Spring Flings

Finally, spring has sprung! You're probably itching to get into your RV again and hit the road. Sometimes, though, it's hard to narrow down that one perfect location for your spring shake-down cruise. Here are a few possibilities to consider.

- Immerse yourself in something you love
Love baseball, America's favorite sport? Why not plan a trip to a Spring Training facility and cheer on your team? You'll save on hotel and dining costs, get closer to the action, and maybe even catch a fly ball! Besides baseball, tennis, rowing, and track and field events get moving in the spring.

- Try something new
Always wanted to pan for gold? Learn the tricks of a NASCAR pit crew? Go to a seminar put on by a Master Gardener? Start the spring out right by indulging a wish. Make a list of four or five wishes you'd like to fulfill, and then find out what's available within driving distance. Once you have details on distance, costs, and dates, you can narrow down the list to one favorite and save the others for a later time.

- Surround yourself with flowers
Spring is when gardens begin to bloom with delightful colors and fragrances. From Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, everything from azaleas to zinnias is coming up roses. You can concentrate on nearby locations to save money, or travel to see that rare Myrmecodes echinata you've always wanted to glimpse.

- Become a kid again
Maybe this is the spring you take the kids or grandkids on a trip. For the younger set, look for smaller venues with activities they can enjoy in a short time, or ones they can come back to throughout the day. Disneyland may be sensory overload for under-fives, but a water park or zoo can be ideal. Tweens and teens, with their longer attention spans, can handle activities like snorkeling, rafting, or re-living parts of the Oregon Trail experience, complete with a day's travel in a covered wagon. You might even sneak in some learning while they're not looking!

- Do some good
One of the most fulfilling things you can do for yourself is to do for others. Whether it's building a Habitat for Humanity home in New Orleans, volunteering in a National Forest, or participating in a beach clean-up, you can 'pay it forward' by leaving a location better than when you arrived. If health or mobility issues limit your active participation, remember that budget cutbacks have left many non-profit organizations short on office staff. A few phone calls should net you several organizations that would be happy to have your help. Then all you have to do is pack up the RV and go!

Spring is for fresh starts, and it's a great time to try something new. With your RV you can enjoy yourself without breaking the bank. Whether you want to find some quiet time for yourself, bond with the youngsters, look for adventure on the road, or make the world a better place, your RV is the perfect launch pad.