August 31st, 2017 -
When you’re packing for an RV trip, whether it’s a short weekend trip or a long trip, you definitely don’t want to forget anything. And when you are bringing your pet with you, you definitely don’t want to forget anything, especially the dog’s food or leash. Be sure to make a list of everything you need for yourself, your family and your pet. And, keep in mind that your pet has additional travel needs.
Stopping More Often
If you are bringing your dog with you and you would like to be at a certain destination by a certain time, you’ll need to add some extra time to the trip. While you might be able to go eight hours without stopping, your pets may not be able to make it that long. Plan on stopping for about 15 minutes every 3 hours to give your pet a break. Never let your pet ride in a trailer.
Providing Water
If you are not providing your pet with water in the vehicle, you’ll need to give it a drink whenever you stop, in addition to the bathroom break.
Food
If the trip is more than eight hours and you plan on driving through, be sure to feed your pet. If you normally feed your pet more than once a day, plan stops that are close to its regular feeding time. If your pet normally eats just once per day, but is used to having snacks throughout the day, be sure to bring its treats in the vehicle with you.
Car Sickness
If your dog tends to get car sick, check with your vet for the dosage of Dramamine it can have. You’ll want to give your dog the medication at least a half hour before you start the trip. Ask your vet how long a dosage should last and when you should re-medicate while you are on the road.
Weather
If you are traveling from a warm climate to a cold climate and your dog normally wear sweaters when it’s cold, be sure to pack a sweater in the vehicle with you so that you don’t have to stop to look for it in the trailer or back of the RV.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center to walk through our floor plans if you are ready for a new RV; or to pick up any RV accessories you might need for your trip.
August 29th, 2017 -
Sandwiches are always a convenient meal – easy to put together, made with affordable ingredients, portable, filling, and endlessly customizable. Sandwiches are a perfect fit for any RVer and August just so happens to be National Sandwich Month. To honor everyone’s favorite go-to food, we’ve asked around PleasureLand RV Center to find out some favorites.
Elvis Sandwich
Prep – 10 mins. | Cook – 10 mins.
Ingredients
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 slices white bread
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 3 slices cooked bacon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons butter
Directions
Spread the peanut butter on one side of one slice of bread. Top with sliced banana, then slices of cooked bacon. Cover with the other slice of bread. Spread butter on the outside of the sandwich.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Fry the sandwich on each side until golden brown and peanut butter is melted, about 4 minutes total.
Banh Mi
Prep – 10 mins. | Cook – 5 mins.
Ingredients
• 4 boneless pork loin chops, cut 1/4 inch thick
• 4 (7 inch) French bread baguettes, split lengthwise
• 4 teaspoons mayonnaise, or to taste
• 1 ounce chile sauce with garlic
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 small red onion, sliced into rings
• 1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat the oven’s broiler. Place the pork chops on a broiling pan and set under the broiler. Cook for about 5 minutes, turning once, or until browned on each side.
Open the French rolls and spread mayonnaise on the insides. Place one of the cooked pork chops into each roll. Spread chile sauce directly on the meat. Sprinkle with a little lime juice and top with slices of onion, cucumber, cilantro, salt and pepper. Finish with another quick drizzle of lime juice.
Cucumber Sandwich
Prep – 20 mins.
Ingredients
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian salad dressing mix
• 2 loaves French bread, cut into 1 inch slices
• 2 medium cucumbers, sliced
• 1 pinch dried dill weed
Directions
In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, mayonnaise and Italian dressing mix. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight.
Spread the cream cheese blend onto slices of French bread. Top with a cucumber slice, and sprinkle with dill. You can make as many or few as you like. the cream cheese mixture keeps for about a week in the refrigerator so you can make them over and over again!
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Visit PleasureLand RV Center before you head out on your next RV adventure. Don’t get caught off guard by unforeseen mechanical problems. Let our technicians sign off on your rig and hit the road with the peace of mind that you’re set to handle whatever the journey throws your way.
