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  • Coach-Net Acts as Get Outdoors Day Sponsor

    Coach-Net announced that it has signed on to sponsor the National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) effort for the second consecutive year. With the help of various federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry, the campaign encourages families to spend more time outdoors by providing them with opportunities for healthy, active outdoor fun at sites across the nation on GO Day.
    According to a press release, GO Day is being celebrated this year on June 14. Prime goals of the day include reaching currently underserved populations and first-time visitors to public lands, and reconnecting the nation’s youth to the great outdoors.
    “As a company that supports the outdoor lifestyle, Coach-Net is very excited to be able to continue our sponsorship of National Get Outdoors Day for a second year in a row,” said Dan Lopez, vice president of Coach-Net sales. “This day serves as a reminder for families and friends to get outside and provides them with opportunities to do so. We are also hopeful that Americans’ participation in outdoor activities will extend well beyond this one day, as it’s important to enjoy an active lifestyle all year round.”
    Each GO Day event will offer a mix of information centers and “active fun” areas – places where guests, and especially kids, can use a fishing pole, go geocaching, help pitch a tent and more. The sites will provide photo opportunities with characters like Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl and other interesting creatures. Many sites also feature areas that focus on other aspects of healthy living, including sustainability and good nutrition. In addition to the GO Day events, participants will be invited to nearby follow-up activities called EchO events occurring throughout the summer, which include introductions to mountain biking and fly-fishing, hikes with rangers to see wildlife, kayaking and rafting and much more.
    For more information about the 2014 GO Day and a list of over 160 U.S. locations where outdoor activities will be offered, visit http://www.nationalgetoutdoorsday.org/.
    Courtesy of RVBusiness.com.

  • How To Travel Like a Local

    By Nikki Wynn of Gone with the Wynn’s



    How To Travel Like a Local
    We all yearn for authentic and unique experiences, but we don’t always know how to best set ourselves up for them.  Over the years of fulltime RV travel we’ve had our fair share of hits and misses, which has taught us a lot.
    So now we like to say, we travel like locals.  For us, this means seeing and experiencing a town as if it was our own. Sure, sometimes we hit tourist attractions too (they’re touristy for a reason right) but we like to dig a little deeper into each town.  It takes some investigating to find out what makes a place tick, what makes it unique and what the local culture is all about; but it’s easy enough when you know where to begin. Traveling like a local is a fun mission to take on, and for us, we start with these three simple tricks.  
    1.    Go to The Visitor’s Center
    Some visitor’s centers are filled with knowledgeable and helpful locals who are happy to tell you what to hit and what to skip.  They can guide you to tasty dives, let you know where the best live music is and even tell you which vendors to check out at the farmers market.  Other times you’ll get the super touristy visitors center where the employees are told not to give personal opinions, but don’t give up!  It’s all about asking the right questions.  This is where you have to get specific on what types of experiences you want.  They may not be allowed to tell you which coffee shop is the best but they can tell you which coffee shop roasts their own coffee and bakes their own scones.  A few of our “go-to” questions are:  Where is the best hike with a good view?  Are there are any free concert series or outdoor theatre projects going on during our stay?  Where’s the best spot for people watching?
    2.    Never Eat Alone
    Dining, coffee, tea, or cocktails; whatever it is you like to do, always do it with company.  With bar seating and family style dining tables, it’s becoming easier than ever to put yourself in a communal environment.  Some of the best local tips and invitations we have ever received come from baristas, bartenders or the random person sitting next to us.  So the next time you walk in and the host asks you “inside or out”, ask them if the full menu is served at the bar or if they have a communal table in the dining area.
    3.    Avoid Chains
    It’s easy to stick within your comfort zone with the places that ensure that you get the same thing every time, but that’s the problem; you get the same thing every time.  Sure, it may take a little more effort to search out the local taco shack vs. heading to the nearby taco chain, but we’ve found that more often than not, we are rewarded for our extra efforts.  Local joints are usually filled with local culture, daily specials and plenty of locals to chat up about where to head to next.  Plus, you get that warm fuzzy feeling from supporting small, local businesses.   
    So now you know a few of our tips and tricks on how to travel like a local, what are some of yours?

