Writer & Photographer Adam Porter and family
I’ve always had itchy feet. It might be the sand between my toes from growing up on Florida’s Gulf Coast. But, more likely, that wanderlust comes from spending so much of my childhood with nothing but the horizon in the distance. Traveling in boats, on horses and in conversion vans. Sitting in mom’s lap on family vacations, looking through the windshield at mountains for the first time.

My first RV experience was a trip with my buddies in junior high. All day gallivanting round Myakka State Park – hiking, fishing, rough housing – then sleeping in a comfortable bed. Now that’s camping!

Today, all grown up, with two rough housing boys of my own, I have never outgrown that spirit of adventure. Fortunately I found a better half that loves to roam with me. Shelba and I share a new itch – RV living – and we are making plans to turn those dreams into reality. No better place to start than the Florida RV SuperShow.

Boondocking visitors
We pulled into the Florida State Fairgrounds on one of those perfect winter days, the kind where people visiting from somewhere else decide not to go home. Glancing around we saw rows of occupied RVs. Every coach bore plates from a different State. Viewmaster shots of vacation destinations rapidly clicked through my mind. Not even inside yet, and I was already dreaming. When we got our RV, where would we go first? 

The Expo Hall vendor area felt like a market bazaar in a foreign country. So many unfamiliar, enticing displays. Need something for your RV? Yeah, they’ve got that. Looking for someplace to go next? Stroll the booths and you can travel the country, from Florida to Alaska, via full-color brochure.

We stopped by the Lazydays display and chatted with Ambassadors, Stuart and Janet. If you have a question about RVing, Ambassadors have the answer. We also got an update on the goings on at the Design Center. If you’re looking for a change of scenery inside your camper or coach, you definitely need to check this out. Folks were lined up to subscribe to BetterRVing.com Magazine. One lady remarked that she loved the story about Tarpon Springs in the Spring 2010 issue, and asked if I’d seen it. Grinning, I allowed that it was a “pretty good story.”

We stepped out of the Expo Hall into a world that smelled like a carnival. Somewhere out there was a corn

Supershow entertainment is found everywhere
dog – or two – with my name on it. What would we see first? Travel trailers? Toy haulers? Fifth wheels? Motor coaches? Wherever we looked it was opportunity on wheels, dreams on display. 

The Fleetwood coaches beckoned. Gleaming, fully-painted exteriors. Gorgeous interiors. Panoramic windshields. Supple leather and full kitchens. We toured the Southwind, Bounder and Bounder Classic. We gave Forest River and Winnebago equal time, checking out the Georgetown, Journey and Adventurer, respectively. All the coaches were beautiful inside and out, but they felt a bit too much for beginners. Still, I can see myself in the pilot’s chair one day. So could my boys – Chris, 17 years, and Brendan, 17 months – who both took a turn in the driver’s seat. 

Since my initial introduction to travel trailers was the 2010 Passport, we checked out 2011s. It still

More fun found walking the RV Supershow
amazesme how much Keystone does with minimal space. Shelba loved the deep cabinets and interior lighting. I loved the second room for the kids. The Forest River Grand Lodge was impressive. King beds. Fireplace. Faux wood floors. And, again, a room for the kids.

The Fifth Wheel that caught our eye was the Cedar Creek Silverback. High ceiling. Full kitchen. La-Z-Boy recliners…and, in the model we toured, a huge room in the back for the kids. It can sleep 8, so I was thinking fishing and rafting trips with the guys.

Towards the end of the day we popped into an informative seminar about hitting the road full time. On most days there are five to choose from:

  • RV Maintenance (Steve Roddy, 10:00am each day)
  • 100 Years of RV History
  • RV Buying Tips
  • Extended and Full Time RV Travel
  • Your RV in Survival Mode

We found our driver.
As we explored Shelba and I tried to balance dreams with practicality. Did we want to start small, with an Ultra-Lite we could tow behind our Dodge? Should we upgrade the pickup and go with a fifth wheel, enjoy a few more creature comforts? Sell the truck and travel Coach? So many possibilities. We could see our boys running down trails all day and collapsing exhausted in bunks in the back. Close our eyes and picture romantic waterfalls. Hear rippling trout streams. Feel the cool mountain air…All we had to do was choose…

But what was most important to us? Convenience? Comfort? Affordability? Adventure? As our day drew to a close we still hadn’t decided. But we were a lot closer. We always knew we wanted to travel, and the RV SuperShow helped us answer questions we didn’t even know to ask and brought us that much closer to making our dreams reality.

The Florida RV SuperShow is happening today through Sunday, January 16th at the Florida State Fairgrounds, I-4 and U.S. Highway 301 in Tampa.

Friday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Adults $10 (2-day pass) Children under 16, free.

Parking: $5


RV power shopping is made possible by the FRVTA RV Supershow.
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