Children On The Highways And Byways With Motorhome Vacations

Taking your kids on motorhome holidays just sounds like a great way to spend a week or two. Pack up and organize all your stuff just the way you want it in your own little home on wheels. Have all your own blankets and towels that remind you of home with you.

The advantages to a driving holiday more than flying seem endless. Should you take a recreational automobile you are able to generally save a great deal a lot more cash particularly should you have a couple of children, flights are costly. The scenery is usually so nice to appear at and your children will learn much a lot more when they have the time to appear around. Stopping is really a advantage as you are able to do it when ever and how ever a lot you want. Plus children truly like to possess their stuff it seems to take some from the tension out of vacationing.

Not getting to eat in restaurant 3 or four occasions a day can truly assist maintain the expenses in check. Plus you don not need to waste valuable time trying to locate a restaurant that could all by itself trigger much arguing and fighting that the holiday could really well end correct there. Nothing can destroy a enjoyable holiday quick than bad tension.

Who can remember all of the games that they played within the back seat when vacationing. You will find so numerous to select from that there might be a constant stream for days using the traditional eye spy for that small ones and also the a lot more physical games for example punch buggy hit for that large ones. Then there’s usually mom and dads preferred game that only becomes a lot more enjoyable with each passing hour, the quiet game.

A potentially big downfall for the travel trailer vacations could be that they are more time consuming that just hopping on a plane and getting to your destination in a few hours. But if you look at it like valuable family time instead of wasting time then it turns out to be another benefit.

Going to airports are so crazy and many times problems arise like baggage searches and body searches which can put a bit of a problem into a holiday. Plus having to show up three hours early just to get through security on time can make children bored and start to fight.

Clearly the very best method to travel like a loved ones will be a motorhome holiday. The time together is priceless and also the points which are seen and experienced are remembered by children for a lifetime.

The National Parks System Offers a Myriad of Opportunities for Disabled Travelers

I’ve said it before, but I am happy to reiterate that traveling in a motorhome is a very comfortable and affordable means of transportation for the disabled.  It allows you to explore different parts of our country and experience some unforgettable opportunities.  I can think of nothing more awesome than a trip to our National Parks.

There are 391 areas in the National Parks System covering more than 84 million acres.  These areas consist of National Parks, National Seashores, National Forests, historical and military areas, as well as scenic and recreational trails and waterways.  All are kept immaculately clean, amply staffed, and easily accessible.

The National Parks Service offers a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass absolutely free to disabled persons.  This Pass, called America the Beautiful Pass, allows the pass holder, plus three additional persons in their party, free entrance to federal recreational sites that charge a free.  It also provides a 50% discount on extra activities such as camping, swimming, boat launching, tours, and specialized services for the cardholder.  Concessionaries (gift shops, food, etc.) are usually not included in this discount.

The America the Beautiful Pass is a lifetime free pass and can only be obtained in person at any National Park.  In order to obtain this pass, you must provide valid documentation for your disability.  This documentation can include a written physicians statement; documentation from a Federal agency such as the Veterans Administration or Social Security Disability Income; proof of Supplementary Income; or a document issued by a state agency.

The National Parks System wants their parks accessible and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their disability.  Many provide specialized programs in which to participate.  The best way to find out about these programs is to investigate the parks via www.nps.gov.  It is also highly recommended to visit each park’s Welcome Center upon arrival, in order to take full advantage of the programs and activities they offer.

Depending on the disability needs and the particular National Park, there are a variety of services offered.  Most offer ADA compliant tours; some tours are accessible with assistance.  For the visually impaired, audio stations and Braille are used to describe the sights and history in detail.  Service animals are permitted, but due to safety issues, some areas are limited.  For the hearing impaired, employees using sign language assist; as well as the Hearing Helper, which amplifies the audio descriptions.

There are wheelchair accessible decks and doors, as well as paved boardwalks at many of the scenic vistas.  Tram service, golf carts, and beach wheelchairs, which are ambulatory in sand and shallow water, allow access to areas within the National Parks.  For those who cannot get to these sights, CD-Rom, photos, and touchable exhibits are available in the Welcome Centers and Ranger Stations.

Many of our National Parks are easily accessible by motorhome.  The roadways are easily drivable and pull-offs are large enough to afford ample space in which to accommodate the motorhome so the breathtaking views can be enjoyed and appreciated by all.  Some campsites are also specifically reserved for those with disabilities.

Our National Parks System has been set up in order for all of us to experience our country’s natural beauty and history.  Because of a few extra considerations, like free access, special tours, and ADA compliancy, those with disabilities can enjoy our National Parks, as well.

Related articles:

• The Best Of National Parks (slideshare.net)
• Miami daytrip: A journey to the Everglades (locals.oyster.com)

RV Camping – Chicken, Alaska

A motorhome is a very good option of transportation in which a disabled person can travel.  The seating is large and comfortable.  There is ample room in which to maneuver inside the motorhome. The luxury of having bathroom and bedroom facilities “on-board” proves to come in very handy, too.  Everything is within easy reach, including food, clothing, and toiletries.  It is because of these comforts that we are able to travel extensively in our motorhome.

