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Nothing says Labor Day like taking one last camping trip before school starts and enjoying a terrific cookout. This year you can wow your family and friends with these easy, yet flavorful take on traditional favorites.

To make things easier at the campsite, there are notes in each recipe for things that can be prepared before leaving home to make meal prep simpler at the campground.

Chicken Kabobs

Chicken is one of the easiest things to grill at the campground and these kabobs cook quickly and evenly. Just a little marinade you can prepare in advance is all that is needed to make them a hit with the whole family.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• Salt & pepper
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1” pieces
• 1 zucchini cut into 1” pieces
• 4 chicken breasts, cubed

 Directions

Before you leave home:

1. Whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, brown sugar, garlic, and dried herbs, and season generously with salt and pepper. Reserve ¼ cup in a small container.
2. Add chicken to the bowl and toss to combine. Store in a plastic container or large zip lock bags.
3. Pack the chicken and small container of the extra marinade in your RV refrigerator.

At the campground:

1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
2. Thread the chicken and vegetables onto the skewers.
3. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side or until chicken is cooked through.
4. Baste with reserved marinade as needed.
5. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Serve with this terrific pesto pasta salad.

Pesto Pasta Salad

This pasta salad includes fresh mozzarella cheese, black olives, and sun-dried tomatoes tossed with fresh basil pesto to create the perfect side dish. You can even make it the main dish by adding shrimp or cubed salami.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces bowtie pasta
• 1 cup prepared basil pesto
• 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 1/2 cups fresh mozzarella balls, cut in half
• 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and cut in half

Directions

This entire recipe can be prepared before you leave home.

• Boil the pasta in salted water according to package directions.
• Drain the pasta and cool in with water.
• Place the pasta in a large bowl along with the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and olives.
• Pour the pesto over the top and toss to coat evenly.

Southwest Burger

Hamburgers are an iconic staple of the holiday cookout. Spice up your traditional burger with cumin and jalapenos to create a sensational Southwest spin. Top with slices of fresh avocado and serve with the Sweet & Spicy Pasta Salad below.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 to teaspoon chopped jalapeno pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 avocado, peeled and sliced
• 1 lemon (or lime)
• Tomato, sliced
• 4 hamburger buns

Directions

Before you leave home:

1. Combine ground chuck, salt, and pepper in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Add chopped onion, jalapenos, and cumin.
3. Shape the mixture into four patties, each 3/4-inch thick in the center and at the edges. Store in a plastic container or zip lock baggies.
4. Slice tomatoes and store in an airtight container or zip lock baggies.

Note: If the kids won’t like the extra spice, make a few using step 1 only.

At the campground:

5. Place the patties on the grill. Grill for 7 to 10 minutes per side, turning once.
6. Slice the avocado and drizzle with a bit of lime (or lemon) juice.
7. Remove the burgers from the grill.
8. Serve with tomato and slices of ripe avocado.

Sweet & Spicy Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is packed with flavor! It is the perfect complement to Southwest burgers.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ditalini pasta
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup sliced drained banana peppers
• 1 avocado, thinly sliced.
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives
• Sweet & Spicy Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

This entire dish can be prepared at home.

1. Cook the pasta in boiling water according to the package instructions.
2. Drain, cool with water, and transfer to a large bowl.
3. In a separate mixing bowl, prepare the sauce by mixing the ingredients in a blender or food processor.
4. Pour the sauce over the pasta and toss.
5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Garlic Herb Grilled Potatoes

These potatoes are even better than French fries. No oil is required, and the foil packet makes clean up a breeze. Cooking them on the grill or the oven will give them just the right amount of crispness.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs large Yukon Gold or other yellow-fleshed potatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped mixed herbs (parsley, chives, rosemary, and oregano)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 lemon wedge

Directions

Before you leave home:

1. Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch-thick slices and cook in a large pot of well-salted boiling water 10 minutes (potatoes will not be cooked through).
2. Meanwhile, stir together herbs, garlic, oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
3. Combine potatoes and herbs in a large bowl.
4. Arrange the potatoes on a large piece of foil and fold the edges to make a packet.

At the campground:

1. Place the packets on the grill and cover. Cook for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
2. Take off the grill and serve.
3. No room on the grill? No worries. The potato packets can also be prepared in the oven at 425F for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Grilled Salmon

Grilled salmon is perfect for a family cookout. It is easy, fast, and flavorful. Serve this with the rainbow coleslaw.

