Climb Across America

If your little ones are anything like mine, they love dinosaurs.  Not like normal love, we’re talking complete obsession, total devotion, and unfailing dedication.  This love means we must visit every single dinosaur attraction that comes within 500 miles of our home.  Of course, we had to visit Jurassic Quest, and I am so glad we did.  It was toddler heaven and the stuff dreams are made of.

Thank you, Jurassic Quest for hosting our family.  We had such a wonderful family day out with the dinosaurs.

Here are the top 8 things to know about taking your toddler to Jurassic Quest.

1. It is awesome – I’ve never seen a dinosaur exhibit like this one. There are over 80 true-to-life size dinosaurs.  You can ride on a huge T-rex, pet a baby Brachiosaurus, or marvel and a roaring Velociraptor.  Obviously, my kids went completely nuts.  But the adults were in awe too.  It is epic
   
2. Dinosaur rides for all – I love that Jurassic Quest is for all ages. There are big dinosaur rides for kids over 3 feet tall and little dinosaur rides for tiny dinosaur lovers.  My oldest loved the T-Rex ride, and my youngest got to ride on a Lambeosaurus.  My oldest daughter wasn’t interested in waiting, so she decided to dig for fossils instead.
   
3. Don’t forget to bring snacks and drinks – The exhibit graciously allows outside food, and we would have had “hangry” fits without it. They have onsite food options, but I was happy we had our own water bottles, pouches, and finger foods.  Goldfish Crackers were an excellent distraction while we waited in line.
   
4. Pack the stroller – all of the Jurassic Quest venues are handicap and stroller accessible. We took our Zoe Triple Stroller, and we didn’t have any issues navigating the exhibit.  My Littlest is almost two, and she preferred the stroller over walking since it was pretty crowded.  It also helped me keep track of everyone.
   
5. Bring socks – there are lots of bounce houses on the other side of the main dinosaur hall, and you will need socks for your little ones to hop in.
   
6. Yes, there’s a gift shop – each Jurassic Quest event is at a different venue so they may not be exactly the same. In Chantilly, Virginia, there was a decent sized toy shop with tons of dinosaur toys to take home.  My kids loved the “pet” dinosaur ($15).  It is a balloon that hovers just above the ground and has a leash for your child to pull.  It is really cool.
   
7. Lots of crowds and lines – Jurassic Quest is an extremely popular exhibit, and it often sells out. Just another example of how amazing it is.  With that comes a ton of people, lines and crazy excited little ones desperate to ride a dinosaur.  We arrived about 15 minutes before it opened and there was already a line to get in.  However, we didn’t wait more than 5 minutes to get in the exhibit, no more than 10 minutes for a dinosaur ride, and we walked right up to most of the little kid fun.  Jurassic Quest recommends arriving after 4 PM to miss some of the crowds.  Side note: I highly recommend heading over to the shows very early.  They were lined up 10 people deep, and it is difficult to see if you aren’t near the front.
   
8. You can see it all before naptime – We arrived just before 9 AM, and we were all sitting at lunch by noon. I have no doubt you could spend a lot more time there, but we always try to sneak in a nap if we can.  My kids actually spent the most time digging for fossils (basically a huge sandbox).
   

I highly recommend checking out Jurassic Quest with your family.  Be sure to buy tickets in advance, and stop at all of the amazing photo ops throughout the exhibit.  You’ll have some pretty awesome memories!

Thank you, Deana Moreno Photography for these amazing family memories.  We’ll cherish them always.

Thank you, Jurassic Quest for hosting our family.  We had a great day!

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Is it even possible to work on a college degree while traveling full-time in an RV?  Yes!  In this golden age of internet connectivity, almost any kind of work or education is available remotely, especially college courses.  More and more, students are taking classes online, so why not from a campground with an awesome view?

College classes are a gateway to better jobs and a broader mind.  If the last time you went to college, you had to lug heavy books into huge, crowded lecture halls, times have changed.  Most of what goes into a college class, including the reading material and office hours, are offered online these days.  Courses set up specifically for online learning offer the chance to continue your education anywhere and everywhere you can take your computer.  Here’s what you need to consider about taking classes while on the road.

Why Do It

Living on the road is a pretty amazing way to cut back on expenses, if you are careful.  That being said, it’s not free.  Many people who plan to live full-time in an RV run out of money because they underestimate the costs of life on the go. 

Unless you have a truly huge amount of savings, chances are you will need a way to make money at some point.  Make sure you position yourself to be able to find remote work when the time comes.  Online classes like ProPrep’s Physics 1A03 are a great resume and experience builder that demonstrate not only your commitment to learning, but also your discipline and comfort with online work.