Although all of our road trips are memorable, some are more so than others.  One such trip includes our motorhome trip to Alaska.  We entered Alaska via “Top of the World” Highway, where we truly had a bird’s eye view.  The sights were not only amazing, but experiencing it in a motorhome gave us a new respect for paved roadways.

After crossing customs into Alaska, we traveled another 43 miles via a dirt, “wash-board” road to the first town:  Chicken.  Chicken, Alaska was established in 1903 as a mining camp and post office.  It got its name from the chicken-like Ptarmigan bird, which is plentiful in that area.   Miners wanted to name their camp “Ptarmigan”, but were unable to spell it and settled for “Chicken”…so the story goes.

Chicken, Alaska is actually quite an interesting and unique place.  It has a population of 21 in the summer; six in the winter.  It consists of a gas station, a saloon, a liquor store, a gift shop/mercantile/emporium, a cafe, a gold mining dredge, and a post office.  Dry camping is available in a flat, dirt parking lot.

Chicken, Alaska has no electricity…it runs on generators.  There is also no running water; water is hand-pumped from a well.  There are no bathrooms…outhouses are used.  There is also no telephone service.  Amazingly, Chicken does have Wi-Fi.  We were able to sit comfortably at a table in the cafe, enjoying our espresso, and go online; the generator motors humming noisily behind us.

We were encouraged to drive our motorhome on a narrow, pine tree-lined dirt lane to see the Post Office, which consists of a one-room log structure.  The Post Office is open Monday through Friday, but the mail plane only stops on Tuesday and Friday for delivery and pick-up services.  Talk about having to “plan ahead”.

Upon approaching the driveway which goes up a mountainside, we came eye-to-eye with a moose sculpture directly in front of us.  I think to myself, “How appropriate that the first Alaska Post Office that we see has a statue of a moose.”  As we try to maneuver our motorhome around this sculpture, which we notice also consists of two baby moose on each side, it m-o-v-e-s!  It isn’t a sculpture at afterall…it’s real.  Mommy moose and twins make their way back into the thick woods.  What a thrill for us to have seen this sight.

Traveling in a motorhome is a wonderful way for disabled persons to easily see the sights.  We didn’t see that darn “Ptarmigan” in Chicken, but we did see a moose and her two babies.  What a memory!

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Choosing The Ideal Motorhome

Many people with disabilities choose to use a motor home (RV) for much of their traveling.  While they can be rented for single trips, buying one seemed to be the right choice for this writer (Laura Weaver) and her husband.

The compact, efficient nature of the RV make it quite handy for people with some types of disabilities.  RVs also offer an ability to view the sights from the over-sized windows and windshield while you travel.

Three years ago, my husband and I made the ever-important decision to purchase an RV. Once we made this decision, we had the overwhelming task of deciding what kind of RV to purchase. Luckily, we had several friends who already owned RVs helping us by offering their knowledgeable experience. However, we had a very difficult choice in spite of their advice and opinions since there are so many different styles of RVs from which to choose, and we became quite confused.

Types Of RVs

There are actually two types of RV categories. The first category I will address are Towables. Towable RVs are, just as the name indicates, those which you tow behind your vehicle. They include travel trailers and fifth wheels. Both of these types of RVs have their pros and cons.

Good points in a towable RV include:
1. Interior is divided into actual, more private rooms; bedroom and bathroom are upstairs in a fifth wheel.
2. Easy to maneuver (back, turn, and park).
3. Your driving vehicle is always with you.

Disadvantages in a towable RV are:
1. Can be difficult to level.
2. Very little basement storage area.
3. Traveling to and from destinations may cause damage to items that aren’t secured properly, and you have no way of knowing the damage occurred until you arrive at your destination.

The second category of RV type is the Motorhome. Motorhomes are all-in-one, drivable RVs. They consist of a cockpit area for the driver and passenger; a living/kitchen/dinette area; a bathroom and a bedroom area. These, too, have pros and cons to consider.

Pros of  a Motorhome:
1. Convenience of having everything at your fingertips while on the road. (Can also investigate noises and fix items that need securing during travel.)
2. Lots of basement storage
3. Easy leveling with automatic jacks.

Cons of a Motorhome:
1. Noisy ride.
2. Have to tow your extra vehicle, so can’t back up without unhooking tow vehicle.
3. Maneuverability can sometimes prove difficult.

After considering these RV choices, and weighing in on the pros and cons of each, we decided to select a Motorhome as our Recreational Vehicle. The main contributing factor in this decision was the fact that we didn’t already have a truck/heavy-duty vehicle in which to pull the Towable RV. Although it was a thought-provoking decision to make, we are pleased with our choice.