If you are one of the lucky few who can drop everything at a minute’s notice and head off on a cruise, there are some amazing bargains to be found.Here are a few tips on how to find the best last-minute cruise deals… CONTINUE READING >>
If you are one of the lucky few who can drop everything at a minute’s notice and head off on a cruise, there are some amazing bargains to be found, if you know where to look. Cancellations happen for many reasons, and should a berth suddenly become available, if you know about it, you have the chance to make a huge saving.
Here are a few tips on how to find the best last-minute cruise deals.
• The Magical 60-Day Mark – At around 60 days before the sailing date, you will start to see last-minute deals appear for tours such as last minute cruises from Sydney, and by bookmarking the website of a leading cruise operator, you can visit the site on a daily basis, and should you find a cheap last-minute deal, don’t hesitate to make your booking, as there will be many other people that are also looking for a bargain. The nearer you get to the actual sailing date, the better the prices, as the cruise line wants to depart with a full ship if at all possible, so check daily and you might be very lucky.
• Consider Off Season Cruises – If you can basically go at any time of the year, why compete for the high season berths? They are not only the most expensive, peak seasons cruises fill up very quickly, while something in the low season would be more affordable and easier to find. Being able to travel at any time is a big plus when looking for cheap cruises. Plus, there are less passengers on off-peak cruises, so it is a win-win situation. There are articles online with more tips on finding a last-minute cruise deal, which might help you to secure the ideal route.
• Be Flexible with your Destinations – This is another way to have access to cheap last-minute deals, as you are not limited to certain destinations. At the end of the day, cruising anywhere is great fun. If you are not particular about the ports of call, you will have a larger number of cruises to choose from.
• Be Extra Vigilant – If you missed a single day checking for last-minute cruise deals, that could be the time when the perfect opportunity arrived, only to be snatched by someone else. If you find a leading Australian cruise operator, then you only need to visit a single website, as they would update on an almost hourly basis.
It does make sense to think about your parameters; the dates you could accept, the destinations you would settle for, and your final budget. Once you have done this, finding the best cruise will be a little easier. Keep an open mind when searching for last-minute deals, and don’t give up, as every day brings along new opportunities. With a little bit of luck and some perseverance on your part, you can hopefully save a lot of money by booking a last-minute deal.
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January is manatee mania month in Florida. There is no better time of year to see – and swim with (yes!) – these gentle giants in The Sunshine State, and Floridians go all out to show off the endangered sea cows, including throwing a festival or two. Did someone say festival? No way we would miss that!
January is manatee mania month in Florida. There is no better time of year to see – and swim with (yes!) – these gentle giants in The Sunshine State. Floridians go all out to show off the endangered sea cows, including throwing a festival or two. Did someone say festival? No way we would miss that!
In winter the Florida subspecies of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) can be found on both the Gulf and Atlantic sides of the state seeking warm waters. Since we had seen them on the Atlantic side a couple of years ago, and especially since we learned that it was the only place where we could actually get in the water and swim with manatees, we headed to the town of Crystal River on the Gulf Coast.
The area around Crystal River has about fifty mammoth fresh water springs that feed Kings Bay with perfect seventy-two-degree water year round. The manatees come to the springs to mate, feed, or just rest and get away from the colder seas. In fact, they like the water in the bay so much that they have been known to stay even through the summer.
We made an afternoon out of exploring our options as to which of the many “Swim With Manatees” boat tours to use by bicycling around the quaint little bay side village of Crystal River.
Along the way we spotted several sea cows feeding along the seawall in the bay. Let the mania begin.
After talking to a few of the tour operators, and reading up on the excursions while stopping off for a little waterfront refreshment, we were convinced that our ultimate meeting-the-manatees experience awaited us not in Crystal River, but ten miles south at Homosassa Springs.
So the next day we drove on down to board our boat ready to say howdy to some sea cows face-to-face.
Another of the massive springs common to the Florida Aquifer feeds the Homosassa River, and manatees are known to swim several miles up the stream to congregate near the source. We chose this tour because it is usually less crowded, the water is often clearer, and it had the added bonus of getting to see some monkeys.
Yup, monkeys, as in more fun than a barrel of. Just after leaving the dock our boat passed by the famous monkey island of The Homosassa Riverside Resort.
