Exploring America by RV Book

	Introduction: The RV Life & Reasons to Hit the Road	xiii
	You Set the Lifestyle	xiv
	RVing for Travelers with Disabilities	xvii
Part 1	Getting Ready to Hit the Road	1
1	Life on the Road: A Personal & Public History of RVing	3
	Excerpts from a Road Diary; or, If We Can Do This, Anyone Can	3
	How to Give Backing-Up Directions Without Destroying Your Marriage	7
	RV History: The Tin Can Tourists	8
	Thirteen Notable Dates in RV History	11
	Six Common Misperceptions About RVs & Their Owners	12
2	Getting Prepared: RVing Tips & Hints	15
	Driving Schools	15
	Learning Your Vital Statistics	16
	Making a List, Checking It Twice...	16
	What Kind of Wardrobe Is Right?	17
	Stocking the Larder	17
	Don't Drink the Water	25
	Trimming Costs: Eight Money-Saving Tips for the Road	26
	Safety, Sanity & Insurance	27
	Ain't Misbehavin': Road Etiquette	28
	The Community of Man: Getting Together with Other RVers	31
3	Where to Sleep: Campgrounds & RV Parks	35
	Campground Glossary	35
	Should You Sleep by the Side of the Road?	36
	Campsites: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly	37
	Using the Directories to Find a Campground	39
	A Recommended Series from Frommer's	40
	Ten Ways to Save Money on Campgrounds	40
	Membership Campgrounds	42
	Special Camping Situations	44
	Ain't Misbehavin': Campground Etiquette	45
	Ten Tips for Cozy Winter Camping	46
	How to Become Campground Hosts	47
	Plugging in Your Rig	48
Part 2	RV Adventures	51
4	The California Desert & Las Vegas	53
	RVing in the California Desert & Las Vegas	53
	Travel Essentials	57
	The Best Desert Sights, Tastes & Experiences	58
	On the Road	65
	Ten Scenic Side Trips	81
5	Utah's Parks & Canyons	85
	RVing Utah's National Park Country	89
	Travel Essentials	91
	The Best Utah Sights, Tastes & Experiences	93
	Talkin' Utah: A Glossary	99
	On the Road	102
	The History of Utah--And a Tasty Dinner, Too	108
	About Edward Abbey	119
	Ten Scenic Side Trips	124
6	Driving the Alaska Highway	127
	RVing Along the Alaska Highway	131
	Travel Essentials	132
	The Best Alaska Highway Sights, Tastes & Experiences	136
	A Crash Course in Speaking Alaskan	138
	On the Road	141
	Seven Tough Side Trips & Three Easy Ones	153
7	The Dakotas: Black Hills & Buffalo Burgers	157
	RVing the Dakotas	159
	Travel Essentials	161
	The Best Dakotas Sights, Tastes & Experiences	162
	On the Road: South Dakota	174
	The Custer Connection	177
	South Dakota Nightlife	179
	On the Road: North Dakota	184
	A Dozen Terrific Side Trips in the Dakotas	189
8	The Rio Grande Valley & the Wilds of West Texas	193
	RVing Along the Rio Grande	194
	Travel Essentials	196
	The Best Sights, Tastes & Experiences of the Rio Grande	198
	"I See By Your Outfit That You Are a Cowboy ..."	201
	Horses, Dogs, Bulls & Goats	206
	On the Road	207
	Texas Talk	211
	The Comanche Moon	212
	The Sounds of the Rio Grande	214
	Five Ways to Enter Terlingua's International Chili Cook-Off	219
	Six Special Side Trips	223
9	In the Heart of the Heartland: Iowa, Illinois & Indiana	225
	RVing in the Heartland	227
	Travel Essentials	231
	The Best Heartland Sights, Tastes & Experiences	233
	On The Road	240
	Classic Americana	247
	Tender Tenderloins	263
	A Box Of Popcorn	270
10	The Florida Keys (with Side Trips to the Everglades & Orlando)	273
	RVing the Keys	273
	Travel Essentials	275
	The Best Sights, Tastes & Experiences of the Keys	277
	Talkin' Conch: A Keys Glossary	280
	On the Road	285
	"And Then I Wrote ..."	293
	Miracle of the Keys	295
	Two Great Side Trips	296
11	The Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive	303
	RVing the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Drive	306
	Travel Essentials	306
	The Best Blue Ridge Sights, Tastes & Experiences	309
	Southern Accents: A Glossary	319
	On the Road	321
	Nightlife Alomg the Road	323
	Literary Lights	325
	Great Smokies RV Safety Tips	333
12	The Lobster Coast: New England & the Canadian Maritimes	335
	RVing in New England & the Maritimes	336
	Travel Essentials	338
	Best Sights, Tastes & Experiences of the Lobster Coast	341
	Lobster Trivia Quiz	352
	On the Road	359
	Investing with the Mashantucket Pequots	361
	The Museum of Family Camping	364
	The Beans of Freeport, Maine (and More)	365
	The Loyalists & the Acadians	368
	Five Side Trips	371
	Anne of Green Gables Sites	373
Part 3	Harry & Shirley's RV Buying & Renting Guide	375
13	RV Types & Terms	377
	The ABCs of RVs: A Glossary of Common RV Terms	378
	Types of RVs	380
14	To Rent or Buy?	397
	Three Ways to Check Out Campground Life Without an RV	397
	Renting	398
	Buying	402
	Useful RV Websites	405
Appendix	Recommended Reading	407
	Index	410