Sadie in the Airstream

Good Sam Insider Article, RVing with Children

A timely article for us by Good Sam Insider Newsletter....

Are We There Yet?
Tips for RVing with Children

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An RV vacation can be the ultimate family bonding experience. Nothing quite encourages communication and the sharing of good times like a getaway in a fifth wheel, motorhome or travel trailer. And with recreational vehicles featuring many of the comforts of home, RVing is the ultimate in kid-friendly travel.

But, traveling with families, especially kids, can also be challenging. Following a few simple tips the next time you hit the open road with your children or grandchildren can be the key to ensuring you have an amazing family vacation.

Allow extra time. When traveling with children, don't over schedule and don't rush your trip (unless you absolutely have to be somewhere at a certain time). Kids, especially younger ones, get bored easily, and even the roomiest RV can be confining for children. Work in places to explore or events to attend along the way. Make frequent stops to allow for restroom breaks and for children to run around. And, arrange to stop early enough each day to let the entire family unwind before bedtime.

Keep kids entertained. A plan to keep kids amused or busy along the way will increase the enjoyment of everyone in the family. Bring along plenty of fun road games as well as activity books, playing cards and some favorite toys. Engage in "on the road" trivia or play the license plate or letter game - find letters from the alphabet on the road signs, etc. Pack plenty of CDs, DVDs, even books on tape to keep the entire family entertained. Choose kid-friendly campgrounds that feature activities and amenities and are located nearby family attractions.

Prepare for emergencies. Be prepared for any type of emergency that may come up. Remember to pack a first aid kit-especially important when traveling with children. Always have a list of emergency contacts including your insurance and roadside assistance provider. If you are on your way to that perfect camping getaway with the kids or grandkids, the last thing you want to have to deal with is a breakdown in your RV. Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service has taken the worry out of RVing. They are the authority on RV towing. It is their business and they know the right questions to ask in order to send the right people and equipment to assist you.

Provide for comfort in vehicle. Comfort is especially important when traveling with small children. Pack their favorite stuffed animal, special blanket and pillow, family photo or similar items. It's also a good idea to give each child an assigned space to keep toys and personal items. No matter how small this area, it will make them feel more at home and also help keep your RV tidier. Packing a cooler with snacks, fruit juices and bottled water will also help ease a long trip.

Map it out. With preparation you will find it much easier to travel with children. Design your course and plot out directions, destinations, kid-friendly campgrounds, and attractions along the way. When you carefully map out your trip, you can determine the path that offers the most interesting events and sights en route. With travel tools like Good Sam Trip Routing, you can calculate mileage and driving time, locate Good Sam Parks where you can claim your 10 percent discount and identify the most RV-friendly route.

Hit the road this summer with your children or grandchildren. RVing is a great way to create happy family memories. Just remember to keep these tips in mind…along with a patient attitude…and get closer with your family on an RV adventure

Airstream March Newsletter - Big Sur

Big Sur write-up

Portable Internet

A few months ago I picked up the AutoNet Mobile portable router to have Internet access while camping and vacations. I was very optimistic particularly since it uses the Verizon network which advertises such comprehensive coverage. Now I also have a work-supplied AT&T iPhone. In virtually all instances of camping, from the northern California coast, the Sierra foothills, and Yosemite, I have NOT had any coverage on the Verizon side but my AT&T network has had at least a couple of bars in all instances. Now this is key to me since I need to keep tabs on things even while on vacation and camping.

The nice part about the AutoNet device was that it is a WWAN receiver as well as a WiFi router that works on 12 volts (perfect for automotive/RV applications). Unfortunately, with where I go, the coverage off the Interstates was virtually non-existent.

I've now transitioned to a 2 part solution... An AT&T Mercury (Sierra Wireless 885) WWAN 3G device along with a Cradlepoint PHS300 'personal hotspot'. The Mercury is a USB WWAN modem that works directly with Macs and PCs and is quite quick and has a slot for a Micro-SD card. It's otherwise pretty unremarkable but it works fine and is quick to connect to the cell network. The Cradlepoint PHS300 is a portable hard drive sized box and can be charged via the included AC charger or the optional travel charger. It works with a bunch of WWAN USB cards and has more options on the router/network configuration than most of the Linksys/D-link/Netgear routers that you'd use at home. It's a slick device, but you'll be hard pressed to find one for much less than $160.

So with the new solution, I can run virtually anyone's WWAN USB, it has a battery or car charger option and is smaller, offers more security options, and the total hardware cost is actually lower than the AutoNet. It gives you more flexibility and security.

This is a great combo for those of you who want mobile Internet.

March San Luis Reservoir/Basalt Campground

March 13th Sadie and I drove down to Los Banos to pick up the Airstream from Toscano RV Center from its first annual warranty checkup. I had a few small issues taken care of and it was great to be reunited with the silver bullet. They gave it the best bath it had had in months and we celebrated by taking it over to the Basalt Campground nesteled in some trees at San Luis Reservoir. It was just a quick overnight trip but we had fun nonetheless. Sadie squealed when she saw the Airstream and cried when I took her out to go handle the paperwork. The whole evening camping she didn't want to come out of it and instead ran back and forth and read and played with her toys, even though there were lots of rabbits and magpies hanging out in the campground. It's a really nice, quiet and clean campground. No utilities but that's fine by me!

February Olema

Feeling the need to get out for a quick camping trip, we packed up and went to one of our favorite local campgrounds, the semi-developed Olema Ranch Park.

It was cold and windy when we got there on Friday and proceeded to dump rain on us all day Saturday. Other than watching Sadie splash through the mud puddles, we don't have much to report on the trip and ended up heading home Saturday afternoon.

Uneventful trip but always fun to get out in the Airstream!