In this episode of Life on the Road, Crazy Family Adventure checks out Lake Tahoe, Russian River, and Fort Bragg. The family takes advantage of all the cool trails, adventure activities and watersports opportunities to be had while visiting these beautiful locations.
You can watch the rest of Crazy Family Adventure’s Life on the Road series by clicking here.
Many RVers dream of traveling to Alaska, considering it the ultimate destination on their bucket lists. So we’ve created a series of articles to help you navigate the Last Frontier in a motorhome or travel trailer, in hopes that you can enjoy exploring the 49th state, as well!
The tallest mountain in North America is the flagship of Denali National Park. At 20,310 feet, Denali (“the high one” in Athabaskan) dominates the landscape, as surrounding mountains are no taller than 11,000 to 14,000 feet. The 6 million acres surrounding the peak was designated a national park in 1917 to protect the area from the reckless abandon of gold rush miners and big game hunters in the early 1900s.
Getting to this most unique park is easy. You can actually see the peak from Anchorage, but take the Glenn Highway (Alaska #1) north and east from the city 30 miles to the Parks Highway (Alaska #3). Then follow it about 200 miles north to the park entrance. Or, if you’d like to enjoy all of the scenery along the way, take a trip on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage. The video below will give you a good idea of what you can see from the rail car.
Today the national park has one road venturing 90 miles into the wilderness, which is closed to private vehicles at mile marker 15. So you can park your RV and let someone else do the driving! Visitors ride park shuttles to experience the prolific wildlife and spectacular beauty of the region. There are 37 species of mammals in the park, but most visitors are anxious to see the five big ones: grizzly bears, Dall sheep, moose, caribou, and wolves (they call this the “Denali Slam”).
As with most destinations in Alaska, there are any number of outdoor activities within the park. Bus tours (both transit and narrated) are a great way to see the park and its ‘residents.’ Many visitors opt for an overview of the area as flightseers. A large number of commercial flight operators abound around Denali and in the small town of Talkeetna, so you should have no problems booking a reservation to see the park from the air.
Backcountry camping permits are free and required for backpacking. There are six campgrounds in the park, but only two are available to RVs. If those fill up remember that Alaska is full of national forest land, where dispersed camping is allowed.
In summer many park visitors enjoy whitewater rafting on the Denali River to Healy. Fishing is practically an Olympic sport in this state, with salmon, halibut and trout as the main draws. Obviously, if you are an experienced mountain climber, Denali will offer a robust challenge!
But for those of us who are a little less driven, the months of June, July and August also provide the perfect weather for day hiking in this immense wilderness, and Autumn is not to be missed, as the golden hues of quaking aspen sparkle on the backdrop of spruce and pine trees.
Denali National Park and Preserve is open year round, and those who partake of its pleasures in winter find the perfect setting for dog sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In fact, the winter visitors center offers free snowshoe rentals for those wanting to get into the backcountry. Winter biking has also become a popular pastime, and even though most of the park is closed to snow machines, there are some exceptions for their use when snow cover is good.
One of the most amazing benefits of visiting during fall or winter is the opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis while in the park. Because full darkness doesn’t return to this part of the world until September, this phenomenon isn’t easy to see at night during the summer tourist season. If you can possibly schedule a fall or winter trip to Denali, you might be overwhelmed with a visit from the Northern Lights while there! For me, that was the icing on my “Visit Alaska” cake!
It is easy in either season to spend several days in this remote wilderness, exploring the varying landscapes and watching such an amazing array of wildlife at your doorstep. At some point, you may feel as if you are the animal on display in a zoo, with grizzlies, moose, and caribou ogling your every move. You definitely won’t find an experience of this magnitude in the lower 48.
With any visit to Denali, we must remember the star of the show. Many times the biggest hurdle in actually viewing the mountain is the weather. The peak is so large that it creates its own weather system. So plan to stick around for several days, just in case the clouds envelope this stunning mountaintop for part of your visit. Like any great stage performer, Denali sometimes enjoys making a dramatic appearance!
Visiting Denali National Park is like adding a crown jewel to your itinerary. Be sure to pencil it in on your trip list, then check out several other destinations to the Last Frontier as we post them here on the Camping World blog in the coming weeks!
Author’s Note: If you will be driving through Alaska and/or Canada please consider purchasing a current copy of “The Milepost.” It is a travel guide that will list necessities (like gas stations) and amenities (like lodging) throughout Alaska and the western Canadian provinces by milepost marker. This is a prerequisite for traveling in the area, as distances between service stations and grocery stores can be hundreds of miles in many cases. Another piece of knowledge gleaned from “The Milepost” are the hours (and seasons) of operation of businesses along the route, as many close down during fall and winter.
