When you are an RVer, and your home is on wheels, how do you decide where to go and what to do? The freedom to choose where and how you will travel is exciting. That excitement can also be the fuel that motivates you through the hard work of downsizing all your stuff.  When downsizing had us weary and worn out, thoughts of outdoor adventures kept us motivated and enthusiastic.

It seems simple right? The open road is calling.  You pick a few incredible locations and head down the road. But how do you come up with a travel plan that best reflects who you are and what you want to do?

These thoughts guide us as we plan our travel. We hope they help you as you plan yours.

Make Your Journey Your Own

With so many travel websites, blogs and photographs that highlight breathtaking destinations, it would be easy to fall into the trap of chasing someone else’s road trip or bucket list.   Stay true to yourself when making your plans. Focus on the things that mean the most to you.

Dave is in awe of the beauty in the gorge on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. He is doing one of the things he loves most, whitewater kayaking.

Tip #1 when planning your travels, make your journey your own. We do!  Our interests range from hiking, fishing, and whitewater kayaking to history and photography.  Both of us have a keen interest in Science. Dave loves technology, and I am always curious to know how things work.  Because of that, we can easily be lured in to see a unique museum, a Science display or historical exhibit.  We couldn’t resist visiting the Kennedy Space Center.  For anyone with an interest in space history, this place is super cool!

We love to explore small towns as much as big metropolitan cities, and we enjoy five-star dining as much as local diners. Hiking and high-tech, kayaking and craft beers, these and more are just a few of the things we will include in our travels.

Whatever your mix of interests or hobbies is, design a travel plan with people, places, and things that bring you the most joy.  Fill your travel days with all the things you love and make your journey your own.

Be Open to Change

Tip #2  Once you have your travel plan in place, be flexible and open to change along the way.  We like to leave room for impromptu stops, side trips, and detours.  There is nothing like a spur of the moment change in plans to add variety and adventure to your travels.  Why am I all smiles?  Because we didn’t pass up this Amish Farmers Market. Fresh vegetables and the chance to explore made this stop so worth it.

A Farmers Market in Pennsylvania that we couldn’t resist.  It’s the little things. Take time to smell the flowers and herbs!

Travel at Your Own Pace

When you hit the road, you realize just how much there is to see and do.  Most of us try to cover too much ground and spread ourselves a bit too thin.  To avoid travel burn out, think about your travel style. Ask yourself how fast or slow you want to travel.

Tip #3, go at your own pace. Whether you prefer action-packed travel and move every few days to “see it all” or stay in one place for a month and leisurely explore, decide what pace works for you and roll with it.

We’ve been there, the fear of missing out. It can be tempting to rush from place to place and travel too quickly.  You can see a lot, but you miss things too.  For us, RV travel is about the journey, so we made a conscious decision to take it slow.  We explore what we see on the way to each destination as much as the destination itself.  Sometimes the best memories are made in between. Whatever travel speed works for you, embrace your pace and enjoy the entire journey.

Chart a Course for Perfect Weather

We love great weather, who doesn’t?  When you live in an RV, it’s much easier and more fun to travel to places that don’t typically have weather extremes. Of course with Mother Nature in charge, you can’t always have what you want, but you can try.

Tip #4 chart a course for picture-perfect weather. Select a weather-friendly destination.  After all, warm days and cooler nights make RV travel and outdoor adventures a lot more pleasant!

Stay True to Your Reasons for Rving

One of the reasons we wanted to RV was to have the flexibility and freedom to explore the U.S., but equally as important was to be able to spend more time with family.   With family and friends spread out across the U.S., the idea of being mobile so we can travel to where family and friends are and spend more time together was essential to us.

Tip#5 when you create your travel plans, stay true to the reasons you wanted to travel in the first place.  If your goals are to visit every state in the U.S., explore every National Park, or spend more time with family and friends, make sure you reach YOUR goals.

Photo below-enjoying time with friends and a beautiful sunset.

So, what are we up too?  Our journey will take us our from North Carolina to Maine, and we will explore along the way.

What will we do when we get there? We have plans, but decided not to over plan and let the journey unfold.  Part of the excitement of travel is that you never really know what type of adventures you may encounter and we are open to them all.

Why Maine? Well, that’s an easy one, beautiful scenery, plenty of outdoorsy things to do and so much to explore.  And our hearts are full that we can spend more time with our family and friends.

These thoughts helped us focus on what matters to us as we travel. We hope they’ll help you too whether you are in an RV or not.

When you travel, the words of Confucius say it best, “wherever you go, go there with all your heart.”