Whether it is a station wagon, mini van, SUV or RV, many of us have fond memories of growing up and going on a road trip as a family. While some of the memories may not have been funny at the time, most of the time we are able to reminisce and laugh about missing the exit, forgetting to pack the toilet paper or leaving someone at the rest stop. Yes, that is a true story and yes, we did go back to get him!
Family Entourage Co-Founder Mei Ling Nazar recently experienced a Go RVing event. Attendees got to check out some of the latest RVs to take a vacation in including a retro on the outside, full amenities on the inside teal air stream. If we had our choice of what we could take a RV trip in this would be high on the list! To get guests in the mood, snacks included upscale campfire food including s’mores bites.
They also heard from 90210 and What I Like About You star, Jennie Garth. Jennie shared about her fond memories growing up of her family going on trips together and how she has carried that tradition out with her children. They enjoy RVing because they are not limited by suitcases as to what they can bring, if it can fit in the RV, they are able to bring it. She also opened up about how she took her family on a cross-country trip at one of the toughest moments of her life. Jennie’s husband had recently left her. Jennie and her family were able to go visit their other relatives and get a fresh perspective during a difficult season.
- Take a short trip to start. Whether it is your family’s first vacation or 100th, we recommend taking a short RV trip for your first experience. Pick a place that is close by and go for the weekend. While many believe that taking a RV trip or camping is considered roughing it, the amenities at the 16,000 campgrounds in the U.S would say otherwise. They offer everything including pools, dog parks, wine tastings, spas, cable, golf and other activities. A short trip will help you gauge the length and distance of your next trip.
- Pack the family’s favorites. From snack foods to pajamas, the nice thing about a RV trip is that you are not limited to one carry on and one personal item or even a suitcase. Bring board games or activities to do for the drive. Research what the site you’re going to offers and if you need to bring anything special like pool or beach gear. Make sure to include the family in the packing process so they can share what is important to them to bring.
- Enjoy the outdoors. Each site and location will have different things that they offer. Research to see if you need to make reservations for activities. Whether you take a hike, go fishing or take a canoe on the lake, leave the cell phones, tablets and any other distractions behind. As you go for a walk, look at the details of the things around you- the bees getting nectar from flowers, the leaves falling from the tree, the stars in the sky. You can even do a nature scavenger hunt by creating a list of things that everyone in the group must find together. If you are able to, have the family
- Don’t leave it behind. Take time to reflect before the trip ends. Gather around the campfire or find a spot on the beach and ask the family or group to share what they enjoyed about the trip and even one thing that they want to do as they return home. Look for a leaf, flower or rock to take home with you as a reminder of the trip. Then, whenever things get busy you can look at your reminder to slow down and spend time with those you care about.
- Make it an annual trip. For many, going on a vacation can be an expensive endeavor. Airfare, hotels, restaurants and activities can quickly add up for a family of four. Thankfully, going on a RV trip is a fun alternative. Taking a RV trip, can be up to 59% less expensive for a family of four to travel than a traditional trip. Family members can rotate each year on a place that you want to see. Plan ahead as much as you can because popular spots can sometimes be hard to get reservations for and some places have windows when you can book for certain times of the year. Check with others on their experience and read reviews. This will help to see if the location is a good fit for your family.
Attending the Go RVIng event and putting together this post, made me reminiscent of some of my family’s fun memories taking RV trips. Every summer for several years, we would pile up in our mini-van and head out to our grandma’s camper. We would leave the comforts of our suburban house behind and “rough it” for a week. I learned how to fish with my grandpa on the lake. This is a special memory to me because he passed away when I was ten. My dad later gave me one of my grandpa’s tackle boxes. Our extended family would all meet at the campground to celebrate Fourth of July. My uncle became famous for the BBQ parties he would throw. One year, we were all enjoying our food when it started pouring rain. There is a fun family video of everyone running and trying to hide in the RVs and then all of a sudden everyone realized that they were already soaked and just embraced it. The adults started going down the slip n’ slide. The kids flipped over the kiddie pool and used it as a make-shift umbrella.
To check out more about taking a RV trip click here.
