November 21st, 2017 -
Winter doesn’t have to end your RVing for the year, especially if you find yourself in Minnesota. Minnesota offers RVers plenty of things to do until the spring thaw, so don’t stop exploring yet!
Escape the Cold at a Water Park
You read that right: Minnesota, in a bid to extend its swimming season, has many indoor water parks scattered across the state. Some of these are deluxe resorts that offer something for all ages.
Check out Edgewater Hotel and Waterpark in Duluth, Arrowwood Lodge in Baxter, or even the water park right next to the Mall of America.
Learn Something New at a Museum
Get inside and out of the cold and learn something new while you do it. Minnesota is home to many extensive museums covering many different subjects. Some of the best include the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota History Center, and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.
Explore a Nature Center
Okay, this one isn’t indoors, but Minnesota’s natural places are mostly open year round, and the winter sights are just as wonderful as any other time of year. Minnesota is renowned for owl watching, and two of the best places to see them are at Agassiz Audubon Center and the International Owl Center.
Nature center trails are threaded through with numerous trails and make great places for recreational sports, like cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Before you head off to enjoy the winter in Minnesota, drop in at your RV adventure headquarters at PleasureLand RV Center in St Cloud, Brainerd, or Ramsey. PleasureLand RV Center can help get you into the RV of your dreams, keep your RV running smoothly (even through the cold of winter), and get you outfitted with quality accessories to make your RV living easier and more convenient.
November 17th, 2017 -
When you go RVing for the long term, it often means spending holidays on the road. Even if you are on the road, you can still have a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with all of the “fixins.” Because of space limitations, you’ll just have to plan it a bit different.
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to pick up any accessories you may need to help you with cooking Thanksgiving Day dinner on the road.
Make Things the Day Before
If you are using fresh vegetables, parboil them the day before, then keep them in the fridge or a cooler until you can heat them up for the meal. Parboiling the veggies means that you don’t have to use valuable stove space on the day of the Thanksgiving meal – you can just pop them in the microwave to heat them up.
Make the mashed potatoes the day before. Again, all you have to do is heat them up on the stove or in the microwave. You can even boil the potatoes and mash them without any milk or butter, then when you heat them up for the meal, add the fresh milk, butter and seasonings.
If you were cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home, you would most likely make the desserts the day before. You can do this, too – that way you have the oven for the turkey. If your RV doesn’t have an oven or a convection microwave, you can still “bake” pies and turkey on the grill. Simply set the grill to the proper temperature using only one or two burners. Set what you are baking on the side with the unlit burners. Skillet cornbread comes out great when done in this manner.
Thanksgiving Day
About 15 minutes before the turkey is done, you can start heating things up that you made the day before. Since the turkey should sit at least 10 to 15 minutes before you carve it, you should have plenty of time – and things will be hot.
Making Turkey without an Oven
If your RV doesn’t have an oven or a convection oven, you have a few choices. If you have a turkey fryer, fry the turkey. If not, but a whole turkey will fit under the grill hood, make sure you have plenty of propane. Set the grill at the appropriate temperature and place the turkey on the unlit side of the grill.
The third option is to cook turkey breasts. You can fry them, boil them or even cook them on the grill.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center for any needed accessories for the kitchen and other areas inside or outside of the RV.
November 15th, 2017 -
As anyone who RVs with their dogs can tell you, sometimes your next destination isn’t about you. Your dogs deserve something they’ll enjoy on occasion, so when you’re out in your RV this winter with your beloved pets, consider taking them to one of these fun destinations. You’ll probably have (almost) as much fun as they will. Whether you want something outdoor or indoor, there’s a destination for you!
Minneapolis
Minneapolis is a great place to visit if you’ve got pups in tow. Enjoy the numerous hiking trails and dog parks that the city offers. Some of the dog parks even offer heated shelters for some indoor play. There are even a handful of places that are part time indoor dogs parks, usually on the weekends. Minneapolis is also relatively pet friendly when it comes to public spaces and shops.
Mankato
Whether it’s your destination or you’re just passing through along your route somewhere else, Mankato is worth a stop if you’ve got a dog or two with you. They’ve got an indoor swimming pool that’s absolutely dog friendly. You can get out of the cold, give your dog some off leash time, and allow them to exercise in a way that’s good for their joints since swimming is low impact. The pool is called The Paw and the water is kept at a toasty 85 degrees. If your dog isn’t a great swimmer, there are life jackets available for use. Additionally, there are time slots available for private swims if your dog doesn’t like company.
Duluth
While your dog may not be a champion dog sled racer, they can certainly spectate alongside you when you visit Duluth. The annual dog sledding marathon, called Beargrease, takes place over 400 miles of tundra with some of the best teams in the world competing. There are various spots along the course where you can watch the action.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you visit any of these fun destinations in Minnesota to make sure that your RV is in good shape to travel. If you need to upgrade your rig, PleasureLand RV Center is the place to shop. Tour our wide inventory of new and used RVs, from Class A motorhomes to fifth wheel trailers.
