Minnesota’s Top Ice Fishing Spots

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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.

The 2016 Coachmen Clipper 18 ICE

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The 2016 Coachmen Clipper 18 ICE is currently on sale right here at the PleasureLand RV Center for our unbeatable Ice House Sale through Dec. 12. The clipper travel trailer has been designed to be an easy-to-use ice house that helps you get out on the water more this winter season. It’s aerodynamic, easy to tow and easy to enjoy with a range of amenities that might make you forget you’re traveling out in the winter elements.

The Clipper Ice Floorplan

The 2016 Coachmen Clipper 18 ICE layout is designed to offer the comforts and conveniences you need to enjoy the ice to the fullest. This compact travel trailer is equipped with a full wet bath, a full kitchen with stove, oven, refrigerator and sink, plenty of storage space, a bench sofa with table and two comfortable lift-up beds. A convenient bench area sits in front of the ice holes to make your fishing experience more enjoyable than ever before.

Amenities and Features

You’re guaranteed to be impressed by the amenities this ice house has to offer. It feels more like a cozy home away from home than a rugged ice shack. You’re guaranteed to fall in love with the easy-to-clean rugged flooring, Lumbercore cabinetry, high pressure laminate countertops, high-neck sink faucet, extra deep kitchen sink, microwave, lighted range hood, mini blinds, monitor panel, window valances, power bath fan and other features that will make you feel at home every time you head onto the ice.

The Clipper 18 ICE is just as rugged and durable as it is luxurious. Travelers enjoy the Clipper’s radial tires, heavy-duty safety chains, E-Z crank tongue jack, ultra lube leaf spring axles, powder coated I-beam frame, galvanized wheel wells, radius tinted safety glass windows and other touches that provide you with peace of mind year after year.

Get Out on the Ice

The 2016 Coachmen Clipper 18 ICE is guaranteed to get you on the ice more than ever this year. Stop in to shop our PleasureLand RV Center Ice House Sale before Dec. 12.

Important Information for Our Canadian Buyers

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The PleasureLand RV Centers throughout Minnesota welcome Canadian buyers, and we make the RV purchasing process as easy as one, two, three. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will explain everything you need to do when purchasing your RV and returning it to your home in Canada. We make the RV purchasing process stress free for our friends above the boarder, and we offer our RVs at a fraction of the price of many Canadian dealerships.

What We Will Do For You

When you purchase your RV at the PleasureLand RV Center, we’ll provide a completed copy of the bill of sale and a title for all pre-owned units. Travelers purchasing new units will be given the Manufacturer’s State of Origin (MSO).

You’ll also receive a recall clearance letter and a temporary transit tag, which will be placed on your RV to allow you time to take your RV across the border. The permit expires 30 days after you purchase your RV.

What You’ll Have to Do

You’ll have a few simple responsibilities to fulfill after purchasing your RV from PleasureLand. Our staff wil explain these steps thoroughly and make them simple and stress-free, so all you have to do is show up at the border and present your documents.

Upon arrival at the border, you’ll need to provide proof of insurance for your RV and payment for the border taxes and fees. You’ll need to provide copies of your title or MSO, purchase order and recall clearance letter. The Canadian Border Service Agency will give you a vehicle import form, which you’ll complete at the border.

The border patrol agent will verify that your new RV’s VIN matches the manufacturer’s statement of compliance label, and you’ll drive (or tow) your new RV into your home country.

Start Shopping Today

You don’t have to be here in Minnesota to shop for your dream RV. Simply log onto our PleasureLand RV Center or give us a call to find out more about our massive selection of RVs and the simple purchasing process.

The 2016 CrossRoads ReZerve

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Finding that perfect travel trailer or fifth wheel for a price you want to pay can seem difficult. That’s why CrossRoads Recreational Vehicles created the ReZerve — an elegant, high-quality, affordable RV that’s ready to tackle year after year on the road.

