WIDE OPEN SPACES

WIDE OPEN SPACES BY MELISSA WISTEHUFF HIT THE ROAD IN AN RV

Countless norms have been challenged in the last two years, and how we spend our vacations is most definitely one of them. Those who use to travel for work suddenly found themselves zooming into meetings instead of shaking hands face-to-face, and families who set aside part of their budget to go on an annual vacation to destinations like Disney World started thinking outside the box to find less cumbersome—an less crowded—respites.

With many Americans still reluctant to cram into tight spaces (Hello, recirculated airplane air and short-staffed hotels!), many in search of an escape have been trading their airline miles and hotel points for open-road adventures and starlight slumbers. With summer months upon us and dreams of getaways casting a sunny outlook on our busy schedules, the fastest-growing trend in travel has us asking, “RV there yet?”

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA

If one good thing came out of COVID, it’s that it uprooted how we think about work and school: That if we can work

from anywhere, why not work in an RV while looking out at crashing waves or vast prairies?

Adventure-seekers need not travel beyond U.S. borders to find spectacular backdops, as there are endless destinations offering a plethora of natural environments— from farms and mountains to deserts and lakes. With 63

national parks, nearly 500 amusement parks and scenic countless campgrounds, America the Beautiful takes on new meaning when traveling across it in an RV.

RV travel lends itself perfectly to checking off bucketlist items. Want to visit all 30 Major League ballparks or all 50 state fairs? How about cheer for your favorite NASCAR driver from the infield of evey racetrack? Perhaps you dream of winery tours or perusing the world’s longest yard sale (it’s 690 miles long and spans six states, in case you’re wondering!), or drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Northeast to the Southeast as the

LEFT Brodie and Eric Jenkins purchased a class B Airstream Interstate 19 Touring Coach in November 2020, before there was an RV waiting list. When they take it on the road, their Belgian Tervuren, Phoebe, loves to come along for the ride.

Photo by MASH Photography

fall foliage season peaks in different areas. An RV life accommodates all interests, allowing you to move at your own pace while stopping to smell the roses along the way.

RVs come in nearly every shape and size. From teardrop campers to Class A motorhomes, there is an RV for every lifestyle or family size. Let’s hop on board with two local couples who give us a glimpse into their RV lifestyles.

ADVENTURE CRAVERS

BRODIE AND ERIC JENKINS Not ones to make rushed decisions, dentist Brodie and her husband Eric—who has worked from home before working from home was the norm—shopped around for an RV for more than a dozen years. But when the pandemic uprooted their daily lives, they decided to take the bull—or in this case, Airstream—by the horns. They bought a class B Airstream Interstate 19 Touring Coach built on a MercedesBenz sprinter van with a short wheel base. “When we purchased it in November 2020, we figued that with all the uncertainty, it was a good time to find a deal on an V,” Eric says. “Nowadays, waitlists for RVs are at least a year out.”

With plans to travel with children Rhone, age 20, and Pearl, age 17—plus three dogs—space and quality were top priorities. The Airstream is hard-sided and quick to pack up and go, making it easy to work around Brodie’s busy dental practice schedule when the couple wants to make a getaway. So far, they’ve used the RV at least six times per year, but they dream of a time when they’ll be able to up that to once a month. Top on that their destination requirements consist of locales with good hiking opportunities and dog-friendly beaches and restaurants, and it becomes clear that the Jenkins’ RV travel scenarios require a little advance planning.

Their favorite trip so far—and longest, at 2,000 miles— was to Badlands, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in 2021. “Owning an RV offers the ability to have a full kitchen, bathroom and your own bed on wheels. It’s liberating and it opens up so many opportunities to go

LEFT The Jenkins’ goal is to begin traveling in their RV at least once a month. On their list of destination requirements: hiking opportunities and dog-friendly destinations.

Photo by MASH Photography

HAPPY CAMPER TIPS FROM BRODIE AND ERIC

• Do your research. Don’t buy on impulse and invest in the best-quality build you can afford. • Make a list of your non-negotiables—and don’t veer from it. • Read blogs, watch YouTube and scour the internet. Find out as much as you can so you can decide which RV is right for you. • Know that this doesn’t have to be your forever RV. Needs change over time; so does your understanding of what is important to you. and explore anywhere without worrying about accommodations—not to mention packing and unpacking all the time,” Eric says. “The RV makes it easy to carry our adventure equipment with us everywhere we go.”

So, where’s next for the adventurous Jenkins family? “We were planning on Glacier National Park, but then we opted for Alaska instead,” Eric says, before remembering their upcoming trip to Jekyll Island, Georgia, followed by Disney World, where they’ll camp at Fort Wilderness.

Sounds like their adventures are just beginning!

WHY NOT NOW?

