So, you and your significant other want to travel, see amazing sights, and camp in beautiful and remote locations? I have a recommendation for you. Check out Class B motorhomes. A Class B motorhome is built on a standard van chassis and offers some of the most versatility you can find in an RV.

Class B campers aren’t for everyone, but if you’re comfortable with your significant other and don’t mind less space, you’ll find these tiny homes of the road to be an extremely lovely way to travel and camp.

2020 Winnebago Travato 59G

The 2020 Winnebago Travato 59G features a bench seat up front next to a small table with another bench seat. There’s a large 46-inch by 77-inch bed at the rear of the unit next to a wet bath. Between the front of the RV and the rear of the RV is the kitchen.

The Travato comes built on a Dodge ProMaster van chassis with a V6 engine that puts out 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The unit can sleep up to four people and measures 21 feet in overall length.

Check out our inventory

2019 Roadtrek Zion

If the Travato doesn’t quite do it for you, then maybe you’ll find the 2019 Roadtrek Zion a little more appealing. The Zion features swivel chairs and a small table at the front of the unit, a small wet bath on the driver’s side, most of the kitchen on the passenger side, a small wardrobe next to the kitchen and two large bench seats that can be made into a bed at the rear of the unit.

The Zion sleeps two people, so it’s perfect for a couple and it comes built on the same Dodge Promaster chassis as the Travato, so it has the same engine. The RV measures 20.75 feet overall.

Check out our inventory

2019 Winnebago Era 170X

The Winnebago Era 170X offers a unique floorplan that includes a wet bath along the camp side of the RV, a kitchen on the driver’s side of the RV, a sofa bed in the rear of the unit, and a movable pedestal table with four swivel chairs at the front of the unit.

Built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, the RV comes with a six-cylinder diesel engine that makes 188 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. This model sleeps two people comfortably and measures a slightly longer 24.25 feet long.

Check out our inventory

2019 American Coach Patriot MD2-Lounge

Another great option is the American Coach Patriot MD2-Lounge. This unit features an optional pedestal table at the front of the RV next to a wardrobe and a small refrigerator. There’s a small wet bath on the driver’s side of the RV, a pantry behind that and some lounge seating/sleeping area at the very rear of the RV. On the camp side, is the small kitchen.

Like the Winnebago mentioned above, this unit is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter’s chassis. It features a V6 diesel engine that makes 188 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The model sleeps two people and measures 24.25 feet in length.

Check out our inventory

2019 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour EXT

Last on this list, but certainly, not least is the Airstream Interstate Grand Tour EXT. This unique model features a wonderful layout including a small pedestal table at the front next to some seating, storage space and the refrigerator on the driver’s side. Also on that side is the small wet bat. On the camp side of the unit is the kitchen and there’s additional seating at the rear that doubles as the sleeping area.

The the Interstate Grand Tour EXT is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis and features the same diesel V6 engine as the other models built on this chassis. It sleeps two people comfortably and measures 24.42 feet in length.

Check out our inventory

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What models would you add to this list? Leave a comment below.

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Today on the podcast, Sam interviews Ana Willis of They Call Me Blessed, a homeschooling blog. Ana is a homeschool mom of 3, wife, health coach, social media and online marketing strategist, and mom blogger. Her passion is to encourage, inspire and empower moms to go from stressed to blessed by providing them with the inspiration, encouragement, and tools they need to live a beyond blessed life. She also runs a membership called The Homeschool Sisterhood, which gives moms year-round support and guidance to succeed in their homeschool journey.

In addition to being an expert on all things homeschooling, Ana is also a world traveler and, recently, a full-time RVer! Her family has lived in Africa, South America, North America, and the Middle East. Now, they are living in an RV in British Columbia. In this episode, Ana shares their journey to RV life and paying off debt, her top tips and advice on homeschooling, and inspiring wisdom for living your dreams.

What we cover in this episode

• 1:00 – RV life beginnings
• 6:30 – The biggest transitions to RV life
• 13:30 – Advice for families wanting to hit the road
• 18:00 – Advice for homeschooling and finding a homeschooling community
• 24:30 – How homeschooling helps her children to be independent, lifelong learners

Ana’s advice on homeschooling

• De-school yourself! Programed to think that school happens 8 hours a day, through textbooks
  It’s not true! We are born natural learners. We learn more through experience.
• Look for curriculum that fits your family’s learning style.
• You don’t need to know it all to teach your children. You can stay one step ahead and learn together.

