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On The Road Again B Y H ELEN H ERNDON W E ’ VE HAD A CHALLENGING FEW MONTHS . B UT THERE ’ S SOMETHING COMFORTING ABOUT THE HUM OF TIRES ON THE ROAD . I T ’ S A SOUND THAT SIGNIFIES TRAVEL AND FREEDOM . I N ADDITION , NATURE IS THERAPY — AND WE NEED IT NOW MORE THAN EVER . he COVID-19 pandemic caught everyone off- guard. Experts are still urging people to stay at home to mitigate the spread of the disease. How- ever, after months of lockdown, and with summer waning, people are admittedly getting antsy. Trav- eling by RV, even if just a few hours from home to a state or na- tional park, forest preserve, or RV park, may be the safest form of travel and the safest type of overnight stay. Some are not yet comfortable with public places or trans- portation. But, that shouldn’t keep you locked-in. Traveling in the privacy of your own RV is a great alternative. A RV allows you to enjoy a change of scenery while conveniently functioning as transportation and lodging. Plus, it affords you many of the comforts of home along with the freedom to travel. You can travel in style while avoiding crowded airports, long layovers and public restrooms. As soon as you walk through the door of your RV everything you need for a fun, safe vacation is right inside. Taking an RV trip gives families the freedom to travel, stay safe and save money. First of all, RV road trips are up to 60% cheaper than a conventional holiday. Plus, now more than ever, families are wanting to enjoy a vacation while minimizing the risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Another great reason to enjoy an RV road-trip is the ability to bring the pets along. During the pandemic, many fur-babies have become accustomed to our being at home around the clock. No need to worry about paying expensive pet-sitting or boarding fees if you take an RV trip. Your pets will enjoy going along for the ride — and being with you! Before you take off on a new adventure. Here are some tips to make your trip as smooth and enjoyable as possible: A NTICIPATE C ROWDED C AMPGROUNDS Now that more people have embraced RVs, camping space will be at a premium. The issue of overcrowding is frustrating and can dampen your travel experience, so be sure and plan ahead in order to get around it. The best approach lies in thorough research. Visit campground websites and find out howmany campers they can accommodate at a time. Travel guides are another useful resource for finding important information such as camp contact numbers and camping facilities. While it might be tempting to consider pop- ular camping grounds, you can avoid them and explore other lesser-known options. B OONDOCKING If it's your first time embarking on an RV road trip, you might have never heard of the termboondocking. Seasoned RV travelers will tell you that boondocking is a common practice among the RV community. Essentially, boondocking is traveling without being connected to necessities such as power, water, or sewerage. It entails camping at a primitive or undeveloped campsite, where you'll be entirely cut off from the grid and you'll need to be completely self-sufficient. Boondocking is a major part of the RV experience, and you're likely to encounter a lot more people currently trying it out. But, if you're new to RV travel you might want to begin your 12 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com DESTINATIONS................................................................................................................................ Taking an RV trip gives families the free T