Hi guys - nice community

[howdyall]

HI Guys, ....

Anyway we arrived in the US (Boston) from europe a couple of months ago, wife and 2 kids (2 and 5) and we should be around for a couple of years so we want to stay together, see some stuff, and meet some actual real people - looking around here I think we may have a winner!

I am about to rent a c class 25ft for mid october for 1 week (19-25) from Boston and trip out to Niagara, I know it's none much of a trip but I figure the kids wont be over the moon with sitting still while we move about so I will keep the ambition for later.

I have a couple of questions about stuff and do feel free to send me elsewhere on the forum but I couldn't find what I was looking for in the search.

1. Stuff for kids to do in the parks. Since I think we will spend most of the time static I wanted to know if there was stuff to do in the parks - what sort of facilities should I expect, how much do the facilities change from park to park. Is this the type of thing that is covered in the Woodalls guide?

2. Bearing in mind the time of year - can I expect a C class 25' Cruise America RV standard issue to be heatable, should I grab sleeping bags and blankets and more blankets?

3. Just to be sure - I assume no one is allowed to roam around in the RV while it is moving

4. Any must see's / favourite grounds on this trip - remember family

5. general tips - renting from Cruise America etc, traveling with young kids - you know

Cheers

 

[Carl L]

1. Stuff for kids to do in the parks. Since I think we will spend most of the time static I wanted to know if there was stuff to do in the parks - what sort of facilities should I expect, how much do the facilities change from park to park. Is this the type of thing that is covered in the Woodalls guide?

Woodalls and the ads in Woodalls should give you the clue.  A lot of parks now have websites  --- even better.

2. Bearing in mind the time of year - can I expect a C class 25' Cruise America RV standard issue to be heatable, should I grab sleeping bags and blankets and more blankets?

I would be astounded if they did not have a propane fired furnance, but shoot, call Cruise America and ask.

3. Just to be sure - I assume no one is allowed to roam around in the RV while it is moving

A motor home is a motor vehicle.  Most states require everybody to be seated and buckled in while in motion.  Some even in kid seats.
Seat belts are great for keeping kids from attacking each other and wrecking your nerves.  If someone absolutely has to go potty, pull over or off the freeway for a potty break.  You are on vacation remember, not in a race.

5. general tips - renting from Cruise America etc, traveling with young kids - you know

Aspirin, lots of aspirin. 

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Stuff for kids to do...

It will vary all over the map - some parks cater to families with kids and others to the adult trade. You will see a tiny bit about that in Woodalls or Trailer Life, but no details. Check for web sites for pictures and info.  You will probably want the more upscale parks to get extra amenities.  Typical kid stuff is a game room (a few video games or perhaps pool or ping pong), a swimming pool (closed at this time of year unless indoors - rare), outdoor swings, horseshoe pits, etc. Most of this will probably not help much with 2 & 5 year olds.  What do 2 & 5's do, anyway? It's been so long since we had youngsters I don't remember!  They will probably want TV and maybe a VCD/DVD player for movies. I've heard that rental rigs seldom provide either, so check with Cruise America on equipment (tv, antenna system, cable tv hook-up, etc) and maybe plan on bringing your own small tv and player. Many parks have cable tv to the sites and most have a central tv located somewhere in a lounge or rec room.

"Jellystone" parks (a franchised chain) cater to families with children. Don't know if there are any along your route or if they are still open this time of year. Some places close in September or early October (cause the kids are in school and fewer families travel). See Yogi Bear's Jellystone Parks

Chilly, rainy days are not unusual at this time of year in the northeast and its going to be close quarters if the four of you are cooped up in a 25 footer. Try to smile and use the aspirin that Carl recommended...

The motorhome will have a furnace but it likely to heat unevenly and be chilly near the outer walls. The furnace is also noisy, so most of us carry a small electric heater to keep the chill off without running the furnace.  The electricity comes with the camp site, so its "free" heat.  A few extra blankets might be appreciated, but you can always wear a sweat shirt to bed.  Sweat shirts are kind of universal clothing for fall camping - pull one on when it is chilly in the a.m., shed in the sunny afternoons and pull on again in the cool evening and use for warm p.j.'s ona cold  night.

There is a really nice park in Verona, NY (along I90, south of the city of Rome) called The Villages at Turning Stone. Turning Stone is actually a casino & hotel complex, but the park is one of the nicest in the northeast and very popular with travelers of all ages. And their pool is heated too!

Here's a web site with tips for Camping With Children. Don't know how practical it is, though.

 

[howdyall]

Those sites you mention look good - the Yogi Bear thing looks excellent, thanks for the tip as to the heated pool at Turning Stone.

What do 2 & 5's do, anyway?

The youngest moves around alot but is happy in the playground or with his toys, the eldest is colouring, playground, - we keep them away from the TV but DVD on the laptop I'm sure will be handy if the weather is bad.

Thanks guys