If you have been searching for a new place to explore without leaving the state of Minnesota, consider planning a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness after visiting your favorite RV dealership. Minnesota is home to this 1.3 million acre nature preserve that runs along 150 miles of the border with Canada. Explore unspoiled natural beauty with your family and friends without having to see the same old sights or travel far out of the state.
Plenty Of Space
You can roam over the entire area, but there are designated camping areas, especially for RVs. However, there are over 2,000 different camp sites available to give you plenty of options. Set up near the water if you’re traveling with canoes and kayaks, or pull in near the head of your favorite trail. The area was first set aside in 1926, so many areas are very good examples of old growth forest for the area.
Planning Your Trip
Since the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is heavily protected, it’s important to apply for a permit to visit the area a few weeks before your trip. These permits are required for any person traveling in a motorized vehicle through the area. This ensures that visitors don’t go over the quotas and cause undue wear and tear to the environment. Permits for overnight stays start with coverage for two adults, so you can’t simply pay for a single visitor. You will need to give a total number of guests, including children, when making reservations. Last minute guests won’t be able to just jump in and go along with you. However, it’s possible to buy permits the day you arrive by visiting a park ranger’s office if you are traveling between October through April.
The Land Of A Thousand Lakes
The million-odd acres of the BWCAW are riddled with well over one thousand lakes. These bodies of water are connected by creeks, streams and rivers. Take to the water in your favorite canoe or kayak to explore over one thousand connected miles of water trails. If you don’t own any water gear or don’t have space in your RV for haul it along, consider renting your equipment from one of the many outfitters operating in or near the wilderness. There are also 11 full-length hiking trails if you prefer to explore the area by foot.
The BWCAW is located partially on the coast of Lake Superior and is easily accessed through the Superior National Park. Visitors can also take in the sights of International Falls or Thunder Bay while in the area.
With the popularity of road trip food shows such as Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, it makes perfect sense to plan your next Minnesota motorhomeroad trip around your tastebuds.
Minnesota has some very special chocolate “destinations” on the map. Trek across the state in your RV and discover Mademoiselle Miel, which creates one-of-a-kind artisan chocolates available throughout the Twin Cities. Or, visit Chocolates Plus in Bemidji, which specializes in new and old favorites. Take a spin on the Internet and find tons of delicious options. It’s time to indulge those chocolate cravings!
Don’t forget those roadside attractions. It’s a safe bet that you can find homemade fudge and other wonderful local creations at even the simplest local market or gift shop. Don’t forget that those sweet, local fruits on the roadside always pair well with chocolate.
Once you’re happily ensconced at your campsite, think s’mores. They’re everyone’s favorite and for good reason. Let each family member choose a special extra ingredient, like caramel or peanut butter, to add your own family spin. You can even liven up the occasion with a family storytelling contest or sing-a-long for who gets the honor of the last s’more. You’ll either be in stitches, or sitting in awe of your various talents!
In case you decide to add a chocolate destination to your next cross-country RV adventure trip, don’t miss Ethel M in Henderson, Nevada, Ghirardelli in San Francisco, California or Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Chocolate can give a new twist to seeing America. Have a sweet trip!
The Easter Bunny will be hopping by early this year! Easter is Sunday, March 31, and with a little imagination and elbow grease, you can turn your weekend RV camping trip into an impromptu Easter egg hunt.
An easy place to start is with plastic eggs and treats from any local market. You can use the motorhome itself to hide the eggs, because we all know there are plenty of nooks and crannies! Or, if you choose the great outdoors instead, enlist the older kids to find some ingenious places, but make sure there’s something for every age group, including some easy, low hiding spots for the little ones. Think of it as Easter geocaching! Don’t forget to make a map and note the number of eggs you hide. If you want to include the whole family in egg-dyeing fun, this site has easy tricks to make unique dyes and patterns with common ingredients. Who doesn’t love a tie-dyed Easter egg?!
