RVFTA Podcasts Archives - The RV Atlas: Recent Episodes
RVFTA Podcasts Archives - The RV Atlas
On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas we have several big announcements about our table at the 2024 Hershey RV Show–and we are revisiting “The Future of RVing” podcast that we did ten years ago to see what we got right and what we got wrong.
We will be back for the entire run of the 2024 Hersey RV show selling and signing all four of our “Where Should We Camp Next?” including the original, National Parks, Camping 101, and our latest–Budget Camping. We will also have “Where Should We Camp Next? mugs and a limited number of stickers–and our first book “RV Vacations.”
But that’s not all folks! We are also debuting a new adventure! The RV Atlas Coffee Company will be making its debut at Hershey with a limited sample run of our first four blends (Black Tank Blend, Camp Mojo, Morning Campfire, and Boondocker’s Delight). These are our favorite coffees in the world and we drink them at home and at the campground on every single trip.
On this week’s episode we also head back ten years to review a podcast that we did about “The Future of RVing” and we talk about what we got wrong (The Retro Revival!) and what we got right (more winter camping!) and we make bold predictions for the next ten years of RV life. Listen to the show using the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows! The future of RVing looks bright and we hope to see you in it. And as always we hope to see you at the campground!
Jeremy & Stephanie
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On today’s episode of The RV Atlas podcast we are answering questions from members of The RV Atlas Group on Facebook. Winter may still have its icy grip over many of our group members–but that is not stopping them from planning their spring and summer camping trips. Many of the questions in the group are travel and campground related right now as our group members turn their attention towards spring camping. In this Q+A episode of our podcast we answer questions about Grand Teton and Yellowstone and flying and camping instead of taking an RV. We also offer up some great recommendations for beach camping on the East Coast.
Here are some of the questions that we discuss in this week’s episode–along with answers from group members:
A question from Craig Welch about Planning a Trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton…Q: “Trying to figure what the lessor of the two evils is. We are in the process of planning/booking a northern national parks trip for August of this year. I’m not sure what the best option is for Teton/Yellowstone. One central campground(Headwaters Campground) and hit both parks for the week. Or two separate, Colter Bay for Teton and Yellowstone Grizzly for Yellowstone 3 or 4 days each. Also if you have a more preferred campground, let me know!”
Ron Brogan Answered…
A: “We have been there four times. Main advice is don’t short change Teton. It’s beautiful and a lot to do. That’s why we recommend using campgrounds in both parks. Second recommendation is to make Old Faithful your #1 stop, watch her erupt a few times, then Go See Yellowstone. Its a big place with lots to see. Chack out the northeast entrance road. Reminds us of Trail Ridge Road in RMNP.”
Erik Anderson Answered…
A: Craig, we concur with the others…do the two campgrounds. When we spent a couple weeks there, we did a combination of West Yellowstone and Grant CG, and then Colter Bay down in Tetons. Yeah, Yellowstone is HUGE……. 😉
Tracy Barricks Phillip Answered…
Someone said it was late to plan for this year. It may be in a 6 month window. I booked 10 days at both Colter Bay and Fishing Bridge and then after tweaking our route before and after canceled a few days of both. We enjoyed both campgrounds and adventures in both parks!
A Question from Shire Titus Ketterer about Flying and Camping…. Q: “Jumping in for another question for those who fly to a destination to camp…. how is it?! Do you bring a ton of stuff? I honestly never camped in a cabin and I don’t think I would have to bring a ton but we are over-prepared campers when loading up the TT and have so much “backup” this feels weird to only bring a suitcase camping!”
Rob Burghdoff Answered…
A: “We did a fly in camp over winter break. We brought nothing with us and hit the local Publix for everything. Tried to buy minimal amounts but ended up with extras. If I were at an airbnb we would have tossed most everything but being at a campground we made some acquaintances to offload the extras. Thu is such as water bottles, laundry soap, eggs, foil.. etc.”
JP Answered…
A: “We camped in New Zealand and Europe, the NZ was a rental and supplied everything we needed except food and toiletries. Europe we purchased a car and caravan in England, scoured charity shops for our necessities.”
