7. Affordability: The question of whether it is cheaper to take an RV vacation doesn’t have a “one size fits all” answer. The comparison really depends on the type of vacations you would take instead, as well as the way in which you plan to RV. For a one-time trip, you can compare the costs of renting a suitable RV to the costs of hotels, airfare or other means of travel. Or if you are considering regular RV vacations, you may want to purchase a motorhome or towable trailer. In this case, you would need to factor in operating costs, maintenance and the purchase price. In an RV, you can save money by cooking meals at home vs. dining out. You can minimize expenses if you take advantage of activities and amenities already included in the campground rate. Fuel expenses can be managed by reducing the distances traveled and staying longer at a given campground or park.

8. Driving the RV: Driving yourself gives you control over where you go and the pace of your travel. You don’t have the hassle of airline counters and keeping to schedules. You can stop and take a break when you choose. You don’t need a special license to drive an RV. Sure, it takes some getting used to — but the number of RVs on the road should tell you that it is doable. Practice on your own (or with one other person) before you load up your passengers. Take advantage of any classes available through your dealer or one of the many RV organizations.

9. How about a relaxing vacation for a change? How many times have you returned from a trip saying you need a vacation from the vacation? Now don\’t kid yourself – if you are the type who likes to schedule all the details of a trip, that’s not going to change simply because you are traveling in an RV. But in choosing an RV vacation, you may shift your thinking and be more apt to use your time off as an opportunity to truly relax and unwind.

10. Test out the RV Lifestyle: The RV vacation may serve as a test drive to gauge your overall interest in the RV lifestyle. There are RVers who spend several weeks per year in RV travel. Other RVers take off for months. Snowbirds are RVers who make an annual trek to warmer climates for the winter season. And then there are fulltime RVers whose only home is their RV. Many of these people started out by vacationing in an RV as a way to try out the RV lifestyle.

The Wii and Netflix will become a great joint venture. It will allow access to the living rooms of millions of new potential subscribers. It’s by far the most popular gaming console in the U.S. and Canada.

Netflix has been determined for a very long time to offer movie streaming on as many devices as possible. Letting subscribers watch movies over the internet has become an increasingly important service for Netflix.

For the few people who are unfamiliar with Wii, the console offers players a chance to play simulations of golf, bowling, boxing, tennis and baseball. Wii comes complete with two wireless controllers that have built-in motion sensors. Another sensor is positioned on top of the television and Wii players perform the same motions that they want their virtual player onscreen to execute.

Does Wii have the potential to sharpen sports skills? Playing the video games in order to sharpen real life sports skills isn’t a completely ridiculous idea. Obviously if you’ve never swung a golf club before, maybe it’ll help you to learn how to golf swing mechanically.

Avid Wii gamers claim that Wii can be used as a fitness tool? It’s ridiculous too think that flicking your wrist is considered exercising. Although the games on Wii is fun, if I wanted an actual workout I’d sign up for a work out program at a fitness center.

Video game playing isn’t generally associated with sports skills, exercising or physical activity, however in the age of Nintendo Wii this could be the case. Regardless of the legitimacy of these claims, Wii remains a very popular console and Nintendo has sold 1.5 million of these $249.99 systems to date.

Consequently, intensive Wii playing has led to numerous reported accidents. Wii related injuries and household damages. People have actually been reported and photographed with black eyes and bruises, broken ceiling lamps, smashed windows, broken television sets, Wii controllers stuck in walls, broken pottery, injured pets (including a cat who lost a tooth to a Wii controller) along with their accompanying stories.

Although there are still many people who view Wii as simply a means of fun family entertainment. Nintendo has undoubtedly revolutionized the way in which video games are played and perhaps even the sole purpose of playing them. Whenever a new console is about to be introduced in stores people will wait in long lines overnight,and say things like “I can’t wait to get my hands on it!”

History is clearly very important to Nintendo. Never has this been more apparent than for Nintendo’s Wii pronounced “we”, a machine that wants to revolutionize the way we play games forever!

A feature that will endear it to older players is the fact that once you’ve hooked your console up to broadband, you can download classic Nintendo and Sega games. The Wii is also backward compatible with the GameCube, which is good news for those who cherished that unloved square box.

