RV Refrigerator: Shopping, Packing and Performance Tips

RV Travel with Pets

Family RV Travel: Crafty Nature Creations

Crafts really are a great way to encourage creativity, but you don’t need to buy packaged supplies to create fun projects. The following tried-and-true projects (I’ve done them with hundreds of kids at camps and recreation programs) require only household items or those found in nature. Enjoy!

Coffee-Ground Fossils

It’s fun for older kids to make these “fossils” and then bury them for younger campers to find. Simply mix together:

2 cups old coffee grounds

2 cups flour,

1 cup cold coffee

1 cup salt

Knead the dough until it’s smooth. On wax paper, shape it into pancakes, or, if you’re really creative, sculpt it into the shape of bones. Pat the dough flat, and press leaves or twigs into it to create an imprint. (My husband would press chicken bones into a few of the fossils for an even more realistic effect. After all, it’s always fun to dig up a prehistoric dinosaur bone!) Let your fossils dry in the sun for two days, or bake them on cookie sheet at 200 degrees for several hours until the dough is hard. Then it’s time for “fossil hide-and-seek” in a designated area of your campsite.

Leafy Forest Creatures

Take the kids on a short walk to collect fallen leaves. Afterward, give your children construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers, and encourage them to use their leaves as the basis for a “creature.” Could their leaf be the skirt of a fairy? Maybe their leaf resembles an umbrella. Use the scissors to cut the leaves into distinct shapes. Your kids will no doubt shout, “Hey! I never thought of cutting leaves!” Glue the leaves on the construction paper and use markers to add embellishments. Be sure to display these masterpieces from nature.

Nature Tree Weaving

Find a flexible branch (on the ground) about 2 ½ to 3 feet long. Bend the branch into a circle and tape its two ends together with masking or duct tape. Cut twine or dark, heavy-duty yarn into 13 pieces, each about twice the length of the diameter of your circle. (This is a great way to incorporate a little math.) Tie one end of each strand of twine/yarn to the top of circle, spacing each about 1 inch apart. To make weaving easier, tighten all the loose ends by gathering them into one “trunk” that is then tied off at the bottom of the circle. Begin weaving 1-inch-wide ribbons or strips of fabric crosswise through the strands. Poke the ends of the weaving material into the back of your work of art. You can even do smaller-scale versions of this project using reeds and thin twigs. Each weaving will be completely unique.

Courtesy of BestOfTheRoad.com

Streetsboro Trick Or Treat Trot

Make sure you guys check out the Streetsboro Trick or Treat Trot on Sunday! Whether you are participating or just watching, this is a very fun event for the family!

Click here to register and learn more!

Some Tips on Minimizing the Risk of Your Vehicle Being Broken Into or Stolen

Keep it inside a locked garage with an armed guard and Doberman on duty! Or, drive a car that nobody would want to steal.

Seriously, there are some common sense precautions you can use to minimize the risk of your vehicle being stolen or broken into:

• Never leave the keys in the ignition, and never leave the engine running while you run into a store or drop something off. You car might not be there when you come back, and you might even be issued a ticket for such stupidity!
• Always lock your car, even when running short errands to the grocery store or leaving your car in your own driveway. A car thief will walk right up to an unlocked car in broad daylight, hop in and be gone in 30 seconds. Locking the doors won't prevent him from breaking into or stealing your car, but it will slow him down and may discourage him enough to pick on someone else's car.
• Never leave valuables (purses, briefcases, radar detectors, money, portable electronic devices, leather coats, etc.) in plain view. They encourage thieves to break in and help themselves. Either take the valuables with you or lock them out-of-sight in the luggage compartment.
• Avoid parking where you have to leave your keys with a valet or parking attendant. It's a simple matter to make a duplicate key and steal your car later. Use self-park facilities where possible.
• Park in well-lighted areas, preferably where there are people and/or traffic nearby. This discourages casual thieves from breaking and entering.
• If you're installing an expensive stereo system in your vehicle, think hard about getting a "pull-out" unit that can be removed for safe-keeping if you have to park the vehicle outside. Or at least buy a radio that has a theft-deterrent code that makes it inoperable if somebody rips it out of your dash.