  • Fleetwood RV Introduces Discovery 37R

    Fleetwood RV announced a new floor plan for its premium Class A diesel pusher model, the Discovery. The 37R quad slide floor plan packs on abundant power with the Freightliner®Power Bridge® Chassis and a Cummins® ISL 9 380 hp engine that places the Discovery in firm command the road.
    “This new floor plan for the Discovery exemplifies our drive to create innovative layouts that give buyers more options when it comes to designing the motorhomes of their dreams,” said John Draheim, President of Fleetwood RV. “The 37R provides impressive power, a long list of standard features and the durable construction you expect from a Fleetwood.”
    The Discovery 37R features the convenience of a split bath layout so more than one person can use the bath area at one time. Also adding convenience and functionality is a free-standing dinette/computer work station. A sofa sleeper with a hide-a-bed air mattress and recliner provide extra space, while entertainment is provided by a large 40″ Sony® LED TV in the living area. The Discovery 37R is beautiful inside and out with diagonally laid 24″ x 24″, high-gloss porcelain tile throughout, frameless flush-mount windows for a seamless exterior design and a new graphic scheme for 2015. A stacked washer/dryer gives owners the convenience of doing laundry along their travels.

    Optional features on the Discovery 37R provide opportunities to make it even more functional and comfortable. An optional electric fireplace adds to the ambiance inside the Discovery while the optional king bed with memory foam elevates comfort to an art form. Also optional on the 37R is a residential refrigerator, providing more food storage space, and an exterior entertainment center for enjoying TV and movies al fresco.
    For more information on Fleetwood RV, call 1-800-322-8216 or visit www.fleetwoodrv.com.

  • Fleetwood Excursion Lineup Expands

    Fleetwood RV announced a new floor plan for its compact Class A diesel pusher, the Excursion. The 35E floor plan not only features a contemporary design, but it provides a flexible layout that allows owners to include the whole family on their journeys.
    Abundant sleeping areas include bunk beds, a dinette that coverts to a sleeping area, a queen bed with a reversible designer bedspread in the bedroom and an optional hide-a-loft drop-down queen bed. Entertainment is provided by Sony® LED TVs and a new optional exterior entertainment center.
    “Excursion appeals to both the first time diesel buyer, and veteran RVers looking for a better value and stronger feature set,” said John Draheim, President of Fleetwood RV. “The new 35E provides the additional sleeping capacity and storage space that families need with the value and durability they expect from a Fleetwood.”
    Along with ample sleeping areas, the Excursion 35E also provides extra storage areas with a seating and storage bench in the bedroom, storage across the rear wall and pass-through storage in the exterior compartments. An optional washer/dryer gives owners the convenience of doing laundry along their travels.
    For the 2015 model year, all Excursion models were upgraded to feature flush mount windows, LED accent lights on the front headlights and new exterior graphics and colors.
    “Thy 35E floor plan is an outstanding addition to the 2015 Excursion line-up,” said Lenny Razo, Fleetwood RV Director of Sales for the Eastern Region. “It’s a great example of the innovative floor plans developed to meet the needs and desires of our owners.””
    For more information on Fleetwood RV, call 1-800-322-8216 or visit www.fleetwoodrv.com.

  • Bella Terra of Gulf Shores

    The Bella Terra RV Resort, located in Foley, AL near Gulf Shores’ sugar-sand beaches, is a motor coacher’s paradise.  This upscale RV resort is designed with the Class A RV’er in mind offering a gated community, concierge services, daily activities and oversized, upgraded RV properties.  This family and pet-friendly resort is just a few miles from Alabama’s Gulf Coast and only minutes from great shopping and dining.  Many of our northern neighbors call Bella Terra home during the winter season for its milder southern temps; but, as the snowbirds head home in the spring, the resort entices long-term summer guests with GREAT monthly rates as low as $450/month.* 

    In addition to Bella Terra’s professionally managed rental program, the resort offers prospective buyers the opportunity to become property owners.  Structured as a condominium community, individuals can purchase one of these fee-simple deeded lots for their personal use OR as an investment through their IRA or 401(k).  Throughout this summer, guests can learn about the resort’s many ownership options and purchase incentives by taking advantage of their 4 Day, 3 Night Stay & Play Special for $99.*  Bella Terra’s expert sales consultant, Richard Parker, is an acclaimed author and speaker that has helped countless Bella Terra Owners secure their motor coach vacation home.  This enticing offer allows prospects to enjoy a Developer-owned property and private tour with Mr. Parker to learn all about Bella Terra’s ownership advantages.  Come see how we live at Bella Terra and seize this chance to experience all that the Bella Terra RV resort has to offer its growing number of owners and guests. 

