I’m not going to lie. We like to cook and eat pretty well on the road. Anybody who’s visited, traveled with us, or come to the RV, will all agree….we feed ya well. Don’t we?  That put me in search of a Portable Smoker Grill to take with us on the road.  One of my favorite pieces of gear that I bring along (and make room for) is my smoker.  Making good smoked food on the road can be difficult due to the size that many smokers require and the availability of fuel. Not for us!

We travel with the Pit Barrel Junior (PJB) Smoker by a company called Pit Barrel Cooker.  The PBJ’s relatively small size and simple design of a portable smoker grill makes it easy to bring with us. Even though it’s the smallest size they offer, I’ve cooked up to two full racks of ribs and two whole chickens at one time. Plenty of food to have 2-3 families over for a visit.  

As a full-time RV’er, do we really “need” a smoker?  Well no, but as carnivores, do we want a smoker?  That’s easy, YES! Like I said earlier, we eat pretty well, and I personally enjoy a lazy day around the campsite cooking. Besides, I also love filling the RV, campgrounds, and boondocking locations with that “smell” of deliciousness for hours and hours a day! 

The Pit Barrel Cooker isn’t just for the road. They have home-based cookers as well. They come in three sizes: humungous (PBX), regular (PBC), and junior size (PBJ). They also have various accessories to expand your cooking abilities with rubs, grills, hooks, and gadgets.  

Pit Barrel points out “seven advantages” to choosing its smoker over other portable smoker grill products.  These points were pretty helpful in our research (and good marketing, to be honest) in deciding which smoker to bring with us full-time RV’ing.  

The seven advantages are Portability, Cooking Capacity, Consistent Temperatures, Charcoal, Durable Design, Ease of Clean, Versatility.

Here is how they each apply to our situation:

Portability 

This smoker will go anywhere. I can haul it in my truck bed or put it on our RV bumper platform. It even packs back up in its box pretty well. I’ve developed an elaborate “pool noodle” protection system to keep it from getting scratched or dented while on the go. It sets up in about three minutes and cleans up in about two! Super easy!

Cooking Capacity  

When we cook, we make enough for us, some guests, and leftovers for everybody! We’ve cooked whole chickens, slabs of rib, pork shoulders, butts, and even pizza with our PBJ. We’ve done wings and steaks as well (using the hanging basked mod).  If you have bigger groups, the very large PBX has enough cooking space that you could literally cook enough food to start your own restaurant!!!  It holds up to 20 racks of ribs or 16 chickens at one time!!  

Consistent Temperatures  

Well, I guess it cooks with consistent temps. I’m going to be totally honest with you. To me, this is a “set it and forget it” smoker. You could simply follow the directions on the box and cook “perfect food” every time. Of course, I like my cooking to be “interactive,” so I measure temps all day. The outside of the smoker, inside, meat….whatever I can do to use my Themroworks gear! Haha!  

The temperature is managed by simply controlling airflow through the smoker. Standard settings will give you that slow, low temperature you need to get those smoke flavors we all love. Or you can turn the heat up to finish off those ribs or put a crisp on the skin of your wings. I’m always surprised at how responsive it is.  

Fuel/Charcoal

Pellet smokers need pellets, Green Egg’s desire natural lump charcoal, Electrical smokers…well need electricity. The PBC needs fire and charcoal! The same charcoal you find at any store. They do recommend Kingsford, but any charcoal will work. Easy to get and have on hand. I can fire up and cook at a moment’s notice.  

Durable Design  

This smoker is steel everything – nothing is plastic or cheap about it. Cooking surfaces and hooks are stainless steel. My PBJ has about 16,000 miles of traveling across the USA on it. It either rides in the bed of my truck or on the bumper of our RV.  It looks like it’s new and just came out of the box.  

Easy to Clean  

Is it easy to clean? Yes! I dump the ash & coals out after they cool. It’s cleaned…

Versatility 

Combined with PBJ’s portability, versatility is probably the most important feature of anything we bring with us on the road. Like I mentioned earlier, we’ve cooked pizza, wings, and deserts in our PBJ before. I can easily convert my PBJ to a grill or oven if needed. The possibilities are endless!  

In addition to all the meats we’ve cooked on our PBJ, I have my eye on a few more recipes that will happen very soon.  

• Smoked Queso
• Smoked Cobbler

We support Veteran-Owned Small Business

The last thing I’ll bring up about the Pit Barrel Smoker is the company. Pit Barrel Cooker is a veteran-owned small business. They offer specialized products (Military, DoD, Civil Service logos) to show your support for your service or organization. They’re located in Louisville, KY, and have excellent customer service. When I ordered mine, it was delivered to me in South Florida about 36 hours after placing my order. You can’t beat that!  

Conclusion

Ok ok…If it sounds like I’m trying to sell you a Pit Barrel, maybe I am. At least “suggesting it” as your portable smoker grill of choice, especially if you want portability, consistency, and ease of use.  I often cook on mine, and I’m thrilled to share my experience with my Pit Barrel.  If you decide to buy any PBC based on what you’ve read here, I would appreciate it if you clicked this link before you buy, as I’ll earn a small commission on the sale (at no cost to you). If you have any questions on the PBC, please message me on Facebook or Instagram, as I always enjoy talking about cooking outdoors. 

