After a decade of full-time RV living, the Shinpaugh family has parked their rig in some of the most jaw-dropping locations across North America. From snow-covered mountain towns to crystal-clear glacier lakes, they’ve experienced camping adventures most people only dream about. But out of everywhere they’ve been in 10 years, these 10 destinations rose to the top—and their reasons why might just inspire your next trip.
Whether you’re planning your first big RV adventure or you’re a seasoned road warrior looking for fresh inspiration, this list delivers the kind of unforgettable experiences that make RV life worth every mile. The best part? These aren’t just pretty places—they’re destinations where memories are made, families grow closer, and the adventure truly begins.
1. Breckenridge, Colorado – Where Winter Wonderland Dreams Come True
You know a place is special when one family returns three different winters in a row. The Shinpaughs didn’t just visit Breckenridge—they lived there for seven months straight, from September to April, turning their fifth wheel into a cozy snow globe home.
Staying at Tiger Run Resort put them just 3.5 miles from the ski lifts. The kids enrolled in season-long ski lessons while mom and dad squeezed in morning runs before work. Talk about taking “PE class” to the next level!
Making this work required serious preparation. They built skirting around the entire RV, used space heaters to keep pipes from freezing, and basically became winter camping experts overnight.
The Real Scoop: If you’re from Florida and can somehow convince your family to spend winter in Colorado, you’re either crazy or a genius. Turns out, the Shinpaughs proved you can be both. Watching your kids transform from beach babies to ski pros while you’re still logging in for work calls from a snow-covered campsite is the kind of flex most RVers only dream about.
2. Denali National Park, Alaska – Wild, Untouched, Unforgettable
Denali isn’t just a national park—it’s an experience in raw wilderness that few places on Earth can match. The Shinpaughs celebrated a birthday here (because apparently they only celebrate in epic locations), and spent their days waiting for the iconic mountain to reveal itself through the clouds.
The family took the 6 a.m. informational bus tour through the park, where wildlife sightings around every corner made it feel like a real-life nature documentary.
The highlight? A mama grizzly and her two cubs walking just feet from their bus. Then there was the “grizzly and cub walk-by” moment that left everyone speechless—one of those once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters that reminds you why you travel.
Fun fact: Denali has no formal hiking trails in much of the park, so you literally forge your own path through untouched wilderness.
The Real Scoop: Picture this: You’re from Florida. You’ve probably never seen a grizzly bear outside of a zoo. Now imagine one walking past your tour bus close enough that you can see its breath fog up the window. That’s the kind of adventure that makes you forget about everything stressful back home—at least until you realize you still have to cross paths with that bear on the way back.
3. Valdez, Alaska – The Port Town That Stole Their Hearts
The Shinpaugh’s introduction to Valdez started with an accidental parking spot—right in front of Horsetail Falls, one of the most photographed waterfalls in the area.
Instead of angry tourists, they were greeted by friendly visitors who either took photos around the bus or recognized them from their YouTube channel. Some even became lifelong friends who attended future rallies.
The Stan Stevens Glacier and Wildlife Cruise delivered seals, sea lions