    For more information, call our Front Desk at (866) 417-2416 or book online at http://www.bellaterrarvresort.com/.

    *Taxes and fees apply.  The Bella Terra RV Resort is restricted to Class A Motor Coaches only with a minimum length of 32’ and must be no older than 15 years at time of arrival.  

  • KOA’s First Franchise is Celebrating 50 Years

    The first campground to join the Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) franchise system is celebrating 50 years.
    The Cody/Yellowstone (Wyo.) KOA has a weekend of special activities planned June 13-15, according to a written announcement from the campground.
    “Fifty years of camping memories have been made here at Cody KOA,” said Jean Mickelson, general manager of the campground located on the eastern edge of Cody. “We want to be able to celebrate this accomplishment and all of our wonderful campers who have stayed with us over those last 50 years.”
    “Bringing families together is what camping is all about, and we are excited to celebrate both our anniversary and Father’s Day,” said Mickelson, who is in her 14th summer at the Cody KOA. She said in addition to special weekend activities at the campground, kids will stay free to mark the occasion.
    KOA founder Dave Drum created his first campground on his property along the Yellowstone River south of Billings, Montana, in 1962 to meet needs of people traveling to the Seattle World’s Fair. On June 18, 1964, Cody landed the first franchise of the company, which now has more than 485 campgrounds across North America. Ernest Goppert and M.C. Calkins were partners in the Cody franchise, one of a handful of campgrounds that struck deals with KOA in 1964.
    “We’re delighted to congratulate Cody KOA on its special anniversary,” said Jim Rogers, CEO of KOA since 2000. “It has long been one of our most popular campgrounds, one that provides our campers with a wonderful gateway to the Yellowstone region.”
    The campground was awarded the 2014 KOA President’s Award for receiving top scores in customer service surveys and KOA’s Quality Review. It is one of 10 franchises owned by Recreational Adventures Co., a family-operated business headquartered in Hill City, S.D.
    The birthday celebration starts early Friday, June 13, with a special pancake breakfast and winds down with a wine-tasting event featuring samples from Buffalo Jump Winery.
    The festivities continue Saturday, June 14, with birthday pancakes served up by local Boy Scouts. Campers will be eligible for $50 giveaways and other prizes Saturday morning. A climbing wall will provide fun for kids, campers can sign up to tie dye special anniversary T-shirts and lessons in Dutch-oven cooking will be conducted, including in a special dessert. Birthday cake will be served at the evening ice cream social. Campers can also visit a photo booth that will provide fun pictures to memorialize their stay.
    Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day, and the Cody KOA will again serve up birthday pancakes.
    The campground is one hour from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park and minutes away from the five museums of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Nite Rodeo and Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center. Fly fishing and whitewater rafting draw many travelers to the area.
    KOA Cody offers more than 200 campsites, 20 cabins and five deluxe cabins. There is a heated swimming pool, hot tub and a wading pool with spray fountain. Campers can enjoy Wi-Fi, bike rentals, a horseshoe pit and basketball court, a giant checkers and chess set, jumping pillow, game room and many other activities.
    Source:  RVBusiness.com

  • Festival Puts Winnebago Outdoor Center Stage

    Winnebago Industries Inc. gained a high profile stage for its recently introduced Winnebago Outdoor brand, serving as sponsor for last weekend’s Tree Town Music Festival featuring several of country music’s frontliners.
    Winnebago Outdoor represents the Forest City, Iowa-based builder’s latest marketing initiative to strengthen its presence in the outdoor lifestyle market through sale of a variety of outdoor gear, clothing and other items. The Tree Town Music Festival was a “litmus test” to determine the viability of future sponsorships, the company told RVBUSINESS.com.
    “The festival was amazing. I think we had 15,000 people there on Saturday and 15,000 people there on Sunday,” Chad Reece, Winnebago’s director of marketing, said about the Tree Town  Music Festival, held May  23-25 at Heritage Park of North Iowa in Forest City, featuring Brad Paisley and Toby Keith.
    He said Winnebago Outdoor has committed to sponsoring the 2015 Tree Town Music Festival, which already has Blake Shelton signed on to provide entertainment.
    “The festival audience is a huge demographic that runs the gamut, from families with young children, to adults in their 20s and 30s to those folks in their retirement years,” Reece said. “From an RV standpoint, that (demographic) segment was there, but from a brand licensing standpoint it crosses over into even more segments.”
    Reece added that Winnebago Outdoor makes sense because the Winnebago brand is all about “travel, adventure and freedom.” The clothing, which features a retro look, and other offerings, including adventure packages, are an extension of the Winnebago brand, he said.
    Look for announcements from Winnebago Outdoor throughout the summer, Reece added, as the company looks to expand its outreach.
    For more information, visit www.winnebagooutdoor.com or www.treetownfestival.com.
    – Submitted by Rick Kessler exclusive to RVBUSINESS.com

  • Tips For Staying Connected While RVing

    Whether you’re a full-time or part-time RVer, having some kind of connection to the internet while you’re out having fun is a real bonus. Between cozy campfires, relaxing hikes and RV happy hours what better way to share the joy than logging in and posting a little teaser pic on Facebook? Or sending a few e-mails to friends? For some of you, having internet might even be a “must-have” especially if you need to work on the road.

    Luckily in this day and age there are many ways to stay connected. Which way you choose depends very much on how much internet you need plus where and how often you travel. There are masses of options and the “perfect” solution may well be different for each person, so I’ll just cover a few. Here’s four easy tips to get you started:

    1/ Park WiFi – Anyone who’s traveled extensively by RV knows that Park WiFi can be hit or miss. Most private parks offer at least some kind of connectivity, sometimes for free, sometimes for a small fee (e.g. through Tengo). Most of the time it’s usable for e-mail and Facebook, but sometimes it’s so poor it can become frustrating, especially in the evening when everyone logs on the system. If you travel part-time and don’t mind working around this, then using Park WiFi can usually suffice. However, if internet is a “must-have” it’s really not reliable as a source.
    2/ Hotspot or Tethering On Your Smartphone – If you own a smartphone with a data plan, more than likely your phone will have a feature that allows you to turn on a “hotspot” so that you can share that data plan with your other devices. By turning on this feature, your phone becomes a WiFi source which your computer and other devices can connect to. Not all cell phone providers offer this (e.g. Straight Talk doesn’t allow “tethering” as they call it), and some require a fee (e.g. Sprint), so you’ll have to call and check with your provider.  But if your phone can do it, it’s a great, easy way to get some connectivity without having to buy any additional devices. The other nice thing about this method is that you can turn it off when you don’t need it.  (Note/ Hotspot is included for free in all Verizon & AT&T “shared” data plans).

