Check Out the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival

If you love flying kites and have got one in your RV with you, you ought to check out the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival, which is held on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Minnesota, each year. Even if you don’t own a kite, you shouldn’t have an issue finding one in Minneapolis. There are also kite sellers at the festival.

The festival is taking place on January 27, 2018, this year and it looks to be bigger and better than ever.

It starts at noon and runs until 4pm and is free of charge. It’s simple and easy to participate: just don your winter gear to stay warm and head out onto the icy lake to let your kite fly along with everyone else. The wind over the lake makes for an ideal kite flying environment.

Members of the Minnesota Kite Society will be out as well to demonstrate their skills and tricks with kites of all shapes and sizes, so keep your eyes out for them when you’re out there.

Besides kite flying, there are also horse-drawn carriage rides, ice fishing, and roasted marshmallows. There are also some food vendors around if you want a bite to eat or a warm drink.

Overall, the festival makes for a great way to get out of your RV for an afternoon of fun. You can spend the evening and next day enjoying Minneapolis before you head out for your next destination.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you hit the roads this winter, bring your RV by PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota to ensure it’s in top shape for the winter roads. And if you’re in the market for a new or used RV, stop in or log online to browse our huge selection of top-quality RVs in stock.

Go Fat Biking in Minnesota

Fat biking isn’t a winter sport that’s as well known as, say, skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, or ice climbing, but that’s not really fair. Fat biking allows you to ride a bike anywhere you want over the winter landscape, even over snow. Instead of being restricted to icy trails and slushy roads, you can ride your bike like you would in summer and go wherever you please due to the oversized tires.

Like most winter sports, fat biking is a great activity to enjoy in Minnesota during the winter thanks to Minnesota’s plentiful snowfall and outdoor beauty. Plus, thanks to a recent project in Minnesota, there are more trails than ever to fat bike on throughout Minnesota state parks. These trails are groomed specifically for the large, low pressure tires that a fat bike uses.

Fat bikes are easy to stow in your RV and offer unprecedented control for those wishing to explore a winter landscape.

Some of the more popular trails include Douglas State Trail between Rochester and Pine Island, which is 13 miles long. There’s also the Richard J. Dorer State Forest near Winona that has about 7.5 miles of fat bike trails. Farther north in Minnesota, you can find Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Ironton with 20 miles of trails. Split Rock Lighthoust State Park near Two Harbors has 8.7 miles of trails. Finally, you can check out Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, which has 5.4 miles of trails.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to tour a motorhome or travel trailer and find an RV that’s right for you and your family. Stay out longer on your fat biking adventures by traveling in an RV. With the warmth of an RV to return to at the end of the day, you can stay out as long as you want and not have to worry about a trek back home.

Go Snowmobiling This Winter in Minnesota

Minnesota is one of the country’s top winter destinations if you’re more into embracing the snow than escaping it. From skiing and sledding to snowshoeing and ice climbing, Minnesota’s got it all. And if you’ve got a snowmobile, you’re in luck: Minnesota caters to you every winter as well.

All told, there are about 22,000 miles of maintained, groomed, and marked snowmobile trails that are spread throughout Minnesota and her wilderness spaces. While riding your snowmobile, you’ll enjoy seeing Minnesota’s rolling terrain, hundreds of lakes, and sprawling forests.

Brainerd Lakes

The Brainerd area is popular in the summer for its lakes and those same lakes make it a great winter destination as well. There’s an intricate web of snowmobile trails that spread out between the frozen lakes, such as Pelican Lake, Gull Lake, Crosslake, and more. The area is interspersed with villages and towns that are more than happy to have snowmobilers stop in for a bite to eat and to rest. If you don’t own your own snowmobile, you can also rent one from a number of local businesses.

Voyageurs National Park

The park and the land surrounding it are more than welcoming to snowmobilers. There’s that great mix of established trails and a support network from local communities that make riding in the region a joy. As you move through the park and the surrounding wilderness, you’ll not only enjoy the natural beauty and solitude, but you’ll also encounter small towns that offer shopping, dining, and more. The best part is that the area has few roads that you’ll encounter between stops, so it feels like one continuous journey.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to tour a motorhome or travel trailer and find an RV that’s right for you and your family. Stay out longer on your snowmobiling adventures by traveling in an RV. With the warmth of an RV to return to at the end of the day, you can stay out as long as you want and not have to worry about a trek back home.

Check Out Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Your RV

If you’re on the road this December in Minnesota (or you will be soon), chances are you’re going to be spending the holidays in your RV. On your way to your ultimate holiday destination, be sure to stop in at Duluth to catch the Bentleyville Tour of Lights. It’s going on right now and is up and running through December 26.

The annual event transforms the Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth into a magical illuminated winter wonderland that includes colorful displays, holiday music, and warm food and beverages.

It’s known as the country’s largest free walk-through lighting display and possesses more than 4 million individual lights. With such a brilliant display, you know that it’s not something you’re going to be able to see anywhere.

The main attraction is definitely the 12-story Christmas tree, which is over twice as tall as the one in Rockefeller Center in New York. It’s covered in over 100,000 LED lights that are synced to holiday music. Other displays borrow from your favorite holiday and family icons, such as Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and more. Children will also have the opportunity to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus every night.

Concessions like popcorn and hot cocoa are available for your enjoyment while you view the displays.

While the event is free of charge, guests are encouraged to offer donations or help a charity present at the festival in lieu of admission fees.

While you’re in Duluth, you can also check out the Great Lakes Aquarium, Lake Superior Zoo, the Spirit Mountain Ski and Recreation Area, or the numerous local eateries and shops.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Looking for the ideal RV or ice house for the winter of 2017/18?PleasureLand RV Centers, located throughout Minnesota, are loaded with all of the latest and greatest ice houses and four-season RVs. Stop in and see us in St. Cloud, Ramsey, Brainerd or Long Prairie to view ourselection of new and used RVs today.

Learn Ice Climbing at a Minnesota Festival

Climbing is often viewed as a dangerous, adrenaline-pumping activity that only the most physically strong and skilled people are able to do. Adding ice to that mix? You may want to say “forget about it,” but ice climbing is, in reality, less about physical strength and climbing skills and more about thinking and patience. It’s also a lot more safe than you probably assume so long as you practice tried and true safety precautions when you climb.

If you’re curious about giving ice climbing a try this winter in Minnesota while you travel about in your RV, you’re going to want to learn how to do it from someone experienced. It’s not advisable that you try ice climbing by yourself if you have no experience. Minnesota actually has two great opportunities to learn in annual climbing festivals: the Sandstone Ice Festival and the Duluth Ice and Mixed Fest.

The Sandstone Ice Festival is scheduled from January 5 through 7. It’s been going for over a decade now and is held in Robinson Park, which is the first park in Minnesota set aside specifically for ice climbing. It has climbing opportunities for any skill level, but more importantly it’s got beginner courses to teach you about safety, the climbing equipment you need, and the basic movements to get you up an ice cliff.

Happening later in the season, the Duluth Ice and Mixed Fest is scheduled for February 2 through 4. It’s a newer festival, but offers the same benefits as Sandstone. The event takes place in Duluth at Casket Park.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you hit the roads this holiday season, bring your RV by PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota to ensure it’s in top shape for the winter roads. And if you’re in the market for a new or used RV, stop in or log online to browse our huge selection of top-quality RVs in stock.

Where to Ice Fish in Minnesota

Little child fishing on a frozen lake in winter.

Minnesota’s more than 11,800 lakes make it a hotspot for ice fishing. However, having so many places from which to choose can make planning your getaway more difficult. These three places to ice fish around Minnesota are some of the best of the best for catching fish and enjoying your stay.

