Part 1: Getting Started 9 Chapter 1: All the Best Reasons to Take an RV Vacation 11 Counting the Reasons to RV 12 Containing costs 12 Enjoying maximum convenience 13 Controlling the destination 13 Finding your rhythm on the road 14 Having room for lug-along stuff 14 Being close to events 15 Bringing your pets for free 15 Changing your mind if you want to 15 Keeping it clean 16 Reaping the scenic rewards of driving 16 Keeping the kids entertained 17 Discovering Something for Everyone 17 Saving Money in a Campground 19 Finding Top Locations around the USA 21 Choosing some of the best campgrounds 22 Seeing museums that are well worth the visit 22 Stopping in national parks along the way 24 Chapter 2: Making Destination Decisions 27 Revealing the Secrets of the Seasons 27 Scoping Out Your Perfect RV Vacation 29 Part 2: Paying Attention to the Details 35 Chapter 3: Building Your Travel Budget 37 Adding It Up: Your Vacation Budget 37 Transportation 38 RV and camping supplies 39 Campgrounds 39 Food 40 Attractions and activities 40 Shopping and entertainment 40 Testing the Waters: RV Rentals 41 When to rent 41 How to rent 42 How to get the best rate 44 Taking the Plunge: RV Purchases 44 Why you should visit an RV show 45 How to deal with dealers 46 Where not to shop for an RV 46 How to finance your purchase 47 Chapter 4: Enjoying Your RV 49 Driving Your RV 49 Focusing on the basics 50 Going beyond the basics: My tips 52 Controlling your speed 54 Saving Money on Fuel 54 Detecting Gas and Smoke 55 Equipping Your RV 56 Monitoring Electrical Hookups 59 Preparing for Winter Camping 59 Furnishing Your RV 60 Cleaning Your RV 61 Outside the vehicle 62 Inside the vehicle 63 Holding tanks 64 Storing Your RV 65 Chapter 5: Settling In for the Night 67 Understanding Campground Recommendations 67 Using Campground Directories 68 Comparing Private and Public Campgrounds 70 Choosing a Site 71 Parking Your Rig 73 Hooking Up 74 Sleeping by the Side of the Road: A Good Idea? 77 Chapter 6: Meeting Special Travel Needs and Interests 79 RVing with Kids 79 RVing with Pets 80 RVing for People with Disabilities 82 RVing for Seniors 83 Joining an RV Club 84 Caravan tours and rallies 85 RV clubs 85 Chapter 7: Odds and Ends 87 Mapping the Way 87 Staying Connected on the Road 89 Cable TV 89 Satellite TV 89 Cellphones 90 Online services 91 Buying RV Insurance 91 Staying Safe and Secure on the Road 92 Carrying a Gun 93 Part 3: Exploring the East 95 Chapter 8: The Coast of Maine: Lobster Land 97 Choosing Your Route 98 Planning Ahead 98 Must-See Attractions 101 More Cool Things to See and Do 106 Our Favorite Campgrounds 108 Good Eats 111 Lobster central 111 More than lobster: Markets and meals 114 Fast Facts 115 Chapter 9: Western New York: Cooperstown to Niagara Falls 117 Choosing Your Route 118 Planning Ahead 119 Must-See Attractions 121 More Cool Things to See and Do 125 Our Favorite Campgrounds 127 Good Eats 130 The full-meal deal 130 Nibbles along the way 132 Fast Facts 133 Chapter 10: The Blue Ridge Mountains: Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway 135 Choosing Your Route 136 Planning Ahead 137 Must-See Attractions 138 More Cool Things to See and Do 141 Our Favorite Campgrounds 143 Blue Ridge Parkway campgrounds 144 Great Smoky Mountains National Park campgrounds 145 Shenandoah National Park campgrounds 146 Good Eats 147 Shopping along the Way 149 Fast Facts 150 Chapter 11: The Gulf Coast: Tallahassee to New Orleans 151 Choosing Your Route 152 Planning Ahead 153 Must-See Attractions 156 More Cool Things to See and Do 159 Our Favorite Campgrounds 161 Good Eats 163 Seafood markets 163 More markets 164 Snacks and full-meal deals 165 Fast Facts 166 Chapter 12: The Natchez Trace: Natchez to Nashville 167 Choosing Your Route 168 Planning Ahead 169 Must-See