The newbie’s guide to a family RV adventure

The newbie’s guide to a family RV adventure

A local family embraces this vacation trend

by JASMIN THANKACHEN photograph by JOSHUA HUSTON

My family’s been consumed by wanderlust, but finding the time and money to travel extensively is difficult. Enter the RV — a vehicle with travel flexibility as well as a shower, toilet, kitchen and beds.

We had never been in an RV and wanted to experience this road-tripping option. It seems as though RV travel is an adventure that every family should try, at least once.

Finding a campground

Before we could rent a vehicle, we needed a place to park it. I was looking for something with full hookups (electricity, sewer and water services for the RV) and close to the beach, along with the option to use park showers and bathrooms (just in case). A tall order, but we found the perfect spot at Ocean City State Park ($35/night). Keep in mind that spring and summer are busy camping months in RV parks, so book early.

The rental and cost

After much research and advice from friends, we rented an RV in March, during the off-season. Seattle is not lacking for RV rental companies. (We used Northwest Adventure Rentals.) Be aware of hidden costs, such as liability and insurance, and be sure to check with your own insurance company about coverage for a rental RV. It may save you money.

Loading up all the extras

In general, I’m an over-packer. Although the rental company provided us with everything from pots and pans to linens, I needed to make sure we had extra towels and sheets, flashlights, a toolkit, bottled water, lots of air freshener and definitely extra toilet paper.

We also packed games, stuffed animals, our favorite snacks and books. With all that we brought, I was amazed by the ample storage! The vehicle was equipped with deep cabinets, plenty of drawers and a huge overhead bunk above the cab.

The noisy drive

My husband drove to the campsite; I took the wheel on our way back. White-knuckled and driving in the slow lane, we lurched ahead, carefully making wide turns. We had never driven such a large vehicle before and it took time to get used to it.

Our kids sat comfortably at the dinette with lap belts, reading their books and playing games. It was not the smoothest drive, but we adjusted and managed the three-hour journey to the Pacific Coast without incident.

Hooking up and settling in

Once we got to the site, we pulled up to our connection points and hooked up our electricity and water systems. We used the two slide-outs that expand the dining and formal bedroom areas, and extended the awning outside. My kids were in awe: “So cool!”

Sleeping. Bring earplugs!

Cold nights are miserable when we camp outdoors, but sleeping in an RV is luxury. Having a heating system indoors makes everything very comfortable, along with cushy beds, fluffy pillows and fresh sheets. After converting the dining table and the small couch into beds, there was plenty of room to snooze. My older son was curious: “Does the kitchen turn into a bed too?”

If you can get over the hum of the heater, the collective snoring of your family and the croaking of frogs outside, you are in for a good night’s rest. But I have to admit howling wind and rain pounding on the roof threw my sleep off.

The chef’s kitchen

Our kitchen was equipped with a gas stove, a large refrigerator, a freezer and a microwave that also functioned as an oven. That allowed us to whip up kid favorites like spaghetti, burritos, sandwiches and even a small roast with steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. Camping never tasted so good!

Bathroom duty

It was small but it did its job. The toilets were flushable and waste went into a tank under the RV. We easily drained it into the park’s sewage system before we left. NOTE: Remember to hook up to the main sewage system, even on short trips. We quickly found that out when our shower stall flooded!

Beating the rain

When it rained, we opted to stay inside . . .

This is what I imagined an RV vacation would be — family around a tiny table, playing game after game, laughing and ribbing each other. But after a while things got a little stuffy. The solution to our claustrophobia was easy: We simply opened the vents and stepped outside to befriend the rain.

Heading home

The RV seemed a lot bigger when we got it home. Overtaking our tiny driveway, it took on a life of its own. We connected it to our outdoor power source so our boys could have a final vacation dinner in it. As we said our goodbyes in the morning, I suggested we give our Sunseeker a name.

“Ruby,” I suggested.

The kids had a better idea: “The Road Venturer.”

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For the full version of this article go to “The newbie’s guide to a family RV adventure” at 3Seattleschild.com