CELEBRATE AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY ALONG WITH THE PARKS
If you’re looking to visit the U.S. national parks and commemorate America’s 250th birthday, here are several ways to do so.
One is to take part in National Park Week, August 22 through 30, which will celebrate the 110th birthday
of the National Park Service while also observing the United States Semiquincentennial (250th birthday).
Parks across the nation will host patriotic programs, guided tours, educational exhibits, and family activities that connect visitors to America’s past, present, and future.
For more info on events, check nps.gov.
Another way to celebrate is by participating in RV Across America: An Epic Six-Month Road Trip, presented by Go RVing.
Its website promises “a broad range of quintessentially American attractions . . . (this trip) will give you a new appreciation for how much the U.S. has been able to accomplish in the past 250 years — and hopefully leave you, like a true American, ready for your next big adventure.” The six-month itinerary includes 37 landmarks in 22 states.
For more road trip info, visit gorving.com.
Go RVing is also offering the RV-2-50 Travel Passport. Visit a participating “Passport Hub” to pick up a physical passport and a sticker sheet. Visit the landmarks and national parks listed; share your stories online using the #RV250 hashtag. Submit photos and videos of your adventures for an opportunity to win Go RVing merchandise, or the grand prize: $5,000 that will go toward camping fees for a year.
For more info, visit gorving.com/rv250.
RETURN TO BIG SUR
Since 1934, motorists have followed scenic California Highway 1 through Big Sur.
For the first time in three years, California Highway 1 is fully open from the Big Sur coastline to San Luis Obispo County. This section of scenic highway was closed after damage caused by Regent’s Slide. The completion of the road repair reconnects through traffic between San Francisco and Los Angeles along the Big Sur coast.
Regent’s Slide occurred on February 9, 2024, and overlapped with Paul’s Slide, six miles to the south, which closed the highway from January 14, 2023, to June 23, 2024.
The reopened roadway reconnects communities, supports local businesses, and facilitates the safe flow of goods and services along this “vital coastal corridor,” according to a media release.
The massive restoration involved the deployment of remote-controlled heavy equipment to stabilize the slopes with thousands of steel reinforcements drilled up to 60 feet deep. Daily drone flights, ground surveying, and subsurface monitoring provided data on slope movement, allowing crews to work safely.
REMEMBERING LIBERTY COACH FOUNDER
Frank Konigseder Sr., founder and president of Liberty Coach, passed away on February 12, 2026, at the age of 88.
Frank and his wife, Jeanne, were avid campers and built their first motorhome in 1968 after being dissatisfied with the production units available at the time. He purchased a used Greyhound bus and converted it into a motorhome. The Konigseders sold this unit, and after creating and selling several more, established Liberty Coach. Frank remained active in company operations into the 21st century.
Frank Konigseder Sr.’s luxury bus conversion business became a respected family enterprise.
Liberty Coach regularly exhibited their luxury custom bus conversions at international conventions hosted by Family Motor Coach Association (as FRVA was formerly called), beginning with the association’s 1972 event in Essex Junction, Vermont.
In 1978, Frank struck a deal with Canadian bus manufacturer Prevost Car to begin building coaches on Prevost shells. Under his leadership, Liberty Coach completed hundreds of custom luxury coaches.
“For decades, Frank helped shape the luxury motorcoach industry through his vision, craftsmanship standards, and dedication to excellence. His impact extended well beyond Liberty Coach and into the broader RV community,” a company spokesperson said.
Frank is survived by Jeanne, his wife of 66 years; two sons; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and other family members.
EPA ADDRESSES DEF SENSOR REQUIREMENTS ON DIESEL ENGINES
In late March, shortly before this magazine issue went to press, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new guidance to eliminate the requirement for diesel exhaust fluid sensors (DEF) in diesel-powered vehicles and equipment. Along with farmers, truckers, and other diesel-equipment operators, this development affects owners of diesel-powered motorhomes and tow vehicles.
The EPA directs manufacturers of diesel engines equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emission controls to remove DEF sensors and transition to alternative monitoring systems. This action will provide immediate relief and save billions of dollars in repairs and lost productivity, the agency said.
The EPA also acknowledged that sudden speed losses and shutdowns caused by DEF system failures, which compromise safety and productivity, are “unacceptable and problematic.”
In February 2026, the agency ordered major diesel-engine manufacturers that account for over 80 percent of all products used in DEF systems to supply data on DEF system failures. The EPA noted it used preliminary findings from this data to issue the new guidance.
The new guidance states that under existing regulations, manufacturers can stop inaccurate DEF system failures by removing traditional emission sensors, known as urea quality sensors, and switching to nitrous oxide (NOx) sensors. The agency noted that approved NOx sensor-based software updates can be installed on existing engines without being treated as illegal tampering under the Clean Air Act. Family RVing will provide more information as it becomes available.