Summer Camping 2018

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We haven’t written a post in FOREVER!  Life has been busy, but when is it not?  I hate it when people use that excuse too.  I have lots of drafts saved of blog posts that I’ve started and then didn’t publish.

Well, it’s time to share with y’all!  This is an update on our camping trips from LAST SUMMER. Yikes! It was our busiest summer of camping trips.  We did a lot of traveling.  I’m glad I decided to go ahead and publish because it has been sweet looking back and reminiscing.

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Last May we took a trip to Camp Gulf in Destin, Florida.  This is our favorite camping beach spot.  I know a lot of other campers think it’s too crowded.  We just can’t get over the fact that it’s right on the sand.  This will be an annual trip for us!  This trip ended up being with most of Nathan’s family.  We also extended it to 10 days! Our longest beach trip ever! It sounded good at the time of booking, but in reality it was too much with two young kids.  A week in and I was ready to head back.  And that is NOT normal for me.  Overall, it was fun trip with lots of beach time.  We had wonderful weather and made sweet memories with family.

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June led us to Myrtle Beach, SC.  All of my dad’s family is there so this was more of a trip to see them and mix in a little bit of beach time.  We ended up booking a site a little on the later side and stayed at Lakewood Campground.  It was okay just not our favorite.  It wasn’t the worst, but we kind of want to try another one next time around.  We enjoyed seeing our family and eating at all our favorite places!

We did not camp anywhere in July.  Nathan and I took an anniversary trip to Asheville, NC to celebrate twelve years!  It was so nice to get away without kids for a few nights!  The food and sightseeing never disappoints.  We have camped in Asheville before kids and it was tons of fun.  We are hoping to take a trip there one day soon with the camper.

In August we stayed closer to home and went to Vogel State Park in North Georgia. This was a trip with family.  Some of us camped and some stayed in cabins.  I wasn’t sure what to expect because I’ve never camped there and my family hasn’t ever camped together.  It was so much fun!  The cabins there are really nice.  We enjoyed all the typical camping activities: hiking, biking, swimming, sitting around the fire, etc.  I think if we were to do anything different we should make it a little longer of a trip since we only had one full day there together.

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Our last summer adventure was to Saint Simons Island, Georgia on Labor Day weekend.  Nathan was there for a work trip so the kids and I met him and enjoyed the beach.  This was not a camping trip but fun nonetheless. It’s such a cute little town.  This was Wyatt’s first trip to the beach since he’s started walking and it was so cute seeing him go up and down the beach.  I was worried he’d be a little hard to manage but it wasn’t too bad.

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We have really enjoyed our little camper and are trying to make as many memories as possible!

 

10 Tips for Disney World with a Toddler and Baby

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  1. Go early! The parks open around 9.  Sometimes there are “magic hours” and they are open earlier or later an extra hour.  When you get a head start you will avoid some crowds and the heat.  It is tempting to sleep in on vacation, but if your kids are anything like ours, they will be up EARLY.  It will take some time getting out the door and to the park.  Depending on where you stay, I’d allow around an hour.  If you are buying tickets at the gate, it will take an extra 10-15 min.  It’s nice to get those pictures in front of the castle before it’s super busy and you are all sweaty and tired.
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10 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Used RV

camper, camping, DIY, renovation, rv, tiny house, travel2 Comments

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Congratulations, you’re in the market for a used RV! You’re probably a bit overwhelmed by all the different models, brands, and options available. Buying used can be a very frustrating process. There can be months of scanning multiple online sites, visiting dealers, driving hundreds of miles every weekend only to find out the RV has already sold or is misrepresented. I hope this post helps you find the perfect RV.  You’ll be able to share generations of memories and experiences unlike no other. However, if you buy the wrong RV or overlook these 10 points, you could be on a path to frustration, financial trouble or disaster!

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10 Secrets RV Dealers Don’t Want You to Know

camper, camping, Destin, DIY, renovation, rv, travel4 Comments

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About me

First, I feel its important that you know that I grew up in the RV industry.  My Grandad started a dealership in the Atlanta area in the 1960’s.  My dad and uncles ran the business until selling it 3 years ago.  The first 20 years of my life I spent every weekend at the dealership, eventually becoming a technician in the service department, even working full time before and during college.  I’ve seen every aspect of the business and can honestly say I’m proud of the way my family treated customers and developed relationships through multiple generations.  In those days, dealers were passionate about seeing families build memories.  They exhausted every resource available to secure affordable financing and to keep buyers from making mistakes.  Unfortunately, a good portion of the industry is now motivated by profit alone and the love for camping only exists once you leave the dealer.  Hopefully the following tips will help you avoid some common mistakes and help you find the best deal possible!

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10 Essential Tips for Camping with Babies!

beach, camper, camping, disney, DIY, Florida, renovation, rv, tiny house, travelWrite a comment

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  1. Sleeping arrangements for a baby in an RV can be tough.  Most RV beds and bunks are designed for older kids.  If you have an area for a pack-n-play, that may be your best option.  If not, consider converting one of your lower bunk beds into a crib.  We built this crib/ladder combo in our Sunnybrook.  However you decide to make sleeping arrangments, consider a test-run one night in your yard a few weeks/days before you go.  If it doesn’t go well you’ll be glad you have time to rethink things!Screen Shot 2018-03-27 at 9.10.10 PM
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10 Mistakes First Time RV Owners Make

camper, camping, DIY, renovation, rv, tiny house, travel29 Comments

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  1. Not having the right tow vehicle for the job.  Growing up in the RV industry, time and time again I saw customers walk through the door looking defeated because another dealer had sold them an RV they couldn’t tow.  After realizing their mistake, many were forced to decide whether or not to downsize the RV or upsize the truck.  Unfortunately, most realized trucks are way more expensive so they took a hit on the RV and either walked away from camping completely or downsized and took a bath in residual value.  Before purchasing, familiarize yourself with the terms GVWR and GAWR, rear end ratios, tongue and pin (for fifth wheel buyers) weight limitations, and tow guides.  RV Life publishes and annual tow guide with realistic values based on options and packages.  Do your homework and don’t make a $10,000 or $20,000 mistake!  Also, if you are planning to do a lot of mountain camping and steep-grade towing, allow an extra 20% weight factor for your tow vehicle.
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