the country, “The Land of Infinite Variety” affords visitors the chance to witness spectacular landscapes, Old West history, abundant wildlife, and Native American cultural sites. From the Black Hills and Badlands to the rolling plains and river valleys, South Dakota is the perfect spot to escape the crowds and enjoy nature’s solace.
Bighorn sheep passing through camp.
Badlands National Park, located near the town of Wall, comprises over 244,000 acres of colorful spires, striped buttes and expansive grasslands. It’s renowned not only for its otherworldly beauty but also as one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Long before the arid badlands were formed, the region was part of an inland sea. Beginning in the late Cretaceous Epoch, roughly 75 million years ago, the landscape evolved when the sea receded, leaving behind clay, silt and sand. Water flowing from the Black Hills eroded this changing landscape, carving out the valleys, canyons, buttes and spires you see today. The colorful stripes within these formations not only tell the tale of time, but they also hold the answers to the first inhabitants of this area. Although no dinosaurs have been found within the park, creatures like saber tooth cats, rhinoceroses, mammoths, three-toed horses, camels and giant marine predators called mosasaurs have been found.
Badlands National Park viewed from Yellow Mounds Overlook.
The park is also rich in human history, as evidence of early nomadic people dating back over 10,000 years. These Paleo Indians were big game hunters, and the valleys provided the perfect hunting grounds while the top of the badlands wall served as a lookout for enemies and wandering herds. In addition to oral traditions, further evidence of these early inhabitants has been found in the arrowheads and tools they left behind from hunts and the remnants of their campfires along stream banks. If you’ve wondered how the badlands got its name, you can credit the Lakota people who dubbed the area “mako sica,” which roughly translates to badlands. Later, French trappers referred to the region as “les mauvaises terres a traverser” — bad lands to travel through, as they found the extreme temperatures, lack of water, and rough terrain hard to navigate.
One of the most overlooked ways to spruce up your outdoor patio area is with a patio mat or outdoor rug. But not anymore! With the wide range of outdoor RV patio mats and rugs available these days, taking your patio from basic to beautiful is easier than ever.
Enjoying the outdoors is perhaps the biggest perk of the RV lifestyle, so why not ensure your patio checks every box on the list of must-haves for an incredible space. Whether you’re looking for a small accent rug or a large statement piece, your choice has the power to drastically transform your outdoor area.
Where to start? With the ultimate guide to patio mats and outdoor rugs, of course.
Before deciding the type, size, or design of the outdoor rug you want, you first must decide where to put it. The surface under your rug often determines the other factors. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect patio mat only to discover it won’t work in your intended space.
Here are the three most popular surfaces that outdoor rugs are placed on, along with a few things to keep in mind when choosing your rug.
One thing that every RVer needs to be conscious of is the height of their rig. Unfortunately, not every RV will fit under every bridge or overpass. If you choose to ignore the height of your RV, you can experience disastrous results for your RV’s roof.This is true of all types of RVs from travel trailers and fifth-wheels to small Class B motorhomes and Happier Campers all the way to monster Class A motorhomes.
Here are some tips and information to remember about your RV’s height.
The owner’s manual for your RV will list the actual dimensions of your RV and this includes the height. However, the height listed in the owner’s manual may not always include appliances and additions to your motorhome. For example, If you have a roof rack, a roof-mounted AC unit, or an antenna of some kind, then there’s a good chance the height listed in your manual will be inaccurate.
Instead of going with the number listed, or estimating how much your roof rack or roof-mounted AC unit adds to that number, get your tape measure out. Measure to the top of the roof from the ground when the RV is sitting on a level surface. From there, get on top of the RV and measure any items or appliances that are attached to the roof. Doing this will give you the true height of your RV.
Afterward, you need to make sure anyone who drives or tows your RV knows the true height of the vehicle.
I firmly believe every RVer larger than a Class B campervan needs an RV Leveling System or RV Stabilizer.
If you’re tired of rocking and rolling in your rig (but not to music), It might be time to upgrade your levelers and stabilizers.
Many people inherit jack stabilizers from the previous owner of their RV. Or, if you bought brand new, you might have purchased whatever the salesperson told you to.
But not all rigs are created equal. Maybe you purchased stabilizers, but they don’t work well with your particular RV.
The following is a quick guide for choosing an RV leveling system or stabilizers that you can explore to find the best fit for your rig.
Power from inside the Earth’s crust has molded California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park into an active landscape that continues to transform today. From erupting geysers to bubbling mud pots, the park is a living example of vulcanism and the considerable strength it has to alter the planet and move land masses. The Earth’s tectonic plates are locked in an ongoing battle in northern California, where four distinct types of volcanoes are in full view to park visitors.
The park is also home to jagged peaks, scenic waterfalls, and alpine meadows full of wildflowers that bloom in the spring and flourish all summer long. Winter brings its own treasures, as adventurous travelers on snowshoes will discover. Hiking past boiling lakes billowing with steam while surrounded by fresh snow is a surreal experience for the winter explorer. No matter the season, this wild and tumultuous land will entice visitors with surprises around every corner.
Northern California has a lot to offer visiting RVers, and Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the region’s best features. In addition to its stunning and dramatic landscapes, Lassen has five campgrounds that provide space for motorhomes and trailers. Additionally, the north and south entrances are paved for easy access, and the Manzanita Lake Camper Store caters specifically to the needs of RVers and tent campers. These amenities make exploring the park’s geothermal features and hiking to its mountain lakes and waterfalls more enjoyable. Especially when you can return home to your “mobile cabin in the woods” for a good night’s rest at the end of the day.
