Since the pandemic started, recreational vehicle (RV) travel has taken the spotlight as the ultimate vacation. RV rentals and sales soared, according to the RV Industry Association. "[We've seen] a huge rise," notes Paige Bouma, executive vice president of RV Trader, a website listing classified ads for new and preowned RVs, who notes that families found RV travel a way to hit the road and get away safely on their own during the pandemic. "It gives you a destination for something to do. You're naturally social distancing, you don't have to share a bathroom and you can make your own food."

Add to that the beauty of nature and the thrill of exploring it, and it's no wonder RVing has surged in popularity. "We really like moving around," says Costco member Jennifer Stermer, who has been RVing with her husband for more than five years. "We can go wherever we want, and our house is right with us."

If the idea of rolling down the road in a home on wheels appeals to you, there are important considerations. Planning and preparation, key to any trip, are especially crucial now, even as COVID-19 wanes. "Nowadays it's even more important to do your homework and call ahead or visit websites to see what's open," Stermer says.