Check out my Outdoor Cooking Kit Below.  

The post Portable Smoker Grill for RV’ing appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

Hiking is our family’s go-to way to explore national parks, but we found another great way on “down days” is via the water.

We loved relaxing and taking in the gorgeous views (although it was hazy) while riding the Sinopah, Glacier Boat Company’s oldest wooden boat in their fleet, across Two Medicine Lake.  The lake is located in one of GNP’s quieter, less trafficked areas (and it also does not require a day pass).

Once across, we enjoyed a short amount of time exploring the west shore area of the lake before our ride back to the dock. It was such a great way to spend a relaxing and peaceful evening.

We are just drawn to the water! Whether it be rafting, floating, SUPing, kayaking, or boating, we always try to take in the beauty of a National Park from the water if we can.

Pro Tip:
You can also take the boat across Two Medicine Lake and hike back via the South Shore Trail. Or once across, take some time to hike up to Twin Falls. Unfortunately, we’re on the last boat of the evening and weren’t prepared for either, but it’s on the list for our next visit for sure!  See the boat schedule here and bring bug spray!

Check us out on  Instagram, Facebook, and Kit.co

The post Two Medicine Lake Via Boat – Glacier National Park appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

These photos were created using a 360 camera and uploaded to Kuula.

The post Avalanche Lake via the Trail of the Cedars appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

Cooking in an RV can be scary for a newbie and even some experienced RVers. When we were preparing to go full-time, I was a little nervous about how different my cooking techniques and even kitchen setup would be and how we would make it all work.

Cooking styles make a huge difference even in a sticks & bricks. We prefer to eat pretty clean-ish, primarily homemade cooking from scratch with as few processed or pre-packaged items as possible. I also have always loved to bake (so I make some exceptions here). I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could cook most meals just like we did in our sticks&bricks right in our much (MUCH) smaller RV kitchen.

We have a combination microwave/convection oven in our rig, and after learning some tricks with it, I love how it cooks/bakes. We also have a propane stove. While they are not listed here, we utilize both as much as we can in conjunction with our RV kitchen appliances.

Our top Five

We get the most out of these five RV Kitchen Appliances

I made sure to bring along our favorite kitchen tools and eliminate what we didn’t need in preparation. These are the five small kitchen appliances we have with us and could not part with…

1. Coffee Maker

While I’m not much of a coffee drinker in the mornings, Jay is. I mean, he spent 27 years in the world’s finest Navy…a coffee cup in his hand could be considered a permanent fixture.

So a coffee maker was a must for us, but we wanted something small. We tried many different options when we hit the road and ended up with this one. It makes enough for Jay to have a couple of cups and doesn’t take up much space.

When we are boondocking, and electricity usage is limited or just in the mood for a great espresso drink, we’ll heat water on the stovetop and use our coffee press.

2. Hand Mixer

I love baking, it’s such a calming (and rewarding) hobby for me, and I so wanted to bring my beloved Kitchenaid Stand Mixer with us in the RV but had to draw the line somewhere (although I do have friends that travel with theirs). So I compromised and decided to see how it went with my hand mixer instead.

Guess what….it’s been the perfect fit. We have baked so many things using it with great success. And a big plus, it’s a lot easier to clean up.

3. Airfryer

This is something we added after we hit the road, and we hesitated on for a long time. We knew we had space to store it but did we really need it, and would we use it enough?

The answer for us was and still is “Absolutely YES!”

We have found so many things we like to cook in our air fryer. From simple roasted red potatoes, french fries, crispy asparagus, or brussels sprouts to chicken wings, pork chops, and even a whole chicken. We even use it to reheat leftover pizza perfectly.

4. Instant Pot

I don’t think this one is of any surprise. Most full-timers have seen the benefit of traveling with their Instant Pot. It makes quick one-pot meals in a snap that are easy on clean-up as well.

We were making our favorite Hawaiian/Kalua Pork in our Instant Pot way before we left, and it alone was the main reason we knew we needed to bring it with us. We also use it for staples like steel-cut oatmeal and our favorite one-pot spaghetti.  It’s a must-have to add to your quick and easy RV meals.

5. Vitamix

I’d love to tell you we brought this along for healthy smoothies only. And while I guess that was the main reason we decided to bring it, we do love getting creative with our smoothies. I also use it for delicious milkshakes for our favorite fast-food dinner at home (homemade burgers, fries & fresh strawberry milkshakes). While the possibilities are endless with a fantastic high-speed blender like the Vitamix, I have also used it to make salad dressings, muffin mix, salsa, and even soup.

A tip on the Vitamix: Ours came with two pitchers. We only brought the shorter (smaller) pitcher with us to save on space. It still makes a large enough amount for all 3 of us to have a full-size smoothie.  If you have a choice in pitcher size, opt for the smaller one if you are concerned about storage space.

Plus 2 Bonus Items:

Ice Maker

Okay, so I don’t cook or prepare meals with an ice maker, but we’ve found we use this a lot!

Storing big bags of ice in our limited space freezer was not an option. Making ice in the little trays constantly made a mess (trying to get them balanced or level). We make our own ice using clean water from our Berkey and then store it in a large ziplock bag in the freezer.

