Road Trip Dreaming - Live Your Road Trip Dream

5 Reasons Why Gas Prices Shouldn’t Cancel Your Memorial Day Fun

2011-05-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

Everyone seems to be complaining about the high cost of fuel causing them to cancel their summer vacation plans. Carol White, co-author of the book “Live Your Road Trip Dream”, says, “I don’t like the higher prices, but if you take a careful look at it, it’s something that most of us can deal with.”

Did you cancel last year’s plans? According to AAA, gas prices have increased an average of $1.00 a gallon since last Memorial Day. Let’s go crazy and say it has been 1.10 a gallon in your area. If your summer trip is 1000 miles long and your car gets an average of 24 MPG, your fuel will cost $45.85 more this year than last. One dinner at home instead of eating out before you go will save that much. Is $45 any reason to cancel your vacation?

What does it really cost? When you add up all the expenses of a vacation, fuel only counts as about the second or third highest expense. Typically food and lodging will cost more than fuel. If you need to cut back, consider RVing or eating more meals in, or renting a slightly less expensive lodging.

How can you afford to RV? According to a study done for the RV Association, RVing is still less expensive than piling a family of four into an airplane and hotels for vacation. Using a similar example to the one above and a typical mid-size RV fuel economy of 12 MPG, the additional fuel cost for RV fuel this year would be $62.50. This is easily off-set by the lower cost of campgrounds vs. motels, resorts or cabins at your favorite destination.

What about family bonding? One of the best parts of taking a road trip or an RV get-away is the extra time you get to spend with your traveling companions. In the close quarters of automobiles, RVs, campgrounds and motels, a family has the opportunity to enjoy old-fashioned fun like cards, board games, campfires and more. It really is fun talking to your kids. Ditch the electronics just for the week and see what might happen.

And the final reason you shouldn’t let fuel get in your way? You and your family deserve the time together and the time away. Have everyone work together to be able to afford the extra cost of gas. Go on a Starbucks-free week, check for the best fuel prices, just say “no” to an evening at the movies, or take a pass on that cute new pair of shoes and you will have the added money to cover fuel. Don’t let the “psychology of price,” rather than real price get the best of you.

Have fun and enjoy your summer vacation.

*************************

Carol White is the co-author of the award-winning book, “Live Your Road Trip Dream” (www.roadtripdream.com) – the ultimate road trip planning guide for extended road trips. Carol and her husband Phil have traveled over 50,000 road miles in the past several years, visiting all fifty states and having visited all of the National Parks in the “lower forty-eight.” As national spokespeople for the RV Industry, they now spend their days speaking, writing, and helping others to live their dreams.

Worldwide RV Travel For Less Cost

2009-12-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

RV / Motorhome owners can now enjoy low cost worldwide travel. How? They use the investment they have made in their RV to give them virtually free travel and accommodation in another country. This is now possible through being able to exchange RV’s with like minded RV owners worldwide.

We all know that the airfares are just a small part of the total cost of international travel and the major expenses are for accommodation and transportation at your destination. When you exchange your RV there is no additional accommodation or travel costs to what you would normally incur using your RV at home. We all know that accommodation and travel costs worldwide can be substantial and by enjoying an RV exchange there are huge savings to be made.

As all RV owners know, you also can visit a local supermarket and cook your own meals in your RV saving the expense of restaurant meals and also avoiding the perils of fast foods. Many people enjoying an RV / Motorhome exchange spend several weeks or even months at their chosen destination so any savings made quickly add up.

It works much like a home exchange except it offers much more. It is not just your accommodation but also your transportation plus you get to experience a lot more of the country than you would located in just one place.

You also do not need to swap simultaneously as it’s not your home. Who really wants to vacation in the U.K. in the winter, so with a RV worldwide exchange both parties can travel at the time of year that is best for them. This may actually be six months or more apart.

Have safe and exciting international travel through an RV worldwide exchange.

Written by Stephen Smith, director of http://www.rvworldwide.com

This article may be reproduced or distributed so long as no contact or links are changed without the author’s permission.

Holiday travel heads-up

2009-11-19T17:52:00.000-08:00

A recent CNN story began with a great holiday travel headline: “Stuffing planes like Thanksgiving turkeys” by Aaron Smith, Nov. 11, 2009 and discussed travel over the busy holiday weekend.

Expect that planes will be full even though there are fewer people traveling, because the airline industry has cut capacity by 6.9% since last year to improve efficiency, says the Air Transport Association. This year has seen the biggest capacity reduction since 1942, when civilian aircraft were diverted towards the war effort. Planes will be full but there may be fewer delays if weather doesn’t create problems as there are simply fewer planes flying. However, the “once-a-year” passenger headed home for Turkey Day is often less experienced in negotiating airport systems and security so may hold up the lines for frequent travelers.

Solution: Make sure you employ all the savvy traveler and smart packing strategies possible.

1. Print boarding passes and prepay for checked baggage before leaving for the airport. Use curbside check-in if available. Consolidate both checked and carry-on items to as few as possible – it’s only a 4-day weekend!

2. Allow enough time for heavy traffic en route to the airport, full parking lots, and crowded airport transportation systems. Give yourself at least 2 hours at the airport to safely check baggage and pass through security.

3. Wear clothing that is “screening friendly” – minimal metal parts, slip on shoes, jewelry removed and tucked into a zip-top baggie before entering the security line, coat packed into a checked or carry-on bag.

4. Pack plenty of snacks, water, reading materials and patience. You may need all of it.

******

Reprinted with permission from Susan Foster and Smart Packing. Sign up for Susan's e-newsletter at www.smartpacking.com - THE place for packing light information,airline baggage rules, airport security updates and packing tips for every kind of trip.

Skateboarding around the US

2009-11-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

Hey - what a fun and educational idea. This 11-year old and his dad are traveling to all 50 states instead of going to the 6th grade. It looks like they are having a fabulous time and I know that Logan will definitely learn more by doing this than by going to the 6th grade. Horray for them. We believe that this is a wonderful way to teach kids about our great country - and have some fun at the same time.

Go visit Logan and his Dad here:

http://50skatekid.com/

Want a $1250 fuel card for traveling?

2009-10-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a great offer - to see a list of the applicable motorhomes, go here:

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) is now giving a $1,250 fuel card with any new purchase of a qualifying motorhome built on a Freightliner chassis from dealers in the United States and Canada. This exclusive, temporary offer is designed to help motorhome and RV enthusiasts pursue a road trip of a lifetime, even in a sluggish economy. Complete details are included below for you to share with your readers if you think it would be of interest to them.

Take your next road trip on Freightliner
Between now and Dec. 31, motor home enthusiasts can kick off their road trip of a lifetime by receiving a $1,250 fuel card with the purchase of any qualifying motor home built on a Freightliner chassis from dealers in the United States and Canada. For more details about this offer, and to learn which RV manufacturers offer vehicles built on Freightliner chassis, visit www.freightlinerchassis.com/fuel or chat with us on our Facebook page at http://bit.ly/1dAcGT.

Build a trip home into your itinerary

2009-10-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

We planned for a trip home during our year long trip - we had built that into our original budget. About half way through our trip (June-June) was the Christmas holiday. Around the first of November, we projected about where we would be and started checking airfares from several possible cities until we saw a really inexpensive one and jumped on it - that then became the city (Raleigh NC) that we headed for in mid-December. Another nice thing on a long trip like this - you have the flexibility to adjust your trip and dates to fit the less expensive airfares home. We headed home about the middle of December and stayed through New Year's - avoiding all the heavy travel times. It was sure fun to see everyone, but it was a whirlwind time. We had leased our home while we were gone, so we had no home to come home to. Our solution? We found friends of friends who were leaving for much of the time we were home and we house-sat for them, fed the dog, watered the plants - and had a great place to stay. There is a solution to every problem. What did we do with the RV (Class B Van) while we were home? We didn't want to leave it at the airport all that time, so we took it to a local RV service center and had them service the refrigerator, AC, furnace, etc. while we were gone at their leisure - they even took us to the airport! The van was safe, we got some service work done and their was no charge for the "storage." Hundreds of these kind of tips are in our book.

Carol White

Where I've been

2009-10-04T13:23:00.001-07:00

This was kind of a fun little Facebook Application

Create your own travel map or travel blog

Deals on airline tickets at TripAdvisor

The RV industry marks 100 year Anniversary

2009-09-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE
1910-2010: The RV Industry Celebrates 100 Years of Exploration and Innovation
A century ago, the popularization of the automobile, improving roads, and America's passion for exploration gave rise to mass-produced, manufactured recreation vehicles, and the RV industry was born. In 2010, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the RV industry will mark this centennial with an array of special activities celebrating the 100-year journey of a uniquely American product.

In 1910, there was no TV, no air conditioning and no phone, but there were RVs. Through war and peace, booms and busts, fuel lines, fads and the cyber revolution, the RV lifestyle has endured and is still going strong, even in today's challenging economic times.

"Think about how far we've come in the past 100 years in terms in technology, yet the reasons to RV remain the same," says RVIA President Richard Coon. "RVing has been able to thrive and grow because people still enjoy the freedom that it provides."

The industry will celebrate its centennial in 2010 with a series of events that showcase today's innovations and new products while emphasizing America's century-long love affair with RVs.

"Recognizing and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the RV industry is a unique opportunity to tell our story to the media and public," says Coon.

The roots of RVing are as old as pioneers and covered wagons. But 1910 is the year that America's leading RV historians — David Woodworth, Al Hesselbart and Roger White — cite as the beginning of what has become the modern RV industry.

"The first motorized campers were built in 1910," says Woodworth, a preeminent collector of early RVs and RV camping memorabilia. "Before then, people camped in private rail cars that were pulled to sidings along train routes. The year 1910 brought a new freedom to people who didn't want to be limited by the rail system. RVs allowed them to go where they wanted, when they wanted."

