This Just In!

PARKING "If you try backing up for the first time at a campground, you might hit something and make a spectacle of yourself. Practice parking before going anywhere. If you never master it, ask for assistance. It's the nature of RV enthusiasts to help each other." --Bob Livingston, vice president and group publisher, MotorHome magazine DIRECTIONS "Get meticulous directions. Let people know you're driving a 36-foot motor home and need the straightest, easiest route. Making a U-turn in an RV is a nightmare. You stop traffic. It's a major deal." --Mike Marriner, cofounder, PBS series Roadtrip Nation PETS "Taking your pet is one of the great joys of RVing. You don't have to pay for a kennel or leave your pet in a hotel room. You're bringing your home on the road, so do the same for your pet. Bring his bed and dishes. And take a long leash. It'll allow your pet to engage with people and other pets." --Jim Rogers, CEO and chairman, Kampgrounds of America PACKING "Most rental companies offer packages with sheets, towels, dishes, and pots and pans. The packages don't cost much extra, and they eliminate the hassle of having to pack those items." --Harry Basch, coauthor, RV Vacations for Dummies and Frommer's Exploring America by RV FUEL "Most motor home generators automatically turn off just before the fuel tank is completely empty. There's still some gas left to drive on, but you should fill the tank up right away." --Richard Coon, president, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association SHOWERING "To conserve water, shut it off while you lather in the shower, before turning it back on to rinse. You still get a decent shower." --Chuck Woodbury, editor, RVTravel.com DRIVING "It's an especially bad idea to exceed speed limits in an RV because you need extra distance to stop. When merging onto highways, try to find long entry ramps so you have space to accelerate. Learn to use your side-view mirrors, too. Some RVs don't have rear mirrors." --Jan Harris, president, RVing Women ENTRY STEP "Typical RVs have a pullout entry step so it's easy to get in and out. Make sure to stow the step before you drive. Someone almost always leaves it out, and the driver can't see it from his seat. When the step hits a curb--or someone's car--it can cause substantial damage." --Randall Smalley, CEO and chairman, Cruise America RV rentals DUMPING "The sewer waste, in the black tank, and the water waste, in the gray tank, are both located beneath the RV. A panel in the RV's galley displays the tank levels. Wait until the tanks are at least three-quarters full before you attempt to empty them; otherwise they won't drain properly. Dump the contents of the black tank first so the soapy water from the gray tank can clean out the hose." --Mark Polk, owner, RVEducation101.com HILLS "If a hill becomes too steep, you won't be able to make it to the top, no matter how hard you push on the gas pedal. Buy a mountain guide, available at truck stops, to identify troublesome hills. Approach any grade over 10 percent with caution." --Mark Emeth, consumer affairs director, Escapees RV Club

Berkshire Museum Pittsfield, Mass. It took just over a year for the Berkshire Museum to fill a 4,500-square-foot exhibit with every fun inanimate object you can imagine. The result is the museum's traveling exhibition, entitled Kid Stuff. Wooly Willy, Magic Rocks, Lincoln Logs, and Raggedy Ann dolls all make an appearance, as do a life-size Barbie Dream House backdrop and G.I. Joe cutout. The collection is arranged by toy type and is divided into 10 sections, from Go to Your Room (Magic 8 Ball, Silly Putty) to It's My Turn (Twister, Go to the Head of the Class). Everyone's favorites are covered. 39 South St. (State Rte. 7), Pittsfield, Mass., 413/443-7171, berkshiremuseum.org, $8, exhibit returns to Berkshire Museum July 1 through Labor Day, future traveling dates TBA. Geppi's Entertainment Museum Baltimore, Md. Located in the original office of the B&O Railroad, Geppi's Entertainment Museum showcases not just toys but 230 years of pop culture. With some 8,000 toys and collectibles, the museum presents its exhibits by era, from the 1770s to the 1980s. Highlights include Brownies character figurines from the late-1800s, a first edition Barbie doll, a Beatles yellow submarine toy, a Monkees lunch box, and an Ike and Tina Turner tour poster. 