Getting lost is part of the fun
Orienteering a new RV location
Getting lost is part of the fun of travel. I’m not talking about the panic of realizing you cannot figure out how to get home—I’m talking about the pleasurable anxiety of being in completely new surroundings. There is an adrenalin jolt in experiencing new and interesting people, places and things.
Whether your jam is spelt sourdough from a local farmers market, beach-basking sea lions or hidden mountain trails, travel puts us in fresh places that require us to find our way.
RVwest website
If you’re reading this, you already have a leg up on your fellow RVers. Once you know where you’re going—or even before you decide where to go, check out RVwest.com. Find “Destinations” on the website and explore input from RVers who have been where you might want to go and have done some of what you might like to do. The site has detailed information on local, USA and Mexico destinations. The information here is expanded every month and RV travellers report back on experiences. This is a good place to start your RV travel planning.
The internet is your friend (mostly)
An internet search gives you immediate access to maps, municipal websites, local campgrounds and natural features you might be interested in. Various applications like TripAdvisor even collates what people who have gone before you have to say and what they think of the experience. Just recognize that all of your travel RV competition is reading the same stuff and the people who write the reviews may have completely different taste than you do.
Talk to people
Once I have arrived at destination and set up camp, I talk to almost anyone––starting with the campground host. These folks are dialed into everything RVers need, from freshwater and groceries to beverages and sites to see. They know the best places (or only place) to refill propane tanks and can direct you to whatever RV-related suppliers you might require. They are often well acquainted with the local area and can direct you to local highlights, depending on your interests.
After that, I want to know what locals are most proud of. Is there a hidden patio we should check out, a quiet out-of-the-way beach or a eucalyptus-scented forest walk we should experience? Locals will share with you what is interesting of note beyond what hits the top-tier search on the internet.
Journal
Carry a journal whenever you travel. You will want to record new friends’ contact information and key details from waiters and gas station attendants. Note daily what you did and loved because someone is keenly interested in what you learned along your travels and will be wanting to talk to you as they plan their next adventure.