    3/ Mobile HotSpot & MiFi’s – Another way to get data on the road is to buy a device called a mobile hotspot or MiFi. These little portable devices, often no bigger than a stack of cards, create a WiFi source that you can take anywhere and share between multiple devices (usually between 5-10 devices, depending on which one you get). Almost every major carrier offers something like this, plus a bunch of third-party guys do too. Before you buy, make sure to check that the carrier you’re choosing covers the major areas you plan to travel. Verizon has the broadest nationwide coverage, followed by AT&T with the other carriers far behind. Typically you’ll have to buy the device followed by a data plan and costs will vary depending on how much data you want and what carrier it’s riding on. For light or part-time users, Walmart offers their “Straight Talk WiFi HotSpot” (runs on Verizon 3G) where you can buy buckets of data (e.g. $15 for 1GB) as you need them. Verizonand AT&Toffers both contract and pre-paid options with various-sized data buckets, and may make the most sense if you already have a contract with them. For heavy users, Millenicom has one of the best deals around offering a 20GB/mo plan for $89.99 (runs on Verizon).
    4/ Free WiFi – If you’re just looking for WiFi every now and then, grabbing onto a free signal, say at a Starbucks, or a local library might be just the ticket. For those with smartphones, FreeZone(for Android) and Free WiFi Finder (for iOS) are great little apps to help you find the nearest free WiFi source in your area. On the desktop, WeFi offers a similar database. Even if you don’t use this method all the time, it’s great to have as a backup.
    These are just a few, short ideas covering the easiest and most inexpensive ways to stay on-line while on the road. There are many other options out there including satellite (for those that really need connectivity everywhere) and cell phone signal boosters (which help enhance your signal), but hopefully this list plus some of my extra links below will get you started. Now, go and post that campfire pic, won’t you? 🙂
    Other Resources:
    • Checking The Signal – You can’t connect if there’s no cell phone signal. Coverage? (for iOS) is a great little app which can show you what the signal might be like at your next destination. It has interactive maps for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile & Sprint. We use it all the time.
    • Boosting Your Signal – This free page written by full-time RVer Jack Mayer has excellent info on cell phone-based boosters. Well worth the read.
    • Covering All The Options – The Mobile Internet Handbook, written by another set of fulltime RV’ers. has detailed info on all the options out there including satellite, HAM, cable, boosting, managing bandwidth and more. If you want deeper info, this is definitely the book to get.

    Nina Fussing is a blogger, writer of tales, animal lover, outdoor enthusiast and photographer. Together with her hubby they both left stressful jobs in the semiconductor industry for the dream of becoming full-time RVers and leading an alternative life. Join them in their travels with RV tips and tales at http://wheelingit.us/

    • New Winnebago Travato 59G

      Part of the Winnebago Touring Coach lineup, the Travato 59G is built on the fuel-efficient, gas-powered RAM ProMaster chassis, the #1 motorhome chassis in Europe!
      And while this Class B van is less than 21 feet long (more than 3 feet shorter than the Era Winnebago Touring Coach), don’t let the compact footprint fool you. This unique new floorplan is full-featured and perfect for an active couple or even a small family!
       
      The Travato features a corner double bed that flips up to accommodate bicycles or other large items, while its split dinette with built-in 3-point seat belts converts into additional sleeping. The Travato also features a powered awning, LED ceiling lights, Ultraleather swivel cab seats and a host of features you won’t find in other Class B motorhomes, all at a price point thousands less than the competition — that is, if it had any competition.

      Learn more about this unique new coach here.

    • Winnebago’s New Products “Out Of This World”

      Winnebago recently showcased its 2015 lineup and debuted several all-new products for its dealers. Highlights include:
      The eyebrow returns! In the ’60’s and ’70’s, there was no mistaking a Winnebago motorhome with the distinctive “eyebrow” design and flying W logo. It was the motorhome that made America fall in love with the RV lifestyle.
      Today, Winnebago has blended vintage with a modern twist with in the all-new Brave and Tribute. These are totally modern takes on the legendary design, loaded with today’s best features and offered in two versatile floorplans with exciting color schemes, as well as a price to fit the budget of a young, traveling family.
       
      Also debuting were two models that take luxury to the next level: the Winnebago Grand Tour and Ellipse Ultra. These tag-axle coaches feature unique, high-end amenities such as a large skylight with powered shade in the front lounge/cab area, polished porcelain tile flooring, keyless entry, and four full-body paint packages. Multiplex switch panels located throughout the all-electric coach allow you to control exterior and interior lights, hydraulic jacks, MCD power shades, slideout rooms, and more.
      In addition, many 2015 products received exterior re-designs, including Vista and Sunstar lines, Via and Reyo lines, and View and Navion 24V and 24G floorplans.  New standard features are included across all product lines, as well as a number of exciting new floorplans. 
      Winnebago Towables showed the new Micro Minnie trailer and two new fifth wheels: the Voyage and Latitude.  The Micro Minnie is ready to hit the road at under 3,000 pounds, while the Voyage and Latitude provide exciting new mid-profile and full-profile fifth-wheel choices.  In addition, the Ultralight line has been expanded to six floorplans.

      Find more on new models from Winnebago Industries here.