Hesselbart, archivist for the RV/MH Heritage Museum in Elkhart, Ind., also pinpoints 1910 as the birth of the RV industry. "Camping has been around for centuries, but 1910 is when the first auto-related camping vehicles were built for commercial sale."

Known as "auto campers" or "camping trailers" a century ago, these vehicles were a forerunner of today's modern RVs.

"There were one-offs [individual units] built prior to 1910," says White, an associate curator for the Smithsonian Institution. "But 1910 is a good benchmark for the industry."

"The 1910 RVs offered minimal comforts compared to today's homes-on-wheels," says Woodworth. "But they did provide the freedom to travel anywhere, to be able to get a good night's sleep and enjoy home cooking. One notable exception to today's RV was the bathroom. In 1910, it was usually either yonder tree or yonder bush."

Hesselbart points out that one brand of auto camper in those days was equipped with a bathroom onboard. "Pierce-Arrow's 'Touring Landau' had a potted toilet," he says.

A version of today's Type B van camper, the Pierce-Arrow "Touring Landau," was unveiled at Madison Square Garden in 1910.

In addition to Pierce-Arrow, there were several other companies or auto-body builders producing motorized RVs. These companies and innovative products were featured in a Popular Mechanics issue in 1911, but Woodworth says the motorhomes highlighted in the article were actually built in 1910.

Camping trailers made by Los Angeles Trailer Works and Auto-Kamp Trailers also rolled off the assembly line beginning in 1910. Hesselbart says the earliest RV on display at the RV/MH museum is a 1913 trailer, ancestor of the contemporary travel trailer.

Photos of 1910 RV models appear in White's book on the history of RVing and exist in both Woodworth's and Hesselbart's libraries.

To mark the centennial, RVIA is creating a special 100th anniversary logo and commemorative decal that everyone in the industry will be invited to use in their own promotions and marketing. RVIA is planning an industry party on June 7 during the 2010 Committee Week in South Bend, Indiana, to which media and political guests would be invited.

RVIA will soon announce details of an RV caravan led by Woodworth with one of his early RVs, as well as a menu of celebration and promotion ideas for dealers, campgrounds, clubs and shows to use on their own.

"Celebrating our centennial will create excitement and pride throughout our made-in-America industry and provide an opportunity for manufacturers, dealers, suppliers and campground owners to unite under one banner," says Coon. "For 100 years, we've been helping Americans explore their scenic treasures and heritage more comfortably, affordably and enjoyably. That's something to celebrate."

Ready to Retire? What now/

2009-08-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

The “grind”; the “treadmill”; your “career” – has STOPPED. You are RETIRED. What now?

For the first time since you were a kid, you get to choose what to do every day, who to do it with, how to do it, and when to do it. Ahhhh. BUT WAIT: Your new life is beginning to descend upon you – new demands on your time, new things to do, new places to go, new experiences to explore. Yes, it is of your own choosing, but a new lifestyle pattern so soon begins to emerge.

Stop the train before it leaves the station. Travel is no doubt in your plans, but now getting away to see everything on your ‘bucket list” is becoming just as mired in minutia as when you were working. Why not step back, do some planning, and run away from home for some really long time before you settle into retirement. Get healthy, be free-as-a-bird, and have the time of your life.

Boomers by the thousands are beginning to do exactly that, guided by the best-selling, award-winning book, “Live Your Road Trip Dream.” Whether your dream vision is a trip around the US, a year on a sailboat, backpacking through Asia, or a year in Tuscany, this handy guide, chock-full of tips for healthy living that are applicable to every income level, and every type of dreamer, will have you moving from the dreaming to the doing in no time at all.

Seattle Day Trips

2009-05-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

I've been doing some writing for RoadTripAmerica.com about road trips. Here is my latest one on day trips from Seattle.

Enjoy.

Boomers Getting More and More Sites

2009-02-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

Part of the fun of being involved in the boomer marketplace is learning about new sites that are offering good content and ideas to help this generation make decisions on all types of issues from lifestyle to finance to retirement.

In the last couple of weeks, I have been working with two newer sites by providing some articles to them. They are good sites and I know you will enjoy poking around for new information. Here are the links to what I wrote as a jumping off point for you.

Boom Voyage

Top Retirements

I hope you enjoy these sites and maybe even the articles.

Carol

Dreaming - January, 2009 Newsletter

2009-02-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Or, Happy New Year in Vietnamese. We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Vietnam and Thailand and were lucky enough to be there during their lunar New Year celebration welcoming the "Year of the Ox".

It was a road trip of sorts in that we took almost every conveyance you can think of including rickshaws, bamboo boats, bamboo rafts, elephants, ferries, Junks, and good old buses. There were a small group of us and we had the time of our lives. We highly recommend Overseas Adventure Travel for their spirit of adventure in taking us places that large groups can't go and for planning activities so varied that we were always trying to guess what might come next.

So now it is back to work.

Phil and Carol

After nearly four years of publishing this newsletter, I've decided to take it to a blog format instead of this periodic epistle. I'm hoping that it will give you more timely information in shorter, more digestible bites and make it easier for all of you to leave comments and ask questions.

I do need your help though to make this transition.

You can subscribe by going here and telling me in the upper left hand side just how and where you would like it delivered or you can "follow me" and get notifications when I post something new. This is so much more flexible than just having me send it to your inbox. I hope this will make our communication even more effective by taking advantage of new technologies.

Try it - I think you'll like it.

Here is a new website that tells all kinds of interesting stories of retirement, reinvention and travel - among other things.

www.topretirements.com

Last month I promised a copy of "Essential USA" for your best tips.

And the winners are:

Steve Albrecht

We struggled with the question, “What do we collect as souvenirs?” for a long time before we left on our 6 month trip.

On the 2^nd day of our adventure, at the Grand Canyon, my wife had an epiphany. “We should get a Christmas ornament everywhere we go,” she said.

“They’re small, inexpensive, and every year when we decorate our tree, we can relive our adventure.” We’d keep a small box on hand, and add ornaments until the box was full, then send it to my parents for safe keeping.

We plan to put up our “Adventure Tree” this evening (we now do 2 trees), and I am so looking forward to reliving our great adventure.

Sharry Buckner

Measure the height and width of your rig, in BOTH feet and meters, then write it down and tape it to the dashboard of your rig or tow vehicle.You don't have time to think when you're headed for an underpass in Canada. Here's a link to convert: http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/feet-to-meters.htm

Congratulations!

Your books will be on their way to you this week.

Thanks to everyone who entered an idea.

We are eager to hear from you... share your feedback...

Till next time.. Keep Dreaming...

It's a Fun Thing!

2008-12-10T16:35:00.000-08:00

This has absolutely nothing to do with the book - but it is a fun thing I thought I would share with you. The largest circulation magazine in the country is AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. Many of you probably receive them each month.

Open the AARP Bulletin this month!
(it's the newspaper one)
Turn to page 19

There you will find a picture and article about my nice husband - Phil White, looking very dapper as he has returned to work in the face of the recession. I, of course, wish they had said he was the co-author of Live Your Road Trip Dream - but no such luck, although they did discuss it. Now THAT would have really been fun - 35 million boomers and seniors exposed to our book. But, nonetheless, it is fun to see him there.

If you don't get the paper and want to see the article, you can go here.

Dreamin' - November Edition

2008-11-26T22:41:00.000-08:00

This ezine is also available online at http://home.ezezine.com/351/351-2008.11.26.10.04.archive.html

Lots of News this Month

So we are just going to say:

Happy Thanksgiving - Blessings to you and your family

If you are traveling over the holidays, be safe and enjoy those precious times together.

Phil and Carol White

Festival of the Wise in Scottsdale, AZ

We've not done much speaking this year, but I have been invited to speak and share the Roadtrek booth at the upcoming Festival of the Wise on December 6th and 7th at the Scottsdale Convention Center.

If you use the promo code "roadtrip" when you register for the conference this week they will give you a nice discount ($20 for both days).

I hope to meet some of you there in a couple of weeks. My talk is on Saturday at noon - bring a sandwich and enjoy.

Even RVs (and RVers) can be "Green"

It seems like that is all people are talking about these days is how we can all become more "green" in our lives. Oregon has always been a very environmentally oriented state, but it has really pushed onto the national scene of late.

So this month, we feature the Janssen family who are traveling in their RV converted to run on vegetable oil Their website is really fun with lots of good ideas on living green.

Read a great article in the NY Times about them here.

Essential USA - Try Again

Well, my video idea didn't seem to resonate with our newsletter readers, so let's try something a little simpler. I'd really like to give away these excellent books that Fodor's so generously donated. I'm taking two to Scottsdale with me, so see me there for a chance to win one, but let's try another contest.

Just send me your favorite road trip tip and I'll pick two to receive a book. Just like that!

To learn more about the book, go here.

It is definitely a book every road tripper should have on their book shelf.

Still Looking for the Perfect Internet-On-The-Road Solution?

I may just have found it for you! A combination of cellular data meets wi-fi and you have a go (almost) anywhere, always available, relatively low-cost solution.

I think Sean Michael tells the story best on the RVNet video blog here.

(I wanted to embed this video, but he has that function disabled - darn!).

As Rob Taylo, the owner told me, "This is finally wireless freedom at an affordable price." Here is part of what he says on the website:

The open road just became more open. WiFi In Motion delivers a Internet access solution that will make the hours between RV parks more enjoyable and productive. The WiFi In Motion anywhere Internet access kit converts your RV into a "hotspot" floating down the highway. Now you can browse the Internet and check email at high speeds, all while enjoying the freedom of mobility. You will no longer have to wait to find free, unsecured WiFi, or purchase expensive satellite systems that offer slow speeds.

