Roadtrip to the Cosmos: 9 Tips for Camping Stargazing

When you’re roadtripping in search of stargazing, especially to certified “International Dark Sky Places,” the cosmos can come alive with a display of universe of eye candy. Below are a few tips to consider when choosing a place to set up your telescope, or lay back with your binoculars – or bare eyes – and take in the celestial offering.

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10 Tips to Convince Friends to Become First-Time Campers

We love camping. Many of our friends – not so much. We know many would dig the experience – the exploration by foot or canoe, the food, the drink, the bonding around the campfire at day’s end – if only they were appropriately introduced. Below are a few tips that we’ve used to convert the uninitiated…

Highlight the Adventure: Emphasize the excitement of stepping out of their comfort zones and exploring the great outdoors. Let them know that camping offers a sense of adventure and freedom they won’t experience elsewhere.

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Music: Soothing Sounds for the Open Road

“Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.”

DZ is a veteran traveler who likes to fill his ear holes with tunes. Not just any tunes. But tunes he likes. So whether he’s flying abroad (pre-Covid) or roadtripping across the U.S., he breaks out a couple of second-hand iPod Minis, each loaded with a thousand or so tunes – from RHCP to Beck (and Jeff Beck) to Beethoven. He’ll plug in the pod in and queue up his music.

Which got us thinking: How important is music to the traveler?

Passengers in airports sport their Beats like athletes making the pre-game locker room walk. Wooks and heads heading to a music festival call up the playlist someone’s no doubt curated of the acts they’re gonna see. Heck, the Merry Pranksters took a whole entourage on the road with them on their trips. 

Frankly, it just makes living easier on the ears and soul.

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Goin’ Solar: Q&A With an RV Solar Expert

When Barry decided he wanted to be prepared to take his travel trailer off the grid and boondock when the spirit moved him, he first wanted to install a solar system to ensure he had the creature comforts only power can provide.

A DIYer at heart, knew bringing in a pro to help install the right solar array on his Grand Design Reflections 150 Series fifth-wheel would smooth the process. He hired Expert Mobile Solar LLC in Melbourne, Florida (check out his Facebook). The proprietor Jeff sent Barry a list of panels, batteries and other components to choose from.

Read on to discover what you can learn from the experience?

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Great Gear Makes Music Festival & RV Camping Site

Festival camping is about more than pulling in, setting up, and heading out to see the show. When the stage lights go down and you’re headed back to the RV or tent campsite, does the party go dark – or rage on? With a few choice accessories, some planning, even a hand from fellow campers or your crew, you can make sure your campsite rocks. Even if you’re not festival camping, lights, tarps and accessories elevate the experience.

Google “festival camping gear” and it’s likely “Festival camping survival gear” will pop up. It’s not about survival; it’s about thriving. Festival and event producers spend thousands, possibly millions of dollars to amp up their ear and eye candy for attendees. Why not rise to the challenge?

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