Contents at a Glance Introduction...1 Part I: Getting Started...7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of RVing...9 Chapter 2: Choosing the Itinerary and Season for You...15 Chapter 3: Selecting Your RV...29 Chapter 4: Planning Your Budget...45 Chapter 5: Planning Ahead for Special Travel Needs...55 Part II: Ironing Out the Details...61 Chapter 6: Dealing with Your RV...63 Chapter 7: Packing It In...77 Chapter 8: Eating on the Road...83 Chapter 9: Sleeping on the Road...91 Chapter 10: Tying Up Loose Ends...101 Part III: Exploring the East...107 Chapter 11: The Coast of Maine: Lobster Land...109 Chapter 12: Western New York: Cooperstown to Niagara Falls...129 Chapter 13: Blue Ridge Mountains: Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway...149 Chapter 14: The Gulf Coast: Tallahassee to New Orleans...169 Chapter 15: The Natchez Trace: Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN...189 Part IV: Discovering Mid-America...209 Chapter 16: Texas Hill Country: Bluebonnets and Barbecue...211 Chapter 17: The Heart of Ohio: A Circle Around Circleville...231 Chapter 18: Northern Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Country...251 Chapter 19: The Ozarks and Branson: Hot Springs to Springfield...269 Part V: Seeing the West...287 Chapter 20: Montana and Wyoming: Tracking Buffalo Bill...289 Chapter 21: New Mexico: Billy the Kid Meets E.T....309 Chapter 22: The Oregon Coast: California to Washington...329 Chapter 23: California Central Coast: Malibu to Monterey...349 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Chapter 24: Route 66: OK to LA...369 Part VI: The Part of Tens...389 Chapter 25: Ten Great Snowbird Getaways...391 Chapter 26: The Ten Best Factory Tours...395 Chapter 27: The Ten Zaniest Museums...399 Appendix: Quick Concierge...405 Worksheets...411 Index...421
Maps at a Glance The Coast of Maine...110 Western New York...130 Blue Ridge Mountains...152 The Gulf Coast...172 The Natchez Trace...191 Texas Hill Country...213 The Heart of Ohio...232 Northern Minnesota...252 The Ozarks and Branson...270 Buffalo Bill Country...290 Yellowstone National Park...298 New Mexico...310 The Oregon Coast...331 California Central Coast...351 Route 66...370
Table of Contents Introduction...1 About This Book...1 Conventions Used in This Book...2 Foolish Assumptions...3 How This Book Is Organized...4 Part I: Getting Started...4 Part II: Ironing Out the Details...4 Part III: Exploring the East...4 Part IV: Discovering Mid-America...4 Part V: Seeing the West...5 Part VI: The Part of Tens...5 Appendix and worksheets...5 Icons Used in This Book...6 Where to Go from Here...6 Part I: Getting Started...7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of RVing...9 Being Your Own Boss...9 Discovering Something for Everyone...9 Remembering Our First RV Journey...11 Uncovering the Myths about RVing...13 Chapter 2: Choosing the Itinerary and Season for You...15 Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons...15 Scoping Out Your Perfect RV Vacation...16 The Coast of Maine: Lobster Land...16 Western New York: Cooperstown to Niagara Falls...17 Blue Ridge Mountains: Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway...18 The Gulf Coast: Tallahassee to New Orleans...18 The Natchez Trace: Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN...19 Texas Hill Country: Bluebonnets and Barbecue...20 The Heart of Ohio: A Circle Around Circleville...21 Northern Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Country...21 The Ozarks and Branson: Hot Springs to Springfield...22 Montana and Wyoming: Tracking Buffalo Bill...23 New Mexico: Billy the Kid Meets E.T....24 The Oregon Coast: California to Washington...24 California Central Coast: Malibu to Monterey...25 Route 66: OK to LA...26 Chapter 3: Selecting Your RV...29 Getting to Know the RV Types...29 Folding camping trailers...30 Truck campers...31
