We are excited to bring you this list of 10 "must see" spots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park--and the beautiful photos to accompany them.

This bunkhouse roundup takes a look at 8 great large bunkhouse trailers to see what you can get in a trailer longer than 30 feet.

We are fresh back from a quick spring back trip to Carolina Lines in Conway, South Carolina and we had an amazing time and thank goodness--some very good weather! We made a last minute decision to head south for spring break and thankfully, we were able to find an available spot using Campspot. Jeremy is currently working as a Campspot ambassador and has been making reservations near and far using their online booking service. Our trip to Carolina Pines got us thinking about what qualities make an RV Resort a RESORT. A lot of campgrounds throw the word "resort" into their names when they really have no right to do so. Offering a pool and full hook up sites does not make a campground a resort. 

So what makes an RV resort a resort?

Our trip to Carolina Pines inspired us to make a list of qualities that an RV resort should have. Partly because Carolina Pines is, in so many ways, a model for what an RV resort should be. To be clear, we don't think that a campground needs to have all of these things, but it should have most of these things! Maybe 10/14 qualities listed below. Carolina Pines has 14 of these things! Try to guess which one they don't have while you are reading! I'll answer at the bottom.

Our friend and contributor Bill Sferrazza reviewed Carolina Pines last summer. To listen to his review on The RV Atlas podcast click here and then click on the media player at the top of the post.

To listen to Jeremy and Stephanie talk about their trip to Carolina Pines and to hear them talk about what makes an RV resort a resort--subscribe to The RV Atlas podcast wherever you get your favorite shows. Or click on the media player above.

One Magnificent Pool or Multiple Really Good Pools

From what I could see while we are there, Carolina Pines has three pools. Two were open during our stay, but one was in the water park area and was not opening for a few more days. The two pools that were open were nicely heated and really nice. We spent hours in the pool each day!

2. At Least One Hot Tub. (If you don't have a hot tub--you are not an RV Resort:)

Carolina Pines had a really awesome hot tub. I want to be back in that hot tub right now instead of writing about it!

3. Water Park Features If You Are a Family Friendly Resort.

A waterpark is not a necessary feature for an RV resort--unless you are specifically billing yourself as a family friendly RV Resort. Carolina Pines could subtract their water park and still call themselves a resort, but at that point they would not be a family friendly RV resort. At least in my book.

4. Pool Must Have a Snack Stand

An RV Resort should have a snack stand that offers more than hot dogs and burgers--throw me a tuna wrap or a chicken Caesar salad and we are good and you will win my heart.

5. On-Site Food Service that Provides Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.

When I am spending RV Resort level prices I want the option to "eat out" without leaving the campground. Especially if I am staying in a cabin or rental unit and don't have my own RV Kitchen.

6. Adult Beverages Should Be Available at a Resort.

We think that an RV resort should offer adult beverages to be enjoyed responsibly near the pool or in the common areas. For many RV owners its nice to have a drink on-site and not have to worry about driving back to the campground--instead you can just walk back to your RV.

7. A Resort Should Have Multiple Sports Courts

We think an RV Resort should offer outdoor "sports courts" such as basketball, pickle ball, volleyball, Ga Ga ball, shuffleboard, etc. These courts should be appealing to both kids and adults--and perhaps split into different areas for each.

8. Awesome Common Areas

A real RV resort needs terrific common areas for relaxing and meeting your neighbors...

If you have followed the RV Atlas or listened to our podcasts for any length of time you know that we take our gear guides seriously. When we recommend camping gifts, or camping gear--we don't hope that you go out and buy all, or even most of them. But we do hope you find "that one thing" that will improve your camping experience or inspire  you in some way, shape, or form. Maybe something on this spring's list will make you a better cook, or help you plan your next amazing trip.

If you do find that one cool thing that you actually go out and purchase, drop us a comment in the RV Atlas group or at the end of this post and let us know what you purchased and if you love it! We hope you do!

To listen to our latest gear guide--click on the media player above, or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your podcasts!