The five resident spider monkeys all gave us a good show, climbing trees and swinging from ropes while we cruised by. Our captain, Laura, explained how the little primates got there.
Dr. John Hamlet was convinced to move to Florida by the resort’s colorful owner G. A. “Furgy” Furgason. It seems the good doctor had been using monkeys to study the polio vaccine and Furgy, always the promoter, had the idea that they might make a good tourist attraction.
After dredging in the marina created a pile of rocks just offshore from his businesses, Furgy had his monkey island.
Another fifteen minutes or so up the river and we were wetsuited up and ready to go. But first the rules. Manatees are protected by several state and federal laws, so it is strictly forbidden to harass them in any way.
No chasing, poking, scaring, riding, or in any way going cowboy with the sea cows is allowed. It is not a roundup, pardner.
Captain Laura explained that it was best to try to stay still and let them come to you. And they did. A lot.
They are huge, adults often reach over one thousand pounds and babies nearly half that, and they swam right up to us. Several times we had no idea one was around until it was right next to us. They seemed to come out of nowhere.
Manatees are slow moving, very gentle, and actually seem to enjoy interacting with humans, so we mostly floated silently and let them move around us.
We even got to touch a couple of them, which is allowed as long as it is done softly and with an open hand. Their skin is a little bristly, with short, coarse hairs, and often covered with a layer of algae.
They nearly all have tell-tale parallel lines across their backs from boat’s propellers. In fact they have no natural predators, humans are really their only threat, mainly from impact with boats, but also loss of habitat and pollution.Sadly, as we had noticed in our land-based manatee viewings, almost every one of these congenial creatures bears scars from collisions with watercraft.
The good news is that a great deal of effort is being made to protect them and their numbers seem to have stabilized, with at least five thousand spending the past few winters in Florida.
One of the groups working to preserve the manatee population is Friends of Blue Springs State Park. For thirty years they have been raising funds and awareness with The Orange City / Blue Springs Manatee Festival.
Our timing was perfect, the festival was winding up the next day. So we drove across the peninsula to Orange City to get our fest on and see some more sea cows.
The in-town portion of the festival is a really fun fair, with food, music, booths and the like, but the main attraction was not manatees – it was dogs.
The Disc-Connected K-9 show wowed the crowd with the amazing frisbee catching antics of a group of well trained border collies. We even got to watch a world champion do his high flying disc catching thing.
But the festival really is all about raising money to help the community and the state park, so busses were provided to shuttle folks from town out to the park.
We climbed aboard our standing-room-only coach for the short ride while reading up on the park from a brochure.
Blue Spring is another first magnitude spring, pouring forth over one hundred million gallons of water a day, and like the springs around Crystal River, the water stays a constant seventy-two degrees year round.
So manatees love it, and many will swim miles up the St. Johns River to get to it.
Exiting the bus, we took a boardwalk path up to the source of the spring and got exceptional views of all sorts of wildlife along the way.
Turtles, alligators, and any number of birds and fish, but the stars of the show were being quite shy. The half dozen or so manatees we saw were all resting on the other side of the river from the path, so we didn’t get a very good view.
But that was fine with us, we really didn’t want to get greedy. We had already experienced about the best manatee encounter anyone could ever hope for.
Dallas is a vibrant place where the old west meets the big city. That brings with it a lot of excitement and makes it the ideal vacation destination. Let’s take a look at what you should do when you spend some time in Dallas… CONTINUE READING >>
Dallas is a vibrant place to visit, it’s where the old west meets the big city and brings with it a lot of excitement. This part of the world has some very interesting history which makes it the ideal vacation destination. Let’s take a look at what you should do when you spend some time in Dallas:
Visit the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
The Fort Stockyards National Historic District is a living museum and is well worth visiting. Paying tribute to the west in its heyday, the museum has cattle drives, restaurants a-plenty, and the Texas Trail of Fame. If you would like to watch some rodeo, head to the Stockyards on a Friday or Saturday evening and watch a bunch of cowboys show off their skills.
Stay Somewhere Nice for Less
Dallas is thought to be home to some 77,000 hotel rooms, making it the ideal place to stay. There are plenty of well-priced hotels around and you can find the details here, hotels in Dallas tend to be pretty good and close to some of the local attractions.
