Visit the St Cloud Camp and Travel Expo

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You don’t have to be a snowbird to enjoy the RV lifestyle in winter. The 2016 Camp and Travel Expo in St Cloud is guaranteed to provide everything you need to get excited about the spring camping season. This year’s show is gearing up to be bigger and better than ever with more RVs for sale, more vendors and some of the best seminars and workshops in the industry — all available with free admission.

Camping and Travel Expo Details

This year’s St Cloud Camping and Travel Expo will start on Thursday Feb. 18, and extend through Sunday, Feb. 21. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Sunday. The event will be held at the River’s Edge Convention Center on 4th Avenue in St Cloud. Admission is free for all attendees.

What You’ll Find

The 2016 Camp and Travel Expo will feature hundreds of RVs, which will all be available for viewing indoors. It’s the best place to catch up on the latest RV trends or find an unbeatable price on a new or pre-owned RV. In addition to finding your dream camper, you can visit the booths of campgrounds, travel companies, camping companies and RV dealerships to see the latest and greatest travel deals and camping or RV supplies. If you’re into the RV lifestyle, you’ll want to return to this unbeatable free event every year.

Shop PleasureLand RVs

We’ll be taking more than 100 of our PleasureLand RV Center RVs to the 2016 Camp and Travel Expo, and we don’t plan on bringing them back with us. That means you can find the deal of a lifetime on one of our top-quality, new or used pop-up campers, travel trailers, fifth wheels or motorhomes. Start the 2016 spring camping season off with an upgraded RV from this year’s expo.

3 Places to Take Your Honey for Valentine’s Day

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You don’t have to buy costly plane tickets and pay outrageous resort accommodation prices to enjoy a romantic getaway with your special someone this Valentine’s Day. The U.S. is littered with romantic destinations that can be visited in the comfort, convenience and affordability of your RV.

Fire up your home on wheels and cruise throughout the country to one of these three must-visit Valentine’s Day destinations.

Charleston, South Carolina

It’s no wonder that Travel and Leisure named Charleston the No. 1 most romantic city in America. The historic town, located minutes from some of the East Coast’s most pristine beaches, offers cobblestone streets lined with oak trees, horse-drawn carriages and enough historic architecture to fill hours of exploration. Charleston is also home to some of the most critically-acclaimed restaurants and rooftop bars in the country, so you’ll have no shortage of places to enjoy a romantic dinner and drinks.

Chicago, Illinois

City lovers can’t help but feel the romance when walking on Chicago’s streets in winter. Whether you and your lover are interested in fine dining, shopping, theater or nightlife, you’ll feel Chicago’s charm when you walk among the skyscrapers just steps from the pristine shores of Lake Michigan. The Chicago area is also home to a large number of family-owned RV parks and campgrounds that make an ideal, and affordable, home base for city excursions.

Sedona, Arizona

If you haven’t escaped the cold to explore Sedona yet, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time. This cozy Arizona getaway is loaded with RV resorts, spas, world-renowned restaurants, shopping and more outdoor adventures than you can cram into one vacation. Even more, Sedona’s desert sunsets are famous for being some of the most mesmerizing in the country.

Visit PleasureLand Before You Go

Don’t forget to stop by one of the PleasureLand RV Centers, located throughout Minnesota, to ensure your RV is in top condition before you hit the road for your romantic getaway.

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 Keep Your Internet Connected in Your RV

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Traveling in an RV means it’s time to minimize and cut back on some of the luxuries of living in a brick-and-mortar home. However, there are plenty of luxuries you don’t have to give up, such as being able to log online whenever you please.

Many travelers assume they won’t have reliable internet access when they hit the road, but it’s easy to establish a hotspot inside your RV, so you never have to lose touch with work or the ones you love.

What Is a Hotspot?

A hotspot is the only way to stay connected to the internet without relying on an RV park, restaurant or other establishment’s unreliable WiFi access. A hotspot can be created from your cellular phone or a specific hotspot device.

How Do I Get One?

Cellular providers Verizon and ATT offer some of the widest coverage across the United States, which means you can enjoy reliable internet access just about anywhere. Travelers can use the PDA.net application to tether a phone to other devices in the room, like laptops or tablets.

Travelers should invest in a data plan of 20 to 30 gigabytes per month for high-speed WiFi access that doesn’t rack up a hefty phone bill. Discuss your hotspot needs with an ATT or Verizon representative before choosing your data plan.

Using Free Public WiFi

Free public WiFi can be extremely useful, because it doesn’t use your allotted monthly data. However, free public WiFi isn’t always as reliable as you need. Boost free public WiFi from campgrounds, RV parks or businesses with a WiFiRanger booster. This device improves the signal of free WiFi spots, so you can enjoy more reliable internet access without using data.

Start Living Life on the Road

Full-time life on the road is one of the most rewarding ways to travel, and having reliable internet access can help you stay in touch with loved ones and make money on the go. Stop in and see us at the PleasureLand RV Center to find your dream RV today.