Ingredients

• 4 skin-on* salmon fillets about 1-inch thick
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt & pepper
• 1 lime cut into wedges

Note: It is important to buy the fillets with the skin on to act as a buffer between the grill and tender fish while cooking.

Directions

1. Coat the flesh side of the salmon fillets with oil and season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill the skin side down for about 6-8 minutes or until the fish lightens in color. You should be able to lift the fillets off the grill without them sticking.
3. Flip the salmon and cook for just another 2-4 minutes.
4. Remove the salmon skin from the salmon fillets.
5. Serve with lime wedges.

Rainbow Coleslaw

Made without mayonnaise, this coleslaw is perfect for hot summer days. While you can prepare it ahead of time, I suggest you don’t mix the sauce and cabbage until just before serving.

Ingredients

• 1/4 medium green cabbage shredded
• 1/4 medium red cabbage shredded
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 6 scallions chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
• 2 1/2 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra olive oil
• 1 tbsp honey

Directions

Before you leave home:

1. Chop cabbage, cilantro, and scallions.
2. Shred carrots.
3. Combine juices, vinegar, olive oil, and honey. Store in an airtight container.

At the campground:

4. Toss all ingredients and serve.

Hopefully, these recipes will help you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

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What are you doing for Labor Day? Leave a comment below.

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Adding a new coat of paint to even a small portion of your RV can go a long way. Painting the inside of your RV can make it feel more like home and brighten up the space.

While the idea of repainting all of the interior walls of your RV may sound exhausting and terrifying, painting the cabinets might sound a little bit more manageable. And guess what, it is! If you are looking to freshen up your home on wheels by repainting cabinets in the kitchen, living area, bathroom, or all of the above, here are some simple steps to follow:

Remove Doors, Drawers, and Hardware

Before any painting begins, remove all cabinet doors, drawers, and hardware such as hinges. These items are easier to paint properly when not in and/or attached to your cabinets and will make the painting of the actual cabinets a lot easier.

Consider relocating doors and cabinets to a large space such as a garage where you’ll be able to set up your painting workshop and knock that part of the job. Ideally, you’ll have space where all cabinets and drawers can be laid out and worked on simultaneously but if not, work in batches or one at a time.

Make sure you have a flat place to keep cabinets doors while you are working on them. Painter’s triangles on a garage floor or multiple sawhorses are an idea. Also, make sure you label any pieces that come off your cabinets. This includes all doors and hardware. This will make life much easier when the job is done!

Preparation

Proper preparation before you starting painting is key to a job well done. First, you’ll want to make make sure all cabinets, doors, and drawers are clean.

Using something like Krud Kutter is a great way to remove dirt and grease. The next step in preparing your cabinets for paint is sanding. A thorough sanding will remove any old gloss, giving your new paint and primer something to stick to. An electric sander will get the job done quickly.

The last step in preparing your RV cabinets for paint is primer. You may think a good sanding will allow you to skip priming, but again, proper preparation is the best way to get the results you are looking for!

Painting

It’s finally time to paint. To avoid brush strokes, use a roller when possible on the doors, drawers, and cabinet frames. If you have access to a paint spray gun, even better!

A small brush might be needed for any molding on cabinet doors our around the frames. Avoid using too much paint as that can cause drips. After the first coat is done, wait, then follow the manufacturer’s directions on the paint can.

Generally, at least two coasts with a sanding in between will be needed. No matter what, don’t rush the process. Let the paint sit for more than enough time between coats.

Finishing Up

Once your final coat has had time cure, you can start putting your masterpiece back together again. Curing usually takes several days, so again, don’t rush the process!

Once you are sure all paint is hard, reapply hardware and consider using felt pads on cabinet doors to avoid banging and chipping paint. Now take a moment to step back, take it all in, and touch up any places that need some extra attention.

While the process of painting your RV cabinets may seem tedious and complicated, the end result is well worth the time and work you put in. While you’re at it, pick up some new hardware to make your RV cabinets, even more, your own, unique style.

You will feel so happy and proud every time you step foot in your RV and see how your hard work completely changed the look and feel of your space.

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Do you have anything you think should be added? Leave a comment below!