Toaster

Again, this is not a massive deal in meal prep, but we use it pretty close to every day. It gets stored in a lower cabinet, so it’s easily accessible even for Caleb to toast a bagel or English muffin for breakfast. We chose a two-slot toaster to be smaller and lighter, which has worked well for us.

Storage of RV Kitchen Appliances

You’re probably thinking, “Where in the world do you keep all these gadgets in an RV?” I know it sounds like a lot, and it absolutely might be for some with very small RV’s or ones with no storage. But we easily fit all these items below the dinette bench seats of our Grand Design 312BHTS travel trailer (minus the coffee maker as it gets used daily and sits on the counter or stored in a cabinet for drive days), with even a little room to spare. We have other areas we could utilize as well, but this works great for us with our setup. If you have limited storage, I would absolutely recommend prioritizing what items you think you would use the most or look to see if there is a smaller option (like we did for our coffee maker and hand mixer).

Conclusion

If you enjoy cooking (honestly even more so if you don’t enjoy it), having a few small kitchen appliances with you while you’re RVing can make mealtime so much easier. While we enjoy exploring new areas and the restaurants in that area, we much prefer to eat at home most days. It is not only healthier, but it also is a simple way to save money on the road. That means more goes to our “fun budget,” which is always a win in our book!

Check out all the items we use in our RV Kitchen while full-time traveling the mainland.

Also, check out how we use the Berkey Travel Filter to make our own clean water anywhere we go.

The post Our Five Favorite RV Kitchen Appliances appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

One of RV travel’s most significant benefits is that you can have all the comforts of home with you. This includes having your own bed to crawl into at the end of a long day of exploring new areas, hiking, biking, kayaking, or just enjoying the beautiful outdoors.  This is where your RV mattress matters!

When we decided to travel full-time in an RV, we had never really even camped in one. And to make matters more challenging, we lived in Hawaii (NO RV anything to look at). So we did all of our research online, and we did a LOT of it! One of the things we kept coming across was how horrible RV mattresses are. We knew, this being our home on wheels, we needed to have a new bed ASAP once we moved in.

What RV Mattress to Consider

There are so many mattress options out there, and it can be pretty overwhelming. When choosing what to get, there were many things to consider, from weight and size to comfort and price. I started with the most important of these on the list and kept narrowing it down.

Once I knew what size we needed for our RV, I quickly learned that we did not require anything special, just a standard queen-size mattress. That helped a lot! Some RV’s actually need special order mattresses to fit the shape/size. And yet, some people get lucky and can transfer their bed from their sticks&bricks into their RV (we had a king and were not so fortunate).

I narrowed my search down to what we could have delivered to us easily and actually get in through the door of our RV. For us, all of these decisions led us to a memory foam mattress, which typically comes vacuum sealed (in a much smaller package) and could be shipped to us.

There happen to be a sea of options for these as well, so I further dwindled my search down one by one, reading through hundreds of reviews and the specs on each one.

Next, our mattress needed to fit a few additional criteria for us.  This included support, comfort, weight, and cost.

Support

I am a side sleeper, and my husband is an every/any position sleeper (life in Navy racks does that to you). We needed something that would support all positions comfortably.

Comfort

I also used to get very HOT (like wake up in a miserable sweat hot) in our bed in Hawaii. I knew I wanted something that wouldn’t hold heat through the night.

Weight

As with any full-time RV’er, weight was important for lifting the bed to get into our storage area underneath and limiting the added tow weight.

Cost

The last deciding factor for us was the price. Once I knew what passed all the other tests, I compared the prices to see which was the best deal.

Winner, Winner

What I found…..The Nectar mattress passed all the tests, had great reviews, and was surprisingly quite affordable compared to the others I was researching. We ordered it and actually had it with us in the truck when we went to pick up the RV. You might think, why would we have to have it in the truck at pickup?   We were those crazy people that drove hundreds of miles in our truck with all our stuff to pick up our trailer. We towed it off the lot (kudos to the husband, who had never towed anything before) and straight to an RV park nearby for our “shakedown” trip.

Upon hooking up and opening the slides, the first thing we did was remove that horrible thin mattress still in its plastic from our bed and moved in the Nectar. It was easy to get in through the doors (shrink-wrapped in plastic) and open up in place in the bedroom.

An absolute bonus with our Nectar mattress decision was that they offer a 365-day trial, free return if you are not happy, and a lifetime warranty. We figured worst-case scenario, we’d spend a few months traveling with it, and if we didn’t love it, we would send it back.

We slept sooooo great that night and have ever since. I describe it as “firm-ish,” yet still soft as it cushions right around you, giving you support where needed. We are going on two years of full-timing, and there have been nights that we have stayed with family or friends or even at hotels for a few nights, and it always feels absolutely incredible to crawl back into our fantastic bed in the RV. The Nectar has impressed us and given us a great night’s rest.

Other RV Mattresses to Consider

There were three other options we were closely considering. LUCID, Casper, and Zinus. While all of them met the requirements and weren’t far off in price, the reviews were what set the Nectar apart for us.

Are you considering a mattress purchase for your RV? If you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you.

Sweet Dreams!

