October 17th, 2012 -
Chances are, any time you’re on the road with your
new or used Minnesota RV
, there’s a flea market nearby. What’s your favorite treasure? From collectible Scooby-Doo lunch buckets to velvet Elvis paintings, America’s flea markets have it all.
Kathy Johnson, who owns Pieces of the Past in Johnson City, Texas, is a flea market pro. She travels to flea markets all across the south in search of the perfect architectural antiques for her clients. “I tell people that the best way to plan your flea market road trip is to get that RV up and running,” says Kathy. “It’ll give you more room to carry your treasures! It’ll also give you a place to go when you’re tired, confused, hungry, or annoyed at the “sold” sign on that special something you wanted.”
Where will you begin your flea market adventure? The Travel Channel put together a list of what it considers the world’s best. The most intriguing one for those of us
traveling in our
Minnesota motorhomes
is likely the 127 Corridor, which runs from Gadsden, Alabama all the way to Jamestown, Tennessee. For three weeks every August, more than 2,000 vendors line the road and welcome the adventurous shoppers.
The Hamel Lions Flea Market, here in Minnesota, is just west of Minneapolis and tops the CBS list of best flea markets. Check out the other listings for even more flea markets here in Minnesota, or visit American Fleas to start planning your ultimate flea market road trip. While almost any flea market can help you add to your favorite collections, some also offer some great foods and local music while you shop. Let us know if you find a good one!
What’s your favorite flea market? What your best flea market find?
October 10th, 2012 -
For every
Minnesota motorhome
on the road, you’ll find at least one strong opinion about what makes a great hike, and where to find the most amazing scenery. For some of us, fall is prime time for hiking, so we thought we’d share a few lists that highlight some of the best hikes in the U.S.
In its article describing the 10 Best Hiking Spots in the U.S., the Discovery Channel pondered why we hike at all. Ultimately, they wrote, “Vistas and waterfalls, giant redwoods and granite mountain faces aren’t typically visible from the interior of your car. And even when they are, it’s not the same as feeling the earth beneath your feet and standing on the edge of the cliff.”
If you’re traveling the country in your
Pleasureland RV
, there’s a great hiking spot not far from your destination. USA Today published a list of 51 hikes – one in each state plus the District of Columbia. Not surprisingly, many of the best hikes are found in the National Parks, and National Geographic created a list of its picks for the 20 best trails.
Minnesota has some spectacular trails of its own, including hikes at Afton State Park where you can climb from the banks of the St. Croix River to a bluff overlooking the river valley. If the name “Afton” sounds familiar, you may be thinking about the Robert Burns poem, “Afton Waters.” Hikes here could easily have been his inspiration. There’s an easy, four-mile loop, and you can learn more about Afton State Park and read about 19 other popular Minnesota trails on Trails.com.
Finally, here are a few safety reminders. Before you head out on your hike, be sure someone knows where you’re headed, and when to expect you back. Take a backpack with supplies that make sense for the length of your hike, and the terrain you’ll encounter. Even for a short day hike, you’ll want to take plenty of water, a few snacks, a first aid kit, rain gear, and an extra jacket. The weather can change with little warning and it pays to be prepared. What’s your favorite hike?
October 3rd, 2012 -
Theodore Roosevelt designated Florida’s Pelican Island as the nation’s first wildlife refuge in 1903. Since that time, the National Wildlife Refuge System has grown to include 553 refuges and 38 wetland management districts that conserve America’s diversity of fish, wildlife and plant species.
There’s at least one refuge in every state, and the refuges are home to an estimated 700 species of birds, 220 species of mammals, 250 reptile and amphibian species and more than 200 species of fish, which means that the refuges offer countless nature tourism opportunities for RV travelers.
During the week of October 14 – 20, we’re helping Minnesota celebrate National Wildlife Refuge week, and thought we’d share a few events happening across the state. Some of the highlights include special talks hosted by none other than author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau (as portrayed by historian Richard Smith at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, a photo workshop at the Fergus Falls-Prairie Wetland Learning Center, a photo contest at Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, and bird-watching opportunities at most Minnesota refuges.
And, if your
Minnesota RV
travel plans take you further afield next week, you can visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife site to find a refuge on your route, and search for upcoming events all over the country.
September 26th, 2012 -
Some birders are hard core. They’ll jump on a plane in a heartbeat at the mere hint of an opportunity to check one more bird off their life list. Others are more relaxed, content with the birds of any feather that happen to flock to their own backyard. No matter which type of birder you are, fall is prime time for birding. And when you’re traveling in your
Minnesota RV
this fall, you can discover even more gorgeous and unusual species, including migratory birds.
