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.
October 10th, 2017 -
Spending the day at a pumpkin patch is a fall tradition, especially here in Minnesota. Whether you intend to use your pumpkins for Jack-o-lanterns, bake them into delicious pies, or just as decoration, your day out at the pumpkin patch is sure to be a hit with your family.
There are nearly 200 pumpkin patches to choose from in Minnesota, many of which offers rides, petting zoos, and other fun diversions that everyone will love.
Here are some of the best pumpkin patches in the state:
Peter’s Pumpkins & Carmen’s Corn
12860 Old Brick Yard Road, Sharkopee, MN 55379
(952) 906-0247
This patch caters to families and offers many activities in an attempt to have something for everyone. Of course you’ll be able to select a pumpkin, but there’s also a corn maze, hayrides, face painting, and other crops to choose from.
Lendt’s Pumpkin Patch
6903 Wyoming Trail, Wyoming, MN 55092
(651) 462-1516
Sprawling over 40-acres, wander the patch and find the perfect pumpkin. This pumpkin patch is really a tradition, and you’ll find a lot of locals out there enjoying the weather.
Waldoch Farm Pumpkin Patch
8174 Lake Drive, Lino Lakes, MN 55014
(651) 780-1207
This working farm, located outside of the Twin Cities, offers a full selection of pick-your-own crops, including zucchini, squash, and, of course, pumpkins. There are farm animals, hay bales, and homemade kettle corn.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Head to a pumpkin patch in your RV for even more fun. PleasureLand RV Center is happy to provide RV sales, service, parts, and accessories.
October 6th, 2017 -
If you want your next RV outing to be extra special, you’ve got to head towards one of America’s renowned national parks. While there are plenty to choose from, might we suggest Wind Cave National Park? It’s not as well known as some parks, but that’s not indicative of its quality at all. It’s the perfect spot for some early fall RV camping.
Wind Cave National Park is a United States national park 10 miles north of the town of Hot Springs in western South Dakota. Established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, it was the seventh U.S. National Park and the first cave to be designated a national park anywhere in the world. The cave is notable for its displays of the calcite formation known as boxwork. Approximately 95 percent of the world’s discovered boxwork formations are found in Wind Cave. Wind Cave is also known for its frostwork. The cave is also considered a three-dimensional maze cave, recognized as the densest (greatest passage volume per cubic mile) cave system in the world. The cave is currently the sixth-longest in the world with 140.47 miles of explored cave passageways. Above ground, the park includes the largest remaining natural mixed-grass prairie in the United States.
The park got its name from the cave systems, which are said to “breathe,” that is, air continually moves into or out of a cave, equalizing the atmospheric pressure of the cave and the outside air. A large cave (such as Wind Cave) with only a few small openings will “breathe” more obviously than a small cave with many large openings.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center today before you hit the road to any destination, such as Wind Cave National Park. 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.
October 3rd, 2017 -
Named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who founded our modern national park system, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located in the badlands of North Dakota.
Teddy Roosevelt had an intimate relationship with the land that would one day bear his name. He came to the Dakota Territory in 1883 when he was a skinny young man and left a little older and a lot tougher. His adventures in the rugged landscape of North Dakota forever altered his life and, ultimately, the course of the nation.
The park offers visitors scenic drives, over 100 miles of foot and horse trails, wildlife viewing, and opportunities for back country hiking and camping. There are three developed campgrounds for use: Juniper Campground, Cottonwood Campground, and the Roundup Group Horse Campground.
Wildlife viewing is especially popular, as the park is home to many native species, including bison, coyotes, cougars, feral horses, badgers, elk, bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer, prairie dogs, golden eagles, sharp-tailed grouse, and wild turkeys.
The park also preserves the history and artifacts of Roosevelt’s time there, including the cabin he lived in and the lands his ranch occupied.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center today before you hit the road to any destination, such as Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 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.
September 26th, 2017 -
As the temperatures start to drop this September, warm family meals become a part of the RV lifestyle. These simple fall meals can be made in your RV kitchen, on a grill or even over the open flame. So light up that campfire and start enjoying all of the pleasures and delicious flavors that the fall RV season has to offer.