The Best Minnesota Horseback Riding Trails

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Minnesota is one of the top states in the country for horseback riding. The diverse terrain, massive network of trails and stretches of untouched land make for some of the most scenic trail rides you can find.

The following three riding trails and ranches are some of the best in the Land of 10,000 Lakes for taking in the Minnesota sites on horseback.

Big Valley Ranch — Winona

Big Valley Ranch is a family-friendly place to hop on horseback without owning one. The ranch is nestled into the picturesque Winona bluff country, and offers 165 acres of terrain. Visitors can enjoy everything from riding lessons to long trail rides, day camps and more. The ranch is located on East Burns Valley Road in Winona, so it’s easier for vacationers to find than some other, less-accessible ranches.

Browns Creek State Trail

The 5.9-mile-long Browns Creek State Trail in Washington County opened last October and is the newest addition to Minnesota’s massive trail system. This rail-trail spans from Stillwater to Grant where it meets up with the Gateway State Trail. Riders can access the St. Croix River from an off-road trail or enjoy the smoother paved option. Both lines pass historic sites and breathtaking Minnesota scenery.

River Valley Ranch — Carver

Get on the trails every day you’re in Minnesota at the River Valley Ranch in Carver. The ranch provides stunning 1-hour-long tours of the Minnesota River Valley with group tours available as well. Even better, the ranch is just 25 minutes southwest of the bustling city of Minneapolis. This is the perfect option for novice riders; however, reservations are recommended for all tours, so call the ranch at (952) 361-3361 before your visit.

Stop and See Us at PleasureLand

Don’t forget to stop and see us at the PleasureLand RV Centers when you’re traveling throughout Minnesota. There’s no better place to find the perfect RV or simply some accessories and camping supplies for your fall adventures.

Portable Charging Options for the Road

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You probably never embark on an RV journey without your cell phone. That’s because traveling with computers, phones and other handheld devices has become the norm. However, keeping those devices charged while camping can seem like a major hassle, and finding the perfect portable charging option is difficult.

These portable chargers are ones that actually work, so you won’t have to waste your travel money on multiple charges that don’t do the trick.

Braven BRV-Bank Rugged Portable Battery

The Braven BRV-Bank is a portable charger that you can take on your wildest adventures. It’s water resistant and has met the military drop test standard 810G, so you don’t have to worry if it takes a tumble. For right around $100, you can have a rugged battery that’s capable of charging two cell phones fully at the same time. Other perks include a rugged micro USB to USB cable, a lanyard and a handy flashlight attachment.

Olixar Encharge Dual USB Power Bank and Card Reader

The Olixar Encharge Dual USB Power Bank and Card Reader is a more affordable alternative to the Braven BRV-Bank, and it’s capable of charging two phones at once. You can get four full charges on a single smartphone or at least one full charge on a tablet (with more to spare). The package, available for around $47, comes with tons of adapters, so you won’t have to go out and immediately buy accessories.

Cyntur JumperPack Mini

The Cyntur JumperPack Mini is the ultimate camping tool. This small power pack has the ability to jump start engines up to eight cylinders. It can hold a charge for nearly a year and is equipped with a USB port that’s ideal for charging smartphones and tablets. Even better, it comes with a flashlight and emergency strobe function in case you find yourself in a bind.

Before you embark on your first fall camping excursion, stop in and see us at the PleasureLand RV Centers for all of your fall RV camping accessories.

Easy Upgrades for Your RV’s Interior

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Whether you’ve just purchased a used RV or have been traveling in the same trusty, old RV for years, it’s likely the interior of your motorhome or travel trailer could use a few upgrades. From buying a few simple decor items to tearing out old carpeting, these RV upgrade ideas are ones that’ll give your home on wheels a fresh new look.

Revamp Your Bedroom

Your RV’s bedroom is where you relax after a long day on the road, and an outdated mattress and bedding may be cutting into your comfort. Don’t be afraid to swap your old RV mattress for one you find more comfortable. If you can’t change your mattress, try placing a memory foam mattress topper on your existing one.

Swapping musty old RV bedding for new sheets, pillows and a comforter will also make you feel like you have a brand-new bedroom, but it’ll cost you less than $200.

Upgrade Your Shower

RV showers can seem less than satisfying when you’re living life on the road. Swap the cheap shower head that came standard in your RV for a new one that will amplify your water pressure and make that cramped space feel a bit more luxurious.

Purchase new rugs, towels and decor for your bathroom, and you’ll be surprised how new it feels.

Get Rid of Old Flooring

You’re not stuck with the flooring that came standard in your RV. Removing old carpet and replacing it with new carpet or laminate flooring is easy to do, and it can completely change the way the interior of your RV feels. The small size of the interior of your RV makes it easy to find cheap “remnants” of carpet and laminate flooring that will fit snuggly into your home away from home.