If you’re in the mood for motorhome road trip, check out these 8 Great Places suggested by the National Wildlife Federation. From the Sunrise Coast in Maine to the Sky Islands of Arizona, these are places recommended by some of the top birders in the nation.
And, if you’re looking for an RV excursion a little closer to home, Minnesota is home to a wide variety of birds – from bald eagles to sandhill cranes. One great opportunity for bird watching is the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, which is Minnesota’s first International trail. Located in northwestern Minnesota, the 200-mile-long trail includes 45 sites for bird watching and is home to 275 species of birds. How many will you find in your
new Minnesota travel trailer or motorhome
?
September 19th, 2012 -
Although you may be spending the night in your
Pleasureland RV
, a big part of the camping experience is the campfire. And storytelling by the campfire is an art form all its own.
First: the campfire. You’ll need four things: tinder, kindling, firewood, and a match.
Tinder lights easily, and can be anything from dried grasses or moss, to lint from your dryer or a packaged fire starter. Kindling provides fuel for the fire, and can include dried twigs or strips of cardboard. Firewood, including split and whole logs, will keep the roaring fire burning. (Safety reminder: keep a bucket of water handy any time you have a campfire. Stray embers can easily start a forest fire!)
Start by creating a pile of tinder and kindling in the fire pit. You’ll want it piled together loosely enough for air to circulate, but closely enough for the flames to easily spread. Light the tinder with a match or lighter. Then, as the fire grows, add small pieces of firewood until the fire becomes hot enough to burn the larger logs. Add the wood in a star pattern, propping one log on the other to encourage air circulation and keeping the fire going.
Now, you’ve got a roaring campfire and it’s time for a round of storytelling! There’s something about the warm glow of a campfire that brings out our funniest family stories and scariest ghost stories. Who’s the best storyteller in your family?
This month, the Master Storytelling Festival in the Twin Cities features artists from the Black Storytellers Alliance, and you can find more festivals all over the U.S. on the storytelling festivals page. It’s a great time to hitch up the
your
St. Cloud RV
and go discover a long-lost slice of Americana!
September 12th, 2012 -
The first hint of fall is in the air. Halloween displays are already crowding the grocery stores, pumpkins aren’t far behind, and before we know it, the trees will be turning a vibrant orange and gold. This seems like a great time to grab your camera, hook up your
St. Cloud motorhome
, and plan a road trip that’s all about the scenery.
Superior Trails recommends several scenic tours along Lake Superior, including the Circle Tour, which leads you along Minnesota’s North Shore, through Ontario, Michigan, and Wisconsin. They’ll have full reports on the changing colors starting in mid- to late-September.
And if you want to capture the changing seasons with your camera, here are a few tips.
1. Think about the light. The half hour after sunrise or before sunset can create the most amazing, warm light for photographs. The soft, diffuse light of an overcast day can eliminate harsh shadows capture an entirely different mood.
2. Use a polarizing filter. This will help eliminate glare – not only from the sun, but the light bouncing off the leaves.
3. Shoot close-ups for detail, in addition to framing for the wide landscape.
4. Look for graphic patterns, or take advantage of water droplets, fog, or frost on the to add even more interest to your photos.
5. Change your perspective. What does the landscape look like from the squirrel’s point of view? Or the hawk’s? Experiment with perspective and you’ll create something unique.
We suggest you take out the atlas (or hop online) now and plan your next memorable
Minnesota RV
foray into fall color!
September 7th, 2012 -
Prepare your
new Minnesota RV
. It’s tailgating time!
From the Minnesota Gophers to the Minnesota Vikings, there’s lots of fun to be had before the game. If you’re headed to the Gophers’ pre-game party, here’s what you need to know: http://www.gophertailgate.com/tailgating-information/. And for all the details on tailgating at the Metrodome, click here.
And if you’re going to keep your spirits up during the game, you’ll need some great tailgate grub! Super Nachos, stuffed Jalapeno poppers and Buffalo Wings are always tailgating favorites.
Buffalo Wings Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 12 whole chicken wings
- 3 ounces unsalted butter
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
Place a 6-quart saucepan with a steamer basket and 1-inch of water in the bottom, over high heat, cover and bring to a boil.