The post RV Mattress, It Matters When You Travel appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

Having easy access to clean water is very important and something most of us take for granted. Yet, if you question the quality of your city water, use well water, or travel like we do, having access to clean water can be a concern. We solved the dilemma of having clean drinking water anywhere, anytime with the Trave Berkey.

What is a Travel Berkey Water Filter?

A “Berkey” is a water purifier with the key advantage of being a countertop gravity-fed unit you can easily take with you. It utilizes up to four ceramic and carbon-activated filters (depending on the unit’s size) located in the unit’s upper portion, where you fill with whatever water source you have.

The water flows through the filters into the lower chamber and removes bacteria, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals, and even contaminants like fertilizer. It removes all the things that would make your water taste bad or unsafe to drink. It does this all while keeping the good minerals in, something most purifiers can not do. Optionally, you can add fluoride filters to the Berkey as well. These filters will reduce up to 97% of the fluoride in your water if that is a concern for you.  In the Travel Berkey, a pair of the included black Berkey filters can process up to 6000 gallons before needing replacement!!!

Why we chose and loved our Travel Berkey Water Filter.

When we were preparing and planning to go full-time in our RV, we kept reading about low-quality or questionable water supplies across the country. Many RVers choose to buy bottled water or refill giant, heavy water jugs to solve the problem. We wanted to be assured we would have clean drinking water and minimize our use of plastic and waste at the same time. These factors led us to choose the 1.5-gallon Travel Berkey Water Filter.

There are actually four different sizes of Berkeys to choose from, so you’ll have to assess your needs before deciding which is suitable for you. We contemplated between the Big Berkey and the Travel Berkey in the beginning because we were not sure if the smaller size would meet our needs. However, after almost two years of use, we are glad we went with the “travel” size unit. It measures 7.5″ across and 19″ in height and filters water at a rate of 2.75 gallons per hour, so still not very small. However, it perfectly fits our kitchen bar/countertop in the RV without taking up too much space or looking big and bulky. I’ve actually had friends comment on how sleek and nice it looks.

The Travel Berkey Water Filter was the best answer for our family of 3, plus 1 very adorable yet stubborn Goldendoodle. In my research, I found that a dog’s digestive system can be just as sensitive (if not more so) than humans. We knew it was just as important to have consistent, clean drinking water for our “Dood” as it was for us. We refill our Berkey as needed (usually 2-3 times a day). This allows us to have clean water to make coffee, tea, fill the dogs’ water bowl and keep our Hydro flasks full. On travel days, we even bring an extra Hydroflask for Hurley in the truck and can easily give him water with his collapsible water bowl while rolling down the road. It makes the best clean-tasting ice as well (we use this ice maker).

Speaking of travel days….this is how our Berkey travels.

After filling up what we need for the day, we simply move the Berky to our kitchen sink with a few other items. The rubber gripping on the bottom keeps it in place perfectly, but we figure if a spill or something does happen while we’re going down the road, at least it would be in the sink.

Maintenance and Cleaning

The Berkey Filter System is super easy to keep clean and maintain, making it even more convenient. The unit is made of stainless steel and can be hand-washed using clean hot water and dish soap once the filters are removed. Even the filters can be gently scrubbed with a new 3M Scotch Brite pad to remove any buildup and rinsed with water before re-installing.

Other Options

In our research phase, we also looked into reverse Osmosis systems. The ones we looked at required a power source to filter the water. Since we planned to do some boondocking through our travels, we didn’t want to rely on power for clean water. Since the Berkey works via gravity alone, it almost made it a no-brainer.

Another perk of the Berkey was that we didn’t want something that would have to be installed permanently. We found this extremely useful as we recently purchased a cabin in the mountains to use as our “home base” between our travels. We simply carry the Berkey into the cabin when we arrive and continue to use it there.

Not just for the RV

In our cabin, when we lost power due to a crazy summer storm.  The Berkey became even more of a lifesaver for us as our electric pump stopped working for our well. We were able to get a couple of days of water supply from our local Fire Department in large containers for general use.  This was great for flushing the toilets and washing hands, but we also used it to fill the Berkey, and it made clean water for all of us to drink. We could have even filled the Berkey with water from our nearby lake if needed, and it would have made it safe to drink, which still blows my mind!  You don’t realize how important clean water is until you don’t have it!

Problems with Berkey

We have found only one problem or issue with our Berkey, and it was a 100% operator error. We chose to purchase the S/S spigot, which is turned forward to dispense. Since its gravity fed, when the Berkey runs out of water, nothing will come out of the spigot.  I accidentally left this open (not once, but twice…I like to learn the hard way) when it was empty. Then later, after refilling the water (gravity took over), we were alerted to the dripping sound of water. (NEVER a good sound in an RV.) Fortunately, our trash can is located right below the unit, so it caught all the water dripping out.  Lesson learned….ensure you always have the spigot turned to the “off” position when you are done using it.

Conclusion

What we love most about our Berkey is how A-MAZING the water tastes. It consistently makes the freshest, cleanest tasting water no matter what the source.  The portability of the system, cost-effectiveness, gravity-fed, and the amount of water each filter cleans over its lifetime makes it an easy pick.  The Berkey is an excellent system to have on your RVing adventures.

