RV LAND CRUISERS

by Angela Kowalik, Wagon Master

Have you ever considered going on a professional guided RV Tour, or wondered what it’s all about? It’s like taking a cruise but you do it in your RV. Someone else does all the planning, and you just show up and enjoy yourself!

Why consider taking one?

Well, for starters, it’s a stress-free and safe way to travel as the planning is done for you from the campgrounds to the excursions and even some meals are included, and there is safety in numbers (especially when exploring new locations in and outside of the U.S.). You’ll see things that you might not even know were there. And the camaraderie of traveling with others will create instant bonds where you can talk “shop” about your RV, explore the area together, and share travel experiences. You could even meet your new best friend!

So what is an RV Caravan?

An RV Caravan travels from location to location moving between destinations on a pre-planned route. Rather than nose-to-tail travel (convoy style), scattered travel is recommended so that you can travel at your own pace enjoying the sites (and wildlife) along the way. Some popular RV tours include Alaska, and the Canadian Maritimes, or how about a trip down the Mississippi River Road, the East Coast, West Coast, or the entire Route 66?

And what is a Rally?

A “rally” is where RVers meet and stay at one location and all the events occur from that central location. Once you arrive at the rally point, your adventure happens near and around you (and you don’t have to move the RV). Rallies might be focused on exploring a geographic area like Washington DC, San Antonio, New Orleans, or the Black Hills and Badlands, or be based around an event like the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Rose Bowl Parade, Calgary Stampede, or NATO Festival & Tattoo

Some members of our RV group have utilized an RV tour company for these great adventures, for example Larry & Joy Wissing and Angela & Brian Kowalik, and we’d be happy to share our experiences. To join the group and keep up with our events where we will be making adventures happen, please contact Angela Kowalik at SPYCRVLandCruisers@gmail.com

Did you know?

1. The very first RV was built from a car in 1904.

2. There are 11 million households in the US that currently own an RV.

3. In 2021, RVing was a 140 billion dollar industry.

4. The most expensive RV was sold in Dubai for $3 million in 2017

5. The average RV vacation is 60% less expensive than a traditional hotel/ airplane vacation.

6. Airstream began in the garage of Wally Byam. He finally opened a factory in 1931 because neighbors complained about the garage noise.

7. Canada receives 90% of American RV exports.

8. As of 2021, there are 1,664,861 campsites in the US.

9. Full time RVers make up only 1.5% of all RVers.

10. The average RVer travels 190 miles to their campsite.

11. The average RV owner uses their RV an average of 28 to 35 days per year.

12. RV owners average 4,500 miles annually.

13. The average RV owner is 48 years old.

14. The RV industry (manufacturers, campgrounds, etc.) employs over 680,000 people.

15. The first “how-to” camping book in the US, Adventures in the Wilderness, was published in 1869 by William H.H. Murray.

16. The first camping club, Tin Can Tourists, was founded in 1919. The members would sit on the side of the road and heat tin cans of food over a campfire.

17. In 1967, Winnebago adapted the assembly line production, allowing them to sell Rvs for almost half the price of their competitors.

18. Since 1980, RV ownership has increased by almost 60%

RVing has quite a history. Here are 18 Interesting Facts that you may not already know about. Information

by Carol Hansen - Salty Sisters & Broad Reachers