RIGS FOR THE ROAD LIFE The Ever-Changing Landscape of Adventure Vehicles BY ELLEN KANZINGER
I
n the past two years, the pandemic has inspired people to escape city streets and seek solitude on the backroads of the Blue Ridge and beyond. And ubiquitous transitions to remote work have provided the freedom to be mobile, leading to extended stays in campgrounds and national parks. That’s caused an uptick in demand for adventure-ready vehicles. Campers, pop-ups, motorhomes, rooftop tents, vans, remodeled school buses—the options are plentiful, especially as more crafty travelers undertake creative buildouts. Here, adventurers around the region detail their rigs and share tales from the road.
Becoming Weekend Warriors When the pandemic hit, Stephanie Velez Watson and her husband Ken were looking for a quarantine-friendly way to travel and get outside with their son, Cielo. They quickly realized staying in Airbnbs everywhere was not sustainable, but they still wanted a level of travel
22
BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS
comfort that tent camping could not offer. when it is cold, Cielo wants to travel in the In the summer of 2020, they purchased camper. “The fact that he just loves it so Ask what they consider a smaller-sized camper much—going out, being in the camper, Questions and have not looked back since. “By small, helping me make a fire, going for hikes, I mean at least can fit me because I’m six just being outdoors and thinking about Knowledge doesn’t feet seven inches,” Ken Watson said. the simple things in life—that’s what I love exist solely in blogs and listicles found After finding the right size rig, the about the RV,” Ken said. online. “Don’t be couple started the time-consuming The Watsons aren’t the only ones with afraid to ask for process of making it feel like home. From newfound affinity for recreational vehicles. advice,” Watson teal cabinets and new tiling to updated According to the RV Industry Association, said. “People have cushions and pillows, the Watsons RV sales increased by nearly 40 percent been doing this for generations.” completely remodeled the camper in a in 2021 over 2020. Despite issues with the week. “We’re kind of those people who go supply chain and rising gas prices, dealers balls to the wall when we’re going to do reported selling just over 600,000 units, something,” Velez Watson said. the biggest sales year on record since 2017. The Watsons travel one to three weekends a From Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah month, mostly staying at cost-effective, mom-and-pop National Parks to the Jersey Shore, the Watsons campsites. As parents both working jobs in a hospital, traveled all over the region in their first year and a RVing is a great way for the family to disconnect from F I N D A P L A C E T O PA R K Y O U R A D V E N T U R E R I G B Y T H E WAT E R . P H O T O city life and spend quality time together outside. Even C O U R T E S Y O F M O U N TA I N S TAT E O V E R L A N D