The park is open year-round, but some roads are closed in the winter due to snowfall. The spring and fall shoulder seasons are a good time to go, as crowds are minimal and the weather remains quite good. Here’s what to expect during each season:
Spring brings warming temperatures and slow but steady snowmelt to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Still, it can take some time for the snow to disappear altogether, and it is not unusual for some sections of the park to remain closed into June. Daytime highs average around 70ºF, with overnight lows falling into the 30s. But the weather can be unpredictable, with snow showers occurring on a regular basis. Before going to the park, check the website for updates on current conditions.
Attention, snowbirds: Need a good reason to fly south sooner? How about ten reasons? Our list of the best fall festivals for snowbird RVers is a must-see during your southbound travels.
Fall made a brief appearance yesterday at my campsite near Carson City, Nevada. A thin dusting of frost coated the RV rooftops, reminding me that it’s only a matter of time until it’s time to seek warmer accommodations. And when we do, we won’t be able to resist these incredible fall festivals in snowbird RVer destinations.
Opelika Songwriters Festival
Folk and Americana music fans and musicians are headed to the 3rd annual Opelika Songwriters Festival. The mid-October showcases rising stars and world-renowned musicians from North America in a small, intimate setting around historic downtown Opelika music venues. The 2022 headliners include the Indigo Girls and Rickie Lee Jones. Park your rig at Lakeside RV Park and you’re just minutes from the three-day festival.
Wintering at an Arizona RV park this season? Get there early for The Arizona Fall Fest. Held during the first weekend in November, it’s the largest event in the Valley of the Sun, featuring 200 of Arizona’s locally-grown businesses. From restaurants to wineries, artisans to adventure sherpas, it’s a family- and dog-friendly event that showcases all things uniquely Arizona. Best of all, it’s free! Stay at the Royal Palm RV Resort and you’re less than ten miles from the fun.
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Where can I store my RV for free during the off-season?
For this reason, many RVers are looking for ways to cut costs. One of the best ways to go about this is to save on RV storage fees. This leaves many RV owners asking, “Where can I store my RV for free?”
Surprisingly, there are a number of free RV storage options. That said, whether you’ll be able to find one that works for you depends on your individual situation. Check out the list of options below to see if you can find your answer.
Light your campfires and get your flashlights ready. Here are 13 ghost stories books filled with the best Halloween campfire stories…
1. 50 Real American Ghost Stories
2. The Worlds Favorite Ghost Stories
3. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
4. Ghost Stories (Paranormal Locations Series)
5. Classic Campfire Stories: Forty Spooky Tales
6. Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories
7. Collected Ghost Stories
8. Complete Ghost Stories
9. 50 States 500 Scary Places to Visit
10. A Haunted Road Atlas
11. Civil War Ghosts
12. The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories
13. Campfire Stories for Kids
Continue reading 13 Ghost Stories Books to Read Around the Halloween Campfire at RV Lifestyle.
October is known for fall camping fun, from spooktacular campground Halloween-themed events to leaf peeping color tours of nature's autumn beauty. This week on the RV Podcast, we talk to a representative of Jellystone Parks about how fall camping fun has made October one of the busiest times of the year for RVers - so busy that weekend reservations are needed long in advance in most state parks and private campgrounds.
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Few things are more refreshing than a dip in some natural hot springs. If you want to travel in style and enjoy this level of comfort, you should check out the Catalina Spa RV Resort in California. This is a highly rated park that offers odorless mineral hot springs as well as luxurious amenities.
California is a destination for many snowbirds, but even this state can get a bit chilly during the winter months. At times like this, it’s great to stay somewhere that offers heated pools and top-notch living quarters. Catalina Spa is a popular destination in the Palm Springs area, so keep it on your list if you plan to travel around here.
Although the spa and hot springs element of this resort make it stand out, it also provides plenty of other amenities that guests have enjoyed. If you’d like to learn more about the Catalina Spa RV Resort, read on!
The Catalina Spa RV Resort is located at 18800 Corkill Rd, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241. Although it’s in the smaller town of Desert Hot Springs, it’s quite close to the larger destination of Palm Springs, CA. Larger cities like Santa Barbara and San Diego are also close by.
We all enjoy hot water in our daily lives and that doesn’t have to change when we go camping. That’s why recreation vehicles (RVs) come equipped with water heaters. If you have to upgrade or replace your unit, choosing a water heater for your RV can be a little daunting but it doesn’t always have to be.
If you keep your RV long enough, the day will come when you decide to replace or upgrade your water heater. It might just be that your heater went bad after more than a decade of use. Or maybe the water heater tank froze, expanded, and cracked because you didn’t winterize your RV properly.
Maybe you just want a newer, bigger, better model. Or maybe you can’t find the right parts and accessories for a simple fix so you’re forced to replace the entire unit. Whatever the reason, it’s good to know what types of water heaters are on the market and how to pick the right one for your RV.
If you don’t have any experience using RV water heaters, the first thing to know is that you won’t be able to take those long hot showers you’re accustomed to at home. The majority of models have six or 10-gallon hot water tanks. A bigger tank is typically preferable for family camping.
This also means being frugal when washing dishes. The good news is that new technology for RV water heaters provides advanced designs that increase the amount of hot water they can produce, so you can enjoy slightly longer showers and have plenty of hot water for dishes.
