The RV summer of our lives!
When Bill, my husband, first suggested spending our retirement summer in an RV, I looked at him and told him that we had more chances to join the circus. I know, I know, maybe I was mean, but an RV summer sounded like too much, especially right after we relocated.
I told Bill that I don’t know what to say about his idea; we are not twenty years old anymore. But he knew that my desire to travel was still there, and it seemed that he also felt the same. It was April when he first mentioned it, and by the end of May, we had already planned the whole trip. We’re some adventurous spirits, that’s for sure!
We were supposed to leave at the beginning of June from our new home in Asheville, North Carolina, and follow this exact route: Red River Gorge, KY; Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI; Door County, WI; Cuyahoga Valley, OH; and Pisgah National Forest/Blue Ridge Parkway, NC.
We had the RV since we were living in Beaufort. We used to go camping with it with the kids, and we also used it when we moved here. Who would have thought that an RV could be so useful when you are moving to a new place?
Anyway, we agreed on the plan I listed above, and off we went, on our way to the perfect RV summer! I am about to tell you the story of one of the most incredible summers of my life.
Red River Gorge, Kentucky
Timing: Early June
Distance from Asheville: ~250 miles (4.5–5 hours)
Funnily enough, our first patience test came four hours away from home, and let me tell you, it was a doozy. When we looked at the campground website, it was clearly written, “spacious sites nestled among towering pines,” which sounded lovely until we actually had to get our house-on-wheels into one of those allegedly spacious spots.
Parking there was a whole adventure on its own. “A little to the left,” I called out, standing behind our RV, waving my arms like I was directing aircraft. “No, wait, my left or your left?” RV summer, they said. It will be fun, they said.
In the end, Bill managed to park, and I opened a beer at 3 a.m. as a means of celebration. Something I never thought I would do. “Well,” I said, raising my bottle toward our crooked awning, “we’re officially RVers.”
The next morning was wonderful. Yes, I hadn’t had enough sleep, but the silence and the sounds of nature were mesmerizing. Just me and my coffee mug standing there and contemplating life. For the first time in decades, I had nowhere to be but exactly where I was. Having coffee on the edge of a canyon trail is something that truly shapes you.
Our third night brought drama, and it came into our lives as a huge thunderstorm that seemed determined to test every seal and warranty claim on our new home. A steady drip-drip-drip from the ceiling woke me up. “Is this normal?” I whispered, as if speaking too loudly might make the leak worse.
By morning, the leak had stopped, the storm had passed, and we’d earned our first “worth to tell” story. Not long after, we were on our way to the next destination.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
Timing: Late June – Early July
Distance from Red River Gorge: ~550 miles (8–9 hours, split into 2 travel days)
This was our first real drive in our RV during the summer. It was a pretty long drive that taught us more about our rhythm. The secret was early morning departures and frequent stops for gas and snacks. Also, we discovered a thing that hadn’t crossed our minds before: getting there really was half the fun.
Sleeping Bear Dunes exceeded every expectation. Our campground sat close enough to the lake that we were able to hear the waves. This sound reminded me of our home in Beaufort, and I almost started crying. I love the mountains, but oh, how I miss the ocean and its salty smell. But this RV summer is helping me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time, and this is more than amazing.
The famous dunes, however, proved more challenging than anticipated. The brochure made this look like a gentle stroll, but in reality, we both were panting halfway up the 450-foot sandy slope that seemed determined to swallow my sneakers with every step. I was snapped out of my quest when I heard Bill calling out, “Diane, we don’t have to prove anything to anyone.” He was right, but I still wanted to make it to the top, and I did it.
The view of Lake Michigan stretching endlessly toward the horizon was fantastic, and I felt like all my effort was not in vain. Standing there and admiring the lake made me realize this was what retirement should feel like: challenging yourself just because you can, not because you have to.
What I liked the most was that our campground became a social hub in the best possible way. The evening potluck brought together retirees from across the country, each with their own summer RV stories.
We were both happy that we finally decided to take this trip. This was the adventure of our lifetime, and we were determined to have the best time ever.
Door County, Wisconsin
Timing: Mid–Late July
Distance from Sleeping Bear Dunes: ~250 miles (including a ferry or bridge option)
The moment we crossed the bridge, we were totally charmed! A whole peninsula of small towns, cherry orchards, and gorgeous bays. Our campground overlooked Green Bay, and my favorite activity was watching fishing boats while drinking a cup of coffee.
This is also where Bill and I discovered a new obsession. A small pie stand called “Cherry Bliss” that served slices that were not that small. The portion size was about the size of dinner plates!
Our anniversary fell during our Door County week, and Bill surprised me with dinner reservations at a restaurant that was so close to the water that you were able to touch its surface if you leaned over the dock. All of these years of marriage, and look at him, still able to make me feel young again. We talked about our kids, our grandchildren, and how strange and wonderful it felt to be just the two of us again after all these years.
As we sat at that table, I looked at Bill and told him, “Remember when we said we’d travel after the kids were grown?” My eyes shifted from him to the boats in the harbor. He replied, “I remember you saying it, as I was worrying about money. But we are here now, and this is what matters the most.”
The next day, we visited the Cana Island Lighthouse. Its structure was taller than I expected, and its surface was covered by white rectangles. Looking at them in the sun made my eyes burn. But I was curious to find out more. This RV summer is more than I expected. It is one of the most memorable summers of my life.
