Destinations & Sightseeing – Part 1 – Bernice’s Tips

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Genealogy, rock hounding, race cars, nature, sightseeing—every RVer has a passion for something that takes him or her on the road. The destinations are many. Here are some terrific suggestions that will make pursuing your passions more pleasurable.

• Motorhoming genealogists know that their mobility affords them unique opportunities for family tree research. They can plan trips to research areas, taking photos of ancestral homesteads and church sites and cemetery tombstones, and gather “obits” and other pieces of family history from the pages of local newspapers. Contact local genealogical societies in your area and let them know your routes and destinations. You may find members, unable to travel themselves, who will pay you to act as a researcher/photographer for their family tree needs. Plan your trips so you arrive on a day when civic offices are open—not weekends. – Bruce Allsen, Moreno Valley, CA
• Before photographing an old gravestone, wet it with water so the lettering will show up better.
• When planning a trip, leave some free time to see whatever museums or other places that interest you as you go along.
• Be alert for unusual wildlife, flowers, and scenic beauty. Enjoy nature—touch it, feel it, smell it, listen to it, and look at it.
• To see the Grand Tetons at their best on the eastern side, approach them from the north.
• The most dramatic way to see Sedona and the red rocks is to approach from the north. (From Flagstaff, take Exit 337 off I-17, turn left at the stop sign, and follow the signs to Route 89A. Turn left again to Sedona on 89A South. Travel 23 miles to Sedona on a two-lane, paved road through a forest of mostly pine trees. Descend a winding road along mountain rocky walls.)

Next week in part 2 of Destinations and Sightseeing, I’ll pass along a couple of tips related to maps, coping with altitude sickness, plus more.

Bernice Beard

Getting Along - Part 3 - Tips from Bernice

Today I am completing my top tips for making RV travel more enjoyable when traveling in groups. My hope is that by following the tips listed here, as well as those in Part 1 and 2, you’ll be able to confidently RV for extended trips with your loved ones.

• It seems obvious, but tell your traveling companions about your telephone conversations that involve them. For example, when you call a friend that you all will visit, tell your traveling companions and give them any details they need to know. This way, everyone will be on the same wavelength.
• Try to stick to your budget, but don’t get upset if your companion spends money on something you think is frivolous—the item could have a lot of meaning to the spender, now or later, or it could just be a “mad money” expenditure. You are already saving money by RV travel, so relax about what is spent on the trip.
• Go where you and your companions want to go. The trip is an adventure, so if you think rock hunting is boring, but someone else wants to do it, try it.
• Offer options instead of making demands. Instead of saying to your travel partner, “We have to go to the grocery store after breakfast,” say something such as, “Can we discuss when we can go to the grocery store next?” That way, you both have a voice in the decision.
• I discovered that friendships flourished on the road when we (1) talked freely with one another about plans, routes and wishes; (2) were ready to depart on time; (3) looked on the positive side of what could be taken as negative words or incidents; (4) thanked one another for courtesies or work; (5) were willing to sightsee or follow a route that others chose; (6) helped to research places to see and things to do; (7) shared expenses willingly; (8) laughed or saw the funny side of words or happenings; (9) were willing to jump in and help with knowledge or labor as needed; and (10) accepted the other persons as they were, not as we thought they should be. The idea is for all to share in the jobs and joys of the trip together.
• Remember that in the RV lifestyle, domestic duties know no gender. Everybody pitches in wherever necessary.

It’s the differences between all of us that make life interesting. Hopefully, if you follow these tips, you’ll be able to celebrate the diversity that exists between you and your traveling companions and thereby create a more joyous journey!

Happy travels!

Getting Along in RV Travels -Part 1- Tips from Bernice

No two people look alike, think alike, or travel alike-at least most of the time. It’s a wonder that we get along at all! Yet when traveling in an RV, we must try to maintain smooth relationships with all of our fellow travelers because we’re “stuck” together for the duration of the trip. The tips in this article will hopefully help you to avoid turning little annoyances into big problems.

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