xiv RV Vacations For Dummies, 2nd Edition Travel trailers...33 Fifth-wheel travel trailers...35 Van campers (Type B)...36 Mini-motorhomes (Type C)...37 Motorhomes (Type A)...39 Selecting the RV for You...40 Matching an RV to your lifestyle...40 Asking yourself ten questions...41 Chapter 4: Planning Your Budget...45 Adding It Up: Your Vacation Budget...45 Transportation...45 RV and camping supplies...46 Campgrounds...46 Food...47 Attractions and activities...47 Shopping and entertainment...47 Testing the Waters: RV Rentals...47 When to rent...48 How to rent...48 How to get the best rate...50 Taking the Plunge: RV Purchases...50 Why go to an RV show?...51 How to deal with dealers...51 Where not to shop for an RV...52 How to finance your purchase...53 Chapter 5: Planning Ahead for Special Travel Needs...55 RVing with Kids...55 RVing with Pets...56 RVing for the Disabled...57 RVing for Seniors...58 Joining an RV club...59 Caravan tours and rallies...59 RV clubs...60 Part II: Ironing Out the Details...61 Chapter 6: Dealing with Your RV...63 Driving Your RV...63 Learning the basics...63 Going beyond the basics: Our tips...65 Controlling your speed...66 Saving Money on Fuel...66 Detecting Gas and Smoke...67 Equipping Your RV...68 Monitoring Electrical Hookups...70 Preparing for Winter Camping...70 Furnishing Your RV...71
Table of Contents xv Cleaning Your RV...72 Outside the vehicle...72 Inside the vehicle...73 Holding tanks...74 Storing Your RV...74 Chapter 7: Packing It In...77 Stepping on the Scales...77 Stocking the Optional Essentials...78 Stowing Your Gear...79 Outside the RV...80 Inside the RV...80 Selecting the Right Kind of Wardrobe...81 Chapter 8: Eating on the Road...83 Stocking Your Kitchen...83 Eating Takeout Food...84 Shopping for Food...85 Cooking across the U.S.A....85 Chapter 9: Sleeping on the Road...91 Understanding Our Campground Recommendations...91 Using Campground Directories...92 Comparing Private and Public Campgrounds...93 Choosing a Site...94 Parking Your Rig...96 Hooking Up...96 Sleeping by the Side of the Road: A Good Idea?...98 Saving Money on Campgrounds...99 Being Campground Hosts...100 Chapter 10: Tying Up Loose Ends...101 Mapping the Way...101 Staying Connected on the Road...102 Cable TV...103 Satellite TV...103 Cellular phones...103 Computer online services...104 Buying RV Insurance...105 Staying Safe and Secure on the Road...105 Carrying a Gun...106 Part III: Exploring the East...107 Chapter 11: The Coast of Maine: Lobster Land...109 Getting There...109 Planning Ahead...111 Stocking the Pantry...112 Driving the Coast of Maine...112 Must-see attractions...115 More cool things to see and do...118 Weekend wonder...121
xvi RV Vacations For Dummies, 2nd Edition Sleeping and Eating on the Road...121 Our favorite campgrounds...122 Runner-up campgrounds...123 Good eats...124 Fast Facts...128 Chapter 12: Western New York: Cooperstown to Niagara Falls...129 Getting There...129 Planning Ahead...131 Stocking the Pantry...132 Driving through Western New York...132 Must-see attractions...136 More cool things to see and do...140 Weekend wonders...142 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...142 Our favorite campgrounds...142 Runner-up campgrounds...144 Good eats...146 Fast Facts...148 Chapter 13: Blue Ridge Mountains: Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway...149 Getting There...150 Planning Ahead...150 Stocking the Pantry...151 Driving on Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway...154 Must-see attractions...157 More cool things to see and do...159 Weekend wonder...160 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...161 Our favorite campgrounds...161 Runner-up campgrounds...163 Good eats...166 Shopping along the Way...167 Fast Facts...168 Chapter 14: The Gulf Coast: Tallahassee to New Orleans...169 Getting There...170 Planning Ahead...170 Stocking the Pantry...171 Driving the Gulf Coast...171 Must-see attractions...177 More cool things to see and do...178 Weekend wonder...180 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...180 Our favorite campgrounds...180 Runner-up campgrounds...183 Good eats...184 Fast Facts...188
