RV and Outdoor Living 2009

Roughing it in a recreational vehicle? You don't have to when it comes to mealtime. With stovetop burners, ovens, double-door refrigerators and plenty of counter space, today's RVers can cook up anything from a six-course meal to a baked Alaska in their wheeled coach. Ironically, though, make-ahead meals are often the order of the day for Americans who routinely hit the road in their motor home. Whether it's wandering as a twosome, a family or members of a large group such as the Dolphin Club, a chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), the freezer ranks as top kitchen appliance.

Gearing up for a weekend in the woods? You don't have to sacrifice functionality to play nice with Mother Nature. In fact, some of the coolest new gear for outdoor adventurers is on the cutting edge of earth consciousness. From solar-powered lanterns to eco-conscious activewear, manufacturers are going the extra mile to deliver high-performance outdoor gear with an environmental edge.

With nearly 400 sites scattered across the country, the National Park System caters to almost every crowd. From camping, hiking and fishing to caving and cross-country skiing, there are parks to please every interest. You'll find trails for biking, snowmobiling and ATVing alongside pristine lakes and rivers for canoeing, rafting, kayaking and swimming. Stay at a rugged, rustic campsite or book a comfortable cabin with nearby hot showers. Plan a high-paced hike to the summit of Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains or take a leisurely road tour to see Yosemite's stunning waterfalls.

Do you want to lose your life outdoors? Like most people, when you are participating in the dozens of wilderness sports millions enjoy, the only thing you want lost is the rat race you left behind. Unfortunately, there are people who don't know, or just ignore, the basic rules of outdoor safety. Novices are particularly susceptible to trouble, and wonder why help isn't a cell phone call away. There are five rules to follow while out in the wilderness. Two noted experts' tips could make the difference between your friends reading about your rescue in the paper or your obituary after a disaster.

Kayaking isn't as hard as it looks. In fact, it's one of the best ways for beginners to get on the water. We're not talking raging whitewater and rolling rapids. Forget the high-adrenaline adventures until you've practiced your paddling in calmer waters -- think still water lakes and slow-moving streams. "Paddling is an incredibly versatile activity, for any age, at any fitness level and with any interest," said Sue Rechner, chief executive of Confluence Watersports in Easley, S.C., which oversees multiple kayak manufacturers, including Wilderness Systems, Perception, Dagger and Wave Sport.

From backyards to mountain peaks, the great outdoors holds plenty of surprises. What you don't want to be surprised with are nasty insect bites, poison ivy rashes, sunburns and sprains. Bugs can ruin a fun family outing. There are two main categories into which these bugs fall. Insects that feed on blood from animals and people are known as "biters," and include mosquitoes, fleas, biting flies, ticks, spiders and most ants. Those that use stings are "stingers," and they are used as a defensive weapon. Most often insects in this category sting because children or adults have trespassed into their territory. The most common ones include bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets and fire ants.

Rick McKendrick of Bend, Ore., was bitten by the backpacking bug as a high school student. However, he wishes someone had given him a little bit of advice. "I used to carry the kitchen sink," he said. "My advice to people is 'learn to live well with less.'" If the freedom of the hills is beckoning but you never lived out a backpack before, take heart. Backpacking is the kind of activity where even beginners have an excellent chance of learning just how enjoyable it can be.

You've seen the professional survivalists of the television shows "Man vs. Wild" and "Survivorman" catch live fish with their bare hands and build sea-worthy rafts from beach flotsam. They make it look easy. But how prepared are you for a worst-case scenario in the wilderness? "You can't call AAA in the woods. Many times, you're far removed from modern amenities so if you get into a pickle, you need to have the knowledge on how to get yourself out," said Jeff Alt, seasoned hiker and author of "A Walk For Sunshine: A 2,160 Mile Expedition for Charity on the Appalachian Trail" ($16, Dreams Shared Publications), which chronicles his 147-day backpacking adventure.