Ana will be hosting the first online roadschooling conference this fall. Stay connected with Ana at They Call Me Blessed to learn more!

Ana’s advice on RVing

• Become unattached to material objects. Get rid of stuff.
• If you have debt, come up with a plan to pay it off as soon as possible.
• Think about how can you work smarter to make more income, while also having more family time.
• Dream big! Decide your mission or goal as a full-time RV family.
• Create the most amazing memorable moments as a family.

Links mentioned in this episode

• Learn more at They Call Me Blessed
• Follow They Call Me Blessed on Facebook
• Follow Ana on Instagram
• Join The Homeschool Sisterhood!

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Many times camping trips involve exploring new territory and discovering enticing attractions along the way. Passenger tour trains have that magnetic appeal for many RVers, providing a novel way to see hidden countryside not normally viewed from the road. Railroad passengers learn about local history, culture and the many colorful characters from the communities visited. Camping World wants to make sure you don’t miss the departing whistle, so we have created a series entitled RVing the Rails. You will find the most popular excursion trains to ride in each state, complete with any specialty trains they might offer.

Today we will explore the most popular trains in Indiana:

French Lick Scenic Railway

Begun as the Indiana Railway Museum, today’s train runs on tracks once owned by the Southern Railway Company. The twenty-five miles of the French Lick Scenic Railway running from French Lick to Jasper is now a living history museum dedicated to railroad transportation. Passengers pass through the hills of southern Indiana and the Hoosier National Forest, enjoying rail travel as it was meant to be—relaxing transportation that celebrates the journey, not just the destination.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The railroad runs with a diesel electric engine on standard gauge tracks.  The rolling stock consists of glass-enclosed dome cars and enclosed coach passenger cars.

Seating Options

• Dome Class – Passengers ride in the upper glass-enclosed dome car with tables of four and assigned seating. An assistant is on hand to help.
• First Class – Passengers with first class tickets ride in the lower dome and 1710 cars, where padded seats and tables are provided. All first class seats are assigned.
• Coach Class – Passengers with coach class tickets ride in enclosed cars with open general admission seating, available on a first-come, first serve basis.

Riding Options

Train excursions are all round-trip affairs, so there are no one-way tickets or side trips available.

Specialty Trains

Reservations are suggested for all specialty trains, as they tend to sell out.

• Easter Bunny Express – Catch a ride from the French Lick Depot to the Easter Egg field, where children can hunt for eggs and take their picture with the Easter Bunny.
• Wild West Hold Ups – Take a journey back to the Wild West as the French Lick Scenic Railway gets hit by robbers attempting to steal the payroll. Hide your valuables!
• Dinosaur Adventure Train – Venture back to the Jurassic Era and learn about paleontology and natural science on the Dinosaur Train. Children can participate in a fossil dig and hold a live reptile.
• Polar Express – Wear your pajamas and hop on board the Polar Express for a ride to the North Pole. Santa can’t wait to hear what you want for Christmas, and the elves and chefs will make sure all passengers are well-fed with cocoa and cookies!

Length of Season

The French Lick Scenic Railway season runs from March through October, with Polar Express trains running on weekends in November and December.  Check out their schedule here.

Whitewater Valley Railroad

Back in 1845 the state of Indiana built the Whitewater Canal for towing freight, but the waterway suffered from flooding and washouts.  So eventually the towpath along the canal was used to lay railroad tracks.  Today, the Whitewater Valley Railroad runs from Connersville to the restored canal town of Metamora, where passengers can explore a working grist mill, canal boats and the locks in a two-hour layover, before returning to Connersville.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The railroad operates with a diesel locomotive running on standard gauge track.  Enclosed passenger cars with windows provide a comfortable way to see the Whitewater Valley.

Seating Options

There are no assigned seats on the Whitewater Valley Railroad.  All cars are enclosed coaches with general admission tickets.