At the lighthouse, the guide was so excited to tell us about the history of the place, and we discovered that the lighthouse keeper’s wife in the 1870s had written detailed journals about her isolated life on the island. Probably I would have done the same. Those tiny keeper’s quarters made me think about the fact that I was there the same way that woman was 150 years ago, and I was reading pieces of her diary and felt a kinship that transcended centuries.
We loved our time in Door County, exploring the small towns, but by the end of July, we were ready for our next destination. Our RV summer still had more to offer, and we were eager to soak it all in.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
Timing: Mid–August
Distance from Door County: ~500 miles
By August, our RV summer vacation to Ohio. Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of the most underrated natural attractions in this country, and this is why Bill decided that it’s time for us to do something against the grain and go there.
The biggest problem was that as soon as we entered Ohio, our AC decided to break down just as Ohio decided to have a heat wave. It seems that we were no longer the only ones on vacation.
We found a repair shop, but the whole thing lasted for two days, the time when we discovered the art of strategic shade-seeking and the true value of campground shower houses. Also, the repair cost made our wallets cry.
But this minor inconvenience was not supposed to derail our RV summer, so we decided that it was time to explore the park. What else could we do? The park’s vintage train ride was the highlight of our day. The breathtaking view above the water was priceless! On our ride, we met Bob and Carol, who’d been full-timing in their RV for fifteen years. I was starting to think, how would it be if we started a life like this?
“Fifteen years?” I asked, amazed. “Don’t you miss having a stable home?” Carol replied, laughing, “Honey, home is wherever we park it. We’ve seen more of this country than most people see in a lifetime, and we’re still discovering new places.” This is wonderful, I thought to myself. The traditional retirement expectations were not for them, for sure.
Later, one quiet morning, we hiked along the Towpath Trail, and this was an experience that provided the deeper gift. The campground was amazing, but rather noisy. After all that time spent there, I was finally in the middle of nature, smelling the trees and feeling the light wind blow over my arms. Walking among the towering trees, listening to the creek flowing alongside the trail, I felt the last of my teacher-brain chatter finally quiet down. This is what I was looking for: stillness. A moment when my mind can take an actual break.
No mental to-do lists, no worrying about anyone else’s needs; just me and the trees. For a moment, I felt selfish for thinking about this, but in reality, nothing was wrong; I was doing exactly what I was supposed to do. This is what people feel when they say they are relaxing. It was such a strange feeling for me, not feeling tense and stressed. This RV summer was what taught me how to let it go.
The only thing that settled worries in my mind was Maple, as we decided not to take her with us. But she was ok. Em, my daughter, moved into our house for the summer and also took care of our pup. No need to worry, in reality. Things were exactly as they should be.
Blue Ridge Parkway / Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina
Timing: Mid–Late September
Distance from Cuyahoga Valley: ~450 miles
Oh, home sweet home, or at least close to it. In September, we were on our way back to North Carolina, and this place was already welcoming us with the colors of fall. The mountainsides, all yellow and orange, opened out way into the Blue Ridge Parkway.
We chose to stay in Pisgah National Forest, close enough to Asheville that our friends Randy and Susan could join us for our last campfire of the trip. Even if I am the one writing, Bill is a natural storyteller. Sitting there in front of the fire and listening to him enthusiastically share all of our RV summer vacation was a moment I will never forget. Stories of sand dunes and pie stops and thunderstorm adventures, he was so happy to let them out into the world.
“You should write about this,” Susan suggested. “All these adventures, people would love to read about them.” If you were wondering, this is how I decided to write this article. After all, there are many people who don’t know if they should take an RV summer or not. I am here to deliver the facts and tell them my story. Maybe this helps.
The best thing about our last stop was that our friends brought Maple. She was finally with us and oh so happy to be there. Running around in those golden leaves was her favorite activity, and also sleeping in the RV with us was a new thing for her.
As the fire died down and our friends headed home, Bill and I sat there in silence. I was listening to the familiar sounds of North Carolina. The bubbling of the creek, the exact same creek we heard the first time when we camped here with Greg and Em twenty years ago. Same space, but everything else felt transformed. And it really was. Our lives were not the same.
“So,” Bill said eventually, “what’s next?” I glanced over at the RV, our home for four months, our ticket to independence, our teacher who showed us that adventure doesn’t have an expiration date. You don’t have to be young in order to have fun. Please just remember this.
“I was thinking maybe we should head west next summer. I’ve heard good things about Montana,” I replied to Bill. He laughed and gently whispered, “Of course you have. You really liked this RV summer.”
We’d covered over 3,000 miles, visited five states, and made memories that would last the rest of our lives. But more importantly than this, we discover that retirement is not about slowing down. This is your time to start doing all the things you wanted to but didn’t have the time.
As we prepared for bed in our little rolling home one last time, I realized that the best part of our RV summer wasn’t any single destination or experience. It was the daily choice to embrace uncertainty, to find humor in the challenges, and to keep discovering new things about each other after more than three decades together.
One thing that saved our journey and made things easier was this water filter. I would always have it when leaving with the RV.
If you feel alone and you think about moving in with your adult kids, then you should totally read this article and get all of the insights: Thinking About Moving in With Your Adult Kids? Let’s Talk About It