3 Exciting Activities For The Whole Family As You Go RVing Across The Country

The idea to get out and explore the country on four wheels has seen a recent boom.  With record sales of RV campers in the last few years, there seems to be no slowing anytime soon.  There are plenty of lists to be found of things to do when you are trapped by weather or traveling down the road. There are tons of road game ideas, but what are some fun activities to do once you reach one of your many locations?  Luckily we have three activities that are fun, active, exciting, and can be done just about anywhere you go.

1.  Metal Detecting 

Metal detecting and RVing go together like campfires and smores.  Imagine the history you are driving by and camping near while you are traveling to and from your destination(s).  The shear number of items that are lost or buried beneath the ground around you is staggering.  With just a little practice you can get in on the fun world of metal detecting.  

Parks, fields, streams, and the beach are all great places to find valuable and exciting items in the dirt.  Just make sure you check local regulations prior to digging any holes.

You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good metal detector!  Click the image below for one of the best metal detectors for your buck!

For a relatively small investment a person can get outfit with an entire metal detector package that will give them everything they will need to get outside, get some exercise, and have the potential to make a little money and an opportunity to make a bunch.

Click Here To See Some of The Best Metal Detectors For Beginners.

Staying active as you travel can be a challenge sometimes.  Hiking, kayaking, calisthenics are a good way but why not do something fun and interesting while you are at it.  Metal detecting is a very low impact exercise but it burns a lot of calories.  You are constantly walking, swinging a metal detector back and forth, and constantly kneeling down to locate objects you find with your metal detector. It is a phenomenal lower body workout and is really good for your shoulders and arms too. When I started the sport of metal detecting, I was a little out of shape and I must admit I had let my lower body weaken as I wasn't going to the gym as frequently as I had in the past.  After a few months of the hobby, I noticed my glutes, calves, and hamstrings began to strengthen.  I had shed several pounds and started feeling great.  I had shoulder problems for a long time too and less time in the gym and atrophied muscles to stabilize my joints exacerbated that. By holding an 8 pound metal detector in both arms I began to see my arms become more trim and fit.  The activity of metal detecting actually motivated me to get back in the gym on a regular basis. 

From a financial perspective, metal detecting offers a way to find lost money and other valuables.  I personally have found hundreds of dollars in loose change and had several finds that are worth much more than the lost change I have found.  Gold and diamond rings, watches, necklaces, and more can be found with a metal detector.  And, once you get good at it, you can actually get people to pay you to find lost jewelry for them.

Click Here to see some of the best metal detectors for beaches.

2.  Foraging For Mushrooms and Other Outdoor Edibles

Morel mushrooms and other outdoor edibles will begin popping up this time of year.  The beauty of foraging is that it doesn't cost a thing to get started.  All you have to do is find a hunting ground, grab a paper bag, get in your car.  The next thing is to know how to find morels and identify other outdoor edibles in your area.  Proper identification is key.  Several books on the subject can be found by simply Googling something like, "How to identify edible plants and mushrooms in Missouri."  There are also a ton of valuable Youtube Videos and other online resources.

The beauty of foraging for edible plants is you are often trudging through the woods in sometimes challenging terrains, ducking branches, and climbing over rocks and fallen logs.  My suggestion is dress in layers so you can shed and add them as needed.  Also, make sure you are wearing a good quality insect repellant as they tend to hang out in the same places as the goodies.

A simple mesh bag is all you need to get started foraging for wild mushrooms.

Another good thing about collecting edible flora is the low entry cost.  A set of good eyes and a simple bag to hold your finds is really all you need.  Most mushroom hunters choose to use a simple mesh bag to hold their finds.  This is to allow the release of mushroom spores as you traipse through the woods.  It also gives all the creepy crawlies a way to escape before your reach your campsite.

Morel mushrooms are not only delicious they are also valuable.  One pound of morel mushroom can often fetch $20-40 per pound.  During morel season you will often see roadside vendors hawking them for a pretty penny.  Morels begin developing early in the spring, but other mushrooms like chanterelles, hen of the wood, and chicken of the wood, can be found throughout the year and also have real value.

3.  Gold Prospecting & Rockhounding

 It goes without saying that if you can find some gold, you can make some money.  The same goes for finding gems and other minerals.  So, I won't get too deep into that.  Many people who live in gold producing areas of the United States don't even realize it is there.  If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where gold can be found, it is relatively inexpensive to get started.  Gems and mineral are exactly the same.  Geodes, meteorites, and other valuable rocks are out there just waiting to be found.

I usually recommend doing a little research on narrowing down where gold may be located within the gold bearing regions.  There are tons of books on where to look.  The next step is learning how to extract the gold from the ground.  This can be done with a metal detector if gold nuggets are common in the area.  Otherwise you can get started for less than $20 by purchasing a gold panning kit.  From there, if you find a good gold producing area, you can step it up to higher production gold processing equipment like a sluice box or gold trommel.

Gold prospecting physical activity is much like morel mushroom hunting.  You will have to drive a bit perhaps to find a place to prospect.  Once you arrive you will have to hike to a stream or old dried up stream bed to set up your prospecting operation.  Gem and mineral hunting may require a bit of climbing.  Both hobbies are very good for your body.

In Summary

We speak to customers who are doing exactly what this article describes as they traverse the nation.  Some of them have taken their already existing lust for treasure hunting on the road and some of them have simply added these activities to their travel itineraries.  All of the activities are a great way to get out into nature, away from anyone else and not only pass the time but a way to get excellent physical and mental stimulation thats great for you body, mind, and soul.

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