Table of Contents xvii Chapter 15: The Natchez Trace: Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN...189 Getting There...190 Planning Ahead...190 Stocking the Pantry...190 Driving the Natchez Trace...192 Must-see attractions...197 More cool things to see and do...199 Weekend wonder...201 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...201 Our favorite campgrounds...201 Runner-up campgrounds...203 Good eats...205 Shopping along the Way...207 Fast Facts...208 Part IV: Discovering Mid-America...209 Chapter 16: Texas Hill Country: Bluebonnets and Barbecue...211 Getting There...212 Planning Ahead...212 Stocking the Pantry...214 Driving the Texas Hill Country...214 Must-see attractions...217 More cool things to see and do...220 Weekend wonder...222 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...222 Our favorite campgrounds...223 Runner-up campgrounds...224 Good eats...225 Fast Facts...230 Chapter 17: The Heart of Ohio: A Circle Around Circleville...231 Getting There...231 Planning Ahead...233 Stocking the Pantry...234 Driving the Ohio Heartland...234 Must-see attractions...237 More cool things to see and do...242 Weekend wonders...244 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...244 Our favorite campgrounds...245 Runner-up campgrounds...246 Good eats...247 Shopping along the Way...249 Fast Facts...250
xviii RV Vacations For Dummies, 2nd Edition Chapter 18: Northern Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Country...251 Getting There...253 Planning Ahead...254 Stocking the Pantry...254 Driving the Paul Bunyan Trail...255 Must-see attractions...257 More cool things to see and do...260 Weekend wonder...261 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...261 Our favorite campgrounds...262 Runner-up campgrounds...263 Good eats...264 Shopping along the Way...266 Fast Facts...267 Chapter 19: The Ozarks and Branson: Hot Springs to Springfield...269 Getting There...269 Planning Ahead...271 Stocking the Pantry...272 Driving the Ozarks and Branson...272 Must-see attractions...275 More cool things to see and do...277 Weekend wonders...279 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...279 Our favorite campgrounds...280 Runner-up campgrounds...281 Good eats...283 Fast Facts...286 Part V: Seeing the West...287 Chapter 20: Montana and Wyoming: Tracking Buffalo Bill...289 Getting There...289 Planning Ahead...291 Stocking the Pantry...292 Driving Buffalo Bill s Montana and Wyoming...292 Must-see attractions...295 More cool things to see and do...300 Weekend wonder...302 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...302 Our favorite campgrounds...302 Runner-up campgrounds...305 Good eats...307 Fast Facts...308
Table of Contents xix Chapter 21: New Mexico: Billy the Kid Meets E.T....309 Getting There...309 Planning Ahead...311 Stocking the Pantry...311 Driving Southern New Mexico...312 Must-see attractions...316 More cool things to see and do...320 Weekend wonder...321 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...322 Our favorite campgrounds...322 Runner-up campgrounds...324 Good eats...324 Shopping along the Way...327 Fast Facts...328 Chapter 22: The Oregon Coast: California to Washington...329 Getting There...330 Planning Ahead...330 Stocking the Pantry...332 Driving the Oregon Coast...332 Must-see attractions...336 More cool things to see and do...339 Weekend wonder...341 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...341 Our favorite campgrounds...341 Runner-up campgrounds...344 Good eats...345 Shopping along the Way...348 Fast Facts...348 Chapter 23: California Central Coast: Malibu to Monterey...349 Getting There...349 Planning Ahead...350 Stocking the Pantry...350 Driving California s Central Coast...352 Must-see attractions...356 More cool things to see and do...360 Weekend wonder...362 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...362 Our favorite campgrounds...363 Runner-up campgrounds...365 Good eats...365 Fast Facts...368 Chapter 24: Route 66: OK to LA...369 Getting There...369 Planning Ahead...372
xx RV Vacations For Dummies, 2nd Edition Driving Route 66...372 Must-see attractions...377 More cool things to see and do...380 Sleeping and Eating on the Road...382 Our favorite campgrounds...382 Runner-up campgrounds...384 Good eats...385 Shopping along the Way...387 Fast Facts...388 Part VI: The Part of Tens...389 Chapter 25: Ten Great Snowbird Getaways...391 Chapter 26: The Ten Best Factory Tours...395 Chapter 27: The Ten Zaniest Museums...399 Appendix: Quick Concierge...405 Worksheets...411 Index...421