If you want to pay as little as possible try to spend some time in Dallas out of season. Prices are likely to be a little lower in the spring, fall, and winter.
The Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza
Located at 411 Elm Street, the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza is home to some exhibits which detail President John F. Kennedy’s life. Here you will also find a copy of Lee Harvey Oswald’s set-up. You don’t have to be the biggest JFK fan to visit and enjoy this museum as it is quite intriguing. Visited by thousands of people every year, the museum looks over Dealey Plaza and Elm Street, where Oswald tracked JFK’s motorcade.
Spend around 2 hours at the museum and find out exactly where Oswald pulled the trigger on that fateful day. Use the touchscreens to help you learn more about that days’ events and marvel at the work that went into setting up this excellent museum.
Fort Worth Zoo
Found at 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth Zoo has been open for more than 100 years and is home to a wide range of stunning creatures. Home to more than 5,700 birds, amphibians, and reptiles, visitors can also see kangaroos, white tigers, and other animals.
The Zoo is also home to a Wild West village, a laser shooting gallery and so much more. Spend a day at the zoo and slowly but surely make your way around. You will have to pay to park at the zoo but the cost of admission is repetitively low and you’re practically guaranteed to have a great time.
There are some great things to do in Dallas, and you’re likely to have a great time whenever you go. Visit some or all of the above destinations after you’ve found a hotel and enjoy your time in Dallas, where the old west meets the big city.
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As a business owner, you know what your business needs to survive, but do you still feel like something is missing? You have all the basics, but you may be missing something equally important: gratitude… CONTINUE READING >>
Did you realize gratitude practice can have benefits beyond your personal life? Learn how gratefulness can transform your business.
As a business owner, you know what your business needs to survive, but do you still feel like something is missing?
You have all the basics, but you may be missing something equally important: gratitude.
Did you know that practicing gratitude can have benefits beyond your personal life? Check out these five incredible ways that gratefulness can transform your business.
1. Wins Customer Loyalty
Your customers are your bread and butter. Instead of looking at them as numbers, take the time to see them as people. You should treat your customers like they are the foundation of your business.
Consider running promotions, giving a gift, or including personalized appreciation notes with their order. We live in a fast pace world. When you slow down and take the time to express your gratitude to your customers, you can win their loyalty.
2. Creates a Positive Work Environment
You already know how important a positive work environment is for your business. You can build on that by expressing gratitude to your employees. It’s easy for employees to feel unappreciated, so letting them know that you’re grateful for their work will increase their mood and productivity.
3. Helps in Challenging Moments
You will hit roadblocks in business. That’s a given. The key is knowing how to work through those challenging moments and come out on the other side.
Instead of focusing on what’s not working or what your competition is up to, direct your focus on the great things that are happening. Write down the wins you’ve already had and feel pride in accomplishing those things.
Gratitude can also help you amid struggle. For example, if you’re struggling with building your business online, you should start incorporating more gratitude. It can even help you with website SEO. Read more about showing gratitude and its effects on SEO.
4. Helps You Focus on What’s Important
Gratefulness is a great way to help you stay focused on what’s important. When you’re feeling grateful in the moment you’re in, you’re able to refocus and gain clarity on what’s important. This allows you to focus on the here and now.
5. Keeps You Moving Forward
Being an entrepreneur isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. When you get overwhelmed, it’s important to find things to keep you moving forward. That’s where gratitude can play a huge part.
Consider keeping a gratitude jar on your desk. Every time you have a win or something happens that brings you joy, write it down and put it in the jar. When you’re feeling low or discouraged, pull out a note and feel gratitude for that moment.
How Can You Incorporate Gratefulness into Your Business?
An important aspect of success in life and business is gratefulness. It may seem small, but feeling gratitude for all your blessings and accomplishments can help you continue to grow and create even more success.
If you’re wanting to hit the road for a family trip, that’s a great idea. But anyone who has traveled with kids before knows that it brings its own set of difficulties.That’s why we’ve put together this guide outlining the top travel advice for surviving a vacation with kids… CONTINUE READING >>
So if you’re wanting to hit the road for a family trip, that’s a great idea. But anyone who has traveled with kids before knows that it brings its own set of difficulties.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide outlining the top travel advice for surviving a vacation with kids. Keep reading to learn more.
