Events
Florida Fun In January
Festivals, fairs, and more fill the Sunshine State’s calendar this month. Here’s a sampling author Charity De Souza compiled for www.tripstodiscover.com. Visit the website for more info.
1. South Florida Fair, West Palm Beach. This 17-day event at the South Florida Fairgrounds features 200-plus rides, five entertainment stages, livestock shows, kids activities, and yummy fair food. January 18-February 3, www.southfloridafair.com
2. 30A Songwriters Festival, South Walton. More than 175 singer-songwriters showcase decades of folk, country, blues, Americana music, and more, performing in venues along Highway 30A. January 18-21, www.30asongwritersfestival.com
3. Art Deco Weekend, Miami Beach. Ocean Drive hosts one of the United States’ largest celebrations of Art Deco architecture. Live music, street theater, parades, antique autos, and more are included. January 18-20, www.artdecoweekend.com
4. Central Florida Scottish Highland Games, Winter Springs. The Gaelic tradition comes alive in Central Winds Park with art, dance, and food, along with archery competitions, stone throws, and Border collie sheep herding demos. January 19-20, www.flascot.com
5. Florida Manatee Festival, Crystal River. These much-loved mammals are the spotlight, but this festival also offers boat tours, local seafood, crafts, artwork, and more. January 19-20, www.gomanateefest.com
6. St. Augustine Film Festival, St. Augustine. Here’s your chance to enjoy an array of new foreign and independent films and documentaries shown in three close-by venues. January 17-20, www.staugfilmfest.com
7. 70th Annual Homestead Championship Rodeo & Rodeo Days, Homestead. Bareback riding, barrel racing, a rodeo parade, and even rodeo bingo will captivate all ages. January 18-20, www.homesteadrodeo.com
8. Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Tampa. This boisterous event celebrates all things pirate. Floats, marching bands, pirates, and colorful attire on land join boats galore on Tampa Bay. January 26, www.gasparillapiratefest.com
9. Key West Food & Wine Festival, Key West. Twenty wine- and food-themed events include waterfront tastings, winemaker and chef collaborations, etc., all set in this colorful city. January 23-27, www.keywestfoodandwinefestival.com
10. Art Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale. Modern and contemporary paintings, films, photographs, and more are showcased in private properties along the city’s waterways. Plus, the artAUTO experience displays rare autos. January 24-27, www.artftlauderdale.com
Travel
Visit A Tropical Bird Rescue
The largest tropical bird sanctuary in the United States resides in a tiny town called Harlem, Georgia.
The Feathered Friends Forever sanctuary in Harlem, Georgia, provides a safe haven for more than 1,400 avians, including this blue and gold macaw.
Feathered Friends Forever is no fly-by-night organization. The idea started more than 30 years ago, as founder and CEO Ron Johnson went off to military service and reluctantly gave up his two pet birds. He promised he would make it up to “every bird that needs a home,” once he got the time and money. About 21 years ago, he began making good on his promise.
The sanctuary started out very small, but it now has approximately 1,400 occupants on a compound that spans 10 acres. It opened for public visits in 2006.
Birds such as parakeets, finches, cockatiels, and several kinds of parrots, including little African greys and huge macaws, all make their abode here. Their indoor and outdoor living areas are called “flights.” Ron goes above and beyond when it comes to the birds’ comfort. For example, to help the macaws feel more at home, last October he was building a simulator that mimics rainforest weather; it includes fans that make a breeze, plus artificial “thunder, lightning, and showers, like they get in the wild,” he said.
None of the precious parrots here are for sale, and no breeding is done. Selling and breeding contribute to the problem of overpopulation, according to Ron. However, some avian residents are available for adoption to the right home. Check the Feathered Friends Forever website or ask the staff to learn more.
If you visit Feathered Friends Forever before or after FMCA’s March 2019 convention in Perry, Georgia, you may see some areas still under construction. One is a butterfly experience area; another is an educational center. After all these years, Ron Johnson still has plenty of enthusiasm for nature’s beautiful creatures.
Details
Open Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission was by donation ($10 or more suggested) at the time this was written, but a regular fee likely will be instituted by spring 2019.
Ample parking is available for RVs.
The facility is west of Augusta, Georgia, near Interstate 20.
Please check the website for important notes before you visit.
Feathered Friends Forever
612 Byrd Drive
Harlem, GA 30814
(706) 556-2424
www.featheredfriendsforever.org
App File
Fuel Prices
When it’s time to fill up, here’s how to avoid overpaying.
GasBuddy: Allows users to search in the United States and Canada by city, state or province, or ZIP code for the cheapest fuel. GasBuddy has been downloaded more than 70 million times by users who keep the app up-to-date by submitting prices at more than 150,000 fuel stations. Searches can be filtered by fuel type, brands, and fuel station amenities (such as open 24/7; rest rooms; convenience store). The app’s “Pay with GasBuddy” payment card offers discounts on fuel purchases. www.gasbuddy.com. Free for iOS and Android.
The iExit app
iExit: When you’re on a major exit-based highway in the United States, the app displays upcoming exits along with a summary of what’s there, including fuel stations and their prices. The app also displays services and businesses, such as restaurants, hospitals, campgrounds, and attractions. Users can search for any highway by state and can filter for RV-friendly sites. The app’s fuel prices come from the Oil Price Information Service. iExit for iOS is free, with gas prices included. iExit for Android is free, but a lifetime license of gas prices is a $1.99 in-app purchase. www.iexitapp.com.
