There's never been a better time to take up the RV life. Whether you're a weekend wanderer, a snowbird or a full-timer, there's an RV to suit any travel budget and any taste. With baby boomers starting to hit retirement age, more and more people are taking to the road with their motor home, RV or travel trailer. The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association recently reported that nearly 8 million American households have and RV, motor home or travel trailer and that there are as many as 30 million RV enthusiasts in the US.

Seeing the country in an RV offers many benefits to the traveler looking for an affordable and exciting way to spend quality family time. According to one study, a family of four can save up to 74% traveling by RV instead of more conventional ways. And with more than 16,000 public and privately-owned campgrounds in the US, there's a site to fulfill everyone's vacation fantasy, whether it's an oceanfront view, hiking trails, casino gambling or tennis.

RV travel is easy to learn, and once you've got the hang of it, there'll be no going back! Here are six helpful tips that will come in handy for both the beginning and seasoned RV enthusiast:

Map it Out

A large part of the RV appeal is the exhilarating freedom of the open road to go wherever you want, whenever you want. But it helps to have a solid travel plan in place. If you know where you're heading, you can determine the best route, which offers the most interesting places to see. Look in travel guides, contact tourism boards in states you'll be passing through, and search on the Internet. Make sure to have the correct road maps with you; a GPS system is a good idea as well, especially if you're new to this kind of travel. If you've carefully designed the route you'll be taking, it makes it easier to do spur-of-the moment things like checking out that oddball museum you just spotted on a roadside billboard!

Have A Checklist? Just Checking

During your pre-trip prep, in addition to working out what needs to be in the RV, put together a thorough checklist of things to do when setting up at a campground. There are the basics, like finding out where all the campground connections are, making sure your RV is level and properly hooking up your water, gas and electric systems - but don't forget comfort concerns, like making sure you've packed your favorite CDs and DVDs and those new lawn chairs. Equally important, you should have a second checklist of what has to be done when you break camp, both in terms of setting up your RV for departure (quick hint: when you think the job is done and everything is ready, check again).

Be Prepared - Have A 'Just-For-The-RV' First Aid Kit

Always make sure you have a fully stocked, up-to-date, just-for-the-RV First Aid kit, and keep it in an outside storage compartment. It should include basic medical supplies (bandages, ointment, OTC pain reliever, insect repellant, scissors, etc.) and items like a flashlight, paper and writing implements, and a disposable camera in case you have to take photos of an accident site. If you don't feel up to the task of putting one together yourself, an extensive range of ready-made First Aid kits are available for purchase. Also include an emergency supply of must-have medications and a list of important contact names (family members, doctors, insurance agents etc).

Camping with Kids

If you're traveling with children, make sure to set aside time during the day for outdoor activities, as even the roomiest RV can be confining for kids. And give each child his or her own space in the RV, no matter how small, for personal stuff and toys and games. RV traveling is a unique opportunity for your children to see new and different places and faces. There are often plenty of other kids at campgrounds - but be sure to walk around a new campground with your children when you first get settled there. They need to know which campsite you're in and how to find it from other places on the grounds. If you're also taking the family pet, check beforehand to see if they're allowed at the campground

A Little Help From Your Friends

When in doubt, ask your fellow RVer. However well-traveled you might be, odds are there's someone you'll meet along the way who has been somewhere you haven't, solved a problem you haven't yet encountered, or spotted an out-of-the-way delight you've never heard of. No matter how much research you've done, there's bound to be a campsite you haven't read about, a storage system that has escaped your notice - or a funny anecdote that you'll laugh about for years to come. The new folks you meet may or may not become close friends for life, but they're an important part of the journey.

By: John Noble
http://www.skyriverrv.com
John Noble is the Marketing Consultant for Sky River RV Inc - a California-based sales and service RV dealership featuring Itasca and Airstream RV, motor home and travel trailer units.

Featured by the camping directory in the lifestyle section at Resources For Attorneys, a legal resources and lifestyle directory.

Have you ever dreamt of going on a canoeing holiday? Does this exciting holiday alternative appeal to you? If so, canoeing can be a wonderful family vacation idea. It can be a real family-type adventure that is challenging yet not too difficult.

Besides being a distinctly fun activity, it is also a form of travel. With a canoe you have the means to safely access wilderness areas that otherwise might not be possible for a family. In more touristy places you have the means to slip off across the river or lake for more private family fun.

