Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

When we made the decision to purchase an LTV, we were completely new to RVs and the RV community. In preparation for our new entrance into the world of motorhomes, trailers, and campers, I began researching information on online forums, including ones specifically related to LTV owners. I found something unexpected that has revealed itself in real life as well: the wonderfully helpful, supportive, loving, and excited community of LTV owners.

Although we could not select any of the options that came with our new 2021 Unity, we were lucky enough to receive a unit with 400w of solar panels up top and 200ah of lithium batteries below. As avid tent campers accustomed to reaching places in a 4WD off-roading truck, we knew we wanted to be able to get away from crowds and other campers and access truly remote areas of the country.

After our first multi-week trip down Highway 1 along the west coast and over to Joshua Tree National Park, we decided we wanted to upgrade some of our electrical components, specifically the solar charge controller and add a smart shunt to monitor our lithium batteries . So, with a little more research in the forums, we decided to replace the GoPower solar charge controller with an MPPT from Victron Energy, move it to the inverter bay, and add a Bluetooth-enabled smart shunt to the batteries for easy monitoring. But even though several online community members had provided detailed instructions and guidelines for these modifications, I still managed to mess it up.

We were on our third major trip and had crossed the country from Oregon to Virginia to visit family and watch the leaves change color. Although we were able to monitor our power much more closely, our observations revealed that something wasn’t quite right with the way the batteries were charging and holding charge. When we landed at our relative’s home, Alder worked remotely from the lush back patio, and I sat in the driveway scratching my head and staring at a bundle of wires. Here again, the online community saved us. I posted pictures to the forum and described the problems we were experiencing, and multiple members chimed in within the hour to offer up guidance. With some provided screenshots and other detailed information on how to remedy the mistake (thanks, Sandy), I ordered some new parts, made the changes, and our issues were resolved in no time. This was the first time the wonderful community of LTV owners got us out of a jam, and it was certainly not the last.

Boondocking among the fall leaves in the Northeast.

The changing colors of the fall leaves in New England.

We have had similarly terrific interactions with other owners in the real world. No matter where we’re headed, if we ever see another LTV on the road, we are always quick to honk or wave and have always received the same greeting in return. On a handful of occasions, we have been lucky enough to be stopped next to or near another Unity and feel compelled to stop by for a visit. Our first such opportunity was on that trip to Joshua Tree and was actually in the park itself. We met a couple with a Unity FX and a pair of small dogs and spent some time talking about LTV ownership, the differences in the floorplans (ours is a Twin Bed), and the national park while walking around and taking pictures of the cholla cacti. On another trip, we ran into a couple with two golden retrievers in a campground in Zion National Park, with whom we discussed the excellent build quality of Leisure vans and the similar electrical modifications we had both made and our shared appreciation for the knowledge and assistance found on the online forums.

Later in that visit to Utah, while visiting Goblin Valley State Park, we ran into a couple who shared the same floorplan as us. They had also come to own their unit in a roundabout way and were disheartened not to have the solar options that they used to use to do boondocking. This was a fortuitous meeting for both of us. Upon our first introduction, they informed us of a nearby slot canyon hike we could take to avoid the heat of the day’s peak. We had been greatly looking forward to doing a slot canyon hike, and walking among the goblins in the Valley of Goblins at high noon didn’t seem wise on a hot summer day. We followed their directions and drove ten minutes to the trailhead of Little Wild Horse Canyon. The parking lot was full, but we found a spot big enough for the van in the dried-up riverbed next to it, where some other vehicles were parked. It was sandy, but with our truck camping experience, we had no problems positioning the camper. As we packed our backpacks and applied sunscreen, we heard a call from behind us. It was our new LTV friends! They had also come to hike the canyon and had followed our path into the dry riverbed but had become stuck in the sand.

Getting an LTV stuck is no great pleasure, but we have made enough mistakes along the way that we knew a few tricks to help free their vehicle. Their wheels had sunk down into the loose sand and were spinning. Our first trick is made possible by the add-on option of the self-leveling jacks, which they had opted for and ours had come with. We carry a collection of “Lego” blocks, the square plastic interlocking plates that people without self-leveling jacks use to balance their units. We use these when our self-leveling jacks max out in one corner or another and need a little extra height. We placed a small stack of the blocks under the jacks on the right side of the vehicle where the tires were sunk and instructed them to lower the jacks on that side. As the jacks came down onto the blocks, the right side of the vehicle raised up, pulling the stuck tires from the loose sand.

Helping our new friends get free of the sinking sands.

The second trick was to use additional blocks to create a traction track in the path of the tires, including underneath the raised wheels, to create a more rigid and grippy surface for the tires to drive on. With the track in place, they raised up the jacks, resting the tires down onto the track, and successfully reversed their van back to the paved road. It felt like a great, shared accomplishment, and we were thrilled to be able to return a favor to them after they had guided us to an interesting new hiking location.

For us, it really emphasized the value of the close-knit community of LTV owners and the pride we all take in our vehicles; it makes us feel that the Unity is aptly named and that there truly is a community behind the campers.

Note: Modifications may void certain aspects of your limited warranty, as well as affect resale values. Consult your warranty for details. Triple E Recreational Vehicles is not responsible or liable for any actions you take after viewing this page, or for any modifications you make to your vehicle. Please use a qualified professional to make any modifications to your vehicle, and ensure that any changes you make are safe, and in compliance with all applicable laws.

Our RV adventures started in 1999 with a 32-foot Class A gas motorhome, then in 2000, a 39-foot Class A diesel pusher. The diesel pusher was with us for 18 years, ordered exactly as we wanted (well, the way I wanted). It was to be “our last motorhome.” Uh-huh. Our dogs and their owners were very attached to this coach, and it drove very smoothly except on rough roads where everything rattled and squeaked. It carried 100 gallons of fuel (I could only seem to get 80 gallons into it). Traveling down the road at any speed, uphill or down, towing or not, fuel consumption always worked out to 7 miles per gallon. The cavernous underbelly could hold so much stuff. So much stuff, in fact, that we forgot was even there many years later. No matter; it came along for the ride!

Not exactly the picture of spry and nimble!

Over time, we began to notice something. We were limited to mostly commercial RV parks, truck stops for fuel, and the need to really plan our trip routes. So many county, state, and national parks were off-limits due to length. I began to think, hmmm, if only that bedroom in the back could be chopped off as it didn’t get used for that many hours in a day. That would make a big difference in length, maybe 9 feet or so! However, this wasn’t really a viable option because the back end would be pretty drafty without the bedroom. Besides, even 30 feet was too long for many parks.

After 18 years of owning a diesel pusher, I had grown weary of trying to maneuver in tight spaces, with the complexity and high cost of maintenance of a heavy-duty diesel drivetrain and chassis, the difficulty in finding a storage facility, the big task of washing it on the outside and cleaning it on the inside. The prospect of a van-based motorhome was attractive. It would be easy to drive and lower maintenance costs, store it at home, and, of course, have the flexibility to go to many more parks. Parks that were within beautiful natural settings.

Then, in 2018, I saw an LTV Unity on the internet. It was a Murphy Bed floorplan. This was a 25-foot motorhome with a spacious living area that transformed from sofa to dinette to big bed. As a bonus, the bathroom was bigger than the one in our diesel pusher! We also looked at the other Unity and Wonder floorplans. They all had great features and variations while still fitting into that state park-friendly length!

Here I am contemplating how I possibly could have been able to fit into this National Park in Big Sur with a 39′ pusher. Photo by Susan Regan

I had seen more conventional Class C’s, but they were really more suited for families with young children. They were very tall, sometimes quite long, often plain and, well, a bit boring looking. Coming from a well-equipped diesel pusher, we were looking for certain quality and amenities that weren’t available in many “shoebox” Class C’s. We would lose some livability compared to a 39-foot coach, but we didn’t want to go backward in quality. LTV models seemed to have all the amenities of our pusher in a smaller form factor. Yes, you need to “maneuver” around each other and pets sometimes, but it quickly becomes second nature. I find that my wife giving me an elbow in the ribs when I’m in the way is highly effective.

I am still blown away by how much storage our Unity Murphy Bed provides both inside and outside. It’s really impressive. Some Class C’s seem to have a lot of storage, but you quickly realize that they are limited on how much cargo they can carry due to weight limitations. Our Unity can carry over 1,800 pounds of people and stuff. This compares very favorably to most conventional Class C’s.

We were used to towing a vehicle with our pusher. I was very happy to learn that our Unity could tow 4,000lbs. My Jeep could come with us when needed! Yet, most regular fueling stations were still an option. We get 17 miles per gallon when not towing; even when we do, the fuel mileage is still double that of our pusher. Towing is not much different than with the pusher, except you can feel the tow vehicle’s presence a bit more, and braking feels safe and secure by adding an auxiliary braking system on the Jeep.