If you are doing the full-time camper thing, especially with other people, you will quickly find that you need breaks and variety.  Taking the time to do something good for your brain can be the mental break and stretch you need to feel refreshed.  Plus, carving out time that is just for your own education helps you build a break from the 24/7 togetherness of traveling with family.  That’s a good thing for everyone!

How To Do It

If you are going to invest your time and money in online courses, take it seriously to get the most bang for your buck.  Set up the right equipment, the right space, and the right parameters.  

Wedging your old desktop computer into the corner of an already packed RV is going to be a misery.  Invest in a decent, lightweight laptop you can stash away easily.  While you are at it, set aside one cubby or bin that’s just for your school supplies.  It will help your transition from student time to family time be easier and neater. 

Give yourself a realistic work space.  Be honest with yourself about where you will perform best: inside, outside, sitting, reclining, behind a door, or with headphones on. If you know laying in bed will likely lead to you napping through class, find a place to sit up, even if it’s in your tow vehicle. 

Set up clear signals to the others in your RV so they know when you are working.  You might ask your kids to help you set up for school, so they are fully aware you are transitioning to student mode.  You might get your kids to design a Do Not Disturb sign you can hang up while working, so they can feel some ownership in your quiet time.  No matter how you arrange it, work with your family so they understand and support your time for school work.

When To Do It

Figuring out when to take classes and do homework is really going to be based on your own RV lifestyle.  Here are some tips for setting aside school time for the most common travel styles.

If you tend to stay in one location for a while, try to do your big driving on non-school days.  If you move around a lot, you are also spending a lot of your time setting up and breaking camp, which will leave less time for classes.  Consider doing work while your partner drives. 

Once you are set up in your spot for a while, choose one activity to swap out for school.  For example, commit to giving up one campfire per week or one afternoon swim for classroom time.  Whichever way you work it in, you won’t regret investing in yourself.

Getting outdoors has many benefits. Whether you are gardening, farming, taking a hike, or you work in an industry that requires you to be outside most of the day, you are most likely familiar with what you need to use to keep yourself safe outdoors. You might have ear muffs to protect you from the sound or cold. You might have heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands. But did you stop to think about what you can do regularly to protect and heal your skin from all that sun exposure? There are plenty of things you can do, here are the best ones.

Reapply Sunscreen with SPF 15 or More

One of the problems with working outdoors or being outside for long hours is that it can be easy to forget to reapply sunscreen throughout the day. One of the best things you can do when you are outside is to reapply sunscreen frequently. As far as frequency is concerned, you should add new sunscreen once every couple of hours. You’ll want to apply more often if you are sweating profusely or have fair skin. You need an SPF of 15 or more to get the best protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Use a Quality Moisturizer or Night Serum

After you’ve been in the sun all day, you need something to help your skin recover at night. Try a stem cell serum or other night cream or moisturizer. The stem cells used in making the serum could be just what you need to keep your youthful glow even though you spend a lot of time working outside. High-quality products have ingredients that nourish, heal, and repair damaged cells and leave your skin feeling its best.

Wear a Wide-Brimmed Hat

It’s normal for people in other countries to wear wide-brimmed hats when they work outdoors. In America, it’s like a fashion faux pas, however. Shun fashion trends for this one and do what you need to do to protect your face, neck, and ears from getting too much sun. Putting on a baseball cap still exposes your face, ears, and neck to more sun than you need. By wearing a wider hat, you cover up more of these areas and can use sunscreen as secondary protection instead of it being the only option.

Wear Loose Fitting Long Sleeves

Being outdoors in the hot sun can lead to sun exhaustion. You could be tempted to wear tank tops because of this. If you’re trying to reduce your sun exposure and minimize damage, you’ll want to wear breathable fabrics that are as loose-fitting as possible. This can help keep larger areas of your body covered and protect you from sun damage when you work outside.

Add Aloe Vera to Your Routine

Aloe Vera plants have hard, pokey leaves that contain powerful antioxidants and other skin healing compounds. Snip a leaf off your plant, cut it open, and scrape the natural gel that is inside. You can rub this on burns, redness, scrapes, and even your wrinkles to help promote skin healing. Aloe has a soothing and cooling effect that makes your skin feel great.

Eat Healthy Foods

Eating foods rich in antioxidants can help your skin heal quickly. By consuming foods like oranges, strawberries, and even dark leafy greens, you give your body what it needs to overcome sunburns, sun exposure, and sun damage. Lean protein and collagen protein can also help your skin recover. When you’re spending time outdoors regularly, you are more likely to experience deep wrinkles and other signs of aging. Proteins help to repair this damage keeping you from looking older than you are.