If you have your own canoe, this is an advantage as it can easily be carried on your car to where you will be using it. Or you can rent a canoe for long excursions or for as little as a few hours. This is a very flexible way to travel and explore. Canoeing as a family is a slow paced activity which provides the opportunity to really get close to nature. The kids are involved not just as spectators but as an active part of the effort. This can be an exceptionally rewarding and confidence building experience for them.

Paddling a canoe is fun but potentially boring for the kids but there are plenty of ways to keep there interest up. Paddling close to shore gives everyone a chance to watch for birds and animals so if you can find a beach or large rock to stop at and go for a swim, great. Children too young to paddle can have fun pretending to paddle with small toy paddles. If you have two canoes you can race them. Navigate around and between rocks to create a sense of excitement. Make up stories about what's in the trees on the shore or what's around the next bend.

A great idea is to bring a camera along to photograph wildlife. Keep in mind that you should always keep a respectful distance. But you can still get a good close-up shot with a telephoto lens. A water resistant camera is recommended and be sure to wear it on a short strap. You don't want to drop the camera into the water! Always keep safety in mind. Bring life jackets for everyone. Anyone who can't swim should wear one while in the canoe.

Go over the rules before boarding the canoe. Standing up or switching places should never be done while the canoe is in the water. Leaning over the side is a no-no because it can tip the canoe and someone could fall out. Do a little research on boating safety so you can prepare yourself and the family to stay safe. Show the kids who are old enough to paddle how to handle the paddle. Go over the basics of how to steer the canoe.

Your canoe can take you to your campsite along the shore of a lake or river. Canoe, explore and fish during the day then relax beside the campfire in the evening. Nothing beats the taste of hotdogs and marshmallows personally toasted over a campfire.

I am sure that you will agree when I say that one of the great things about a family canoeing vacation is that it naturally combines with camping and fishing, which are always popular with kids making it a great family vacation for all.

By: Jenny Gill
Jenny Gill is an international author with vast experience in a diverse range of subjects, for more information visit www.canoeingsyte.com.

Featured by Resources For Attorneys, a legal resources and lifestyle directory.

Acadia National Park is the only national park in New England and was the first one established east of the Mississippi. In the summer months it attracts visitors like a magnet. But by fall quiet space is easier to find especially if you're prepared to camp and hike in the park.

It's a special place on America's Atlantic coast and famous for its rocky and breathtaking coastal terrain. The park is home to more than 500 species of plants, 300 species of birds, and the tallest mountain, at 1,530 feet, on the east coast of U.S.

The park is largely located on Mount Desert Island, which is south of Ellsworth, Maine. Acadia covers 46,000 acres and includes 120 miles of hiking trails and an extensive 45-mile network of carriage paths popular for mountain biking. The paths were created during 1913 and 1940 by John Rockefeller, Jr.

Peak foliage in the area is generally around early to mid-October and camping is restricted to Blackwoods campground after September. But the park has many trails and a number can be combined to create longer excursions and climbs for hikers of all ability. Just allow enough time to return to Blackwoods campground for your overnight stays as backcountry camping is not allowed in the park.

Moderate ability trails include: the 4.4 miles Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail with open views of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay, Champlain Mountain at 2.2 miles, and the 3.3 mile loop of the scenic Jordan Pond Shore Trail.

Three of the more popular trails for strenuous hikes are the Precipice Trail, Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, and Acadia Mountain Trail.

The Precipice Trail is very steep as it ascends 1,000 feet almost vertically, and includes climbing ladders on exposed cliffs. It's the most challenging of all the trails in the park but an exhilarating climb if you've a head for heights.

The Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail starts close to the campground and is a 7.4 mile roundtrip hike through forests and to the summit with marvelous scenic views at the top. The Acadia Mountain Trail is on the opposite side of Sommes Sound and offers stunning views of the Sound, and Southwest Harbor.

Mountain cyclists can marvel and enjoy the impressive broken-stone carriage roads located east of Sommes Sound in the Jordan's Pond and Eagle Lake areas. These roads are also a wonderful way of seeing the park for hikers, and those wanting easy scenic walk trails.

Allow a week to experience the varied hikes and terrain of the park during fall.

Trail maps and park information can be picked up at Hulls Cove Visitor Center located on Route 3 and open from May thru October. For more information on Acadia National Park and reservations at the campgrounds visit nps.gov/acad.

By: Cliff Calderwood
For more details on other destinations and attractions in New England and to pick up your free travel and vacation reports go to Cliff Calderwood's New England vacation site at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com.

Featured by Resources For Attorneys, a legal resources and lifestyle directory.