Camp Kitchen 

Blackstone Press and Sear Burger Kit ($25.00)

Smash burgers are all the rage at the campground this year, and this "Press & Sear" Burger Kit by Blackstone comes with three great tools for making your burgers legendary. The dredge is sturdy and attractive and keeps your spices fresh. While the burger press is the perfect tool for smashing your burgers on a smoking hot griddle. The spatula has also been significantly strengthened so it can also be used to smash burgers without worrying about bending the handle. Or just use it to flip your burger--its extra width makes it perfect for burgers.

Brutrek 32 French Press ($60.00) 

The Brutrek 32 French Press makes great coffee. It is also a handsome and rugged piece of equipment. When it comes to my camp cooking gear, I also appreciate having different color options. The Brutrek comes in three cool colors and an elegant brushed steel option.  Pleasing aesthetics and great tasting coffee? This has been my love language for years. No wonder I own two of them!

Camp Chef Professional 9 Piece Knife Set $42.99

I have been looking for a versatile and safe knife set for camping for about a year now.  This set by Camp Chef has a protective plastic cover for each knife tip, and a carrying case--making it secure to pack up and transport in and out of the camper. According to Camp Chef this set includes "an 8-inch chef knife, 8-inch bread knife, 7-inch filet knife, 5-inch utility knife, 3-inch paring knife, carving fork, kitchen shears, as well as a cutting board and convenient carrying case." In other words, it is exactly what I needed.

Yeti Roadie 24 Hard Cooler ($199.99 ) With Yeti Basket ($24.99)

I think every camper and RV owner should have a car cooler. When the kids (or mom and dad) get thirsty on a long drive we don't have to pull over and go into the RV kitchen, or head into a rest stop and wait in line. We always have cold drinks right at our fingertips. The Yeti Roadie is designed to fit behind (or on top of) a car seat and it is easy to open and close. It keeps ice for days and holds enough drinks and snacks for a full day of driving. When you get to your destination it also works great as an extra seat! Yeti products cost more--but this one is worth every penny.

GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Table ($84.99)

Photo Compliments of GCI Outdoor

This may be the best grill/griddle table that we have ever tested. It is sturdy and thoughtfully designed and folds up into a relatively small package. My Blackstone 22" griddle and my Weber Q1200 both fit perfectly, and its five additional shelves are very useful for prepping and storing gear. The paper towel and wine glass holders also worked great and were thoughtfully implemented. When it comes to camping gifts for those that love to cook--you couldn't do better than this terrific table from GCI Outdoor.

Camping Books

Out Now

See You at the Campground is a great primer for anyone looking to start camping with their fa...

We asked the members of the RV Atlas facebook group for the best camping hacks and man oh man did they deliver! Here are 20 of the best hacks from a thread that ended up having over 200 comments.

 1. Get "Everything But the Bagel Seasoning" from Trader Joe's

Or figure out how to make your own and keep it in the camp kitchen AT ALL TIMES. Your scrambled eggs will go from Average to Extraordinary. Your scrambled eggs will become legendary like mine have.

RV Atlas Facebook Member David Larson also liked "EBTB" Seasoning and wrote "we use the everything but the bagel seasoning on our avocado toast like good hipsters"

Robyn Volkening then asked David "if he has ever tried Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute" because  "it's so good"

2. Make Ice Cream Cone S'mores

Kristin Kyser Morrison suggests making Ice Cream Cone S'mores with mini marshmallows. She said they were a huge hit last summer. I SAID TELL ME MORE! She said, I found regular cones and cookie cones ones but she liked the regular cones better. You break up chocolate into smaller pieces and layer in that with mini marshmallows. She also added in Pecans with hers! Then you roll everything up in foil and put them in the coals of your fire. Or you could put them on top of a grate. Everything melts into the cones and they don't leak everywhere.

Kristen--I hope your family worships you like a goddess at the campground--because this is stinking brilliant.

3. Mid-Week Camping

Erika Sheehan thinks that midweek camping is so much quieter than on the weekends. We couldn't agree more. We think that Sunday to Friday morning RV vacations are the best. That kind of timing has helped us enjoy popular Yogi Bear campgrounds with fewer crowds, and even Disney's Fort Wilderness.