Remove the tips of the wings and discard or save for making stock. Using kitchen shears, or a knife, separate the wings at the joint. Place the wings into the steamer basket, cover, reduce the heat to medium and steam for 10 minutes. Remove the wings from the basket and carefully pat dry. Lay the wings out on a cooling rack set in a half sheet pan lined with paper towels and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Replace the paper towels with parchment paper. Roast on the middle rack of the oven for 20 minutes. Turn the wings over and cook another 20 minutes or until meat is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.
While the chicken is roasting, melt the butter in a small bowl along with the garlic. Pour this along with hot sauce and salt into a bowl large enough to hold all of the chicken and stir to combine. Remove the wings from the oven and transfer to the bowl and toss with the sauce. Serve warm. (Recipe Via Food Network)
Whether you tailgate at home, or take your
Pleasureland RV
on road trips to away games, tailgating with other fans is the best recipe for fall football fun!
August 29th, 2012 -
If you’re an
avid
Minnesota RVing
traveler, chances are, you spend a fair amount of time watching wildlife along the hiking trails and in the parks you visit. Wildlife can be elusive, but there are several wild animal parks across the U.S. that make it possible for you and your family to get “up close and personal” with exotic creatures.
Perhaps the best-known U.S. parks are the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Both offer guided safari experiences give you firsthand experiences with the amazing creatures that share our planet. If you would like to stay a little closer to home, you can find a wild animal experience at Minnesota’s Hemker Wildlife Park.
Their 90-minute tours give you a chance to experience a wide variety of wildlife including penguins, pronghorn, reindeer, ostrich, moose and woodland caribou.
Make sure you capture the amazing scenery and wildlife by following these photography hints:
- Use a tripod to hold the camera steady.
- Zoom in. Portraits of the animals’ faces will give you lots of great material for that scrapbook later. If you have a point and shoot camera, become familiar with your zoom feature in advance. Even better, use your 35mm camera with a long zoom lens.
- Disable camera sounds. The beeping of the autofocus or the shutter sounds can startle skittish animals.
- Tour the animal park early in the morning or late in the evening. The light is gorgeous and you’ll see even more animals moving about.
- Stay safe. The animals in animal parks and zoos are still wild creatures. The National Park Service offers some thoughtful reminders about viewing wildlife.
Have you ever taken your
Minnesota Winnebago RV
on a safari?
August 20th, 2012 -
Hot air balloons add brilliant touches of color to the sky at ballooning events across the U.S. and many offer opportunities for camping in your
St. Cloud RV
. One of the coolest sites you can see in your
new or used Minnesota RV
is at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – the world’s largest ballooning event featuring about 600 hot air balloons.
The Balloon Fiesta offers RV camping, and according to their website, there’s still space available. They do recommend that you call, however, for all the latest information: 505-821-1000 or 1-888-422-7277.
Considering a fall road trip? Here are a few details for the week long event:
Dates: October 6-14, 2012
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
RV Sites: There are four types of sites: STANDARD (dry camping), PREMIUM (electricity with 20 Amps minimum and water provided), VIP (dry camping adjacent to the Launch Field with entry passes included) and PRESIDENT’S COMPOUND (premier sites on a bluff overlooking the Launch Field with city water pressure and 30 Amp minimum electricity).
Check In: You’ll be able to check in between 12 noon and 7 pm on the day you arrive, but the Fiesta staff strongly recommends that you arrive before 3 pm on days other than Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday to avoid the heavy traffic congestion.
Weather: The weather is usually incredible in October, but be sure and bring a heavy jacket for those early morning events. It’s chilly! Expect spectacular sunrises over the Sandia Mountains!
The 10-day schedule of events includes mass ascensions, balloon rides, evening balloon glows, fireworks and more!
August 6th, 2012 -
Sometimes, weird can be wonderful. If you’re a seasoned
Minnesota RV
traveler, you’ve already discovered that prowling the roadsides can be as much fun as getting to that next destination.
In Minnesota, the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices was recently added to the collections at the Science Museum of Minnesota after the passing of the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices’s founder, Bob McCoy. You can check out Bob’s work to expose quackery in all its forms on his website: http://www.museumofquackery.com/. From a device designed to map your personality based on the bumps on your head to an electrical charge to boost your virility, this collection has it all.
While searching for “weird,” we also stumbled across another website called Weird U.S.with listings for weird stops all across the U.S. They’re still working on their page for Minnesota, but they do give readers a chance to contribute their own stories about the best places to explore. Maybe we need to offer a few suggestions! Are you ready to add a little weird (and wonderful!) to your next
road trip in your
new Pleasureland RV
? What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever visited? Let us know!
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About Me
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.
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