KRISTEN AND ZAYNE TABER We first met Kristen and Zayne back in 2020 when w wrote our “To Have and To Hold” collection of

wedding stories for our March/April 2020 issue. They shared the fabulous details of their Italian nuptials, then settled down on a farm in Warrenton—about an

hour north of downtown Raleigh—until the pandemic pushed them to reexamine their bucket lists. We already know the pair is capable of thinking outside the box (Ciao, Tuscany matrimony!), but living full-time in an RV takes thrill-seeking to an entirely different level.

“We’d always talked about selling everything and living full-time in an RV, and when COVID shut everything down, we thought, ‘Why not try it now?’” Kristen says. As owner of Tabletop Media Group—a media agency servicing food, beverage, agriculture and lifestyle companies—she can work remotely. And Zayne, a business developer and investor, is also able to work in remote situations. So the Tabers sold the

farm, purchased a 44-foot Keystone Fuzion 429 Toy Hauler and hit the road with their three dogs in tow.

THIS PAGE Phoebe, almost 2 years old, stays attached to her owners during their RV travels.

Photo by MASH Photography

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP After COVID hit, Kristen and Zayne Taber decided to sell everything and live full-time in an RV.

OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM The Tabers purchased a 44-foot Keystone Fuzion 429 Toy Hauler and hit the road.

Photos courtesy of Kristen and Zayne Taber

Although their monstrous fifth wheel was “nicer than their old farm house,” the Tabers quickly learned that most state parks don’t have RV spots larger than 35 feet. “It was bigger than my first apatment, but a beast to maneuver,” Kristen says.

The couple eventually downsized to a smaller RV and headed as far as Key West. Their favorite “hidden gem” is close to home: Bullocksville Campground at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area. “It offers stunning lake views with gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, as well as beach areas with paddleboards and kayaks,” Kristen says.

Even though the couple has returned to living within four walls in a traditional home, Kristen says she wouldn’t trade their year-long road adventure for anything. “We’re excited that life seems to be getting back to normal, and that I can meet with clients in person now,” she says. “The dogs are happy to have a fenced-in yard and a home without wheels, but we’ll always treasure the year we spent roaming the Southeast in an RV.”

HAPPY CAMPER TIPS FROM KRISTEN AND ZAYNE

• Practice backing up and parking in an empty lot with cones. Be sure to do this before you head out on your first adenture.

• Find an RV that is 35 feet long or smaller. This is the standard parking spot size in most campground RV lots. • Rent different RVs before making your final puchase.

That way you’ll know what works best for you. • Book campsites well in advance. Most of them are reserved quickly.

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP The Tabers’ 44-foot RV offered plenty of space, but was a “beast to maneuver,” Kristen Taber says.

OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM LEFT The Tabers traveled across the Southeast for a full year before selling their RV and moving into a traditional home.

OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM RIGHT The Tabers’ three dogs enjoyed their RV adventures, but also loved returning to a fenced-in yard.

Photos courtesy of Kristen and Zayne Taber S’MORE STATS

• 72 million Americans are planning to hit the road in an RV this year—up from 25 million pre-pandemic. • More than 11 million American heads of households own an RV. This number has increased dramatically in recent years due to younger couples and families seeking an active outdoor lifestyle and Baby Boomers entering retirement. • Depending on its size and features, the average cost of an RV ranges from $20,000 to $300,000. Yes, that’s quite a range, but keep in mind that a small teardrop camper is much easier on the pocketbook. If luxury glamping is your style, expect a heftier price tag. • There are approximately 4,300 RV “regular” campsites in the U.S. (Even more if you check out harvesthosts.com, as you’ll see below.) • The average age of an RV owner is 48 years old, and he or she spends roughly three to four weeks on the road annually. • Most parks only allow campers to stay for a maximum of 14 days, so plan accordingly. Sources: RV Industry Association and Camper Report

CAMPING RESOURCES

Harvest Hosts Harvest Hosts offers a membership service to overnight stays at unique camping locations across the country, such as breweries, museums and golf courses. Every RV owner we’ve spoken to has said Harvest Hosts is an absolute must as far as finding spots in which to park our RV across the country. Learn more at harvesthosts.com.

Glamp Raleigh Not quite ready for an RV investment? Glamp Raleigh is a service that brings camping to you. The company will set up chic campsites in your backyard so you can have all the fun of spending a night in the great outdoors without doing any of the work. Learn more at glampraleigh.com.

TOP 10 RV DESTINATIONS

1. Yellowstone National Park

2. Grand Canyon National Park 3. Redwood National Park

4. Crater Lake National Park

5. Colonial Williamsburg 6. Blue Ridge Parkway 7. Mount Rushmore National Memorial

8. Arches National Park

9. Rapid City, South Dakota 10. Fall Foliage Tours Source: rvroadtrip.us