Visiting Blue Mounds State Park

A park as beautiful as it is mysterious, Blue Mounds State Park offers up a truly unique experience. Cacti, prairie grasses, and wildflowers dot the landscape as herds of buffalo move across the horizon. Spring is the perfect time to visit since the grasses haven’t grown to their tall summer heights, so the views are unobstructed. The park also features an enigmatic 1250 foot long stone ledge near the southern end of the park. It may have been used as an ancient calendar by native tribes. On the first days of spring and fall, the sunrise and sunset align perfectly with the stones.

What to Do

The park offers an extensive 20-mile trail system with hikes of varying difficulty. There are well-paved, level paths for beginners and steep dirt paths for more experienced hikers. Nature watching is also a valid activity. The park is notably home to buffalo herds, which you may be lucky enough to spy when you’re walking about. There are also guided tours from park rangers, as well as self-guided interpretive trails. Some trails are open for off-road biking and you can cross-country ski during the winter. There’s a swimming pool at the park open during the summer.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before hitting the road to see Minnesota’s state parks, be sure to visit Minnesota’s #1 RV dealership, PleasureLand RV Center. From new and used RV sales to parts, accessories, and certified service, PleasureLand RV Center has got your adventures in Minnesota covered.

Visit Alexander Ramsey State Park

Minnesota is one of the country’s best states for outdoor fun. With scores of campgrounds, state parks, and wildlife preserves, there’s always a new area to explore. Take Alexander Ramsey State Park, for example. Located at 99 Oak St. in Redwood Falls, MN, Alexander Ramsey State Park is the largest municipal park in the state.

The park covers over 200 acres and is home to a number of species. Termed as the “Little Yellowstone of Minnesota,” the park is enhanced by 1930’s Civilian Conservation Corps shelters and bridges and picturesque Ramsey Falls. The park serves as a focal point for community events, festivals and summer activities and features campground facilities, shelter houses, four miles of paved hiking trails, a DNR trout stream, scenic overlooks, and a zoo.

RVers will find a number of RV sites to use, making for a comfortable spot to set up camp and stay for a few nights while exploring the area. The park occupies land along the Redwood River, which adds to the area’s charm.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you head out on any road trip this spring, it’s important to get your RV checked over by a technician to help prevent any mechanical mishaps. Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to schedule some service or to tour some new motorhomes.

The Best Spring Break Destinations Around the Country

When you get that much-needed break from school and work every spring, you want to spend it wisely. Fortunately, there are tons of unbelievable spring break destinations right here in the United States that you can visit in the comfort of your RV. So forget about pricey plane tickets and hotel stays, and visit some of these awesome destinations right here in the U.S.

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Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Escape the freezing temperatures of Minnesota and see our country’s 15th oldest national park. Grand Canyon National Park is a must-visit spring break destination for any RV enthusiasts, and with easy access to cities like Flagstaff and Williams, you can also enjoy other activities like adventure tours, golfing, nightlife and luxurious accommodations. If you don’t want to camp at the Grand Canyon, opt for the Flagstaff KOA or the J and H RV Park to be closer to the action of Flagstaff.

Key Largo, Florida

The RV lifestyle is celebrated in the Florida Keys, where relaxing and having fun is the goal of every day. See breathtaking landscapes, venture out on paddleboards, go fishing, take scuba lessons, or just relax in a hammock at your campsite in gorgeous Key Largo. Stay at the Key Largo Kampground and Marina and enjoy easy access to the Atlantic Ocean as well as all of the tropical outdoor activities the Keys have to offer.

Galveston, Texas

If you’re looking for a beach destination this spring, but don’t want to travel all the way to Florida, you can escape the winter weather on the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico. Stay at the Jamaica Beach RV Park — Galveston’s newest RV park — and spend your days swimming in the ocean, lounging by the pool, or exploring the beach town’s countless attractions.

Start Your Spring Break at PleasureLand

Make this spring break the best one ever by shopping for a new or used RV from PleasureLand RV Centerbefore you go. Our qualified staff members can help you find the upgraded RV of your dreams for a price you won’t believe. Stop in and see us or log online to view our extensive selection of affordable and luxurious RVs for sale.

Your 2018 Minnesota RVing Bucket List

Minnesota has tons of natural sites to visit if you’re an RVer. So many, in fact, that we bet you could spend an entire year checking destinations off your list. If you don’t have all year, though, and want to see some of the best parks that Minnesota has to offer this 2018, add these to your travel bucket list.