Back home after the latest rolling adventure!

While boondocking in a pusher is certainly an option, there are fewer real-world places to do so than with a 25-foot RV. Diesel pushers really aren’t made for exploring dirt roads, especially if there isn’t a big area to turn around! Speaking of which, having to back up a pusher into a campsite is the leading cause of RVing stress amongst couples. Don’t ask me how I know.

List of Pros and Cons for Pushers and LTVs:

Diesel Pusher Pros

• Lots of room, multiple slide-outs, and lengths from 34 feet to 45 feet.
• Lots of storage, a large basement area, and numerous interior cabinets and closets.
• Heavy vehicles yield a smooth ride due to air ride suspension and weight.
• Quiet drive due to engine in the rear.
• Often has a large, residential-style refrigerator.
• You can have a dishwasher, washer, and dryer.
• Can have a bath and a half floorplan.
• Large galley area.
• Large fuel tank and holding tanks.
• Good cargo and people-carrying capacity for most models.

Diesel Pusher Cons

• Expensive to purchase.
• Expensive to maintain.
• Poor fuel economy.
• Difficult to store.
• Difficult to maneuver and park. Hard to sightsee in town with.
• Difficult to fit into normal fueling stations.
• Many parks and campgrounds don’t allow their large sizes.
• Difficult to level.
• It is labor-intensive to wash on the outside and more work to clean the interior.

LTV Pros

• Less expensive to purchase.
• Compact length for ease of maneuverability and flexibility to fit in most parks and campgrounds.
• Easy to drive.
• Less expensive to maintain.
• Lower vertical clearance.
• Less need to tow.
• Easier to level.
• Less complex mechanically and electrically.

LTV Cons

• Less interior space.
• Smaller fuel tank and holding tanks.
• Less sleeping capacity.
• Smaller galley.
• Smaller bathrooms except for floorplans like the Wonder Front Twin Bed, Unity Murphy Bed, and Wonder and Unity Murphy Bed Lounge.
• Less basement storage and interior storage.

I’m sure there are a few I’ve left out, but after living with a 39-foot pusher for 18 years, we really don’t miss very much about it. Our Unity does what we need it to do comfortably and more efficiently. The freedom to be able to fit into amazing parks and campgrounds that were previously off-limits is as wonderful as we had hoped. The LTV is simpler to maintain and operate, and we love storing it at home. The big improvement in fuel mileage is more welcome than ever, along with less costly chassis/drivetrain maintenance. All in all, our Unity has delivered on every level we had hoped for. Maybe this will truly be our last motorhome! Uh-huh.

The right-angle entrance into this small Paso Robles winery would have been very difficult to maneuver in the pusher.

Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Hello! Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Wanda Jane. My legal paperwork declares me to be “born” in 2017, with a Ford 3.2 liter power stroke turbo Diesel engine on a Ford Transit chassis. My coach is a Wonder Murphy Bed model built by Leisure Travel Vans in Canada, but I became a native of America when I was acquired by my dealer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which I am proud to say is still my home! My sleek silver paint job gleams to onlookers whose heads turn as my Ford turbo diesel engine allows me to effortlessly cruise the interstates, back roads, and canyons of the beautiful country of America.

I met my family in March of 2018, and it was love at first sight on both of our parts. I’m titled to my long-time owners, David and Jennifer Hill (I will refer to them as “D and J”). Together, we care for the most lovable toy poodle named Oliver, but we call him Ollie.

My white Ultraleather seats are the perfect backdrop against Ollie’s ebony coat!

That day D and J first came to visit me will be a day I will always remember. J came with Ollie in tow and her dad, Stan, who has been one of my biggest admirers since we met. On a beautiful blue sky Colorado afternoon, J, Stan, and Ollie slid into the comfort of my sleek white leather seats, and I used my quiet engine, boasting 185 horsepower, 350 ft-lb torque, and my six-speed auto transmission to smoothly and quietly glide them on their first excursion in a Leisure Travel Van. As we effortlessly hummed down the road, I heard J comment to my dealer how much my drive felt like a car as we embarked on our first outing together. Back at the dealership, as they inspected my shiny paint, gleaming a sparkling silver in the afternoon light, I overheard J whisper to Stan that I was the one! I was delighted when D&J came back a few days later and drove me home to Denver! We’ve been on an adventure since that day!

These days between our adventures, I spend my winters in Florida and my beautiful summer days in the mountains of Colorado. This year, 2022, has been a busy and exciting time for me. After some sun-filled winter months in Florida, we headed to the mountains of Virginia for a surprise 80th birthday party for Stan, and he was very surprised and excited to see me again. As we left the heat of Florida, we had a bit of relief in the evening as we stayed outside of Savannah, Georgia. My air conditioner quickly cooled down my coach area until the temperature dropped enough to be comfortable. The next night in Asheville, North Carolina, we were greeted with pleasantly cool spring temperatures.

As we rolled into the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, my diesel engine pushed effortlessly up the curvy mountain roads. I settled into Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, Virginia, for three nights. I highly recommend staying there if you are ever in that part of Virginia. It was so easy for me to settle in on our wide, mostly paved, and very level site.

It was an honor to host my old friend Stan and family at my site for breakfast in the quiet mountain air. J prepared a wonderful breakfast, and all our guests ate in the shade of my awning. The smells made me wish my diet could consist of more than diesel!

After the party, D, J, Ollie, and I cruised north to upstate New York with an overnight stay in Hagerstown, Maryland. By the time we spent our travel night in Hagerstown, we had driven back into winter temperatures! My furnace warmed the coach, so we all stayed nice and toasty as we rested and slept.

Sunset in wintery Hagerstown, Maryland

Once we reached our second destination in upstate New York, I settled into a beautiful parking spot with an amazing view where I would take a rest for the next month. The days were warm and sunny, but old man winter still visited at night. D&J was kind enough to winterize me before we departed from Maryland. I was thankful, as the antifreeze in my piping felt nice and loose compared to the tight, scary feeling of expanding water preparing to freeze! 

D&J hopped a plane to Europe for a wedding and vacation in the Burgundy region of France. While they were away, I enjoyed the springtime sun and looking at the Finger Lake vineyards I sat next to. Each day I watched as the vines came alive with new life and greenery. I found wonderful neighbors in a fox family and woke up each morning to baby kits playing close by. I was very grateful to my neighbor friends for keeping the rodents away from my tender wires and undercarriage.

When D&J returned, we took a day to restock my fridge and make sure all their belongings were properly packed in my cabinets. As the sun rose on a rural New York morning, we all hit the road to start our journey toward our Colorado summer!

My view of the vineyards at Seneca Lake, NY

The first night, we stayed at an old friend’s house on Duck Island in Cleveland, Ohio. As we set out on our journey, I listened to D&J talk about the motorhomes they had seen in France. From their descriptions, I’m sure they are my distant cousins, but I’ve never met any of them.

 

D&J wanted to catch up with their friend, so they leveled me on the street, allowing my propane tank to effortlessly run our newly stocked refrigerator overnight. I enjoyed my view of the Cuyahoga River for the night in this hip neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

After breakfast, we were on our way to Ludington, Michigan, where we stayed at the Cartier Park Campground. This campground is run by the city of Ludington, and rather nicely, I must say! We stayed there three nights. On the first day, the family rode their bicycles into town. D rode his black, sleek Electra while J cruised off on her pretty white Electra with turquoise rims and a special basket for Ollie. I must admit, at that moment, I was thankful I had carried the bikes on my handy dandy rack that D attached to my super functional shiny chrome rear ladder on my coach. This gave me a much-appreciated day to rest in the shade of our campsite and take in the songs of the birds after thirteen hours of cruising through four states.

 

On our second day in Ludington, I took the family on a beautiful scenic drive through Ludington State Park. The small, curvy, sandy roads were a breeze for my sleek 24-foot body. That night, J made her healthy version of the traditional Michigan pastie filling. D whipped up a batch of his homemade cassava wraps in the lodge cast iron skillet on my efficient gas burners. Once again, the smells make me dream of what it would be like to taste something other than diesel!

Healthy Michigan pastie filling with cassava wraps (recipe below)

Our third morning was perhaps the most exciting morning of my entire existence thus far! This was the day we would take the SS Badger Ferry from Ludington, across Lake Michigan, to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The SS Badger is a historic coal-powered steam engine ferry. It is the last of its kind still in operation in North America. The journey across the lake takes about four hours.