Campground Spotlight
Chehaw Park Campground, Albany, Georgia
Chehaw Park Campground in southwest Georgia has something most RV parks don’t. It is situated on a huge, 800-acre preserve called Chehaw Park, which has so many things to do that it’s a destination in itself.
Chehaw Park Campground, Albany, Georgia
From your campsite, you are a walk away from mountain bike trails, a BMX track, a disc golf course, a radio-controlled-car track, and fishing. Plus, Chehaw Park’s playground is said to be one of the largest in the state.
Also among the sights is Chehaw Wild Animal Park, with alligators, monkeys, zebras, rhinos, bobcats, cheetahs, and an assortment of other animals. This zoo was designed by Albany native Jim Fowler, an animal expert seen on “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” and a frequent critter-carrying guest on “The Tonight Show” with the late Johnny Carson.
All of this was unfortunately affected in some way by the October 10, 2018 arrival of Hurricane Michael. Much of the initial damage was caused by downed trees. Morgan Burnette, the park’s media spokesperson, said that as of the end of November, cleanup of the current camp area and zoo were well under way, with most campsites accessible.
Some of Chehaw’s RV campground sites are pull-throughs, and RVers can choose between full hookups and electrical hookups. Even more full-hookup sites are being built for guests to enjoy. Senior discounts are given, and pets are permitted. Amenities include rest rooms, showers, and laundry facilities, plus a dump station and a group shelter. Reservations are recommended.
Details
Chehaw Park Campground
105 Chehaw Park Road
Albany, GA 31701-1260
(229) 430-5275
www.chehaw.org
Lifestyle
New Year’s Resolutions: Yay or Nay?
New Year’s Resolutions 2019
Oprah Winfrey once said, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” It seems that each January, talk ensues about bettering oneself in the year ahead. What are the most popular New Year’s resolutions? Here are some top goals, as cited in a Statista poll:
*Eat healthier (37%)
*Get more exercise (37%)
*Save (more) money (37%)
*Focus on self-care, e.g., get more sleep (24%)
*Read more (18%)
*Make new friends (15%)
*Learn a new skill (15%)
*Get a (new) job (14%)
*Take up a new hobby (13%)
And for those who don’t buy in:
I don’t plan on making new year’s resolutions (32%)
But if you do make resolutions for the coming year, how do you stick to them? The American Psychological Association (APA) offers some tips:
Start small. Make resolutions you are likely to keep. If your goal is more exercise, plan a gym visit three or four days a week, not all seven. Want to eat healthier? Rather than a wholesale diet change, perhaps start by replacing a high-calorie dessert with fruit or yogurt.
Change one behavior at a time. If you commit to too many goals all at once, you might not reach any of them. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start with one, and go from there.
Talk about it. Whether you chat up your resolution with friends or family, join a support group or exercise class, etc., it’s helpful to share your ups and downs with others. Vocalize!
Don’t beat yourself up. So, you broke your diet, skipped your workouts, or picked up that cigarette. As the APA says, perfection is unattainable, and it’s completely normal to have a setback. If that happens to you, don’t give up. Just start over!
Ask for support. Whether you lean on family and friends, or feel you need professional guidance to help you make your resolution a permanent part of your life, it’s all good. You don’t need to go it alone.
Whatever you do in the New Year — resolutions or not — we wish you happy, healthful RV travels.
Bookshelf
RV Living 101
The couple behind RVLove.com share insight about making the transition to life on the road.
FMCA members Marc and Julie Bennett, the couple behind RVLove.com, had a busy year, including writing a book.
To say 2018 was a busy year for Marc and Julie Bennett, F464400, is quite the understatement. The full-time RVers (who were profiled in this magazine in November 2017) worked behind the scenes and appeared on screen in RV Nomads: The Movie; they sold one motorhome, bought another, and renovated it; they maintained a strong presence on social media; added content to their website, RVLove.com; and posted videos to their YouTube channel. They also found time to write a book, Living The RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide To Life On The Road, published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.
Marc and Julie Bennett seek to educate and inspire others who are contemplating full-time RVing with their new book, Living The RV Life, and through YouTube videos, blogs, and other social media.
Question: Why did you write this book?
Marc: Mainly because we really enjoy the lifestyle. And there was no book by a major publisher on the topic.
Julie: Our focus has always been how, through our sharing, we can help inspire others and educate them to make really good choices.
Q: Who is your target audience?
Marc: The book has a lot of information for people who are more experienced RVers, but the primary audience is people who are relatively new to (RVing).
Q: What’s your sense of how much demand there is for this kind of information?
Julie: It seems pretty insatiable. It’s amazing to me how many people who watch our YouTube channel say that we’re one of 100 channels they subscribe to. There are a lot of channels, a lot of blogs, a lot of hunger for podcasts and articles and interviews.
Q: Why did you devote three chapters to the emotional aspects of RVing for extended periods?
Marc: It is a really important part of having success with this major life change.
Julie: And it’s not just one life change. For many people, it’s multiple. People retire after spending a lot of time apart from their spouse, and all of a sudden they’re together. You’re changing your home, changing your community. It’s a big thing for people to leave behind their kids or grandkids, their neighbors. You’re in an unfamiliar environment every time you move to a new area. Preparing for that makes it a lot easier.
Q: What’s next for you?
Julie: Our Ultimate RV Makeover video series (featuring the Bennetts’ 1999 Country Coach Intrigue motorhome) will kick off in January 2019. It will be on our YouTube channel and on our blog at RVLove.com.
For a list of retailers selling Living The RV Life, visit www.rvlove.com/book/buy-living-the-rv-life.