As RVers we should celebrate the vibrant RV community and the diverse reasons why we choose this lifestyle. From luxurious Class A diesel pushers to compact teardrop trailers, our community is filled with unique individuals who find joy in RVing. In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming Peter and Erika from Teardrop Trailer Atlas, an inspiring duo sharing their adventures on Instagram. Based in Whatcom County, their journeys extend far and wide. Prepare to be thrilled as we dive into their RV experiences right here on RV Out West. They share with us why they chose a teardrop trailer, their favorite places to camp in Washington State and even a few great hikes.

I spill the beans on my Top 10 RVing mistakes, from silly blunders to slightly hair-raising moments. We've all been there, and it's time to come clean and share these noob mistakes I made during my RVing journey, starting from when we had Pippa the Pop Up all the way to our 26-foot travel trailer. Learn from my experiences and discover how I've rectified these mishaps to ensure a safer and more enjoyable RVing adventure. Get ready for my Top 10 RV Mistakes!

Discover the stunning natural beauty of Whidbey Island in this special destination episode. Located only an hour north of Seattle and an hour and a half south of the Canadian border, Whidbey Island is a must-visit location. The island spans 45 miles and features three state parks for camping. Explore the island's history, from being home to the Coastal Salish people for thousands of years to serving as a center for logging and farming in the 1850s. During World War II, Whidbey Island played a crucial role in the Pacific theater and is still a current naval air base in Oak Harbor. Today, the island is known for its natural beauty, small towns, and thriving arts community. The island breaks down into three main geographic locations: North Island, Mid Island, and South Island. Experience the tranquility of Deception Pass State Park, a marine and camping park with over 77,000 feet of shoreline, and don't miss the quaint town of Coupeville. With amazing restaurants, breweries, distilleries, vineyards, and hiking trails, there's something for everyone on Whidbey Island.

In this Pit Stop, I embark on a quest to find the perfect camp chair. Share in my experiences while searching for the right chair. On a recent camping trip, I even conducted a group survey with friends as we tested out six popular models. In this episode, we discover the pros and cons of popular camp chairs and share our Top Two picks of the perfect camping chair. You just may be surprised as to what chairs made the list.

We're taking you on a journey through the beautiful and serene Sunbanks Lake Resort in Electric City, Washington. Join us as we explore the RV experience at one of the most popular resorts in Eastern Washington.

Nestled along the pristine banks of Banks Lake, Sunbanks Lake Resort offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and crystal-clear waters. Our guest recounts her experiences of living and working in this picturesque location, highlighting the resort's amenities, including hiking trails, their four day music festivals and water activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming.

Whether you're a seasoned RVer or a first-time traveler, Sunbanks Lake Resort is the perfect destination for those seeking peace, relaxation, and adventure in the great outdoors. So pack your bags, hook up your RV, and join us on this exciting journey to Sunbanks Lake Resort.

In this episode, I share my personal experience of camping at the F Lot at Stevens Pass ski resort, a popular ski-in-ski-out spot in the Cascade Mountains. I share tips on my towing experience and offer insights on heating, condensation, and snow management in an RV. In addition, this episode provides an overview of the scene at the F Lot and advises listeners on the best time to leave the resort to avoid any traffic issues.

I posed a question on social media. If you could ask Washington State Parks a question, what would you ask them? Well You delivered. In this episode, we chat with Sara of the Washington State Parks and we dive into the future of the State Parks, upcoming new parks, the debacle of the reservation system, and so much more. Sarah shares with us the Top 5 most visited parks as well. Curious to know what was the very first State Park? We’ve got the answers.

I’ve been to all 50 states, and there is nothing like the Pacific Northwest. It’s where the mountains meet the ocean. Washington State, Oregon, and Idaho are recreational playgrounds no matter what time of year that you visit. I want to share what it is that I love about RVing here in the PNW, from the seasons, to activities, events, food, and the culture. This is a great episode for those who call this place home and for those who may be considering planning a trip out here to the Upper Left Coast.

Towing can put your nerves on edge, especially if you are driving in not the most ideal conditions. Whether you’re new to towing or an experienced RV driver we’ve got some tips for you. From trailer swing, appropriate per day mileage, how to communicate with other professional drivers on the road, to navigating a truck stop, and so much more — this episode is chalked full of great suggestions. Joining us on this episode is a professional semi truck driver, who has also been towing RVs and horse trailers for most of her driving years.