Voyageurs National Park

A vacation to Voyageurs National Park is a true adventure as visitors have 218,000 acres to explore. The tapestry of the park is an intertwined network of lush forest, ancient rock, and multiple waterways.The rugged and remote park is a haven for water enthusiasts and wildlife observers. Depending on the season, visitor’s enjoy hiking, fishing, canoeing, boat tours, and ranger led naturalist programs. During the winter, snowmobiling, skiing, ice-fishing, cross-country skiing, and hiking snow-covered trails are options. Rowboats, canoes, cross-country skis, and snowshoes are available for rent.

Grand Portage State Park

Grand Portage State Park is a state park at the northeastern tip of Minnesota near the Canadian border. It contains a 120-foot waterfall, the tallest in the state, on the Pigeon River. The High Falls and other waterfalls and rapids upstream necessitated a historically important portage on a fur trade route between the Great Lakes and inland Canada. This 8.5-mile path plus the site of forts on either end are preserved in nearby Grand Portage National Monument. The forested areas provide a beautiful backdrop to the rugged beauty of the falls and the shoreline of the Pigeon River that runs through the park.

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls State Park is known as the gateway to the North Shore. It possesses spectacular waterfalls, a river gorge, pristine Lake Superior shoreline, plenty of log and stone structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and north woods wildlife. Hike or ski to see the Fifth Falls through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch, and enjoy camping in modern campsites, picnicking, and relaxing along the Lake Superior shoreline or the Gooseberry River. Listen to the thunderous roar of the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River as it plummets through a rocky gorge. Watch for waves, ships, or the moon rise on Lake Superior from an ancient lava flow known as the Picnic Flow.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you start checking destinations off your bucket list, be sure to stop in and see us at PleasureLand RV Center this spring or summer. PleasureLand RV Center can ensure that your RV is ready to handle the road trip ahead and you can make sure that you’re properly outfitted for whatever the road brings. Where do you plan to head in Minnesota this year? Let us know!

It’s Time to Get Your RV Ready for Spring Travel!

The spring RV season is fast approaching and it’s time to start cleaning and inspecting your RV inside and out if you’ve had it in storage. These simple RV preparation tips will help ensure that your RV is road-ready inside and out.

Start with an Inspection

The first step to take after pulling your RV out of storage is to inspect it inside and out. Pull the tarp or cover off of your RV and check the roof for any wear and tear that could have occurred over the winter months. Check the sides and undersides as well to make sure no critters have created holes to take shelter in your home on wheels. Lastly, inspect the interior of your RV for any damage.

It’s Time to Clean

Even if your RV went into storage after a good cleaning, you’ll want to clean away the winter grime once again. Thoroughly wash the exterior of your with an RV washing solution and soft rags or sponges that won’t scratch the exterior surface. Clean the interior of your thoroughly as well, taking out any items that you won’t need on your summer travels (heavy winter coats, sleds, and other winter supplies).

Check Your Appliances and Safety Gear

There’s nothing more disappointing than arriving at the campground to find that your stove is no longer operating properly. Check your water heater, LP tanks, appliances, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and the fire extinguisher to make sure they’re all in proper working order. It pays to get your RV road-ready even if you’re not preparing for a trip, because you never know when an opportunity for adventure will strike.

Let PleasureLand RV Center Take a Look

There’s no better way to enjoy complete peace of mind on the road than to bring your RV to a PleasureLand RV Center before you go. Our certified RV technicians will take all of the necessary steps to ensure your RV is ready for all of your spring and summer adventures.

Get Crafty this Valentine’s Day

Instead of buying a gift, why not get crafty with your Valentine’s Day? These DIY projects will add that special touch that’s so important when giving a gift to someone you love.

Bake a Heart-Shaped Cake

Buy your favorite cake mix or make your favorite recipe from scratch – once in a square pan and another time in a rounded pan. After both cakes have been baked, cut the round cake in half and turn the square one onto a corner, then place the round halves onto the diamond so it makes a heart shape. Decorate with frosting and toppings as you see fit!

Personalize Some Stones

This one is just for a fun little knick-knack. Get some smooth, rounded stones and use paint, glitter, and other applications to give them all personalized Valentine decorations. You can even write special messages on them.

Get Creative with the Wrapping

If you’re going to wrap your DIY gift, or even if you just bought something at the store, you can also make the wrapping special. One way to do this is to take a sheet of sturdy paper that you’ll use to wrap your gift. Cut out a small heart shape and use it as a stencil to trace hearts on this wrapping paper. After you’ve traced the desired number of hearts, cut along half of each heart shape and then fold back each one so that you’ve got half of the heart acting as a door of sorts. Behind each of these cutouts (on the side of the wrapping paper that will not be visible), tape or glue red glitter paper. Your wrapping paper will now have a distinct, uniquely DIY look to it!

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to tour a new motorhome or travel trailer. If you really want to make a big deal out of this Valentine’s Day, surprise your loved one with your DIY gift within the comfort of your other gift: an affordable new RV from PleasureLand RV Center! Come out and see our inventory today.

