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!

It’s Time to Get Your RV Ready for Spring Travel!

The spring RV season is fast approaching and it’s time to start cleaning and inspecting your RV inside and out if you’ve had it in storage. These simple RV preparation tips will help ensure that your RV is road-ready inside and out.

Start with an Inspection

The first step to take after pulling your RV out of storage is to inspect it inside and out. Pull the tarp or cover off of your RV and check the roof for any wear and tear that could have occurred over the winter months. Check the sides and undersides as well to make sure no critters have created holes to take shelter in your home on wheels. Lastly, inspect the interior of your RV for any damage.

It’s Time to Clean

Even if your RV went into storage after a good cleaning, you’ll want to clean away the winter grime once again. Thoroughly wash the exterior of your with an RV washing solution and soft rags or sponges that won’t scratch the exterior surface. Clean the interior of your thoroughly as well, taking out any items that you won’t need on your summer travels (heavy winter coats, sleds, and other winter supplies).

Check Your Appliances and Safety Gear

There’s nothing more disappointing than arriving at the campground to find that your stove is no longer operating properly. Check your water heater, LP tanks, appliances, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and the fire extinguisher to make sure they’re all in proper working order. It pays to get your RV road-ready even if you’re not preparing for a trip, because you never know when an opportunity for adventure will strike.

Let PleasureLand RV Center Take a Look

There’s no better way to enjoy complete peace of mind on the road than to bring your RV to a PleasureLand RV Center before you go. Our certified RV technicians will take all of the necessary steps to ensure your RV is ready for all of your spring and summer adventures.

Get Crafty this Valentine’s Day

Instead of buying a gift, why not get crafty with your Valentine’s Day? These DIY projects will add that special touch that’s so important when giving a gift to someone you love.

Bake a Heart-Shaped Cake

Buy your favorite cake mix or make your favorite recipe from scratch – once in a square pan and another time in a rounded pan. After both cakes have been baked, cut the round cake in half and turn the square one onto a corner, then place the round halves onto the diamond so it makes a heart shape. Decorate with frosting and toppings as you see fit!

Personalize Some Stones

This one is just for a fun little knick-knack. Get some smooth, rounded stones and use paint, glitter, and other applications to give them all personalized Valentine decorations. You can even write special messages on them.

Get Creative with the Wrapping

If you’re going to wrap your DIY gift, or even if you just bought something at the store, you can also make the wrapping special. One way to do this is to take a sheet of sturdy paper that you’ll use to wrap your gift. Cut out a small heart shape and use it as a stencil to trace hearts on this wrapping paper. After you’ve traced the desired number of hearts, cut along half of each heart shape and then fold back each one so that you’ve got half of the heart acting as a door of sorts. Behind each of these cutouts (on the side of the wrapping paper that will not be visible), tape or glue red glitter paper. Your wrapping paper will now have a distinct, uniquely DIY look to it!

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to tour a new motorhome or travel trailer. If you really want to make a big deal out of this Valentine’s Day, surprise your loved one with your DIY gift within the comfort of your other gift: an affordable new RV from PleasureLand RV Center! Come out and see our inventory today.

Best East Coast Snowbird Destinations

Warm weather, beaches and southern hospitality are the makings of an incredible snowbird destination. Fire up your RV and cruise to one of these three awesome destinations in the Southeast, and you’re guaranteed a snowbird season your family will never forget.

Charleston, South Carolina

When you’re looking for a Southeast beach vacation that offers far more than sand and waves, Charleston should be on your list. This historic city by the sea offers a vibrant downtown scene with historic houses, award-winning restaurants, shopping to fit every taste and a nightlife that’s tough to beat. And for those days you want to spend soaking in the sun, nearby Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, and Folly Beach offer sand, the sea and a fun beach atmosphere.

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach has grown from a small Florida beach town to a hot warm-weather destination, but it hasn’t lost its charm. Cocoa is the perfect family destination with the excitement of gorgeous beaches, easy access to Cape Canaveral, deep sea fishing, eco-tour adventures, waterfront dining, a vibrant nightlife scene and so much more. Even better, the weather is warm year-round in the Cocoa Beach area, so you can head there in February, March, or April and practically be guaranteed comfortable temperatures.

Tybee Island, Georgia

The Southeast is full of fun coastal destinations, but Tybee Island is one that every RV travelers should visit at least once. The island’s close proximity to Savannah puts city life within reach, but if you want an isolated beach vacation, you can have that too. Enjoy water sports, dolphin tours, cute beach shops, tasty restaurants, the Tybee Lighthouse, amazing fishing and countless other adventures at one of the East Coast’s favorite beaches.

Start Your Adventure at PleasureLand RV Center

There’s no better way to snowbird than with a new RV from PleasureLand RV Center. We’re your one-stop Minnesota RV shop with everything from top-quality new and used RVs to service, camping supplies and more, so stop in and see us!