August 24th, 2017 -
If you’re a beginning hiker that’s never used trekking poles, it may be because you’re not sure what to make of them. What advantages do they confer and are they right for your hikes? If you’re thinking about acquiring a pair and taking them out on your next hike, here’s how to make the most effective use of them.
They Help Support You
Just like a walking stick, trekking poles times the advantage by two. They’re especially useful on treacherous terrain, like loose gravel, wet rocks, or when fording shallow creeks. Not only do they help keep you upright, but they also promote good posture that in turn helps you shoulder your pack better. By putting some of your weight onto the trekking poles via your arms, you take some of the stress off of your legs and back. When you get tired later during an all day hike, you can also rely on them more and more to support you even when your knees are getting tired.
They Come in Handy in Ways You Wouldn’t Expect
Having some trekking poles on hand can be unexpectedly beneficial. They can serve as arm extensions if you need to poke something from a distance or attempt to bring something closer. Not that we recommend battling wildlife, but in a pinch they can be used to ward off an aggressive animal when escape isn’t possible.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
There’s no better way to travel to your favorite Minnesota hiking trails than in the comfort and convenience of your RV. Stop in and see us at one of our many Minnesota PleasureLand RV Center locations to start your new RV lifestyle today.
August 22nd, 2017 -
Great River Bluffs State Park is located in the Blufflands Landscape Region. This landscape features half-dome bluffs with sheer rock cliffs, steep valley walls, and rolling uplands. The park includes a diversity of plant communities including maple-basswood forests, old hickory, pines, goat prairies, and old fields. The King’s Bluff trail offers a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River Valley. Bring your binoculars; the river valley is a major flyway for waterfowl, eagles, and hawks.
You can find ample camping opportunities at the park, both RV and tent, as well as fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
For wildlife lovers, the park attracts more than 35 species of mammals, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians, and well over 100 species of birds. Rabbits, mice, and ground squirrels are common in the patches of prairie in the park. Predators of these mammals include red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, and red foxes. The hardwood forest provides habitat for opossums, skunks, Indigo buntings, ruffed grouse, and wild turkeys. In the winter, visitors report seeing bald eagles. The prairie draws uncommon species of wildlife: a lizard, the six-lined racer; and a prairie bird, the bobolink.
The park is 2,786 acres in size and receives over 80,000 annual visitors.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this summer before you hit the road for Great River Bluffs 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.
August 17th, 2017 -
The Minnesota State Fair is one of the state’s biggest annual events and certainly one of the most fun. Great for families of all sizes and people of all ages, don’t miss out on heading there in your RV later this month.
The State Fair will be open from August 24 to September 4 this year, so fire up your RV and hit the road!
The Food
As anyone who’s attended a State Fair, no matter the state, can attest, they’re all about the food (especially the fried variety) and Minnesota is no exception. Each year sees zanier and tastier fried food delicacies. 2017 brings some interesting new additions, such as the Bacon Fluffernutter, Bacon Up Pup, Bowl o’Dough, Breakfast Buddy Bowl, Brown Ale and Onion-Gouda Tipsy Pie, Cheesy Nacho Corn on the Cob, Cherry Bombs, Chocolate Popover with Peanut Butter Spread, Cranberry Wild Rice Meatballs, Deep Fried Avocado, Deviation Stout Steak Taco Naan, Double Dose of Pork Belly Sandwich, Duck Bacon Wontons, Fall Guy Breakfast Panini, Honey Puffs, Italian Bomba Sandwich, Memphis Totchos, Mini Sconuts, Mobster’s Caviar, Pie’n the Sky Malt & Sundae, Pizzarito, Slow-Roasted Pork Mole Tamale, Sonoran Sausage, Spicy Thai Noodles, Sweet Corn Blueberry Eclairs, Sweety’s Churros, Swine & Spuds, Swing Dancer Sandwich, Triple Truffle Trotters, and Wild Bill’s Breakfast Bake. And that’s not even all! Make sure to come hungry.
The Entertainment
There are plenty of musical acts happening everyday, most of them free of charge and open to the public. The big headliner this year, however, is Usher, who will be performing August 31 at 7:30pm. Tickets are needed to see Usher, so buy yours here as soon as possible.