To learn more, go to www.wifiinmotion.com

Don’t forget!

Personally autographed copies of the book are always available on our website

Also - RVed101's great videos are available through our site too
www.roadtripdream.com

What do you think?

We are always anxious to hear from our readers and friends about how we are doing. Always feel free to email us with your road trip questions or tips, or thoughts about the book. We’ll be printing some of your comments in the months to come.

Where have your dreams taken you? Please send us your travel pictures taken on your road trip dream. We want to share stories of trips that were inspired by reading Live Your Road Trip Dream; Travel for a year for the cost of staying home.

Until next time.. Keep Dreaming...

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Visit the Author at Festival of the Wise

2008-11-15T20:39:00.000-08:00

I frequently am asked "Where are you speaking?" "How can we meet you?"

I will be speaking at the boomer-oriented show, "Festival of the Wise" in Scottsdale, AZ the weekend of December 6-7. I will be speaking about extended travel and how to plan your own road trip of a lifetime. The RV Manufacturer, Roadtrek, the market leader in Class B motorhomes, will be displaying and we will be talking about RVing and Roadtreks - just look for the sleek unit out on the grounds and come by and say hello - or visit me when I speak - check the schedule for the exact time and location.

This will be a great show discussing all things boomer. I look forward to seeing you there.

Carol

Fodor's New USA Guide

2008-10-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

One of the advantage's of being a travel writer is that every once and a while someone offers you a book of interest to take a look at. Fodor's thought that their new Essential USA would be right up my alley - and they were right.

I love the way that this book is laid out - it is done like you would drive to a particular area and then explore around the area. Not only are the place descriptions right on, but they also provide insider information on the best times to visit, interesting little factoids, top experiences and much more. They also include lesser known locations and quirky, fun places to see. The dining and places to stay offer a broad range of options for every taste.

Whether you enjoy national parks, shopping, museums, food experiences or a little of everything, this book will lead you in the right direction.

If you are a serious road tripper, you must have this book by your side.

Dreamin' - September Edition

2008-10-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, welcome to Fall...

Where do you like to go at this time of year? We visited Spokane to see my sister and on to one of my all time favorite places - Flathead Lake in Montana (pictured), where the extended family has a wonderful space where we can enjoy each other, catch up on our lives and reminisce about days gone by. Soon we'll head for Joseph, Or, one of the most beautiful places anywhere (they don't call the nearby Wallowa Mountains the US "Swiss Alps for nothing) to see one of the kids and family.

We hope you are all planning a road trip during this wonderful time of year.

Phil and Carol White

You Just Never Know

Live Your Road Trip Dream has been so fortunate to have lots of media coverage over the years, but now we are getting coverage in places not really even related to traveling.

A good example is this month's write-up in More Magazine having to do with retiring and what will you do with your time? Here's the link, we are on the third page, but the whole article is interesting if you are getting close to retirement.

We have known for some time that there are more and more people hitting the road just as soon as they can - and they are doing it earlier and earlier in life.

A few months ago, I ran into Billy and Akaisha Kaderli who have traveled extensively and are now doing it full-time and having the time of their lives. Like so many of us, they have found passions and play often interact as they find ways to not only fill their days, but also profit from speaking, writing and other endeavors.

You can "visit" them at their website.

Another Family "Road Schooling" their way along

One of the updates in the new edition is information to help families get on the road and combine it with their children's eduction. Recently Robert Streett and his family let us know about their adventures on the road. Robert, Josslyn, Sawyer and Robby are actually right here in the Pacific Northwest now - maybe we'll have a chance to meet them. Here is the link to their website.

Have Video, Will Travel?

Here's your chance to win a copy of Fodor's new guide

Essential USA

I have two copies to give away, courtesy of Fodor's, so I'm going to have a little contest that is easy to enter and fun to win.

Just send me a short (less than 3 minutes) video of some place in the US that you have been recently with a short note about why it was special. The top 2 videos will receive the guide and all of them will be used in this newsletter or on my blog to promote travel and Live Your Road Trip Dream.

Sound like fun? Send them my way by October 30th.
(MP4 format preferred)

From the Grab Bag of Travel

Here are some of the interesting videos and websites that I've come across lately - hope you enjoy them.

GiftVenture provides unique and interesting gifts for kids that are easy to do while you are on the road. I know I'm always trying to think of something different, this looks like fun.

Tina Lorenz, a copy writer, shares her mobile office in her RV on a YouTube video - fun

Have you ever wondered about how eco-friendly RVing is? Here are some great hints about being kind to the environment in your RV.

And finally, if you've ever wondered what Phil and I look like on TV, you can now go here and see us in action.

Send me your favorite blogs and websites and I'll be happy to include them from time to time.

Don’t forget!

Personally autographed copies of the book

are always available on our website

Also - RVed101's great videos are available through our site too

www.roadtripdream.com

What do you think?

We are always anxious to hear from our readers and friends about how we are doing.

Always feel free to email us with your road trip questions or tips, or thoughts about the book. We’ll be printing some of your comments in the months to come.

Where have your dreams taken you?

Please send us your travel pictures taken on your road trip dream. We want to share stories of trips that were inspired by reading Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home.

Until next time.. Keep Dreaming...

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Fall favorite times

2008-10-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

I love to travel in the fall - besides the obvious change of school being back in session and summer vacations being over - there is the beauty of the season. Everywhere across the country (and the world) the seasonal changes just beg travelers to slow down and discover the wonder of the landscape. Wine grape crushes, cider making, "leaf peeping", late vegetable harvests, pumpkin carving, fall football games and all the nesting activities related to preparing for winter make the experience more enjoyable - and the smaller crowds, less traveled roads and less expensive accommodations are all just bonuses to the lush, rich time of year.

Where do you like to go at this time of year? We are heading out to the Spokane area to visit relatives and on to one of my all time favorite places - Flathead Lake in Montana, where the extended family has a wonderful space where we can enjoy each other, catch up on our lives and reminisce about days gone by.

Later, we'll be heading to Joseph, OR another beautiful spot often called the "Swiss Alps" of North America. We'll visit with the kids and take in the crisp days and cool nights.

We wish all of you safe and fun travels as we move into the fall season. We hope you are all planning a road trip during this wonderful time of year - if you need some ideas, just email us - carol at roadtripdream dot com.

Phil and Carol

Road Trip Travel Slowing Down?

2008-06-17T18:29:00.001-07:00

Travel Slowing Down?

Isn't that what everyone is saying this summer? Somehow, We're not believing it. We do think people may not being going as far or as fast, but from where we sit, folks are still traveling. We hear every week from someone who is getting ready to live their dream.

Remember not to over react - yes the price of gas is up from last year, and yes we all have to decide what our priorities are; but... on a 1,000 mile road trip in a car that gets 22MPG, the added cost of fuel this year over last is about $40 - is that a reason to cancel your summer fun? If you drive an RV, the added cost is about double that, but the savings in lodging/ campgrounds more than makes up that difference. Fuel is only the number two or three item on your vacation expense list - besides you and your loved ones deserve a break and time together.

Phil and Carol White

Home Marketing E-Book Now Available

One of the questions that we get most frequently is about marketing your home to lease while you are gone on your trip. We never felt like we had enough room in the book to adequately cover this topic, so we put together an e-booklet that covers more information and examples of forms, letters, marketing materials, etc. than we have in the book.

This e-book is now available for $4.95 on the website for those who want more information on marketing their home.

Visitors Come to See Us on their Road Trip Dream

Keith and Mary McGrath have poured over their copy of Live Your Road Trip Dream for months and finally hit the road. In early May, they had made their way to Portland, Oregon and we got to visit with them for lunch.

They have prepared well and are thoroughly enjoying their time on the road. We shared some good laughs, common stories and experiences and enjoyed seeing their choice of travel vehicles. We always invite our readers to contact us as they come through this area and see if we can arrange to meet - it is one of the true pleasures of having done this book.

Hilarious new Road Tripping Book Hits the Market

Visualize for just a minute a self-described Long Island, Jewish-American Princess and her easy-going husband embarking on a year long road trip - with two cats and a dog - in a bus. Doreen Orion has penned a wonderful armchair travel book called Queen of the Road and their website is one of the best I've seen.

She and hubby Tim (Project Nerd) have more mis-adventures than the Griswold's and Doreen's way of dealing with each turn is to invent a new cocktail to get her through the trauma and back in the bus. If you are up for a fun read this summer, this is it.

You Think Your Fuel Bill is High? Hah!

If you think the fuel bill for your RV is high, consider Carnival Corp., the parent company of nearly a dozen cruise lines including Carnival, Princess and Holland America. The company will spend nearly $2 Billion this year on fuel, up from $400 million five years ago.

-- from RV Travel Newsletter

Blogs from Road Trippers of all Types

One of the most fun ways to stay in touch on your road trip is to write a blog or keep a journal of some type. I have often mentioned MyTripJournal.com as my favorite for all around useability, ability to map and store photos and journals all together and the ability with one touch to send an email to family and friends about your updates. But some people are getting really creative with their blogs now. They are no longer dry text with a few pictures thrown in. Here are some of my favorites this spring.

The Dream Year - A couple who has taken our lead and purchased a Class B - they are about to embark on their journey and going through those last terrifying, exhilarating weeks.

The Long Honeymoon - These two young folks with a real knack for video are vagabonding around the US and have apparently found a way to get some sponsors for their trip. Lots of fun stuff going on at their site.

Ty and Mari's Mobile Lifestyle Blog - These two younger boomers have really figured this technical stuff all out - you'll be amazed at all the various kinds of things they have incorporated into their blog - and it is a hoot just to follow them along. Anyone who's "logo" is cute legs sticking out an RV window with flip-flops on is my kind of gal!