Now, that is some high-quality H2O!!!

The post Travel Berkey Water Filter appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

We frequently get this question, “What is boondocking?” from family, friends, and other RV’ers.

Have you ever heard of “off the grid” camping? Well, they’re pretty much the same thing as boondocking. If you’re a seasoned tent camper, try not to laugh, but it’s like primitive camping in an RV.

Boondocking is when you set up your RV without shore power, water, or sewer connections. Why would you want to do this, you might ask?  We’ll cover the various reasons, but knowing how to boondock is a great skill to have if you’re going to take your RVing adventures to the next level.

RVs typically have holding tanks for fresh water, gray water (kitchen/bathroom sink & shower), and black water (sewage). Using a converter, many RVs come wired to run some electrical components on both 120v and 12v power sources. This configuration gives you the ability to sustain yourself for short periods without being in a traditional RV park.

To put it simply, an RV with a full tank of fresh water, empty collection tanks, and a fully charged battery is technically ready to start boondocking.

Being ready to boondock is the easy part. Where it gets challenging is pulling it off. If I could describe Boondocking, “it’s an art” of resource management for your RV. Several variables need to be taken into consideration when boondocking. It’s almost a trial and error exercise in the beginning.

Managing Resources

No two RVs are alike, no two families use the same amount of water per day, and no two people have the exact power requirements over 24 hours. Boondocking is about knowing your RV systems, usage requirements and managing them with the resources you have.

Here is an example of how we manage our water usage and the effect it has on power while boondocking:

Our RV has a 60-gallon freshwater tank. A family of three could easily use that in one day if we were careless. To run all that water we also need power for the pump. If we’re going to boondock in one spot for 3-5 days, we would need to stretch all these resources to ensure access to our water. Here is how we would adjust:

Tips

No long showers

I don’t know about you all, but I have some world record, long shower takers in my rig most of the time. Not when we’re boondocking.  We make it a point to get in, rinse, turn the water off, soap up, wash off, then out! Aka, a Navy Shower!

Flushing Discipline

RV toilets don’t flush like those in a home. They run water as long as you hold the pedal down. So you can use a lot of water to flush the toilet if not careful. You can also end up filling up your black tank sewage system with your precious freshwater.  That’s no bueno!  You won’t have a readily available spot to empty those tanks, and that can end a boondocking trip fast!  Only use what you need to flush.

Dishes in the Bucket

Washing dishes can also use a lot of water. We always try, but especially when boondocking, wipe all words first with a paper towel into the trash. Then, we’ll let the dishes build up a little before washing, rather than after each meal. 

We’ll use a secondary bin in our sink when boondocking to minimize our water usage.  We’ll fill the container in the sink with hot soapy water, scrub and set dishes aside, then dispose of that water outside if allowed. Fill again while rinsing and then dump. Even if you’re not able to dump this water out, you can control which tank you want to dump the water into and better manage your tank levels.  Lowing the water requirements saves the freshwater we have, puts only the water we use in the holding tanks, and lets us use our battery for other things.

These are just a few to start. There are dozens of tips and tricks you can learn to extend your boondocking time. One of my favorite tips is from You, Me, and the RV. They capture the cold water from the shower (before the heated water arrives at the fixture) and use that for dishes later in the day. It saves the holding tank’s space while using the water that would have just typically run down the drain. Brilliant!

Power Management

One single 12v battery doesn’t last that long in an RV, and draining a led acid battery below 50% can destroy it. With one single battery, you won’t be running your AC or watching TV, but your water pump, slides, lights, exhaust fans, and maybe some USB ports are going to have power available to them by that single battery.  So you’ll need a way to keep the battery charged.

When boondocking, we recharge our battery every day with either an inverter generator or have the option to run solar panels. On battery power, we can keep those USB ports on for our wireless router, phone chargers, and 12v fans!  Oh, of course, to make sure the pump and slides work too!!

Unless you have a generator or an enormous onboard battery system, you’ll have to be very frugal with your power needs. It might even be impractical if you don’t have a way to recharge your battery at some point in your boondocking trip.

Some who boondock a lot upgrade their RV to have solar systems with lithium battery banks. With a system like that, you could have your power needs met almost indefinitely.

View our Off-Grid RV Gear list on Kit.co

Why?

Now, WHY would you want to put you and your RV through this?

Check out the hashtag “#rvboondocking” on Instagram to see what I mean. With boondocking, you’ll find the freedom to visit and camp at places like no other. You can stay on designated federal and state properties such as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas or Army COE sites.

We have also boondocked at wineries, breweries, farms, and golf courses, using our Harvest Hosts membership (a great place to learn how to boondock). Some of our most memorable RVing stops have been while we were boondocking from one place to another on a long trip.

It’s not all remote opportunities either. In large cities, you can also stay at some local venues (RV shows, infield racing events, and multi-day sporting events). Knowing how to boondock opens up a lot of additional opportunities for your RV experience.

An Even Better “Why?”

Boondocking is also very much about building confidence in your RV knowledge. Suppose you plan to (or unexpectedly) park in a Walmart parking lot or truck stop for the night. Knowing you and your family will be somewhat comfortable and that your RV can provide for you is important.