There are also exhibits and demos throughout the fair grounds.
The Rides
Don’t forget to hit up some rides along the Midway (which also includes classic carnival games and prizes). The big attraction is the Great Big Wheel, the fair’s Ferris wheel.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this summer to tour a new or used motorhome or travel trailer. Find one that’s perfect for you and your travel plans this summer. If you’re not on the market for an RV, you can still stop in at PleasureLand RV Center to schedule service, to learn more about RVing, or to shop for parts and accessories.
August 14th, 2017 -
August 27 is National Burger Day, and that means it’s time to fire up your RV grill. Plan on creating one of these two must-try burger recipes to wow your friends with out-of-this-world flavors.
Blue Moon Burgers
What you’ll need:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 large toasted hamburger buns
- 4 ounces softened cream cheese
- 4 slices Monterrey jack cheese
- 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
- 4 large pieces lettuce
- Mayonnaise
- 4 tomato slices
- shaved Bermuda onion
Cooking instructions:
- Beat blue cheese and cream cheese together well.
- Set mixture aside to let the flavors meld.
- Form the ground beef into four equal patties. Cook them on the grill or as desired.
- When finished cooking, add 1/4 of the cream cheese mixture to the top of each patty.
- Top each burger with a slice of jack cheese, then spread mayonnaise on the toasted buns.
- Wait until the cheese is gooey to place the burgers on the buns.
- Top with lettuce, tomato and shaved onion.
Cowboy Burgers
What you’ll need:
- 8 hamburger patties (1/4 pound each)
- 2 tomatoes (sliced)
- 8 slices cheddar cheese
- 3 onions (thinly sliced)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons A.1. Original Sauce
Cooking instructions:
- Preheat your RV grill to medium heat.
- While the grill is warming, heat the oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
- Stir in the onions and cook them for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Cover the onions with a lid, and let them simmer for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Stir often.
- Grill the patties for 5 minutes on each side or until they’re cooked to your preferred doneness.
- Stir the A.1. into the onion mixture.
- Serve with one tomato slice and a burger on the bottom half of each bun.
- Cover the burger with one slice of cheese and 3 tablespoons of the onion mixture, then add the other bun.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Late summer and early fall are some of the best times of year to find unbeatable deals on new and used RVs at the PleasureLand RV Center. Log online to learn about all of our end-of-summer deals today.
August 10th, 2017 -
Visit Lake Shetek State Park in your RV before the summer ends for a long day of rest and relaxation. The park gets its name from the old Ojibwe word for “pelican,” a bird that visits the lake during the summer and fall.
Lake Shetek is also the largest lake in southwestern Minnesota and offers plenty of fishing opportunities. Cast your line and reel in anything from walleye and northern to crappie and bullheads..
There are hiking trails that run throughout the park and offer an array of difficulty levels, ranging from easy to strenuous. Also included in the park are a swimming beach, boat launch, campgrounds, and a scenic six-mile loop bike trail that passes through the adjoining town of Currie. Boat, canoe, and kayak rentals are available as well.
There are also some historic exhibits in the park, such as the Koch Cabin and Monument, which memorializes pioneer settlers and teaches you more about settler history. If you can be at the park by August 19, you can join the park rangers as they offer a guided bus journey back in time to August of 1862 to learn about the lives of the early settlers and Dakota people at the Lake Shetek settlement. They’ll be visiting the significant sites around the lake discussing what took place there on August 20, 1862 that changed the lives of all who lived there forever. The bus tour is $5 per person and leaves the Lake Shetek State Park picnic area parking lot at 9 am and will return approximately 12:30 pm. Reservations are required due to limited seating and can be made by calling the park office at (507) 763-3256.
The park covers over 1,100 acres and receives nearly 115,000 annual visitors. As you walk through the park, you may be able to spot white-tail deer, pelicans, fox, minks, beavers, muskrats, woodchucks, and coyotes, among other wildlife.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this summer to tour a new or used motorhome or travel trailer. Find one that’s perfect for you and your travel plans this summer. If you’re not on the market for an RV, you can still stop in at PleasureLand RV Center to schedule service, to learn more about RVing, or to shop for parts and accessories.