Live, Work Dream - Some great updated budget information from Rene and Jim who are just completing their first year on the road and are going to keep it up for a while longer. Congratulations to you both. They are long time "Dreaming" supporters.

Send me your favorite blogs and websites and I'll be happy to include them from time to time.

5 Reasons Why Gas Prices Shouldn’t Cancel Your Summer Fun

2008-05-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

Did you cancel last year’s plans? According to AAA, gas prices have increased an average of $.56 a gallon since this time last year. Let’s go crazy and say it has been $.75 a gallon in your area. If your summer trip is 1000 miles long and your car gets an average of 23 MPG, your fuel will cost $32.60 more this year than last. One dinner at home instead of eating out before you go will save that much. Is $32 any reason to cancel your vacation?

What does it really cost? When you add up all the expenses of a vacation, fuel only counts as about the second or third highest expense. Typically food and lodging will cost more than fuel. If you need to cut back, consider RVing or eating more meals in, or renting a slightly less expensive lodging.

How can you afford to RV? According to a study done for the RV Association, RVing is still less expensive than piling a family of four into an airplane and hotels for vacation. Using a similar example to the one above and a typical mid-size RV fuel economy of 12 MPG, the additional fuel cost for RV fuel this year would be $62.50. This is easily off-set by the lower cost of campgrounds vs. motels, resorts or cabins at your favorite destination.

What about family bonding? One of the best parts of taking a road trip or an RV get-away is the extra time you get to spend with your traveling companions. In the close quarters of automobiles, RVs, campgrounds and motels, a family has the opportunity to enjoy old-fashioned fun like cards, board games, campfires and more. It really is fun talking to your kids. Ditch the electronics just for the week and see what might happen.

And the final reason you shouldn’t let fuel get in your way? You and your family deserve the time together and the time away. Have everyone work together to be able to afford the extra cost of gas. Go on a Starbucks-free week, check for the best fuel prices, just say “no” to an evening at the movies, or take a pass on that cute new pair of shoes and you will have the added money to cover fuel. Don’t let the “psychology of price,” rather than real price get the best of you.

Have fun and enjoy your summer vacation.

*************************

Carol White is the co-author of the award-winning book, “Live Your Road Trip Dream” (www.roadtripdream.com) – the ultimate road trip planning guide for extended road trips. Carol and her husband Phil have traveled over 50,000 road miles in the past several years, visiting all fifty states and having visited all of the National Parks in the “lower forth-eight.” As national spokespeople for the RV Industry, they now spend their days speaking, writing, and helping others to live their dreams.

Small Business Grows "Green" Results

2008-03-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

How can a small publisher who produces paper books be sensitive to the environment? It seems almost like an oxymoron for such a paper-intensive business to be "green."

Oregon-based RLI Press, the publisher of travel information including the award-winning book, Live Your Road Trip Dream, had been struggling with this dilemma since their inception in 2003. Early efforts included obvious efficiencies like recycling and/or reusing all paper products in their office, recycling of ink cartridges from printers, using electronic communications instead of paper communications whenever possible, and recycling cast-off office goods on freecycle.org. But their consumption of trees and other environmentally-sensitive products in their book production activities continued to bother them.

While recycled paper has been around for quite some time, it wasn't of the quality that was needed for their products. That is until this spring's release of the second edition of Live Your Road Trip Dream. Print broker, Bob Smith of BookPrinters Network, was able to secure from Bang Printing in Minnesota a white, recycled paper (containing 30% post-consumer recycled fiber), of high enough quality for the new edition. It is this "eco-friendly" paper that becomes the basis for the savings calculation of trees, water and energy below. Another feature that was attractive about Bang's environmental commitment is their use of all vegetable-based inks in their printing process.

And what about the subject of their award-winning book? Road trips consume a lot of fuel energy, don't they? The authors, Phil and Carol White, are quick to point out that they advocate traveling in smaller, more-efficient RVs (they got over 20 mpg on their recent publicity tour in a Roadtrek Class B motorhome) and also point out that while they consume more auto fuel while traveling, they aren't consuming energy in a house that requires far more fuel than an automobile or small RV; or consuming airplane fuel and hotel energy jetting around the country.

When RLI Press realized that their printing "dream" could finally come true along with their authors' travel dreams, they joined the Green Press Initiative (http://www.greenpressinitiative.org) in support of other publishers and printers, like Bang Printing, who were making the environment a priority in their businesses. As a result, the second edition printing of "Dream" will save 13 trees, 617 pounds of solid waste, 4,804 gallons of water, 1,157 pounds of greenhouse gases, 9 million BTUs of energy. An e-book version of their new edition will also be available this spring in order to further their environmental commitment. Not bad for a now "green" small business from Oregon.

Hollywood Goes Road Tripping

2008-02-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

From Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman to Joan Allen, Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange, Hollywood is going on a road trip.

With terror threats abroad, the dollar getting hammered, air travel becoming so difficult and the economy sliding, many vacationers with wanderlust are again looking at the US as a great travel bargain. And Hollywood producers are confirming that taking the all-American road trip is not only a great way to live out life dreams, like in "The Bucket List", but a great way take off with friends for the time of your life, like the girlfriends in "Bonneville" (release 2/29).

Phil and Carol White already did part of their "Bucket List", when they took off and traveled the US for an entire year, then wrote a book to help others do the same. The book is a must-have planning tool to plan "Bucket List" trips, or to head out with girlfriends ala "Bonneville."

These veteran road trippers are National Spokespeople for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association's "Go RVing" campaign, and know a lot about what makes a successful road trip. They could have saved the Hollywood types some heartache on their road trips.

The Whites speak at such prestigious conferences as AARP's Life@50+, and national conventions like The Good Sam Club's Great North American RV Rally, and talk to the press frequently as experts on road tripping. The Whites are also frequent guests on TV and radio and have been featured speakers for AAA in their home state of Oregon.

Live Your Road Trip Dream has been heralded as the ultimate road trip planning guide by both journalists and readers alike:

• Beth Harpaz of the Associated Press calls it "practical and inspirational"
• Bonnie Neely of Real Travel Adventures dubbed it "the Encyclopedia of Planning"
• "[their] book was head and shoulders above the rest" says road tripper Steve Albrecht who planned a trip based on the book

Join the Hollywood trend and get planning your road trip today with the help from Live Your Road Trip Dream.

Best Selling Authors Conduct First East Coast Media Tour

2007-08-04T15:51:00.000-07:00

Come Meet and Hear Phil & Carol White

Best-selling authors Phil and Carol White will be making their first-ever
East Coast Media Tour in September.
Their tour starts with an appearance at the

National AARP Convention in Boston, MA September 5-8

Carol will speak at noon on September 8th at one of the stages on the show floor. Be sure to stop by the Go RVing booth (#1929) and say hi - or get your autographed copy of Live Your Road Trip Dream directly from them. They will also sign copies that you have bought from Amazon or other retail locations.

After leaving Boston, the White's will appear in the following cities - watch your local media for times and locations or visit their website's appearance page for further information.

September 10 - Springfield, MA

September 12 - Albany, NY

September 14 - Binghamton, NY

September 17 - Scranton/Wilkes Barre, PA

September 19 - Harrisburg, PA

September 21 - Baltimore, MD

If you would like the Whites' to speak to your club or organization or appear at your book store or library, contact them at 888 522 8747 for information and availability.

RVIA Chooses Phil & Carol White as National Spokespeople

2007-03-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

RVIA’s 2007 Spokesperson Lineup Finalized

RESTON, Va. — Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA’s) media spokesperson lineup includes some new additions for 2007 along with some familiar faces. Pro bowler Walter Ray Williams and RV authors Carol and Phil White will join tour veterans David Woodworth and Brad and Amy Herzog on the road this year.

For 16 years, RVIA has fielded a diverse group of spokespeople to meet with local media and talk about the advantages of RV travel. RVIA spokespeople have been interviewed in cities and towns across the United States, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Spokespeople have occasionally enjoyed the national spotlight in such important media outlets as NBC Today, CBS Sunday Morning, MSNBC, USA Today, Fox Network News, People, HGTV, History Channel and the Travel Channel.

Here is an introduction to this year’s media spokespersons.

Professional bowler Walter Ray Williams has won more titles and earned more money than any player in the history of professional bowling. He has won 42 titles on the PBA tour and earned more than $4 million during his brilliant 21-year career. He credits traveling in his motorhome from tournament to tournament for the past 16 years as having a positive impact on both his game and his family life.

He is promoting RVing in media interviews during stops of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tour on ESPN from February to April.

Carol and Phil White had always dreamed of seeing the United States by RV, so they bought a Type B motorhome and toured the continental United States in 2004. They learned so much about road trips that they published a travel book called Live Your Road Trip Dream. The book contains step-by-step information on planning the perfect road trip.

The Whites are an active empty nester couple who will appeal to the huge baby boomer market. They will promote the fun and freedom of RV travel in media appearances this September, starting with an appearance at the annual AARP convention in Boston from September 6-8.

David Woodworth, noted RV historian, will begin his 16^th National RV History Tour for RVIA this spring. Over the years he has reached millions of Americans with his message about America’s love affair with RVing and the open road. The 2007 tour will also promote the new RV/MH Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, which recently acquired Woodworth’s valuable collection of antique RVs.

Brad and Amy Herzog are quintessential Generation Xers, who travel by RV with their two young sons Luke, 6 and Jesse, 5. Inspired by his family RV travels, Brad has published several travel books including the acclaimed States of Mind and Small World.

Starting in June, the Herzogs will begin their eighth media tour for RVIA. Once again, they will be delivering their message that RVs are the most affordable, hassle-free way for young families to travel. Like all RVIA spokespersons, they also promote GoRVing.com as the best place to go for information on RVing.