Hotel vs. House: How to Choose
First and foremost, let’s talk about some of our top travel advice: accommodations. Whenever possible, it’s usually preferable to rent an Airbnb or VRBO where you can spread out.
For example, if you have a baby or toddler who goes to bed at 8 pm, do you really want to be stuck in a hotel room with the lights off for the rest of the night?
If you get a house, you’ll be able to put the kids in a separate room when it’s time to go to bed. That way, you can enjoy some relaxing downtime after they’re asleep.
The downside of renting a home instead of booking a hotel is the lack of amenities. For example, you probably won’t have a pool with slides or a kids club with books, activities, and toys.
Keep this in mind as you’re deciding. And if you need to make a compromise, see if you can find a hotel with a separate suite or kitchenette so you can still spread out a little.
Think About Flights
Planning on flying to your destination? Then this section is for you.
Whenever possible, book a direct flight. Reducing the amount of airport logistics you have to deal with is a great hack when traveling with kids.
But this can be easier said than done. When you’re looking at flight prices online, the cheaper flight with a layover can look more appealing than the direct flight that’s more expensive.
However, the phrase to remember here is to prioritize convenience not cost when it comes to flying with kids. It will be worth it in the end.
For your flight, make sure you’re prepared with the essentials you’ll need for your children. Depending on their age, pack their favorite toys and blankets. Also consider packing tablets with headphones so they can zone out to a movie or game for the duration of the flight.
Traveling with a baby or toddler? Make sure you have all the diapers, wipes, and bottles you need. And it’s always a good idea to pack lots of snacks to keep them happy.
Plan Your Days Appropriately
When you’re only in a city for a few days, it’s tempting to try and see and do everything you can. And if you’re traveling with a group of like-minded adults, this is a great strategy.
But the minute you add kids into the mix, remember this motto: less is more. It’s simply too much to plan a full day of activities every single day of your trip.
Instead, consider only having a half-day of activities planned. Then, with the rest of your day, leave it open for some downtime at your place, a trip to the park, or a visit to the pool.
Want to go to a museum or a major tourist destination like the Space Needle? Do that in the morning and then leave the afternoon for something more relaxed. This strategy will keep both parents and kids happier.
Also remember that kids aren’t going to enjoy the same activities as adults. In other words, don’t make the whole trip a bunch of stops at historical sites and museums.
Some of this is fine, but it’s about balance. Instead, also plan in more kid-friendly activities along the way.
Feeling stressed planning your trip? DeepCBD could help calm you down.
Let’s Talk About Food
Last but not least, think about food. When you’re on vacation, your normal meal routine is interrupted. And it’s easy for your kids to overdo it on the junk food.
When this happens, they can experience sugar crashes and mood swings. So to combat this, bring some healthier snacks with you like nuts, fruit, and cheese.
However, at the same time, it’s a good idea to adjust your expectations. It’s okay for your kids to eat more sweets than normal when on vacation. That’s part of the fun.
If you’re in a different country, it’s also totally normal for your kids to want something familiar. After lots of local cuisine, some chicken nuggets might be exactly what they want. And that’s okay.
To accomplish this, look for restaurants that have at least one item your kids will eat. And then once you’re there you can try to get them to try something new. But if they don’t want to, don’t sweat it.
You’ll all be happier if you’re well-fed with something that hits the spot. And if mac and cheese is what does that for your kids, so be it.
Now You Know the Top Travel Advice for a Trip With Your Kids
There you have it: the top travel advice for traveling with kids. While going on a trip with your children is a different experience than going with your spouse or a group of friends, it can be incredibly fun and rewarding.
The key is to plan ahead so that you’re prepared. This preparation will go a long way.
Want to learn more? Check out our blog for additional tips and tricks about travel.
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When you think about it there is a huge audience out there for your product. It’s just about using all the channels available to you and targeting them in the right way. From Instagram and Pinterest to word of mouth… CONTINUE READING >>
When was the last time you thought about how many people were in the world? And how many of them are interested in your product or service? When you start to think about it there is a huge audience out there for your product.