Jeremy Answered…
A: The key here is to know what comes with the cabin and how does not. If they do not provide linens then it’s a no go. If they do not provide a coffee maker it’s a no go. Most cabin rentals are good at listing what comes with and what does not. If the cabin rental does not provide such information that would be a no go for me. Happy to answer any other questions. We have done a bunch of fly and cabin and fly and rent RV trips!
A Question from Ashley Anne’s Shady Campgrounds Near the Beach and Shops on the East Coast…Q: “Looking for a shady campground close to a beach and shops on the east coast?”
Craig Welch answered…
“If you’re into Virginia, Sun Outdoors Cape Charles. What used to be Cherrystone RV resort. It’s right on the Chesapeake Bay. Nice campground with a private beach and pier. We’ve stayed twice and enjoyed it very much.”
Samantha Willmot answered…
“Beachcomber Campground in CapeMay, NJ”
Jeremy and Stephanie answered…
We also loved what used to be Holly Shores and what used to be Seashore Campsites. Holly shores is now—-Sun Outdoors Cape May and Seashore Campsites is now Sun Retreats Seashore.
Kevin Mattison answered…
“Myrtle Beach KOA Resort, upper level. totally shaded. A couple blocks away from the beach. best ever.”
Susan Sitter answered…
Myrtle Beach State Park. Beautiful, shaded and across the street from the beach.
Courtney Runs answered…
“Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware”
Bryan Winter answered…
“Sandy Pines Campground is one of my New England favorites.”
Jeremy and Stephanie also recommended…
“Atlantic Oaks on Cape Cod! Eastham Mass has lots of cute little cape towns around and you can for a pretty short drive drive to Provincetown!”
“James Island County Park in Charleston puts you near downtown and some awesome Charleston Beaches.”
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It’s a tough job being Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park lacks the majesty and awe-inspiring landscapes of its western peers like Glacier and Yellowstone. Western South Dakota, a few hours to the south, offers up a greater variety of tourist attractions mixed with natural wonders. But North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt and the adjoining town of Medora have plenty of charm and heart and are well worth making the effort to get to—whether as a detour on a long road trip or as a separate destination.
This is a guest post by Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial on the Road. To listen to Jeremy and Gretchen talk about Medora Campground and Theodore Roosevelt National Park click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Our family loved the great wildlife viewing and stunning landscapes in the park, and enjoyed learning about the 26th President’s connection to the area and partaking in some Teddy Roosevelt-themed entertainment in town.
Medora Campground Near Theodore Roosevelt National ParkMedora Campground, operated by the city of Medora, is the perfect place to stay if you want to be right in the middle of everything; it’s next to Medora’s small downtown and around the corner from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s entrance gate and visitor center. You can even walk or bike to restaurants and attractions.
The campground has 226 sites; most of those are full hook up RV sites, but there are also some tent sites, as well as a handful of cabins for rent and a Conestoga wagon outfitted with beds, electricity, and air conditioning. Campground amenities include a camp store, laundry room and some nice public areas including a playground and picnic pavilion. There’s no pool on site, but the Medora city pool is right next door and available to the public for a small fee.
The biggest complaint people have about Medora Campground is that the sites are small. And it’s true; the pull-throughs are plenty long but very narrow, and you’ll be right on top of your neighbors. Each site has a picnic table, but eating outside might well mean close proximity to your neighbor’s sewer hose. They’ve chosen to pack as many sites as possible into the space, and they fill them up on weekends in season.
The compensation for the close quarters, though, is the excellent location, as close as you can get to the National Park and to everything in town, as well as some pretty spectacular views of the North Dakota Badlands and access to the Little Missouri River. There are a good number of other options nearby if your priority is more room to spread out, but for our short stay, the great location was worth getting a bit cozy with other RVs.