“With a pro athlete, active empty nesters, a Generation X family and an RV historian, RVIA spokespeople will reach a wider spectrum of the population than ever before with appealing messages,” said Gary LaBella, RVIA’s vice president of public relations and advertising.

RVIA (rvia.org) is the national association representing 500 manufacturers and component suppliers producing approximately 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States.

--jl--

Editor’s Note: Photos of Walter Ray Williams, David Woodworth and Brad and Amy Herzog can be obtained by contacting Kevin Broom at (703) 620-6003 x304 or kbroom@rvia.org.

CONTACT: Christine Morrison Kevin Broom

Sr. Dir. of Marketing Communications Director of Public Relations

(703) 620-6003, ext. 344 (703) 620-6003, ext. 304

cmorrison@rvia.org kbroom@rvia.org

The Qi of China

2007-03-01T16:10:00.000-08:00

It is 8:30 am on a brisk Saturday morning in November and we are walking through a city park on our way to The Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Even at this hour, throngs of people are out enjoying the day: dancing, singing, laughing, playing instruments, reading, and exercising. The energy everywhere we look is amazing, especially since most of the people are seniors. A couple in their seventies or more catches my eye. They have obviously danced together forever. They are floating to the music, totally unaware of others around them. A darling old man is sitting on a wall with his purple crocheted cap. He is hard at work on his next crocheted item and enjoying the detail of his work.

To read the complete article, go to: http://www.perceptivetravel.com/issues/0307/white. html

In November, Phil and I had the opportunity to travel to the mysterious, wonderful country of China. This month, Perceptive Travel has included an article we wrote about the experience in their online Magazine. We hope you enjoy it.

Listen to Beth Harpaz - AP Travel Editor talk with me about New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

What a great way to start the New Year! The travel editor at the AP and I had a nice chat on her weekly podcast.

I think it turned out really great - about making Travel a New Year's resolution priority. Just click on the link, or paste it into your browser.

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://pod cast.ap.org/data/audio/20070102/20070102092942-916 .mp3?NAME=TripsandTrends&SITE=ORBEN&TYPE=podcast

If you want to hear other travel podcasts - or subscribe to Beth's RSS feed, just click on this link.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/fronts/PODCAST?SITE=N YKIN&SECTION=HOME#TripsandTrends

Wishing each of you the very best in 2007.

Carol

Teaching kids about sharing with others at the holidays

2006-12-11T23:06:00.000-08:00

We have lots of traditions with our grandchildren, but none is more special than our “sharing” trip we take during the Christmas holidays. This is a tradition that any parent or grandparent can start with their own family.

Our grandchildren, now ten of them and counting, are pretty typical of most middle class children of today. The have lots and appreciate little. They don’t take a lot of time from their own worlds to think about others and how children who aren’t as blessed as they are, might be spending their holidays.

So, one afternoon during the holidays, we take them all (or as many as we can gather) and head for a toy store. They each have $15 to spend on a child. They can pool their resources to buy something bigger, or they can pick individually. They think carefully about what a child who may get nothing except their present might really like. We guide only a little and mostly watch in amazement at the thought that goes into their choices.

We then deliver the gifts to a local fire station. The firemen are wonderful with the kids and talk about what a wonderful thing they have done. They talk about distributing the toys – and they let them climb on the fire equipment and learn about fighting fires.

We try to go for a treat, but sometimes their schedules are so tight that we’ve got to get them home and back to their busy lives, only hoping that they have thought just a little about another boy or girl – even for a moment.

2006-10-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

I saw this on another blog (http://thoughtgarden.blogspot.com/) and really liked it. We all have our own list of "must dos" in our life's journey, and this list is a pretty good start! Seeing all 50 states and taking a long road trip are obviously two of my favorites!

See how your life's list compares -- and maybe add a few new ideas to your own.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath
08. Said “I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm over water
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa (it was closed for repairs!)
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten tipsy on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China (actually doing that this next week!)
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe or raft trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal (or bird) for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Traveling with the GrandKids -- and not a GameBoy in sight!

2006-10-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from a trip with two of our many grandchildren to San Diego. We have a tradition of the "48 inch Trip". It started with the older ones to Disneyland when they were 48" tall and could go on the big rides. It was a highly anticipated event! Now the kids have all been there multiple times, so we're started looking for alternative destinations.

San Diego was great. We stayed at The Dana on Mission Bay http://thedana.reachlocal.net/; an older property that has been completely renovated and was a perfect location right on the water.

In 4 days we went to Sea World, Legoland (about 45 minutes from SD), the Zoo and had a day at the beach and playing in and around Mission Bay -- a sternwheeler ride from the neighboring Bahia Resort, paddle boats on the bay and swimming at the motel. We all had a ball.

Under-discovered Gems in our National Park System

2006-07-06T10:54:00.000-07:00

What could be more American than our National Park Service? People everywhere express interest in exploring these symbols of our national heritage. The parks range from large and well-known, like Yosemite and Zion, to small and obscure, like The Golden Spike National Historical Park and Moore’s Creek National Battlefield.

The parks are divided into several categories including National Parks, National Historic Parks, National Monuments, National Seashores and more. The difference is not just the significance of the park, but also the funding and, therefore, staffing and amenities of each location. In all, there are over 400 locations maintained by the National Park Service and they do a great job keeping everything maintained, accessible and enjoyable for the millions of annual visitors. The parks are truly one of the gems of our tax-supported services.

Each park, monument, seashore and more was designated due to some unique characteristic worth preserving and showcasing. From the intricate lacework of Wind Cave in South Dakota, to the fragile eco-system of the Florida Everglades, the park rangers are well informed and eagerly teach visitors about their park. The Junior Ranger program for kids in some of the larger parks is better than a year of science and history back home.

So what are some of these lesser known locations of special significance? Here are three that you might want to include in your next trip.

Big Bend National Park – Located in far south Texas, this park is visited by less than a million people a year and stretches over 800,000 acres, with three distinct eco-systems. The Chisos Mountains loom from most every vantage point in the park. In the spring, the desert portion of the park is alive with wild flowers and animals of every description. And finally, the canyons of the Rio Grande make a spectacular trip via rubber raft or canoe. The Santa Elena canyon is spectacular with the canyon walls rising 1500 feet on one side to Mexico and the same distance on the other in the US. The nearby town of Lajitas (outside the park) boasts the only “international” golf course in the US when one hole has an optional green across the canyon to Mexico! Retrieving your ball and scoring the hole is difficult since there is no physical connection to the green.

Little Bighorn National Monument – This Park gets our vote for the best ranger talk. The site of Custer’s last stand presides over the valley below with such visual splendor that one can easily imagine the Indians camped below and the obedient men under the direction of General Custer being led to their slaughter. As the wind blows over the site, the rangers do an incredible job of setting the mood, the facts and the story of Little Bighorn. Armed with the knowledge of the battle, an audio tour is available as you head out through the actual battlefield.

Dry Tortugas National Park – On of the least accessible of all our parks is Dry Tortugas, 67 miles off the tip of Key West. Best reached by several companies who offer “fast Cat” service to the island, the history and the remains of Fort Jefferson mix with the wonderful snorkeling to make for a great day trip, or a multi-day stay for the adventurous, since there are no improved campsites on the island, no lodging, no bathhouses and no drinking water available. Fort Jefferson dates to the early 1800s, when it was constructed to protect the Gulf of Mexico. This is one of the parks that has fallen victim to the loss of Park Rangers, partly due to the desolate conditions there. Fortunately, our guide for the boat trip had become knowledgeable about the history of the fort and provided excellent “ranger” descriptions for our group.

The National Parks website at http://www.nps.gov/ is a treasure trove of information, whether your visit is to a famous or not-so-famous park. If your goal is to visit many of the national parks, be sure to pick-up your personal “Passport” at your first park – a clever and unique way to catalog your visits. The National Parks Pass is a bargain at $50 a year for unlimited access to the parks with a 50% discounts on use fees within the park. The Golden Age passport is available to those 62 and older and is good for a lifetime. Our disabled citizens are also entitled to Golden Access Passes, regardless of age. See the website for complete details.

Travel Technology Options

2006-06-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

One of the questions that comes up most frequently is what type of internet connectivity should I have for our trip? So, here is a quick review of the basic ways to access the internet in a mobile connection (not at a fixed land base (ie DSL or cable TV internet)

· Dial-up - slow, but can access from any telephone line - just plug in and dial. Some carriers provide lots of local dial up numbers (AT&T has over 400!) and most also provide some 800 service for a fee. This is good to have as a back-up service when you can't access anything else. AT&T provides such a service for $5.95 a month + $.99 an hour when you need to use it. I'm sure others have similar services.

· Cellular Modem - slow, but using an adaptor kit of some type (called a modem kit) you can access any place you have cell coverage. Unless a particular company has put restrictions on it, you can access the internet from ANY cell company’s service, regardless of who your carrier is. You have a physical connection from your cell phone to your PC.

· Cellular Data Service - this has no connection to your cellular phone or cellular phone carrier. You may have the same carrier for both, but it is not necessary. Faster than the above options, you have a card in your PC that accesses the internet directly. You don't even have to HAVE cell service to have this. Totally separate. This service costs about $40-60 a month. Unlimited service. No minutes to worry about. The coverage area for the carrier who provides the card/service to you has no bearing on where you can connect. You can connect ANYPLACE you can get a cell signal -- regardless of carrier who is providing the signal. Now, you may get varying speeds depending upon the carrier, but cellular signal + data internet service card = connection. Even driving along.