August 8th, 2017 -
Camden State Park is a great place to end the summer if you’ve got one last short trip before it’s back to school and business as usual.
The lake, Brawner Lake, and Redwood River are both suitable for swimming and canoeing. Fishing opportunities abound, and you can expect a chance to catch brown trout, bass, and bluegill There are also plenty of trails for hiking and horseback riding.
Wildlife enthusiasts might be able to spot mink, raccoons, songbirds, hawks, coyotes, and whitetail deer. Though much rarer than they used to be, you may also spot buffalo, elk, or golden eagles if you’re very lucky.
The park is named for the town of Camden, which sprang up in 1874 on the back of the fur trade. It thrived for a time, but ultimately declined due to the railroad skipping it as a stop. By the early 1930s Camden was all but abandoned and is today a ruin. Despite this, the area is still known as Camden and the park took on its name when it was founded in 1935.
The park sprawls over 2,247 acres and has nearly 85,000 annual visitors.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this summer before you head to Camden State Park or any other destination. If you need an RV for your travels, shop the inventory of PleasureLand RV Center and tour the units you wish to see. If you’ve got a rig and just want to ensure that it’s ready for the trip, visit our service department.
July 27th, 2017 -
If you just bought an RV from PleasureLand RV Center this summer and it’s your first time out in your new RV, you may be daunted by the idea of setting up your RV at the campsite or RV park.
We’ve got you covered – here’s everything you need to know when setting up at your destination.
Getting to Your Assigned Spot and Getting Your Rig Situated
It’s pretty standard to check-in at the campsite or RV park front office just like you would at a hotel. When you get there, you can ask if they’ve got an escort service. This serves to not only guide you to where your site is located, but they’ll be able to help you get your RV setup as well, including getting it parked and leveled.
Once you get there, regardless of an escort, you’ll need to either back your RV up or pull it through. Whether it’s back up or pull through, just make sure that your hookups are roughly aligned with their outlets at the site.
Once you’re satisfied with your positioning, apply the parking brake if you’re in a motorhome.
Now it’s time to level your RV. Not all sites will be perfectly flat, so use blocks and stabilizing jacks to get your RV flattened out. Once that’s done, chock the wheels so that there’s no chance your RV will slide or roll.
Next, go ahead and extend steps, slide-outs, and awnings.
Water and Power
Connect your electric cord to the site’s outlet that matches your RV’s required amperage and don’t forget to switch your fridge from propane to electric or you’ll run out of propane real fast.
Your site ought to have at least a clean water hookup, but many also have sewage. Ask for help if you’re unsure how to connect your RV to these hookups.
Make Yourself Comfortable
Now it’s up to you to make your site feel like home. This part is up to you, but you might want to set out some lawn furniture, mats, decorations, etc.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this summer to tour a new or used motorhome or travel trailer and to learn more about the RV lifestyle. If you’ve got questions on how to operate your RV, we’ll be happy to help.
July 18th, 2017 -
Minnesota is full of wonderful state parks to explore, and they’re especially lovely in the summer. Sibley State Park has something for just about everyone.
The park, located in west-central Minnesota, is a popular destination, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually. Sitting on over 3,400 acres it’s home to Mount Tom (the highest point in a 50-mile radius), forests, prairie knolls, and lakes. In the summer, visitors can expect to enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing on the largest lake, Lake Andrew. Canoe routes are charted on Henschien Lake and Swan Lake. The park also offers campgrounds, a group center, horseback camps, picnic areas, and interpretive ranger programs year-round.
The landscape is dominated by oak, red cedar, ironwood, green ash, aspen, maple, and basswood. Wildlife includes white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, coyote, raccoon, ruffed grouse, chipmunks, red and gray squirrels, mink striped skunks, badgers, and woodchucks.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center this summer to tour a new or used motorhome or travel trailer. Find one that’s perfect for you and your travel plans this summer. If you’re not on the market for an RV, you can still stop in at PleasureLand RV Center to schedule service, to learn more about RVing, or to shop for parts and accessories.
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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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