Jami Heiskanen

RV travel differs from standard vacations in one very basic way: you never get to stay at a posh hotel where staff is always available to wait on you "hand and foot." No ... RV travel is different. When you "hit the road" in your rented or owned RV, you are responsible for meeting all your needs for the entire time you are away from home. That means you need to stock your RV with food .

It has often been the dream of people who buy or rent a RV to "get behind the wheel and go." The question is: will it get too chaotic ... too costly ... too difficult to enjoy the trip if you never know where you are going ... until you get there? The answer is yes because traveling randomly without a specific destination often takes you on a "road to nowhere.

Frequently, people planning RV trips or vacations, look for the names of RV Parks in the areas they'll be visiting ... and book stays there without any real knowledge of the Park itself. And that's a potentially huge mistake. Why ... all RV Parks are not alike. Some are well-run, meticulously-maintained ... and very affordable. Others turn out to be big disappointments to RV travelers .

American companies generally provide their employees with one or two weeks vacation annually ... rarely does time off go beyond that limit. So, it's no surprise that the average American citizen believes that the very best trips or vacations are those that last no longer than one-to-two weeks. Call it a pre-conditioned response ... but that is what most people believe.

The United States, from sea to shining sea, from its northern border with Canada to its southern border with Mexico, is truly a "vacation paradise" ... especially for folks, like you, that want to travel by RV. Trips or vacations in RVs or campers are special because they put you in touch - in direct contact, really - with the people and sights that make this beautiful country great.

America is a land that was built for travel ... big ... open ... scenic ... beautiful ... truly special - with lots to see and do. Its people are warm and friendly and, almost without exception, welcome travelers with open arms. So it should come as no surprise that there are seemingly countless Americans who choose to spend their vacations each year traveling America's highways.

There is nothing that compares to "hitting the open road" in an RV (Recreational Vehicle) with your spouse and kids in tow or, if you're already retired, with your spouse and, perhaps, your loyal and loving pets. It's a big, big part of "the American Experience." Millions of people love to travel in the RV they own or have rented ... and see America.

If you're planning a RV trip this summer, you're no different than countless other Americans. RV travel is immensely popular in America ... for lots of good reasons. When you travel in a RV that you own or that you're renting, you are literally enjoying life in your very own "hotel on wheels." It's no surprise to you, of course, but most RVs are comfortable and include a working kitchen, a relaxing bed, a small living room area with a TV and, of course, bathroom facilities.

Whether you are an experienced RV traveler or you are planning your first trip, there are things you need to do before you "hit the road." These are many of the same things you would do if you were planning to travel to a beach resort hotel and stay there ... although there are some differences. The fact is that if you've ever spent time away from home on a vacation - no matter where that vacation took place - you already KNOW much of what needs to be done to assure that your vacation proceeds seamlessly without problems or unnecessary or unwanted distractions and hassles.

America is a land of plenty ... a huge country where there are always plenty of things to see and do - lots of great "events." That's especially true in summer when people come out of their homes to enjoy the wonderful outdoors and celebrate the terrific weather with festivals ... parades ... and so much more. As a RV owner or renter - and a committed RV traveler - you may already know of lots of "events" you want to attend on your next summertime RV Trip or Vacation.