One of the blessings of RVing is the ability to pursue our passions. By traveling to events and destinations related to a particular hobby or interest we expand our knowledge in a hands-on, experiential way. To help your experiences be as pleasurable as possible, below are some continued tips related to destinations and sightseeing.
- Check road maps for upcoming rest areas or picnic areas and welcome centers. (You may not think you want information at a welcome center as you approach it, but experience tells me that every time I pass one by, I later wish I had stopped either for a map of that state or for general information that would help me identify what I was seeing.)
- Pay close attention to the directions to your campground and orient yourself using a map. You may need to know later how to go into town and back.
- When you’re heading for higher elevations, watch out for altitude sickness. Allow extra time to acclimate yourself to the thinner air. It’s a good idea to stay at 5,000 feet for a day or two before going higher. At 5,000 feet, it’s normal to notice a faster heartbeat and increased breathing rate due to lower oxygen levels. For the first two or three days, some people may experience dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nasal congestion, and difficulty sleeping. If the altitude starts to bother you, take deep breaths; avoid overexertion; eat high-carbohydrate foods; go easy on alcohol, caffeine, and salty foods; and drink more water than usual.
- You’ll take more pictures if your camera is handy. Keep it beside the passenger seat and have a purse or fanny pack that’s big enough to hold it.
- If you’d like to travel to a remote location such as Alaska but are not sure you can handle it on your own, consider an RV caravan. Touring by caravan has a lot of advantages. The sponsoring group plans the itinerary and makes advance reservations for campgrounds and group activities such as meals, ferries, sightseeing, and shows.
Enjoy your RVing!
Bernice