Visit Kilen Woods State Park

Kilen Woods State Park

If you’re always on the lookout for the next place to take your RV, PleasureLand RV Center is here to give you a suggestion: Kilen Woods State Park. Kilen Woods sits on a series of high tree-covered hills that provide visitors with striking vistas of small, clear lakes nestled in deep valleys.

Drive along the park’s scenic route to view the flora and fauna in the park, including 150 bird species and 50 species of mammal, including deer, beavers, racoon, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks. The trails are also a great way to see the wildlife while you hike, horseback ride, or cross-country ski (in the colder months).

Spring through fall, the park is “dressed” with displays of trillium, hepatica, bloodroot, yellow lady’s slipper, wild onion, prairie rose, and showy milkweed. If you go in the fall, the park turns into a fall wonderland with brilliant shades of orange, gold, and red.

The park is located at 50200 860th Street in Lakefield, Minnesota. Call 507-831-2900, ext. 222.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Visit PleasureLand RV Center before you head to Kilen Woods State Park or any other destination this spring. Besides helping to make sure that your RV is ready for the road, PleasureLand RV Center can also help you get into a new RV if it’s time to upgrade or even if you’re shopping for your first rig.

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.

RV to Pipestone National Monument

Pipestone National Monument

Pipestone National Monument is a sacred place to many American Indians, and the traditions from past generations continue in this part of Minnesota today. American Indians have quarried the red pipestone from the area of the Sacred Pipestone National Monument for generations, and it has been used to create precious pipes used in prayer. It is believed that the smoke from the pipes carries prayers to the Great Spirit. Visiting Pipestone National Monument is an experience of American Indian heritage that you don’t want to miss.

Things to Do at the Park

Pipestone National Monument offers a range of indoor and outdoor activities to visitors. Start by checking out the visitor center, museum exhibits, bookstore, gift shop, cultural demonstrations, 22-minute film and interpretive programs. After learning the history of the area, enjoy the Circle Trail nature walk, which passes the breathtaking Winnewissa Falls, the native tallgrass prairie, Old Stone Face, pipestone quarries and other historical markers. The Three Maidens picnic area is an ideal place to rest and enjoy a meal after your hike.

Park Details

The entrance fee to visit Pipestone National Monument is $3 per person for anyone 16 years of age or older. American Indians enrolled in a tribe recognized by the U.S. government always receive free entry. The monument is open seven days a week and year round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Camping Near the Monument

The Pipestone National Monument is located in Pipestone, Minnesota, and although there are no campsites at the monument proper, there are plenty nearby. The Pipestone RV Campground is located directly across from the park’s entrance, and the Split Rock Creek State Park is just 6 miles away in Ihlen, Minn. Enjoy your visit to the park, then relax in your RV amidst the gorgeous scenery of Pipestone.

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.

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.

Visiting Voyageurs National Park

Visit Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park, near International Falls, Minnesota, is easily one of the state’s best parks. Established in 1975, the park’s name commemorates the voyageurs, who were French-Canadian fur traders who were the first European settlers to traverse the region. The park is hilly and full of waterways, with steep rock cliffs and lush forests. It’s a popular destination among water enthusiasts, especially canoeists and kayakers, as well as fishermen.

Park Details

Voyageurs National Park is open in all seasons; however, the Rainy Lake Visitor Center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays from Jan. 9 to May 21. The Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center and Ash River Visitor Center are closed from late September through late May.

There are no fees to enter Voyageurs National Park. However, the campground does require campers to register and pay an amenity fee. Pets are allowed in many areas of the park, including the Frontcountry campsites. They are not allowed in the Backcountry campsites on the Kabetogama Peninsula. Pets must be under control and on a 6-foot leash at all times.

Things to Do

There’s no shortage of things to do at Voyageurs National Park during the spring and summer. The park is full of hiking trails, with over 50 miles of well- marked and maintained paths. If you’re interested in long-distance backcountry backpacking hikes, you’re in luck: some of the trails are long enough to keep you busy for days.

If you’ve got a boat towing behind your RV, Voyageurs National Park is the perfect place to use it. In fact, those who boat, canoe, or kayak are in the best position to get the most out of the park since there are numerous islands out on the lakes throughout. These are only accessible by watercraft, but are open for exploration to those who can reach them. If you don’t have a boat along, you can always rent one from the rental service available throughout the park. Whether you own or rent, if you want to get the most out of your visit it’s advisable that you take to the water at some point. If you visit during the summer, however, you can use the shuttle service with a park ranger guide to see some of the more notable islands.

For your own safety, be sure to consult with a ranger before you take your canoe or kayak out: the waterways of the park have hazardous rocks just beneath the surface and only about 10% are marked. A ranger can advise you on the safest routes to travel.

Stop and See Us

Looking for the ideal motorhome or travel trailer for your 2018 travels? PleasureLand RV Centers, located throughout Minnesota, are loaded with all of the latest and greatest RVs on the market. Stop in and see us in St. Cloud, Ramsey, Brainerd, or Long Prairie to view our selection of new and used RVs today.

Visit Quarry Park & Nature Preserve

Quarry Preserve Nature Preserve

When you’re traveling through Minnesota this spring or summer in your RV and you find yourself near Waite Park, Minnesota, be sure to stop by Quarry Park & Nature Preserve for a couple of days of fun and relaxation.

