By Elleny Hutton, F537189 (13 years old)
I think that traveling around the country in an RV is the coolest way to travel! My family (which includes my dad, mom, and two younger brothers) has a goal to visit all of the national parks. We have been checking them off the list since we started traveling in February 2021.
As shown by Elleny, sledding at White Sands National Park in New Mexico makes for great fun.
First, we had a Lance travel trailer that was only 24 feet long and had triple bunk beds. After being trapped inside for five days during a Texas ice storm, we realized that we’d all like a little more space. We eventually upgraded to a Dynamax Force, which is a Super C. I even have my own bunk above the driver’s cab, which we call my “apartment,” because it’s so spacious!
My favorite thing about RVing is meeting new people. We’ve met and stayed in contact with campers from around the country who have become friends! We camped next to an older couple in South Carolina and then “bumped into them” at a campground in Big Bend National Park, Texas, two years later! They are like grandparents to us, and we recently moochdocked at their house in Kentucky on our way to Mammoth Cave National Park. They are so fun and we had an awesome visit!
In February 2023 we were trapped inside Catalina State Park in Arizona when the road flooded, and none of the campers were able to leave until the water went down. During one of
our walks around the campground, we met a family with three young kids. They were only planning on spending one night at the campground because they had just picked up their new camper. Therefore, they were not prepared to be stuck for five days and were running low on food and diapers for their babies. We invited them over for dinner and had a great time getting to know them. We are planning to travel to Alaska together in the future.
Another thing I love about RVing is seeing new places. We have been to 29 states so far and are planning to visit all of them. At every national park, my brothers and I earn the Junior Ranger badge.
Finally, RVing is a great way to spend time with family. Since we are always together, we’ve become closer and are forced to work out our differences because there is nowhere to hide! My parents encourage us to go hiking, mountain biking, and exploring the outdoors together. They call it “forced family fun,” but it’s really not that bad.
In conclusion, RV life as a kid is amazing because of all these reasons!
Stories Wanted!
Is your child interested in submitting an article to the “RVing Kids” column? It can be about a vacation you took, a convention you attended, how to enjoy RV travel as a kid, or another RV topic. Suggested length: 200 words or less. Please email it to editor@fmca.com. Also include one or more high-resolution digital photos to accompany the story, along with a parent’s contact info. We will notify you via email if your story is selected. Submissions may be edited for space and clarity.