Courtesy of Yahoo! Autos

RV TRIP TIP: Rocket Science Ice Cream

5 Haunted Towns to Visit This Halloween

Bored with haunted houses? Hokie masks and gory gimmickry not doing it for you? Skip the overpriced, underwhelming fright factories this year and get a real scare in one of America’s most haunted cities. Let’s put it this way. Who would you rather spend Halloween with–a 19-year-old theater kid in a Freddy Krueger mask or the lingering soul of an unjustly executed 17th century witch? If you have a penchant for the paranormal, here are 5 American cities you should visit–if not this year–at some point before you officially join the ranks of the dead.

Savannah

Whether Savannah is actually America’s most haunted city or it just looks like the epitome of a ghost-infested Southern town, there is no denying the all-encompassing creepiness that permeates every brick road and Gothic mansion. Replete with canopies of drearily beautiful Spanish moss and antebellum architecture that managed to stand the travails of the Civil War, Savannah has done well in preserving its tumultuous history–and with it a substantial chunk of the spirit world. Haunted sites sprawl across the historic downtown area, and numerous ghost tours are available on a nightly basis. Be sure to check out both the very haunted Colonial Park Cemetery and the always gorgeous Bonaventure Cemetery. Grab a meal at the Pirate’s House–a restaurant with underground tunnels and a history of pirate patrons thought to be an inspirational source for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. In addition to the many historic homes and hotels scattered throughout downtown, Fort Pulaski stands not too far off and harbors its own collection of ghastly tales. And, of course, don’t forget to visit Chippewa Square for a chance to see the ghost of Forrest Gump.

New Orleans

Another Southern port town, New Orleans gives Savannah a run for its money as America’s most haunted city. Built on sacred Indian burial grounds (always a good start), the city’s history is fraught with tales of pirates, voodoo and murder. A couple infamous historical figures form the crux of the New Orleans paranormal scene. Marie Laveau, a 19th century Creole woman, is at the center of the city’s voodoo folklore. She amassed a sizable following during her time and earned the moniker “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.” Her life has become irrevocably intertwined with myth, and a good many people have claimed to have seen her ghost wandering the French Quarter. By far, the city’s most horrific tale is that of Louis and Delphine LaLaurie. The affluent socialites owned an elegant mansion in the French Quarter. Not long after Delphine allegedly instigated the death of a 12-year-old slave girl, a fire, likely set by slaves in a desperate plea for attention, erupted in the mansion’s kitchen. Firefighters arrived to quell the flames. They kicked down the door to the slave quarters and were met by a horrifying site. Several slaves were chained to the walls, dungeon-style. Local legend purports the slaves had been subjected to crude medical experimentation, but those claims are unverified. The LaLauries disappeared soon after the appalling discovery. You can still visit the mansion to this day.

Salem

Welcome to “Witch City,” USA. The infamous Salem witch trials of the late 17th century forever cast a macabre shade over the city. The mass hysteria began when 9-year-old Betty Parris and her 12-year-old cousin Abigail began to have fit characterized by screaming, throwing objects, crawling under furniture, uttering strange sounds and contorting their bodies into unnatural positions. When other girls in the town began exhibiting similar symptoms, accusations of witchcraft began to fly. Over 150 people were arrested, and 19 were publicly hanged. Today, Salem witchcraft practitioners guide visitors through the city’s many haunted locations, including Gallows Hill and the Joshua Ward House. Salem also hosts one of the nation’s best Halloween celebrations. A series of events called “The Festival of the Dead” takes place every October and includes everything from ghost hunting lessons to a psychic fair and witchcraft expo.

Athens

A small town in Ohio, Athens is home to Ohio State University–the world’s most haunted college campus. Athens is a patchwork collection of ghostly tales, spanning the gamut from headless train conductors to occult practices. The town’s paranormal history can be traced back to the Koons family in the mid 19th century. Their home, sitting atop Mt. Nebo, was built on ground the Shawnee considered too sacred for hunting or camping. The Koonses found their home a veritable spirit magnet. They began holding highly successful seances, during which attendees reported feeling cold hands and hearing disembodied voices. These “spirit parties” grew to such popularity that the Koonses built a separate cabin just for communion with the dead. Eventually, the locals got spooked and burned down the Koons homestead. If you make it out to Athens, be sure to spend some time at the Moonville Tunnel, the old Athens Lunatic Asylum and the town’s five cemeteries that were supposedly placed to form the shape of a pentagram. If you know anyone at Ohio State, see if they can get you into some of the haunted college buildings, especially Wilson Hall.

