Latest news with #Bushwacker
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Portable 'tiny house' RVs are cheap and fun
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Have you ever considered selling everything and buying a tiny house? If so, would you consider traveling part-time in an RV first? The United States is undergoing a social movement that promotes the use of tiny homes that offer eco-friendly and lower-cost lifestyles. But with many tiny house companies charging big prices for small spaces, it's difficult for some Americans to make the switch to tiny house living. That's where RVs come into the picture. A used RV can cost a fraction of the price of a new tiny home, and the portability of a small RV can help potential tiny-home buyers practice tiny-space living before they fully commit to the lifestyle. There are many reasons to choose a lightweight RV as your portable tiny home, including: Fuel efficiency: Lightweight RVs can easily be towed by small SUVs or small trucks. The lightweight RV setup is easier to maneuver than a heavy motorhome, which can be more expensive than lightweight RVs to move and operate. Smaller camping spaces, that are not options for motorhomes and larger SUVs, are no problem for small vehicles and lightweight RVs. Lightweight RVs are budget-friendly, with some gently used models selling online for less than $10K. Lightweight RVs, particularly those with solar capabilities, are easier to take with you to explore backroads and off-grid campsites. If you're interested in learning more about lightweight RVs, the following campers can give you a glimpse into the world of small-scale but big-picture living. Airstream Basecamps are one of the most attractive lightweight RVs on the market. According to Airstream's website, the Basecamp is made for 'those who want to see the world.' And the basecamp is a tough little RV, too. Light filters into the RV through wrap-around windows, and an outdoor shower is ideal for those who want to thrive in nature without going full-scale hunter-gatherer. The Basecamp is available in a 16'3″ or 20′ model. It is 7′ wide and 8'8″ tall and weighs 3,500 pounds before you fill it with your hiking and fishing gear. It also includes a 21-gallon freshwater tank and a 24-gallon graywater tank. The 10′ version of the RV sleeps up to four people. Prices on used Basecamps can be as inexpensive as $23K or as high as $73K, so do your homework before buying. If you're looking to spend around $10K for a small, used RV, consider buying a Braxton Creek Bushwacker. Braxton Creek has been recently rebranded to Bontrager Outdoors, but it still has the same quality and adorability. The Bushwacker series featured trailers 10-12′ long, which is perfect for vehicles with a lower towing capacity. The Bushwacker Plus trailers, however, were between 15 and 17′ feet long. Bontrager Outdoors will have new lightweight models available soon if you're only interested in purchasing a new RV, but the recent rebranding may be an excellent opportunity to score a good deal on lightly used Bushwackers. It should be noted that Bushwacker RVs are small even by tiny-home standards. Bushwacker models can weigh as little as 1300 pounds. And did we mention that used Bushwackers are budget-conscious? Starcraft is owned by Thor Industries. Their 19BH model weighs less than 3500 pounds, sleeps four, and costs around $20K new. You can buy a gently used Autumn Ridge for under $15K, and the new base models start off at the same price. They weigh around 3,000 pounds. If you're looking for a Texas-made, lightweight RV, the Casita might be just the camper for you. The ultra-lightweight and water-resistant fiberglass body has helped the company develop a cult following, and the high resale prices prove that investing in a Casita may be wise. At the time of this article's publication, a used 2021 Heritage Deluxe Casita was listed on for $28K, while a new Casita Independence (2025 model) was available for $26K. Even a 2018 Casita had an asking price of $24K. So yes, Casita's hold their value. Casitas weigh less than 2500 pounds and have a maximum capacity of 2-3 people. And did we mention that they're manufactured in Rice, Texas? Sales prices are as low as $14K for the 2025 Forest River Cherokee Wolf Pup 17EV, which compares to the 2025 Keystone Coleman 13B that lists for $10K. And yes, they're both brand new. The Coleman weighs less than 2500 pounds, while the Wolf Pup weighs around 3000 pounds. They are bare-bones basic, but if you're planning to spend most of your time outdoors while you're camping, these basic campers are a bargain. If you're ready to sell it all and live a bigger version of tiny, why not consider a destination trailer? These RVs are surprisingly posh, with two-story options available, and they're not that expensive when compared to high-end tiny homes. Destination Trailers are meant to give their owners the ability to live their RV life in a more residential home-styled design. Check out this brand new Forest River Salem Villa Grand 42View if you want to completely rethink everything you thought you knew about tiny houses and RVs. But don't get too attached if you're on a super tight budget, though, because this bad boy lists at just over $80K and weighs in at more than 13000 pounds before you load it down with hiking boots, bicycles, groceries, and your husband's baseball card collection that he refuses to part with as you're downsizing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
29-01-2025
- Chicago Tribune
US Virgin Islands offer an easy escape from the drudgery of Chicago's winter
On a frosty January morning, I set off in a ride-share toward O'Hare International Airport, through the bumper-to-bumper traffic that is Interstate Highway 90 at rush hour. Fast forward a few hours: I landed at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, greeted by an open-air airport and an aggressively cheerful sun. As I stepped onto the tarmac, I instantly felt like a human popsicle melting into a puddle of bewilderment. The sudden onslaught of warmth and sunshine felt almost awkward, yet strangely delightful. By lunchtime, I had fully embraced the island mindset. Rum Swizzle in hand, I kicked back poolside, toasting the joy of travel. Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation or simply a short respite from winter, the U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix — have you covered. Located in the Caribbean Sea east of Puerto Rico, the islands boast year-round tropical weather, pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters. And this tropical paradise is easy to access. No passport required United Airlines and American Airlines offer daily direct flights from O'Hare to St. Thomas. Hop on a morning flight in Chicago and plan on basking in the sun and sipping a Bushwacker — the indulgent cocktail invented on the island in 1975, a blend of coconut cream, coffee liqueurs and rum — on the beach by afternoon. And the best part? You don't even need a passport. As a U.S. territory, traveling to the Virgin Islands is like traveling to another state; just pack your bags and prepare for paradise. Initially inhabited by the Ciboney, Arawak and Carib peoples, the islands were later claimed by European powers before being sold to the United States in 1917 by Denmmark. Three main islands boast a unique charm and geography. St. Thomas is renowned for its rugged terrain, picturesque harbors and lively coral reefs. St. John, the smallest of the three at approximately 20 square miles, is known for its unspoiled beauty as two-thirds of the island is protected as the Virgin Islands National Park. The largest island, St. Croix, features diverse natural landscapes ranging from rolling hills to flatlands while its charming towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are dotted with colorful, Danish colonial architecture. Island-style relaxation When Scott and Nikki Schletz's last child flew the nest, they started a new chapter of their own. They traded their Chicago home for a live-in Leopard 44 sailing catamaran docked in Long Bay, St. Thomas, and traded their jobs in emergency medicine and education for a life on the high seas. Their new venture, Sol Seeker, offers personalized sailing charters. 'Life is short and unpredictable,' said Nikki Schletz. 'My husband loves me enough to take a leap and came up with the crazy idea to run charters and live on a boat. Once we decided, we were all in. Island life is definitely different. We spend most of our time outdoors enjoying nature: scuba diving, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking or hiking. Every day is an adventure on the islands.' 'We had a bunch of doctors and surgeons onboard last week,' Schletz said. 'One napped for the first time he can remember in a very long time. The others were able to escape and relax completely. A true vacation helps you to 'vacate' your everyday life, if only for a few days. The charm of the islands lies not just in their beauty, but in their ability to effortlessly soothe the mind and body, allowing visitors to fully recharge.' Dive into paradise The crystal clear waters surrounding the islands support a complex system of bustling coral reefs, making it one of the world's top destinations for underwater and on-the-water adventures. Swim, snorkel or kayak Brewers Bay Beach in St. Thomas and see if you can spot the sea turtles that call this calm bay home. Or build sandcastles in the sugary sand of the half-mile-long Magens Bay Beach, one of the most family-friendly beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands, thanks to on-duty lifeguards, changing and shower facilities, and plentiful picnic tables. Swim alongside manta rays at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in St. Croix or explore the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve at night aboard a kayak. The movement of your paddle through the water causes the bay's glowing, bioluminescent organisms to twirl and spin like underwater stars. Over 40% of Virgin Islands National Park in St. John is underwater. Scuba divers and snorkelers are invited to set off on an underwater 'hike' along the world's first marked underwater trail, the Coral Reef Underwater Park Trail, located just off the shoreline in picturesque Trunk Bay. The easy-to-access trail is marked with underwater plaques that direct you where to snorkel and also include fun facts on the sea turtles, eagle rays, parrotfish, barracuda and other fascinating marine creatures that call the bay home. Snorkel the national park's Cinnamon Bay to see the underwater fish holding pen — likely made by the Taino indigenous peoples or their ancestors — as well as a submerged historic village and even a sunken plane from the 1940s. The staff at the front desk of Cinnamon Bay Campground can point you in the right direction and provide maps for underwater and land hikes. Cultural treasures With their strategic location east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands have historically been a melting pot of civilizations, contributing to their vibrant, multicultural ambiance today. The Three Queens statue in Charlotte Amalie is in a historic park commemorating enslaved peoples' emancipation and three courageous local women, leaders of the 1878 Fireburn labor riot, Queen Mary, Queen Agnes and Queen Mathilda, who led the insurrection against the Danish government, demanding better working and living conditions for agricultural laborers. Also in Charlotte Amalie, the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas is one of the oldest synagogues in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere. Built in 1833, it features mahogany pews, a domed ceiling and a sand-covered floor that's part of the Sephardic Jewish tradition of muffling footsteps during secret worship. The 12-acre Estate Whim Museum on St. Croix was once a working sugar plantation. Today, it's a living museum where visitors can meet St. Croix's tradition bearers as they share local music, food and handcraft traditions. The colonial-era Peace Hill Windmill in St. John offers sweeping views of Hawksnest Bay to the west and Denis Bay and Trunk Bay to the east. Once a working windmill used for sugar production at the former Denis Bay Plantation, today, the site hosts community meditation gatherings every Sunday at sunset. Getting around Rental cars are popular for those who want the freedom to explore at their own pace, especially on larger islands like St. Croix and St. Thomas. Taxis are widely available and can easily be hailed on the street or arranged through hotels and restaurants. But for a true island experience, hop on the 'safari' buses, open-air vehicles that provide an affordable way to travel along main routes. The islands are all connected by frequent ferry service, making inter-island travel seamless, but you can also opt for a seaplane, perhaps the coolest way to island hop. Where to stay The U.S. Virgin Islands offer a variety of accommodations. For those seeking luxury, there's the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas and the Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman's Reef. Mid-range options such as the eco-friendly Green Iguana Hotel or the family-friendly Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, both in St. Thomas, offer value. Plentiful Airbnb rentals on the islands include every type of accommodation under the Caribbean sun, from charming beachfront cottages to luxury villas. At Cinnamon Bay Campground, the only campsite situated within the U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, visitors can experience overnight camping from bare sites to eco-tents with direct access to the beautiful beach.