November 9th, 2017 -
RVs aren’t typically designed for frigid weather. However, that doesn’t mean you have to own a costly four-seasons RV to stay warm in cold destinations. These few, helpful tips will ensure you stay warm when you’re venturing throughout the country this fall and winter.
Keep Drafts at Bay
RVs have a tendency to feel drafty, and small leaks are what cause those drafts. Use silicone rubber or spray foam insulation to patch those tiny spots where cold air is seeping inside.
Larger drafts require larger treatments. Insulated “snakes,” or the long, stuffed insulating tubes you see at the hardware store, help keep warm air inside when placed in doorways. Painters’ tape is another easy fix for temporary use. Place the tape over the leaks behind your appliances and cabinetry for short-term stays in cold destinations.
Keep the Shades Closed
Another easy way to keep the interior of your RV warm in the winter months is to keep your curtains and shades closed. Closing the shades will trap a layer of air between the shade and the window that serves as an insulator. It won’t warm your RV to a higher temperature, but it will keep the temperature from dropping rapidly.
Use Plenty of Rugs
Waking up in a cold RV can be dreadful, especially when you know you have to walk along laminate floor. Use throw rugs to insulate the floors of your RV more thoroughly and save your feet from those freezing winter mornings.
Consider a Space Heater
A quality ceramic space heater can make the difference between comfort and discomfort in the cold months. Use the space heater in addition to your RV’s furnace to assist the furnace and save you big bucks on hefty propane costs.
Upgrade Your RV
Here at the PleasureLand RV Centers in Minnesota, we know all of the tricks — big and small — to helping you stay warm in your RV in the winter. Give us a call, log online or stop in and see us to upgrade your RV for the winter ahead.
November 2nd, 2017 -
Minnesota’s more than 11,800 lakes make it a hotspot for ice fishing. However, having so many places from which to choose can make planning your getaway more difficult. These three places to ice fish around Minnesota are some of the best of the best for catching fish and enjoying your stay.
Mille Lacs
St. Paul residents don’t have to travel far to find some of the country’s best ice fishing. Minnesota’s second largest lake, Mille Lacs, offers 74 miles of coastline and numerous access points to make your fishing excursions more convenient. The lake’s more than 130,000-acre size also means fishermen have plenty of room to spread out. The lake is known to be home to an abundance of rock bass, walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, jumbo perch, tullibee and muskie, so bring a large cooler for your catch.
Gull Lake
Gull Lake is known across Minnesota as one of the best fishing spots. It’s home to the annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza event, which is the largest ice fishing event in North America. This fishing spot in the Brainerd Lake Region offers great water quality, which sustains huge populations of northern pike, bluegill, walleye, rock bass, largemouth bass and crappie. Park your RV in nearby Nisswa or Brainerd to enjoy a little bit of off-the-ice action during your stay.
Upper Red Lake
Red Lake is the largest lake in Minnesota, and it’s a hotspot for world-class fishing conditions. Head to the lake’s upper region to enjoy the best walleye fishing in the state. However, don’t be surprised if you reel in some crappie and northern pike too. The entire lake is 288,000 acres in size, so you’ll never feel like you’re fishing in a crowd.
Stop and See Us
Minnesota’s PleasureLand RV Centers are located near some of our state’s best ice fishing spots. We’re offering a huge selection of ice houses for the holiday season, so log online or stop in and see us today.
October 26th, 2017 -
Abandoned by mining companies more than 30 years ago, this area of former mining pits and rock deposit stockpiles now boasts regenerated vegetation and clear lakes that draw a wide range of recreation enthusiasts. Twenty-five miles of natural shoreline can be explored by boat or canoe and anglers can cast a line for trout, northern, bass, crappie, or sunfish.
The lake is surrounded by an extensive trail network that allows for exploration of the shoreline and the woods around the lake. Some are quick hikes while others can take the better part of a day.
As one of Minnesota’s newest State Recreation Areas, Cuyuna’s nearly 5,000 acres are mostly undeveloped. The park has quickly become popular, however, and receives over 100,000 annual visits with over 3,000 of those being overnight stays at one of its campgrounds.
The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles, red fox, beavers, great blue herons, kingfishers, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, and raccoons.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you hit the road for Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area 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 fall vacation spots or have an RV already and need it to be checked out before you embark, PleasureLand RV Center can help.
October 24th, 2017 -
RV travelers don’t have to miss out on the best holiday celebrations. In fact, most holidays are even more enjoyable when spent in an RV. Halloween is one of the top holidays to enjoy on the road, because many campgrounds and RV parks host Halloween parties and trick-or-treating hours.
Prepare your RV for all of the Halloween celebrations you’ll encounter on the road with these simple, do-it-yourself tricks and tips.
