Snowbirds & RV Travelers

The northwestern Alabama cities of Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Florence are called The Shoals. These cities in ‘The Heart of Dixie’ celebrate art and history all year. Their largest claim to fame in the region is its musical heritage, but there is much more than the cool sounds of the past and present here.

New Smyrna Beach’s 17-miles of white sand beach draws surfers, visitors, and snowbirds like a magnet even though, according to almost all surveys, New Smyrna Beach is the most dangerous beach for shark attacks and surfing accidents. Does that mean you should avoid New Smyrna’s beaches? Let’s look at some facts. There are over 400,000 visitors to New Smyrna’s beaches annually. Plus, it’s one of Flo...

When U.S. Route 80 was established through Arizona more than a century ago, few may have realized that four historical communities would combine to provide exciting experiences in the heart of Arizona’s wild west. Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone and Douglas, in Cochise County remain popular attractions that bring in countless RVers every year. Campgrounds abound and each community welcomes travellers th...

An RV trip to Mexico takes some planning. Before your southern journey even begins, certain U.S.-Mexico border regulations must be understood, and it’s essential to follow all of the stipulations to obtain a required Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) for your RV and tow vehicle. Not having a valid permit can result in vehicle confiscation.

Historic sites and sounds still prevail in one of Canada’s most historic and well-known urban destinations. In September 1888, Lord Stanley, Governor General of Canada, officially opened Stanley Park in Vancouver. It’s the third-largest park in North America, spanning 405 ha (1,001 ac) and draws approximately eight million visitors annually. In 2014, Trip Advisor ranked it as the top park in the w...

Affectionately known as The Biggest Little City in the World, the downtown Reno Arch bears the moniker that first greeted visitors in 1926. It was erected to promote the upcoming Transcontinental Highways Exposition the following year and visitors today can walk under it on Lake Street near the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel & Spa and National Automobile Museum . Be sure your smart device is...

We expected a resort perched on a barren desert plain above the New River, but were pleasantly surprised to find an oasis just west of El Centro in Southern California. We’ll be honest and say that initially, the main attraction to this resort was the price (and availability). So many RV parks were full during the 2022–2023 season in the Palm Springs area that we wanted to secure our winter home i...

Disconnecting by getting out into nature has been a driving force behind RVing and camping since this pastime began. However, it has grown from a pastime into a lifestyle, and in today’s world, being completely disconnected seems to be hard for some and impossible for others. This podcast dissects a new entry from a reliable RV company that has a whole new strategy and technology for keeping RVers...

The mountains of Southwestern California become much more of a reality when visiting Mount San Jacinto State Park. They transform from being a distant scenic landscape to providing a unique and exciting RV experience. With its well-maintained campgrounds and several attractions, it provides a perfect side trip when visiting this region of the Golden State.

The Smart Guide to Buying Your First (or next) RV, or How to Make Your First Purchase of a Trailer or Motorhome an Enjoyable and Easy Experience Scheduled Browsing the models at an RV show or dealer can be a daunting experience. An initial question among many new RVers is ‘How do I choose my first model?’ The fear of making a poor decision can delay enjoying the RV lifestyle, but hastily making a...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made its way into the RV experience in a big way. In this podcast, we explore cutting-edge technology that was unheard of just 10 years ago. Technology that is affecting our RV booking and planning habits right now. In fact, it's likely you've already used AI, whether you knew it or not. This technology is a delight to some and distressing to others. There's a good...

Before graduating to a tent trailer or small travel trailer, many of us began RVing by camping out of a car, van, or 4x4. And each year, many of us develop two-foot-itus, a condition that makes us yearn for an RV that is just a little bit bigger. How big is too huge? That question requires an answer. Cost can be a barrier, but it isn't always one because RVs can frequently be affordably financed o...

A California Assemblyman is attempting to introduce legislation that will prevent Snowbirds from returning to their favourite RV Park for a full year. This will prevent RVers from booking the following season at their favourite time of year.

