Not To Be Missed

Owning an RV can present a paralyzing number of choices. Deciding on that next family trip can be daunting, yes, particularly with a country the size and scope of the United States to explore. I feel your pain. I also feel a duty to help narrow the list of must-visit locations. You can’t lose with these, so point the RV to the first place on the list and repeat as necessary. Case solved.

Wrigley Field
It’s worth going to Wrigley only to shut up all those people who keep telling you to go there. True, RVing throughout metropolitan Chicago is zero fun, but there’s a beautiful shrine of a baseball park waiting for you. Pay the $20 to ditch the rig in a north side alley and prepare yourself for sunshine, ivy-covered walls, and the world’s best beer garden, I mean, old-time stadium. And maybe you can watch a Cubs miracle this season, too.

Disney World
You can bemoan the “corrupting” Disney-ifying force on the world and your grandchildren all you want, but there’s a reason why it’s called the Magic Kingdom. It’s magical, people! Why fight it? Ride Space Mountain. Sing along to “It’s a Small World.” Photograph the smiles on the kids’ faces (and your own). Don’t have kids? Great, they only slow you down, considering there’s now about a zillion rides. And Fort Wilderness remains one of the most acclaimed campgrounds in existence.

Acadia National Park
It’s got 40,000 acres of wind-swept shores, towering peaks, and dense forests to keep you busy. Obviously, its national park status means this Maine attraction has the chops to merit an extended visit. Hike, bike, kayak, camp, cross-country ski, or pontificate on the meaning of life atop Cadillac Mountain, home to the nation’s first rays of sunshine every morning. Be sure to dine on lobster and granola sundaes in nearby Bar Harbor.

Telluride, Colorado
You don’t have to be a snow sports enthusiast to enjoy this mining-town-turned-jet-set-ski-paradise, but it helps. Even if white-water rafting, fly-fishing, mountain biking, and endless hikes aren’t your thing, the alpine beauty and the walking history lesson are unforgettable. Telluride is a town of wonderful contradictions. Think Rocky Mountains and $10 lattes. Extreme sports and world-class boutiques. Mink coats and beat-up Jeeps. This is the spot where gazillionaires mingle with modern-day cowboys, slackers, and the super trendy and elegant. And hopefully, you.

Statue of Liberty
Making the daunting climb to the monument’s top is not necessary nor is even stepping foot on Ellis Island. All that is really needed is that wonderful ferry ride on the New York Harbor to look Lady Liberty right in the eye. The torch, the book, her proud and stoic expression, the whole thing. The French, who created the gift to the young U.S. nation, got it right—that’s what liberty looks like, only way more powerful in person than any postcard can portray. I won’t hold it against you if you opt for the Statue of Liberty snow globe, either. A spectacle such as this makes people do strange things.

Las Vegas
We all know gambling is a losing proposition. That’s why I’m only requesting you visit Vegas once. Leave the nest egg under the mattress and hit the strip. What are you, allergic to neon? Drive slowly to take it all in. Any town that tries this hard deserves at least a token drive-by. OK, stop and take in a show. Maybe two. Might as well tour those hotels since they’ve gone to all this trouble. It’s OK to throw the kids’ allowances at the roulette wheel. Pull a slot on the way out. Bankrupt the casino if you have the time.

Mall of America
I know, I can’t believe I’m telling you to go to a mall, either. However, think of this as the mother of all malls. If a mall ever went shopping, it would come here. Minneapolis may have 11 months of winter, but is boasts a terrific man-made spectacle as an ideal way to forget about the weather. The stores are just endless. Who knows how many eateries there are, a million? The place has its own roller coaster, and there’s nearly an entire floor dedicated to games, movies, and merriment. How can any 21st Century American possibly resist such a thing.

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