About the ReZerve

The 2016 CrossRoads ReZerve is available as a luxury travel trailer or fifth wheel that’s loaded with residential features to make you feel at home no matter how long you stay on the road. Travelers enjoy the luxury and convenience of premium residential furniture, a 7-foot interior ceiling height, a Bluetooth stereo system, hardwood cabinetry, a wall-mounted systems monitor panel, a residential 60-inch by 74-inch mattress, coordinated window treatments, a Super Booth dinette and a long list of other features that turn this fifth wheel into your dream vacation home.

2016 ReZerve Floorplans

The 2016 CrossRoads ReZerve is available in 22 different floorplan options. Whether you’re looking for a fifth wheel or travel trailer with a massive master suite, enough living space to entertain, a residential kitchen, a full bunk room for the kids or even an outdoor kitchen, there’s no doubt you’ll fall in love with one of the many ReZerve options.

A Top-Quality Exterior

The 2016 CrossRoads ReZerve is equipped with the highest quality features to ensure you get the most value for your purchase. Travel trailer and fifth wheel models are equipped with a one-piece rubber roof, R-7 fiberglass roof insulation, a steel I-beam frame, roof line rain gutters, R-7 fiberglass floor insulation, 3/8-inch walkable roof decking and an array of other high-end features that keep you safe and comfortable everywhere you travel.

Tow It Away Today

Start this holiday season off right with a brand-new CrossRoads ReZerve travel trailer or fifth wheel from the PleasureLand RV Center. Make us your one-stop RV shop for the holiday and snowbird seasons.

Must-Visit December Events Near St. Cloud

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The holiday season is in full swing, and that means St. Cloud is bustling with events for the entire family to enjoy. Fire up your RV and cruise into one of Minnesota’s favorite cities for these must-visit December activities and events.

Christmas at the Mansions

If you’re not in the holiday season yet, Christmas at the Mansions can help. This annual event in nearby Little Falls features a self-guided tour of the Musser and Weyerhaeuser mansions. The gorgeous buildings are decorated to the nines for the holidays, with this year’s theme being “Deck the Halls.” The mansions are open Monday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for teens. Kids under the age of 12 get in free.

27th Annual Festival of Lights

The annual holiday lighting ceremony at St. Cloud Hospital will take place on Dec. 3, this year. The family-friendly event will feature trolley rides, caroling by the Tech High School Chamber Choir, appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, a live nativity, hot chocolate, and cookies. The entire event is free and open to the public, but don’t forget to bring a few non-perishable food items to donate to the Food Shelf.

Dave Cofell’s 7th Annual Christmas Show

Cruise over to St. Joseph for Dave Cofell’s 7th Annual Christmas Show on Dec. 18, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature holiday storytelling, singing, poetry and plenty of jokes. The show’s famous gingerbread cookies and an array of special guests are guaranteed to make this a night to remember. Admission to the event is free, and the show is sure to please all ages.

Stop and See Us

Don’t forget to stop and see us at the PleasureLand RV Center in St. Cloud this holiday season. Our lot is fully stocked with the highest quality RVs to bring your family more holiday cheer than ever this December.

Which RV is the Best Deal?

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Shopping for an RV can be a stressful experience. With so many RVs on the market, choosing one that offers the most bang for your buck can seem like an impossible task. Here at the PleasureLand RV Centers throughout Minnesota, we make locating an incredibly good deal easy.

Right now, we’re offering a huge selection of RVs on sale for the Thanksgiving holiday. When you purchase one of these deeply discounted RVs, you know you received the best possible price and don’t have to waste time looking elsewhere. The following three RVs are just a few of the many we’ve discounted for the holiday weekend.

2015 CrossRoads RV Ice Seeker IS17RD

Ice fishing season is just around the corner, and the CrossRoads RV Ice Seeker IS17RD is the RV you need to help you spend more time on the ice this year. This luxurious ice house is equipped with a comfortable dinette, residential kitchen, interior ice holes and plenty of sleeping space to accommodate friends and family. Even better, this RV has been discounted nearly $10,000 for our Thanksgiving Sale.