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Cooking in an RV can quickly get complicated. There’s not a ton of room to store ingredients, usually not a lot of counter space to prepare food, and after a day of adventuring or driving you want something that’s easy to make.

This recipe is a great solution to all of those potential problems – it’s four ingredients (plus whatever toppings you want) and made in an instant pot or crock pot so you can turn it on and walk away. If you’re looking for an easy, family favorite recipe this flavorful shredded chicken dish is the perfect base for tacos, burritos, nachos, or quesadillas.

It’s simple to make, so you can spend more time enjoying the outdoors with your family and less time wondering how on earth you’re going to cook anything in that tiny oven.

See below for both Instant Pot and slow cooker instructions.

Ingredients for shredded chicken:

• 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 can chicken broth
• 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes

Optional ingredients for taco toppings:

• Tortillas
• Cilantro
• Avocado
• Cheese
• Salsa
• Limes
• Chopped red onion

Equipment:

Instant Pot or slow cooker
Cutting Board and 2 forks to shred the chicken

Instant Pot Instructions:

Arrange the chicken breasts in the bottom of the Instant Pot and pour the can of diced tomatoes over the top. No need to drain the can. Mix the taco seasoning with the chicken broth. I find that if you put the seasoning in the pot directly it’s more likely to stick to the bottom and give you the dreaded burn alert. Mixing it into the chicken broth helps the seasoning to disperse and avoid burning.

Set the Instant Pot to High Pressure for 20 minutes with the vent sealed. It will take some time for the pot to come up to pressure and then the timer will start. After the 20 minute timer finishes, let the pot vent naturally for 10 minutes and then carefully release the valve to manually release the rest of the steam. Make sure to wear an oven mitt so you don’t burn yourself.

Carefully remove the chicken breasts and place on a cutting board or large plate. Let cool slightly, then shred the chicken with two forks and add all the shredded chicken back to the pot. Stir everything really well to coat all the chicken with the tomato broth. Let sit for a minute or two so the chicken can absorb a bit of the broth and then serve.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Place chicken in bottom of a slow cooker. Add the taco seasoning, chicken broth, and can of tomatoes to the pot and gently stir to make sure the chicken is well coated.

Cook two to three hours on high or four to six hours on low. You want to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, let cool slightly, and shred on a cutting board. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot and give everything a good stir to mix. Let it sit for a minute to absorb the broth.

Start making tacos! Add some chicken to the tortillas and finish with whatever toppings you like. We love adding chopped red onions, chunks of avocado, a squeeze of lime or a spoonful of salsa, and cilantro and cheese to finish.

Any leftover chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days

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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 New Jersey:

Delaware River Railroad Excursions

Begun as a freight line between Phillipsburg and Carpentersville, the Delaware River Railroad has always taken the scenic route, following its namesake river first as the New York Susquehanna & Western, and later joining with the Black River System in 2004.

This all-volunteer organization runs the steam excursion trains and has renovated much of its equipment, including nine coaches. Today riders enjoy the River Train, along with several specialty excursions along the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The Delaware River Railroad operates steam locomotives on a standard gauge track, pulling renovated enclosed coaches for customer comfort on its rides.

Seating Options

All seating on the train is open, although reservations can be made in advance. Tickets must be picked up on the day of travel.

Riding Options

The Delaware River Railroad offers two additional excursions that can be added to their daily River Train:

• Mine Tour – Get off the train at the Susquehanna Mine to learn about the history of mining in the region. Then take a chance at uncovering your own gems and minerals when you pan for gold!
• Corn Maze – Take the train to the Snyder Farm, where a giant corn maze awaits. Bring a picnic lunch if you like, and catch any of the afternoon trains back to the depot after exploring this life-sized puzzle.

Specialty Trains

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

• Winery Train – Relish a luxurious ride along the Delaware River to the Villa Milagro Winery, where creating great wines is showcased and tasting them is thoroughly enjoyed.
• Dino Days – Take the kids on a train ride where dinosaurs are still king! The Dino Show, where resident paleontologists teach about the critters from the Jurassic Era, will keep everyone entertained with fossils, games and coloring activities.
• Day Out With Thomas – Ride on the ”Thomas The Tank Engine” for a trip where children can explore the Imagination Station, with obstacles courses and entertaining activities that appeal to the youngsters in your group.
• Polar Express – Children of all ages will love a train ride filled with characters from the book “Polar Express,” as they drink cocoa and eat cookies while waiting for Santa. Each child can tell St. Nick about their Christmas wishes and receive a silver bell, just like in the storybook.

