“It doesn’t get any better than this!” Many RVers use these words when talking about RV life. Have you ever wondered, “Can it get better than this?” Perhaps a few tips to enrich your RV experience will answer that question for you.
Same ol’, same ol’
There are ways to break out of your set RV routines to make RVing even better. Whether you travel alone or with a travel buddy, stepping out of a routine can feel uncomfortable at first, but I encourage you to try it. Check out the following tips and choose the one(s) that seems most doable to you. Then, go for it!
Local hangouts
You can learn a lot about a locale by talking to the people who live there. Plan to visit local coffee shops or fast-food locations. Often, groups of folks will gather at these businesses in the morning to kibbitz about local issues.
Check out a local mom-and-pop restaurant for lunch. Chances are, you’ll meet folks who have lived in the area for a while. Strike up a conversation simply by asking, “What’s your favorite part of living here?” If you have a particular interest or hobby (e.g., quilting, model trains), ask if locals know of any organizations you can visit during your stay.
Church
Plan to visit a church of your denomination during your RV stay. If you’ll be in one area for an extended period, get involved. Many churches sponsor interest groups and host special community events, too. Think: chili supper, Bingo nights, choir concerts, Bible studies, and more.
Park and recreation
Check in to the city’s park and recreation department to gather information about local parks, trails, picnic pavilions, and more. This department may also guide you to special interest groups like square dancing, stamp collector groups, and biking clubs.
YMCA or local gym
If you’re a Silver Sneakers member or have a gym membership, see if a local gymnasium will honor your membership or give you a limited membership for a reduced fee. Many gyms offer classes like yoga or spinning. They may have other perks as well.
Clubs/organizations
If you belong to, say, the Lions Club or other national organization, you may want to visit the local group when they hold their meetings. Who knows? You just might learn about a new kind of fundraiser or community service project that you can suggest when you return home.
Historical society
If you love history and want to learn more about the local history of a place, inquire about a historical society. Many cities and even small towns have some kind of archivist or history enthusiast who can tell you about the area’s origin. A self-guided cemetery tour will also give you a glimpse into the town’s past.
Signage
Pay attention to signs posted around town that advertise local upcoming events (e.g., rodeo, concerts, high school/college stage productions). Signs are often posted in storefront windows or on community bulletin boards.
Library
Don’t forget to check out the local library. They’re not just for books, you know. Many libraries offer book clubs, author nights, and even games/tournaments (e.g., Mahjong, pinochle, Scrabble).
Any one of the previous tips has the potential to enrich your RV experience. Give one or more a try!
If you have additional suggestions for ways to enrich your RV experience, please tell me in the comments below.
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I have an old British car, so go to local British car club meetings in Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Austin, D-FW, etc., when near those cities. I also go to local birding and model railroad club meetings in towns and cities that have them, if we are staying for more than a day or two.
Thank you, Gail! Sorry, no suggestions, but thank you for yours! 🙂
One of the easiest ways to find interesting things to do in any town or area is just to google: Things to do in ___________________ (name of town or area). Trip Advisor and other services have several categories of activities and places to see. Some are for $$ and lots of them are either free or just points of interest. When traveling full time, we chose to limit ourselves to ~250 miles per day, and to stay in a place an average of at least 4 days, and sometimes up to about 2 weeks. We found lots of interesting things to do in several categories of activities and places to see. If our destination was more than 250 miles away, we’d google places along the way and stop at the best ones.
Since retired and having a whole bunch of “my” time, I ride the back roads and visit small towns for pancakes or whatever.
I’ve met the swellest folks who love to talk as I do. What fun! Library ladies are like the old city post office folks. They love to share anything you would care to know. . Especially if you greet them with a smile.