301 W. Camden St., Baltimore, Md., 410/625-7060, geppismuseum.com, $10. The Star Toys Museum Linthicum, Md. A few weeks before Thomas Atkinson's 13th birthday, Star Wars changed his life. Seventeen years later, Atkinson opened his home to visitors, so all can witness his impressive collection of all things Star Wars. The Star Toys Museum occupies the first floor of Atkinson's home and comprises more than 12,000 items, like the original 1977 set of Kenner figurines that includes Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and R2-D2, as well as magazines, apparel, cards, memorabilia, and the ever-popular six-foot-long Millennium Falcon Extraordinaire, which was used in an advertising display in 1997. Tours are available by appointment only. 811 Camp Meade Rd., Linthicum, Md., 410/859-1261, startoysmuseum.org, free, (donations accepted). Strong National Museum of Play Rochester, N.Y. Inside the 282,000-square-foot Strong National Museum of Play, families can enter scenes from a gigantic pop-up book, go face-to-face with underwater creatures, and interact with hundreds of butterflies inside the glass-enclosed Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden. But what about more traditional agents of play? The National Toy Hall of Fame currently houses 36 inductees, including Mr. Potato Head, the Easy-Bake Oven, and Play-Doh. A committee comprised of prominent figures in kid-dom, such as Cheryl Henson, president of The Jim Henson Foundation, and Mike Berenstain, coauthor and co-illustrator of The Berenstain Bears books, choose from 12 finalists and induct new toys annually. But the Hall of Fame is only a portion of what the Strong museum has to offer. A math adventure exhibit based on the PBS series Cyberchase starts June 2. One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, N.Y., 585/263-2700, museumofplay.org, $9; Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden $3. National Toy Train Museum Strasburg, Pa. The 30,000 members of the Train Collectors Association donated the over 5,000 toy trains, buildings, signals, and tracks that make up the National Toy Train Museum. Five operating train layouts, which range in size from 200 to 900 square feet, include intricate details such as tunnels through hills, a queue of passengers waiting to board, bridges, churches, ducks, and dogs. Guests can interact with the layouts by pushing buttons that toot the train's whistle or light up a signal that makes the trains stop. Along with the TCA's Toy Train Reference Library, which includes a train-centric collection of books, films, and magazines, the museum has a gallery full of old and rare trains, the oldest dating from the 1840s. 300 Paradise Ln., Strasburg, Pa., 717/687-8976, nttmuseum.org, $5. Enchanted World Doll Museum Mitchell, S.D. For girls (large or small) who have had enough of train displays, the Enchanted World Doll Museum should satisfy the dream of becoming a princess. Visitors enter the English-style castle (complete with moat) via a drawbridge and are surrounded by just over 5,000 dolls. The dolls are grouped by categories such as country of origin, time period, maker, and type. All are arranged in 345 dioramas, many created to showcase the traditions, activities, and fashions of the dolls' time periods. Early and notable dolls in the collection include cornhusk dolls, a 500-year-old doll found in a tomb in Mexico, and a Civil War-era doll that was used to pass messages on the Underground Railroad. 615 N. Main St., Mitchell, S.D., 605/996-9896, enchantedworlddollmuseum.com, $5. Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum Wheeling, W.Va. Over the course of 40 years, the Miller family of Wheeling, W.Va., accumulated old toys and trains, and in 1998 the family opened a museum full of their finds in order to help revitalize their small town. Located in a restored Victorian schoolhouse, the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum spreads out over 24,000 square feet and displays around 20,000 items. Along with three operating train layouts, there are original Ben-Hur and The Untouchables play sets, rare examples of a 1942 Marx 3/16th ramp car, an entire wall of shelves devoted to toy soldiers and other figurines, Rock'em Sock'em Robots, and a Green Machine. 144 Kruger St., Wheeling, W.Va., 877/242-8133, toyandtrain.com, $8. The Official Marx Toy Museum Moundsville, W.Va. During the 1950s, Marx Toys was one of the largest U.S. toy manufacturers. Time magazine named company founder Louis Marx "America's toy king" and put him on a 1955 cover. Now, just a mile and a half away from the site of the former Marx Toy Factory in Glen Dale, W.Va., The Official Marx Toy Museum in Moundsville, W.Va., presents a complete history of the popular toy company. The collection focuses on the 1920s through the 1980s and consists of dozens of different Marx play sets, including a life-size version of a Western town, metal wind-up toys, trains, dollhouses, and the all-time kid favorite--the Big Wheel. 915 Second St., Moundsville, W.Va., 304/845-6022, marxtoymuseum.com, $6.50.