Early that morning, D&J broke down camp. D works very efficiently outside, storing my electric cord, sewer hoses, and freshwater hose, along with dumping my tanks. Simultaneously, J tidied up my coach. I have great storage for all the necessities for living on the road, including a coffee pot and electric teapot! J always starts in the back of my coach and moves forward, ending with putting my sunshades and rugs away. Her last check is always to double-check all my cabinet latches. Hard as I try, I can’t seem to help her when she forgets to close one of those.

As we pull out of the campground, I am filled with anticipation of my very first trip on a boat! I could barely stand the excitement as we pulled into the docks. I was a little concerned when D&J had to separate from me, but my fears and worries quickly melted away as the talented dock hand gently and smoothly backed me onto the ship. I was filled with peace and confidence as he effortlessly guided me into my own cozy spot, along with a host of other motorhome and trailer friends who kept me company throughout the trip. It seemed a very short time until I could see the lake water moving out of the port hole on my side, and we were off on the journey. The breeze filled the ship, and the hum of the steam engines relaxed me so much that I napped almost the entire way. 

 

After the ship docked, the kind dock hands drove me to a waiting area where I was reunited with D&J. Boy, was I glad to see them! I was worried if their journey had been as smooth as mine. My worries soon subsided as I learned they also had a wonderful trip across the Great Lake. They enjoyed food, shopped at the gift store, and played bingo to pass the time, where J ended up being a frequent winner!

On my way to reunite with the family

Upon departing the ship, D, J, Ollie, and I drove along the pleasant country roads of Wisconsin and found our campground in Egg Harbor, where we would spend the next three nights in Door County, Wisconsin. We filled our days exploring the area. We broke camp every day, as we put in too much mileage for the bicycles, so I got to go along to see all the sights.

Nestled in my spot at Egg Harbor, WI

We found so many country markets in the area. Of course, J purchased the local Wisconsin-dried cherries. She made chicken over the charcoal fire and topped it with the most delicious smelling mushroom and cherry sauce! My coach smelled so good that the smell traveled out my open windows on the crisp Wisconsin evening, and I got a second whiff as it traveled outside toward my headlights.

Cherry mushroom sauce (recipe below)

From Wisconsin, we traveled to South Dakota, where we spent the next three nights. We drove through Badlands National Park to our destination, Mount Rushmore. As we cruised through western Minnesota into South Dakota, I could feel the temperatures start to rise, and by the time we reached the Badlands, it was a fiery 106ºF (+41ºC)! As we rode through the park, stopping often for buffalo and pictures of gorgeous vistas, I felt like I had rolled into an air fryer. The hot, dry heat fueled by the strong winds might have crisped me up if it weren’t for my sturdy paint job. Luckily there is no oil in my finish, or I might as well have been a crispy fresh french fry covered in badlands dust!

For the next couple of days, we explored some of the most gorgeous places, including Custer State Park and the Mount Rushmore National Monument. This area of South Dakota was some of the most beautiful scenery my wheels have ever rolled through. In the spirit of the Wild West, D cooked wonderful smelling steaks over charcoal on the Weber Smokey Joe that we store in my huge exterior storage compartment.

Nectarine salad (recipe below)

As we toured the Black Hills of South Dakota, the landscape started to have a western feel and made me anxious to reach my beloved Colorado summer!

On day 11 of our trip from upstate New York, and a total of fifteen states since we had left Florida, we set out for our home in Colorado. My engine hummed its way along the highways of Wyoming, back to our beloved state. I have never been so happy to make the steep, curvy, and winding trip over the continental divide, where I spend my summers at 9000 feet in the cool mountain air.

Brought some Badlands dust home!

After a shower to remove the Badlands dust from places I cannot mention, plus an assortment of bugs who had no chance when they decided to tackle me, I settled into my spot with a mountain view. A smile has remained on my face all summer as I reminisce about the round about cross-country trip through 15 states for my annual road trip, from the warm winters of Florida to the cool summers of Colorado.

As the summer sun and warm temperatures give way to the golden leaves of the Colorado aspen trees in the fall, I ponder where we will go in this beautiful country as we head out again soon to prepare me for the pleasant days of our winter life in Florida. As I enjoy the few last weeks of my mountain views, I am reminded that it truly is a Wonder-ful life that I live!

My sticker collection got an impressive expansion on this trip!

Recipes

Healthy Michigan Pastie Filling

1. Saute one onion and three minced garlic cloves in olive oil.
2. Add one pound of ground beef. Cook until beef is browned and crumbled.
3. Add cubed carrots and sweet potatoes that have been previously lightly steamed.
4. Add 1-2 TBS of fresh thyme.
5. Add one cup of white wine and simmer the mixture until the liquid is gone.
6. Serve in wraps.

Cassava Wraps

Ingredients:

1. Two cups of cassava flour
2. One cup of canned coconut milk
3. 1/2 cup of olive oil
4. 1/2 cup of water
5. Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Combine ingredients in a medium-size bowl until well mixed. Divide dough into 10 equal parts and shape it into balls. Roll out each ball into a thin tortilla on a piece of parchment paper. Drizzle a pan with olive oil and cook tortillas for about 1-2 minutes.

Cherry Mushroom Sauce

1. Saute one diced onion and sliced mushrooms in olive oil and butter. When onions and mushrooms are slightly browned, add one cup red wine and one cup water
2. Add the desired amount of dried sour cherries and simmer until the mixture is a slightly thick sauce consistency.
3. Serve over your choice of meat.

Nectarine Salad

1. Slice or dice nectarines, cucumbers, and avocado.
2. Stir together with olive oil and lemon juice
3. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic.

Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Nestled along the shoreline of southern Maine amongst the small coastal northeastern towns is one of our favorite food destinations in the United States. When we lived in New York City, Portland was an escape from the city’s congestion and high prices. Little did we know that those were the good old days and that this seaside town would be discovered. Today we don’t bat an eye at a $30+ Lobster Roll, and the days of $12 lobster rolls are a precious memory of the past. Ultimately, if it weren’t fantastic, I wouldn’t be paying those kinds of prices, nor would I be recommending that you plan a trip entirely around food. Granted, there is plenty to see and do, but the fare is the highlight of any trip to Portland.

The Lobster Roll Round-Up

Let’s face the hard truth first. You go to Maine, you have a lobster roll, and you consider your trip to Maine a success. But there is more to the lobster roll than you see on the surface. There is a huge rivalry of sorts amongst lobster roll aficionados: Maine vs. Connecticut. It comes down to cold vs. warm and mayonnaise vs. butter, respectively. Wondering where I stand? Would you ever admit to loving one of your children more than the other? No. I’m equal opportunity, mayo, and butter.

Eventide Oyster Co.

If you’re coming here and expecting cold lobster tossed in mayonnaise on a buttered roll, you might be surprised with what you get. See, Eventide does things differently. Cold lobster salad? Nope. The lobster is lightly warmed. Mayonnaise? Wrong again. Think warm lobster claw and knuckle pieces tossed in a decadent brown butter vinaigrette. Buttered New England hot dog bun? By now, you know that’s not the case. A spongy steamed bao bun. It’s so distinct and so delicious that Eventide has gone as far as to trademark its lobster roll. It’s that good. Pro-tip, the wait at Eventide is often 2+ hours, so place an order online and eat them on the picnic tables on the grassy area half a block away.

Bite Into Maine

If you’re looking for a classic Lobster Roll, Bite into Maine is our top option. If you’re also looking for a lobster roll with a twist, Bite into Maine is also our top option. My favorite is the “Picnic Style.” It has a lightly dressed, finely chopped coleslaw and is sprinkled with celery salt. Typically, I’m not a coleslaw person, but it works here for whatever reason. John goes for the wasabi lobster roll. It’s light on the wasabi but adds a touch of heat that offsets the cool mayonnaise. Oh, and did we mention that there is a kettle of clarified butter that they drizzle on top of your lobster roll when you retrieve your order? Not for the light at heart. Bite into Maine has a few locations: Allagash Brewery and Portland Head Lighthouse are their food truck locations, and their Scarborough location menu is more extensive.

Beyond the Lobster

When you tire of lobster, you know there are good (in fact, stellar) options that aren’t seafood-focused. We always like to try the new restaurants in the area, but these are the tried and true restaurants that we always make our way to.

Noodles at Honey Paw

Honey Paw Wings and Khao Soi

The Honey Paw

Southeast Asian fare is brought to you by the same restaurant group that runs Eventide Oyster Bar. Often times we will opt to dine here when we cannot fathom waiting for hours at Eventide. Typically the wait is not very long. Honey Paw shouldn’t be missed if you’re looking for bold flavors. Khao Soi is highly recommended, especially if you’re here on a cool Autumn evening. Braised lamb and thick egg noodles come nested in a curry-laced coconut milk broth. Wings come crispy, sweet, and savory…and addictive! Leave room for dessert. Their rotating soft serve and cake options are worth stopping for even if you aren’t having a meal.