Hydrate Yourself

Good hydration is great for your skin. While it won’t prevent sunburn, it can keep you from getting sick from dehydration, reduce the risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, and can help you recover from sunburns more quickly. When you go hiking or you work outside, especially on hot days, you’ll need more than just water. You’ll also want to replenish your electrolytes. Find drinks that don’t have too much sugar or additives. You can even make your own rehydration drink for cheap at home. 

There are many benefits to taking long-distance road trips, but many pet parents enjoy the freedom to take their dogs along for the ride. Something about having your fur baby with you makes the experience much more exciting. Your heart smiles as you watch their heads hang out the window taking in the fresh air, or you see them running about in nature playing with the kids. 

Of course, Rving with your dog does require extra preparation to ensure everyone has a good time. If you’re thinking of taking your dog on an RV trip this year, these tips are sure to come in handy. 

Plan A Few Trial Runs

Being on the road for weeks at a time presents challenges for everyone – including your dog. Before committing to a long-term RV trip with your pup, it’s best to take a few trial runs first. Plan a day or weekend trip to see how your fur baby likes the idea. Allow them to get familiar with being away from the house as they travel to different environments. Pay attention to their demeanor and needs, so you know what to do (and not to do) when you’re ready for the long haul. 

Visit The Vet

Is your dog physically and emotionally fit to travel for long distances? Before you travel, a trip to the vet can give you a clear answer. The vet can evaluate your dog’s health to ensure they don’t have any existing medical conditions that could make traveling more challenging. They can prescribe medications to soothe everything from anxiety to arthritis. You should also ask the vet about the best flea and tick protection to keep your dog safe while they explore the great outdoors. 

Dog Training

If your fur baby tends to be a bit hard-headed, it may be a good idea to enroll them in training classes before your RV trip. When you’re away from home, you have less control over your dog. The new environments, people, animals, and sounds could cause them to act out more than usual. No matter where you are, you want to be able to command your dog to behave appropriately. Teaching them basic instructions like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” can save you a lot of trouble on the open road. 

Doggy Seatbelts

While you might have seen dogs hanging out the driver or passenger windows in RVs, it’s not a safe practice. Much like your kids, your pooch can cause a disturbance that puts you all in danger on the road. That’s why it’s essential to ensure you purchase a doggy seatbelt before your road trip. You can also consider options like a crate or dog carrier. Just ensure that the crate is secure, so your dog isn’t slipping and sliding as you drive. 

Pack A Doggy Bag (Or Two)

Although there’s a lot of packing involved in a long-distance RV trip, you don’t want to leave home without essential items for your dog. Create a checklist of things to bring along with you. While every dog has different needs, some standard essentials might include dog food, water, bowls, a bed, blankets, toys, a harness, and a leash. You’ll also want to remember their prescription meds, basic grooming supplies, a pet first aid kit, and other wellness products like pet CBD. 

Choose Pet-Friendly Sites

When selecting places to stop for a few days, try to stick to pet-friendly locations. Some campsites and state parks don’t permit pets or require you to keep them on a leash the entire time. It’s more practical to go places where pets are welcomed, and other pet lovers are in the area. That way, they can have more freedom to explore and meet companions. 

RVs are large enough that you can take the entire family on the road with you – including your dog. You’ll find that traveling with your pet is unlike any other experience. Be that as it may, pet parents are encouraged to make plans before taking their pooches on the road. The above tips will ensure that you, your family, and your dog have a safe, comfortable, yet fun experience in the great outdoors. 

The freedom and liberation that comes with RV and van lifestyles have encouraged many people to pack their things and hit the road. There’s no more struggling to afford housing, no more obligations to stick to one location, and no need for the run-of-the-mill 9 to 5 jobs that are often unfulfilling. All that matters is you, your family, your mobile home, and the millions of acres of land to explore along the way. Be that as it may, RV life isn’t without obstacles. 

Healthcare, for instance, can be a burden. When you’re constantly moving from state to state, acquiring adequate insurance, finding reputable service providers, and even covering the cost of prescription medications gets challenging. While this shouldn’t discourage you from giving RV living a try, proper preparation is required to ensure healthcare doesn’t become a problem. Below are some practical solutions. 

Shop Around For Insurance

Unfortunately, most insurance companies don’t follow patients from one state to another. Instead, they cover individuals and families for medical services in their hometown. Therefore, you will need to shop around to try and find coverage that will provide coverage if you move around a lot. 

Schedule Appointments Strategically

If you can’t find out-of-state insurance, your next option is to schedule regular appointments in the state your coverage applies. Then, ensure that your travel plans include heading back to your home state in time for your medical visits. If you and your family are relatively healthy, that means coming home at least once a year for annual physicals, screenings, dental cleanings, vision tests, and other preventative care. 