If you don’t want to DIY Easter, you can find lots of fun in our state parks. Check out Glacial Lakes State Park, which is planning an old fashioned Easter egg hunt and tons of family events. Visit the main page of the Minnesota State Parks website to learn more about great camping spots for your RV, and all kinds of upcoming events. There’s plenty of activity to eggs-cite all your campers! Happy hunting!
One of the fun parts of the RV lifestyle is being able to spend your holidays on the road, but still enjoying the comforts of home. You can always just pick up a corned beef sandwich and some beer for a smaller holiday, like St. Patrick’s day, but conducting an Easter Egg Hunt or roasting a whole ham in your RV can be tricky. Here are some ideas to make Easter work even when you’re on the road:
1. Bunnyspotting
A fun way to spend the afternoon, if you have rabbits, hares or bunnies in the area where you’re camping or driving, is to count how many of the long-eared fellows you can spot. You can whip out the digital camera and snap some shots or just have a contest to see who can count the most.
2. Plastic Egg Hunt
The problem with having an egg hunt in your RV is that if you forget one, you wind up with an egg rotting somewhere in your home and having no idea where it is because you hid it really well on purpose. Or you might get an egg rolling around the floor and getting stepped on and mashed into the carpet. A plastic egg hunt is a good alternative. You can get plastic eggs and hide candy and toys in them in your RV and around your campsite.
3. Spring Beer
For the adults, what’s the best part about Spring? Obviously the seasonal beer (well, if you are a beer drinker, that is). There are a lot of great beers and wines that you can only get in the Spring, as well as beers and wines that you can only get locally. Have an afternoon sampling the local pale ales and lagers with a Spring theme while catching a few fish or just taking in the nice Spring air with a brown sugar ham sandwich.
Easter is largely thought of as a children’s holiday, but there’s fun to be had no matter your age. Take the time to enjoy yourself this Easter.
Little by little, inch by inch, and bloom by bloom, spring will soon be bustin’ out all over! If you’re stuck inside on a rainy or snowy day, it’s the perfect time to plan an Minnesota RV road tripfor the whole family. The wildflowers will be blooming in no time!
Minnesota is home to hundreds of native wildflowers, and our state parks and roadsides offer beautiful backdrops to explore and photograph these natural wonders. Here’s a tip: for the best of the best, start with Wild River, Carley or Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park, and check out upcoming wildflower events in the parks. Each state park offers the perfect setting for maximum RV enjoyment with scenic campsites, hiking trails and more.
Minnesota Wildflowers is also a great place to learn more about where to find your favorites and learn about wildflower preservation. Or, join the Minnesota Wildflowers Facebook page to share your pics and wildflower hunting stories.
For all you amateur shutterbugs longing to get up close and personal with some lowland yellow loosestrife and have the beautiful shots to prove it, try these photo tips from the pros:
You’ll get your best photos on a cloudy day.
Experiment with using your flash and decide which photos you like best.
Don’t be afraid to move in close on your subject.
Photograph early or late in the day to avoid harsh shadows.
And most importantly, when you’ve set off in your camper or motorhome, but spot a vista where you just have to pull over and capture a photo, don’t forget these rules:
Watch your step.
Watch for traffic. It’s easy to get distracted and forget to watch for oncoming traffic when you’re crossing the road or opening your vehicle door.
Check the area for insects and snakes before you plop your child or grandchild into the flowers for photos.
Don’t trespass on private property.
Don’t trample the flowers.
Hooray for spring! Let’s keep our parks and open spaces blooming for years to come!
Been longing for a little adventure? Fan of scavenger hunts or The Amazing Race? Want to evoke the spirits of the pirates without the actual plundering and pillaging? If so, grab your GPS (your smart phone will do), load up your Minnesota travel trailer or RV, and hit the road for the very latest in treasure hunts–Geocaching! Check out this simple video on “What is Geocaching?” to get the lowdown on the family-friendly craze.