Conclusion

Every RV’er should know their equipment well. Understanding how systems interact with one another or how you can best manage your RV resources can help you troubleshoot problems or issues that pop up unexpectedly. That same knowledge can help get you off the grid for some epic camping adventures you’ll tell tales of to all your friends.

Happy boondocking! We’ll see you off the grid!

The post What is Boondocking? Take RVing to the Next Level appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

Have you ever heard of KARS Park? We visited for a “second time” in March of 2021 and thought we would share how much we enjoyed ourselves! We stumbled on this place in January 2020, but it quickly became one of our all-time favorite places to stay (Excluding National Parks). It has stunning waterfront sites along the Banana River. If you’re interested in the backstory of how we found it, you can read about it at the end of the article, but for now, we’ll get right to the good stuff.  

The Kennedy Athletic, Recreation & Social (KARS) Parks

KARS Park is located on Merritt Island, Florida. It’s a recreation center, RV park, and Marina for the employees of NASA. It is open to active and retired NASA, Civil Service, and some Contractors assigned to Kennedy Space Center or Patrick Air Force Base. It has been recently made available to all active and retired Military ID cardholders as well.  If you’re unsure of eligibility, check this site and call to see what proof you’ll need before arriving. 

Here is where this place starts to shine!  

It’s a prime viewing spot for rocket launches in the area! One of the best features about KARS Park is it’s just across the water from Kennedy Space Center. You’ll have a front-row seat to watch day-to-day operations at NASA, including launches. We saw one launch during our first trip in 2020 and two on our second visit in 2021. Viewing launches so close makes this park one of a kind for us! 

Lots to do in the Area Near KARS Park

World Famous Cocoa Beach Pier

You won’t leave this place hungry or thirsty! There are five restaurants on the pier to choose from for whatever your libations desire. We enjoyed some appetizers and local brew at the Pelican Bar and Grill. 

Ron Jon Surf Shop

Growing up in South FL, Ron Jon’s was always a stop if you were in the area.  It’s amazing how the place has grown and has become an attraction. It’s a must-see if you’re in Cocoa Beach.  

Kennedy Space Center

If you plan to visit the space center, I recommend visiting here early on in your stay. You’ll get an idea of operations and a geography lesson which will help you know what’s going on across the river when you see equipment moving around.  In 2020 we made a day trip, and it’s totally worth it.  

Night Biolumenice Kayaking Tour

We took this trip in March of 2021 and got to see a lot.  It’s typically recommended for the best viewing between May-July (during the new moon).  The wildlife is just incredible!  Kayaking at night in the Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge, seeing bioluminescent jellyfish and plankton reminded Caleb of the movie Avitar.  Just remember to keep an eye out. You’re not necessarily at the top of the food chain at night in the FL swamp.   

Some Facts to Know about KARS Park (2021)

• This park, like Patrick AFB, is a first-come, first-serve park. No reservations, but if you call, they’ll usually share with you what they know about who is leaving and when.
• Waterfront sites are limited to 14 days. Once you pull into a waterfront site, you can claim it for two weeks. If you want to stay longer, you’ll have to go into some of the other loop sites, but you can come back. 
• The park is access controlled. During the day, a guard will check your pass when you come to the gate. After 10 PM, you’ll need a remote ($10 deposit) or have to wait for someone to open the gate for you. 
• The park has 50, 30, and 20 Amp service and water at each site. No sewer at the sites at the time of this post. You’ll need to dump if you plan to stay long. You can also hire some folks who full time at the park for $20-$30 to pump and dump for you. 
• A small camp store is open on the installation. Beer prices aren’t bad!  
• You will see wildlife! Like gators and snakes, so watch where you step and your pets.
• As of March 2021, waterfront rates are $25 per night. You’ll also need an annual pass which will cost $20. They have non-waterfront sites, monthly and tent camping rates posted on their page. 

Looking for a Map?

I couldn’t find an official map of KARS Park, but I found the next best thing.  This post is a little dated, but the hand-drawn map is accurate.  Note the waterfront sites.

Ongoing Improvements

They’ve been making a lot of improvements to the facilities over the past year. A new sewer system, stormwater drainage, waterfront launch viewing platforms, and electrical posts are currently being installed in various sections of the park.  

They’re also installing several structures and platforms for picnicking at the campground and the marina.   

Some of the info on the KARS Park websites is a little dated, but you can either call the park directly or check with the Facebook Group for specific questions.

Conclusion

KARS Park was really a gem find for us.  Its waterfront views, location, and cost make this an exceptional place to take the Ohana.  While it’s hard to time a perfect arrival, the park works with you the best they can to get you in.  Once you’re in, enjoy those waterfront views!

In case you’re interested –

The Backstory 

In January 2020, our RV travels took us to Cocoa Beach, FL. Our goal was to stay at the very popular Jetty Park and then move to Patrick AFB FamCamp for a few weeks. Jetty Park only had three days available all winter, and Patrick AFB FamCamp was pretty packed with seasonal RV’ers. The AFB works on a first-come-first-served basis, so we had no guarantees after our three days at Jetty Park. What to do?

