Girl Camper

On today's show I am sharing my process for planning the National Parks Tour I am heading out on this summer. If you have ever thought about taking time to visit our National Parks or have wanted to take a loooong road trip to places you've been dreaming of, this is the show for you. Where do you start? How far ahead do you have to plan? How do you figure out what route to take? Where is it safe to camp alone? How many hours a day should you plan on driving? I faced all these questions when planning the trip  and I am breaking down the process and giving you some ideas on planning your next great adventure. The starting point for my trip planning was choosing the destination. Yellowstone National Park was first pick. Once that was determined I figured out the miles,  2136 miles each way. That's 32 hours of driving if you are in a car. If you are towing a trailer you can easily add another 6 to that estimate. With that in mind I knew that we needed at least four weeks to make the trip and enjoy it. Each time we added a stop, we went to Google Maps to look at the route and determine how much time it would add to the trip and how much distance was between each of the stops. Once the distance and allotted time were nailed down we set about researching what route to take and what we wanted to see along the way. The research started with podcasts of course. RVFTA's podcast on Yellowstone last year was a great help. There's also a National Parks Podcast that helped me get the lay of the land in Yellowstone. This helped me to be realistic about how much time things would actually take once inside the park. Some books that were great planning tools included The Idiots Guide to RV Vacations by Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi and Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen. Favorite Apps include the National Parks App by Chimani. Within the National Parks app is the ability to download specific parks and gain all kinds of information on parking, hiking, camping, routes within the parks as well as Ranger Programs and the degree of difficulty a certain hike might be. You can also use it for trip planning and to have a map of the park downloaded which doesn't require Internet. This episode also covers reservation making tips and how we chose which campgrounds to stay at. I promised the recipe for the campfire cookies and here it is! My sweet friend Jodi made these for me and since she is not generally a baker I  knew it was a labor of love. She found the recipe at the Food Network website.  

On my show today we are continuing breaking down the obstacles to becoming a Girl Camper and I am sharing my tips on buying a used RV. Not everyone wants to get so deep in right away with a brand new camper and accompanying payment. If you are dipping your toes into the camping world for the first time a previously owned travel trailer may be just the right starting point. I will be talking about why a used trailer might be the best option, the options for where you can buy one and what to ask and look for once you have found it. I am also going to cover some scams to be aware of. It's all in today's podcast which if you are not a subscriber,  can be listened to by clicking the arrow at the bottom of the post.   Buying a used trailer allows those entering the RV world to get an idea of what kind of trailer they might like without spending a lot of money. It also allows a first time buyer to try out a model they think will work for them. If it turns out the floor plan or trailer weight or length isn't just right they can resell without a large loss.   Buying from a reputable dealer allows you to purchase a trailer that has been thoroughly inspected and has had any found problems repaired. It is also likely to come with a 30-90 day warranty that you would not get if you bought from a private seller. A dealer has a reputation to protect and wants to have you as a future customer. RV Trader, the online catalog for RV Sales offers a wide selection and includes dealership ads as well as privately placed ads. The RV Trader search engine makes it easy for you to search for specific models that interest you. Be willing to travel to another state if you have a budget and trailer in mind and are adamant about it. Social Media, Craigslist and local ads are another resource for used trailers. If you buy from a private citizen be sure to arrange for a trailer inspection. Todd Henson, director of sales and marketing at RV Inspection Connections was my guest on episode 45 of the podcast and discussed in detail what to expect when purchasing an RV inspection and how you can find an inspector near you. Todd's organization has a network of over 600 inspectors. On the show I go over a set of questions every buyer should ask a seller including why they are selling, what their maintenance schedule on the trailer was, if they own it and have clear title and if they have an outstanding loan on the trailer? These and other important questions every buyer should ask are covered in detail. Lastly I discuss tow vehicles and how to make sure that you are purchasing something you are comfortable towing and if you own a tow vehicle that is capable of towing what you are considering buying. Do your due diligence and make sure you research the product, your tow vehicle and come to your own conclusions about towing the new vehicle.

On this weeks show I welcome returning guest Mike Harlan. Mike is the manager of Airstream Trailers at North Trail RV Center in Fort Meyers, Florida. What most people don't know about Mike is that he was also instrumental in the founding of Road Adventures which is not just an RV rental company but a full service travel agency that is  making the classic American road trip vacation a possibility for anyone who doesn't own an RV. If you have long imagined a cross country trip to see the Grand Canyon or the geysers of Yellowstone and don't own an RV, Road Adventures will not only rent you the RV you are most comfortable with but they will also rent you the tow vehicle you need to pull it. Through their partnership with AAA they will book all of your sites and plan the vacation for you. Mike is here today to tell us all about this full service program at Haydocy Airstream in Columbus, Ohio. My latest blog for Go RVing is up on their site. I had a great time recently in the Shenandoah National Forest and my blog gives some tips for what to do, where to stay and how to best navigate this beautiful park. Whether you are day tripping it or getting in a few days of hiking, this park has plenty to offer visitors. I am already planning a return trip to complete my hike to Mary's Rock. I am gathering gear for my Yellowstone trip and I decided to replace my fly fishing rain coat with the Cabela's GoreTex jacket. I am so glad I did. Since it has not stopped raining in the northeast I am already getting plenty of use out of it and it has a lot of features I really like starting with the large zippered pockets that hold my uber large IPhone 6 Plus. When I am traveling for work and pleasure I take lots of pictures and don't always want to carry my large camera and associated gear. I also don't want to worry about my phone dropping out of my jacket pocket so I really appreciate the size of the pockets on this coat and the zippers which operate top down for ease of use. The Gore Tex itself is the best part though. My fly fishing rain coat is vinyl lined and quite hot. All rainy days are not cold days too so I often found myself dry on the outside but sweaty in the coat. Being dry and cool is what Gore Tex does that other gear does not. I am happy to be building a wardrobe of active wear that I will get great value out of.  The Cabela's jacket was $129 and I got thirty percent off for Mother's Day.

On this weeks show RV Family Travel Atlas Podcast host Jeremy Puglisi is giving us some help trying to choose the best gift for the father, husband or son in your life for Father's Day. He gives his top choices and personal experiences with the products he suggests. Check the RVFTA site for the products. My personal favorite was the Rigid 4.5 gallon Pro Pack Wet/Dry vac. The Eastwing 12" Sportsman Axe was another favorite pick. This one piece axe with leather handle will come in handy for splitting kindling for the fire. Tune in to the podcast for the rest of Jeremy's top picks.

On this weeks show I am chatting about camping in less than ideal conditions.  There was a time in my life in which a 50 percent chance of lousy weather would have me canceling reservations but now I am of a new mind and embracing whatever Mother Nature throws my way. We just spent a very rainy weekend in Lancaster, Pa and had the time of our lives. The elements didn't stop of us from enjoying the camp out. We just enjoyed other things than we normally do.   Some things to do on a raining weekend in the camper include: Cooking a great meal and inviting a fellow camper over. We have company at home, why not at the campground. Spend some one on one time with a treasured friend or someone you hardly know.   Clean and organize those trailer cabinets. It's amazing how quickly they fill up with stuff you are hardly using. Take the opportunity to take inventory and get rid of things you are not using! A rainy day in the camper is a great time to write an old fashioned letter to someone you love. Snail mail is a thing of the past and many members of the younger generation have no idea what the post meant to people in the "olden days".  Treat an old neighbor in a nursing home or a grandchild who doesn't even know what a letter is to an old fashioned "howdy" or post card from your travels. Take time to journal or scrap book about your travels. Having a concrete recollection of your trips brings back memories that might otherwise have been forgotten. It's easy to fall behind on this good intention when you're busy actually doing those things. Use a foul weather day to catch up on recording memories. There are more foul weather camping tips on the podcast as well as what you have to do to be in the running for the http://toastite.biz pie irons that we are making great use of this season. I grew up on grilled cheese around the fire  in these handy camping treat makers and I am now discovering that the possibilities for breakfast, lunch and dinner are endless in these easy to tote and use little camping must haves. To win a set of three different irons, head over to the Girl Camper Podcast page on Facebook and tag a friend who isn't a member. Leave a comment on the photo of the  Toas-Tite give away.  I will pick two winners next week for the whole set! n http://toastite.biz

On this weeks show my producer Stephanie Puglisi and I are talking about the obstacles that prevent that Girl Camper wannabes from making that leap into the Girl Camper world.  We took an online poll and the addressed the top reasons people give for delaying their fun. Some are ones we have talked about before and some are fresh topics. Fear of towing - some ideas on how to overcome one of the most commonly given reasons for not joining. No camper - no problem! Stephanie is sharing her recent experience as a tent camper. This ain't your fathers old wet, canvas tent! No one to camp with - have we got friends for you. We are dishing on girl camping groups and where you can find a tribe near you. Family obligations - everyone needs respite from their duties in life and we discuss ways that you might be able to carve out some time to restoke the fires.

On this weeks episode returning guest Ginny McKinney is sharing her favorite Colorado Campgrounds.  From north to south Ginny suggests great camping spots and what to do when you get there. Her suggestions include Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes, Colorado;  Glenwood Canyon Resort and Pagosa Springs  Riverside Campground. Tune in to the podcast to hear the details on these beautiful campsites and what you can do in the nearby towns when camping there.  

Friend of the show and industry expert Mark Polk is on the show  today to help us understand weight distribution hitches. Mark is the man before the camera in the informative videos produced by RV Education 101 which is owned and operated by Mark and his wife Dawn. They also have a You Tube Channel where Mark gives hands on demonstrations for everything RV. Mark is also a blogger and frequent guest speaker at RV shows and industry events. I called upon Mark to help me determine if I needed a weight distribution hitch and to help me understand the criteria used to make that determination. Once we  determined that I could indeed benefit from one I needed to know if they came in different sizes, if I needed it professionally installed, how to choose the right one and if Mark preferred or recommended a specific brand. Mark answers all of these questions and more on today's show. Safety is always the first thing to pack when you Go RVing. If you don't feel comfortable towing your rig, chances are you won't continue and you will miss out on many adventures. There is a safe way to enjoy RVing and Mark Polk is here to put your mind at ease.   In other big news Go RVing has published the long awaited but worth waiting for, video on Girl Campers. It was so much fun filming  last summer and I hope that it lets Girl Camper wannabes know two things - Number one - the RV industry has you in their cross hairs. Manufacturers and dealers are no longer looking only at families with small children and retired to couples to make and sell RVs to. It's never been a better time to find support for this endeavor. When Go RVing approached me to make this video with them I felt such satisfaction in knowing that the Girl Campers are now an industry demographic, we have buying power and the smart folks are listening and building and stocking trailers that are designed for the way we travel. Number two - If you have been watching the Girl Campers and stalking them on social media, it's time to jump in and join us. You don't need a trailer to be a Girl Camper. You need a willing spirit. You are going to want a trailer to make your own but those camping in their kids tents that got left in the garage when they moved out and in their mom vans or renting campground cabins are having just as much fun as those that have mastered hitching, towing and setting up their own trailers. There is no wrong way to Camp Like A Girl and this is the year I want to entice everyone on the sidelines to get in the game. I hope this video inspires you. There are two more coming out in June! Click the link below to see the first of three!   https://away.gorving.com/girls-just-wanna-have-fun/      

I am happy to welcome my friend and colleague Rhonda Coleman to the show today. Rhonda is the editor of Outside Interests Magazine, a travel writer, an Airstream owner and unbeknownst to most people she is chronically "chasing totality".  If you, like me, have never heard of "chasing totality", it is the term used to describe those who travel to far ends of the earth to see total solar eclipses. Rhonda has witnessed  six total eclipses so far and is here today to tell us about this phenomenon and where the best path to view the August 21st total eclipse will be. You can read all about it at Rhonda's blog http://www.chasingtotality.com We had a great time in the Shenandoah Valley last weekend. We camped at the Luray KOA which is an immaculately maintained quiet adult campground situated on a very large lawn which gives such a feeling of openness. We splurged on the premium site which came with a heavy duty table set and two big red Adirondack chairs around the fire pit. The campground is only a few miles from the Thornton Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park. With the National Parks App I was able to choose the hike that I wanted. The app allows you to see all the hikes in the section of the park you are in and gives you details like the distance, elevation of the hike and difficulty level. I love this aspect of the app that allows you to decide how much effort you want to put into a hike. You can factor in the heat, time of day, level of energy you're willing to expand and choose a hike that suits you that day. Our goal was to hike to Mary's Rock but with all the information we had we knew we really didn't allow enough time to do that. We ended up hiking one mile in and out of that trail and will have to save the summit of Mary's Rock for another day. We also were able to tour the Caverns of Luray and that was worth the time and money. I have been in a lot of caverns on my trips and this one was particularly beautiful. It was a one mile figure eight fairly easy walk through the cavern. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly and made the information interesting. I forgot to bring a jacket and was afraid that the 57 degree cave would be uncomfortably cold for the one hour tour but the 87% humidity of the cave makes it feel more like 68 degrees and the steep up and down ramps were enough to keep me pleasantly comfortable.  

On this week's show guests Jeremy Puglisi and Rick Pettit, Mister Sisters of producer Stephanie Puglusi and host Janine Pettit,  share their list of gift ideas for Girl Campers. If you have no idea what to buy the camping woman in your life for Mother's Day Jeremy and Rick share their ideas. Jeremy and Rick each made a list of five things to consider for your favorite Girl Camper. Some are big but most are simple and affordable. I am back from my wonderful  weekend in Waxahachie, Texas where we camped like girls in Getzandaner Park. I had so much fun catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. I am so glad that the town of Waxahachie wants to grow this event and make it an annual affair!

