RV travel is woven into the fabric of Dan and Cheryl Kealy’s lives.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
April 2024
Dan and Cheryl Kealy, F486210, have racked up miles of memories, sharing their love for the RV lifestyle with several generations of their family.
The Kealys travel the country in their Tiffin Allegro Red motorhome
“My wife and I camped as children, which inspired a love of adventure and seeing new places,” Dan said. The couple continued the tradition with their own kids, traveling around the United States and Canada each summer. They started with a tent and then purchased a van with seats that converted to a bed. Next, they traded the tent for a pop-up camper. Eventually, after trying out a couple of motorhomes owned by Cheryl’s dad, they decided to make the switch to a motorized RV. When retirement called, Dan and Cheryl bought the Tiffin Allegro Red pictured on the cover of this month’s magazine and joined the community of full-time RVers in 2016 — and FMCA in 2018.
The Kealys’ grandchildren have also grown up with the RV experience. “A milestone of turning 13 includes a trip across the U.S. to learn about U.S. history,” Dan noted. They have explored Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, among other cities. The grandkids benefit from a personal tour guide as Dan is a retired high school history teacher.
Today, Dan and Cheryl travel with Michael, their oldest son, and their dog, Bella, a havapoo.
The Kealys’ most memorable trip was a 34-day RV caravan with Fantasy RV Tours in 2022, Dan said, following the Mississippi River along the Great River Road. “We started at the headwaters of the river where we could walk across the Mississippi. Seeing the differences in the river, watching the barges, and seeing them go through the locks was amazing,” he noted. “Each stop in an RV park was close to the Mississippi River.”
The Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, is one of the places the Kealy family has explored during their travels.
In Memphis, they visited the street where blues music began. They explored Natchez in a horse-drawn carriage. And they toured antebellum homes and plantations, among other discoveries. Dan’s personal highlight was visiting the Vicksburg battlefield and seeing the USS Cairo (an iron-clad Civil War ship). “New Orleans would be Michael’s favorite stop, because he flew the float plane over the river delta,” Dan added.
Another RV trip included a stay at Patapsco Valley State Park in Ellicott City, Maryland, as pictured on the magazine cover. “It was a beautiful campground with plenty of trees and walking areas,” Dan said. The park is close to town and an abundance of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores, along with a historical area.
This year, the Kealys are planning a cross-country trip to visit family and friends. Scheduled stops include Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, Dollywood and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, NASCAR race shops in North Carolina, and the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, among many others. But who knows for sure?
“These are plans that we refer to as ‘Jello solid.’ They can change at any time,” Dan said.
Share your news. Do you own an unusual RV, participate in an interesting hobby, travel with pets, or have an RV adventure to tell about? Has your chapter observed a major anniversary, held a rally with a fun theme, honored a dedicated member, or helped out a charity? We want to hear about it. Share your story in 500 words or less, or contact us to tell us about an RV owner you think others should know about. A high-resolution photo and caption instead of an article are also welcome. Email editor@fmca.com; mail Family Matters, c/o Family RVing, 8291 Clough Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45244.