Scratch Baking Company

I’m making a bold statement – these are the best bagels in the U.S. Scratch Baking only offers a few flavors of bagels: sea salt, sesame, poppy seed, and everything. They are best early in the morning when the bagels maintain their airy interiors and chewy exteriors. Sea salt and poppy seed are true winners here and don’t pass on the whipped cream cheese either. Toasting is not necessary if you’re eating them fresh. Be prepared to get there early, or place an order online to reserve your bagels if you like sleeping in. Scratch Baking is only a short drive from the Portland Head Lighthouse, so if you can resist not tearing into your bagel, you will be rewarded with a fantastic bagel with a view. They also have a large selection of baked goods, all of which have been delightful.

Central Provisions

Get the raw beef salad. Don’t question it, and you can thank us later. Like most Portland restaurants, you’ll want to make a reservation or be prepared to wait. Dimly lit and incredibly inviting, try to budget enough time to sit at the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. Central Provisions is an ideal choice for group dining since many dishes are meant for sharing, and you’ll get to sample more of the menu with a group of 4 or 6. Their menu is ever-changing based on seasonality and intentionally balanced across proteins, vegetables, and seafood options. Great cocktails and a thoughtful wine list will likely keep you lingering past your meal.

Eventide Oyster Co. (Listed Twice for a Reason)

You’ll notice that Eventide is on the list twice and not by mistake. While they make insanely delectable brown butter vinaigrette lobster rolls, sticking around and sampling their extensive oyster offering would behoove you. Cocktail sauce and Mignonette are offered as standard accouterments, but their kimchi ice and pickled red onion ice is an enlightening approach to the oyster experience. If, after two lobster rolls and a dozen oysters, you don’t think you can have another bite, think again. The Maine lobster stew is worth undoing your pants’ top button. Not traditional in any sense, the Eventide lobster stew is a green curry stew with large and small pieces of lobster, sweet potatoes, and coconut milk. Mind-blowingly good.

The Beer Guide

When you need a break from the vast culinary landscape that is Portland, you’ll be overjoyed to know that Portland has one of the most breweries per capita in the United States. While there are too may good breweries to visit in one stay (although John has!), we have narrowed our recommendations to those that are most inviting, social, and have food.

Maine Beer Company

In addition to having great beer, wood-fired pizzas, and a beautiful indoor and outdoor space, Maine Beer Company is a downright upstanding company. They are committed to treating their employees right (they pay 100% of their health insurance and provide ample time off), and they pledge a portion of their proceeds to environmental organizations. Their facility has a ridiculous amount of solar that will get any Leisure Travel Van owner thinking about how they can add more panels to their roof. While this brewery isn’t in Portland per say, it is in Freeport, which is about a 20-minute drive away. There is plenty to do in the area to make the drive worthwhile, such as outlets and the very popular L.L. Bean.

Bissell Brothers Brewing

Bright and airy and filled with intensely colored murals, your mood will be instantly lifted when you walk into Bissell Brothers. It’s a fun space to have a meal, a quick beer, or linger and get some work done. Their beer offering tends to be heavy on the IPA, but there are generally various styles available on tap. Bissell Brothers frequently have can releases, where you can purchase one or two beers that are small batch produced. Food options are fairly standard pub fare, but they have plenty of vegetarian-friendly options as well.

Allagash Brewing Company

One of our favorite autumnal breweries to visit, Allagash is a great place to spend an afternoon. They have a vast outdoor space with games and food, which makes it popular amongst families and tourists. Probably a safer bet for people who like beer for recreation as they generally have lighter beers but no less variety. Their beer is distributed nationally, but this brewery feels local and homey.

You’ll be sure to find us in Portland in the fall when the air is crisp, some of the crowds have thinned, and the leaves are putting on a spectacular show. Let us know if you have any favorite places to check out next time we’re there. Even better, if you plan to be there in the fall, let us know, and maybe we can even have a lobster roll and beer meet and greet!

Editor’s Note: Jeff  Regan is a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Half Moon Bay State Beach in Northern California has been our “home park” for over 20 years. It is only 17 miles from our previous abode on the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula. Because we lived so close by, our regular trips here hooked us on RVing and were a big reason why we decided to make the move to the Coast in 2019 and the fact it’s like Disneyland for landscape and wildlife photographers.

HMB State Beach has four beautiful beaches, including Francis Beach, which is where we camp. It is also the only RV-friendly State Park campground on the San Mateo County Coast (or San Francisco County, for that matter). What makes RVing here so appealing is the three miles of pristine beaches and bluffs, the seven-mile Coastal Trail, close proximity to quaint Main Street (shopping and dining), and the iconic Pillar Point Harbor.

The RV sites are near the ocean and the beach is popular with surfers. If we reserve early enough through Reserve California, we opt for an ocean view site which is $50 per night and includes 30amp power. Whales are known to swim near the beach while migrating, and there is a protected Snowy Plover nesting area as well. The mostly paved Coastal Trail is perfect for walking, running, and biking. Horseback riding on the beach is even an option. There truly is something for everyone!

Francis State Beach

Our dogs were always happiest when at this place, not to mention their owners. Originally, the park had no power hookups, and our previous motorhome had no solar, so it required us to use our very loud Powertech 7Kw diesel generator for an hour in the morning and evening. It was much like a DC-3 airplane starting up and taxiing to the runway. One night, a couple of campers in an RV that had no generator came to our door to ask if I needed a tool to fix our generator, and I said something about “speaking of tools!” About half the sites now have power hookups, and even without the solar panels on our Unity mean, our generator doesn’t get much use. The air conditioner is rarely needed due to year-round cool temperatures in the 50s and 60s.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is only 25 miles (40km) south of San Francisco, so it makes a good jumping-off location to see the city and many other coastal sites via nearby Highway One. This crescent-shaped bay was founded in the 1840s as its first name San Benito, later becoming known as Spanishtown, and finally, in 1874, it got the name Half Moon Bay. Many of its non-native early inhabitants were Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian. This bay is known for its pumpkin festival, featuring record-breaking gourds of 2,000 pounds or more, and the Mavericks big-wave surf contest. A few miles southeast is the beautiful Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve on the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Historic Main Street features inns, restaurants, shops, art galleries, wine tasting, and bakeries–all with a nod to the cultural diversity and history of the small town.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

Higgins Canyon Rd, view on the way to Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

Pillar Point Harbor

The nearby Pillar Point Harbor is picturesque with restaurants and shops, as well as kayak and surfboard rentals. You can even buy fish and crab directly from the fishing boats!

Originally inhabited by the Ohlone Indians, the arrival of Spanish colonizers vastly changed their lives, starting when the Portola expedition camped nearby in 1769. By the early 19th century, Russian fur trappers came to the area. A deep-water landing at Pillar point was a port for lumber and produce destined for San Francisco. By 1944, Romeo Pier was constructed to supply sardines and salmon to the Romeo Fish Market in San Francisco. The “Charlie the Tuna” cartoon character seen on StarKist TV commercials originally came from Romeo Pier, when owner Joe Romeo branded cans of his seafood with a cartoon fish wearing glasses and named it after Charlie, his son. The 1961 catchphrase “Sorry Charlie” came after the fishing side of the business was sold to StarKist Tuna. Romeo Pier was demolished in 2018 due to its unsafe condition, but the Johnson Pier is still a working pier, bustling with activity during crab season.

Pillar Point Harbor

Romeo Pier 2017, demolished in 2018.

Mavericks Big-Wave Surf Contest

At the west end of the harbor is Mavericks Beach, famous for its Titans of Mavericks big-wave surf contest, attracting top surfers from around the world. Waves as high as 60 feet (18M) have been documented! The surf is actually a half-mile offshore, caused by an unusually shaped underwater rock formation that was discovered by Half Moon Bay local Jeff Clark, who became the first documented surfer to tackle Mavericks in 1975 at age 17. He was able to keep the existence of big waves in California a secret until 1990. Sadly, notable Hawaiian big-wave rider Mark Foo lost his life there in 1994.

