Often associated with winter cold and blizzards that confine folks indoors, feeling restless in an RV can occur on hot summer days, too. Here are some ways to beat boredom.
By Ann Bush, F516383
August 2023
The temperature is slated to reach 100 degrees today and will remain at that level for more than a week. Too hot to work in the garden, to take a walk, or to simply sit on the patio. I longingly look through my kitchen window at my camper sit-ting outside, waiting patiently for me to pack, hook up, and go someplace else. Summer also brings mosquitoes, and even spring and fall can produce unexpected dis-comforts, such as the time a severe thunderstorm trapped me inside a dark 150-square-foot RV with a very wet dog!
A few days of playing hermit in a nice, cozy house is doable. A long list of indoor chores serves as a consistent reminder of the many things to do inside, since I feel compelled to stick the stupid list on my refrigerator. The main reason I travel is to enjoy the outdoors, in hopes of discovering an amazing natural feature that inspires love, and a deeper understanding of our planet, as well as portraying hope that Mother Earth is taken care of and will be around for a few more generations of travelers. Well, admittedly, another reason may be to get as far away from my chore list as possible.
For those who live full-time in their RVs or during the winter as snowbirds, a stretch of bad weather could prevent enjoying the outdoors for many days at a time. Soon, cabin fever sets in.
I began to wonder what I would do if I were parked in the middle of a campground and stuck inside my camper for many days because the outdoors was simply too miserable. What could be done to combat RV “cabin fever?” So, of course, I started a list and now gladly share it with my fellow RVers.
ROAM THROUGH BOOKS
Reading a book is a common way to while away a day indoors. A bookstore or library may provide a pleasant change of scenery. Public libraries are quiet and spacious, allowing extra legroom for reading in comfort on soft sofa chairs, often set near large windows, relieving the cramped feeling of being in a small space. Bookstores with coffee nooks are ideal for get-ting out with a good book, and some have amazing views, among them Kiva Koffeehouse in Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I spend hours in bookstores searching for the perfect book!
MUSEUM HOPPING
Museums are an easy choice for a break from a stuffy RV, especially hall of fame institutions. Often, state capitols are amazing and open to the public during the day. Do not underestimate small county museums or courthouses, many of which display historic photos and might have distinctive architectural features, such as the Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall, Texas. I once took a unique tour of the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley, West Virginia. We traveled underground in a rail car, rolling through the dark passages of a vintage coal mine turned museum.
GO BACK TO COLLEGE
Not literally, but just for a nice visit. Towns of all sizes often host a university or junior college with smartly designed buildings set in a beautifully landscaped campus. Many classroom hallways display student art, school memorabilia, or notices of future events. Some campuses have a community room that’s open to the public, where students gather and grab a meal, and some of them might even share campus secrets with an interested out-of-town visitor.
If you’re in Cincinnati, Ohio, visit Findlay Market to try some favorite local foods.
CREATE A COOKING CLASS
During certain periods, local eateries have slow times. Gather a small group of fellow RVers and ask restaurant owners whether they would give a cooking lesson for a fee. I have noticed bread- and cheese-making lessons occasionally. One of my favorite food lesson experiences was at Findlay Market in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I learned how to make Belgian waffles, chocolates, the perfect cup of tea, and Cincinnati’s famous goetta breakfast sausage.
GET A WORKOUT
Many exercise businesses offer day passes, and community-based recreation sites sometimes do as well. The best part may not be the gym, but rather the swimming pool and sauna.
I once found a new trendy place called Breakroom where you pay to break things with baseball bats, after padding your body well, of course. Look for year-round indoor ice-skating rinks. Go during the school week — kids won’t be around to laugh!
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT
Community events usually are promoted through a chamber of commerce. Check out their websites for upcoming art shows, county fairs, high school or college musicals, community plays, or craft shows. My small town even has a planetarium. I also love to stroll through antique stores — not to buy anything, but just to reminisce. My favorite is in Orange County, California, home of Disneyland. Antique stores are stuffed with Disney memorabilia, and I once found a Minnie Mouse purse just like the one I had when I was much younger.