Gettysburg

Gettysburg, as the site of America’s bloodiest battle, has more than a few ghost stories to tell. In July of 1963, 50,000 American soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing. Ghost tours take visitors along battlefields, cemeteries and miscellaneous sites of carnage and woe. Make stop at the Farnsworth House, a bed and breakfast with over 100 bullet holes in the walls. Union soldiers used the attic to shoot Confederates over on Cemetery Hill, and guests experience apparitions and unexplained footsteps. The Jenny Wade house is also a popular haunted destination. Jenny Wade was a civilian killed by a stray bullet during the Battle of Gettysburg. Spectral residents include Jenny, children from an orphanage down the street and a cigar-smoking man. And of course, be sure to check out Devil’s Den. Supposedly haunted by both Indian warriors and Civil War soldiers, Devil’s Den was a rocky outcropping that provided excellent coverage for sharpshooters during the battle. Today, people experience apparitions  malfunctioning cameras, drum rolls and gun shots.

What To Do After A Car Accident

Whatever your reactions after a car accident, it’s vital to keep a clear head. These five steps could reduce the risk of further damage or injury, prevent hassles, and save you money later on. (You might want to keep this list in the glove compartment.)

1. If possible, move your car out of traffic and turn on its flashers. Put out warning triangles or flares if you have them. Then stand a safe distance away while you talk to other drivers or wait for help.

2. Double-check yourself and your passengers to make sure no one is hurt. Even a fender bender might have caused an injury that’s not noticeable right away. Summon medical help if there is any doubt.

3. Call the police, especially if there has been substantial damage or anyone is injured or acting confrontational. Ask for the investigating officer’s name and contact information, and for the accident report number so that you can follow up.

4. Obtain the name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, plate number, and insurance information of any other drivers involved in the accident, along with the names of anyone with injuries and any witnesses. But don’t argue over who is at fault or admit blame.

5. If possible, take photos of the scene (a cell-phone camera can come in handy) or draw a diagram showing the cars’ positions. Contact your insurer right away.

Courtesy of Consumer Reports

HOW TO: Super Clean Your Windshield

How To Winterize Your RV Seminar - October 27th

Did you miss out on our seminar this past Saturday on how to winterize your RV? No worries, we've got another coming up on the 27th! Follow the link below to sign up and don't miss out.

Click here to sign-up for the October 27th class today!

Relieve Pressure at the Pump: Money-Saving Tips for RVers

Don’t let steep fuel prices squelch your travel plans. With a little advance planning, you can travel smarter and still enjoy your RV travel to the fullest.

Despite high prices at the pump, RV travel is still one of the most cost-effective and enjoyable ways to travel. The biggest advantage? You can easily control your travel budget. Here are some simple ways to cut costs on travel:

• Join Good Sam Club and enjoy valuable member benefits and discounts.
• Spend less time driving and more time enjoying. According to the RVIA, 52% of RV owners plan on spending more time at campgrounds (or in one place) and 45% will reduce the distances they travel this season. Take advantage of destinations that offer plenty of activities your family enjoys.
• Keep your tires properly inflated.
• Use the air-conditioner sparingly. When the air-conditioner is running, it puts an extra load on the engine, increasing fuel consumption.
• Avoid long idles. If you plan on being stopped for more than one minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
• Keep the latest edition of the Trailer Life Directory in your rig so you can quickly locate campgrounds and attractions offering a discount to Good Sam members.
• Protect your RV and your family while on the road with Good Emergency Road Service

Courtesy of LovetheOutdoors.com

HOW TO: Hook Up an RV

Are you worried about a propane leak in your RV or trailer? Take advantage of this months offer and have us take a look for free!

Make sure you go and print your copy here!

10 Tips For New RV Owners

First time campers need help for their first outing, and with 10 tips for new RV owners many problems will be avoided. RV owners have an idea of what the first trip will be like, but it can take a few trips to learn what works best.