Hold a Pumpkin Carving Party
Some campers don’t have enough space in their RVs to carve pumpkins, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Throw a pumpkin carving party outside of your RV on nearby picnic tables or a table of your own. Purchase the pumpkins at a farmers’ market near your destination and invite fellow campers to join in on the fun.
Decorate Your RV
You don’t have to bring tons of supplies on your journey to decorate your RV. Purchase natural decorations, like gords and colored pumpkins, from a farmers’ market at your destination. You can also make your own Halloween-themed decorations with construction paper, glue and scissors from a local craft store. Making temporary decorations is a way to get your kids or fellow travelers involved in the decorating process.
Trick-or-Treat at the Campground
Most campgrounds welcome trick-and-treaters during Halloween. Apply the same rules you would if your kids were trick-or-treating in a traditional neighborhood. Only approach motorhomes, travel trailers or campers that are decorated with their lights on.
If the campground you’re visiting doesn’t allow trick-or-treaters, explore a safe, nearby neighborhood with your little ones. A campground official can help you locate the perfect place.
Setting up a scavenger hunt for your kids at the campsite is another way to help them feel like they’re getting the trick-or-treating experience without having to venture away from the park.
Travel in Your Dream RV
Spend more time on the road this fall with a new or top-quality pre-owned RV from the PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota. Stop in and see us to find your dream RV today.
October 19th, 2017 -
The word Minneopa comes from the Dakota language and is interpreted to mean “water falling twice,” referring to the beautiful waterfalls of the Minneopa Creek.
Visitors can walk the trail that encircles the falls, which leads down a limestone stairway to the valley below, and then ascend the opposite side and enjoy a panoramic view of the valley that reveals the underlying geology of this area.
Visit Seppmann Mill, a wind driven grist mill fashioned in German style from native stone and lumber, or hike through oak savanna and native prairie grasslands overlooking the scenic Minnesota River Valley.
The southern part of the park is hilly and wooded, with Minneopa Creek and its waterfalls as the major feature that attract visitors. The northern sections of the park feature prairie and the Minnesota River. Once the land was tall-grass prairie, interspersed with marshes, lakes and streams. Today, extensive farming has replaced the prairie with cultivated fields.
The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including wild turkey, ring-necked pheasants, and white-tailed deer. There are also various beaver, various snakes, and waterfowl that call the park home.
The park gets nearly 200,000 visitors per year who come to explore its 2,600 acres of land and water.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you hit the road for MinneopaState Park 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 fall vacation spots or have an RV already and need it to be checked out before you embark, PleasureLand RV Center can help.
October 17th, 2017 -
Looking for that fall color in Minnesota? Just look around you. If, however, you want to find some of the best fall foliage in the state, look no further than Maplewood State Park. The maple tree forest turns into brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold in the fall and the scenery is absolutely phenomenal when paired with the eight major lakes and dozens of ponds dappled throughout the park.
These lakes and smaller bodies of water make Maplewood State Park a prime location for fishing, boating, and swimming (though the water is probably a bit nippy in the fall!). Even if it’s too late in the year for jumping into the water, there are plenty of sandy beaches and expansive picnic areas that you can take advantage of on a lovely fall day.
The park is also home to an extensive trail system, perfect for hiking, horseback riding, and even cross-country skiing later in the year. There are also vehicular routes that run through the park that lead to scenic overlooks.
However you choose to see the park, wildlife is abundant and makes observation easy. From 150 species of birds that call the park home to the 50 species of mammals (including raccoons and beavers), you’re likely to encounter a few natives as you tour the park’s ten thousand acres.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you hit the road for Grand Portage State Park 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 summer vacation spots or have an RV already and need it to be checked out before you embark, PleasureLand RV Center can help.
October 13th, 2017 -
Big Bog State Recreation Area has been called Minnesota’s last true wilderness. This two-part recreation area includes a northern unit and a southern unit.
The 500-square-mile peat bog, the largest in the lower 48 states, is located in the northern unit. A mile-long boardwalk, completed in 2005, enables visitors to get a first-hand look at the unique plant and animal life of this rare resource. The bog, which has long been a source of medicinal plants for the Ojibwe Indians, represented a barrier to European settlers who tried in vain to drain it. Today, many of the native plants, including yellow-eyed grass, bog rush and two kinds of sundews, are on Minnesota’s endangered or threatened species list. From orchids to carnivorous plants to rare birds, visitors will see a mixture of fascinating and rare resources.
The southern unit includes a campground with 31 campsites (26 electric sites) winterized camper cabins, a sandy beach, picnic grounds, and great fishing.
The park offers a rare opportunity to check out a landscape you’ve probably never explored before. Learn more about the bog, the plantlife that resides there, and the history of the region when you visit.
The park comprises over 9000 acres and receives close to 100,000 annual visitors.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center today before you hit the road to any destination, such as Big Bog State Recreation Area. Tour a motorhome or travel trailer and find the one that’s perfect for you or schedule some maintenance service with our PleasureLand RV Center technicians.
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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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