Our Maiden Voyage: A Family Adventure to Valley Verde

Our first RV trip was an adventure from start to finish! My family, including our two dogs, recently packed up our new home-on-wheels and hit the road for a weekend getaway to Valley Verde, Arizona.

It was about a two-hour drive, which was the perfect distance for a first-timer like my husband, Bobby. Getting used to driving a large RV was definitely a learning curve for him. He had to be extra careful on the tight and winding roads, and he quickly learned to anticipate the pull from big rig trucks passing us on the highway. I could feel every adjustment he made as he expertly navigated the challenges, and I was so proud of how he handled it all with complete confidence.

While Bobby was mastering the art of driving the "big rig," our two pups were learning the art of being travel buddies. We did some practice runs in the truck with our dog Jake, so we knew he would need to be crated while we were on the road. He’s a bit of a nervous traveler—jumping all over the place and barking nonstop—and he cried for about half the ride before finally settling down. Ella, on the other hand, was an absolute breeze. She's a natural traveler and just slept on my lap the whole way.

Once we arrived, the pups had to get used to being around new sights and smells. Since they feel like the world is their own, we kept them on their leashes at all times to keep them safe. We also made sure to steer clear of areas with other dogs, as we're very protective of them and want to make sure they're always comfortable. It was a great opportunity for them to work on their social skills in a safe environment and a fun new experience for the whole family.

This small RV park was comfortable and a nice choice for our maiden voyage.  They had a food truck that prepared a great breakfast burrito and some nice trails.  The weather was a bit cooler and the nighttime was just cold.  We were able to test out the heater in the RV...all working just fine.  

We took some simple hikes to get the dogs used to exploring.  They adjust pretty quickly as we walked by other RVer's with their dogs.  They enjoyed the dog park where they could run around lease free.  One thing I found is that other campers were not very respectful in picking up after their pups.   I really believe that if we all did our part and picked up after our own, then others could enjoy the facilities nicely.  

Our first RV trip was full of new experiences, challenges, and plenty of laughs. It was a great way to kick off our new life on the road and a memorable family trip for all of us.