Europe's train systems make it possible to reclaim a sense of adventure--and still be back in time for dinner. LISBON TO CASCAIS In the 19th century, King Luís I of Portugal made Cascais, a small fishing town just 16 miles from Lisbon, the site of his summer residence. As it is wont to do, the aristocracy followed, building sumptuous palaces along the coast. The train to Cascais runs along the Tagus River estuary to the Atlantic Ocean, and the sightseeing is impressive (especially if you remember to sit on the left). From the train station, a footpath leads to small sandy beaches. At Praia da Duquesa (Duchess' Beach), you can rent sun beds and umbrellas for $7 a day. You can choose your lunch straight from the fish baskets at the Duche-Bar, on Duquesa. Try the fresh grilled sardines with potatoes and grilled green peppers and a jar of ice-cold sangria. Spend the afternoon touring the central park and city by horse-drawn carriage or strolling through Cascais, with a stop at the Praia dos Pescadores (Fishermen's Beach) to watch dozens of men repairing their nets at the bottom of the old fortress. In Largo Luís Vaz Camões (the main square), several cafés have terraces ideal for drinks and perhaps even dinner. Return-trip snack A pack of Areias de Cascais, traditional buttery cookies, from Pastelaria Bijou pastry house. Details The Duche-Bar: Praia da Duquesa, 011-351/21-483-1379, sardines $9. Cascais carriage tour: 011-351/21-486-9287, estorilcoast-tourism.com, $54, leaves from Jardim Vizconde da Luz. Pastelaria Bijou: Largo Luís Vaz Camões, 011-351/21-483-0283, $7 a pound, about 10 cookies. Train info It's a half-hour ride from Lisbon's Cais do Sodré station to Cascais; trains depart every 15 to 20 minutes from 5:30 A.M. until 1:30 A.M. The Cascais Line charges by zone: You'll need a round-trip ticket valid for three zones to get there and back; it can be purchased at the station on the day of travel ($4). The LisboaCard offers unlimited use of public transportation and access to museums and monuments for one, two, or three days; it covers the train to Cascais (from $20). Schedules at cp.pt.

Europe's train systems make it possible to reclaim a sense of adventure--and still be back in time for dinner. COPENHAGEN TO MALMÖ A rusty industrial port until around 15 years ago, the Swedish city of Malmö is spreading its wings after an architectural and cultural metamorphosis. Upon arriving at Central Station, buy a Malmö Card: For $19, it covers local bus rides, admission to most museums, discounts on train fares and bike rentals, and more. The 50-minute excursion with Rundan Sightseeing boat tours along the harbor and canals gives a great intro to Malmö, past and present. Boats depart from the quay between Central Station and the Savoy Hotel on the hour. Then walk through the old city (gamla staden), stopping at the three main squares: Stortorget, Lilla Torg (ringed by restaurants), and Gustav Adolfs Torg. The old city is the main shopping district, but with loads of sightseeing opportunities. At Stortorget you can see the city hall (built in 1546) and Apoteket Lejonet, one of the best-preserved antique pharmacies in Europe (it's still a going concern). Just off Gustav Adolfs Torg is the city's oldest cemetery, which leads to two adjoining parks. Meander around the grounds of Slottsparken-Kungsparken, then stop by Slottsträdgården, a public garden where you can buy organic produce and flowers. Near the middle of the park, the fortress Malmöhus Castle is on a mound surrounded by moats. Now a museum complex, the site offers historical displays and contemporary exhibits. Västra Hamnen (the Western Harbor), once industrial, is now home to an ecological-housing area called Bo01, created by a host of architects. Bo01 is a 20-minute walk from the station. In the Western Harbor, you'll be flabbergasted by an architectural wonderland, all in the shadow of Spanish architect-artist Santiago Calatrava's Turning Torso. The second-tallest residential building in Europe, the 54-story "torso" twists 90 degrees from head to toe. Lunch hour is sacred to Swedes, and the sea promenade of the Western Harbor has several restaurants to choose from. After another stroll through the parks, head for Malmö Konsthall to view the current contemporary art exhibition; the museum's Smak Restaurant and Café is an excellent spot to have lunch. Return-trip snack Swedish cheeses, smoked sausages, and crackers from Ost Huset, to go with fruit from the stand on Gustav Adolfs Torg. Details Rundan Sightseeing: 011-46/40-611-74-88, rundan.se, $12, April 28 to September 30. Malmöhus Castle: $6, free admission with Malmö Card. Malmö Konsthall: St. Johannesgatan 7, 011-46/40-34-12-93, konsthall.malmo.se. Smak Restaurant and Café: Malmö Konsthall, 011-46/40-50-50-35, entrées from $14. Ost Huset: Skomakeregatan 12, 011-46/40-12-60-98. Train info Trains across the Øresund strait run at 20-minute intervals in both directions between Copenhagen's Hovedbanegård (the main station) and Malmö's Central Station, from 5 A.M. till about 11:30 P.M. The ride ($26 round trip) is about 40 minutes and crosses the Øresund Bridge, known for its 670-foot-tall pylons--the bridge offers great views of the water and ships down below. Schedules at rejseplanen.dk. Passports aren't generally checked, but bring yours just in case.