What to do in and Around Theodore Roosevelt National ParkTheodore Roosevelt National park is divided into three units, with varying degrees of accessibility. The South Unit is by far the most popular and easy to get to, located right off of I-94 in the city of Medora. Here you’ll find the park’s main visitor center, with a museum and gift shop, the Maltese Cross Cabin where Theodore Roosevelt stayed during some of his time in North Dakota, and a 48 mile scenic drive. We spent our first day here, taking in the scenic drive and stopping for several short hikes, scenic viewpoints, and encounters with the park’s large prairie dog population.
The North Unit sees far fewer visitors, owing to its desolate location 50 miles off the interstate. Everyone we met told us it was worth the drive, though, and we have to agree; we made the trek here on our second day and found it a less crowded and more intimate experience than the South Unit, with amazing wildlife viewing and plenty of chances to see the buttes that make up the North Dakota Badlands up close and spot some interesting formations not found in the South Unit.
We didn’t make it to the remote Elkhorn Ranch Unit, which preserves the land where Roosevelt ranched and requires a long drive on unpaved roads to access.
The Medora MusicalThe tiny city of Medora, just outside the National Park gate, pretty much turns into a Teddy Roosevelt theme park in the summers. The biggest attraction is the surprisingly elaborate and professional Medora Musical—an outdoor show telling the story of of the area that runs eight times a week all season. Before the show, we tried out the Pitchfork Steak Fondue at the open air restaurant next to the amphitheater. It’s exactly what it sounds like; a steak cooked (on a pitchfork!) in a barrel of hot oil. The musical and dinner make for an expensive evening, so watch for discounts like free kid tickets one or two nights a week.
Medora offers a whole range of entertainment options all summer. In addition to the musical, we watched a Theodore Roosevelt impersonator bring the President to life. There’s also a popular gospel brunch, a gold course, trail rides, mini golf, and more—a lot more than we had time to do in our short stay.
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September brings cooler temperatures, back to school routines, and the official start of RV show shopping season which kicks off with the Hershey RV Show in Pennsylvania every year. RV shows can bring amazing educational experiences and fantastic buying deals for consumers, but they can also leave some folks feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
We’ve compiled all our RV Show Shopping tips into one single episode to help you make the most of your RV show visits this year. Listen to hear our advice that will be applicable no matter where you are on your shopping journey.
RV Show Shopping: General RV Show TipsGo online beforehandDownload a map of the show to your phone and print out any available coupons. Check for parking and cash policies. Look at the vendors and food options. RV shows have such a wild variety of policies, so make sure you check out the details in advance. We’ve seen a surprising amount of shows that are cash only for admittance.
Go on the quietest day possible. Many shows start midweek. So if you are seriously shopping or easily overwhelmed, this is the time to go. Other quiet times can be early on Fridays and later on Sundays. Saturdays are usually bonkers. Period.
Bring lots of water.And snacks, and possibly even lunch. The quality of food and refreshments varies from show to show. Some have great local options like BBQ and crab cake sandwiches. Others are glorified snack shacks with frozen pretzels and chicken fingers. No matter what, water is surprisingly expensive, so bring your own water bottle. You’ll save money for your RV purchase.
Agree to a shopping plan.Talk about goals and expectations in advance with anyone you will be shopping with. It can be aggravating to be in bunk house shopping mode while your partner is checking out the teardrop campers.
Have a strategy for recording information, research, and impressions.We promise you one thing. You will be utterly confused and overwhelmed by the end of the day if you don’t have some plan for recording information. RVs, floor plans, and prices start to blend together. You’ll completely forget which manufacturer made your favorite model. And you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to figure it online. Use your camera phone to take details pictures (exterior, price sheet, specs sheet, and interior). Plus take ALL. THE. BROCHURES.
Find the manufacturer’s reps.Listeners repeatedly tell us this is our most helpful tip ever. Salespeople at large RV shows often don’t know much about the rigs and many times are temporarily hired to work just for the show. They are looking to make a sale, not educate you about a product. Manufacturer’s reps, however, usually know the rigs inside and out. They fly into the shows to support the dealers and answer customer questions. How do you know the difference between a salesperson and a rep? Look for the folks wearing a shirt that has the name of the manufacturer, not the name of the dealer.