What are your thoughts of Denali National Park? Have you ever been? Leave a comment below!
Walking into an RV dealership can be intimidating. There are literally hundreds of makes and models. Every detail seems to matter: kitchen layout, bathroom details, front living vs. rear living, and then there’s the age-old debate of new vs. used.
If you’re leaning towards buying a pre-owned RV, you’re in good company. So did I. Here are some major reasons my family decided to buy a pre-owned RV. And some tips on how to get the most bang for your buck.
This is the most obvious reason to buy used.
A lot of people save up the money to buy a used RV outright and never have a payment. Others just don’t like the idea of financing such a large amount of money and opt for something slightly older to make their payment low. I fall into the latter category.
With my family’s first RV purchase, we were completely new to RVing. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money only to find out we didn’t like it. We decided to buy used because if we changed our mind about the rig, we would not be in a large amount of debt.
We also decided to buy something with a price tag so low we could pay the RV off within a few years on a mildly-aggressive plan. The idea of paying the debt off quickly was appealing to us.
Of course, there are other things to consider when thinking about an RV purchase and saving money.
RVs depreciate. Just like cars, it’s an unavoidable fact. Buying a used RV helps combat this issue. Our first RV was 10 years old and we got it for $15,000. When we sold it the next year, it was worth the exact same amount and we were able to trade it in for more than we owed.
If you’ve spent any time on Instagram looking at other people’s RV adventures, you know that renovating campers is a very popular and fun activity among the RVing community.
While a used rig may not initially look attractive, there are lots of ways to transform the space into a true “home away from home.”
Here are some reasons for transforming your camper is a great advantage to buying used:
The kids will love to help pick out paint colors, put together the new floor, and transform the closet into a bunkhouse.
Imagine how much more fun you’ll have at the campground with your spouse, partner, or family knowing you worked on your RV together.
No camper is ever perfect. There’s always one little thing you’d tweak, one color you’d switch out. This is a process that usually happens over time, and it’s one of the best things about owning a used RV, because you don’t have to worry too much about how making changes will impact the price. If you choose to buy used and renovate, you can build it exactly how you want.
You can completely gut it and make a new floor plan like my friend did with her Airstream Arogsy. You can also take a simpler approach by just adding some color with pillows, a rug, and new curtains. It’s all up to you.
When we bought our 5th wheel, we changed up the entire galley. We replaced the carpet with a dark brown laminate, painted the walls and cabinets, and even built a loft for our daughter. We loved our little space.
It’s not a secret that RVs are mass produced. If you want something that is “just you,” buying pre-owned and renovating is definitely the way to go.
When you renovate, you’re making something truly unique to your personality or family’s style. And it’s always fun to show off your hard work at the campground and online.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to renovate your used RV, get my free book 101 RV Renovation Ideas to Go From Camper to Glamper.
If you’re considering buying a pre-owned RV, chances are keeping costs low is a priority. Lucky for you, getting insurance on an older RV can be a significant way to save on your monthly RV costs.
Typically, a Class A motorhome is the most expensive RV to insure. Afterall, it’s usually rather large and has a powerful engine in it. You can expect to pay around $1000-1500/year depending on the year and features. Travel trailers and 5th wheel incur the lowest RV insurance costs, which can go as low as only $500/year.
Personally, we have a full-timers package for our 2007 Class C. This is a very comprehensive plan that covers the RV and the tow vehicle (when towed) 365 days a year. We pay only $800/year.
The truth is the best RVs are the most expensive, but that doesn’t mean you should go in search of the highest price tag. There is a way to get quality and a deal when you buy an RV.
I honestly believe buying an older luxury RV is the best deal you could ever get.
I know a lot of RVers that have bought a 10 to 20-year-old very high-end RV and could not be happier. The rig is still in great shape as well as their bank balance. These older luxury models are often roomy, too. This means you aren’t sacrificing space to save a few bucks either.
Some examples of luxury manufacturers that are built to last
If you’re thinking of buying a used RV, I hope this article helped you in your decision. See you on the road.
What kind of used RV are you thinking of buying? Leave a comment below.
Kyle and Olivia live full-time in a 16′ vintage travel trailer. They left their jobs and sold everything to pursue life on the road.
Their mission is to live minimally and deliberately, by removing the clutter and fostering relations with the community and the natural world. Their current project is a renovation of a vintage Airstream Argosy.