· Wi-fi Service The newest and the best value. Good speed, easy to use and becoming very easy to find. Must have a wi-fi card in your PC - virtually all new PC's have them, and many older ones can be retrofitted. Costs for service range from "free" (the location is paying for it - like Starbucks, libraries, etc.) to $30-40 a month, depending upon the situation. You can buy service for a few dollars for a day (like in an airport) to subscription services like through SBC -- but usually restricted to that company’s Hot spots.

· Satellite - Expensive to buy and to have service. Fast, but must be able to get your satellite link-up (problem in trees, etc.) but really great service. There are a couple of major providers. I've never used this, so don't know as much about it. One of our subscribers, Daniel Bray, is an expert. Can only use it when satellite is up - so can't be used driving down the highway. Cellular data service can be used driving along (please, don't try to drive and use! -- I've seen that, believe it or not! -- in LA, where else!)

Authors Win National Book Award

2006-06-10T21:45:00.000-07:00

Live Your Road Trip Dream, by Oregon authors Phil and Carol White, won a coveted Benjamin Franklin Award at a Washington, DC ceremony in conjunction with Book Expo America.

PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association honored the Whites for their award in the category of Marketing Excellence and Innovation for 2005. Live Your Road Trip Dream was previously selected as a Finalist in the 2004 ForeWord Magazine competition for Book of the Year – Travel.

Judged by a panel of book industry experts including buyers at wholesale and retail levels, librarians, book critics, design experts and independent publishing consultants, these books have been scrutinized by individuals involved in the very markets in which the books are competing.

RLI Press published the Whites’ book in July, 2004. It is currently in its second printing and is selling well at AAA, Camping World, book stores, Amazon.com and at their own website, http://www.roadtripdream.com/ among other locations.

Live Your Road Trip Dream is a “how-to” book to help people figure out how to extricate themselves from their everyday lives in order to go travel for an extended period – and do it for the same cost as staying home. It has been featured in articles ranging from the Associated Press to local papers like Lifestyles Northwest where they were the cover feature. Over 100 newspapers and magazines have told their story. In addition, the Whites have been heard on radio programs and on television. If you enter the book’s name in Google, you will find it in over 12,000 locations on the internet.

Carol White was in Washington, DC to speak at a conference when the winner was announced. She said, “I just couldn’t believe it, out of all the independently published books, they chose ours for marketing excellence. I was speechless, which doesn’t happen to me very often!” When asked how she did it, Carol commented, “If you have a good product with a strong market niche and a good marketing plan that is well-executed, there is a good chance that you will be successful. With nearly 200,000 new titles each year, it is getting increasingly difficult for good small presses to rise above all the ‘noise’ and find their audience.” Apparently the Whites have figured it out, while not only living their road trip dream, but also their publishing dream.

About the Benjamin Franklin Awards™

Named in honor of America’s most cherished publisher and printer, the Benjamin Franklin Award recognizes excellence in independent publishing. A panel of nearly 180 judges from throughout the publishing industry weighted and evaluated more than 1,700 submissions in 53 categories to create the list of more than 159 finalists for 2005 publishing year. Publishers large and small from across the nation, Canada and Mexico competed for the coveted awards.

PMA, with more than 4,200 members, is the largest non-profit trade association representing independent publishers. For a compete listing of finalists and to view the award winners in each category, go to the PMA website at
http://www.pma-online.org/

Wanna save on gas? Ditch your Starbucks.

2006-05-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

If you’ve given up the idea of summer vacation road trip, think again. Regardless of the gas prices, fuel is typically only the forth largest expense on a trip behind lodging, food, and vehicle cost and maintenance says author Carol White of Live Your Trip Dream. “It’s really a much smaller expense than people think and it’s certainly not worth canceling your dream vacation over.”

Still, it’s going to cost more this year than it has in years prior to hit the road. White suggests pouring the Starbucks and other non-essentials in your tank instead, “You’d be amazed how much we all spend on the extras we don’t really need. The small invisible stuff really adds up but if a family really wants to take a road trip and needs to budget extra for gas, there are a few great ways they can do this.”

If you’ve always dreamed of hitting the road for a family road trip here are a few quick non-essentials you can easily cut:

Forgo the daily Starbucks latte, have a regular coffee instead
Plan eating in more, make dining out a treat, not a daily occurrence
Come on now, be honest. Are you really using all those cable channels? Cutting just one of them could get you a tank of gas a month. Wait till Big Love comes out on DVD and rent it
Be adventurous! Get your hotels on Priceline or Hotwire, you might be surprised what you get! Many of their rooms are four star hotels.

According to a study done by PKF for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), fuel prices would need to triple to make that option more expensive for a family of four than other forms of travel. Of course, you don’t have to have an RV to do a road trip, but they are a great choice for those summer vacations.

Whether you decide to cut one expense or all of them, White says don’t let high gas prices keep you from spending time on vacation. U.S. workers are notorious for not taking the vacations they are entitled to, don’t let the gas pump steal what’s rightfully yours: some time away.”

What not to do on your Summer Vacation!

2006-04-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

Just in time to get everyone excited about the summer family vacation season, the movie “RV” comes to town www.sonypictures.com/movies/rv/ .

Poor Bob Munro (Robin Williams) is just trying to get some family bonding time with the kids before they grow up and are gone. But, like many families, he dives into the preparations without a clear vision of the task – especially tackling an RV without some guidance (or apparently, common sense!).

RV trips are great for family bonding, whether you are an experienced RVer or just starting out. The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) has lots of great ideas and help at their site www.gorving.com . If only the Munros had known about this source of information. Whether you need a CD on the basics or a list of campgrounds to get you started, RVIA can help you avoid the pitfalls that the Munros suffered.

According to RVIA, there are over 30 million RV enthusiasts in the country, with over 8 million owning an RV. Who is the most RVing age group? The baby boomers, of course, with over 9% of them owning RVs. Today’s typical RV owner is 49 years old, married, with an annual household income of $68,000 – much like the family in the movie. Whether you want to rent an RV like the Munros did, or are looking to purchase one, there is something for every budget with purchases starting at under $10,000.

Once you’ve gotten your vehicle lined up, you’ll surely need some additional tips and hints to make your vacation enjoyable. Phil and Carol White share lots of tips for road trippers on their website, www.roadtripdream.com . The website has a television clip of them sharing their experiences, a complete budget worksheet (.xls format) for both long and short trips, information on their award-winning book, “Live Your Road Trip Dream” and much more.

Carol offers some tips for your family summer vacation.

· Instead of springing the trip on your family like Bob Munro did, enlist their help in the planning. Almost every age can help – plan out your route, mark the maps, gather information on the internet, get a travel guide or two, plan your meals – these are all things that the whole family can get involved in.
· Don’t over plan your trip. Be sure to leave room in your itinerary for spontaneous adventures – or problems along the way. A little planning goes a long way. Too much planning kills to joy of exploration.
· Consider leaving the electronics at home. Pack the games, sports equipment and hiking maps instead. Families spend so much time in solitary pursuits today, like personal music devices, DVRs, computers, game systems, and more – why not leave them home and explore other options on your vacation.
· If you are taking teenagers along, give them each the responsibility to be in charge of one day of the vacation. They get plan the meals (hold your breath!), be the tour guide on the activities, deal with tickets, money, transportation and other things that crop up during the day. A great experience for them.

So don’t let the hapless adventures of the Munro family scare you off. Do some homework, get everyone involved, and take off on your own adventure and bring back memories to last a lifetime.

Boomers afraid of retirement?

2006-04-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

As we have spoken to people, an interesting thing has happened. Our message has really expanded to encompass the whole “reinventing retirement” or “phase II life” issues. As everything in the boomers lives, they are changing the face of retirement.

A Del Webb study a couple of years ago uncovered that 45% of boomers say that travel will be their #1 expenditure in retirement, and travel related companies are getting ready for the boomers. ElderHostel has started a new program called Road Scholars that is targeted squarely at the more adventurous, independent and wealthier boomers. The cruise industry is including things like climbing walls on their ships and planning shore excursions that include hiking, biking, kayaking and other more adventurous options. The internet has spawned a whole group of sites that have trip planning help (like us!) to assist those independent research-oriented boomers to “do-it-yourself.”

What we are finding is that there is a whole group of boomers who are actually AFRAID of retirement – they say they will never retire, or not until they are “old” – because they can’t conceive of our parents retirement – golf and the rocking chair! Well, quite frankly, neither can we. What we advocate is to find your second life. Planning a long trip like we did, is only the beginning, and a great way to help figure out what your “phase II” plan might include.

Boomers are intent on giving meaning to their lives, and up until now, work has been that primary identity, and many are unsure what else there is, so they just plan to continue doing what they are doing. We believe there is a whole new set of experiences to be explored in the second half of our life. If you have thoughts to add to the conversation, please send them along.

Next Stop - Arizona!

2006-03-26T10:38:00.000-08:00

We've had a super time in Southern California for the last several weeks. Our presentations and book signings in San Diego, Pasedena, Orange, San Bernardino and Palm Desert went flawlessly - and it was so exciting to meet so many road tripping folks.

Probably the most fun was our television appearances - some people actually called us and said they saw us on TV - how fun is that! We were on two stations in San Diego and one in Palm Desert -- all morning "getting ready for work" time. We hope some of you saw us too. We love talking about road trips and encouraging people to Live their Road Trip Dreams!

Today we moved from Palm Springs to Phoenix. This will be a busy week. One of our children is engaged to be married to a wonderful gal from Phoenix. We are anxiously awaiting meeting her parents while we are here. A couple of weeks ago, the kids told us that they are coming over too (they live in Hanelei, Kauai, Hawaii), so I know we are going to have some real family bonding time.