4. Run Your Kids Ragged

Sarah Defazio travels with a 12V 4 Wheeler and an inflatable bounce house and "all children go to bed exhausted".  Isn't that the goal people!? If you don't want absolute insanity at bedroom you run them ragged. This is the problem with Covid--our kids are not tired at bedtime. LET THERE BE BOUNCE HOUSES and let them BOUNCE and ride 4 wheelers all day! Kim Stephens Mowdy responded, "Thanks Totally doing this" and Sarah responded "It's worth it."

Which makes me realize that our facebook group is a very SAFE space for parents to plot against their kids in a secure environment. Cause ain't no 8 year olds hanging in the RV Atlas group on facebook looking for camping hacks.

5. Prep as Much Food At Home As You Can

This became a MEGA part of this thread. Food prep is such a huge thing to most RV owners. People love good food at the campground but don't want to be dicing peppers on a picnic table. Alexa Biron said "I prep as much food at home as I can. Especially for fajitas, so I can just throw them on The Blackstone at the campground."

Nicki Brown responded and asked "what is your favorite seasoning to use for the fajitas?

Alexa responded back "I'm GF so I make my own seasoning. Found a recipe and I make some for home and camper. I'll try and find the recipe"

Nicki responds, no rush, ty, I'm also GF!

And there is the magic of facebook! Facebook can be so ugly and awful, and it can also be a place where two GFs can find each other and exchange GF recipes and camping hacks for awesome homemade fajita seasoning.

Alexa responded with the link for Easy Homemade Fajita Seasoning from whitneybond.com.

https://whitneybond.com/fajita-seasoning/

6. Tape Your Meal Plan to Fridge

Jessica Rae Wiltgen wrote--"We are newbies! We've been out 4 times since we bought our camper last August. The one thing that makes my life easier is writing down our meal plan and taping it to the fridge. That way the 7 year old doesn't ask me 5,000 times what's for lunch, dinner, etc.

On today's episode of the RV Atlas podcast I decided to get a little selfish. From time to time I like to invite folks on the show to teach me about something that I want to learn about! My hope is that if I am interested, you will be too! So today we are talking to an expert about the fine art of Dutch Oven Cooking.

I started cooking about four years ago, and I have made a lot of progress, but it has been slow going along the way. I love grilling. I love cooking on my Blackstone griddle, and I love cooking with a cast iron skillet.

But a few years back I bought a Lodge Dutch Oven, and I am ashamed to say that I have never used it. Now mind you, Stephanie makes excellent food in the Dutch Oven--including some of the best chili I have ever had in my life, but I have never picked it up myself.

So in recent months I decided that I wanted to have a Dutch Oven specialist on the show to teach me the basics!

So when I meet Timothy Fowler at a virtual conference that I attended this fall, I knew that I had to have him on the show and I knew he was the right person to teach all of us to get comfortable and confident enough to try Dutch Oven Cooking at the Campground. To learn more about Timothy, check out his bio below!

Timothy Fowler is a Canadian Journalist-chef, writer, and live fire cook. He, his wife Kate and their Gordon Setter Rigby, travel extensively in his Outdoors RV Trailer from Oregon pulled by a 2011 Red F350 Crew cab. Six separate weeks a year he sets up an old school canvas Outfitter/prospector tent and cooks on a wood and coal stove while chasing whatever big game, small game and birds the current season allows. He is an extensive Dutch Oven and cast-iron cook. You can follow him on Instagram @timothyfowler and his game-cook handle elevate_your-game1. Check out his Food on Fire column with RV West Magazine, and give his Elevate Your Game podcast a listen, it launches June 1, 2021.  Watch Instagram for his live cook series coming in the fall of 2021.

On today's episode of The RV Atlas we talk to Timothy about what a Dutch Oven is, where they came from and why you need one. We also talk about how to select one from the myriad options. Feet? Rims? Timothy guides us through our options. A new Dutch Oven cook will also need the right accessories, PPE and other equipment. Timothy calls a tripod a "nice to have" but not a must have. Listen to my interview in the media player above to find out more.