Mille Lacs

St. Paul residents don’t have to travel far to find some of the country’s best ice fishing. Minnesota’s second largest lake, Mille Lacs, offers 74 miles of coastline and numerous access points to make your fishing excursions more convenient. The lake’s more than 130,000-acre size also means fishermen have plenty of room to spread out. The lake is known to be home to an abundance of rock bass, walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, jumbo perch, tullibee and muskie, so bring a large cooler for your catch.

Gull Lake

Gull Lake is known across Minnesota as one of the best fishing spots. It’s home to the annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza event, which is the largest ice fishing event in North America. This fishing spot in the Brainerd Lake Region offers great water quality, which sustains huge populations of northern pike, bluegill, walleye, rock bass, largemouth bass and crappie. Park your RV in nearby Nisswa or Brainerd to enjoy a little bit of off-the-ice action during your stay.

Upper Red Lake

Red Lake is the largest lake in Minnesota, and it’s a hotspot for world-class fishing conditions. Head to the lake’s upper region to enjoy the best walleye fishing in the state. However, don’t be surprised if you reel in some crappie and northern pike too. The entire lake is 288,000 acres in size, so you’ll never feel like you’re fishing in a crowd.

Stop and See Us

Minnesota’s PleasureLand RV Centers are located near some of our state’s best ice fishing spots. We’re offering a huge selection of ice houses on sale for the holiday season, so log online or stop in and see us today.

Indoor Winter Fun in Minnesota

Winter doesn’t have to end your RVing for the year, especially if you find yourself in Minnesota. Minnesota offers RVers plenty of things to do until the spring thaw, so don’t stop exploring yet!

Escape the Cold at a Water Park

You read that right: Minnesota, in a bid to extend its swimming season, has many indoor water parks scattered across the state. Some of these are deluxe resorts that offer something for all ages.

Check out Edgewater Hotel and Waterpark in Duluth, Arrowwood Lodge in Baxter, or even the water park right next to the Mall of America.

Learn Something New at a Museum

Get inside and out of the cold and learn something new while you do it. Minnesota is home to many extensive museums covering many different subjects. Some of the best include the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota History Center, and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Explore a Nature Center

Okay, this one isn’t indoors, but Minnesota’s natural places are mostly open year round, and the winter sights are just as wonderful as any other time of year. Minnesota is renowned for owl watching, and two of the best places to see them are at Agassiz Audubon Center and the International Owl Center.

Nature center trails are threaded through with numerous trails and make great places for recreational sports, like cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you head off to enjoy the winter in Minnesota, drop in at your RV adventure headquarters at PleasureLand RV Center in St Cloud, Brainerd, or Ramsey. PleasureLand RV Center can help get you into the RV of your dreams, keep your RV running smoothly (even through the cold of winter), and get you outfitted with quality accessories to make your RV living easier and more convenient.

Winter Fun for RVers with Dogs

As anyone who RVs with their dogs can tell you, sometimes your next destination isn’t about you. Your dogs deserve something they’ll enjoy on occasion, so when you’re out in your RV this winter with your beloved pets, consider taking them to one of these fun destinations. You’ll probably have (almost) as much fun as they will. Whether you want something outdoor or indoor, there’s a destination for you!

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a great place to visit if you’ve got pups in tow. Enjoy the numerous hiking trails and dog parks that the city offers. Some of the dog parks even offer heated shelters for some indoor play. There are even a handful of places that are part time indoor dogs parks, usually on the weekends. Minneapolis is also relatively pet friendly when it comes to public spaces and shops.

Mankato

Whether it’s your destination or you’re just passing through along your route somewhere else, Mankato is worth a stop if you’ve got a dog or two with you. They’ve got an indoor swimming pool that’s absolutely dog friendly. You can get out of the cold, give your dog some off leash time, and allow them to exercise in a way that’s good for their joints since swimming is low impact. The pool is called The Paw and the water is kept at a toasty 85 degrees. If your dog isn’t a great swimmer, there are life jackets available for use. Additionally, there are time slots available for private swims if your dog doesn’t like company.

