10 Holiday Gift Ideas for RVers

My parents began their RVing adventure last year. Between summering in South Dakota, wintering in Arizona, they are often on the road. Last year while Christmas shopping for them, I discovered that RVers present a special holiday shopping challenge. These nomads have little extra storage space in their moving homes, so any bulky or fragile gifts are out of the question. The following are some RVing gift ideas I have compiled. This list of both practical and fun ideas contains RVer gift ideas that will either take up little space or will serve a specific, practical purpose.

•During summer months fraught with mosquitoes and flies, RVers will be happy to have the Texsport Brittmoore Screen Arbor. They will have plenty of room to eat, read or stretch out for a nap out of the sun and away from bugs in this 10' x 10' x 92" screened-in enclosure. ($58.95; www.ourcampsite.com)

•Few RVers risk packing glasses or fine crystal, knowing how rough the road they travel may become. They need not forego attractive stemware or drinkware altogether, though. The Embossed Grape Acrylic Stemware from Prodyne is available in four-piece sets of flutes, wine glasses or goblets. This clear stemware is both elegant and practical. ($12.99-14.99; www.prodyne.com) The colorful acrylic glasses pictured above have the weight and appearance of glass, but are not as fragile. ($1.99; www.walmart.com)

•If you know an RVer who enjoys wildlife, perhaps they would appreciate the Duncraft Mini Classic Birdfeeder. Small, lightweight, and easy to fill and empty, this feeder will allow travelers an up-close view of regional birds wherever they are and easily pack away when it's time to hit the road again. ($12.97; www.birdsforever.com)

•Give the gift of entertainment with one or more travel editions of popular board games from BoardGames Express. The Deluxe Scrabble Folio Edition comes in a compact carrying case for easy packing. ($18.95; www.boardgamesexpress.com)
•Long hours spent driving can cause sore, stiff muscles in any driver. Alleviate some of their driving stress by giving the RVer on your list the AirHawk Pro Comfort Seating System. The AirHawk Pro increases circulation and evenly distributes body weight, relieving the stress that sitting for long periods places on the body. ($149.95; www.roadtrucker.com)

•Many new RVs and vehicles now come equipped with GPS units. If the RVer on your list doesn't have one, though, or if they spend a lot of time outside their RV, hiking or on an ATV, why not get them a handheld GPS? The Garmin GPSMAP 76 12-Channel Handheld GPS is a highly-rated, low-cost system with many convenient features for travelers. It records points along the way and can guide the user back to their starting point, convenient if they've wandered off a hiking trail or misplaced their vehicle in a busy parking lot. Easily loadable with the various maps available on optional CD-ROMs, this unit will allow travelers to navigate unfamiliar isolated country roads or crowded city streets with ease. ($159.99; www.amazon.com)

•If you know the itinerary of the RVer on your list, do a little research on an area they will be visiting and consider giving them a gift certificate for a popular restaurant or museum in that area. The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum is a must-see attraction for visitors to Tucson. For nature-loving RVers who are wintering in the Tucson area, a Gift Membership to the museum would make a wonderful holiday present. A $50 General Membership comes with two membership passes for unlimited admission as well as three guest passes. (www.desertmuseum.org)

•The National Park Service offers an annual pass for entrance into any National Park. The National Park Pass is good for one year and is well worth the $50 fee for anyone touring the U.S. (1-888-GO-PARKS; www.nationalparks.org)

•Food storage and preparation space in an RV are limited, so RVers all too often rely on dining out or prepared meals, both of which can be expensive and often unhealthy options. Help them find simple and healthy meal ideas with Cooking Aboard Your RV, by Janet Groene. This 216-page cookbook contains 270 recipes, as well as hints and ideas for cooking in an RV. ($12.71; www.rvbookstore.com)

•Replace last year's atlas with the 2007 Leather Clad Rand-McNally Road Atlas. This handsome North American atlas rolls up in its leather cover fit conveniently in a glove compartment or console. ($48.00; www.sundancecatalog.com)

If the RVer for whom you are shopping will not be spending the holidays with you, remember to inquire about gift-wrapping from the retailers above, and consider having the gift shipped directly to them to save you from paying for shipping twice. Good luck shopping and Happy Holidays!