Riding Options

The railroad offers two options for some interesting train travel:

• Caboose Rental – Rent an entire caboose for up to 20 people and have it hooked to the train!
• Metamora Shuttle – for those passengers who would like to travel two miles past the depot in Metamora, this shuttle train offers a short trip along the canal to see restored canal locks, canal boat docks and a working aquaduct.

For those wishing to travel one-way, tickets can be purchased from Connersville to Metamora.

Specialty Trains

• Throttle Time – Become a train engineer on this special day, where guests will go through safety inspections, training and get 30 minutes of “throttle time” operating a diesel electric engine.
• Ghost Train – Depart from Metamora Depot to hear stories of the train’s tragic past. A few ghastly apparitions may join you on the excursion.
• Pumpkinliner – Take a train ride to the pumpkin patch, where hayrides and jack o’lanterns await!
• Polar Express – Join in the holiday fun as the train visits the North Pole to pick up Santa. Kids will have an opportunity to tell him all about their Christmas wishes, and riders will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, along with a reading of the beloved “Polar Express” story.

Length of Season

The Whitewater Valley Railroad operates from March through October with weekend train rides.  Specialty trains are scheduled on specific dates, so please check the train calendar to select your excursion.

Hoosier Valley Railroad

Located at the confluence of four different historical railroads, the town of North Judson was a pretty busy place during railroad’s hey days.  With the Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central Railroad, the Erie Railroad, and Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad all fighting for attention, it was not unusual to see 125 trains pass through this rural community in one day!  Now the Hoosier Valley Railroad is carrying the torch, providing excursion trains and a museum to preserve railway history.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The Hoosier Valley Railroad operates with a vintage diesel locomotive on standard gauge tracks.  Rolling stock includes various cabooses, an open air gondola car and climate controlled enclosed passenger coaches.

Seating Options

All seating is open with no assigned seats.  Seating on all cars is considered General Admission on a first come, first serve basis.

Riding Options

A 45 minute train ride from the depot in North Judson travels across the Kankakee River Bridge at English Lake, then back to the depot.  There are no one-way tickets, but passengers are assured they will see some lovely Indiana countryside.

Specialty Trains

• Easter Train – Hop on the train for an excursion to an Easter egg hunt, where the Easter Bunny joins in on the fun.
• Fall Harvest Train – Take a leisurely trip through the autumnal colors in the northern Indiana countryside.
• Halloween Train – This twilight train that will entertain your trick-or-treaters.  Bring your costumed ghosts and goblins for a haunting good ride!
• Santa Train – Don’t miss a ride on the rails with the Big Man himself!

Length of Season

The Hoosier Valley Railroad runs trains every Saturday from May through September.  Special event trains are scheduled on specific dates, so check the train schedule to find the excursion that suits you.

Join the thousands of RVers that have a love affair with trains and ride the rails on your next camping trip.  Check out the other excursion trains available on a state-by-state basis in our series, RVing the Rails.

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Water is the main star at Isle Royale National Park. With over 400 islands inside the park boundaries, visitors traverse the waters of Lake Superior to then navigate channels and waterways by kayak or canoe, sailboat or fishing vessel, all to do a little island hopping. SCUBA divers find treasure in the waters here as 10 shipwrecks offer up their secrets.

Wildlife on Isle Royale harbor a mystery as to how they crossed the depths to arrive here more than 100 years ago. This park, it seems, will quench your thirst for adventure and exploration.

History of Isle Royale National Park

Sitting in Lake Superior, Isle Royale is part of the state of Michigan, although the park is actually closer to Canada and Minnesota. None of those designations existed when copper was first found here thousands of years ago.

Several copper implements were discovered in Indian settlements, dating back to 3000 BC. The copper for these items was mined on Isle Royale, which was called Menong by these indigenous peoples. But it was the Chippewa who lived here until the mid-1800s when they relinquished the island to white settlers.

By the turn of the century, the island became a vacation destination for the wealthy. Walter Singer built a hotel and cabins along the shore at Washington Harbor, purchasing a boat to bring guests to “Island House Resort.” Soon competition appeared on the island and tourism grew a bit. By 1912 the Washington Harbor Club, a group of wealthy businessmen who owned railroads through northwestern Minnesota, evidently transported moose from there to the island, creating their own private hunting club.