Length of Season

The Delaware River Railroad is open year-round with daily departures. Specialty trains are scattered throughout the calendar, so check with the train to select the excursion that best fits your schedule.

Cape May Seashore Lines

Ride the original rails of the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroads to the shores of New Jersey. Today’s Cape May Seashore Lines run on 15 miles of track that once carried dolomite to the large magnesite plant, and eventually transported passengers for a short time, before dependence on trains waned.

Fortunately, one man dreamed of creating an excursion line to the Jersey shore and he purchased the abandoned tracks. Now the Seashore Lines run from Richland to Tuckahoe, bringing tourists and locals alike to southern New Jersey.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The railroad runs diesel engines and has several refurbished passenger coaches on a standard gauge track. They maintain a steel water tank built in 1922 and a depot in Tuckahoe Village that was built in 1897.

Seating Options

There are no assigned seats on the Seashore Lines. Passengers can select their seats for both legs of the 30-mile round trip ride in enclosed coach cars.

Riding Options

The railroad runs regular excursion trains interspersed with freight trains. There are no one-way tickets, but the rail line offers special motor car trains in Cape May on designated weekends. Be sure to check their schedule for specific times and dates.

Specialty Trains

• Tuckahoe Transportation Heritage Festival – Enjoy an entire day dedicated to trains and their history, with excursion rides, motor car transportation, and historical equipment displays.
• Santa Express – Visit Santa and his elves on a magical train ride, where children can tell St. Nick their Christmas wishes and kids young and old can enjoy all of the holiday festivities.

Length of Season

The Cape May Seashore Lines run year-round, with excursion train departures on weekends and specialty trains scheduled on specific dates. Contact the railroad for more information.

Black River & Western Railroad

Constructed in 1854, the Pennsylvania Railroad was tasked with the job of hauling freight for local businesses. But with the advent of the automobile and trucks, rail lines began to disappear.

Fortunately, a group of friends purchased the tracks between Three Bridges and Lambertville in the 1960s, hoping to resuscitate the dying railroad and preserve its history for generations to come. Today, steam locomotives pull excursion trains and freight trains through north-central New Jersey on the Black River & Western Railroad.

Railway and Locomotive Types

The Black River & Western pulls rolling stock with steam and diesel locomotives on standard gauge track. They also have converted a baggage car into a stationary railroad museum at the Ringoes Station.

Seating Options

There is open seating on all trains. Passengers can sit where they choose on the 1920s restored coaches. All tickets are round trip.

Riding Options

In addition to their specialty trains, Black River & Western Railroad offers two scheduled departures every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day:

• Summer Excursions – Their regular excursion train takes passengers from Flemington to Ringoes three times daily on Saturdays and Sundays, and from Ringoes to Flemington four times daily on the same days. Tickets are for round trip rides, so be sure you depart from the proper station!
• Bowne Station Local – A 60 minute round trip from Ringoes to Bowne Station and back gives passengers an opportunity to disembark and explore the historic site of Bowne Station.

Specialty Trains

• Farmstead Cookout – Take the train to Farmstead of Ringoes for a picnic lunch on the farm, complete with lawn games and relaxation. Then take the train back whenever you are ready!
• WoodsEdge Express – Ride the train, then a covered wagon to arrive at WoodsEdge Farm, where passengers will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with alpacas and yak.
• Comedy Night – Bring your own food and wine and hop the train to an outdoor stage performance area at Bowne Station, where comedians and entertainers provide the evening’s main show.
• Firefly Special – Catch an evening train to the Grove at Bowne Station for s’mores cupcakes and beverages, while looking for the natural “night lights” that the train is named for!
• North Pole Express – This is the only train that offers Coach and Private Class tickets. Both ticketing levels enjoy visits with Santa and his elves, face painting, and photo opportunities, along with cocoa and cookies. Private Class riders get to skip the boarding line and ride in a coach with their own private reserved table.

Length of Season

The railroad is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, with specialty trains running on specific dates through December. Check the train schedule for departure times and dates.

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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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