Nintendo is hoping that this will attract friends and relatives, parents, younger brothers and sisters and put the Wii back into the hearts of fun family entertainment.

So will this be a real revolution? So after you’ve conquered Wii Sports, what else is there left to look forward to? After the relative failure of the old-fashioned GameCube, Nintendo is taking a huge leap of faith forward with the Wii.

If the game-makers at Nintendo can make imaginative use of its clever control system, it might be the breath of fresh air that gaming needs for the future. Pass the imaginary golf club.

The trick is finding the right family vacation for your family. Can you imagine showing up at a great resort with your children – only to find the resort does not offer anything special for youngsters? Within a day, the kids will be bored, the adults will be frustrated, and your vision of a special family vacation will be up in smoke.

Planned correctly, and with the help of a travel consultant, you can find the right trip for your family. A consultant can help you find a place where someone has thought of your children’s needs, as well as your own. Today, that could be a cruise, an international resort or a domestic destination. The common denominator is that someone thought about what makes children happy – like age-appropriate activities – and what meets parents’ needs – like a babysitting service or child-friendly menus.

Adventure

Before you call a travel consultant, you need to think about what kind of vacation would interest your entire family. If you have a baby, an adventure vacation is probably not a good choice. But if you have older children or teens, an adventure vacation might be just the ticket to keep everyone engaged. Imagine hiking down a 10,000-foot-high volcano on Maui, or taking a helicopter tour of the islands of Hawaii. Got a young saltwater fisherman? Spend a day out on the water going for a big catch.

If you are looking for something more exotic, consider the islands of the Caribbean. St. Lucia features mountains, waterfalls and a drive-in volcano. In St. Kitts, you can visit a rainforest filled with monkeys and wildlife. Try scuba diving or snorkeling for a close-up look at sea creatures that your children have only read about.

You might also consider a visit to Canada where you can take the family whale watching in New Brunswick, or walk the Viking trail of Leif Erikson in Newfoundland.

Historical

When your children have a few history classes behind them, it is time to consider a historical trip to some of the places they have studied in school. Europe is rich in history – from the medieval city of Brussels, Belgium, to the castles and towers of London and the ancient ruins in Rome. History will never be the same! Or go south to Mexico, where you can climb an ancient pyramid, or Puerto Rico where you can visit ancient cathedrals, forts and plazas in Old San Juan.

And do not forget about the historic sites of the United States. They may not be as old as those in Europe, but American children probably know more about them. Philadelphia, Pa., is home to Independence Hall, where the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence; as well as the Liberty Bell and Valley Forge Park, where then General George Washington encamped one winter with his troops. A little further north and you’ll be in New York City, the city that never sleeps and is home to Broadway, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty

Quick getaways

Scheduling a family vacation can be complicated, especially if you want to avoid pulling the children out of school. Sometimes it is easier to schedule a quick getaway over a long weekend. You may feel obligated to pack a lot into three or four days, but the kids will never get bored!

Las Vegas, Nev., is more than a gambling town these days. It is an oasis on the desert that offers fabulous hotels and family friendly attractions. Great package deals are available that make it an affordable option. A simple walk down the Las Vegas strip will give your children a chance to see a battle aboard a pirate ship; big cats – like tigers, panthers and leopards; and more than 1,200 species of sharks and other saltwater fish.

You might want to consider visiting the U.S.’s neighbor to the north, Canada. For a little taste of France, visit Quebec City. Or cross the border between New York and Canada and visit the magnificent Niagara Falls. It may sound like a honeymoon locale, but there are plenty of family activities, excursions and attractions there, too.

And definitely put Washington, D.C., on your list. The nation’s capital is full of interesting and affordable attractions. Start by walking by the White House or visiting for free any of the 19 Smithsonian museums, including the National Zoo. Tour the monuments on the National Mall like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial. The public transportation system, the Metro, is clean and inexpensive. And you will often find the city deserted on the weekends, so hotel rates are down and parking is available.

Having a family definitely does not mean the end of vacations. If anything, it is the start of something new and exciting. As you show the world to your children, you can see it through their eyes.