The moose remain, but the hunting club was gone by the time the region came under the protection of the national park service, becoming Isle Royale National park in 1940.

Why Visit Isle Royale National Park?

This is one of those parks where an RV doesn’t quite fit in. Visitors will be relegated to parking it on the mainland in Michigan or Minnesota and taking a boat or seaplane to the island. Don’t worry, it will be there when you get back. The Isle Royale National Park is worth leaving your rig behind becuase it’s so wild and so special. It’s unlike any other national park in the country.

Places to Go

The islands of Isle Royale National Park provide a variety of sections to visit. Here are the three regions with a list of services available in each:

Houghton Visitor Center

Located on the mainland of Michigan, Houghton is the home to the park’s ferry, Ranger III. The visitor center has a bookstore, park movie, restrooms and information about Isle Royale. Boating permits can be obtained here, as well.

Rock Harbor Visitor Center

Located on the northeast end of the park, this visitor center has area displays, park information and backcountry permits available. Services available in Rock Harbor area:

• Dockage with Power and Water
• Pump Out Service
• Fuel
• Rock Harbor Trading Post
• Showers
• Laundry
• Potable Water
• Restaurant
• Lighthouse
• Boat Rentals

Windigo Visitor Center

Located on the southwest end of the park, Windigo has ranger programs, park information, and displays. Backcountry permits are issued here. Services available in Windigo area:

• Pump Out Service
• Fuel
• Windigo Store
• Showers
• Laundry
• Potable Water
• Windigo Camper Cabins

Things to Do

With over 8 million acres, there are a lot of activities that can be enjoyed. Here are just a few of the most popular ones:

Hiking

A great way to spend a day at Isle Royale is hiking the many trails here. There are trails of varying distances and difficulties, and hikers should be prepared for uneven terrain.  Check out trail maps from Rock Harbor here and trail maps from Windigo here.

Backpacking

Spend several days exploring the islands of Isle Royale National Park by backpacking and canoeing through the region. A permit is required, but there are numerous small campgrounds for just this purpose. Be sure to look at which campsites are accessible by water and which are accessible by land.

Camping

The islands have several small campgrounds scattered throughout for campers, providing overnight stays along waterways and off hiking trails. Permits are required and there are limits to the number of nights allowed.

Fishing

Catch your fill of lake or brook trout in Lake Superior, or any of over 40 species of fish when you cast a line at Isle Royale. Michigan fishing licenses are required to fish in Lake Superior. However, no licenses are needed for inland fishing.

Boating

The most efficient and enjoyable way to experience the park is by water. If traveling by canoe or kayak, your boat must be at least 15 feet long to handle rough water and not swamp. Only sea kayaks are useful here, as recreational ones are not appropriate for the marine environment. Canoe routes and portages are located on the eastern half of the island.

Sailboats and motorized boats have a number of docks where they can tie up. Boats with motors are not allowed on lakes, and no personal motorized vehicles are allowed within the park.

SCUBA Diving

Because of the harsh weather and difficult navigation on Lake Superior, many ships were lost here. There are ten shipwrecks within the park boundaries, preserved for SCUBA diving enthusiasts and photographers. Divers must register at one of the visitor centers before diving, and mark dive spots with a flag. Isle Royale Charters is the only company licensed to guide SCUBA trips within the park.

When to Visit Isle Royale National Park

From November 1 to April 15 Isle Royale and its surrounding islands are closed to visitors because of harsh weather conditions. However, the waters of Lake Superior are open to boaters year-round. Spring, summer, and fall offer stunning vistas in a more temperate climate, and a plethora of water activities and hiking on the islands are available for travelers to Isle Royale National Park.

Where You Can Stay

Since you won’t be taking your RV into Isle Royale National Park, it is best to dock it in an RV park in one of the three towns that offer boat access to the islands and use that as your home base.