Moss Beach Distillery

There is a restaurant in Moss Beach (where we now live) called the Moss Beach Distillery. Just six miles north of Half Moon Bay, located on a cliff that overlooks the ocean and comes with a very colorful history dating back to Prohibition. It was established in 1927 as a speakeasy called Frank’s Place and converted into a restaurant in 1933. Illegal whisky from Canada was brought from ships to the beach and into vehicles and the speakeasy. Such luminaries as Fatty Arbuckle, author Dashiell Hammett, and San Francisco politicians frequented the place. The Moss Beach Distillery is even more well known for its resident ghost, the Blue Lady, who supposedly still haunts the premises, and the often foggy nights further the scary mood. We have yet to see the Blue Lady, but my wife declines to use the ladies’ room at night to avoid any sightings, just in case. The dog-friendly patio has fire pits, along with a dramatic view, especially at sunset.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

Also in Moss Beach is Seal Cove, part of the JV Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, featuring tide pool habitat, marsh, erosive bluffs, clifftop trail, and cypress and eucalyptus grove. The Ocean Shore Railroad opened in 1905 and extended through the town of Moss Beach, making the reserve location a tourist destination and is now managed by San Mateo County Parks. In 1969, the site was officially designated as a state reserve. It has long been prized as one of the best tide pool habitats in California. Fitzgerald is also home to harbor seals year-round. I can watch the fog roll in from my loft at home a 1/2 mile away, and I love photographing this place as often as possible.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Cypress grove

Seal Cove tide pools

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

The Pigeon Point Light Station in Pescadero is 22 miles to the south and was built in 1871. This is the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States at 115 feet and is also a California State Park and hostel. This lighthouse currently has its original first-order Fresnel lens on display in the adjacent museum. The lens stands 16 feet tall, 6 feet in diameter, and is comprised of 1,008 prisms and will hopefully be reinstalled in the lighthouse tower as part of its multi-million dollar restoration scheduled for some time this year.

There are always photographers here at all hours of the day and night–I know because I’ve shot sunrises, sunsets, and the Milky Way at this spot more than a few times.

Pigeon Point Light Station

Pigeon Point Light Station with the Milky Way

Golfing

Golfers can enjoy the scenic Half Moon Bay Golf Links, next to the Ritz Carlton hotel, as well as Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica. The Sharp Park course opened in 1932 and was designed by Alister MacKenzie, an architect of Augusta National, home of the Masters. Both courses offer beautiful, expansive views of the ocean and bluffs and the challenge of frequent fog and wind, but the little worry of hot temperatures!

Pacifica Pier

The picturesque 1,140 feet long Pacifica Municipal Pier is close to Sharp Park Golf Course and one of the best fishing piers in the state, where salmon and striped bass can be caught, as well as crab. No admission charge or fishing license is needed. The L-shaped pier was built in 1973 and is a dramatic spot to watch the sunset and high surf conditions. Pacifica is about 16 miles from the campground. It boasts of having the most beautiful Taco Bell right on the beach. There’s plenty of parking should you get a Chalupa craving.

Pacifica Municipal Pier

If it weren’t for RVing, we would not have been able to spend so much time getting to know and taking pictures of this coastal area. A few months ago, we were walking the Coastal Trail around noon with our puppy and saw that there was a vacancy at the campground. We quickly went home and prepped our Unity for the very short trip and were back at the Rangers kiosk by 2 pm. Yes, we camped a whole 7 miles (11km) from home! Hopefully, I have been able to relay some of the beauty and interest of the area and why we were compelled to camp here year after year.

Montara State Beach, 2 miles north of Moss Beach

Susan with LilyBear and Spot on the Coastal Trail circa 2012.

Editor’s Note: Jeff Regan is a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

Point Reyes National Seashore is a National Park in Marin County, California, a 71,000-acre nature preserve on a Peninsula set aside by President John F. Kennedy, where Elk roam and Peregrine Falcons soar. To get there from the south, you could cross the Golden Gate Bridge and cut over to Highway One through Stinson Beach. It’s a beautiful, breathtaking drive, but not recommended! I know because Susan suggested we go home that way. The crazy tight cliff curves are as gnarly as anything to be found elsewhere on Highway One. Instead, it is best to stay on the 101 and cut over at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Greenbrae to get to Highway One.

Originally inhabited by Coast Miwok Indians, Sir Francis Drake discovered this area in the late 1500s. Centuries later it hasn’t changed all that much. Picturesque cliffs and beaches, sweeping vistas, teeming with wildlife. Just before the small town called Point Reyes Station, is the Bear Valley Visitor Center, which was impressive and has some good hiking trails around it, plus a huge meadow. Inside the visitor center is a taxidermist’s dream with scores of various local animal and bird species stuffed and posed in representations of their habitats.

Photo by Susan Regan

To get to the newly restored Point Reyes Lighthouse, you drive through Inverness, along Tomales Bay which is well-known for its fresh oysters. Behind a hardware store is a famous shipwreck that is often seen on Instagram called the S.S. Point Reyes which is a steamship that crashed on a sand bar over 100 years ago. Possibly the most photographed abandoned boat in our hemisphere! The road to the lighthouse is pretty isolated and depending on the time of day, you will see many deer crossing the road as well as some cattle. Elk and coyotes can be seen as well. The 1870 light station features 300 steps down to the 35′ lighthouse, which is 294 feet above sea level–the windiest and foggiest on the Pacific Coast–it is a twin of Cape Mendocino Light. The lighthouse was used as a location for the 1980 John Carpenter film “The Fog”.  I think this could explain why we never saw the sun on our visit. Thankfully, we experienced little fog in the town of Point Reyes Station, Inverness, and at the Olema Campground where we stayed. Across from us at the campground was a newer Unity, but they weren’t there in the evening and left the next morning. There was also another Unity at the visitors center the following day. At this point, I have to admit that we never actually found the town of Olema, but I’m sure it’s nice.

The S.S. Point Reyes barely looks its age! A coat of paint would do wonders!

Point Reyes Lighthouse, restored in 2019, including Fresnel lens.

Olema Campground. That’s a good-looking motorhome in the background!

Olema Campground is a large property that is located close to the National Park. Photo by Susan Regan

There is the Tule Elk Reserve. Didn’t find it either. There are a couple of places such as Alamere Falls, a waterfall that falls right onto the beach from a bluff, and Tomales Point, which has a description of  “Elk, hiking, and Great White Shark”. These places are only accessible via 8 and 9.5-mile hikes, respectively. No, we didn’t find them, had no intention of doing the hikes. I’m sure they’re nice. We did, however, walk the entire 1.75-mile Chimney Rock Trail, offering views of Drakes Bay and the Pacific Ocean and is renowned for spring wildflowers. The historic Point Reyes Lifeboat Station, in service from 1927-1968 can be seen from the trail. There were many deer and an incredible Peregrine Falcon perched on a bluff. I cleverly had the wrong lens to capture a close-up photo of this magnificent bird.

A 24-70mm lens is inadequate for bird photography, even after cropping.

Historic Point Reyes Lifeboat Station

Enough about wildlife! Let’s talk restaurants and cheese! We had lunch at a wonderful place in Inverness called Saltwater Oyster Depot that had delicious small plates with oysters and differing preparations of red wine and sparkling wine flights. My wife thought the prices were so reasonable, she practically ordered the entire lunch menu. There was a very lovely picnic area next to the parking area, but we found this after eating inside the restaurant. The town of Point Reyes Station, population 350, has nice restaurants, including the Road House on the way to town, which features some Latin American and beef dishes sourced from the cattle ranches on the Point Reyes Peninsula. Although Susan enjoyed the veggie burger that tasted and looked like real beef she had to double-check with the waiter to make sure.

The town has some boutiques, a bakery, hotel and saloon, a library, a gas station, and an amazing cheese store, known as Cowgirl Creamery, named for the two female founders. I intended to find out if they offered elk cheese as I had read about moose cheese from Sweden. As with many places, like the lighthouse, it was closed during the week except on Friday due to being the off-season. Our RV trip ended on Friday morning but we made sure we hit up Cowgirl Creamery before leaving, as neighbors from home had specific Cowgirl cheese orders (but no elk cheese). These neighbors are really into cheese. My appreciation of cheese stems from it being a good excuse to drink wine.

Could any of these be Elk Cheese?

The Cypress Tree Tunnel in Inverness, found along the way to the lighthouse, is also a very well photographed spot. Having a beautiful and somewhat well-known grove of Cypress trees on a bluff that is visible from my loft at home, I am not one to be easily impressed, yet I was this time! The driveway through the Monterey Cypress trees leads to an old building housing the Point Reyes National Seashore North District Operations Center and KPH RCA Radio Station, the latter being the home of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, formed on July 12, 1999, the date of the supposed last commercial Morse code transmission in the U.S. This is how messages were relayed to sailors at sea before satellite communication. Limited public visits are allowed at this restored receive site and you’ll need to thread your way through photographers on the way into the building.

That’s fancy driveway landscaping!