We’re Going Mobile in an RV Park. Some modes of “microbility” stand the test of time while others offer new, greener ways to get around larger campgrounds and to visit local attractions. Not all campgrounds are the same. Some only have a dozen or so sites with basic amenities while others like those in national parks and private RV resorts span many hectares with services, restaurants, and pavilio...

If you have fond childhood memories of reading Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer ; Hannibal, Missouri is the place to visit. The town, once the boyhood home of Mark Twain, is filled with attractions that tell his story. Since Hannibal may be a little off your normal path, we’ll give you a lot of reasons to make that detour. One reason is that there is a lot more to do here besides Mark Twain stories....

This preserved region in Utah amazes visitors every season with unique and amazing scenery. Located in the southwestern corner of Utah, you’ll find one of the most beautiful parks in the United States with a rather unusual name, Zion National Park. Isaac Behunin, an early Mormon settler, arrived in the area in the 1860s and is believed to have given the canyon its name. Standing on the rim he stat...

When a system or component fails before or during an RV trip, it’s essential to recognize the difference between doing just a quick fix on the spot and when to call a professional RV technician. Air conditioning, slides, refrigerators and plumbing are the most common systems that break down given their constant everyday use when travelling. Some can be a simple DIY projects - others not so much. L...

You can take an RV Trip of a Lifetime since Northern New Mexico is centre stage for one of the rarest total eclipses in our lifetime. On April 8, 2024, one of the longest total solar eclipses will pass over parts of North America with an expected totality of almost five minutes in Mexico, ranking it as the most rare and significant solar event of the 21st century.

LED lighting is the essential tech in new RV's. Your RV, new or old, can benefit from massive improvements with the addition of these driving, back-up, hitch and mood lighting. The result is a safer, stress-free RV experience. We interview Justin Perrette, Oracle Lighting's master installer and product instructor, who tells us how to choose, what is possible and where to go for expert advice on th...

To use a financial term, ROI or Return On Investment, we ask 'Are RV memberships worth it?' Do we get enough, or more than enough, back for the money we are paying. To find out, we interview Aaron White, Director of Membership for FMCA, about the benefits, discounts and social community that the Family Motor Coach Association provides, including what is available to Canadians vs U.S. members, and...

For many enthusiasts, a long journey in an RV is ‘the destination.’ So when you travel as far north as the Northwest Territories, ‘the destination’ practically never ends given the number of scenic highways and natural attractions to experience. When visiting the country’s largest territory, it’s best - and wise - to have a detailed travel plan and a good starting point is the Great Slave Route an...

We all have our basic maintenance checklists, but RV technicians see the sometimes catastrophic results of a number of overlooked items. In this podcast we interview Jessica Rider of pullthroughsites.com , a certified RVTI technician, as she describes smarter RVing checklist items that RVers should check before heading out each season, and before purchasing their next new-to-them RV. These extra c...

We are currently being inundated with new battery powered electric pick-up trucks promising us not only a greener life, but also incredible power, acceleration and handling. But which trucks are nothing but promises, and ultimately, which one is best for RVers? Get advice on how to How to Choose a BEV truck, hear our review of the top six choices, and our final analysis with a countdown to the Bes...

We all enjoy getting closer to nature, trading the urban hustle and bustle to hear birdsong carried by the breeze through the trees. However, in the back of our minds, there’s a nagging sensation tugging at our subconscious whenever we start the engine on our RV or tow vehicle and see the exhaust that soils the clean, crisp air. This may sound a little morose but in less than ten years (next year...

We interview Natalie Conway, Executive Director of the Ontario Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association. Every spring the RV season unofficially starts with a plethora of RV shows across the country. Her team organizes RV Shows in Toronto, Ottawa and the upcoming Kitchener RV Show March 17-19, 2023 for the ORVDA. We ask her some tough questions about whether RV Shows are worth attending, what to e...