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.

Visit Historic Virginia in Your RV

Kevin M. McCarthy / Shutterstock.com

Everyone is, at one time or another, a bit of a history nerd. Whether that’s all the time for you or only occasionally, RVing is a great way to hit up some of the country’s most historic sites, soak in the history, and learn more about what happened in each locale.

If you’re traveling the east coast this winter or spring, plan to stop in at these historic sites if the “history bug” bites.

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

One of the east coast’s most popular historic sites, Colonial Williamsburg is a living museum unlike any other. Get an intimate look at how colonial Americans lived and worked in the years leading up to the American Revolution.

Colonial Williamsburg is the size of a small town and has everything that a small town would need during the mid-1700s in order to survive, including shops, taverns, a courthouse, artisans, and homes.

Professional reenactors dressed in authentic period costumes populate the town, demonstrating life as it would have been in colonial America and informing guests on what they’re doing and how it fits into the town as a whole.

There are daily shows in Colonial Williamsburg as well, including a courthouse trial that allows guests to participate in the proceedings.

General admission is $40.99, $20.49 for children, and free for those 5 years and younger.

Jamestown Settlement, Williamsburg, Virginia

Also located in Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement shifts its focus to an earlier time; instead of life leading up to the American Revolution, Jamestown portrays the earliest colonists in the New World, before even the pilgrims had arrived.

The museum at the site details the lives of settlers, gives biographical information on specific settlers, and discusses the native tribes in the area and how the colonists affected them.

There are settler ship replicas docked at the settlement that allow you to tour them in addition to the settler and native villages. All contain reenactors and interactive exhibits.

Admission is cheaper at Jamestown Settlement; general admission is $17 for adults, $8 for kids, and free for those 5 and younger.

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Yorktown, Virginia

The main draw here is the military camp that recreates what it would have been like during the Revolutionary War. Visitors can tour various tents in the camp and there are reenactors sprinkled throughout who can answer your questions and provide demonstrations, including how muskets worked or how the soldiers prepared food or spent their free time.

Also on site is a tobacco plantation, which demonstrates how a plantation worked and the process for growing and selling tobacco (as well as tobacco’s importance to the colonial economy), and a museum that possesses tons of information on the Revolutionary War, which is presented through exhibits, videos, and artifacts.

Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for kids, and free for those who are 5 or younger.

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.

Hike Lester Park in Duluth

We’re going to let you in on a little secret. It involves one of Minnesota’s least known parks. This park is home to one of Minnesota’s best hiking trails, especially if you traverse it in the depths of a Minnesota winter.

Located in northern Minnesota, not far from the shores of Lake Superior, there’s a secluded park in the town of Duluth. Known as Lester Park, it’s a popular place that the locals love to explore time and again. With over 9 miles of trails that meander along the Amity Creek and Lester River (and offering spectacular views of both bodies of water), Lester Park is a must-see stop if you’re in or near Duluth this winter.

The park is secluded and unfrequented to such a degree that the landscape turns into a veritable untouched winter wonderland after snowfall. If you want to see a pristine Minnesota forest in the depths of winter, Lester Park and its trails are calling your name.

Before or after exploring Lester Park, be sure to see everything else Duluth has to offer visitors before you hit the road to your next destination. With shopping and dining, Duluth makes for a great pitstop along your path.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you hit the roads this winter, bring your RV by PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota to ensure it’s in top shape for the winter roads. And if you’re in the market for a new or used RV, stop in or log online tobrowse our huge selection of top-quality RVs in stock.

Check Out the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival

If you love flying kites and have got one in your RV with you, you ought to check out the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival, which is held on Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, Minnesota, each year. Even if you don’t own a kite, you shouldn’t have an issue finding one in Minneapolis. There are also kite sellers at the festival.

The festival is taking place on January 27, 2018, this year and it looks to be bigger and better than ever.

It starts at noon and runs until 4pm and is free of charge. It’s simple and easy to participate: just don your winter gear to stay warm and head out onto the icy lake to let your kite fly along with everyone else. The wind over the lake makes for an ideal kite flying environment.

Members of the Minnesota Kite Society will be out as well to demonstrate their skills and tricks with kites of all shapes and sizes, so keep your eyes out for them when you’re out there.

Besides kite flying, there are also horse-drawn carriage rides, ice fishing, and roasted marshmallows. There are also some food vendors around if you want a bite to eat or a warm drink.

Overall, the festival makes for a great way to get out of your RV for an afternoon of fun. You can spend the evening and next day enjoying Minneapolis before you head out for your next destination.

Visit PleasureLand RV Center

Before you hit the roads this winter, bring your RV by PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota to ensure it’s in top shape for the winter roads. And if you’re in the market for a new or used RV, stop in or log online to browse our huge selection of top-quality RVs in stock.

Best State Parks to Visit in the New Year

shutterstock_123407842

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.