There are several beaches on the Point Reyes National Seashore. Another well-known photo location is a shot of the very long Point Reyes Beach from the bluff near the lighthouse. It’s so long that it is called Point Reyes Beach North and South with separate entrances. Limantour Road leads to Drakes Bay, Drakes Beach with its Kenneth C. Patrick visitor center, and Limantour Beach, another unspoiled beach that goes on for miles.

Susan and I had only been to Point Reyes once before, for a day, about 20 years earlier with a car club. Now, I have to admit that we wanted a quick get away from our foggy coastal area, we might have thought upon arrival, as to why we just traveled to another foggy coastal area? Those thoughts soon disappeared after spending time in this uniquely beautiful and captivating National Park. Quiet and uncrowded during the fall and winter months except for the crowds of deer which were seemingly everywhere. If you happen to be in the California North Coast area, Point Reyes is highly recommended, even if there is no elk cheese to be found!

Editor’s Note: Brandon and Janet Hensley are members of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

LTV Traveler Clubs

Janet and I recently attended our first Leisure Travel Vans Travelers Club Rally, and I’m convinced every LTV owner should join their local club and attend a Rally at least once in their RV lives.

First off, let me explain what the LTV Travelers Clubs are. While not operated or sponsored directly by LTV, these are LTV-supported groups of people that create clubs according to their geographic location.

There is an LTV Travelers Club near you!

Each Travelers Club has a club leader that coordinates the events, rallies, and activities for their particular group. These are planned and coordinated very well and from our experience, these activities were so helpful as we had technical information to learn, food and fellowship to enjoy, and got to see all kinds of other LTVs.

The US has 12 regional clubs and Canada has four as well as an FMCA club, so plenty of LTV owners in your area to join!

Join & Attend a Rally for your Area

We live in Dallas and have property in Colorado, so we belong to the Travelers Clubs in those regions (Texoma and Rocky Mountain). We plan to attend one of our home area rallies soon but have already had the privilege of joining The Flamingles, Florida’s Travelers Club Spring Rally.

Let me tell you, it was a blast! From our time with these wonderful people, I’m convinced you are doing yourself, and your RV experience, a disservice if you don’t join a group and attend a rally.

Five Benefits of Joining a Club

Here are five takeaways we got from joining our fellow Leisure Travel Van enthusiasts for a weekend of fellowship and fun.

1. The Community

From the moment we arrived at Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, FL, we were greeted by several friendly and welcoming Flamingles. The resort that hosted the event, Grand Oaks, is an amazing RV resort within a working horse farm and the perfect venue for a gathering.

Horses were abundant on this working horse farm

The first night was dinner and cocktails with the group where we met and mingled with the 80 or so attendees. Having enthusiasm and passion for the same thing amongst a group of people makes it so easy to strike up a conversation.

Fellowship with other Leisure Travel Van owners is priceless

From doctors and retired airline pilots to nuclear engineers, there are so many amazing people in the LTV community and it’s so enthralling to hear about their life journey and what led them to the Leisure Travel Van life.

2. The Education
The event planners arranged for several educational talks, including a panel about lithium batteries and the freedom they give you which I also had the privilege to speak on.

The first talk was interviewing a Leisure Travel Van dealer representative and Flamingle member who talked about how to fix various issues as well as taking questions from the group about issues they were experiencing.

I even got an answer for the small leak I had behind my city water inlet that I was able to fix myself. Before this talk, I would have hired a mobile tech or taken the LTV to my dealer for the fix. It was so simple, and I’m glad I could do this easy repair myself.

One of the education events held at the Flamingles Rally in central Florida

There was also a lesson on how to install a “smart shunt” in your battery setup and how to get all the pertinent information about your battery state of charge.

Flamingle member Gary Oster also weighed in on the benefits of education. He added that the time spent in these education discussions is extremely helpful because not only can you learn about the errors other owners have made while making repairs on the road but also about providers and products that don’t measure up to standards LTV owners require.

Getting all the info you can about how your LTV works and empowering you to do more DIY fixes is absolutely priceless.

3. The Inspiration
With just about every floor plan, year, and color combination of Leisure Travel Vans in one place, you get to see all of the upgrades, renovations, and modifications people have made to their LTVs.

With the coach tours, you get to walk in and tour all the other floorplans and see what people have added (or taken away) in their rigs.

Interested in changing floorplans in the future? Well, this gives you the opportunity to see just about every floorplan and see what floats your boat!

Just about every model and floorplan is represented at an LTV Club Rally.

Also, a bonus to Rallies is seeing the camp chairs, roll-up camp tables, and grills in action. It’s much better to see these things to avoid the trial and error of ordering and just hoping for the best.

4. Going Places You’ve Never Been
Our travels in the Leisure Travel Van always seem to take us West but, by joining the Flamingles in Florida we had the opportunity to go the opposite direction, which I doubt we would have ever done on our own time.

Janet and I never would have experienced this amazing RV park on a working horse ranch in Central Florida if not for the LTV Rally. (Photo courtesy of Brian Duffy)

We took our time and stayed in Louisiana and Alabama on our way East. Again, we would have never headed in this direction without joining a Travelers Club.

Be sure to give yourself time to get off the interstate and explore the small towns (or cities) along the way. We passed through some of the most charming little towns in Alabama that were teeming with Azaleas.

The Azaleas were blooming in Alabama!

The more the merrier seems to be the thought process with the Travelers Clubs, so join more than one and go somewhere outside your normal travel routine.

5. Forming New Friendships
Within the first 24 hours, we formed some incredible friendships. We met people with amazing backgrounds and awesome stories. Our new friends Gary and Melissa even invited us to mooch dock anytime at their Florida home which is just steps from a white sand beach!

Meeting people with the same interests isn’t always an easy thing to do, but by attending a rally you are guaranteed to meet Leisure Travel Van owners that share the same like-mindedness and passions that you have.

Meeting people from all walks of life who share your travel passions is amazing.

I think mingling with folks from different parts of the country, with different backgrounds and occupations, is probably one of the most enriching things that an LTV Rally brings you.

I can’t express enough how this is a fantastic way to enjoy your LTV in a whole new way.

Be sure to check out the travel club in your area.

US Travelers Clubs

•  The Evergreen Club serves WA, OR, ID, and Western MT
• The Southwest LTV Roadrunners serving AZ, CA, NV
• Rocky Mountain LTVers serving CO, NM, UT, WY
• Midwest LTVers serving KS, MN, MT, NE, ND, SD
• Texoma Travelers serving AR, LA, OK, TX
• Heartland LTV’ers serving IL, IA, MO, WI
• Leisurely Great Lakers serving IN, KY, MI, OH, TN, WV
• Southern Leisure Travelers serving AL, GA, MS, TN
• Flamingles serving FL
• Carolina LTV’ers serving NC, SC
• Blue Ridge Leisures serving DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA
• Great North East Travelers serving CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT
• FMCA International Travel Club serves FMCA members in US & Canada

Canadian Travelers Clubs

• The Western Sunsetters serving AB, BC, MB, SK
• Ontario Sun Risers serving ON
• LTV Québec serving QC
• The Maritime Leisures serving NB, NS, PE

Editor’s Note: Robin North is a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

This post is for the clotheshorse. The fashionable, active, and indecisive wardrobe wanderers. I love clothes too and when I traveled for work I always packed a slightly downsized version of my closet. Standing at the luggage carousel in the airport required a porter to help me with my bags (a few in Atlanta, knew me by name!)

When we bought our Unity MB, I just assumed it was a very comfortable “travel trunk” and I could bring along most anything I wanted as far as clothes are concerned. While it has very good storage space for a small RV, it holds a lot less than my closet at home. Now don’t get me wrong, I love our Unity – it’s easy to drive, maneuverable, efficient, and fits in almost anywhere. Its size is one of the things that makes it so appealing. But, when it comes time to pack up for a trip its small size can be a challenge for a fashionista.

On our first long trip, I stuffed the closet and drawers full as well as one of the outside compartments with clothing, my husband Jim was relegated to one shelf, a few hangars, and a drawer. You see, I like to be prepared, so I took clothing to fit almost any occasion and of course, shoes to match. I had a couple of nice dresses to go out to dinner, a suit (in case I needed to do something for business), casual clothes for shopping, beachwear, as well as hiking and kayaking outfits, for all those things I thought I might do on the trip.

Luggage waiting to be loaded… where?

Now, fast forward five years and 30,000 miles of RV trips later, packing a travel wardrobe is now a different story. I actually share the closet and drawers with Jim’s clothes! So, what happened you ask? I had an epiphany while unpacking from one of those early trips. There were zipped bags of clothes that had never been opened items that I forgot I had packed, and shoes that remained in their protective sleeves. As I hauled that unused clothing from the RV back to the house, I muttered – “I can’t believe I didn’t use any of this”.

