Start Your Spring Off Right with These Five Healthy Habits

At times it can be difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling. Here are five healthy habits to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle while enjoying your RV travels. 

1. Eat fresh foods as often as possible

One of the great advantages of traveling in an RV is that you have cooking facilities, and you probably have enough cooking utensils that you can prepare many different types of meals. As you travel try to prepare some meals using fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables. These food items are filling and an important nutritional element in any diet. While traveling in an RV you may limited storage space, but you do have food storage options. Try to use some of your food storage for fresh foods. In addition, you can also try to be adventurous by cooking foods and meals using local ingredients and types of cuisine. Not only will you have delicious, fresh meals, but you will have explored unique aspects of the culture in the region you are exploring.

2. Take driving breaks

When you are taking a long-distance trip, you may want to get to your destination as fast as possible. This may lead you to drive for many hours continuously. You will feel healthier and happier if you take advantage of your ability to stop wherever you want, and take a few breaks. Make sure you take time to get appropriate rest, everyone needs adequate sleep. You should also be sure to get out of the RV and walk around occasionally to stretch out your limbs. Just as you need to get up and walk around while on a long airplane trip, you need to do the same on a long RV trip.

3. Go for a hike or two

Everyone needs to get some exercise, fortunately you have the opportunity to travel to some extremely beautiful and fascinating destinations. You can combine your desire to explore your intended destination and also get some great exercise. Perhaps you can find some nice trail in a local park, or maybe you can explore a local botanical garden. You can also park farther away from your destination and walk more. You will find that you get the opportunity to explore the real beauty of your destination by hiking and walking. If you have a dog, you probably need to walk it, so try to explore some new pet-friendly walks. There are many ways to increase your exercise without feeling like you are actually exercising. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to develop the healthy habit of getting regular exercise.

4. Drink water

If you are traveling to a warm destination, especially desert destinations, make sure to stay hydrated. Water is scarce in the desert and the sun and heat contribute to easy dehydration. Make sure you always have an ample supply of drinking water, as well as precautions for water purification. Drinking plenty of water is also a good habit to practice even when you aren't in the sun, so make sure to keep drinking water even after you leave the warm environs you travel to.

5. Stay sun safe

Many places you may travel to in your RV are warm and sunny. While enjoying the beautiful weather in your vacation destination make sure to stay sun safe. This means using ample sunscreen, of at least 30 SPF. Sunscreen should be reapplied approximately every 2 hours depending on the strength of the sun. You can also wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, which provide great protection from the harmful rays of the sun. Other sun safe precautions include wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, use SPF lip balm, as well as a sun hat. Skin cancer is a terrible disease and practicing sun safe behaviors will help you enjoy the sun while reducing your risk for getting skin cancer.

Courtesy of Camping.com

Hiking Historic Trails

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a pioneer? To pack up all your belongings and struggle across demanding terrain, all in hopes of reaching better land and a better life at the end of the journey? You can get a glimpse of that challenging life when you step onto a historic trail, walking through the very land these brave settlers crossed so many years ago.

Our country is filled with historic trails, many of which have been well preserved and documented. Wherever you're headed this month, you're sure to travel near one of our great trails. Why not take a side trip and explore some of this land and its history? You might even decide to hike a stretch of the trail or to plan a longer trip that traces the entire route.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail This famous trail stretches all the way from Missouri to Astoria, Washington on the Pacific Ocean. The trail follows the route taken by the explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with their Corps of Discovery. Charged by the president to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean, this team opened the way for all the pioneers and settlers who followed. The trail stretches through eleven states, winding over mountains, along rivers, and through plains and high deserts. Along the way, you'll learn about Sacajawea, their Native American guide, and Seaman, the dog that accompanied them the entire way.

Iditarod National Historic Trail If your travels take you to Alaska this month, you won't want to miss a visit to the Iditarod Trail. This 2,400-mile system of winter trails is famous today because of the annual Iditarod dogsled race. But in days gone by, native hunters and traders followed this trail to get from one Native Alaskan village to the next. During the gold rush, prospectors and miners used this route as they hunted for treasured caches of gold.

Today, over 1,500 miles of the trail are open to the public. These are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the National Trails Act. About 150 miles are well maintained with public shelter cabins. The rest of the trail is managed by the state of Alaska. Whether you travel by dog sled, snow mobile, or take short jaunts on snow shoes, you can enjoy the thrill that comes from knowing you're trekking the same path that's been used for hundreds of years.