In a day when we can easily snap pictures on cell phones and disposable cameras, getting the full beauty of the outdoors is often more complex than a simple point and shoot. It is hard to describe the beauty of the outdoors in mere words. Photographers attempt to capture these sights from around the globe for the enjoyment of many more. However, it's important to consider that you will be lugging around all that gear.

Outdoor activities are as varied as hiking to sport fishing, but sometimes you just want to get back to nature at full speed. Luckily, there are All Terrain Vehicles, or ATVs, that can help you journey through the wilderness using high-speed transportation. "ATVing is a fun outdoor sport because you can involve the whole family and appreciate the outdoors," said Donna Beadle, external relations specialist for Polaris Industries. With child-sized vehicles also available, everyone can get in on the fun.

Ready for a vacation, but don't have a lot of cash? A recreational vehicle might just be the perfect solution. According to a study by PKF Consulting, RV family vacations on average are 27 to 61 percent less than other types of vacations. Considering this study was done in the summer of 2008, when gas prices were much higher, the cost may be even less now. "On average, RV vacations were more economical than the other types analyzed except in one case," said Kannan Sankaran, PKF's lead researcher in the study, which compared the costs of eight different types of vacations for three, seven, 10 and 14 days to different destinations across the United States.

As many as 10 years ago -- when my husband Jeff and I were still decades away from retirement -- he used to comment about RVs traveling down the highway. "There's our future home," he'd say. "As soon as Nathan's in college, we're selling the house and hitting the road." His dream was postponed after our fifth child came along -- a wonderful surprise! -- in our 21st year of marriage. "Forget retirement," he chuckled. "We'll be working forever!" But every once in a while we do take vacations, and a few years ago we took one in a 36-foot motor home. Somehow, Jeff agreed to a four-generation trip out West. He probably figured he owed me for the time his mother accompanied us to Disney World.

As airlines begin charging for everything short of oxygen, more people, despite climbing gas prices, will turn to the great American vacation: the road trip. The best thing about that: You can bring Rover, the great American road dog. Most dogs are great road trippers -- calm, cool and content, the perfect drive-time pals. Then there are the exceptions -- those that suffer from motion sickness, become anxious or discover their inner Cujo within the confines of a moving vehicle. My advice: Before hitting the road for a cross-country sojourn with Rover, take him for a test drive and make sure he really is the great American road dog -- and not the great American homebody.

Whether you plan to cruise through the majestic canyons of America's West or park on the beach for a spectacular sunset view, choosing the right recreational vehicle takes some consideration. It will serve both as your transportation and your home away from home, so it should fit all your comfort and budget needs. Traveling in a RV offers the freedom to journey on your own schedule with no check-ins, packing and unpacking or long airport security lines and a chance to experience life outdoors. It also gives you the opportunity to travel not only with your entire family but also with your pet (depending on campground regulations).

Q: The choice of the right pair of binoculars seems overwhelming. How do I choose the best one for me? A: This is a great question because many people give binoculars for gifts and they will often give the wrong kind. Binoculars make good gifts for any bird watcher or nature lover, but can also be useful to gardeners. The construction of binoculars involves many compromises. Making the right purchase means finding which one best suits your needs. There are many items to consider, but none is necessarily more important than any other.

Just as home and car owners care for their houses and vehicles, recreational vehicle enthusiasts should provide special upkeep of their homes on wheels. "An RV is like any other vehicle. It requires regular checkups and periodic maintenance to operate at its peak," said Phil Ingrassia, vice president of communications at the National RV Dealers Association (RVDA). "The best way to ensure safe, trouble-free travel is to thoroughly check your RV before each trip."

The consumer market for GPS (global positioning system) products is healthy, according to data collected by GPS World. Purchasers have many reasons for getting one:

The dwindling economy may carve deep into your RV travel budget. Here are some ways to save money on your RV vacation.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 71 million people participated in wildlife watching in 2006. Many of these people did not have to journey far: