Like other frequent travelers, Linda and Doug have some prerequisites before choosing where they will stay.“ I look for campgrounds that have four or more pickleball courts on the premises or within 20 minutes,” Linda says.“ When there is only one court, there will often be no players there. And if the courts are off-site, there must be no membership required. We go on the Pickleheads app and local pickleball groups on Facebook to find out where courts are and what times people play.” Other apps that pickleball-playing adventurers use to find courts include Places 2 Play and TeamReach.
The Strahms especially enjoy playing at the Tiger Run RV Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. It has four courts and there are also nice ones nearby.“ I love to bike 5 miles on a paved trail along a beautiful river to the Carter Park courts in town,” Linda explains.“ They have six highly competitive courts, and just down the hill are six recreational courts— great players and the most awesome view of the mountains.”
Also among the couple’ s favorite places to play are the Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort( six dedicated courts on-site and many others on the island) and the Silver Palms RV Resort in Okeechobee, Florida( 10 dedicated, fenced courts).
They first played pickleball in 2023.“ I loved it but was surprised, as I did not know I could be competitive at my old age of 69,” Linda recalls.
“ I initially saw pickleball [ as a way ] to get some exercise and a little competitiveness without the strenuousness of a larger game like tennis or soccer,” says Doug.“ The price of the equipment was very reasonable for a beginner. Also, the people who were playing were a very friendly and welcoming group that made room for beginners.”
Whitmer says,“ Pickleball is not going anywhere anytime soon, and the RV culture has truly adopted it wholesale, so I think we will continue to see a lot of engagement on this.”
Linda advises campers:“ Always pack your paddle, balls and shoes! And when you arrive at courts, ask players how things work. Signage is oftentimes not how the courts are run.
“ We feel so blessed to be retired and traveling this fabulous country,” she adds.“ Playing pickleball is the icing on the cake!”
For an increasing number of RVers, a fun day is not based on how good their hiking or biking or kayaking was, but on how many good pickleball games they played. The roasted marshmallows can wait. •
Matthew Schwartz spent 40 years in television news and won more than 200 awards, including four Emmys and four Edward R. Murrow awards for investigative reporting. His 2020 memoir,“ Confessions of an Investigative Reporter,” was an Amazon # 1 bestseller. He writes a weekly blog for Hudef Sport and plays pickleball six days a week.
COURTS AT SUN OUTDOORS MYRTLE BEACH IN CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA. PHOTO COURTESY OF SUN OUTDOORS.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2026 | MAGAZINE 43