Houghton, Michigan:

• City of Houghton RV Park
• Lake Linden Village Campground

Copper Harbor, Michigan:

• Fort Wilkins State Park West Campground
• Sunset Bay RV Resort

Grand Portage, Minnesota:

• Grand Portage Marina and RV Campground
• Grand Portage National Monument Campground

As far as staying in the park, there are over 30 different small campgrounds in the park. They offer little to no amenities and you’ll need a permit as discussed above. Here’s the National Park System’s guidelines on camping in Isle Royale National Park.

Getting to and Around Isle Royale National Park

There are two ways to get to Isle Royale: by boat or by seaplane. Both leave from three different ports on the mainland. So, if you are coming from Minnesota, depart at Grand Marais. If Michigan is your departure state, you can leave from Houghton or Copper Harbor.

Once in the national park, there are no motorized or wheeled vehicles allowed except wheelchairs. Travel is by foot or by boat. There are several services that ferry visitors between islands, and many bring their own kayaks or canoes to enjoy the waters. Rentals are also available at Rock Harbor.

Currents

Water has a way of soothing the soul, giving way to tranquility. At Isle Royale National Park, there is room for visitors to explore the depths or skim across the surface of its current. Dip a paddle or let the wind take the sails to lead you into port, escaping the intensity of the outside world, if only for a few days. This unique wilderness is an interesting place to be, and it comes highly recommended.

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What do you think of Isle Royale National Park? Leave a comment below!

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Regarding outdoor kitchens, my feeling is if it doesn’t have a sink, it’s not a kitchen. Pull-out grills off the exterior of a towable or motorhome are great, but I like to be able to clean my food and my hands without walking inside.

Furthermore, my ideal outdoor kitchen includes a refrigerator, some counter space for food prep, an exterior outlet and, obviously, a grill and/or range. A spot for a small flat-screen TV is awfully nice, but that’s not a deal-breaker for me. The TV merely takes it to a higher level where, if I have satellite or cable hooked up, I can cook a meal outside and be yelled at by a host of TV chefs if I choose. 

But, I digress. This article will focus on creating a quick and good family picnic utilizing your RV’s outdoor kitchen. 

Picnics have evolved since I was a kid when a butter and sugar white bread sandwich was your meal. Or, if it was a special day, bologna (or baloney—your choice) was slapped between two slices of spongy white bread with a swipe of mayonnaise… our parents were obviously thrill-seekers. 

The Breakfast Picnic

Never would my parents had ever considered having a breakfast picnic, but let’s take the thought of a picnic as exclusively a lunch meal and throw that cliché away.

Now, if my parents would have thought outside the picnic basket from lunch to breakfast, I am confident they would have appreciated having a breakfast picnic without needing plates and flatware. The only kitchen implement that would be a must for them (and me too) is a vessel for coffee. 

Get that coffee going first. Percolate it outside using the exterior outlet as you’re prepping the rest of your breakfast. Make sure you have a couple good, insulated coffee tumblers so you can keep your coffee warm during your picnic. 

As the coffee is brewing, prep your meal. 

Should it be oatmeal? Great for energy; easy to make; adaptable to add lots of different fruits, nuts etcetera to liven it up so to speak. However? It’s oatmeal. You’re on a camping trip with kids and… it’s oatmeal. Kids will eat it, but it’s oatmeal.  

Sorry Mr. Quaker, but we want to live a little. Thus, we recommend the versatility of a breakfast burrito. 

Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients? Anything you like with eggs and cheese that doesn’t take a ton of planning: sausage chunks, bacon, onions, green peppers, red peppers, jalapeno peppers, mushrooms, avocado slices—even berries go well with eggs.

No potatoes unless you have leftover open fire-baked from the previous night or a bag of frozen hash browns—don’t start the taters from scratch or it will take a long time and a lot of propane. Raw carrots are propane pigs too. 

Whatever needs to be cooked for your mix, get it started before the eggs. Scrambled eggs can be added into the same pan and mixed all together. A word about bacon though. Depending upon the bacon, you may end up with a lot of grease.

Therefore, you will need to decide on whether to use a separate pan for the eggs or dispose of the bacon grease into a can or jar (or carefully sop it up with hearty paper towels). Don’t pour the grease onto the ground. Critters love bacon grease and they won’t stop grub-searching after finding the grease. 

