Whether one whiles away an hour or an evening indoors, or gets moving outside, many amusements keep RVers occupied. Readers offer some of their favorites:
Tell us about a game you enjoy playing with your family or friends when RVing.
A game we love to play when we are camping is the Monopoly Deal Card Game. It is not the board game most of us have played, but rather a faster-paced card game with the familiar properties and monies on playing cards. The object is to get three complete property sets. Sounds easy, but with some twists like Deal Breaker, Forced Deal, and Debt Collector, it’s an addictive game for those who like strategic plays and fun card games.
Sue Hankins & Pat Yacklon, F395564
Torrance, California
After the 2016 election season (which seemed to go on forever), we decided that we would not bring a television along in our 19-foot Roadtrek as we traveled from Massachusetts to the sunny, warm South for our three-month winter trip. Instead, we brought a deck of playing cards, a small cribbage board, and two iPad minis. After busy days filled with kayaking, biking, beaching, and exploring, we enjoyed quiet relaxation with crosswords on the iPads; cribbage; and an occasional game of gin rummy. Our trip entailed 7,100 miles over 97 days. Not once did we wish we were watching TV instead of playing games!
Bev Baccelli & Liz Dicarlo, F412429
Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Some card games take too long, some are too complicated with boards and forms, while others require partners or sometimes multiple decks of cards. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a short, uncomplicated card game that requires only one deck of cards for four or six players who don’t even have to know each other? A few years ago, we found such a game: No Name Canadian. To this day, we do not know its origin.
Equipment: One deck of 52 cards.
Players: Four or six. With four players, take out the jokers. With six, remove the 2s also.
Game rules: There are 6 rounds, and the low score wins. The ace is always high except on the last round (Solitaire), where it can be either high or low. New deal after each round. The deal goes clockwise; each player receives cards until all are dealt.
Round 1 — Do not take any tricks if possible; 5 points per trick.
Round 2 — Do not take the last trick; 40 points to the winner of the last trick.
Round 3 — Do not take any queens; 10 points for each queen taken.
Round 4 — Do not take the king of hearts; 40 points for this card.
Round 5 — Do not take any hearts; 5 points for each heart, and you cannot lead a heart until one has been played.
Round 6/Solitaire — Starting with 8s, add cards of the same suit each way, up or down. You must play if you have a card; pass only if you have no play. Minus 50 points to the first person to play all their cards; remaining players continue to determine second place, which scores 25 points.
Just print out the rules, deal the cards, and explain the rules to remind the players for each round before play begins. It’s fun, and six rounds go by fast.
Dick Kashdin & Sandy Donovan, F250007
Williamsville, New York
- Describe a factory tour or other type of tourist excursion you’ve enjoyed during your travels.
- Do you prepare a favorite dish or snack when RVing in cold-weather months?