Enjoy fitness and food to their fullest on your next trip

Tripping in an RV might make you think of long-periods of being stationary while sitting around as a driver or passenger. You may be imagining surviving on less-than-stellar snacks along the way. The real RV life has plenty of opportunities to make sure you’re satisfied when it comes to getting your culinary and cardio requirements.

Hiking is a fantastic way to gain many health benefits and counteract just as many health issues. RV-ing can leave you at particular risk of certain problems, but it’s nothing a daily dose of stretching your legs won’t fix. Exercise works up an appetite, so eating well before or after (or both!) is part of the fun.

Do I really have to take a hike?

There are good reasons why you should. Maintaining regular health care on the road can be a challenge, no matter how short or long the trip. It’s best to do everything you can to keep yourself in the best physical and mental shape you can manage. A few problems you avoid by getting out and about are:

· Radiation – The increased use of radiation-emitting technology can turn your mobile home into an unhealthy, radiation-filled space. Radiation levels in contained metallic vehicles can increase up to 393 percent, which is very bad for the brain.

· Poor indoor air quality – RVs are as prone to dust as any home, and dust can bring allergens, microbes and other problems to impact your health. There are steps you can take to optimize RV air quality. In the meantime, the Great Outdoors will offer the purest air you can breathe.

· Sitting your way to sickness – RVs can require long stretches on the road. This means drivers sitting down, and passengers sitting or lying down – none of which are good for too long. Studies warn that higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar and heart problems can all sneak up on even the slimmest traveler.

· Boredom – This can strike even while on the move. The road can look and feel a bit repetitive after a while. Hiking provides a ton of new and unpredictable stimulation for your mind, body, and senses.

Where to hike

The American Hiking Society records more than 200,000 miles of trail across the country. You can wind your way by the ocean, through forests, up mountains and along valleys and through caves; America’s National Parks offer some of the most breathtaking scenery on earth.

Florida offers scenic regions like Canaveral National Shore, the broad vistas of Everglades hiking and the charmingly named Yeehaw Junction (home of Horseshoe Lake and Hog Island). The wider United States offer some truly legendary trails which lead hikers through iconic landscapes like the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park and the high-altitude splendor of Yosemite.

The variety and beauty of these thousands of options are not only difficult to describe, they’re hard to list in order of grandeur. That’s the great thing about our country: there are mountains, forests, canyons, creeks, glades and tropical beaches. The hardest thing is taking your pick!

How to hike safely

Hiking offers lots to see and do, but don’t forget the basics of doing it well. Stay safe while hiking by packing the right gear. A few indispensable hiking items include a map, a compass, food, water, sensible clothing against the elements, and some way to contact the outside world if you get into a bind. Signal may be slim to non-existent in some areas, but don’t let this discourage you from taking your cell phone.

It’s also essential you hike in clear daylight. The dark does more than increase your risk of getting lost or hurt. It also brings out plenty of dangerous animals in many of America’s hiking regions. Learn everything you can about your current local area before you set off on a hike. A working awareness of the flora and fauna is a strong aid in staying safe.

You’ll see plenty of signs and symbols along the way when you hit the trail. Review this guide to understand some of the most important.

Food and leisurely exercise

A hike may be more than you need, sometimes. It’s often nice just to find the right cook spot and stretch your legs with a simple walk around. A leisurely stroll may seem like the poor cousin of full-on trailblazing, but there are plenty of benefits to it. As little as 30 minutes of walking a day gets the job done.

The even better news is that research shows you don’t even have to do it all thirty at once.

The fresh air of the outdoors will work up an appetite as fast as exercise does, so why not find a great cooking spot to wander and dine? America is as dotted with RV campsites as it is with trails, the majority will offer somewhere to cook your food, wander around, and meet fellow roadies with whom you can share stories and snacks.

There may be times when you’d prefer to create your own cooking spot by setting up a campsite. If you do, we recommend checking this great list of ways to eat well.

We haven’t forgotten winter

We know it isn’t always spring, summer or even autumn out there. Sometimes, staying in the RV is the coziest option. Consider these winter exercise options if you’re stuck indoors. For even more tips, check out this blog for lots of inspiration to keep in trim.

We hope you enjoyed our look at hiking and eating on the road. If you’re ready to roam, hit this link to find a hiking trail near you.