Upgrade Your RV at PleasureLand

Here at the PleasureLand RV Center, our certified RV technicians are experts at helping you upgrade your RV. Stop in with your ideas or concerns, and we’ll help you turn your old RV into your dream home on wheels.

3 Things Everyone Must Do in Minnesota

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Minnesota is a state filled with so many natural wonders, city sights and exciting things to do, you’ll never get bored exploring the land we call home. These three things to do in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” are ones you don’t want to miss, whether you’re a Minnesota local or an RV traveler passing through.

Catch a Game at Target Field

There’s nothing more American that watching a good old-fashioned baseball game, and Target Field in Minneapolis is one of the best places to see one. You don’t have to be a Twins fan to enjoy the field’s atmosphere, complete with vendors in the stands, memorabilia shops, delicious eats and unbeatable views of the field and downtown Minneapolis. The season runs from early April to late September, so there’s plenty of time to catch a game in the state’s warmer months.

Take the North Shore Scenic Drive

Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive is one of the best places to get out and explore some of the state’s many natural wonders. The drive stretches from Canal Park in Duluth to Grand Portage along the shoreline of the world’s largest freshwater lake. You’ll pass massive cliffs, gorgeous beaches, breathtaking forests, waterfalls and countless places to park your car, put on your hiking shoes and start exploring.

The quaint communities along the shore are also ideal places to shop, dine and even stay the night.

Explore the Minneapolis Institute of Arts

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is one of the best places in the country to spend a rainy day. Spend hours enjoying the exhibitions, browsing the awe-inspiring collections (ranging from Arts of Africa and the Americas to Contemporary Art) and taking part in tons of family-friendly activities. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts isn’t your typical, stuffy art museum; it’s a place for kids and parents can learn and have hands-on art experiences together.

When you’re cruising throughout Minnesota this summer and fall, don’t forget to stop and see us at the PleasureLand RV Center for all of your RV needs.

4 Books About Road Trips That Will Get You Inspired

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Authors have been writing about road trips since the first vehicles were invented, and many of those tales have turned into must-reads. These four books about road trips are ones every traveler should pick up when they’re in need of some inspiration or simply a good story.

1. Travels with Charlie — John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charlie isn’t just a classic road trip story, it’s one that will introduce you to life on the road in the 1960s, which was quite a bit different than today. The charming tale of Steinbeck and his dog Charley hitting the road with their camper named Rocinante is one you’ll want to read again and again.

2. Into the Wild — Jon Krakauer

Into the Wild is one of the books you should read when you’re seeking inspiration or when you’re a little hesitant to hit the road. The story of Christopher McCandless and his journey to the Alaskan wilderness is one of adventure and courage that will inspire you to hit the road, experience new things, meet new people and never look back.

3. The Alchemist — Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist is one of those books that travelers read countless times. The novel tracks the journey of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, as he takes a journey to find hidden treasure near Egypt’s pyramids. Through his travels, he meets exciting people who change his life, and ultimately discovers that the treasure was actually the journey after all.

4. The Lost Continent — Bill Bryson

Road Trip stories aren’t always serious, and this one by Bill Bryson is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Follow Bryson and his sense of humor as he cruises through America and trades tourist traps for more comical small town adventures.

Find More Inspiration at PleasureLand

Nothing will get you as excited about your next road trip as a new or used RV from the PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota. Log online or stop in and see us to browse our huge selection today.

American Adventures Month – The Best American Adventures

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August is American Adventures Month, and the only way to celebrate is by traveling to some of America’s most unique spots. These three unbeatable American adventures are ones every explorer should try in their lifetime.

Take a Small Boat Cruise Through Glacier Bay

Few places in the country are as rustic as Alaska, and it’s a place every adventurer should visit. When visiting the Last Frontier, don’t miss out on the opportunity to take a small boat tour through Glacier Bay and the Prince William Sound. You’ll enjoy the unmatched opportunity to admire wildlife up close, see Alaska’s landscapes from a new perspective and dodge icebergs in some of the world’s prettiest waters.

Trek the John Muir Trail

The John Muir Trail, also known as the backbone of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, takes approximately 17 days to complete, and it’s guaranteed to be the adventure of a lifetime. The 146-mile stretch of trails spans between Mount Whitney and Yosemite, where you’ll see some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery up close and personally.

Go Boulder Scaling in Central Park

You don’t have to be out in the wilderness to enjoy an unbeatable American adventure. Boulder scaling, or bouldering, is something even novice climbers can try, because it is done very close to the ground without a spotter or ropes. Rat Rock, in New York’s famed Central Park, is easy to find from it’s countless white chalk marks left by climbers. Head to the north face of the wall for a beginner-level climb, then advance east for a more challenging route.

Your American Adventure Starts Here

There’s no better way to travel to all of America’s great adventure sites than in the comfort and convenience of an RV. Here at PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota, we’ll help you locate a perfect new or used RV that fits within your budget needs.