1. Plan the route. Look at the route to your destination and plan where you will need to make fuel stops or to eat. Getting an RV in and out of some gas stations can be challenging. Truck stop style fuel stations are the best to use since they have plenty of turn around space.
2. Start Packing a few days before the trip. Plates, utensils, towels and pans can all be packed well in advance of the departure date.
3. Check vehicle maintenance. Get the oil changed if it's time, check the tire pressure, check the windshield washer fluid.
4. An emergency road service membership is also something nice to have. Some of them also give discounts on camping reservations.
5. Check RV status. Check that the fridge, air conditioner, water heater etc. all work well before leaving.
6. Make sure you have sanitized the fresh water tank before filling for a trip. The tanks sit with appropriate amounts of bleach overnight.
7. Fresh water supply status. If you will use the onboard toilets or sinks during the trip make sure you have some fresh water in your fresh water tank.
8. Bring a portable dump tank cart. If you stay at a location that doesn't have full hookups you'll need a method for emptying the black and gray water tanks, otherwise you'll need to move the RV to the dump stations.
9. Bring a door mat to place outside, to keep sand and dirt out of the RV.
   
10. Get where you are going while it's still light out. Not much is more frustrating than setting up camp in the dark. It's harder to see backing up, looking for tools, etc.
11. Courtesy of MadeMan.com

Top 10 RV Tailgating Tips

Tailgating is a uniquely American tradition and experiencing it in a motorhome takes it to a whole new level.  You’ll have a roof over your head to endure any weather, your own bathroom to skip the porta potty lines and a full fridge to keep your drinks cold.  And forget about sitting in traffic right after the game.  Grill a few more dogs, watch the game highlights on your TV or play a game of cards.  Let everyone else sit in those long lines to get out of the stadium! 

If you’re planning on catching your favorite college or NFL team this season, here are ten tips to prepare for the perfect tailgate party in your RV. 

1. Pack items that everyone seems to forget.  These items include tons of paper towels (more than you think), garbage bags, sunscreen, Ziplocs bags and aluminum foil, Frisbees and footballs, toilet paper, extra ice, chairs, spare tupperware, antacid, and a first aid kit.  Be a hero by having jumper cables on hand if someone’s battery goes out.

2. Plan your menu.  If you are going with a big group, make it a potluck.  It’s fun to share and exchange dishes, plus it saves everyone a little money.  Prepare burger patties in advance.  If you’ll have dishes out in the hot sun during early autumn games, use heat-friendly ingredients. 

3. Start your RV refrigerator several hours before.  Turning on your fridge before the big game will make sure food stays fresh and cold.  Load with pre-cooled items so it doesn’t have to work too hard.

4. Prepare your water tanks.  Add enough water in the black tank of your RV to cover the bottom after dumping and flushing.  Make sure those that aren’t familiar with RV bathrooms know what can and cannot be put in the toilet.  No paper towels or baby wipes – and make sure you have septic-safe toilet paper on hand, as always.

5. Get there early to secure a spot.  Look for a prime spot near the end of a row to have space to open your awning and set up chairs.  If you own a new Class A motorhome, you’ll be in a luxurious home away from home; you may not even want to go into the stadium at all!  (Note: you should call in advance to confirm whether a special parking permit is needed for your RV.)  

6. Have lots of water. Drinking water will help you and your friends stay hydrated to last till the end of the fourth quarter.  

7. Know the limitations of your RV generator.  Be careful when running the microwave, blender and TV all at once.  You might trip a circuit breaker.  Know where the breaker panel is just in case to be prepared and not slow down your fun.  Check your generator a day or two before.

8. Meet your neighbors.  Tailgating environments are like a great American neighborhood, where you can walk through “backyards” of fellow fans without privacy fences.  Have extra food on hand, be a friendly neighbor, be respectful to opposing fans and have a good time.  You may meet some new friends or pick up some great RV tips.

9. Clean up after yourself.  Respect your team and respect the stadium grounds by keeping the place clean.  Have plenty of trash bags in your motorhome to minimize litter.

10. Don’t forget to have your RV serviced regularly.  If you are taking your RV out for the first game and it’s been a while, make sure everything is safe by going in to a RV service center. 

Courtesy of experiencelife.lamesarv.com