Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Fall: Great Time for an RV Vacation

Friday, November 6, 2009

Sure, we think of summer as prime vacation season: The kids are out of school, the weather is great and prime summer destinations await. But there is something to recommend a family vacation in the fall as a quick pick-me-up before winter rears its ugly head. In many areas, the summer crowds are long gone in the fall, the weather remains good and bargains are waiting to be had.

If you’re looking to save money while communing with nature, there is a lot to like about an RV vacation. RV travelers save up to 61 percent of vacation costs over other forms of travel, according to the GoRVing Web site and the experts at Pedata RV Center. Combine that with the continued savings each time an RV hits the road, the convenience and luxury of having a home away from home and RVing becomes a no-brainer. Autumn is the perfect time to hit the road, whether for a weekend getaway or a monthlong escape.

Studies prove vacationing reduces stress, revitalizes creativity and inspires family bonding. So before winter sets in, consider gathering your family, jumping in an RV and hitting the road to explore any one of the following vacation suggestions:

• Fall Foliage Leaves are starting to turn, igniting the landscape with yellows, oranges and reds. Kate Hamman, author of Six Unlikely Fall Foliage Destinations, recommends the Ozark Mountain region in Missouri and Arkansas as a getaway from crowded cities. The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee; Lane County, Ore.; and Durango, Colo., all hit her list as well. To reach the National Forest Service’s Fall Color Hotline, call 800-354-4595.

• History Follow the path of famous explorers like Lewis and Clark, starting at the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center in Idaho, which is probably just around the corner from where you live. Allow a day to visit the Nez Perce National Historic Park and the Clearwater and Lochsa River areas, or follow the John Muir Trail in California’s Yosemite National Park or the Roosevelt Trail in Sheridan, Wyo.

• Beaches Fall might not strike you as beach time, but if you’re willing to forgo the Speedo -- as we hope you are -- Washington's Olympic Coastal Strip has been rated as the one of the country’s best beach hikes. (Bring a jacket.) Other beaches not to miss are the Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort in Florida’s Emerald Coast and Malibu Beach in California.

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