Old Spanish missions make interesting stops, such as San Francisco de Assísi Mission Church in Taos, New Mexico.
NOURISH THE SOUL
When traveling, I often go to church, but not always one within my own faith-based religion. Historic churches are inspiring no matter the faith practiced within, especially old Spanish missions or sky-high treasures such as the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona. I was once graciously accepted into a mosque during a non-religious day for a tour and tea.
SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
Nonprofit organizations often host charity dinners where a donation produces a delicious meal paired with a show or an auction, as well as the pleasure of supporting a worthy cause. One year in Salt Lake City, Utah, on a very hot day while we were looking for a cool place for lunch, a bus driver told us about a Greek festival that was raising money for restoration of a historic Orthodox church. Amazing food was prepared by the large Greek community, and students from around the U.S., dressed in traditional clothing, danced to Greek music while we ate.
Possible volunteering options include pet shelters, libraries, the Salvation Army and other philanthropic organizations, food banks, charity events, care centers for children or the elderly, and hospitals. At the Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix, Arizona, from behind an air-conditioned lobby window, I watched a group of Boy Scouts dredging a creek in the heat and truly earning their badges that day.
CHEER FOR OUR YOUTH
There is no better basketball or volleyball event than a high school game. Watching the raw excitement and energy of youth, on the court and in the crowd, is invigorating and enjoyable. Sporting events are usually listed on the school’s website. And don’t forget bowling alleys where a visitor can watch or play a game.
Strand Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana, is the state’s official theater.
MOVIES AND MORE
Larger city movie theaters are growing into full activity centers with pool tables, table tennis, and more. These places are not just for kids, and they are almost empty in the middle of the day during the school season. My favorite places to watch a movie or play are in renovated historic opera houses, such as The Strand Theatre in Shreveport, Louisiana.
SIP AND SAVOR
Wineries are popping up in the strangest places, and when connected to the Harvest Hosts membership camping program, finding wineries in the immediate area is easy. Most places offer indoor tastings and may give a tour of the cellars. Also look for breweries and handcrafted-spirit distilleries. My favorite was an afternoon city bus tour of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail one very cold and windy October day. The tour ended at a historic tavern for a lunch of salmon or chicken with a bourbon glaze.
ENJOY THE OUTDOORS INDOORS
Local nurseries sometimes have indoor spaces for delicate plants, such as spectacular orchids. Owners of small specialty businesses occasionally offer classes on everything from how to plant seeds to pruning to building birdhouses. Other options include butterfly houses, aquariums, covered archaeological sites, and national or state park interpretive centers.
SHOP ’TIL YOU GO BANKRUPT
During my journeys in towns of all sizes, I always find a one-of-a-kind place to shop. This includes everything from small thrift stores to iconic department stores such as Ben Franklin. I once found a third-generation specialty grocery store with 21 different varieties of beers displayed next to just as many varieties of hot sauces. I have discovered a beautiful carousel at an outdoor supply store, hand-carved flutes in an artisan market, and a fairy-themed gift shop. Ask a local about unique places to shop in their town.
IF YOU GO OUTDOORS
Of course, there are those dedicated outdoor adventurers who do not let a thunderstorm, heat wave, or blizzard stop them. A little research fetches good information about protective clothing and gear that can help a person to endure almost anything.
One of the saddest stories I’ve encountered in my many years of outdoor adventures involved a retired couple who ran out of water and died while hiking in Utah on a very hot summer afternoon. If you go outdoors in extreme weather, tell your loved ones or neighboring campers where you plan to be and when to expect you back.
Bad weather often takes us by surprise, so please check the weather radar before venturing out. Be prepared by taking survival and first-aid training, carry a whistle, and know how to use a compass. Be smart, and do not hesitate to choose the library as your out-the-RV-door activity to cure RV cabin fever.