You can make scrambled eggs fluffier by adding one tablespoon of water or milk for every two eggs. Scramble vigorously until little bubbles show before dropping the mixture into the pan. For seasoning, salt and pepper will do, but you can add a touch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of tabasco (for you, maybe not the kids or your mother-in-law). 

For cheese, I’d bring pre-shredded for speed, but you can shred a block while the eggs are cooking. I prefer a sharper cheese like a white cheddar, but you can slip in slices of American if you want. No cheese-judging. 

To keep the breakfast burritos warm for your short trek to your perfect picnic spot (remember everyone is hungry so don’t plan a big trail hike before filling up), use foil. You don’t need to go all out and get a super thermal carrying pack that’ll keep food hot or cold for days. They’re nice for a lot of situations, but let’s focus on speed here. 

Drop the tortilla onto the piece of foil, fill with the egg mixture, put that cheese on while the eggs are hot, add your ‘cold’ items such as avocado slices, perhaps some salsa, roll up the tortilla then enclose with the foil. 

How to Wrap Up a Burrito

If you want to fold in the top and bottom and make it restaurant-style, the tortilla must be very pliable, aka ‘steamed’ so it’s soft. To me, that’s too much effort for camping. Roll it up with open ends. It’s not going to hurt anyone and the foil will ‘seal’ the base so stuff isn’t spilling out. 

There’s Always Pancakes

What a mess! The butter, syrup… for a picnic? No? Well… on the contrary, make them a bit thinner so they are pliable, therefore easy to roll up. Spread a pancake with peanut butter, drop in some banana slices or other sweet fruits, roll them up and let the kids have at ‘em. They’ll love it and there’s not much of a mess. 

Let’s Do Lunch

This is a family picnic and we’re doing it quickly for there are other camping activities ready for the taking. We want to get your picnic started ASAP, so let’s leave the gourmet muddled pesto and garlic arugula chicken salad sandwich on hand-grilled focaccia sandwich on the back burner.

And let’s not pretend any effort you make to create colorful salads in jars are going to entice your kids to eat the salad. You’re camping so it’s highly unlikely it will work. That being said, let’s focus on finger food. 

Fried Chicken Fingers

Fried chicken is a picnic staple as in ‘grab a bucket of chicken and head to the lake’, but this is different as you’re making it on your own. The only planning ahead you need is to make sure you have thawed boneless skinless chicken breast fillets with ‘fillets’ being the key (if you have a whole chicken breast, just cut into slices first and use the kitchen shears, not a knife).

You’re going to double-dip—scrambled egg mixture (4 eggs and a ¼ cup of milk) to seasoned flour (generally flour with salt and something spicy like paprika or cayenne pepper – 1 teaspoon of spice, pinch of salt and a cup of flour), back from flour to egg mixture then back into the flour and right into the pan with a ¼ inch of cooking oil.

Depending upon the heat of your outdoor grill and the thickness of your fingers (the chicken fingers, not your fingers), it shouldn’t take more than two to three minutes each side for them to finish. Meanwhile, you can work on the possibilities below. 

Veggie Fingers

Don’t get too concerned about the nutrition lacking in fried foods. Supplement the chicken fingers with carrot fingers, celery fingers (fill with a shot of cheese from a can or a slip of peanut butter), and devil fingers (cut strips of red bell pepper). After the quick creation of veggie fingers and while the chicken fingers are still too hot to eat, make the dessert. 

Dessert Fingers

I like to call them Sasquatch fingers. Sound complicated? Not one bit. All you need are graham crackers and a jar of any spreadable chocolate. It’s like a s’more but without hard chocolate and marshmallow, so you could call them a s’less, but I call them Sasquatch fingers.

Divide graham crackers into their natural quarters, spread the chocolate, make little sandwiches and tell the kids the ‘real’ Sasquatch has naturally rectangle-shaped fingers. If they try to argue, go tell them to find some real Sasquatch fingers to prove you wrong. 

Now you’re done. Pack everything up in whatever cooler or bag you have available, grab some drinks out of the outdoor refrigerator and find your spot. And don’t forget the picnic blanket. A picnic table is fine, but it’s just a table. A true picnic is on a blanket. 

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What are your quickie picnic ideas? If you have one or many, drop us a comment! 

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