Attractions 170 More Cool Things to See and Do 173 Our Favorite Campgrounds 175 Good Eats 178 Shopping along the Way 181 Fast Facts 182 Part 4: Discovering Mid-America 183 Chapter 13: Texas Hill Country: Bluebonnets and Barbecue 185 Choosing Your Route 186 Planning Ahead 187 Must-See Attractions 188 More Cool Things to See and Do 192 Our Favorite Campgrounds 194 Good Eats 196 Barbecue joints 197 Beyond barbecue: Old-timey good eats 200 Fast Facts 201 Chapter 14: The Heart of Ohio: A Circle around Circleville 203 Choosing Your Route 204 Planning Ahead 205 Must-See Attractions 206 More Cool Things to See and Do 212 Our Favorite Campgrounds 214 Good Eats 216 Meals of chili, sauerkraut, and Amish cooking 216 Snacks of chocolate, cheese, and ice cream 218 Shopping along the Way 219 Fast Facts 220 Chapter 15: Northern Minnesota: Paul Bunyan Country 221 Choosing Your Route 222 Planning Ahead 223 Must-See Attractions 224 More Cool Things to See and Do 228 Our Favorite Campgrounds 230 Good Eats 233 Shopping along the Way 234 Fast Facts 235 Chapter 16: Lake Superior Circle Tour 237 Choosing Your Route 238 Planning Ahead 239 Must-See Attractions 240 More Cool Things to See and Do 243 Our Favorite Campgrounds 244 Good Eats 247 Fast Facts 248 Chapter 17: The Ozarks and Branson: Hot Springs to Springfield 251 Choosing Your Route 252 Planning Ahead 253 Must-See Attractions 254 More Cool Things to See and Do 257 Our Favorite Campgrounds 260 Good Eats 263 Fast Facts 266 Part 5: Seeing the West 267 Chapter 18: Montana and Wyoming: Tracking Buffalo Bill 269 Choosing Your Route 270 Planning Ahead 270 Must-See Attractions 273 More Cool Things to See and Do 278 Our Favorite Campgrounds 280 Good Eats 285 Fast Facts 286 Chapter 19: New Mexico: Billy the Kid Meets E.T 287 Choosing Your Route 288 Planning Ahead 289 Must-See Attractions 290 Carlsbad Caverns 291 More Cool Things to See and Do 296 Our Favorite Campgrounds 298 Good Eats 300 Shopping along the Way 303 Fast Facts 303 Chapter 20: The Oregon Coast: California to Washington 305 Choosing Your Route 306 Planning Ahead 307 Must-See Attractions 308 More Cool Things to See and Do 312 Our Favorite Campgrounds 314 Good Eats 318 Full-meal deal 318 Regional specialties 319 Shopping along the Way 321 Fast Facts 321 Chapter 21: California''s Central Coast: Malibu to Monterey 323 Choosing Your Route 324 Planning Ahead 325 Must-See Attractions 327 More Cool Things to See and Do 331 Our Favorite Campgrounds 334 Good Eats 337 Santa Maria barbecue 337 Markets and meals 339 Fast Facts 340 Chapter 22: Route 66: OK to L.A 341 Choosing Your Route 342 Planning Ahead 343 Must-See Attractions 345 More Cool Things to See and Do 350 Our Favorite Campgrounds 352 Good Eats 355 Shopping along the Way 357 Fast Facts 358 Chapter 23: ALCAN Trip: Seattle to Fairbanks 359 Choosing Your Route 360 Planning Ahead 362 Must-See Attractions 363 More Cool Things to See and Do 365 Our Favorite Campgrounds 366 Good Eats 370 Fast Facts 371 Part 6: The Part of Tens 373 Chapter 24: More than Ten Cool Places to Visit in the United States and Canada 375 Alabama 376 Alaska 376 Arizona 376 Arkansas 377 California 377 Colorado 377 Connecticut 378 Delaware 378 Florida 379 Georgia 379 Hawaii 380 Idaho 380 Illinois 380 Indiana 381 Iowa 381 Kansas 382 Kentucky 382 Louisiana 382 Maine 383 Maryland 383 Massachusetts 383 Michigan 384 Minnesota 385 Mississippi 385 Missouri 385 Montana 386 Nebraska 386 Nevada 386 New Hampshire 387 New Jersey 387 New Mexico 387 New York 388 North Carolina 388 North Dakota 389 Ohio 389 Oklahoma 390 Oregon 390 Pennsylvania 390 Rhode Island 390 South Carolina 391 South Dakota 391 Tennessee 391 Texas 392 Utah 392 Vermont 392 Virginia 393 Washington 393 West Virginia 393 Wisconsin 394 Wyoming 394 Alberta, Canada 394 British Co.