Pony Express National Historic Trail Just before the Civil War, the Pony Express was established to carry news about the impending war to California and the west. Young men traveled on fast horses from Missouri to the coast, speeding news across the country in the days before the telegraph. These riders traded horses frequently to keep their speeds up and often rode through hostile and challenging terrain. Amazingly, they crossed their route in only ten days!

Today, you can follow the Pony Express trail by car. The Auto Tour Route Interpretive Guides are currently being finalized for every state the trail passes through. These guides will give descriptions of places where you can see remnants of the trail and signs that help explain more about this fascinating journey and piece of American history.

Santa Fe National Historic Trail This historic pioneer trail carried settlers from Missouri (then known as the last settled state in the west) to New Mexico. The trail begins in Missouri and crosses Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma before it reaches its destination in New Mexico.

North Country National Historic Trail This brand-new trail system is still under construction in some areas, but it's well worth visiting now because of the stunning areas it connects. The trail is 4,200 miles long and stretches across the most beautiful sections of the northern states, from South Dakota, through northern Minnesota, into Wisconsin along Lake Superior, across Michigan's Upper Peninsula and down the length of Michigan, into Ohio, through northwestern Pennsylvania, and across New York State. This is a perfect trail for a month-long hike, or for day hikes to select spots along the way.

There are many more trails across the country that you can explore. The national trail system includes routes like the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, and the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. You can trace pioneer footsteps on the Oregon National Historic Trail, learn about historic battles on the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, or explore Native American heritage and a tragic piece of history on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Whatever route you choose, you're sure to be struck by the hardships our forebears faced as they hit the trail in search of a better life.

Courtesy of Camping.com

RV TRIP TIP: RVing On Water! (via ferry) in TX & LA

Great Camping Road Trips for Parents and Kids

With spring break coming up for children across the United States, now is the time to plan an ultimate spring trip for your family. Here are a few of the best places you can take your family this year and any year for that matter. 

Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery is an important site for learning about the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Children with their families can visit the Civil Rights Memorial Center to take a tour of the exhibits and learn about the hopes and dreams and the struggle for equality in our country. You can also take your kids on the Alabama Civil Rights Museum Trail if you would like to go on a road trip for your summer trip. This trail will take you to important sites in the Civil Rights Movement across Alabama.

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

If you are looking for a wonderful outdoor adventure, the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska is one ultimate trip. The Kenai Peninsula is one of Alaska's beautiful vacation destinations. While visiting this region of Alaska you can explore the Kenai Mountains in Kenai Fjords National Park, where your kids can see glaciers, fjords and especially the Harding Icefield. Fishing is another wonderful activity to enjoy at this destination, the Kenai River has an amazing salmon population. For a bit of relaxation after all of your outdoor adventure you can visit the Pratt Museum in Homer, which has stunning exhibits on native cultures and the early settlers.

Vancouver, British Columbia

For a more mild climate during the summer you can travel to the Northwest and spend some time exploring Vancouver in British Columbia. Vancouver is a big city, with lots of big city activities, but it also has plenty of outdoor activities as well, and you and your children have the chance to do some international travel over your summer trip. In 2010 Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics and during a visit you can explore some of the facilities built for the even. In addition, Vancouver is filled with shopping, dining and arts and cultural destinations. If you are looking for a little excitement while exploring the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is a fun option. Other destinations not to be missed include the Bloedel Floral Conservatory and  Queen Elizabeth Park, Stanley Park and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Remember not to forget your passport for this trip.

Channel Islands, California

The Channel Islands are an amazing archipelago off the coast of California. Here visitors can enjoy the Channel Islands National Park, or visit the most populated of the archipelago's islands, Catalina Island. During a visit to the Channel Islands you can enjoy a wide variety of land and water destinations. The Channel Islands National Park protects five of the islands. Within the protection of the park there is a wide variety of wildlife, as well as natural and cultural resources. You should keep an eye out for seals, sea lions, dolphins, and many more. Catalina Island is part of the Southern Channel Islands and while staying there you can enjoy all types of recreation, including biking, hiking, golfing, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and even a zip line tour. This trip is sure to start out exciting since the only way to access the islands is either by boat, or a helicopter flight from one of two coastal locations.