We finish up our interview by talking about three of Timothy's favorite recipes from his "food on fire" column for RV West magazine! Timothy thinks that these are recipes "that will get folks in the game."

Biscuits: https://www.rvwest.com/article/foodonfire/grandma_ellens_buttermilk_biscuits

Jambalaya  https://www.rvwest.com/article/foodonfire/jambalaya_on_the_fire

Chocolate cake: https://www.rvwest.com/article/foodonfire/one_bowl_dutch_oven_chocolate_cake

And here is a bonus recipe that we didn't get to talk about on the show!

Chicken Paprika if we need another: https://www.rvwest.com/article/foodonfire/one_pot_chicken_paprika

After talking to to Timothy I am so excited to break out the Dutch Oven this summer at the campground! Wish me godspeed and good luck!

Planning an RV Trip to Savannah, Georgia should be on every RV owner's bucket list! This week, guest blogger Gretchen Holcombe from Boxy Colonial and Boxy Colonial on the Road is here to show us the way. She is also the guest on the latest episode of The RV Atlas podcast.

Gretchen last appeared on the show for an awesome episode about bringing travel themed decor into your home. You can find that episode right here.

To listen to Jeremy interview Gretchen about planning an RV trip to Savannah, click on the media player above or subscribe to the The RV Atlas wherever you get your podcasts. Or just keep reading to find out more from Gretchen's guest post right below!

The following guest post and all photos by Gretchen Holcombe:

Savannah is known both as America’s first planned city and as the city General Sherman spared on his march to sea during the Civil War. Visitors today can enjoy the lasting legacy of both of those things, as they wander through the meticulously restored and maintained squares that city founder James Oglethorpe laid out in the 1700s and admire the architecture of the city that some accounts say Sherman found too pretty to burn. 

Savannah is an ideal RV destination, with plenty of campgrounds to choose from, tons to see in the city, and a nearby beach to escape to when you’re ready to slow down the pace for a day or two. Our family has taken three trips to the area since we started RVing five years ago, and we never run out of new places to discover. 

Where to Stay

Finding a great campground is sometimes the biggest challenge on an urban RV trip, but Savannah visitors will find themselves with plenty of great options a short drive from the city. Here are three of the best, all within 20 or 25 minutes of downtown Savannah. 

We’ve stayed at Skidaway Island State Park twice now, and it may be our our very favorite park in Georgia’s excellent state park system. You can choose from enormous full hook-up pull-through sites or private w/e sites tucked back in the woods. 6 miles of trails wind through the park’s marshes and among the oak trees draped with Spanish moss. RV sites are $45 for w/e or $53 for full hook-ups. Sites fill up fast, especially the ones with sewer hook-ups, so book early!

Creekfire RV Resort is a newer campground that’s been getting a lot of buzz and great reviews. It comes with all the bells and whistles you expect from a resort, like an onsite restaurant, pool with a lazy river, and a scenic lake with kayak rentals. RV sites are in the $60-80/night range, and they also offer tent sites and cabin rentals. 

River’s End Campground on nearby Tybee Island is a wonderful option if you’re looking for lots of beach time with quick and easy access into Savannah to see the sights. River’s End has RV sites, tent sites, and cabin rentals. It’s a quick walk to two different beaches and a walk or short bike ride from shopping and restaurants. 

What to Do

You won’t run out of things to see and do in Savannah in a week or even a month. Here are a few of our favorites:

Walking Downtown:

Savannah is a city made for walking, so if you do nothing else on a trip there, make sure to spend plenty of time just wandering around and admiring the beautiful architecture and landscaping. You can’t go far downtown without running into another of the city’s 22 historic squares, each with its own story and character.

Take a Trolley Tour:

There are a few different hop on/hop off trolley tours that will give you an overview of the city. We picked Old Savannah Tours because they’re a local company and because their tours feature costumed characters who get on at certain stops to tell you their stories.