It’s just about using all the channels available to you and targeting them in the right way. From Instagram and Pinterest to word of mouth, your target audience is all around you. Here’s how to increase your audience reach and how to reach your target market.
Create a Strong Brand
If you want your product or service to be noticed then you need to create a brand that is recognized online and in shops. This means creating something memorable and unique. It also needs to be something reflects the values of the company.
Companies with weak brands can lead to a product or service that people perceive as mediocre.
Start by thinking about the values your company stands for. If it’s a green company then make sure that is reflected in the services you offer. Don’t use plastic packaging, encourage sustainability and, if applicable, use ethical farms if there is meat in your products. Reflect this on the packaging as well.
Use the color green and include any expert accreditations that can prove to your customers that you are a green company.
Be sure to follow green companies on social media and try to gain traction with them by posting valuable content that might encourage them to follow you back, every day.
Remember if your audience is very specific and you are looking to target those people be sure to consider geofencing marketing providers.
Hire Experts on Each Social Media Channel
Many people hire social media managers. This is a great step in the right direction and it is a valuable step forward in understanding that this is a medium important to growing your audience as print magazines and television.
But you can go one step further – a crucial step forward in the 2020s – and that is hiring experts in each social media channel. If you know you want to make use of Twitter and grow your audience to the tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands then hire an expert in Twiter.
There are experts that specialize just in Twitter and you can find these advertising themselves online.
They might charge more than normal social media managers but if you know your audience is on a particular channel then it makes sense to invest more in hiring an expert.
Understand the Audience of Different Social Media Channels
It’s important to understand what each channel does and what audience you are likely to find there.
Twitter
This site is often about politics. If the company and service that you offer is all about activism then this is the channel for you. It is more about words than images, though it is possible to post photos and some people do post them.
It also allows you to give live updates that are read instantly. If you were a reviews service, then this could be a great place to offer your first opinions about a product on launch.
Instagram
This is the site of travel, fashion, and lifestyle because it is about the image first. The image is the most important part of the site and the text comes second. But it is also more about telling a story than conveying a message.
In fact, there is a storytelling feature to Instagram. You can add a photo with a caption to your story and also repost other people’s stories.
If you want to show or promote the product or service you offer then this might be the channel for you.
VR is another way of communicating with your audience and answers the question of how to reach your target audience. Shortly, we might use VR with Instagram.
Talk to People
How will you ever know who likes your product or service if you don’t talk to them? You need to talk to your audience or ideal buying customer to find out who they are and what they like and don’t like about your company.
You could do this the traditional way by organizing a focus group, a representative sample, but sometimes this doesn’t work. Instead, you could get out onto the streets or the shops where your product or service is sold and do a quick vox-pop or question and answer session.
Here’s some questions to consider asking:
•Why did you pick this product today? •Who are you buying this for? •Is this your first time buying the product? •What else is in your basket? •Would you buy this again? •Would you still buy this item if we changed the price? •Do you think you would have brought the product if we changed the packaging?
Remember to offer an incentive to those who answer your questions. This could be a chocolate or some free vouchers for the supermarket that stocks your product.
How to Improve Your Audience Reach? Know Your Audience Inside-Out
If you want to improve your audience reach then you need to understand your audience completely and what channels they use so that you can access them.
Do your research and create a strong brand that is tailored to them. Hire experts to work on the social media channels you are targeting if you are not familiar with them.
More than anything else talk to your audience. Find out where they shop and who they are and quiz them on why they chose your product. Be sure to incentivize them with a reward at the end to show that you value their time.
If you are interested in learning more about improving your audience reach or how to grapple with your target market then be sure to check out the rest of our site.
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There’s no doubt that summer is a great time to go RV camping, going RVing in the winter also has its perks. State and national parks are a lot less crowded during the winter months and RV parks also tend to offer huge discounts during the winter months. But before you go winter RV camping there are some things you should know… CONTINUE READING >>
When people think of RVing, they often think of cruising down an open road during the boiling hot summer months.
While there’s no doubt that summer is a great time to go RV camping, going RVing in the winter also has its perks.
