Article and Photos by: Steve Blume, Tiffin Ambassador
I used to think Artificial Intelligence was something only tech-savvy people cared about. I pictured coders in dark rooms or maybe some futuristic robot taking over the world. That scares people. But that all changed when I typed this simple question into a Chat GPT AI website (chat.openai.com):
“I live in Nashville and travel in my Tiffin motorhome. My wife and I have two weeks and want to visit scenic areas of Michigan, especially lake towns. Can you give us suggestions and an itinerary?”
In seconds, ChatGPT responded with this:
10-Day Great Lakes RV Itinerary (ChatGPT Response)
Day 1: Drive to Indianapolis, IN (4.5 hrs). Overnight at Lake Haven Retreat RV Park.
Day 2: Head to Holland, MI (4 hrs). Enjoy Lake Michigan views and walk the downtown shops.
Day 3–4: Stay in Ludington, MI. Camp at Ludington State Park—beach, lighthouse, and hiking.
Day 5–6: Travel up to Traverse City. Explore Sleeping Bear Dunes, cherry farms, and wineries.
Day 7: Drive to Mackinaw City. Stay at Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground. Take the ferry to Mackinac Island.
Day 8: Cross the Mackinac Bridge and visit Tahquamenon Falls in the UP.
Day 9: Return south via Petoskey and Charlevoix—beautiful lake towns.
Day 10: Overnight near Fort Wayne, IN before heading home to Nashville.
Let me know if you’d like this route adjusted for fewer stops, or to include state parks or Harvest Host options.
I hadn’t expected much—but I got a full scenic route with campgrounds, drive times, and travel tips. And I didn’t have to scroll through ads or open ten different websites.
That’s when I realized: this isn’t just another search engine. It’s a tool RVers can actually use.
Not Google. Not Complicated. Just Helpful.
If you’re thinking, “I already use Google for that,” let me stop you right there.
Google gives you a list of websites—often with ads on top and a hundred links to click. You’re left sorting through it all.
ChatGPT gives you a complete answer—written out clearly—based on exactly what you asked.
And the best part? You can talk back. Ask follow-up questions like:
– “I’m not familiar with Holland. What should I see or do there?”
– “We prefer state parks—can you change the campgrounds?”
– “What’s the weather like there in September?”
– “Add a stop for a bike trail and a farmers market.”
It keeps refining the answer until you get what you need. It’s like having a seasoned travel planner who works for free—and never sleeps. I find myself apologizing for asking it to do things over and over, but it doesn’t mind.
One morning, my Microsoft Surface Pro laptop stopped showing Wi-Fi networks. I could’ve spent an hour on hold with tech support, but instead, I asked ChatGPT:
“My Surface Pro is not showing any Wi-Fi networks. What can I do?”
It gave me step-by-step instructions—go to Device Manager, delete the wireless adapter, and restart the computer. I followed it exactly, and within minutes, the networks reappeared. Crisis averted. No phone call. No frustration.
We take advantage of their summer time off and take grandkids on short trips. Recently we extended our stay a day at Mammoth Cave National Park, only to find that all the major cave tours were fully booked. So, I asked Chat GPT: “What are nearby commercial caves that are not crowded and easy to do with grandkids?” It offered several options. We picked one just outside the park that had a short, guided tour and plenty of space. It turned out to be a hit—and without that quick answer, we probably would’ve wasted the day figuring it out.
Before a trip to Blue Ridge, Georgia, I asked ChatGPT for ways to keep the grandkids engaged. In addition to all the things it suggested we do, it helped me create a custom scavenger hunt with printable icons and clues like “a bear statue,” “a painted rock,” and “a secret room that needs a password.” They loved it! It’s now become a go-to tool for everything from rainy day activities to choosing the best ice cream in town.
You don’t need to install anything or understand how it works. Just go to:
chat.openai.com
You can type in a question right away, but if you create a free account, you unlock even more helpful features. With an account, ChatGPT will:
– Remember your previous conversations
– Let you return to saved trip plans or tech help advice
– Allow you to ask follow-up questions days or weeks later
– Work across your devices—laptop, tablet, or phone
It’s like having a smart travel notebook that’s always up to date and always with you.
If you’re not sure what to ask, try this starter question and fill in your details:
“I have a Tiffin motorhome and two weeks off in October. What are some scenic RV destinations within a day’s drive of my home?”
Then just keep going:
– “We like hiking and quiet lakes.”
– “Add a Harvest Host.”
– “Suggest a lunch spot on day three.”
The more you ask, the better it gets.
I used to think AI was something for techies. But I’ve learned this:
If you can type a question, you can use ChatGPT.
You already have a motorhome that can take you anywhere. Now you’ve got a co-pilot that can help you decide where to go, how to get there, and what to do once you arrive.
Give it a try. One question is all it takes.
Steve first lives it, then colorfully writes about it, especially his passion for the RV lifestyle. A retired entrepreneur, he and his wife spend half the year traveling the country in their Tiffin Allegro RED 38 KA and the other half at home in Brentwood, TN with family. Married for almost 50 years, once you meet them he and Nancy are easily remembered – he is 6’4″ and she is 4’7″. His articles on business, personal development, faith, fundraising and running have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines over the years.