Opt For National or Multi-State Healthcare Facilities

When deciding on a primary care physician or other healthcare providers, try to stick to organizations that offer services nationwide or in multiple states. That way, if you need to visit a doctor or hospital while you’re out of town, your records can be electronically accessed from the database. This approach eliminates the need to wait for a doctor or hospital in another state to release your records. 

Fill Prescriptions At National Pharmacies

Having immediate access to prescriptions is essential and difficult for full-time RVers, particularly those who use a local pharmacy. The most practical solution would be to switch your medications to a national pharmacy like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, or Walmart. That way, your information is in their electronic database, and you can get prescriptions filled faster. Also, most national pharmacies accept a discount card for prescriptions so you can save money.

90-Day Prescriptions

Another way to ensure access to the medicines you need is to request 90-day prescriptions from your primary care physician. Ultimately, you’ll get 90 days’ worth of medication, so you don’t have to visit the pharmacy as frequently. 

TeleMedicine

Thanks to modern technology, visiting the doctor and other healthcare professionals is easier. Many healthcare facilities offer telemedicine options to their patients. You can book appointments and visit the doctor through video conferencing software. Since the appointment is with a doctor in your hometown, the visit is covered by your insurance. The doctor can review your files, send correspondence, perform visual tests, and fill prescriptions virtually, so you don’t have to travel for miles to get what you need. 

Healthy Lifestyles

Last but not least, full-time RVers and their families are encouraged to maintain healthy lifestyles while on the road. Ensure that you’re eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and reducing stress by doing things that make you happy. If you have existing medical conditions, take your medicine as prescribed, keep up with your doctor’s appointments, and follow your health plan efficiently to ensure things don’t take a turn for the worst. 

RV living has many advantages, which is why many people are interested in giving it a try. Be that as it may, it’s not a lifestyle you should consider on impulse. It requires a lot of planning and preparation to ensure that your experience is stress-free, safe, healthy, and fun. If you have concerns about healthcare as a full-time RVer, use the advice above to ensure that you and your travel companions have everything you need. 

Low light conditions can be challenging for anyone who loves to have plants indoors. Even plants that typically do well when they’re in the shade outdoors tend to need a bit more light when you bring them inside, and it can be difficult to provide the auxiliary light it needs. However, some plants thrive in low light conditions – these are the ones you want for your camper or RVs.

Pro Tip: Indoor low light plants tend to do fine in rooms that face east or west and have a window – but in an RV you never know which direction you’ll be parking in. That said, it can be difficult for even those shade-hardy plants in areas that don’t have any windows or where the windows face north. You can get your plants to thrive in situations such as this by putting them under artificial light for a few hours daily.

Here’s a quick look at a few plants that will do great in your camper or RV.

Lucky Bamboo

If you’re trying to redecorate your RV, you might be looking for plants to make it feel cozier and to improve the air quality. Lucky bamboo can be grown in either soil or water and doesn’t need too much light. These plants are a critical element of the practice of feng shui and are said to bring fortune and good luck – especially when received as gifts. They’re also known for being extremely resilient. They prefer a bit of light but will also thrive in areas that are nearly all shade. Just ensure they’re not put in drafty areas and keep them away from pets. They need moderate to excessive moisture.

Spider Plants

This houseplant is one of the easiest to grow and most adaptable. It’s called a spider plant because of its spider-like offshoots. They’re called spiderettes and tend to hang down from the parent plant, sort of akin to spiders on their web. You can put these in hanging baskets or pots. They’ll live for quite a long time in conditions where they get less than ideal lighting and even in artificial light. Just be sure you water them on a regular basis to keep the soil from getting dried out.

Golden Pothos

This plant thrives in conditions that are unsuitable for most other plants. These include a nearly completely dry environment and extremely low light. Pothos are quite a popular houseplant because they’re durable, attractive, and easy to grow vines with smooth, heart-shaped, and leathery leaves. Some of the varieties feature leaves that have a distinctive marbling and stems that are long and akin to ropes. If you choose to have this plant in your RV, be sure you loosen and dust their vines every once in a while to keep them from turning into a tangled mess. These plants need moderate water.

Most campers and RVs don’t offer a lot of space for houseplants. However, when you want to feel at home while you’re on the road, nothing helps more than a plant or two. Since campers and RVs can also be a little stuffy, plants can help by cleaning and improving the quality of the air. 

Plants like Golden Pothos, Spider plants, and lucky bamboo are all good choices for RVs and campers because they are easy to care for and don’t need to have an extreme amount of light. Brighten up your RV or trailer with one of these today, and you won’t regret it.