The park resides on nearly 700 acres of land and is one of the region’s largest parks. The park has scenic woodlands, open prairies, wetlands, and even an unquarried bedrock. The park is covered by oak and aspen woods, as well as Indian paintbrush and even prickly pear cacti.

Visitors can enjoy granite reflecting pools, two swimming quarries, and scenic views. Activities include mountain biking and hiking trails, trout fishing, geocaching, rock climbing, scuba diving, and more.

If you come back in the winter, you can also enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat tire cycling on the trails.

The park is open year round daily from 8am to just after sunset. You can find the park at 1802 County Road 137, Waite Park, MN. Call 320-255-6172 for more information.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you hit the road for Quarry Park & Nature Preserve or any other destination in Minnesota or beyond. Whether you need to shop for a new motorhome to take you to all of your favorite spring vacation spots or have an RV already and need it to be checked out before you embark, PleasureLand RV Center can help.

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!

Snowbirding in Texas

Winter is definitely here in full-force in Minnesota. If you’ve yet to flock south to a warmer snowbird destination, what are you waiting for? Perhaps you’re stuck on where to go. If so, consider Texas. It’s perhaps not the first state you think of when the word “snowbird” pops into your head (we bet that’s Florida), but it’s got everything you need to keep you entertained all winter long.

South Padre Island

There are numerous cities in Texas that welcome RV snowbirds. But if you are into enjoying the warm water of the Gulf Coast and bird watching (the flying sort, not the ones who drove down with you in their RVs), then South Padre Island is the one place you definitely need to stop by with the RV. It has numerous beaches and calm waters so that you can enjoy fishing and boating. There are numerous RV parks in South Padre Island, some of which are even located right near the beach.

Austin

Being a snowbird doesn’t mean you have to travel to a slow-paced destination for retirees. Austin is a place where culture and the outdoors collide. Snowbirds can kayak, mountain bike, or hike in the day and turn to the city for world-renowned eateries and live music at night. Austin is a city that will make the cooler months of the year fly by with excitement. At Austin Lone Star RVResort, located just south of downtown, winter residents receive seasonal rate discounts on big-rig-friendly, full-hookup campsites.

New Braunfels

New Braunfels is a great travel destination for anyone looking to do take a short trip this April. This German town has plenty of old fashioned fun and modern activities to make this a great vacation destination for the whole family. This town is proud of its German heritage, and celebrates it everyday. If you are not as interested in Germany, there is plenty for you to do as well. It’s got small town charm, warm weather, and outdoor fun in abundance.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this winter to tour a new or used motorhome or travel trailer. Find one that’s perfect for your travel and vacation plans and leave the lot in your new RV today. Not on the market for a new RV? PleasureLand RV Center can help you with RV service, parts, and accessories too.

Best Florida RV Beach Destinations

Escape the cold this winter by traveling to Florida. With sunny weather, clear skies, and warm temperatures, Florida will make you think it’s summer already! And if you go to Florida, you’ve of course got to hit up the beaches since they embody everything that Florida is about. These are the best beaches within easy access of your RV.

Daytona Beach

Daytona beach has been nicknamed the world’s most famous beach and for good reason. If you are apt for spending the day at the beach, there is no shortage of activities. Perhaps you can play some beach volleyball with the kids then cool off with some water fun. There are many things to do from surfing to paddle boarding, kayaking and even parasailing. No matter what you decide to do, it’s going to be both memorable and fun.

No vacation is complete without a visit to the Daytona Beach Boardwalk and pier. Known for food, fun and family entertainment, this attraction can’t be missed. Spend the afternoon exploring the Boardwalk or riding different rides such as the Sandblaster Roller Coaster, Slingshot, go-karts and Ferris wheel. After the thrills are done, stop by the entertainment center area that features both new and classic arcade favorites.

Juno Beach

If you’re looking for a beach getaway that offers hot summer temperatures, swaying palm trees and tropical turquoise waters, Juno Beach is one of the best places in the country to park your RV. Stay at the Juno Ocean Walk RV Resort, and you’ll enjoy a short walk to the Palm Beach area’s breathtaking beaches. Visitors can take part in activities held at the RV resort or venture just a few minutes away to world class golf courses, sport fishing charters, pristine beaches, shopping and countless other Florida activities.

Destin Beach

The sand is a little different in that the ground glass is made from Appalachian quartz, so the shores are bright white. For the best photo ops, be sure to visit Henderson Beach State Park, located just east of Destin’s airport.

Destin’s white beaches are stunning, nestled against the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico in northwest Florida. With some of the best fishing anywhere in the world, the sealife around Destin always seems to be biting, so don’t forget to pack your fishing pole.

Destin is also home to tons of spectacular golf courses, many of which offer views of the gulf as you play. No matter your golfing skills, you owe it to yourself to get out on the green for the views alone.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this winter to tour a new or used motorhome or travel trailer. Find one that’s perfect for your travel and vacation plans and leave the lot in your new RV today. Not on the market for a new RV? PleasureLand RV Center can help you with RV service, parts, and accessories too.

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.