Community Forums

Maraharrison · 10-12-2010, 04:12 PM

we are new to rving and would like to plan a family friendly trip for about 2 weeks. any suggestions of sites where trips have been planned and sites listed? want to show the kids the usa!

GaryKD · 10-12-2010, 05:23 PM

Hi Maraharrison,
Welcome to iRV2. Can you provide a bit more information?
1. Where will the trip start from?
2. What are the ages of the kids?
3. What is your RV setup (auto, RV Brand, etc.)?
4. Do you want hookups (electric, water, sewer) or will you use the facilities provided by the camp ground (CG)?

We took our kids around the USA in the 70s and 80s. It took us 10 years! We are now in the process to take our grand kids around the USA. We have 3 years left to do all the states.

RVThere · 10-12-2010, 07:21 PM

maraharrison,

I've been traveling with my 3 boys and dear wife since 1998 in 3 different motorhomes. The boys have now been to 48 states and 2 are in college and still want to go on roadtrips with buddies and girlfriends tagging along.

If you answer the questions that Gary asked, we can give you some great suggestions.

jwomack · 10-13-2010, 05:58 AM

Check out "RVing for Dummies" It has a lot of useful first timer stuff and a number of iteneraries for 1 to 2 week trips around the country complete with advise on campgrounds, restuarants, things to see and do, and even the major grocery stores in the areas.
Good luck and safe travels

Maraharrison · 10-13-2010, 08:43 AM

Thanks so much for responding. We have three girls--11, 8, and 3. We will be leaving from North Florida and traveling really anywhere from there. We have a Jayco Seneca HD that is 36 ft. long and would need hookups most places (but not necessarily all). We are accustomed to rving but really just for weekend trips or tailgating. The girls absolutely LOVE it! We have been through Alabama, Georiga, and the Smoky Mountains so we're thinking something different from that. Perhaps the West Coast with a stop in Grand Canyon or up the East Coast to Maine. We're up for suggestions, and I have looked many places on the internet for great kid stops--just was looking for an easy route with fun stuff for the girls. We are very interested in teaching them about different parts of our country--they are literally amazed about the most simple things--change of the leaves, mountain range, rocky trails. Poor little Florida girls!!! Thanks for any help you can provide.

skigramp · 10-13-2010, 03:22 PM

It is about 1800 miles from Tallahassee to the Grand Canyon ... at 50 mph (you will have a difficult time averaging more than that with 3 children) ... that is 36 hours of driving time one way ... SO I suggest you save the Grand Canyon and the west coast for a trip where you have at least a month ...

There are some great sights for a 2 week trip that would not require so many hours of driving to get there in the "eastern half of the US" ... roads I have travelled that are scenic are Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Natchez Trace ... there are cultural and educational venues at Branson, MO, St Louis MO, Chicago, IL , Memphis, TN ... there are amusement parks in Gurney, IL and Cedar Point, OH,

akadeadeye · 10-13-2010, 03:40 PM

If you do happen to travel to the Grand Canyon, you and your kids might enjoy riding the train from Williams, AZ to the Canyon and back. There is a nice RV park a short walk to the train depot.

Grand Canyon Railway RV Park - Woodall's Campground Directory

If you go on to the Canyon, we stayed at the Grand Canyon Trailer Village RV Park. It is an older park with sort of tight spaces, but it worked for us. And, it is less than 1/4 mile from the Canyon rim.

Campground Information on Grand Canyon Trailer Village Inc - 800001709 - Good Sam Club

Have fun wherever you go. It's a great way to travel for the family.

Don

bill carle · 10-13-2010, 04:04 PM

Hey There fellow traveler

You have already received some very good advice, primarily regarding the amount of time you can do the trip safely. I too am from Florida (just 35 miles west of St. Augustine). Our last good size trip from our area was in the month of April (a good choice regarding weather, I thought). After being on the road for a couple of days we stopped in Amarillo Texas, where the young man in the campground advised us to take in the fresh water hose since it might freeze. Following morning we were on our way West on US 40. After a few hours we found ourselves in New Mexico, ON THREE INCHES OF ICE, WITH SNOW COMING DOWN SO HARD THE W/W HARDLY COULD HANDLE THE LOAD :(.... After we got off that portion they closed the road. We have a 35 ft Class A Georgie Boy pulling Jeep Cherokee.......Ergo, use cautiion as to what time of year you travel. Enjoy and travel safe....bill

decodancer · 10-13-2010, 06:38 PM

Native Floridian here but now New York is my home. My suggestion is to stay on the east coast, So much to see on the way up. I stayed on Chincoteage Island on the Virginia coast (can reccomend Maddox Family Campground) then a short drive to Asseteage Island, no hookups there but wild horses wandering everywhere. Had a deer eating right out of my hand as well. Take the ferry to Cape May, the kids (and adults) will love the boardwalk rides and games. If you make it further north, you'll love Brialee Campground just north of Hartford, so many kid (and pet) friendly events. Mystic Connecticut is another great family friendly place. Don't know when you're planning on going, check for seasonal closing dates at any nothern places. Have fun. Kathleen

GaryKD · 10-13-2010, 06:56 PM

Hi Maraharrison,
Thanks for the additional information. For the next couple of years, consider staying on the East Coast.
Washington, D.C. = Stay at Cherry Hill CG in College Park, MD. Go to Cherry Hill Park is the Closest Campground to Washington, DC :|: Cherry Hill Park and read about it. Contact your Congress man or Senator at least 6 months in advance for tickets to the White House and other D.C. sights. You will not need a toad vehicle. The last stop on the bus line is the CG. From there you go to the train into D.C. There are loads of family at Cherry Hill and things to do at the CG.

Gettysburg, PA = Stay at Artillery Ridge CG. Go to Artillery Ridge - Camping, Horse Riding, and Diorama and read about it. You will need a towed vehicle. Start your visit at the National Park visitors center. You'll truly be amazed. Walk the same walk the Confederate soldiers took during Picket's charge. Start at Devil's Den and follow the same route Confederate soldiers went as they climbed to try and capture Little Round Top.

A little East of Gettysburg is Lancaster, PA area = This is the center of Amish communities in PA. There are quite a few possibilities to learn about the Amish lifestyle. The girls can dress like Amish girls. Tour an Amish farm and see, up close, what Amish girls do on a farm.

That is enough to get you started. The bottom line is the Eastern part of the USA has our country's history before we became a country to becoming a country and the first 50 years of our country.

The Western part of the country has much of our scenery. Larger than life and truly magnificent.

My last suggestion is to focus your trips on the National Parks, Monuments, Historic Sites, etc. This is how your kids will learn about their country.

The trips we take with our Gkids have only two rules:
1. no amusement parks
2. no fast food

I can go on an on, if you have specific questions, post here or send me a private message.