Three Nights In A Recreational Vehicle

Traveling north of U.S. Highway 75 parallel to the Missouri River, we drove through some beautiful scenery along Nebraska's eastern edge.

I rented a 28-foot-long recreational vehicle (RV) from Leach Camper Sales in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Though modest compared to some RVs, it was luxurious to us. With built-in air-conditioning, a water heater, stove, refrigerator, microwave, shower and bathroom, it had everything we could possibly need. It also slept six people, which was just right for our family.

The $500 and 20 cents a mile I paid to rent the RV for our trip seemed reasonable when compared to the cost of motel rooms for three nights and eating out three times a day. With the RV's refrigerator, we could bring all of the food we might need and eat when and where we wanted.

Because we had never been to the state parks in northeastern Nebraska, we decided to head north. We had the RV for three nights, so it would be a quick trip. We decided to spend one night each at Ponca State Park (SP), Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area (SRA), and Niobrara State Park.

On the day of the big trip, we packed our van and car and drove to Council Bluffs to pick up the RV. We needed two vehicles because, as my wife said, if it wasn't for the fact that the RV already had one, she probably would have brought the kitchen sink from home.

Before getting on our way, I got a quick lesson on the vehicle's features, such as how to run the generator and stove and how to empty the waste tank - a lesson that my four kids would make sure I put to use often.

On first impression I thought that driving such a large vehicle must be similar to piloting a barge, but I soon became comfortable behind the wheel. The kids enjoyed having room to spread out and stretch their legs. It was a welcome change from most of our road trips. As they explored the motor home, I heard one and then another say "Awesome!" It was definitely the word of the day. I enjoyed driving down the road without having the back of my seat kicked, and my wife, Sheila, said, "I could come to like this kind of roughing it."

Because Ponca SP was our first destination, we followed U.S. Highway 75 along the eastern edge of Nebraska. Between reading books they had brought and looking out on the rolling hills along

While his youngest sister, Kiley watches, Evan starts the morning fire at Ponca State Park.

the Missouri River Valley, the kids said the trip to Ponca seemed short. We stopped at the park office to register and get a map of the camping areas. Driving the large camper for the first time on the park's winding, tree-lined roads was a bit nerve-racking for me, but we soon agreed on a wooded camping spot.

Pulling into the campsite was easier than I expected, and our camp was set up in less time than it would have taken to unload our tent. I put the RV in park, shut off the ignition, got out and walked to the back of the vehicle and plugged into the electrical outlet. That was when I knew I could get used to RV camping.

After the kids explored the park for a while, we ate a quick supper and walked to the office to sign up for trail rides the next day. The nearly triple-digit heat made us really appreciate the RV's air-conditioner when we returned, and I thought about how hot a tent would have been on a day like this one. After cooling off, I started a campfire in the site's fire pit and it was time to roast marshmallows and make s'mores. What's camping without them?

After a sufficient number of marshmallows had been burned and consumed, it was time for the kids to clean up and hit the sack. Having a bathroom and a sink in the camper simplified bedtime preparations, and the kids were soon asleep. A half-day into the trip and Sheila was convinced we would never be able to camp in a tent again.

Sheila's idea of camping isn't the same as mine. She says my idea of camping is to bring the tent, fishing poles, chairs and maybe a change of clothes. A couple packs of hot dogs and chips and I'm ready to go. In contrast, she likes to cook four-course meals, sleep comfortably and change clothes at least once a day. This camping trip was right up her alley, and I had to admit, it grew on me, too.

After a comfortable night's sleep, the kids and I went to the park's playground to work up an appetite while Sheila whipped up breakfast on the stove. The RV's shower proved handy when Trever, our second son, got into a patch of stinging nettles while retrieving a wayward kickball. After a quick rinse, he returned to the playground. We decided to check out the park after breakfast. It didn't take long to unhook the RV for a short drive through the beautiful park, but I soon understood why so many RVs pull small cars behind them. Driving in tight areas and finding parking spots is much easier in a car.

