As a parent, when you go on a vacation or take a trip, there is always that hope of creating fun family memories together. However, too often trips become stressful or things don’t go quite as planned. If you’re ready to start RVing in a way that each trip produces incredible memories to last a lifetime, these tips can help.
1. Give everyone a say in the planning
If you want your kids to enjoy the trip as much as you then let them help with the planning. You don’t need to give them full control of the trip details but make sure they have a say in what happens while you’re gone. Ask for their input on what destinations they want to see and what activities they want to do.
If you preplan everything without their say they may not look forward to it as much as they would when they had a chance to contribute. This also gives you good insight into the interests of your child and you may learn something new about them. Even if you’re not as interested in the things they are, look for ways to find a happy middle.
2. Do something out of the ordinary
Put the phones and devices away and get everyone to try new things, see new sights, and step out of their comfort zone. When you do this as a family, you build trust and memories at the same time. If you’re used to being in the city, head out to the mountains and go hiking. If you usually stay in the woods while camping, try finding a place on the coast. Look for ways to incorporated new experiences for your whole family while you’re on the road.
3. Have the basics covered
As much as a purely “go-with-the-flow” type of trip sounds, it might not be the best way to travel as a family. It can help to make sure you have the basics of your trip covered. Make sure you have reservations at a park so you don’t chance not having a place to stay for the night. Make sure you have a rough idea of how you’re going to handle meals and snacks and what activities you want to do. It’s fun to be somewhat spontaneous, but when traveling with a family it can help to make sure the basics are covered before leaving home.
4. Buy the right RV for your family
The right type of RV can dramatically change your family’s experience RVing. Carefully consider what your family’s needs are when purchasing a new or preowned RV. Not only do you want to consider how much sleeping space you need but think about what type of space you need. For example, if you have teenagers, they may prefer to have their own room instead of having to sleep on a sleeper sofa. In addition, if you have a large family, you may want more than one bathroom.
Here are a few family options for RVs:
Heartland Elkridge 33BHS
This fifth wheel has plenty of room for the whole family. The living space is nice and open and there is a bunkroom in the back for the kids with 4 bunk beds. If that’s not enough room, there is also a sofa bed in addition to the queen bed in the primary bedroom.
Venture Stratus 291VQB
This travel trailer also includes a bunkhouse with 4 bunk beds. There is plenty of room for the whole family to live and sleep. The slideout provides additional room to move around in the main living space and the kitchen peninsula makes it easier to prepare family meals together.
Forest River Wildwood Heritage Glen 356QB
This fifth wheel is great for large families. it has a bedroom in the front and a bunkhouse in the back. There are also two bathrooms making it easier than ever for the whole family to get ready for a day of fun. It also has an outdoor kitchen to make enjoying your campsite more enjoyable as well.
5. Plan in plenty of downtime
It’s easy to over plan activities for a family vacation. If you have young children, you may end up regretting this. Make sure you plan time for just hanging out together around the RV. Some of the best memories can be made in those unplanned parts of the vacation and it allows people to have a chance to rest and recuperate between activities. This is especially important if you or your children are introverts and enjoy having some alone time.
6. Be prepared for bad weather days
As hard as you try, you can’t always predict the weather. Make sure you have a back-up plan for what you’re going to do if the weather is bad. Bring along movies for a family movie day or board games to enjoy if it’s raining. You could also check out what indoor activities are available near your campsite. If you don’t have a plan and bad weather strikes, it could put a damper on all your memories of the trip.
7. Take pictures
Don’t forget to bring along your camera, or have your phone handy for pictures. As you try new things together or simply detach from tech and connect as a family, you want to capture the moments so you can look back at them for years to come. Just make sure you don’t get too caught up in trying to take photos of everything that you don’t connect in the moment as well.
8. Find kid-friendly RV resorts
Some RV resorts offer all kinds of activities for children from crafting to sports to movies under the stars and everything in between. Look for parks and resorts that offer activities and amenities that your family will be interested in. This is another reason why it helps to let your kids have a say in planning your RV trip.
9. Keep travel days light
As you determine what destinations you want to visit remember that your kids likely aren’t going to want to be buckled in all day. Try to keep your travel days light. If you have to do a long drive to arrive at your destination, make sure you’re not planning too many activities that put you back in the car for long periods each day. Remember to plan for snacks and activities that your family can enjoy on the travel days too.
10. Stick to your routines
Children thrive with routines and habits. Take a moment to consider before your trips what routines are important for keeping your children on schedule in a way that allows them to enjoy the trip the most. If you have little ones that nap during the day, don’t plan activities during naptime. You may feel like you’re missing valuable time when you could be out doing things, but over-tired kids are going to break down and then no one is going to be having any fun. Consider how your children’s routines impact them and stick to the ones that matter most.
Sky River RV can help your family create great memories together
If you’re excited top plan 2022 family RVing trips, let Sky River RV help. We can hook you up with the RV that’s the right fit for you and your family. Contact us today to get started.
