All of this and you haven’t even left home.
Well, your home away from home that is.
That’s right, welcome to life with a recreational vehicle, and a new, better way for you and your family to see Canada.
“It’s wonderful for families – it’s the best way to travel when your kids are young. When you are in a RV, you can leave when you want to; pull over when you want to; eat sleep and cleanup when you want. You don’t have to argue to find a restaurant that you like and pay for a huge meal when really, all they wanted was a ketchup sandwich,” says Joan van Dolder, the author of RVing with Kids 12 Months a Year: The How-to Book of Family RVing. “In a hotel you have to keep your kids quiet, and there’s really nothing for them to do. Here in the trailer, we can sit and have our coffee, look out the window and we can watch our kids play road hockey or soccer. And we know they’re safe. We’ve got our quiet time – you’ve got the world right there.”
And when it’s bedtime and the kids have been tucked away, van Dolder suggests spending some romantic time with your significant other outside by the fire.
Whether you drive it or tow it, you can bring along all the comforts of home and still have room to stow your gear.
As you can probably imagine, you can match your ride to your style and expectations. Go basic (you can grab one for under $10,000) or opulent ($200,000 for deluxe), it’s up to you and your pocketbook. Either way, your RV will offer all the amenities, including cooking, bathroom, sleep and living areas. They come equipped with gas, electricity, and for the most part, heating and cooling systems.
For those not sure about joining the RV lifestyle, there are options.
Travel-Rite Rentals, based out of Shanty Bay, offers four-day packages for as little as $375 (plus taxes) in the low season (November to April), to $1,607 in the peak season (July and August). Rentals in peak season come with unlimited kilometres and a full tank of propane.
Call them at 735-6895 for more information.
Borrowed or bought, you can get where you are heading in style and comfort, and the best part is, you take control of your own vacation.
“Even if it is just to retreat; just to pull back from the busy world,” van Dolder says, “find a spot and just stay there. The idea for parents is, we need a break – we don’t need more work. Kids are usually happy to stay in the campsite. If there is a shallow creek, they will play there for days, and we don’t have to do anything. You can actually read a book.”
According to recent statistics, young families are the ones contributing to the trend of rising RV sales in Canada. The industry, now valued at $3 billion, welcomed a 55 per cent jump in summer sales from 2005 to 2007, 63 per cent total in the past three years.
“Some people may be surprised to hear that 67 per cent of RV owners are under the age of 55,” says Go RVing Public Affairs Director Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, quoting results from a recent survey conducted by MRP Market Research Inc. “The truth is, RVing is an activity that crosses all demographics and socio-economic classes. For families with kids, it’s especially appealing that you can just get up and go, while bringing all the toys with you.”
As a matter of fact, 90 per cent of RV users say it is the best way for a family to reconnect.
“Anybody with kids probably has them involved in sports, and your lives get so busy, it’s hard to find time to even have dinner together. It is so beneficial for families. It is such a great activity,” says van Dolder, whose book offers ideas from meal preparation to packing, from family-friendly games to ways to spend those rainy days. “When you’re home, you don’t get the time. There is always something in your face. But when you are out there, you have to relax. It’s a really great way to slow down.”
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July-August
Home Away From Home
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