We recently had an inquiry from one of our readers who manages
an RV park, and who wanted to know what RVers "look for"
in selecting an RV park. We thought the question was an excellent
one, given the fact it was offered up by someone whose business
it is to know the answer to that question! We're certain
there is no "right" answer -- or at least no answer
that would reflect everyone's preferences. For the moment we'll
put aside the sometimes essential requirement that we must
find a "modem friendly" destination to keep these
pages current. When we discussed our own likes and dislikes about
prospective RV destinations, we came up with some factors which
we think would be common to many RVers. Admittedly the list of
considerations could go on and on -- but here are our basics.
AN INVITING "TOTAL ENVIRONMENT": First impressions
can be powerful motivators -- either causing us to go on down
the road, or to turn off and head for the office to sign in for
the evening. It's difficult to describe all the factors that make
up a positive first impression. But when it's there, you know
it. (It's one of those things that when you see it, you immediately
know what it is). Perhaps it is a quiet country setting, away
from the main highway. Sometimes it might be an "in town"
location, but with individually landscaped sites and carefully
groomed grounds. Whatever this "feeling" is, it invariably
results in our concluding "that's a place we'd feel good
about staying tonight". There are no obvious features which
raise doubts about whether we'd enjoy being there, such as massive
construction in progress, hopelessly overcrowded sites, a feeling
that the area is not "secure", facilities in need of
paint or repair, or vehicles which are either abandoned or give
the appearance that they ought to be. One of the things that we
probably all intuitively sense immediately is whether a park is
for RVers who are enjoying life on the road; or whether it's really
a low cost housing option serving the needs of the local community.
The Good Sam Directory's "code" for this is couched
in terms of how many spaces there are in total, versus how many
are "available". A park with 100 total spaces, and 100
"available", is going to be full of travelers like us.
But a park with 100 total spaces and "30 available"
is really in a different business than catering to the over the
road RVer. We appreciate the need for low cost, affordable housing.
It serves a badly needed purpose. But it may not be the place
we'd want to go on an RV vacation.
SITE SPACING: The benefit of many state and federal RV
parks is that since they already own a relatively large chunk
of real estate, the sites can be situated relatively far apart.
Campgrounds situated on private property must, for reasons of
economy, design their sites with greater density because they'd
soon be out of business if they didn't. But where the tradeoff
between high density and individual site privacy results in a
park which one might first think is really for RV storage, we
keep going on down the road. Site layout is something that must
be challenging to the park owner. With ample trees and shrubbery,
site spacing can actually be a bit closer without "feeling
like" it is. And spacing which involves diagonal or off-set
sites can result in units lining up with much less feeling of
being like so many ducks in a row. That's because the diagonal
sites often result in an RV's main entrance being other than smack
in the middle of the unit next door -- providing at least the
feeling of greater space. And in this day and age, we think it
important for the park to have at least some pull-throughs, to
accommodate big rigs or for those whose comfort level drops below
zero whenever their rig is in reverse.
FRIENDLY STAFF: Since there's no such thing as the "perfect"
setting for an RV Park, the frosting on the "first impression"
cake is always the reception we sense when we walk in the office
door. To some, we're just another statistic. In fact we're a bit
of an annoyance since had we not come in, the person on the other
side of the counter wouldn't have to be doing anything right now.
But with others, who greet each new person like a friend who's
just come home after a long absence, any qualms we may have had
about the park are quickly (and usually permanently) dispelled.
Whoever said "you never get a second chance to make a first
impression" surely had that one right! After all, one of
the reason RVers do what they do is because they genuinely enjoy
meeting new people. In general they are a very friendly lot. And
they respond very positively to the park staff person who from
the the very first eye contact is obviously a good "people
person". Sure, we'll fill out the blanks on the form. But
in the process we'll have struck up a conversation about where
we're from; what the fun things to do in the area are, or whatever.
The place that from the outside only a few minutes earlier had
looked like home (for tonight, anyway), now feels
like home as well.
WHAT ABOUT OUR SITE? There's always a bit of trepidation
about being "assigned" a site in a park we've never
visited. Is it one of the "good ones"? Or will we wish
we'd been assigned to a different spot? When we either pull through
or back into the site that's become our new piece of property
for the night, we'll immediately notice some things that reflect
on how thoughtfully the park is laid out. As we reach approximately
the area where we'll be shutting down the engine, I glance a bit
anxiously in the rear view mirror, where I can see in an instant
the gauge which tells me whether the site is approximately level
(across), or whether I'd better get ready to do a balancing act
on a stack of blocks. I also will notice whether the utilities
are conveniently placed for easy hookup. It's a drag to find the
utilities on the wrong side of the rig; or otherwise so distant
from the best parking spot that I'll have to use electrical and/or
hose extensions. And if the site has a sewer hookup, I'll experience
an immediate sense of dismay if I see the sewer is located at
least three sewer hoses away from the rig; is "uphill";
or if the sewer connection is one of those which is unexplainably
raised at seemingly dizzying heights above ground level. Meantime
Stephanie is checking the utilities of the rig next door, hoping
the entrance to our new home-away is not wedged into our new neighbor's
utility connections. She's also checking for obstructions to our
slideout, which might force us to park away from the "natural"
best parking area, possibly creating unwanted distances to the
hookups. And finally, with an eye to those carpets which are just
waiting to pick up whatever might be tracked in from outside,
she'll be happy to find the patio area is either gravel or concrete
-- particularly in areas where the weather can conjure up a rain
shower on a moment's notice.
SETTLING IN: It won't be long before we'll want to explore the area. The preferred answer to the question "what's fun to do here?" depends on who's asking the question. We appreciate those who will find happiness in arcade games; it just doesn't happen to be our bag. For us the right answer would be found in exploring a natural setting, whether mountains, lakes, or sea shore; or perhaps in a round of golf at a nearby course. It would be hiking, biking, fishing, or just taking Missy (our energetic Brittany) for a long walk. We probably learned about some of the fun things in the area when we checked in with that friendly park manager. And they probably gave us a handout or two with a local map of the area, and other information about places to explore. After reading it over, we've already concludeding that we couldn't possibly see all there is to see here in just a day, so we're already planning to spend another day or so.
Besides -- it's really beginning to feel like "home" here!
ÿÿ