That winter while we were planning the next big trip I discovered a Pinterest post about capsule wardrobes. I read the blog and then bought the book and was horrified! The author suggested I pare down my wardrobe to 30 pieces -WHAT?! She proceeded to explain how every item mixes and matches with every other item allowing you to build multiple outfits. Okay, so I understand coordinates – I have bought wardrobes-worth of clothing like that, but this concept was a bit over the top.

As for a travel wardrobe, she suggested that if you are going on a 4-day trip, pack for 2, launder the items and wear outfits twice. This made me feel faint. Obviously, she didn’t understand that small RVs don’t have laundry equipment and as for wearing the same outfit twice, well, that’s just crazy talk. However, I was not at all into this “30-item” strategy, but I did begin to see that I could be a bit more discerning with my packing list.

Being the methodical person I am, I measured the RV wardrobe closet and drawers. And then figured out how many pieces of clothing I could hang or fold. Looking at the number of items, I knew that I couldn’t fit everything I wanted to take along, so I went back to my packing list. I decided I could probably “do” with fewer hanging items – I rarely wore a dress or suit while camping. Thankfully Jim, in his infinite patience, built an insert for the wardrobe that reduced the hanging space and added two shelves on the condition that he still maintains his hangar allotment and gains at least one of the two new shelves. Done deal.

Shelf and rod insert Jim built to accommodate more clothing.

It was back to the packing list. I went through the itinerary for our upcoming trip to see what activities we planned. A hike or two and maybe some kayaking along with the regular activities of sightseeing, shopping, and museum visits. In terms of shoes, I would need hiking and water shoes. Other than that, the outdoor clothing would just be jeans and tee shirts with a hoodie. As for sightseeing, shopping, and museum visits, I added just a few coordinates and (I confess) extra shirts, scarves, and jewelry to at least give me a few more options. Reviewing the downsized packing list I was skeptical, so I added another shirt for my peace of mind.

When it was time for our trip, I dutifully packed through the pared-down clothing list and then stuffed in a few more shirts – just in case. Still, I stuck to my “assigned” spaces (things were pretty snug) and Jim packed with his usual ease. I planned a stop every two weeks for laundry and brought along detergent, a few plastic hangars, and clothespins to do “sink laundry” if necessary. I was sure I would run out of clean clothes.

The trip was great, I actually wore most of the clothing and the two-week laundry stops worked fine. I never had to do “sink laundry” which was good since we were on the move every day. Some items that I had packed, I just didn’t need and realized I would have liked other items in their place or just a little more space in the closet to prevent wrinkling (and yes, I always take along an iron).

That is how each trip has gone ever since. I plan out a wardrobe with a number of pieces that will easily fit into the wardrobe and drawers, then adjust the items according to what we plan to do on the trip. You might wonder about heavy clothing for cold weather. We typically camp in moderate weather but for winter trips, we use space-saving, vacuum-sealed bags. They will still take up a good amount of room, so we put them in an outside compartment.

I think in terms of projects and processes, my RV travel wardrobe has been a very successful and enlightening project. I’ve learned to live with less and it is rather liberating! Maybe you’ll enjoy it too. Here’s my Small RV Capsule Wardrobe decision process:

First, think about the types of activities you’ll be doing on THIS trip. Write these down and list the types of clothing you need for each of those activities. Outdoor activities like biking, swimming, or kayaking may require special clothing (hiking boots, water shoes, swimsuit, flip flops, etc.) Regular travel activities like sightseeing, restaurant outings, and tours all probably use similar types of clothing so it is a matter of how few outfits you can live with.

Next, make a storage space inventory of your RV. How much and what type of storage do you have? This includes hanging space, drawer space, cupboard space, outdoor compartments, or under-bed storage. Consider using space-saving bags to reduce bulk, use hooks on the back of a door for belts or scarves, and identify a spot for shoes. Activity clothing might go in an exterior cabinet (in a space bag of course).

Oh, so handy ‘Space Bags’ zip-up and compress the air from bulky clothing.

Once you identify what space you have for clothing storage, then you can begin the process of building a small-RV travel wardrobe. The number of pieces is directly related to the amount of space you have. The choice of pieces is influenced by the activities you plan for your trip.

Time To Build The Packing List

1. Put all the clothing you think you’ll need on the bed – only items that fit, look good on you, and are in good repair.
2. Create three stacks of clothing: special activity clothing, regular outfits, and staples like PJs, underwear, and socks.
3. Since it’s usually the “regular clothing” that seems to grow beyond space limitations, you’ll probably spend most of your downsizing in this stack. Look at the “regular clothing” stack and consider how the pieces coordinate with each other. Try to coordinate 1-2 weeks’ worth of outfits with the smallest number of pieces possible. This is easier if you choose neutrals for your main pieces (like pants, shorts, sweaters, and jackets) and make your “color pops” with shirts or scarves.
4. Now, determine if the downsized stacks of clothing will fit in the storage space of your RV.
5. If you still have too many items, go back to your “regular clothing” stack and try to reduce the number of items. This is when you consider wearing outfits twice and doing laundry more frequently (sorry, this is real life).

You can get creative with scarves, jewelry, or hats to make your outfits more unique. A simple pair of jeans can change just by the item you add. Try a tee, hoodie, cap, and sneakers for casual outdoor fun, a tailored shirt and flats, or a tank top, scarf belt, and sandals. Shoes are always an issue, but for RV travel you have to reign in your collection to just a few pairs: maybe sneakers, sandals or boots, and flats.

Scarves and jewelry can create unique looks from basic clothing coordinates.

It’s not rocket science and it’s probably not something you gave much thought to when you purchased your RV however, clothing storage and wardrobe habits need to adapt to smaller spaces. Each LTV unit has its own storage configuration and LTV has conveniently put those measurements on the website giving you the ability to do a bit of research before you start packing.

Take it from this “reformed” fashionista, the real key is not the amount of storage space that matters, it’s our idea of how much we really need to be comfortable on the road. If travel is a way of freeing our minds of clutter and freeing our spirits of worldly demands, it makes sense that it can also free up our need to take along everything we own when we travel!

Editor’s Note: Jennifer Hill is a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.

How many lifestyles do we live during our days on this earth? Looking back to earlier times, I’ve realized just how much my lifestyle has evolved over the years.

Adopting And Adapting Camping

In the late 1980s, I was in my twenties and finding independence. After getting married in 1988, my husband and I started to build a life together and the lifestyle we adopted at the time influenced our story. We loved traveling and camping and as two working professionals, we took every opportunity on the weekends and on vacations to explore our world. Camping back then consisted of a two-person pop-up tent and a duffel bag filled with camping essentials however, electricity or “hookups” were not in our vocabulary during those days. On the weekends, we would spend time exploring with friends. Stuffing our tiny Toyota Camry with four (young) adults, tents, camping chairs, and sleeping bags sure didn’t provide much glamour but when it came to food, that’s where I brought out my love for cooking. My friend and I both shared the same love for cooking and together, we made each weekend a new culinary adventure by experimenting with cooking over campfires and charcoal. We made steak, seafood, and amazing pork chops on the same Weber Smokey Joe that we still use today! In the coals of our campfires, we cooked roasted potatoes, corn, and onions, just to mention a few.

The late 1990s was the beginning of bringing children into our lives. Our camping adventures started to involve a family tent with a 10 ft x 10 ft center and three rooms that extended from the sides. We had a portable crib in each one of the rooms and my husband and I slept in the center with all of our gear; needless to say, we no longer fit into a duffel bag! Our dinner choices became more simple with a family but we still appreciated a good burger over charcoal! Besides, how can you go wrong with a hotdog on a stick over the fire? Of course, roasted corn and potatoes still had their place in the hot coals of the fire, and s’mores were always the highlight of the evening!

A flash back to tent camping with young children.

The early to mid-2000s brought a much more hectic schedule than we could have ever imagined. Our camping weekends gave way to soccer games, dance recitals, swim meets, and gymnastic meets, and the camping adventures turned into backyard sleepovers and we added a simple 10 ft x 10 ft Coleman tent to our collection for the ease of setting up. Back yard parties with neighborhood families ended with s’mores and kids sleeping in the tent in the backyard. In those days, we fed ourselves well during our neighborhood parties even though our Smokey Joe gathered dust in the garage, our new Weber gas grill served the neighborhood well.

Back yard camping with young teenagers.