On this week’s show Mike Harlan, Airstream Manager at North Trail RV of South Florida answers podcast listeners questions. Mike is an industry insider who has worked in sales, service and manufacturing. I asked podcast listeners for their questions and Mike was game to answer and very candid. This is part two of our two part interview.

On this week's show Mike Harlan, Airstream Manager at  North Trail RV of South Florida answers podcast listeners questions. Mike is an industry insider who has worked in sales, service and manufacturing. I asked podcast listeners for their questions and Mike was game to answer and very candid. He had so much to say that this is part one of the two part interview. Girl Campers sent in their questions ahead of time on the Girl Camper Podcast Facebook page. Most of the questions had to do with dealerships and service. Mike gave insiders insight into the how's and why's of dealership decision making. In the Campfire Chat I am talking about my fool proof fire starting method! Tinder, kindling and fuel wood make for a perfect fire but it's the stacking method that's key! Teepee versus log cabin? Tune in to hear which is superior!

On this week's show I am talking about long distance driving.  When you hit the road this summer whether it's a big trip of thousands of miles or across your state there are ways to make the drive more of a journey and less of a chore. Getting there can be half the fun if you follow a few simple principles for driving  while towing. Be rested when you leave. Sometimes we pack up and get the feeling that we have to get going because  we're "burning daylight". It's always a good idea to be rested and non stressed when you head out. The process of getting ready can take longer than we think and be stressful in itself. Try to adapt a "journey" not "destination" attitude about travel. Take a break every two hours. Even if you don't feel tired it's a good idea to get out and stretch your legs every two hours or so. I park as far from the rest area bathroom as possible and jog over to the building. It's good to get your blood flowing and take in some fresh air. If the driving conditions are stressful it's even more important to stop for the mental clarity as well as the physical boost. Take a cat nap in your trailer if necessary. Staying alert means staying safe. Eat light. Nothing brings on drowsiness like a pile of carbs from a rest stop fast food restaurant. You are barely burning calories behind the wheel and the food you take in should help you stay alert not make you tired. I keep a cool pack on the passenger seat with fresh fruit, nuts, string cheese and humus. I only drink water after my morning cup of coffee. My favorite thing is knowing that a great dinner awaits me at the campground. I like to have a marinating chicken breast or steak waiting to go on the grill when I have arrived and am set up and look forward to that on my drive. Slow and steady wins the race. It's always better when you can approach the drive to your ultimate destination as part of the vacation too.  If you are in a "just get there" mindset you will miss the beauty along the way. Study a map and see if you can plan a stop along the way. Be willing to get off the highway and drive a stretch on a county two lane. Be willing to stop in a town and find the local mom and pop diner, quirky gas station slash museum, or weird roadside attraction that you will be talking about ten years from now. Most of the cool things on vacations are unplanned. Be willing to be open to back road travel. Mark Polk's blog on trailer sway is worth the read. He always provides so much insight into the causes of RV issues. Please take the time to educate yourself on ways to minimize trailer sway and handle it when it does happen. There are lots more tips and travel help in this weeks podcast as well as all the news on the News Roundup and Campfire Chat! Hope you enjoy this weeks episode!! Happy trails!!    

On this weeks show my guest is Cindy Davidson.  Cindy is an outdoor woman who camps, hikes, kayaks and fishes. One of her favorite places to do all of those things is the Shenandoah National Forest in Western Virginia. Cindy has camped their campgrounds, hiked their trails and fished their waters and she is here today with her best advice on how to make the most of a trip to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and its remarkable Skyline Drive. There are many hiking trails and three campground at the park. You can also camp along the Appalachian Trail and in the wilderness with a park issued pass.

My guest today is Jennifer Megliore of Artware Designs in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Jennifer also owns a beautiful vintage Shasta that does triple duty in her life. She uses it to camp like a girl with the sisters on the fly, on tours for charity fundraisers and as a pop up shop at festivals and fairs to sell her happy camper line of goods from her brick and mortar store in Hilton Head.   Jennifer talks about her own experiences finding festivals and fairs to sell her goods and we talk about other ways to use a vintage trailer a a source of revenue. Jennifer is giving a $50 gift card to a lucky winner. To be in the running just sign up for newsletter at the top of this page. You can also get 10 % off your first order by using the code SAVE10. Last year the RV Family Travel Atlas Podcast Network set out to raise ten thousand dollars to supply a campground with a travel trailer to be used by retuning active duty service personnel asa respite spot. This week we reached our goal!!