Follow their journey at drivinvibin.com.
Some topics we covered:
RVing can be so much more than taking a fun family road trip or camping off the grid under the stars. It’s more than just adventure and freedom on the open road. An RV can be the vehicle to living your life to the fullest and experiencing things you’ve always wanted to experience.
We all have a bucket list. Places we want to go, things we want to see, and activities we want to try. RVing can get you there fast, keep you comfortable, allow you to bring the whole family, and put you right in the action of completing your dreams. Here are five incredible bucket list experiences that RVing can offer you.
Whether you dream of living at the base of a mountain, steps from the ocean, or in New York City, it’s possible with an RV. There are campgrounds and parks all across America. In the middle of nowhere, in the heart of the city, or wherever it is you consider “paradise.”
You can stay as long as you please, or follow the good weather and change up your scenery. Imagine looking out your window and seeing the ocean wildlife, or being able to step outside and right in nature. The possibilities are endless if you have an RV as your home on wheels.
RVing around the U.S. is what many people would consider an “American dream,” and that dream has no borders. Well, technically it has two, but don’t be afraid to cross them! Canada opens up a whole new world of adventure. During the summer months, RV’s fill the roads and beautiful national parks. But we all know, even the birds, to head south during the winter.
The Baja California Peninsula in Northwestern Mexico has recently become a very popular RVing destination for Americans looking to expand their horizons. With affordable beachfront campsites on pristine beaches, it’s obvious why.
From Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas, you can even walk across the Rio Grande River and spend an afternoon in Boquillas, Mexico. So, grab your passport and get outside your comfort zone to new territory and new experiences.
Every bucket list consists of being right in the action of a big, well-known event. For some, it’s seeing their favorite artist perform at an iconic auditorium. For others, it’s an annual festival that represents American culture and tradition. For sports fanatics, it’s about being in stands cheering on their favorite team or athlete. There’s an event for everyone and an RV to get you there.
In fact, many event centers and festival grounds allow for RV parking so you’ll be staying right on site. Otherwise, you’re sure to find a camp site close enough to put you a short drive from the event. The Super Bowl? Macy’s Day Parade? Albuquerque Balloon Festival? Coachella? MLB Spring Training? It’s your dream. Get an RV and get after it.
RV camping can put you smack dab in the middle of nature. You can be near geysers, towering redwood trees, sandstone canyons, underground caves—the list goes on. With nature, also comes wildlife and science. While RVing, it’s always a possibility to have bears as neighbors or wake up to coyotes or even watch a bald eagle in its nest nearby.
It’s truly an unforgettable moment to encounter wildlife right in its habitat. Not only do you get to experience the benefits of being in nature, but you can also take your RV to the path of solar events and areas with optimal gazing conditions.
So, if catching a solar eclipse, meteor shower, or attending a star party, is a dream of yours, campgrounds away from all the city lights are prime locations. For best results, watch from the comfort of your RV’s roof.
There’s nothing more exciting than the thrill of trying something new for the first time. Whether it’s a “one and done” activity or a new hobby, RVing can take you right where you need to go to achieve it.
Certain activities are so location specific that you’ll never get to try them unless you travel to them. So if you’ve always wanted to try surfing, snowboarding, skydiving, snorkeling, and everything in between, here’s your chance.
You can park steps from the activity making it as convenient as possible. Hot air balloon ride? Check. Grape stomping at a vineyard? Check. You name it, you can find it and an RV will get you there. I hope you feel inspired to get out there and start checking off items on your bucket list.
Don’t put off what you can do today! What bucket list experiences have you checked off while RVing? Share them in the comments below!
Camping can be an exhilarating experience, but planning for a camping trip can feel like a chore. The goal of enjoying the outdoors, being part of nature, and returning to our campsite seems a long way off when packing, especially when worrying about what to eat and how to cook while you’re out in the wild.
Anyone who has been camping knows that the combination of fresh air and a self-made fire makes food uniquely delicious, but to achieve this you need to have some forethought and prepare accordingly.
No matter where you go camping or the number of people with you, there is some basic kitchen gear that everyone will need:
One of the necessities of camping is to create meals with a no-waste philosophy or at least as little waste as possible. Limitations on the food items you can take with you when camping encourages creativity in crafting tasty meals that use your items wisely. Here are some tips on how best to use what you have, without needless waste:
While planning your meals and bringing along all the proper items will set you up for success, there are still a few things to keep in mind. Here are some special tips:
Do you have any camping cooking tips you want to share? Leave a comment below.