Empty Nesting And Changes For The Good

Fast forward to 2017, our last child graduated high school and moved away to college thus beginning our lives as empty nesters. This phase has proven to be the most drastic lifestyle change on many different levels. Inevitably, as you enter the empty nest phase, you do indeed get older but also as you get older, you have to watch your parents get even older and in many cases, decline in health. As with many people our age, we started to watch and deal with the health problems of our parents, particularly on my husband’s side. After months of research, we made the decision to go on a heart-healthy diet because of the heart disease that runs in my husband’s family. A major cause of heart disease is inflammation in the body so we decided to cut out all foods that cause inflammation from our diet which is a long list. The main foods on the list that we no longer eat are sugar, grains, legumes, and night shade vegetables which include tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, and all members of the squash family. We have now been eating this way for five years and it’s become more of a lifestyle rather than a diet and while we never set weight loss as the reason for this change, with regular exercise my husband lost 35 pounds and I lost 14 pounds over the course of a few months.

Now that we have recently entered retirement, we continue to live this lifestyle with the goal of “living young until a ripe old age.” We often meet people who are curious about our eating style as well as those who are completely overwhelmed by it. Most people who are overwhelmed also struggle with weight or health problems and don’t believe they can sustain a healthy eating habit long term. If you are one of those people, I hope you find some encouragement in the substitutes in my delicious recipes.

Over the years, we have found substitutes for almost every type of food that we have eliminated. These substitutes are better for our bodies and overall health. However, don’t be fooled when it comes to calories. In many cases, these substitutes have equal or more calories. For example, most alternative flours are made from nuts which naturally are higher in calories. Therefore, don’t let yourself be tricked into believing you have a free ticket to overindulge yourself because just as many things go in life, moderation is important!

The Journey To Our “Wanda Jane”

About the time we became empty nesters and started our new eating lifestyle, my dad gave us an aged, Coleman trailer that he no longer used which we pulled to some new places that we had never been to in our home state of Colorado.

After a year of pulling around the old Coleman trailer, we attended the Denver RV Show where we were introduced to Leisure Travel Vans. A few months later, we drove our Wonder named Wanda Jane home from Colorado Springs. 

Turkey Meatball Sandwich Featuring Against The Grain Bread

To one pound of turkey, add:

• 1/4 cup green chili
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
• 1 egg

Roll into balls and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and serve on a toasted bun with stone ground mustard, sauteed mushrooms, and provolone cheese.

The first thing people always tell us when they hear about all the foods we don’t eat is “I can’t live without bread!” We have actually found many great brands that are grain free. Some of our favorites are Base Culture and Against the Grain. We have also found some great crackers from Simple Mills which is a company that makes a variety of grain-free products. Our favorite is their almond crackers which have become a staple in our pantry.

Simple Mills Almond Crackers are the perfect staple for your pantry!

The next most popular comment is “I cannot give up Italian food”, especially pasta and pizza! Our favorite pasta substitutes are Miracle noodles and Jovial grain-free pasta. Against the Grain makes a wonderful grain-free pizza made with pesto.

Bolognese Featuring Miracle Noodles

• In 2 tbsp of olive oil, saute one diced onion, 3 diced garlic cloves, 2 diced celery stalks, 1/2 cup shredded carrots, and 1 cup sliced mushrooms until soft.
• Add 1 pound grass-fed organic ground beef and cook until browned and crumbled.
• Add 2 cups of white wine and 2 cups of water or chicken brother.
• Stir in 2 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 tbsp oregano, t tbsp basil, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is reduced to half.
• Stir in 1 tbsp tapioca starch and 1/4 of warm water until smooth.
• Add mixture to ground beef and simmer until slightly thickened, about 15-20 minutes.
• To prepare noodles: rinse noodles in a colander for 2 minutes, add to a pot of boiling water and boil for 2 more minutes. Rinse for another 2 minutes and add to a hot sauce pan (with NO oil) and stir until all of the water is absorbed.

Top noodles with bolognese sauce and enjoy!

The third most popular comment is “I can’t give up Mexican food!” The brand Siete has you covered in so many ways! This is a family-owned brand that started because they had children with allergies. They make wonderful chips, taco shells, cassava, and almond flour wraps that don’t fall apart) Siete also makes a variety of Mexican sauces without additives, gluten, or sugar. Crepini and Egglife both make amazing crepe-like, grain-free wraps that can be used for an array of recipes including sandwiches and burritos.

Siete Chips

Enchiladas made with Crepini wraps

Lastly, there is the whole issue of sugar because it is literally in almost everything! Primal Kitchen does an amazing job with its sugar-free products. They make every condiment from ketchup to barbecue sauce to salad dressings and marinades all sugar-free! For a sugar substitute, we found that Lakanto makes a monkfruit sugar substitute. Monkfruit is a herbaceous perennial vine of the gourd family. This plant is cultivated for its fruit extract, which creates a sweetness 250 times stronger than sucrose. In our opinion, it tends to have a less undesirable aftertaste than pure stevia.  Needless to say, if you have a sweet tooth, monkfruit sweetener will get the job done! The best part is that when used in recipes, it behaves very similar to the real sugar without spiking your glucose. Note: I always reduce the amount by half when substituting in recipes. We choose to use monkfruit sparingly, but on those occasions where dessert is needed, it is a perfect choice! 

Primal Kitchen Sugar-Free Sauces

Monkfruit Sweetener

We also love Birchbenders which is a Denver, Colorado-based company that makes a wonderful sugar-free and grain-free mix for pancakes and waffles.

Birchbenders pancakes: Shown here with unsweetened yogurt, berries, and grain-free granola.

Look At How Far We’ve Come

At the beginning of our eating lifestyle, we either gave up foods we loved or tried baking them ourselves. Although we do have a few favorite recipes we still make from scratch along the way, we have found substitutes for almost everything. The products we have found make it very easy to continue eating healthy while we travel with Wanda Jane. We no longer have a desire for fast food or truck stop junk food and I feel just as great cooking in my LTV kitchen as I do in my own house. 

If you have considered adopting a more healthy eating plan for weight loss, health issues, or simply longevity of life, I hope you have gained some encouragement to do so. Start small by giving yourself a goal of thirty days. You can do anything for a short amount of time and chances are very great that you will join me in never turning back. After all, everyone deserves a long, healthy lifetime of enjoying their LTV lifestyles.

Join me as I take a stroll down memory lane on a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in early June 2019. North Carolina’s Outer Banks is a string of barrier islands that begin at the border of Virginia and stretch for 120 miles south to Ocracoke Island. 

I had visited the islands as a child with my family, and remember staying at a beachfront cottage that my parents had rented for a couple of weeks. Over the years the landmarks have changed and everything looks very different than it did 50 years ago. But one thing is certain, Nags Head and the Outer Banks are just as beautiful as I remember.

Over fifty years since I was here with my family.

To get to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, we had to drive over a very long bridge and pass through the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. We looked for alligators, but sadly none were seen as we continued on. However, the beautiful scenery along the way made up for the lack of alligator sightings.

We then drove through the town of Nags Head and went straight to Cape Hatteras National Seashore where we would camp. We didn’t have reservations, which is the way we prefer to travel in our Leisure Travel Van. No reservations mean we aren’t locked into a time schedule. The cost of our campsite was $35 per night, which included electric and water hookups. There were no trees in sight at this campsite, but just over the sand dune behind us was the Atlantic Ocean.

The first thing we did after settling in at our campsite was take a hike to the ocean. Our pups had never seen the ocean before, so wanted to watch their reactions. After the ocean, we decided to visit three of the lighthouses located here on the Outer Banks. The area looked a little more crowded than I remembered as a child but nonetheless, it was still a beautiful area and we were excited about the adventures that lay ahead of us.

Bodie Island Light Station

On our second day, we began our exploration of the local lighthouses. Our first stop was the Bodie Island Light Station.

Our Leisure Travel Van (LTV) Unity FX at the Bodie Island Light Station.

The next lighthouse on the list was the Cape Hatteras Light Station. It is 210 feet tall and is the tallest brick structure in the United States and also the second tallest in the world. 

MaryAnn and me. Behind us is Cape Hatteras Light Station.

To see the third lighthouse, we had to board a ferry on Ocracoke Island. We had never put our LTV on a ferry before which made us a little nervous, but it was very easy to do.

On our third day, we visited Fort Raleigh and the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island. Before making our last stop at the Wright Brothers Memorial. We carry a national parks passport around with us and get it stamped at every national park and monument we visit on the road. Needless to say, we have an endless task ahead of us to get a stamp from every national park and monument, but we are doing our best to get the job done.

Inside of the Wright Brothers Museum

Nags Head, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina are all beautiful and definitely worth a visit. Just make sure to allow enough time to see it all.