Comments left on park registration sheets and comment cards by campers and backpackers completing wilderness camping trips:

"A small deer came into my camp and stole my bag of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call."

"Escalators would help on steep uphill sections."

"Trails need to be wider so people can walk while holding hands."

"Instead of a permit system or regulations, the Forest Service needs to reduce worldwide population growth to limit the number of visitors to wilderness."

"Ban walking sticks in wilderness. Hikers that use walking sticks are more likely to chase animals."

"All the mile markers are missing this year."

"Found a smoldering cigarette left by a horse."

"Trails need to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill."

"Too many bugs and leeches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests."

"Please pave the trails so they can be plowed of snow in the winter."

"Chair lifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them."

"The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals."

"Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights."

"Need more signs to keep area pristine."

"A McDonalds would be nice at the trail head."

"The places where trails do not exist are not well marked."

"Too many rocks in the mountains."

Courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal resources and lifestyle directory.

A Colorado camping vacation is an affordable means to tour this wonderful state. Pitching your tent in a wilderness experience full of spectacular scenery is an adventure that you just can't pass up. Majestic mountains, fishing in the rivers, boating on the lakes that dot the state. Colorado's camping experience has something for everyone.

A camping vacation to Colorado is one of the best ways to intimately see the state. There is no better way to get close to Colorado's wilderness, whether the rolling plains of Eastern Colorado, the Colorado Rockies, or the mesas of the Western Slope than by setting up your tent in one of Colorado's many campgrounds.

You'll find that Colorado's campgrounds and RV parks make great home bases for exploring the state's scenic areas and historical landmarks. Camping in Colorado is easy. Thousands of campsites and campgrounds are to be found within the 20 million acres of public lands that are found in any section of the state.

Colorado camping is some of the best in the world. There are endless possibilities to camping in Colorado when on your vacation to the state. Where you camp while in Colorado is up to you. Here is a list of a few Colorado camping options to help you plan your vacation as you'll need to pick your campsites as reservations in most campgrounds need to be made in advance to insure that you get the camping spot you are wishing for.

Rocky Mountain National Park

A great place to go camping in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park. The National Park is considered the gateway to the Rocky Mountains from the Front Range side of the state. Colorado camping is at its best in the park. It is literally a nature lover's delight when you're camping in the intimate campgrounds that the park provides its visitors.

This is the classic wilderness and camping experience. A place to pitch your tent and tell stories around the campfire while roasting marshmallows and enjoying the friendship that such a cozy setting provides.

Colorado camping is an experience that can be fully appreciated in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Campers will be thrilled by an abundance and variety of landscapes across the 260,000 acres of the park. Hiking from your campsite will take you to nature areas that display a wide variety of wildlife.

Animals, such as elk, bighorn sheep, bears, bobcats, coyotes are often seen by the campers in the area. Birds greet campers in the morning with their wonderful wake-up songs. Hawks and eagles soar in the skies during the days. Hummingbirds will buzz you when you're eating or hiking the numerous park trails.

Aspenglen, Glacier Basin, Longs Peak, Moraine Park, and Timber Creek are the major campgrounds in Rocky Mountain National Park. These campgrounds offer a total of 575 campsites to the visitor and family. All of these Colorado camping sites make great home bases to begin your exploration of the area and it's wonderful sights.

Trinidad Lake State Park

Camp beneath the foothills surrounding the Spanish Peaks for this Colorado camping experience. Trinidad Lake State Park has 62 campsites with some RV hook-ups.

The lake has enough open space water for all kinds of boating and swimming activities. Fishermen will find peace and solitude in many areas with a variety of cold water fishing such as brown and rainbow trout. There's warm water fish too. These include bass, catfish, crappie, bluegills, and the wonderful walleye as a good eating fish.

Fishing and boating are just part of this Colorado camping experience. Just like every other good camping spot in the state, there's hiking and biking to be enjoyed.

The Colorado camping experience is some of the best in North America. At your campsite you will find that your tent is a room with a fantastic view. While camping in Colorado you should remember that many of the campgrounds are at high altitudes. Be sure to acclimate to your surroundings before venturing out on the many trails that you will find for hiking and fishing.

Colorado is truly a wonderland for the camper. Make the most of your vacation by enjoying the Colorado camping experience that you will encounter in this unique state.

By: Jim Bruce
Jim Bruce has a website that deals strictly with travel in Colorado. If you are thinking of a camping vacation in Colorado this year, you can find more information at Colorado camping vacation.

Featured as a camping resource by Resources For Attorneys, a legal and lifestyle resource.