If you’ve been following along, you know that we’ve spent a few weeks this summer exploring the backyard of our lovely Alberta, with Go RV – experiencing those subtle differences in ‘glamping’ with an RV. As part of that experience, I can safely say that I’ve been converted and convinced to ditch the cot in a tent for a mattress in an RV.
What converted me? Truthfully, the convenience and features – some of the features I didn’t know I needed until I experienced them.
Outdoor Kitchen | We do a lot of cooking over the campfire, but let’s face it – sometimes you’ve got kids that are hungry from hiking across the hoodoos all afternoon and they need to eat. You’re going to want something that’s going to get food on the table fast (and that’s still convenient for you). The outdoor kitchen is an essential for mealtime now, making it easy to multi-task, while still getting that ‘outdoor feeling’ when you’re cooking. The extra storage it provides and the fact that you don’t have to bring a camping stove adds to the appeal.
Separate Bathroom Door | I estimate that each of my kids goes to the bathroom at least 94 times a day when we’re camping. Whether they need to wash their hands, go the bathroom, just look at something in the mirror or get cleaned up after ‘they fell in quicksand’ you’re going to want to avoid tracking all of that through the RV. The separate door is something that has become an essential on our list.
Bunkhouse | This one’s for older kids. The youngest one still wants to ‘snug’ with us during the night, as she prefers to be close when we’re in unfamiliar territory but the bunkhouse was a fantastic add-on for bringing along friends, as it can sleep four and gives you storage for that specific ‘kid stuff’ like extra toys, blankets, pillows, books, clothes and has a place for the kids to call their own (and helps to reduce kid clutter)
Comfortable Beds | If you are going to be spending any length of time in the RV, you’re going to want to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep – after all, it’s hard to be an explorer when you’re tossing and turning all night. You might want to consider upgrading the mattress, or using a mattress topper if you’re not sold on the beds, and make sure to try the beds (and all the sleeping areas) before you make your final decision.
Storage | Storage, storage and more storage. If you’re heading out on the road multiple times a year, or a few weekends in a row (like we did for the past month), you’re going to want to be able to store things, and have them organized. We left things like blankets, towels, extra sweaters, toys, games and chairs inside of the RV – saving us time every time we packed up the trailer for the weekend. Look for a unit with multiple places to store items, cubbies and cabinets with lots of space – if you’re traveling with kids, you’re going to need it.
RV Shopping? You can visit Go RV at 2302 Sparrow Drive, in Nisku and check out the selection, and helpful staff for yourself. Need camping supplies? There’s a great-big near-end-of-season-sale on right now!
This feature is a part of a series that we’re working on to encourage families to get outside. We’ve teamed up with Go RV to explore four campgrounds in Alberta. To make it easier for your family to get out there and discover a new Alberta campground, Go RV is giving one reader the chance to win a week long RV rental to see what the RV Experience is all about.