2009 Coachmen RV Chaparral 340QBDS

You don’t have to pay the price of a brand-new RV to enjoy the luxuries of one. This like-new 2009 Coachmen Chaparral is loaded with all of the latest and greatest RV features, including a residential kitchen, angled shower, full pantry, jumbo booth dinette, cozy bunks for the kids, a queen bed slide-out and everything you need to start an affordable, comfortable and convenient life on the road.

2015 Itasca Suncruiser 32D

We’ve taken more than $50,000 off the MSRP of this new Itasca Suncruiser Class A motorhome. If you’re looking to start a full-time life on the road, this luxurious Class A offers everything you need, including Leatherette furniture, solid surface countertops, an Infotainment center, a tankless water heater, a 42-inch HD TV, an electric fireplace and countless other high-end touches that will turn this RV into your dream home on wheels.

An Unbeatable Alternative to Turkey This Thanksgiving

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Turkey has been a staple part of Thanksgiving dinner in many households for decades. However, you don’t have to eat a typical, boring turkey every Thanksgiving. This mouthwatering smoked pork sausage with hard-cider sauce is a recipe that will spice up your Thanksgiving meal this year and will probably become a new family favorite.

Pork Sausage with Hard-Cider Sauce

What you’ll need:

  • 1 dried chipotle chile
  • 1/2 cup hard cider
  • 2 Granny Smith apples (halved and cored)
  • 2 ounces rye bread (crust removed, sliced into bite-size pieces)
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • Four 4-ounce smoked pork sausages
  • 1 pound broccoli (cut into 1-inch pieces)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter (cubed)
  • 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

Cooking instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, cover the chile with hot water and let stand for 30 minutes.
  3. Bake apple halves with the cut side down on a baking sheet for 30 minutes. Let apples cool.
  4. Scoop pulp out of the apples and into a food processor.
  5. Stem and seed the chipotle, then chop and add to the food processor. Puree.
  6. Spread the bread in a pie plate and bake for 10 minutes.
  7. In a saucepan, boil the hard cider with the vinegar, sugar and the apple/chile puree. Simmer until reduced to 3/4 cup. Remove from heat and season with salt.
  8. Grill the sausages on medium heat until they’re lightly charred on all sides and cooked thoroughly. Place on a plate and tent with foil.
  9. In a large skillet, heat the oil and sit in the broccoli. Season with salt and cook until brown. Stir in the caraway, mustard, cider sauce and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil.
  10. Remove broccoli and sauce from heat, stir in butter and add salt as needed.
  11. Serve sausages covered in broccoli and sauce. Garnish with bread pieces.

Don’t forget to stop and see us at the PleasureLand RV Centers throughout Minnesota when you’re traveling in your RV this holiday season.

The Best Ways to Keep the Water in Your RV From Freezing

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Similar to brick-and-mortar homes, winters can take a toll on your RV’s plumbing system. Freezing temperatures mean freezing water hoses and compartments. If your RV isn’t already outfitted with holding tank heating devices and insulated water hoses, these easy and inexpensive methods will help you endure cold spells on the road.

Use a Heating Pad

Heating pads come in handy in more ways than one when living the RV lifestyle. Place a heating pad over your RV water pump to keep it warm. Plug the heating pad into the electric supply at your campsite. If a heating pad or electricity is not available, lay a number of towels on top of the water pump to insulate it from the frigid temperatures.

Cover Your Holding Tanks

Frozen holding tanks means you’re left without water, and that just doesn’t cut it when you’re living life on the road. If your holding tank compartments are not already heated, you’ll want to layer your holding tanks with towels or blankets to insulate them from the cold.