The beauty of geocaching is in its simplicity. You can plan an easy day trip, take a scenic detour, or build an entire vacation around it from wherever you’ve decided to park the motorhome, because there are over 2 million geocaches worldwide! Geocaching.com is your first stop for finding geocaches on the go, plus they provide a rundown of upcoming events in your state, latest caches hidden and latest trackable items. It’s a goldmine of geocaching tips and tricks.
Geocaching is sure to be tons of fun for the whole family and a great activity with something to engage everyone. You can find the geocaches or hide some—think high-tech hide and seek. Imagine the fun you’ll have picking out the perfect geocache that represents your family. What might you include? Campfire recipes, a stuffed animal, a local rock or gem?
Our state parks are getting in on the action with geocaching guides and special programs and events, like the Geocaching Avian Adventure. Many parks even have GPS kits to get you started. The “sport” has even gotten so big that there are local groups to join and a Minnesota Geocaching Association! Check out their page to learn more about special events and campouts, and which enterprising geocachers have found the most treasure.
Whether you stay close to home or find a far off trail while road-tripping in your new or used RV, geocaching will provide some lasting memories of your shared family adventure!
Renting makes more sense if you don’t have the time to use an RV more than once or twice a year. Many people who are working get a week of vacation; and then they have to try to schedule their vacation around the time kids are out of school. That is not always possible since everyone can’t take the same week off from work. If you do manage to get that treasured vacation so you can do something with the entire family, an RV dealership Minneapolis can help make your dream vacation come true.
RV Rental Types
You can choose from four types of RVs for your RV rental vacation. All have the comforts of home except for popup campers.
Class A: Class A RVs have all the comforts of home, including a full kitchen, bath with a shower or a showerand tub, entertainment center and central heat and air. Class A RVs are built on a specially constructed chassis.
Class C: Class C RVs are also well-equipped with all the comforts of home. Unlike a Class A, which generallyhas flat front, the Class C has a cab over. The cab over could be a bunk, entertainment center or storage. Class C RVs are built on a van chassis.
Travel Trailers: Travel trailers have many different floor plans and sizes. They are lighter so vehicles with a low tow rating can pull them. You also have a choice of a park trailer model, which is larger than a typical travel trailer. All models have at least one bathroom, a bedroom, extra bunks or sofas that convert to bunks, a full galley and many have entertainment centers.
Popup Trailers or Tent Trailers: Tent trailers fold down into a small, low towable trailer. When you open a tenttrailer it is tall enough to walk in and two bunks – usually queen size – pop up in the front and rear. Most have a cubby where you can store a portable toilet, but do not have a full bathroom. They also have a small “portable” kitchen. If you prefer tent camping but want to be off the ground, a tent trailer is a perfect option.
Visit our RV dealership St.Cloud, to walk through several of our rentals to help determine which one is best for your family trip – or fishing trip.
If you’re looking for some great locations to take your new motorhome, you may want to consider Black Hills Badlands and Lakes. A quintessential American landscape, Black Hills area is noted for its beautiful spires climbing impossibly high into the sky, and its gorgeous gorges, setting the mood of an old western and bringing you back to the days before any white person set foot on South Dakotan land.
The area is loaded with incredible sights, including waterfalls and wildlife. Home to six national parks and historical areas like Deadwood and Wounded Knee, Badlands National Park houses the immense memorial-in-progress for Crazy Horse.
The lakes here are wonderful whether you like to boat, fish, or just park by the water and have a few drinks while watching the sun set over the trees. You’ll want to bring your camera, as there will be plenty of things you’re going to want to see again and again.
The nature trails here are enough to keep you busy for years on end if you ever want to take a serious trek. If not, there are plenty of short trails that will take you along some beautiful scenery for your lunch break.