Attend the seminars.Some people think they are too cool to sit in the seminars at an RV show. Other folks think they know everything from researching online. We know that RV seminars can be a wealth of information, sometimes presented by the biggest experts in the business, like our friends from RVSEF.
Don’t get rushed into a big purchase.If you are ready to buy, an RV show shopping is a great place to start. However, it can also be a place where people make impulsive decisions with a big-ticket item. If you hadn’t even researched the difference between a travel trailer and a fifth wheel, you may not want to make an impulse decision.
Show prices can often be honored after the show.There are definitely exceptions to this rule, so don’t blame us if you can’t get show pricing a month later. Sometimes the manufacturer is offering show incentives or the dealer is unloading last year’s inventory. However, for the most part, if you go back to that dealer later on and ask for the pricing you saw at the show, it’s possible they can make that happen.
Take a listen to the podcast episode to hear us discuss each piece of advice in greater detail!
RV Show Shopping: Different Types of RV ShoppersIt’s also important to know the type of shopper you are at the RV show. We have great tips for making the most out of your visit no matter where you are in your RV journey. We break it down into three main categories.
Dreamers and NewbiesRV shows are a fantastic way to get a feel for the variety of RV types, sizes and floorplans available. Make sure you visit the bigger shows to get a broader view of options. GS Media and Go RVing have lists of rv shows. Compile your goals in advance and list questions you hope to answer:
- Do we want a towable or motorized?
- What size trailer is going to be comfortable for our family?
- Our tow vehicle can pull 5,000 lbs. What are our options in this range?
- Our budget is $30,000; what can this buy us?
Most importantly don’t be a statistic. So many buyers trade in a new rig within a year because they didn’t buy the right model. Listen to experienced RVers share their experiences with pop ups, hybrids, etc.
Reminder: Think long and hard about buying if you did not come planning on buying!!!
Ready for the upgradeStay grounded if you are in upgrade mode. It’s easy to get shiny, new object syndrome. Make a list of pros/cons of your old or current RV. Be honest about what works for your family and what doesn’t. For example, if you really like camping in state and national parks, stay smaller. If you get nervous towing your 32 foot travel trailer, don’t go and buy a 38 foot travel trailer because it seemed so spacious.
Arrive at the show with a list of non-negotiables made from prior experience. For us, we know dedicated beds and a master bedroom door are must haves…even when we start drooling over the cute, little campers.
Also know your numbers ahead of time, including budget, tow ratings, and GVWR goals. The worst thing is to upgrade your rig and then have to upgrade vehicle if you didn’t budget for that. Know whether your car can be towed by a motorhome (that catches some folks by surprise). If you will have to store the upgraded RV, research what will that cost.
Ready to buyIf you are ready to buy your first (or next!) rig, you should still do some advance planning. Research the dealers that will be at the show. Look at online and Facebook reviews. Check out their inventory and look at the numbers. Getting a great deal at a show isn’t worth winding up with a crummy dealer with terrible service reviews.
You should also be fully aware of the realities of service and warranty work when buying from a non-local dealer. Whether you like it or not, the service end of the RV industry is woefully understaffed. This means that many dealers will refuse to service units that they did not sell. Or you will just be put at the end of the line and wait a looooong time to get warranty work done.
It’s important not to become obsessed with a certain percentage off MSRP. Every single deal is different based on location, RV model and year, and dealer stock. Don’t expect to get an RV in New York for the same price as in Indiana. The question is whether it is a good value for YOUR family. Some people on social media will claim that you can always get 30% off MSRP. That’s just bad advice.
RV shows are great whether you are just window shopping or ready to write a check. We’ve got a RV pep talk for everyone. If you want to hear us discuss this topic in more detail, take a listen to The RV Atlas podcast, available in the Apple Podcast Store or anywhere you listen. You can also join the conversation in our private, friendly Facebook group.
Visiting the Hershey RV Show? Here are some of our best tips for conquering America’s Largest RV Show.
Checking out the Florida RV SuperShow? Learn more here.
See you at the RV Show!