Insulate Your Water Hose

Heat tape is a handy item from the hardware store to keep in your RV whenever you’re expecting cooler temperatures. Heat tape is equipped with a heating element that will warm the hose to keep the water flowing freely. Simply plug the heat tape into a standard outlet to activate the heating element. Heat tape also comes equipped with a thermostat, so you can keep an eye on the temperature and ensure your hoses are always warm.

Bring Your RV to PleasureLand

Applying heat tape to your hoses and finding the proper methods to keep your holding tanks warm can be a difficult task. Here at the PleasureLand RV Centers throughout Minnesota, our certified RV technicians are ready to do all of the work for you. Even better, you can rest assured that the professionals have prepared your vehicle for the frigid temperatures you may encounter this winter.

National Sleep Comfort Month: The Best Mattress for Your RV

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November is National Sleep Comfort Month, and that means more to RV travelers than most. Whether you’re cruising in a truck camper or a Class A motorhome, it’s likely the mattress that came with your RV isn’t perfect for you. But you don’t have to endure long nights with little sleep whenever you travel.

The following mattress options will help you create a sleeping experience in your RV that is as good as what you expect at home.

Use a Memory Foam Topper

Turn a thin, uncomfortable mattress into your own memory foam mattress with a memory foam topper. This inexpensive solution to purchasing a pricey and extremely heavy memory foam mattress can be used in just about every RV, ranging from pop-up campers to motorhomes.

Sleep Number RV Premier by Select Comfort

These days, you don’t even have to settle for a foam topper to make your RV mattress more comfortable. A number of major mattress brands are producing special mattresses strictly for RVs. The Sleep Number bed by Select Comfort has now been created in a special RV size. This means you and your partner can fine tune your sleeping experience at the push of a button. It’s not the cheapest option, but it’s an ideal one for travelers living full-time life on the road.

DreamAire RV Bed

The DreamAire RV Bed is a unique and ultra comfortable RV sleeping solution that can be purchased for less than $1,000. The DreamAire features two independent air chambers that offer adjustable comfort for each side of the bed. The wireless remote offers 100 comfort settings, so you never have to sacrifice sleep for travel.

Upgrade Your RV at PleasureLand

The PleasureLand RV Center is the No. 1 place to upgrade your RV. Give us a call or stop in and see us to find out how we can improve your RV sleeping experience before you hit the roads for the snowboard season.

How to Pick the Right Campground for Your RV Needs

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Choosing the perfect RV campground isn’t as easy as loading an app and picking the closest campground to your destination. Some campgrounds are geared toward families, some are designed for retirees, some are pet-friendly, and the list of differences can go on and on.

If you’re planning on spending any period of time at a campground, it pays to find one that suits your travel needs. This simple guide will help you locate a campground that you’ll never want to leave.

Research From Home

Don’t wait until you hit the road to start finding the perfect campground. Researching from home, where you have reliable internet access, can be much more efficient and effective. Search for campgrounds and RV parks near your destination and take the time to look at each website thoroughly. Use your list of desired amenities and campground features to select a handful of places that best suit your needs.

Get Everyone Involved

Once you’ve located a number of campgrounds that offer the amenities and location you’re desiring, it’s time to consult all of your fellow campers. Letting everyone play a role in the choosing process ensures that no one is surprised or disappointed upon arrival.

Call Ahead

Not all campground websites present their amenities, rules or location properly. When in doubt about any campground features, call the campground to confirm. This can help you avoid serious problems like arriving at the campground with a pet that’s not allowed or pulling in to find the pool out of service. Calling ahead is another way to avoid surprises and guarantee the campground offers everything you’re seeking. It will also help you understand the campground’s exact location, which can be difficult to determine via online maps or GPS.

Choose the Right RV

Choosing the perfect RV is as difficult as choosing the perfect campground. Fortunately, our qualified RV representatives here at the PleasureLand RV Center can make finding your dream RV easy and stress-free.