RV Vacations: Ten Tips

Perhaps you have wondered about taking an RV vacation. It seems like fun and you'd like to try it, but you aren't sure if it's for you. Well, it's a growing industry. Annual RV retail sales topped $14 billion in 2004. As baby boomers take to road, RVing pastime and lifestyle are becoming increasingly popular. If you have a hint of RV itch, then here are 10 common reasons for taking an RV vacation:

1. Getting Back to Nature: If you are interested in great outdoors, an RV is a great way to vacation. You can visit state or national parks, tour famous landmarks and simply enjoy some fresh air and natural settings. Take a hike or go fishing. Try white water rafting or canoeing. Play some golf, go swimming, ride your bike. Get some exercise or simply do nothing but enjoy your surroundings.

2. The Comforts of Home: In an RV, you can have best of both worlds. Enjoy great outdoors with more creature comforts than tent camping. Whether you own an RV or try a rental, most RVs are well equipped. You will likely have a kitchen with microwave, fridge and stove, a TV and VCR, beds, living and dining areas and bathroom with shower. Many RVs have slide out rooms that increase living area at touch of a button. You can sit outside under your awning, get out of rain if weather changes, and turn on air conditioner if it gets too hot.

3. Family Matters: Family members of all ages tend to connect with each other when they are away from their normal routine enjoying a simpler lifestyle. Remember that family togetherness can be a double-edged sword. While RV is comfortable, it is a small living area for a large family. If you are renting, bear this in mind in choosing size of your rental RV. During day, try to spend time outdoors or in different activities, so that each family member gets a bit of personal space and time for themselves. But minor logistics can be managed. The general consensus among RVing families is that an RV vacation tends to bring family closer together with more communication and sharing of good times.

4. Cool for Kids: An RV vacation can be a great way to travel with children. They can go out to play or take part in campground activities. There are likely to be other kids to meet and new places to explore. Children of all ages will enjoy an old-fashioned campfire complete with stories, songs and stargazing. And most kids think it's pretty cool to be in an RV "home on wheels".

5. Campgrounds: There are many choices in campgrounds and RV parks. In peak season and tourist areas, you should make reservations. Look for amenities that are important to you. Campgrounds may have swimming pools, lakes, boating, fishing ponds, miniature golf, playgrounds, hiking trails, game rooms, walking or bike paths, tennis courts and activities for kids and adults. You may find dances, barbeques, contests or other entertainment. RV Clubs are worth joining to get campground discounts and other services. Consider size and setting of campsites and check out overall campground ratings in campground directories. Also consider proximity to other attractions or landmarks that you want to visit.
   
   

A Trip To Iqaluit In Nunavut, A Canadian Arctic City

In 2004, I completed two Inuit art buying trips to Iqaluit (formerly Frobisher Bay), capital of Nunavut, Canada's newest territory. For both trips, I flew out of Ottawa on Canadian North airlines. The other airline that services Nunavut is First Air. Only last half of jets was allocated for passengers as entire first half was for cargo. Being so remote, Canadian Arctic Inuit communities pretty well have to have everything shipped up there by plane or by boat during summers since there are no roads connecting to rest of Canada or even between each Nunavut community. The Arctic landscape from air was desolate, hilly and barren. As plane got closer to Iqaluit, airport's small terminal building stood out with its bright yellow color. The airport itself is within walking distance to rest of town. There are taxis that charge a flat rate of $5 per trip anywhere in Iqaluit. Interestingly enough, these taxis also pick up and drop off other passengers along way so shared rides with others are common here. There are several hotels in Iqaluit and rooms are generally clean, comfortable but quite basic. Accommodations and dining up north in Nunavut are both expensive. All food items with exception of local Inuit fare must be flown up from Canadian south. A carton of milk will cost about $10 in Iqaluit. Most Inuit locals cannot afford to buy overpriced fruits, vegetables and meat from south. Many local families still rely on Inuit hunters who bring caribou, seal and whale to table.

There is only one high rise building in Iqaluit and it is used mainly for local Nunavut government offices. All other buildings are low rise, including hospital. The vast majority of residential housing is similar to cabins that are raised off ground because of harsh Canadian Arctic winters. Many look a bit run down with junk and disposed items piled outside. With fact that there are no lawns or trees possible this far north, neighborhoods are certainly not prettiest sights around. But one Inuit art carver told me that his government subsidized rent is only $36 per month. There are some small clusters of nice homes on outskirts of town. Some houses have husky dogs tied up outside and many have snowmobiles. In fact, roads, most of them unpaved, are shared by cars, trucks, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles and people. During summers, Iqaluit can get quite dusty with all vehicles turning up dirt on roads. As a result, Iqaluit did look a bit nicer during my first trip which was during winter when city was in white snow rather than brown dirt. There is new construction going on since with creation of Nunavut territory, Iqaluit is growing as more Inuit from other Arctic communities are migrating to city.