When I was growing up, many of my family's vacations were spent traveling with a camper trailer. We did what's called "boondocking" or "dispersed camping" where we knew the destination we wanted to reach but determined our overnight stops on the fly, very rarely at designated campgrounds. Now as an adult, my family still prefers dispersed camping but we do so in a tent. As much as I enjoy camping and traveling light, I miss having a roof over my head and a mattress to sleep on that's thicker than an inch.
So when GoRVing invited us to try the RV lifestyle, I jumped at the chance. After exploring our options, we planned a long weekend at Imagination Mountain Campground Resort in Cosby, Tennessee, at the northeast corner of Great Smoky Mountain National Park some 12 miles away from Gatlinburg. Our motorhome was a Winnebago Minnie Winnie with ample living space including sleeping, cooking, dining and bathroom facilities. We stocked it with essentials, supplies and food before hitting the road in our temporary home on wheels, excited for the adventure ahead.
It was about a 3 hour drive to our destination, and a comfortable one at that. The vehicle handled well, keeping up with traffic on the interstate and was overall easy to drive. The passengers enjoyed comforts and freedom not possible while riding in a car and the girls passed the time watching cartoons and playing games.
We spent the next 2 days enjoying all the campground had to offer. With mini-golf, a swimming pool, playground, large outdoor chess board, basketball court, movie theater, ice cream parlor, gem mining, a hammock garden, an arcade and a club house plus daily organized activities, 2 creeks running through the property and access to hiking trails into the National Park, there was lots to do. The wooded, creek-side location made for the perfect setting for a relaxing escape in nature. We enjoyed the quintessential camping experiences like cooking and making s'mores over the campfire, lounging, reading and relaxing in a hammock, listening to the sounds of nature and picnicking outside but when showers passed through numerous times during our stay, were grateful for a dry place to escape to. We fixed meals, watched movies and played games in the RV and never felt cramped; at night, the sleeping accommodations made for great restful sleep with normal bathroom facilities right within.
Our weekend passed too quickly; I could have stayed a full week (or more). I loved the mix of spending time outdoors with access to all the comforts of home. The flexibility, freedom and convenience of vacationing in an RV allowed my family to slow down, relax, get away from the daily grind, spend time in nature and recharge our batteries. We're now researching travel trailers and looking forward to our next adventure as RV owners.
Interested in trying the RV lifestyle for yourself? Visit GoRVing.com to find rental and dealer information, how to choose the RV that’s right for you, where to go, what to bring and so much more!
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Disclaimer: My family was a recent guest of GoRVing. Campground fees and use of the fabulous Winnebago Minnie Winnie 31K Motorhome were complimentary. No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed within this article are 100% my own.
