"RV" may be the name of the new movie starring Robin Williams and Cheryl Hines, but traveling in an RV hits home for the "Today" show's Mike Leonard.
The newsman took his parents, three of his grown kids and his daughter-in-law on a monthlong road trip in two RVs and chronicled it in "The Ride of Our Lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family."
Leonard is steering the RV once again for the Midwest portion of his book tour, along with his "traveling circus": parents, grown kids and musician friends.
The veteran TV journalist offers these tips when hitting the road in an RV:
• Pack light and comfortably. "You wear the same thing every day… blue jeans and T-shirts." He said you may have to crack down on several family members — his dad brought ties and sports coats.
• Skip the groceries. "People think you should bring food, but you can stop and buy food," adding that his mom brought a half carton of milk.
• Dine in. Whether you cook in the RV or grill outside, eating meals together brings everyone closer.
• Don't overplan. "The great joy of the RV is to pull off somewhere."
By wandering in the back roads, families can discover something new, Leonard said.
• Steer the conversation. "You can drive the conversation in another direction" to avoid talking about the same things. Leonard suggests questions about when your parents were young.
"The answers come back in different ways; you learn about life in a different time."
• Use rest-stop bathrooms. "Emptying the (RV) toilet was horrifying…. Only use the bathroom when you need to use it." Plus, you get to stretch your legs.
• Grab some privacy as a break from all the family bonding. "If you're not condemning yourself to a day of driving, just go off by yourself to a nearby town, or take a walk."
• Bring a camera. Not necessarily for the big sites like Mount Rushmore but to capture the small towns. "The little things in life make life interesting."
BY KELLY HARAMIS -Chicago Tribune
Filed under: Family Vacations, Lifestyle, Specialty Travel