Overseas Highway, Florida

Road trips are another great option for a summer trip. The Overseas Highway that travels through the Florida Keys is a fantastic choice so you can enjoy the fun of a road trip and the warm summer activities of the Florida Keys. This highway stretches from the mainland south all the way to Key West. While driving you can watch for some of the unique wildlife and ecosystems of the Keys, including saltwater crocodiles and mangrove swamps. Families with experience snorkeling can spend time at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater preserve in the US. Other fun activities include fishing, chartering a boat, swimming and more. You will also get to cross the Seven-Mile Bridge, which crosses a channel that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

The Big Island, Hawaii

Hawaii's islands are filled with fun family destinations. You will get to explore some very unique destinations and enjoy plenty of fun in the sun. The Big Island is the largest of the islands and offers a wide range of activities, from the beaches to the snowy mountaintop. You will love spending time snorkeling, swimming, surfing and many more amazing activities. Each of the island's towns has delicious dining, shopping and have a fun atmosphere. The Big Island is also the only island to have an active volcano. You can travel upland on the island to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see the impact of the volcano. Sometimes you can walk out to see the flowing lava and other times you can take a helicopter tour. 

Pawleys Island, South Carolina

This barrier island is filled with beautiful white sand beaches, dunes and a wonderful relaxed summer atmosphere. Here you and your kids can relax from the long school year and spend some time with no deadlines and no planned activities. You can rent a little beach house for the family and enjoy the warm summer days and the beautiful beach. The kids will love playing in the beautiful white sand. You can also enjoy days of bike rides and walks on the beach. There are plenty of nearby destinations to explore as well, including Myrtle Beach, Huntington Beach State Park and more.

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a fantastic destination for families that enjoy music. This city played a pivotal role in the evolution of Blues music. You can explore Beale Street, which was the center of the Blues culture in the early year and is a great starting point for exploring the city. You certainly won't want to miss out on a trip to Graceland while exploring Memphis. The home of Elvis Presley is open to visitors for tours, where you can travel through the life and rise of Elvis. The home has an amazing collection of memorabilia. The tour extends beyond the mansion into the rest of the estate, including the trophy building. You can also tour the Elvis Presley Car Museum and more.

Rock City, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is a fun filled city for the family to enjoy. There are many fascinating museums to explore as well as attractions and festivals. The Tennessee Aquarium is a wonderful destination for the kids, and the Aquarium even offers a cruise onto the Tennessee River on which it is located. The International Towing and Recovery Museum is another fun attraction for the family to enjoy. Here you can see a variety of different tow trucks, as well as many toy tow trucks. After exploring the city you can travel to Lookout Mountain. Ruby Falls is an amazing underground waterfall, located over 1,000 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain. On top of the mountain you can ride an incline railway and travel to Rock City in Georgia. Rock City is an amazing rock garden, where you can walk along a trail featuring fascinating rock formations, a bridge, caves and a spectacular view where it is possible to see seven states.

San Antonio, Texas

You can travel to San Antonio for another great summer vacation. The home of the Alamo is filled with interesting attractions. If you want your children to visit some historic places there are lots of options in this city. You can eat at historic restaurants and stay at the historic Crockett Hotel, which was built on the site of the Alamo Battlefield in 1909. You can also visit the Alamo, which was the first Mission in San Antonio. San Antonio's River Walk is another wonderful way to enjoy the city. You can take a leisurely walk and enjoy the dining and shopping of the city. Or you could instead take a boat tour instead of walking on the River Walk.

Courtesy of Camping.com

Warm-up with a Visit to Spring Training

Between February and the first week of April, when the regular season officially kicks off, baseball fans cluster to Arizona and Florida for the fun of spring training. You can bask in the sun, soaking up rays and catching great baseball action while you watch your favorite players warm up for the year. And because many of the spring training stadiums are centrally located, it's easy to stay in one place and catch games with a number of different teams. If you've never been to spring training, this is the year!

Since the 1920s, Major League Baseball teams have been training at locations other than their home fields. This allows new players to learn the roster and get used to their positions, and it gives veterans a chance to warm up their skills. It's also a great chance for the fans to get closer to their favorite players. And because the teams all practice in two locations, they can play against each other and get a feel for truly competitive play during the pre-season.

Pitchers and catchers are the first to arrive at spring training since their positions require lengthy training. The position players arrive a week or two later. The teams can play against college and university teams, minor league baseball clubs, and other professional clubs. They also take part in split-squad games, when the team splits in two and plays against two different teams. 

You can visit spring training by heading to either the Cactus League in Arizona or the Grapefruit League in Florida. Every team has a 'home' stadium at spring training. In Florida, the stadiums are in Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, down the Space Coast, in Kissimee and Walt Disney World, and many points in between. If you camp in central Florida, you can visit a number of the stadiums during your stay. A few stadiums host two different teams, which gives you the chance of seeing twice as many games.

In Arizona the stadiums are in the Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, and Scottdale area. This quadrant of southwestern Arizona is filled with baseball action in February and March. Be sure to check out Peoria Stadium, where you can see both the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres, or the historic 1930s-era HoHoKam Park, home of the Chicago Cubs.

Courtesy of Camping.com