For one, state and national parks are a lot less crowded during the winter months. Although you may not be able to traverse all of the trails you’d like to because of snow levels, you’ll find that the trails you do hike on are much less populated during this time of year.
RV parks also tend to offer huge discounts during the winter months, which means that you have more money for food and adventuring.
But, before you go winter RV camping, there are some things you should know.
Check out this guide to discover the top winter RV camping tips that will help you stay warm and preserve your RV.
1. Insulate Your Windows and Floors
Insulating your windows and floors is one of the best ways to beat the cold during those long winter months.
By adding thermal curtains and rugs to your RV, you’ll help keep the heat trapped inside.
Windows are perhaps the biggest culprits when it comes to letting warm air out and letting cold air in, which is why we also suggest insulating your windows with foam or bubble wrapping them.
Then, to add extra warmth, you can hang thermal curtains on top of the insulated windows.
Also, on sunny days, we suggest leaving the windows uncovered so that your RV can soak in the heat from the sun.
In general, the propane furnaces that come installed in RVs are inefficient. The blower uses a lot of electricity, and the heater uses a lot of propane due to the fact that a lot of the hot air is exhausted outside of the RV (just touch your hand to the exterior of your RV in the cold winter months and you’ll see what we mean!).
If you plan to stay in places a few days at a time and you’re choosing campgrounds that have unlimited electricity built into their overnight camping fee, then it makes sense to invest in an electric space heater.
3. Use Vent Covers
While vents do an excellent job of ventilating the air in your RV in order to prevent mold, they’re also a major source of heat loss.
This is where a vent cover comes in.
Vent covers help keep your RV warm by adding an extra layer of insulation. And, these covers still allow for ventilation to happen so that condensation and humidity build-up doesn’t become a problem. This way, you can stay warm without having to worry about any mold growth.
And, if you want to be super cautious about mold growth, you can purchase a dehumidifier to deal with some of the humidity build-up from all the extra insulation.
4. Purchase or Rent a Smaller RV
If you’re still in the RV shopping process, consider sacrificing size for warmth.
Smaller spaces use less energy and warm up quicker. Plus, the less electricity and propane you use, the more money you save each month.
Unless you’re traveling with a big family, sacrificing space in your RV shouldn’t be a huge issue.
Plus, with the money you’ll save by purchasing a smaller one, you’ll be able to splurge on the occasional hotel room when you feel like you need some extra space.
5. Invest in Thermal Sleeping Bags
Another way to ensure you stay cozy in your RV during those cold winter months is to invest in thermal sleeping bags.
When choosing a thermal sleeping bag, it’s best to choose one that has a lower temperature rating than you actually expect to encounter. For example, if you don’t expect to encounter weather colder than 30 degrees, we still suggest you get a sleeping bag that can warm you up in 20 degrees.
This way, if you become too warm, all you have to do is shed a few extra layers of clothing.
Some thermal sleeping bags even come with hoods, which great, as we tend to lose a lot of heat through our heads.
6. Prepare Your Pipes
Preparing your pipes for the winter months is essential if you want to keep your RV running smoothly.
By preparing your RV plumbing system, you’ll increase the longevity of your pipes and hoses.
During the cold winter months, pipes, hoses, and tanks receive a beating if they’re not protected from the elements. To get your plumbing ready for the winter months, here’s what you should do:
•Keep your fresh air water tank empty and instead use bottled water for drinking, dishes, and brushing your teeth (this will eliminate the issue of the freshwater freezing) •If you do decide to use freshwater, insulate your pipes beforehand •To prevent black waste from freezing, pour antifreeze down the drain and toilets
7. Insulate Your Water Heater
Last but not least, you should insulate your water heater during the winter months.
Insulating your water heater will help keep your freshwater at higher temperatures. Even though the entire purpose of the water heater is to keep your freshwater warm, in extremely cold environments, even the best water heater has the potential to freeze.
When water is in a frozen state, it expands, which can then result in cracked and burst pipes. You should also check out this guide to learn how to keep RV water hose from freezing.
Are You Ready to Go Winter RV Camping?
Now that you’ve read this guide, you should be ready to go winter RV camping.
Now, all you need to do is select your destination and hit the road.
And, if you liked this article, be sure to check back in with our blog for more RVing tips and tricks.
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