At the park's archery range we took part in class taught by Laura Metzger, the park's naturalist. The naturalist program covers many topics, and that morning Metzger gave visitors a chance to test their archery skills. She offered helpful suggestions for each shooter and the participants had a great time, especially when she put up small balloons as targets. After the archery lesson we returned to camp to get ready for our horseback ride. Sheila loves to ride horses and the kids

Ponca SP naturalist Laura Metzger helps a young park visitor aim during an archery class.

were looking forward to it, too, especially Kiley, our youngest, who was going to ride solo for the first time. I was a bit worried when they put her on the biggest horse, but the wranglers said it was the oldest and tamest horse of the bunch. The trail was easy and everyone enjoyed the ride through the park. Any lingering worries I had about Kiley disappeared when I heard her giving Sheila riding instructions halfway through the trip.

"Mom, if you want your horse to go that way, you need to go like this!" she said, pulling the reins to the left. "And if you want it to go this way, then you do this!" She also told her mother to lean forward when going up a hill and backward when going down. My daughter the riding instructor.

After the trail ride we cooled off in the park's swimming pool. The kids dove off the board and the water felt great on the hot day. Then it was time to pack up and head for Lewis and Clark SRA, only 70 miles to the northwest. I emptied our holding tank and filled up with water before we

Kiley and other swimmers cool off in Ponca State Park's pool.

left. The gently rolling hills and wide vista made for an enjoyable drive as we traveled along Nebraska Highway 12. The kids again took advantage of the RV's ample space, and were soon asleep.

Because I was not familiar with Lewis and Clark SRA, I was amazed to find so many camping sites available next to the lake. There are 150 camping pads with electrical hookups and almost as many without. We found a great lakeside spot and the kids and I were fishing within minutes of our arrival while Sheila prepared supper. The cool breeze coming off the lake felt good. The fishing

While Evan reads in the overhead bunk, Trever and Kiley help Sheila make hoagie sandwhiches to cook in the RV's oven.

was slow that day, but the kids caught a smallmouth bass and had a good time doing it. We bought firewood at the marina and cooked hotdogs over an open fire. We spent the evening sitting around the fire, admiring the lake and telling stories. The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast and the kids went out to play and fish while Sheila and I cleaned up. Although we had not seen the entire park, it was soon time to pack up again and head to Niobrara State Park, where we had reservations for a Zodiac boat tour on the Missouri River. I told the kids we would come back to Lewis and Clark SRA again, and maybe even stay in one of the park's nine furnished lakefront cabins.

The drive to Niobrara SP was a bit stressful, but it was my own fault. We left Lewis and Clark later than I intended and I made a wrong turn while using a shortcut. The boat crew waited for us, but Kiley was too young to make the trip because the lifejackets did not fit her properly.

The raft trip up the Missouri River is a great way to see the river and learn about the area's history.

Instead, she and Sheila went to the park swimming pool while the rest of us left for the Verdel boat landing. We enjoyed our three-hour trip on the river. Our guide entertained us with stories about the river and the area's history. We had never seen this section of the Missouri, and I was amazed by how much prettier it was than the channelized portion to the south that we were used to.

We returned to the park's headquarters and reunited with Sheila and Kiley. We drove down to the RV campground to find a spot to camp. The park was pretty, but in a different way than Ponca SP and Lewis and Clark SRA. Along the river the ground was lush and green, but the park's hills were more prairie habitat and very dry. The hills offered a great view of the Niobrara and Missouri river

Niobrara State Park's hills offer a sweeping view of the Missouri River Valley.

valleys. After we set up camp again (okay, after I parked and plugged in the RV's electrical cord), we started a fire in our fire pit and cooked steaks and corn on the cob roasted with the shucks on. As Sheila said, it doesn't get much better than that.

After dinner and as the evening cooled down, the kids and I played baseball in a large open area until dark. We ate s'mores to celebrate the last evening of our trip, and then it was time for bed. The next morning we packed up for the last time and headed southeast to Council Bluffs.

The trip was an adventure, and not one we would soon forget. It had also opened my eyes to a different type of camping. Before the trip I naively assumed that RV campers spent much of their time inside their camper and didn't really experience what nature had to offer. Now I know that it's simply a comfortable way to get away from the house to enjoy nature and some of the fun our parks have to offer.