buy an Rv,? says Mr. Smith, ?People who want to escape harsh winter weather and head to Florida and those who want to see as much of the country as possible.? ?We?ve seen so many wonderful things we never would have seen if we didn?t have the motor home,? echoes Mrs. Smith. the Smiths have traveled up and down the West Coast, lunched looking out over the observation deck of the hoover dam, driven through the Painted desert, watched turtle races in key West, and journeyed up the east Coast. their most memorable Rv moment? the day they had to back up their ?bus? (as they affectionately refer to their motor home) on the george Washington Bridge leading into Manhattan. ?We made a really wrong turn somewhere along the way and ended up facing oncoming traffic on the george Washington Bridge,? Mrs. Smith recalls. ?the police arrived quickly and were so kind to us. they backed traffic up so we could do a u-turn and get headed in the right direction ? not an easy task in a vehicle that?s 102 inches wide. a lot of people waved at us as we passed ? some of them even used more than one finger.? Changing the subject with a smile, Mrs. Smith points out, ?We?ve stayed at some lovely Rv parks all over the country. You get a real feeling of community in so many of them.? there are thousands of those Rv park communities throughout the country. In the gulf Coast region of texas alone, there are more than one hundred Rv parks, according to www.rv-clubs.us. the website lists parks in every state in the union where wornout road travelers can stop and rest for the night. even a teeny-tiny state like new hampshire has well over a hundred Rv parks. the Rv community reaches far beyond the Rv parks. there are Rv clubs and associations as well as numerous blogs and websites for Rv enthusiasts. one of the most prolific is www.gorving.com. Like so many other industries in our country?s current economy, recreational vehicles are not immune to so many americans tightening their belts. But there are advantages to this mode of travel that can?t be measured in dollars and cents. ?It?s well worth the investment,? according to Wendy Caves, ?It?s all about being together as a family and getting away from everyday hassles.? If you?re not ready to take on another monthly payment, however, renting is always an option. there are several agencies in the metroplex ? and all over the country ? that rent Rvs by the day, by the week or by the month. this is no fad, destined to be put on a shelf like the atkins diet or the Macarena. Rving is here to stay. Kelly Young is a freelance writer who lives in Frisco. Not your grandpa?s RV (top); today?s models offer all the comforts of home (bottom) photos by Chris Fritchie
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