I went to my favorite planning tool (RV Trip Wizard) and opened up all the search filters for campgrounds in the area. An icon popped up on the map with an American flag on (aka Military Campground) that I never heard of just across the bay called “KARS Park.” We jumped in the truck to go check it out. This is where it got AWESOME!!!

Upon arriving at what looked like a typical military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facility, we found an RV Park with stunning waterfront views on the Banana River just south of Cape Canaveral Launch Facility. We talked to the camp store manager, who confirmed availability for us in the park.  We made the move over the following day and scored a waterfront site.  

Fast forward to March of 2021. We caravanned back with our some of our RVing ohana and were able to snag two waterfront sites near one another.  We enjoyed our second stay just as much as our first, so it was time to post about it.  

This is where we also got our first flat tire!

The post KARS Park, Merritt Island, Florida appeared first on Ohana Expedition.

If you’re on the search for a delicious, quick go-to dinner recipe while RVing (or anywhere, honestly), I’ve found the answer. With this Instant Pot Spaghetti, you can easily & quickly have this ready even after a long drive day.

The icing on the cake…its all in one pot, so super easy to clean up as well. Winner-Winner, Spaghetti Dinner!!!! (I know, I’m not very funny, but I keep telling myself I am.)

This isn’t just any spaghetti…this is Instant Pot Spaghetti with an amazingly flavorful meat sauce! The flavor is completely magnified by cooking everything together in one pot (yes, even the pasta) compared to your regular stove-top spaghetti.

Don’t own an Instant Pot?

If you don’t own an Instant Pot yet, what are you waiting for? Jay was actually the one that ordered ours many years ago, and I am embarrassed to say that it took me over a year to actually warm up to the idea of it, let alone get brave enough to start using it. I honestly don’t know why, because this has become a necessary kitchen appliance for us now.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to cook spaghetti any other way now. The noodles come out cooked perfectly and actually soak in so much flavor from the sauce while cooking under pressure. This is where the IP magic happens.

The added bonus of cooking the pasta this way is that it won’t require straining the water. We try not to strain starchy pasta water down into our grey tank, so sometimes we’ll do it over the fire pit (especially if we plan to have a fire after dinner that night anyway). But that isn’t always possible, so this solves that problem as well.

Serving Tips

Before serving, I like to top the spaghetti with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil sprinkle (if I have it). This Spaghetti is so delicious I am happy with it just as is. But my guys usually like a little something extra. Jay’s favorite to pair with this dinner is a good salad and a glass of red wine. Caleb (my carb-loving teen) likes anything garlic & bread, preferably garlic knots and a side of broccoli. Any way you try it…just try it!

Even More Tips

-We prefer a mix of Italian sausage & ground turkey for our meat sauce. When I buy a pack of ground turkey, I split it and freeze the other half. I usually purchase Italian sausage in the casing, so I split the pack in half (freezing the rest) and removing the casing before adding it to the pot. You can easily use one or the other or even ground beef if you prefer.

-Always scrape the bottom of the pot after sauteing the meat. I usually use red wine for this, as we like the added layer of flavor it adds, but you can also use chicken stock or even water in a pinch. Any small amount of liquid will help those stuck on bits release, which will assure you won’t end up with the dreaded “burn warning” on the IP.

-Use a good quality marinara sauce that you like the flavor of. In our sticks&bricks, this would have been homemade for me, but I don’t have the storage space now, so our next favorite is Rao’s (we buy the two-pack at Costco). I like that it doesn’t have sugar added or any extra stuff (it’s closest to how I make my own).

-Pasta. Our family prefers “thin” spaghetti or angel hair, so this recipe’s cooking time is based on that. If you prefer a regular (thicker) spaghetti noodle, I’ve done this as well and adjusted the cooking time to 5 minutes, with success.

-Rinse your sauce jar. When it comes to the step of pouring water over the noodles. I like to measure the water first, then pour it into my sauce jar and shake it to get every little bit out.

-When you first open the Instant Pot, your sauce will look very watery. This is normal, I promise! Give it a good stir mixing everything up, place the lid back over the pot, and sit for about 3-5 minutes. Every time I get to this point, open my cover, and see the watery sauce, I freak a little. Then I follow my own advice and all is good!

Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

½ lb Ground Turkey

½ lb Italian Sausage

½ tsp Garlic Powder

¼ tsp Onion Powder

¼ tsp Salt

¼ cup Red Wine

8 oz Dry Thin Spaghetti Noodles

2 cups Water

Grated Parmesan Cheese (for serving)

DIRECTIONS:

Saute Meat. Press SAUTE. Once hot, add ground turkey and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking the meat up into small pieces. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and salt and continue to cook until browned (about 5 minutes).

Press CANCEL.

Add wine & sauce. Pour in the wine. Stir, scraping all the stuck-on bits from the bottom of the pan. Then pour in the sauce, stirring to combine with meat.

Break spaghetti noodles in half. Add them to the pot in a spiral method and layering if needed (so they won’t stick while cooking) on top of the sauce. Do NOT stir at this point!

Pour water from the sauce jar (see tip) over the pasta. You can press the noodles down gently into the sauce at this point, but again no stirring.

Place the lid on top and into the locking position. Set pressure valve to SEALING position.

