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Jennifer’s Tip: Five Books Every RVer Needs to Have

| Updated Jan 8, 2016

Next to RVing, we like reading about RVing and travel almost as much as the going. And during the winter, when travel is limited for many, there's no better way to get in the traveling mood than to curl up with a good book.

So we always seem to have some book on hand that gives us ideas on our next trip, or inspiration and understanding about what we are seeing.

So, for your off-season consideration, here are the top 5 RV-related books either Mike or I have enjoyed the most this year:

Blue Highways – The timeless road story is a masterpiece in travel writing. Mike read it more than 25 years ago and even today, the concept of traveling those two-lane state roads — the blue highways on state maps –has inspired us to do the same. If you haven’t read this collection of road stories, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it immensely.

Rand McNally 2016 Road Atlas – This is a arge size, large scale easy to read map that we always take with us. Yes, we do use our GPS and we do use apps on our tablet. But nothing takes the place of a paper map and this book, undated every year, is one we buy every year.

The Most Scenic Drives in America – This is a coffee table book with gorgeous photographs of 128 drives every RVer needs to take at least once. We always consult it when planning our routes so that we can take in as many of these drives as possible.

The Next Exit 2016– If you travel the Interstates, and we all have to at times, this guide is an essential. It tells you what businesses and services are at each exit. This is another book you want to buy each year because there is new information added to each edition as businesses open and close. But it’s very handy to have and well worth the price.

Undaunted Courage – This is a big book, full of details and history as it recounts the story of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis & Clark Expedition to the west.  If your RV travels take you to the west, you will undoubtedly come across some sort of Lewis and Clark museum or marker. When you read the book, you’ll undertstand the land you are traveling on much better and appreciate the incredible journey taken by these two pioneers and their Corps of Discovery.

Mike Wendland

Published on 2016-01-08

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

4 Responses to “Jennifer’s Tip: Five Books Every RVer Needs to Have”

January 11, 2016at12:37 pm, Gene Bjerke said:

I am surprised that you didn’t include Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley,” which has to be he classic of the genre. Another book that we read at home and take with us is the National Geographic “Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways.” Three hundred of the best drives in the U.S; oh boy, even more neat stuff to see!

January 09, 2016at3:07 pm, Faith Deur said:

I am going to have to pick up a copy of Undaunted Courage and read a little bit more about my Roadtrek’s namesake, Clark (and Lewis, too, of course). I have seen their plaques sprinkled across the country. Quite the explorers, those two. Just like Clark and I. 😉 Thanks for the book tips, Jennifer! They all sound like must reads – I already have 2 out of the 5.

January 08, 2016at2:37 pm, Harold said:

You’ll also find lots of Lewis and Clark info near Fincastle, VA a few miles north of Roanoke in Botetourt County. “Historical markers abound throughout the county, providing a glimpse of the past. One in Fincastle notes that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark departed from this frontier town when they were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Purchase.” More info at: http://www.botetourt.org/about/history.php

January 08, 2016at9:08 am, Jonathan Clement said:

Blue Highways is a great book among several written by William Least Heat-Moon. He was also one of the commentators in Ken Burn’s film about the Lewis and Clark expedition. We watched it on CD during one of our trips.

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