In this Pit Stop we chat with Fireman Ken, a veteran firefighter with decades of experience, and we tackle the age old question of leaving your propane on while you RV down the highway. Plus, he shares a few more tips to keep your trailer or motorhome safe from catching fire or even worse an explosion. Ken also divulges his most favorite place to camp in Washington State. We jump right into it, so buckle up.

A cast iron dutch oven has been in use since the early 1700’s. This camp cooking tool provides wonderful options from roasting, basting, searing, baking, and so much more. Joining us in this episode is Debra, with the Northwest Dutch Oven Society. What started in 1989 to help Boy Scouts earn their cast iron merit badge has turned into a Non-Profit Organization, that provides training seminars, demos, and workshops to re-introduce Dutch oven cooking as an alternative outdoor cooking method. In this episode Debra chats with us about how to get started, how to care for cast iron and why a dutch oven should be in everyone’s camp kitchen — this episode covers it all.

The town of Anacortes is located between Padilla Bay and the Salish Sea, and is known as the gateway to the San Juan Islands archipelago. The Pioneer Trails RV Resort is about 5 miles south of town. We stayed at this RV resort during the fall shoulder season, and in this episode I offer a few highlights on places to eat, and things to see in the small port town of Anacortes as well as provide a review of the campground.

The largest RV show in Washington State happens every year during President’s Day weekend.

The Seattle RV Show hosts over 20 local dealers and over 45 RV brands. In this episode, I spent the day with my son at the show, and we checked out so many different rvs. With my audio field recorder in hand, I walked the show talking with dealers about new product offerings, and about the state of the RV industry. We went, we saw and we’ve got a great show recap for you.

Plus, in the Pit Stop I brought along some campfire story prompts and had random dealers and attendees pick a card and share with us some of their greatest memories from their RV adventures.

We put our trailer to rest for three months out of the year. Where Bluejay just sits there waiting for our next adventure. The winters here on the west side of the Cascade Mountains are typically mild and wet. There are times the thermometer drops below freezing and the snow falls, but it’s not often and not for very long. During the three months of hibernation, I take some time to head out to our trailer for a mid-winter inspection. Just to see how it’s doing. In this Pit Stop I share my process and what it is that I look for when I’m checking on the trailer.

The reservation game for state and federal campgrounds is always a challenge. What if you could say goodbye to sold-out campgrounds? An emerging software solution allows you to set multiple alerts for your favorite campground(s) and get notified when there's a cancellation and a spot opens up. You can choose your campground or you can even drill down to your favorite site with a specific site number. Camper Alerts is the answer to finding a state or federal campground reservation. In this episode, we chat with the founder and developer, Thomas Vaughn to learn about his software, how it works, and provide you with all the details so you can easily set alerts for your future camping trips.

The annual Seattle RV Show is the biggest RV show in the Pacific Northwest. In this Pit Stop I share tips & tricks to help you navigate the show so not only can you have a great time checking everything out, but so you can also stay focused on what it is that you want to get out of the show. Whether attending for the full weekend, or hitting the show up for just a day. From your first show or to seasoned RVers — these tips will help you out.

The growing frustration for finding and reserving a campsite is real and you are not alone. While this may seem impossible, there is a solution. Joining us today is Terry Broussard, the CEO of an app called Spot2Nite that solves this problem. He is going to chat with us about how it works, and how their solution is different from other similar styles of apps. Plus, he even shares a few RV tips and tricks with us.

I like to check in with my kids, to ask them about the adventures that my wife and I have taken them on to see what has resonated for them, what struck them with awe. I posed this question to my kids, “Please share with me, a Place that we’ve RVed too that You Never Wanted to Leave. I recorded this audio at different times and with them both not in the room to hear what each other said so as to not influence an answer — Here what they had to say.

If you made Seattle a jumping off point for an RV trip, and only had 10 days of vacation to burn, then I’ve got a route for you that will maximize your experiences and include a lot of diverse landscapes here in Washington State. In this new Destination episode, I do a dive into places along the North Cascade Loop where you can camp, hike, paddle and explore. Along with some recommendations for a few of my favorites places to eat and enjoy a libation or two.

In the summer of 2022 we had a grand family trip planned, one for the memory banks of a lifetime. We hadn’t seen our East Coast family since before the pandemic and so we decided to drag our trailer across America from sea to shining sea. We learned a few lessons from the road on this trip, and I learned a few more about myself.