Rent an RV for Your Next Adventure

If you want to guarantee that your next vacation will be one of the best ones yet, rent an RV. Renting and RV gives you the opportunity to cater your travels directly to your needs. Whether you want to relax on the beach or enjoy an epic adventure, an RV will get you to your destination and ensure you enjoy the journey along the way.

Enjoy the Affordability

Renting an RV eliminates your need for pricey plane tickets, numerous costly hotels rooms and expensive meals at restaurants. For one low daily rental rate, your travel, accommodations and even a convenient kitchen are included. Renting and RV will cut your vacation expenses associated with flights, hotels and restaurants roughly in half.

Use Your Freedoms

One of the biggest perks of renting an RV is that you enjoy freedoms that you don’t experience when flying to your destination. Flight times, layovers, TSA checkpoints and canceled flights are things of the past, and expensive and unhealthy meals can be exchanged for your favorite homemade alternatives. An RV rental even lets you change your travel plans if you see a stop (America is known for its outrageous roadside attractions) you want to make along the way. There are no set rules, schedules, or reservations.

Spend More Time Together

An RV rental encourages your family to spend more time together. Whether you’re on the road to your destination, eating meals, enjoying recreational activities outside or lounging at the campsite, an RV keeps your family together much more often than separate hotel rooms. You’ll be amazed at how many lifelong memories are made inside your rental RV.

Rent Your RV from PleasureLand

PleasureLand RV Center makes your RV rental experience quick, easy and affordable. Choose from a Class A, Class C, travel trailer, pop-up or ice house rental that you can pick up or drop off at our St. Cloud, Brainerd, or Willmar locations. Log online to find out more about all of our RV rental options and prices.

Hike Lester Park in Duluth

We’re going to let you in on a little secret. It involves one of Minnesota’s least known parks. This park is home to one of Minnesota’s best hiking trails, especially if you traverse it in the depths of a Minnesota winter.

Located in northern Minnesota, not far from the shores of Lake Superior, there’s a secluded park in the town of Duluth. Known as Lester Park, it’s a popular place that the locals love to explore time and again. With over 9 miles of trails that meander along the Amity Creek and Lester River (and offering spectacular views of both bodies of water), Lester Park is a must-see stop if you’re in or near Duluth this winter.

The park is secluded and unfrequented to such a degree that the landscape turns into a veritable untouched winter wonderland after snowfall. If you want to see a pristine Minnesota forest in the depths of winter, Lester Park and its trails are calling your name.

Before or after exploring Lester Park, be sure to see everything else Duluth has to offer visitors before you hit the road to your next destination. With shopping and dining, Duluth makes for a great pitstop along your path.

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 tobrowse our huge selection of top-quality RVs in stock.

Best State Parks to Visit in the New Year

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Minnesota is home to some of the best state parks in the country. And there are a lot of them too. If you want to narrow your search and visit the best of the best, we’ve got you covered with our must-see state parks in Minnesota. Fire up the RV and head to any one of these for a weekend of family fun.

Blue Mounds State Park

A park as beautiful as it is mysterious, Blue Mounds State Park offers up a truly unique experience. Cacti, prairie grasses, and wildflowers dot the landscape as herds of buffalo move across the horizon. Spring is the perfect time to visit since the grasses haven’t grown to their tall summer heights, so the views are unobstructed. The park also features an enigmatic 1250 foot long stone ledge near the southern end of the park. It may have been used as an ancient calendar by native tribes. On the first days of spring and fall, the sunrise and sunset align perfectly with the stones.

Grand Portage State Park

Featuring the tallest waterfalls in the state, including the 120-foot tall High Falls of the Pigeon River, Grand Portage State Park offers some beautiful sights. The park marks a number of important sites, including the Grand Portage National Monument, which marks the site where fur traders established a center of commerce with the Ojibwa in the 17th century. This is also where Alexander Mackenzie embarked on his cross-continental trek towards the Pacific Ocean in 1793 – a full twelve years before Lewis and Clark made the same journey.

Itasca State Park

The original and, to some, the best state park in Minnesota. It’s among the largest in the state and gives you a classic “National Park” feel with its classic lodging available at the historic Douglas Lodge. There’s an onsite visitor center, restaurant, and common area with a fireplace at the lodge as well. Hiking is the best activity at the park, especially a hike to the Mississippi Headwaters where the river flows from Lake Itasca.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before hitting the road to see Minnesota’s state parks, be sure to visit Minnesota’s #1 RV dealership, PleasureLand RV Center. From new and used RV sales to parts, accessories, and certified service, PleasureLand RV Center has got your adventures in Minnesota covered.

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.