Bonaventure Cemetery:

On today's episode of the The RV Atlas podcast we are talking to Rob Cochran from Togo RV about tips for dewinterizing an RV.  Rob is "the Head of RV Service at Togo RV and he has over 30 years inexperience n the RV service industry.  He’s an RV Industry Association Master Certified RV Technician and the Education Chairman for the Florida RV Trade Association. In addition to working in the industry, Rob has been RVing since 1993, which is when he purchased his first camper." In other words, when it comes to dewinterizing an RV, Rob knows his stuff.

Our conversation is based on an extensive article with step by step details over at TOGORV.COM called “How To Dewinterize Your RV."  Our conversation will not go into as much detail about dewinterizing an RV as that article. So refer back to it to follow up on some of the things Rob and I talk about in this interview. 

To listen to Jeremy and Rob talk about dewinterizing an RV click on the media player above, or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite shows!

Dewinterizing OUR RV!

I de-winterized our Jayco Eagle 264BHOK last week in very rushed circumstances. The weather was not really ideal either. Our massive home renovation project is almost done and our hardwood floors were stained. So we had to get out of the house with relatively short notice.

Initially, we were going to rent an Airbnb for a few nights because of the cold temps, but we decided to save some money and stay in the RV right next to the house for four nights while the floors were being stained.

So I dewinterized one afternoon last week. We moved into the RV later that night. We still had a cold night in the forecast so I filled the fresh water tank instead of hooking up a hose for our water supply.  I didn’t want to wake up to a rock-hard frozen hose on the ground and no water. Using the fresh water tank allows the water to stay a bit warmer. That is because it is inside the enclosed underbelly of the RV and we had the heat running.

It worked well. But now I do need to finish the process of getting the rig ready for spring. I’m thankful that Rob Cochran from Togo RV is here to help me, and all of the rest of us that are dewinterizing an RV at some point soon.

I hope you take a listen to this week's show! Rob was an excellent guest. The episode was packed with information!

 

                     

featured image provided by MPOWERD

I am a gear junkie through and through and I love talking camping gear and outdoor brands with anyone that will listen. On today's episode of the RV Atlas I am interviewing Rick Saez, the host of The Outdoor Biz podcast, the author of Trails to the Top, and a fellow gear junkie. I listen to Rick's podcast every week and love his in-depth interviews with a wide variety of fascinating people that work in the outdoor industry. Rick interviews founders, CEO's, marketing executives, influencers, photographers, and so much more.

photo provided by Rick Saez

On this week's podcast Rick and I are talking about gear and gear galore! But we are also talking about the brands behind the gear. I asked Rick to come up with a list of 8 of the hottest brands in the outdoor space to talk about on our show, and I was pumped when I saw his list. It includes companies that are in the startup stage and companies that are decades old but still innovating.

To listen to Jeremy and Rick talk about 8 of the hottest brands in the outdoor industry click on the media player above or subscribe to The RV Atlas wherever you get your podcasts. 

Or to find out a bit more about each of these hot outdoor brands, read on!

Nite Ize

photo provided by Nite Ize

 

Rick loves Nite Ize and so do I. These super fun company makes a wide variety of products that are nifty and make your life easier in one way or another. Rick likes their waterproof pouches and steelie magnetic phone mounts.  I love their gear ties and own about 25 of them. I keep a handful in the RV for unpredictable accidents and to keep things organized.

Goal Zero

Rick is a huge fan of Goal Zero's portable power stations and power banks. Their Yeti portable power stations are perfect for boondocks and campers of all kinds that want to get off-grid.  The Yeti series has models that range in price from $200 to nearly $5,000 dollars.

Summit Coffee Co

Rick and I are soul brothers when it comes to coffee consumption. He recommends Summit Coffee Co and says they make the best coffee he has ever had. He also loves their instant coffee and says that no other instant coffee compares. I can't wait to place an order on their website and try it myself.  I think I'll start with a pound of their Basecamp blend!

Camp Chef

Rick loves to cook when he is camping and he has been using gear from Camp Chef for years.  He loves their grills and backyard smokers and he also thinks they make the best outdoor fire pits. These propane powered fire pits are great for when you are camping in an area with burn bans, or if you just don't want to deal with smoke.