Monday morning, we'll be on Good Morning Arizona -- really early - 5:45 am, then Susan Felt from the Arizona Republic is interviewing us for an article later in the week. All seems to be ready for our appearances at Barnes and Noble in Surprise and Mostly Books in Tucson. Unfortunately, Changing Hands in Tempe was already booked -- we'll try to be there next time!
We're having a great time between signings too - a little golf, lots of good food and lots of laughs with friends new and old.

Carol

“Road Trip” Authors Take Their Own Advice and Hit the Road

2006-02-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

It’s the old adage – the cobbler’s kid needs shoes, the barber needs a haircut, and the road trip gurus need, well … a road trip. Too busy to “practice what they preach”, authors Phil and Carol White found themselves tired of the Oregon rain and ready for a change of scenery. But how do you take off when you need to pay attention to marketing your book? How about a book promotion road trip!

Mixing marketing Live Your Road Trip Dream (RLI Press, 2004), their award-winning ultimate road trip planning guide, with a road trip to promote the book is the perfect way for the authors to live their own road trip dream. Today’s technology allows business people like the Whites to mix play with work. They will pack their vehicle with their laptop, cell phone and of course books as they head for southern California and Arizona later this month. Customers can reach them by phone or email just as normal, and they will have some time to explore new places to write about.

They have scheduled several presentations along the way to share the joy of a long road trip with the 10,000 baby boomers reaching 60 every day and wanting to head out on the road themselves. Gen-xers contemplating a mid-career sabbatical or leave will also find the tips and ideas to be invaluable.

The Whites have spoken to over 1,000 people about their planning tools and their adventure in such diverse settings as athletic clubs, RV rallies, AAA, book stores and libraries – all with rave reviews. They have also been frequent guest on radio and TV with over 50 appearances to date, and this trip won’t slow that activity down. Carol says, “Most radio interviews are done by phone, and we really enjoy talking to people about how to make this incredible experience happen, so we’ll just be talking from a different location than normal.”

To see the White’s and hear about planning your own road trip, plan to be at one of the following appearances:
3/6 - 7:30pm - Distant Lands Bookstore - Pasedena, Ca
3/7 - 7:30pm - Le Travel Store - San Diego, Ca
3/10 - 6:00pm - Barnes & Noble - Orange, Ca
3/11 - 4:00pm - Camping World - 40th Anniversary - San Bernardino, Ca
3/15 - 6:00pm - Barnes & Noble - Palm Desert, Ca
3/29 - 2:00pm - Barnes & Noble - Surprise, Az
4/1 - 1:00pm - Mostly Books - Tucson, Az

For additional information on these locations, visit their website at
www.roadtripdream.com/appearances.html

Their lively 50-minute presentation is sure to inspire the wanderlust to plan that long trip that dreams are made of -- and make the listener believe that they too can do it. Phil adds, “We’ll never have another journey as awesome as our road trip dream – we’d love to help you accomplish your dreams too.”

Spring Book Tour

2006-02-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

Here is the current line-up for our Spring Book Tour including upcoming radio shows. All times are PST.

2/16 - 4:00pm - The Retirement Hour with Matt Hutcheson
2/19 - 9:15am - Travel Talk Radio with Sandy Dhuyvetter
3/6 - 7:30pm - Distant Lands Bookstore - Pasedena, Ca
3/7 - 7:30pm - Le Travel Store - San Diego, Ca
3/9 - 6:00pm - The Travel Hub Radio Show - live in San Diego, Ca
3/10 - 6:00pm - Barnes & Noble - Orange, Ca
3/11 - 4:00pm - Camping World - 40th Anniversary - San Bernardino, Ca
3/15 - 6:00pm - Barnes & Noble - Palm Desert, Ca
3/29 - 2:00pm - Barnes & Noble - Surprise, Az
4/1 - 1:00pm - Mostly Books - Tucson, Az

For additional information on these locations, visit our website at www.roadtripdream.com/appearances.html

Our lively 50-minute presentation is sure to get you excited about taking that long trip you've been dreaming of -- and make you believe that you too can do it!

Live Your Dreams!

Carol

2006 Already?

2006-01-25T20:02:00.000-08:00

It's killing me! How do you all keep up?

Email,
snail mail,
newsletters,
press releases,
articles,
and now blogs....

We're getting ready for our annual trek out of the Oregon rain -- and it has been bad the last month -- maybe that's why I've had no time to blog.

This month's newsletter will be up shortly. Check it out... it is fr*ee and fun -- subscribe if you are so inclined. The link is in my links on the left.

2005-12-25T23:35:00.000-08:00

In October, I attended a publisher's conference in Denver, Colorado, and was once again reminded how many variations there are in people's idea of the perfect dream trip.

I met Lars Clausen at the conference. He is a Lutheran minister in Chelan, Washington and his book is One Wheel - Many Spokes. Yes, he traveled the states on a unicycle! His adventure included:

9,136 miles through all 50 states
2 Guinness World Records
6-month family adventure

The book is a lively read -- and quite a twist on what most of us envision for our road trip dream. You can read more at his website www.onewheel.org.

New Year's Resolution: Take a long vacation

2005-12-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

Impossibly busy? Taking time off is not just good for you, but can reduce stress and even change your life!

“Every year, we go through the same old tired set of ideas –weight, diet, the relatives, our boss, our golf game, our spouse, even our kids – everyone gets a piece of our best intentions. But at some point don’t you just want to scream, ‘But what about making ME happier?’” laughs Carol White, co-author, along with her husband Phil, of Live Your Road Trip Dream (RLI Press www.roadtripdream.com). Well, how about a vacation?

Phil goes on to say, “Most resolutions are ‘defect’ driven. Think about it – fix your weight, spend more time with the kids, start a workout program – all things that are ‘wrong’ with you. You are depressed before you start”. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Phil and Carol White have the perfect idea. Grab your partner, and the kids (if they’re still at home), and go see the United States. For a long time. Not just your annual vacation, they mean a real trip – a journey and a life-altering experience. Seem impossible? It’s not. In fact technology makes these trips even more possible than ever.

The Whites know more than just a little bit about how to do this and how life-changing it can be. They ventured into all 48 of the contiguous states, saw all the National Parks and along the way had the experience of a lifetime. They now spend their days encouraging others to make their own dream happen. “Some people say ‘Wow, I could never take a year off!’”, says co-author Carol White, “but that’s not really what this is about. Whether it is a road trip, a sailboat trip, or a trek for an extended period, the planning is the same and the rewards are often a changed outlook, less stress and some amazing memories that will last a lifetime.”

Now you are thinking, “Easy for them to say, they are retired, but I’m still slogging away making a living.” That’s even more reason to consider the possibilities. Along their way in their nineteen foot camping van, they saw many families and young couples and talked to them about mid-life journeys. The ways of actually hitting the road were as varied as the people themselves, but the bottom line was, they all wanted a new experience in their lives and were willing to be creative in making the changes necessary to allow it to happen.

The Whites have many tips and hints for would-be road trippers, but here are five to help you get your New Year’s resolutions off on a more positive note this year.

· Decide how you might pay for such an adventure and start implementing your plan. You can do it for the same cost as staying at home, but you just have to get rid of those expenses at home.
· Set a date when you will leave. Up until that time it is all just talk. You’ll be amazed at how quickly things will start falling in place to make your dream a reality.
· Enlist the help of family and friends to make the trip more meaningful. Give them “assignments”. Most of us have obligations that we have to figure out how to manage while we are gone. Grown children, business and social friends, church and community groups are all sources of help and excitement in planning your adventure.
· Pick a theme or set of ideas to guide your trip. Make sure that everyone who is going has an idea of what they want to see during the journey. If you have school-age children, you will be home-schooling them for the duration of your trip, so plan “lessons” that will cover their needs – reading, history, spelling, math, science and more can all be woven into your everyday activities – and it will be a time of learning that they will never forget.
· Don’t over plan your trip. When you go on a two-week vacation, you tend to plan your every move to maximize your time. When you go on a long trip – say a month or more, you can’t possibly plan your every move, nor would you want to. The joy of exploration and the unfolding of adventures is the most important part of the experience.

So instead of those same tired old resolutions, why not plan to change your lives – even for a short while in the scope of life, and see if some of those other “defects” don’t just take care of themselves.

Now that’s a resolution worth working on.

2005-12-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Fifty-one weeks a year,

these tough hombres are

businessmen, dads, jocks, and husbands;

but, on that fifty-second week of the year --

WATCH OUT!

They become the Montana Mountain Men.

Now if this isn't a group for the movie "City Slickers" I don't know what is. A by-invitation-only gathering brings these young men from all walks of life -- most of them didn't grow up on a ranch or farm, but they all felt the need to connect with their Wild West heritage on some level. Some had never shot a gun, some had never owned a pair of boots, but all of them swear by the enrichment and camaraderie provided by their once-a-year, let it all hang out, be a crazy, swaggering cowboy outing.

So why the MONTANA Mountain Men when they are all from OREGON? Their first outing was to Montana, and one of their very talented members wrote a song that has become their anthem.

Take a listen - it is really good.

(click on "Montana Mountain Men" MP3 - it takes a few seconds to load...)

Thanks to Christopher Edmonds, AKA War Paint (in the red shirt), for sharing this story and to Greg Herman, AKA Many Guns, for writing and recording this wonderful song. Part of their "initiation" ritual for newcomers is the assignment of their Montana Mountain Man name--something that they all look forward to with great expectation.

Oh, and no, they don't sleep in the wooden shack.

Just off camera is a huge motorhome -- and a few tents.