Duluth

While your dog may not be a champion dog sled racer, they can certainly spectate alongside you when you visit Duluth. The annual dog sledding marathon, called Beargrease, takes place over 400 miles of tundra with some of the best teams in the world competing. There are various spots along the course where you can watch the action.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you visit any of these fun destinations in Minnesota to make sure that your RV is in good shape to travel. If you need to upgrade your rig, PleasureLand RV Center is the place to shop. Tour our wide inventory of new and used RVs, from Class A motorhomes to fifth wheel trailers.

Ice Fishing 101

RV travel isn’t just reserved for the summer months. In fact, winter activities are made even more enjoyable with the RV lifestyle. Ice fishing is one of those activities. Once you learn the basics of ice fishing, the sport will quickly become one of your favorite features of winter. The following simple ice fishing tips will help you get started, so you can enjoy the RV lifestyle even when the weather is cold and the lakes are frozen.

Use Live Bait

Live bait is an essential part of ice fishing. Whether you’re dead sticking, using a bobber or jigging, live bait is the most effective way to fish. Start by jigging larger lures roughly a foot above the bottom to catch the more aggressive fish. If the fish can be seen but not caught, opt for a smaller jig.

Start with Smaller Lakes

Starting with smaller lakes at the beginning of season will help you fish more often, and ultimately become a better ice fisherman. Smaller lakes freeze more quickly, which means you can be on the ice earlier in winter.

Later in the season, move to the larger lakes, which have more oxygen. Fish are more active there.

The Movement of Fish

One of the most important parts of ice fishing is understanding where fish will be and when. In shallow lakes, fish tend to move shallower later in the season. In larger, deeper lakes, fish migrate to where food and cover can be found. They tend to stay deeper where the water is warmer. Fish become less active in the heart of winter, which means they’re easier to catch when they’re moving at the beginning and end of the season.

Shop for an RV at PleasureLand RV Center

Traveling in an RV from PleasureLand RV Center is an ideal way to travel from one ice fishing destination to another. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of a hot shower, comfortable seating area, television and plenty of sleeping space after a long day on the ice. Take your ice fishing to the next level by considering an ice house fishing trailer, which PleasureLand RV Center has a number of in stock.

Great Ice Fishing Destinations

Minnesota’s more than 11,800 lakes make it a hotspot for ice fishing. However, having so many places from which to choose can make planning your getaway more difficult. These three places to ice fish around Minnesota are some of the best of the best for catching fish and enjoying your stay.

Mille Lacs

St. Paul residents don’t have to travel far to find some of the country’s best ice fishing. Minnesota’s second largest lake, Mille Lacs, offers 74 miles of coastline and numerous access points to make your fishing excursions more convenient. The lake’s more than 130,000-acre size also means fishermen have plenty of room to spread out. The lake is known to be home to an abundance of rock bass, walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, jumbo perch, tullibee and muskie, so bring a large cooler for your catch.

Gull Lake

Gull Lake is known across Minnesota as one of the best fishing spots. It’s home to the annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza event, which is the largest ice fishing event in North America. This fishing spot in the Brainerd Lake Region offers great water quality, which sustains huge populations of northern pike, bluegill, walleye, rock bass, largemouth bass and crappie. Park your RV in nearby Nisswa or Brainerd to enjoy a little bit of off-the-ice action during your stay.

Upper Red Lake

Red Lake is the largest lake in Minnesota, and it’s a hotspot for world-class fishing conditions. Head to the lake’s upper region to enjoy the best walleye fishing in the state. However, don’t be surprised if you reel in some crappie and northern pike too. The entire lake is 288,000 acres in size, so you’ll never feel like you’re fishing in a crowd.

Stop and See Us

Minnesota’s PleasureLand RV Centers are located near some of our state’s best ice fishing spots. We’re offering a huge selection of ice houses for the holiday season, so log online or stop in and see us today.