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Lakewood Camping Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is one of the biggest RV campgrounds in the country. We are excited to bring you a campground review since it is in Myrtle Beach, the camping capital of the East Coast (in our opinion!). This resort is more like a small town for campers. With a lazy river, waterslides, sports courts, indoor and outdoor pools, and so much more. It’s nonstop fun.
Lakewood Camping Resort is located at the southern end of the Grand Strand near Myrtle Beach State Park and the pier, but not too far from town. This is a destination RV resort, so many people check in and don’t leave. We stayed for five nights and really wanted a place where we could relax and play on the sand and in the pool. We wanted the total RV resort package, and this resort truly delivered!
To hear Jeremy and Stephanie’s full campground review of Lakewood Camping Resort, click play on the media player above or look for The RV Atlas wherever you find your favorite shows!
Beachfront Camping at Myrtle BeachLakewood Camping Resort is true beachfront camping. Like we said above, it’s like a camping city–everything you need is right there. It’s more of a planned community, with campsites for the RVs and tents, cabins, condos, and more. It’s one of those destinations you can visit with non-RVing family and friends for a true group destination.
You can nab an oceanside site here for less than $100, which we felt was very reasonable for the beachfront location. The only disadvantage to having an oceanside camping spot is that it’s very busy on the promenade that goes right by those spots. However, we chose this space because it was near the basketball courts, where the boys could play nearby. If you want quiet, you might not want to be beachfront. Another thing to note is that they have some great trees and shade, which you don’t always find at beachfront campgrounds.
Things to Do at Lakewood Camping ResortLakewood Camping Resort is full of stuff to do! The lazy river is relaxing, and the waterslides are fast and fun! The pool is also large and spacious. They have a large arcade, an information center, a big pool, and of course, the beach. The campground also offers bike, paddle board, and kayak rentals at the trading post. If you like to play sports, there are volleyball, basketball, and shuffle board courts.
The camp store is well stocked. Plus, they have a huge laundromat. When you get hungry, visit the food truck area. We especially loved the Italian ice!
Making Family Memories at Lakewood Camping ResortOur family made great memories at Lakewood. Stephanie enjoyed sitting on the beach watching the kids surf, as well as having a shuffle board tournament with the boys. Jeremy will always remember cooking big meals for the whole crew on the Blackstone griddle.
Check out this previous post for things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
All of Myrtle Beach is full of adventures, but Lakewood Camping Resort is truly the type of destination you can spend an entire week and not feel compelled to leave the campground. We will probably be back to make more memories in the future.
See you at the campground!
Jeremy + Stephanie
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Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial On The Road is back on The RV Atlas podcast this week and she is our guest blogger here as well! Check out her recent post and interviewRead More
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Happy New Year everyone!! We typically wrap up a year of podcasting with an episode dedicated to our travel highlights from the past year. But this year got a little complicated didn’t it?Read More
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We have covered Fort Wilderness and Disney World each year for the last four years. Our family spent three straight winter breaks at Fort Wilderness, and then last year we mixed it upRead More
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Have you ever seen a beautifully restored vintage trailer and wondered what it took to transform a dilapidated old trailer into a piece of eye candy? Silver Moose Restorations knows. What started as a hobby for Jim Roy, as he renovated a trailer for his personal use, eventually turned into a full-fledged business, renovating trailers for others.
The post Silver Moose Restorations: Making Old Trailers Amazing Again appeared first on The RV Atlas.
Looking for the friendliest RV group on Facebook? Look no further than our RV Atlas Facebook group. Thanks to our "no cranks allowed" policy and our 7,364 awesome members, our Facebook group is a great place to get advice, share successes, and celebrate all things RVing. We are excited to celebrate the members and posts that made the group what it was for 2019.
The post The RV Atlas Facebook Group: Talking Stats, Members, and Most Popular Posts appeared first on The RV Atlas.
Any experienced RVer knows that camping trips need to be reserved pretty far in advance these days. We start making our own plans about a year in advance. Now, if you’re making campgroundRead More
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Ready to give your RV the pink drink? It’s that time of year when folks across the northern parts of the country are putting their RV babies to bed for the winter. WithRead More
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