| (ARA) - While many aspects of camping
have changed over the years, the true joys of camping have
remained the same -- spending quality time with the family
and relaxing in the great outdoors. Camping is not just roughing
it anymore. Camping is a wonderful
activity enjoyed by millions of families each year. For
many, camping is a family pastime. Some peoples' earliest
childhood memories involve family camping trips and many
still remember the excitement of catching their first fish
or the thrill of touching a frog. Many who didn't experience
camping are now trying to pass along what they missed to
their kids.
Brad and Amy Herzog, of Pacific Grove,
Calif., didn't grow up camping, but over the past eight
years they have created memories for their own family that
will last forever. Brad recalls the first trip he and his
wife took in an RV, which lasted ten months. They talked,
traded stories and bonded while they traveled together across
48 states. During this time, Brad authored "States
of Mind," a book which chronicles their travels and
experiences in small towns across America.
"In the wake of world events, people
value three things: quality time with family, a safe and
comfortable way to travel, and the chance to discover America,"
Herzog explains. "In my mind, RVing covers all three."
Brad and Amy now have two young children and say they have
a greater understanding of the significance and importance
of family time.
There are plenty of activities the family
can enjoy while camping. Everything from storytelling to
stargazing is fun when done together. If everyone can't
agree on one activity, members can break off and do different
things or just sit back and relax. Items that can help enhance
your fun outside and also offer educational opportunities
include a sketch pad, a star guide or magnifying glass.
Despite all your preparations, you can't
depend on Mother Nature to provide you with perfect weather
for your outdoor activities. If your camping trip includes
an RV, you'll be able to bring along some entertainment
options. Compact disc or DVD players, VCRs and video games
can provide welcome diversions in the RV. Allowing children
to play a video game or watch a movie at night might just
make the trip more pleasurable for everyone.
Comfort and Convenience
One of the lures of RV camping is the
ability to bring the comforts of home with you on your trip.
Large RVs and motorhomes have installed generators that
provide electrical power, but many of the smaller, towable
RVs do not come equipped with the ability to run life's
modern amenities. Spotting this need, Onan, a power generation
products company, recently introduced Camp Power, the first
installed generator designed specifically for towable RVs.
Camp Power provides power for microwaves, televisions, air
conditioners and other items when camping.
With the help of generators, camping
doesn't mean roughing it. Fresh coffee can be made in the
morning and children can watch their favorite cartoons during
breakfast. And generators provide power to cooking appliances
when a campfire is out of the question and allow food to
remain fresh and be stored safely in a small refrigerator.
The Herzog's have found a generator
makes camping with their two young children a breeze. "We
are able to warm up bottles, cook food, camp anywhere and
have any kind of family friendly amenity needed," Herzog
explains.
Discover America
The versatility of traveling in an RV
lets campers go where they want to go, whenever they want
to go there. Whether it's a beach in Florida or skiing in
Colorado, RVers can have all the comforts of home with them.
"RVing is an inspiring and educational
way to spend time with your family," Brad says. His
children are both under the age of two and already have
traveled to many places in the United States. They camp
together a few months out of every year and hope they've
created a family tradition that their two children will
someday be able to share with their kids.
For more information on RVing or Camp
Power, check out www.funroads.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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