Select MANUAL and HIGH mode. Then adjust to 3 minutes for cook time.

When cooking time finishes, turn the pressure valve to VENTING for a quick release. Unlock and release the lid (turn OFF the IP).

Give the pasta and sauce a good stir at this point and let sit with the lid covering for 5 minutes to thicken.

Serve with a sprinkle of grated parmesan, and if you have it, some fresh basil that has been chiffonade (I, unfortunately, didn’t when I took these photos). Now…Enjoy!!!

Also, check out our Five Favorite RV Kitchen Appliances.

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We’ve got you covered with our travel trailer essentials list.  Jen and I spent a lot of time researching our rig and set up before leaving Hawaii.  Knowing what you need to get started can be a big task, especially if it’s your first time RVing.  There are some RV necessities you must have to travel safely and comfortably in your RV. These should be accessible when you pick up your RV or before your first outing.

16,000 Miles of Research

The great thing about the RV community is it’s interactive.  The list has changed slightly since we started but we currently use all these products with our Grand Design 312BHTS on our full-time travel adventure.

Travel Trailer Essentials List

Here is a quick rundown of each item and why we feel it’s an essential item:

1. Surge Protector – Keep power spikes and bad connections at RV parks in check.  It’s too risky “not” to have a surge protector if you’re connecting to an unknown power source.   The cost to fix an electrical system in an RV can run up very fast!
2. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) – A TPMS to us was just as important as the surge protector when it comes to RV gear. Monitoring your tires’ temperature and pressure while towing helps warn of possible issues with your tires before they happen.
3.  Shore Power Cable – Your RV should come with a primary shore cable.  If it does not, you’ll need one to connect your RV to park power poles.  Depending on your RV, you’ll need a 30 Amp or 50 Amp cable.
4. Electrical adapters – Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in odd situations to connect to power.  It’s always good to have a varsity of ways to connect.  Since we have a 50 Amp connection, we’ve included ways to connect to 30 Amp and 20 Amp power (standard home outlet).  This allows us to convert our 50 Amp power all the way down to 20 Amp.
5. Sewer Connections –  You’ll find a variety of hoses, elbows, cleaning connectors, caps, and extensions to choose from when deciding what your sewer hose system will look like.  Each rig is set up differently, so you’ll want to ask some questions upfront.  Questions like, where are the connections? Is their onboard hose storage? Is there more than one connection, etc.?  At a minimum, you’ll need a basic setup like one of these.
6. Holding Tank Biologic – It’s recommended to use a biologic to assist with odor control and waste breakdown in RV tanks. This is a place you DON’T want problems when RVing.  We use an organic enzyme called Happy Camper that has worked very well in our black and gray tanks.
7. Water Pre-filter -Reduce bad taste, orders, chlorine, and sediment from water in your RV. There are various solutions for filtering water while RV’ing, but having a baseline setup will work well enough on day one.  Pre-filters are offered in 20-micron filters all the way down to one micron.
8. Water Pressure Regulator -If the city’s water pressure is higher than the RV’s plumbing water system can handle, leaks can occur. Water Pressure Regulators help protect RV plumbing and hoses from damage caused by high-pressure city water. Regulators reduce water pressure to a safe, consistent pressure regardless of any fluctuations. This protects equipment and prevents hose failure, prolonging equipment life.
9. Water Hose – There are many different types of hoses on the market today, but as far as your RV water hose is concerned, you want to get one that is specifically safe to use for drinking water.  You should see a label or marking saying it’s safe to use for drinking. One we’ve found we really like is the Zero-G hose. They are high quality, don’t kink, easily store, and don’t weigh much.
10. Leveling System –  Leveling your RV is very important not only for your comfort & safety but also for operating your slides. Andersen Camper Levelers could almost be considered “an upgrade,” but for us, it was something we wanted on day one.  They just made it easy to get level quickly.  The baseline alternative is the Camco Leveling Blocks.  You can customize the size of the level you need with these, and they work great for smaller rigs as larger rigs can actually crush these.  We use the Camco Leveling Blocks on our stabilizer jacks to keep our landing jacks directly off the ground.
11. Air Compressor – How many tires do you need to maintain when towing?  Six, eight, or even ten??  An RV compressor is a useful tool if you travel a lot.  I’ll consider it one of the essential items for a full-time RVer and high on the “should have” list for weekend warriors.  You’ll need a compressor that can provide 80+ psi to your tires, so be sure to check the specifications before buying.
12. Wheel Chocks – A good goal to have is to keep your RV from moving once you’ve unhooked. Don’t travel anywhere without a way to chock your tires.  Wheel chocks should be positioned downhill and below the vehicle’s center of gravity.
13. Extension Cord – Lastly, a heavy-duty extension cord.  This is just good practice to get power around your rig when you need it: power tools, air compressors, auxiliary power, or any appliances you may want to run outside.

View our Travel Trailer Essentials list on Kit.co

Conclusion

After 16,000 miles of traveling, I can say this list is “seasoned” and complete.  Some may debate whether the TPMS and air compressor are “necessities,” but I prefer to have them than not for the safety of my family, rig, and peace of mind when on the road.

Feel we missed something?  Want to contribute to our baseline list?  Please send us a message – we would love to hear from you!

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