Dometic

Rick is also a huge fan of Dometic's electric coolers and thinks they make a lot of sense for outdoor adventurers. He thinks these are great for #vanlife and overlanding out in the middle of nowhere where refreshing ice supplies can be impossible.

MPOWERD

photo provided by MPOWERD

MPOWERD makes the most adorable solar powered string lights and lanterns I have ever seen. We think that their Luci Lights should be in every camping gear kit. Rick agrees. We have been recommending their products for gifts for several years now. MPOWERD also has an impressive social mission that you can read about here.

Outdoor Research

Outdoor Research makes high quality clothing and gear for hiking, climbing, trail running, and just about any other outdoor adventure you are dreaming about. Their design work is not flashy, but functionality is excellent. I actually bought an Outdoor Research mask at REI this winter and have used it every single day since then. I can't wait until the day that I don't need it anymore, but until then, I'm thankful to have it. It is comfortable, fits my mug perfectly,

Have you ever dreamed about owning an Airstream and hitting the open road? I certainly have. Most RV owners probably do at some point. When Stephanie and I went on our first tent camping trip together (back when we were dating) a beautiful Airstream pulled up next to us while I struggled to set up our tent. The silver haired couple in the Airstream were sipping cocktails in their camp chairs about 30 minutes later. At that point I was still struggling with our tent. I have been dreaming about owning an Airstream ever since. But I find the thought of owning an Airstream to be intimidating. I know my RV's really well at this point. But Airstream seems to occupy a space of its own. And, when it comes to travel trailers, they certainly occupy a price point of their own. So on this week's episode of The RV Atlas podcast, and here on the blog, we are talking about how to buy an Airstream.

Patrick from New Jersey Outdoor Adventures

There is probably no better person in the country to talk to about how to buy an Airstream than Patrick Botticelli. Patrick is the host of the New Jersey Outdoor Adventures YouTube channel and he has a vast and detailed knowledge of Airstream's past and present--and he is dialed in to their future plans as well. Patrick owns a vintage Airstream Bambi that he is currently restoring, and an Airstream van that he uses just about every day. His advice about how to buy an Airstream on this episode of the podcast, and here on the blog is gleaned from years of personal experience.

To listen to this episode of the RV Atlas click on the media player above. Or subscribe to the RV Atlas wherever you get your podcasts!

For an overview of Patrick's best advice--read on!

Why is Airstream Such an Iconic Brand?

In our interview Patrick points out that Airstream has been around for 90 years and part of its iconic status is connected directly to its longevity. He also suggests that many people fall in love with its stylish and streamlined look before they even fall in love with the camping lifestyle. The aesthetic look and appeal of the Airstream's exterior has not changed much over the past 90 years. That consistency of the aesthetic ties the present to the past in a powerful way. Just about everyone knows what an Airstream looks like. Even people who have no interest in RVing. Patrick knows people who have put pictures of an Airstream on their desks as a reminder of their main retirement goal. The allure is just that powerful. Excellent towability and strong resale value also add to the mythology.

Choosing an Airstream Model...

Patrick points out that many people enter an Airstream dealership and they really have no idea what kind of Airstream they want. They just know they want an Airstream. So the first thing you need to do is figure out what kind of Airstream you want. On the outside it may look like a complicated decision. But Patrick thinks that Airstream's product lineup makes a whole lot of sense once you take a closer look.

The Basecamp Series

Patrick thinks that the Basecamp series is an excellent choice for those that want a rugged RV that is ready for adventure. Basecamp comes in 16' and 20' floorpans. Patrick says they are rugged and outdoorsy and not as "plush" as other Airstream models. They have higher ground clearance and would make a great option for boondockers and those who like to camp in off-the-beaten-track destinations. Basecamp has an an aesthetic design appeal that makes it unique in the Airstream lineup. But it still definitely looks like an Airstream. Starting MSRP for Basecamp is about $46,000. With options it can increase to the upper $50's.

The Airstream Bambi

photo provided by Airstream

Those looking for a traditional Airstream travel trailer at an "entry level" price (for Airstream) will want to take a look at t...