Whether you’re an American history buff, a lover of nature, or just an RVer looking for an inexpensive way to spend the summer, the Black Hills area is perhaps the best you’re going to find in South Dakota when it comes to combining fresh air, mountain living and old western appeal. A drive through the area puts you back in the days of the original settlers, the Native Americans and the pilgrims who explored the country from coast to coast.
We haven’t invented time travel just yet, but a little time spent in Black Hills is the next best thing. Check out the Badlands and the various lakes and see for yourself if Black Hills isn’t one of the most beautifully preserved areas in the country.
If you’ve always wanted to take an RV vacation, but just can’t swing the purchase of an RV, you can take that vacation now. Pleasureland RV Center has RV rentals – you can rent anything from a Class A motorhome to a popup trailer, so start planning your dream RV trip today. If you are not sure what type of RV would be best for you, visit Pleasureland, an RV dealership Minneapolis to tour our rental RVs.
When you rent an RV, you can afford more vacation. Not only that, but you are not constrained by schedules for flights, the return of rental cars and other constraints. You can simply hop in with the entire family or a bunch of friends and enjoy your trip. You can stop when and where you want, cook home-cooked meals and stay in a place as long as you want to stay, especially if you choose to camp on private land.
The best rental depends on you and your family or friends. If you prefer tent camping, but would rather be off the ground and have some amenities, a popup camper might fit the bill for you. If you prefer to have all the amenities at your fingertips, including an entertainment center and a hot shower, you should choose a motorhome or a travel trailer. If you want to go ice fishing, the ice house is the best rental.
Pleasureland RV has several different models to rent. If you need to sleep 10 people and don’t have a tow vehicle, ask about our Class A or Class C motorhomes. If you would rather tow a trailer so you can have your truck to drive around your vacation spot (and you don’t want to tow a car behind a motorhome), choose a travel trailer.
Pleasureland RV offers free mileage to certain popular destinations, including Yellowstone, Orlando and the Great Smokey Mountains. Ask about our free mileage rentals when you choose your RV.
When you are on your RV vacation, be sure to take plenty of pictures so you can share your trip with us when you return.
Minnesota is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful states in the union, and one of the very best to cruise through in your RV, especially in Spring. Watching the flowers bloom and animals frollicking by the roadside as you roam from town to town, it’s really what being an RVer is all about. Here are a few of the best locations to hit up in Minnesota on your Spring Break vacation:
Beaver Trails at the Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
If you like to mix your outdoors explorations with a little bit of good old fashioned R’n’R and maybe even a little pampering, this camp/resort in Jellystone Park offers you everything that you could possibly want whether you’re after rugged or relaxing. With 225 full hook-ups, you can probably bet that there’ll be a spot open for you when you arrive, and the five star resort boasts an arcade, shuffleboard and boat rentals. A great place to get away from it all this Spring Break.
Stony Point Resort
Stony Point Resort rates five stars from Woodall’s, thanks to its great fishing spots, swimming opportunities, boat rentals, grills, and a small shop with some groceries in case you don’t want to make the trip to town for some supplies. Stony Point Resort is great any time of year, but especially in the Spring.
Dakotah Meadows Park
With 122 pull-through sites and full hook ups including Wifi and electric, this incredible spot actually has a rock climbing wall, a family fun area, a fitness center and a swimming pool. It’s almost a luxury apartment building for RVers, so it’s no wonder it regularly scores four and five star reviews from a wide range of RV park review websites. If you love the outdoors as much as you love your creature comforts, Dakotah Meadows mixes the two so that you never have to compromise. The only problem with staying here for Spring Break is that you might not want to leave.
Spring is really just about the best time of year to be an RVer, and these three camp sites prove it.
Hi, my name is Dan Pearson and I am the Owner of PleasureLand RV Centers based out of St. Cloud, MN. We have three other Minnesota locations to serve all of you RV needs. I look forward to providing you with all your RV information from buying an RV to tips and maintenance. If you would like to contact me, be sure to leave a comment.