The Price of Gas Really Doesn't Matter

2005-12-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

“The good news is that there is no reason to cower in the corner of your RV trying to avoid the gasoline bogeyman,” asserts Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home. “While none of us are thrilled about the new reality of gas prices, this is not a reason to cancel your travel plans, particularly if you are planning that dream trip of a lifetime.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year in their Pleasure-Way class B motorhome, know more than a little about how much it costs to travel for an extended period. When they budgeted for their trip initially, they planned on an average of $1.75 a gallon for gas. When they returned, 37,500 miles and a year later, their actual average cost had been $1.56 a gallon. They paid as high as $2.35 a gallon in California, and as little as $1.22 in Georgia.

"Although some RV owners are concerned about fuel prices, the added cost is only a small part of the equation and not an overriding issue," observes David J. Humphreys, president of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). "For most RV owners, the advantages of RVing–such as greater flexibility, control and comfort–outweigh the higher costs of fuel," he concludes.

“Gas prices were fluctuating like crazy then also, and we weren’t sure what to really expect, but we did know that the price of gas wasn’t going to prevent us from getting out and seeing our great country,” Carol confirmed. “We knew that in the overall scope of trip expenses, this was not going to be a ‘deal breaker’ for us.”

“As it turned out, at $1.56 average over the year, it represented only five percent of our total budget and it was only our fifth largest expenditure,” Phil added.

Carol went on to update their information, “We recently recalculated our actual budget, using $2.25 as the average price over the same 37,500 miles, and it only moved the expense to eight percent of the total cost, and still the fifth largest expense.”

Phil and Carol go into great detail in their book not only about budgetary concerns, like gas, but also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

The Whites, who are definitely upbeat about encouraging others to get moving from the “dreaming to the doing,” laugh when describing the most often asked question: How to be with your travel companion on a 24/7 basis.

Phil provides a decidedly unabashed answer when he suggests, “You learn those two precious little words ‘yes, dear’ early on!” He continues on a more serious note adding, “You really learn to support each other on your off days, which you will both have. This is much easier than at home, because it is just the two of you with no outside influences to be considered. You really get to be two kids again, and it is great fun.”

Their final piece of advice? Don’t let the price of gas keep you from living your road trip dream. You will never forget or regret the times that you spend exploring your fondest travel ideas – whether it is a road trip like ours, a sailboat trip around the world, a trek through Asia or backpacking through Europe. The planning basics are the same regardless of the destination – and the White’s book is ready to help you plan your trip of a lifetime.

Can Hawaii be considered a road trip?

2005-11-26T19:50:00.000-08:00

And why do they use those interstate highway signs -- what state do they think you are going to motor to?

We had not been to Oahu/Honolulu since the '60s - what a shock! I can say with certainty that Hawaii has left Oahu -- at least the Honolulu side of the island. This is Denver at the beach. You have to really look to find the grand old Royal Hawaiian or the venerable Moana. They are thankfully both still there, but hidden behind lots of "noise". Their grand entrances can hardly be found.

And Diamond Head. It is solid city right out to the end. And Waikiki Beach. Solid people everywhere -- but the people watching is still supurb. The "old" Hawaiians who taught a generation to surf in front of the Outrigger are gone -- apparently a rift with management. Now we have the fresh-faced, suntanned, corporate geeks instead.

Thankfully, the north end of the island still looks like Hawaii should. Laid back, a little rumpled, friendly, and just the way it should be. Only an occasional resort is creeping up on it. The nine hole golf course at Kuhuku is still there. Can't find it unless you know where to look, and the locals told us not to tell anyone where it is. Walking only, but, oh the views! Maintained like many "muni's" on the mainland, but none have views like this.

Since we were there on Veteran's Day, we had to venture up to Punchbowl for the festivities at the National Cemetery. What a setting for such a somber place. The speech was inspiring, the fly-over chilling and taps...

Yes, we road tripped as much as you can on these small spaces, but somehow it didn't really feel like a road trip at all.

Aloha

We created our own dream trip of a lifetime

2005-10-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

2005-10-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Oprah hasn’t called? Didn’t get chosen for “I want to be a Hilton?”
“Just because Oprah hasn’t called to fulfill your wildest dreams or you didn’t get tapped for ‘I want to be a Hilton’, doesn’t mean that you can’t put together your own dream life,” asserts Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home (RLI Press, 2004, www.roadtripdream.com). “While getting selected by Oprah! or chosen for a ‘Hilton-style makeover’ may be your fondest wish, there are many things you can do to make your own dreams come true.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year as part of making their own dreams come true, knows a lot about how to make travel dreams happen.

"The first thing you must do is set a date. It doesn’t matter how far in the future that date is, setting the date makes it real,” says Carol. “Once you have committed to the time you will leave on your dream trip, then everything begins to fall into place – a self-fulfilling prophecy” adds Phil.

“We’re not trying to make is sound too simplistic, because there are lots of details to be arranged to make long-term travel happen, but if all you do is dream and wish, the chances of it ever happening are remote. Once you have made the commitment to yourself, your friends and family will begin to realize you are serious, and begin to help you make it a reality,” says Carol.

She goes on to encourage others, “People we met all along the way had some version of a road trip dream in their heads, but couldn’t figure out how to extricate themselves from their daily lives to go live their dream. Whether it is a road trip, a trek through Asia, a backpacking trip through Europe or a sailboat trip around the world, it seems that everyone has an extended-travel dream. When we returned, I did some research and found that their was no guide to help people through all the issues and details, so we decided to write one to encourage all the retiring baby boomers to go have this fabulous experience for themselves.”

According to a Del Webb study, baby boomers rate travel as their #1 expenditure in retirement and are out exploring our country by the thousands. But it isn’t just retirees setting out on these long trips. Gen x-ers, Richard and Amanda Ligato decided that their lives had become “too narrow,” so they saved money, quit their jobs and traveled Latin and South America, as well as Africa, in a VW Camper for nearly three years, covering almost 60,000 miles. They have chronicled their journeys in a new book, Wide-Eyed Wanderers (Pop-Top Publishing, 2005, www.vwvagabonds.com).

The Whites go into great detail in their book not only about how to manage your life back home while you are gone, but also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to budget and pay for such a trip, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

Their final piece of advice? Don’t over plan your trip. It is the serendipitous adventures that happen along the way that are the most precious and if you have planned out every detail, you will either miss the greatest moments of the trip, or find yourself undoing plans along the way.

“Too many things, both good and bad, will happen, and if you’ve planned your every moment like you would on a vacation, we guarantee that you will feel like you are on a forced march, instead of a travel journey of joy and exploration,” warns Carol. “Long-term travel is not like a vacation where you observe and enjoy your destination; it is a journey to be savored and incorporated into who you are” she concludes.

So, if you too have a dream that Oprah! hasn’t fulfilled, and Mrs. Hilton hasn’t knocked on your door, then open your own door – make your own dreams come true. The Whites can show you how.

For more information on planning your trip, to order your copy of the book, or to invite the Whites to speak to your organization about taking your trip of a lifetime, go to their website at www.roadtripdream.com. The book is also available from online retailers or your favorite bookstore.

2005-10-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

We traveled the US for an entire year in "The Rolling White House" and have great memories to savour for a lifetime.

“Elizabethtown” Brings Road Tripping into the 21st Century

2005-10-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

How cool is this? You are driving down the highway listening to custom CD’s with “road-appropriate” music and information about what to see. “This movie really showcases the technology that is available to completely customize your trips” says Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home (RLI Press, 2004, www.roadtripdream.com). She continues, “Even just a few years ago, taking road trips meant being out of touch and fumbling with maps and travel guides. Now you can surf the web (not recommended while in the driver’s seat, however), listen to custom audios about things along the way, check your email back home and call to check-in, all while living your road trip dream.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year as part of making their dreams come true, knows a lot about the technology of road tripping. But before you even consider your technology needs, there are a few things you must do.

"The first thing you must do is set a date. It doesn’t matter how far in the future that date is, setting the date makes it real,” says Carol. “Once you have committed to the time you will leave on your trip, then everything begins to fall into place – a self-fulfilling prophecy” adds Phil.

“We’re not trying to make is sound too simplistic, because there are lots of details to be arranged to make a great road trip happen, but if all you do is dream and wish, the chances of it ever happening are remote. Once you have made the commitment to yourself, your friends and family will begin to realize you are serious, and begin to help you make it a reality,” says Carol.

She goes on to encourage others, “People we met all along the way had some version of a road trip in their heads, but couldn’t figure out how to extricate themselves from their daily lives to go live their dream. Whether it is a road trip, a trek through Asia, a backpacking trip through Europe or a sailboat trip around the world, it seems that everyone has a travel dream. When we returned, I did some research and found that their was no guide to help people through all the issues and details—including planning your technology needs, so we decided to write one to encourage all the retiring baby boomers and mid-life sabbatical-takers to go have this fabulous experience for themselves.”

Even if you don’t have a girlfriend to make a custom CD for you like in the movie, there are all kinds of great ideas for what to take along. Carol laughs and says, “If you are directionally-challenged and can’t read a map, a GPS system is pretty much a must.” Phil agrees and adds, “My favorite piece of technology was our lap top PC. It allowed me to keep up with all the sports scores along the way, and to load our Trailer Life Campground CD as we rolled along, and have a place picked out in no time.”

The Whites go into great detail in their book not only about how to choose your technology for the trip, but also how to manage your life back home while you are gone. They also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to budget and pay for such a trip, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

Their final piece of advice? Don’t over plan your trip. It is the serendipitous adventures that happen along the way that are the most precious and if you have planned out every detail, you will either miss the greatest moments of the trip, or find yourself undoing plans along the way. As the trailer for “Elizabethtown” says, “amazing things can happen when you least expect them.” That is what a good road trip is really all about. So grab your gear and go have the experience for yourself.

For more information on planning your trip, to order your copy of the book, or to invite the Whites to speak to your organization about taking your trip of a lifetime, go to their website at http://www.roadtripdream.com/. The book is also available from online retailers or your favorite bookstore.