Campfire Chicken Stew
What You’ll Need:
- 1 fryer chicken (cut up)
- 4 medium potatoes (peeled and sliced)
- 1 cup carrots (thinly sliced)
- 1 green pepper (sliced)
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (no water added)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Aluminum foil
Cooking Instructions:
- Grill the chicken pieces for roughly three minutes on each side.
- Lay down for sheets of double thickness aluminum foil, and divide the chicken, carrots, potatoes and green pepper onto each piece of foil.
- Fold the foil into a packet, then pour the soup, water, salt and pepper evenly into each one.
- Seal each packet tightly and grill them for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
Campfire Reubens
What You’ll Need:
- 1 cup Thousand Island dressing
- 3/4-pound deli-sliced corned beef
- 1/2-pound Swiss cheese slices
- 1 cup sauerkraut
- 8 slices pumpernickel bread
- Aluminum foil
Cooking Instructions:
- Cut four squares of aluminum foil, then set two slices of bread next to each other on each piece.
- Spread Thousand Island dressing evenly on each slice of bread.
- Divide the meat, cheese and sauerkraut evenly onto one slice on each piece of foil.
- Top the sandwich with the other slice of bread and seal the foil around each sandwich.
- Set each packet on a grate over the fire (or the grill) and cook them for about 30 minutes. Flip each sandwich over every ten minutes.
- Unwrap and enjoy.
Get Your RV Cooking Supplies at PleasureLand
Whether you’re looking for a new RV with a larger kitchen or just a few simple grilling supplies for your next outdoor adventure, we’ve got everything you need right here at PleasureLand RV Center in Minnesota. And if you need some supplies right away, don’t forget you can shop our online parts catalog 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
September 21st, 2017 -
Continuing the series on Minnesota’s state parks, we’ve got Judge C.R. Magney State Park up next. Sprawled across 4,695 acres, the park attracts nearly 70,000 annual visitors and over 6,000 overnight stays.
Come for the quiet, the solitude, and the famous Devil’s Kettle waterfall. The most popular hike leads from the trailhead upstream along the Brule River to Devil’s Kettle, where the river splits around a mass of volcanic rock. Half of the river plunges 50 feet into a pool, while the rest pours into a huge pothole. Anglers can catch brook and rainbow trout in the Brule River or its tributary, Gauthier Creek. The park offers camping, picnicking, and hiking.
The park is a wildlife observer’s dream. Moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, and timber wolves are among the larger animals that inhabit the park. Smaller mammals that visitors may see include the woodchuck, snowshoe hare, red squirrel, and chipmunk. In the spring and summer, listen for the songs of warblers. All year round, chickadees, nuthatches, jays, woodpeckers, and ruffed grouse can be seen in the park.
The scenic Brule River races through the park, forming whitewater rapids and waterfalls on its way to Lake Superior. Along the lower stretches of the river are a series of spectacular waterfalls.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you visit any state park 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.
September 19th, 2017 -
Looking for a nearby spot to camp and enjoy some outdoor recreation, perhaps for spring break? If you’re centered in Minnesota or plan on passing through soon, check out Lake Carlos State Park.
Sculpted by ancient glaciers, Lake Carlos State Park contains a tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds, and lakes.
A variety of recreational activities revolve around the lake. Clear and deep, Lake Carlos offers visitors a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, boating, camping, hiking and horseback riding. In the winter, ski from the tamarack bog to a maple-basswood forest.
Away from the lake, hiking is an especially good activity. Trails lead through Lake Carlos’s tamarack bog, which is carpeted with showy lady’s slippers, pitcher plants, dragon’s mouths, grass pink, and insect-eating sundews. Most flowers start to bloom in the bog between late spring and early summer.
Birdwatchers will also love the lake, as it offers a unique ecosystem with eagles and ospreys. Other common birds in the spring include the red-eyed vireo, tree swallow, red-breasted nuthatch, American robin, yellow-rumped warbler, indigo bunting, swamp sparrow, blue-winged teal, ruby-throated hummingbird, and many more.
Free WiFi is available at the campground and Visitors Center. The park’s hours are from 8am to 4pm daily.
Visit PleasureLand RV Center
Stop by PleasureLand RV Center before you visit Lake Carlos State Park or any other destination in Minnesota. PleasureLand RV Center offers RV sales, service, parts and accessories in Minnesota. See us in St Cloud, Brainerd, or Ramsey today!
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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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