It can be fun to live in a motor home. Traveling from one place to another, without spending on hotels, can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. Not to mention the adventure of learning about a new places, experiencing different cultures and interacting with a range of locals.

Some people think that going on an RV road trip means they’ll be confined to their vehicle the entire trip, but this is hardly the case. Virtually anywhere you visit will have an RV park close by with an assortment amenities and ample opportunities to meet like-minded sojourners. Just last weekend my wife and I visited an Eastern Washington RV park during our trek from Seattle to Minneapolis. It was definitely one of the nicer ones we’ve been to, and I made a point to mark it on the map we keep posted up in the back of the RV.

For many people, recreational vehicles fit into a grand life plan. In a way, they represent the fulfillment of the American Dream. Once a couple settles down, has kids and pays off the mortgage, it’s time to traverse the great national landscape in style and luxury. RVs are also reminiscent of another American ideal: manifest destiny. We explore unfamiliar locales in hopes of laying claim to something new and exciting.

Yet RVs are not an end in themselves. RV owners have to consider plenty of mundane details before setting out onto the open road. One of the most important of these considerations is where you are going to set up shop each night. Whether we need Eastern Washington RV camping or some lodging in the Deep South, we always do our research before we depart.

Family vacations are about much more than the destination. Take a moment to listen to a proud father recounting his favorite vacation memories and you’ll notice that the place becomes arbitrary when compared to the people. Even in trying financial times, families can spend a few days together away from the pressures of work and school.

For an affordable family vacation, consider limiting travel time and reducing the costs of lodging. An RV park in a local woodland area could take the place of some far-off national monument. The marshmallows roasted over an open fire taste just as delicious. Family fun doesn’t need to cost a bundle, so look into the logistics of traveling to a Washington RV park for your next “staycation.”