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  • High Times at Hoover Dam!

    Photo by: dherrera
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/dph1110/

    What is over 700 feet high, 1,200 feet across, up to 660 feet thick, and a reservoir of up to 9.2 TRILLION gallons of water from the Colorado River? 
    The Hoover Dam in the historic Lake Mead National Recreational Area is an architectural marvel that has created an oasis for campers and water sport enthusiasts alike.
    Lake Mead National Recreational Area offers many RV sites with full hookups (electric, water, and sewage) that are offered by concessioners.  Some of the concession RV sites with hookups in the area include Lake Mead RV Village at Boulder Beach, Katherine Landing, Callville Bay, Cottonwood Cove, and Temple Bar. For reservations, RV’ers are encouraged to contact the concessioners directly.
    Visitors can tour the power plant and see presentations and exhibits on how the dam operates, while guided tours will take them on an exploration of the dam’s lesser-known areas. Outside of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead National Recreational Area also offers many other activities. With up to 9.2 trillion gallons of water it’s no surprise that there are an abundance of water activities to enjoy. Boating, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing are just a few of the activities to enjoy at the oasis of the Mojave Desert.
    Land lovers can go horseback riding throughout the park or explore the backcountry and hundreds of paths and trails for biking and hiking. This is also a great destination for hunters. The park boasts vast areas for hunting. However, be sure to refer to park hunting maps for designated hunting areas and to review state hunting regulations for seasons and ensure you possess the appropriate hunting licenses.
    Hoover Dam and Lake Mead National Recreational Area are also close to many different locations that make for promising day trips. Only 30 minutes away from Las Vegas, two hours from Peach Springs, four hours away from the Grand Canyon, and two hours away from Lake Havasu, the dam offers just enough proximity to allow visitors to visit many places in the surrounding area. Aside from activities, Lake Mead National Recreational Area also offers stunning views and long roads for scenic drives.
    For more information on visiting the Hoover Dam, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/.
    Photo by: Mike Miley

  • Desert Your Worries!

    Photo by: Squeaks2569http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeaks2569/

    It’s hard to imagine how a dog-friendly, award-winning RV park with easy access to local attractions and restaurants in a major American city can be any better!  Well, add concrete patios, a heated pool and spa, a fitness center, a game room, a book exchange, a playscape, and spotless laundry and restroom facilities, and you’ve certainly sweetened the deal. Take all of these amenities and place them in Phoenix, AZ and you’ve just found water in the desert!
    Rightfully coined, Desert’sEdge RV Park is located just east of I-17 on the north side of Phoenix and only minutes away from shopping, dining, sports arenas, entertainment pavilions, convention halls, and Downtown Phoenix. Transportation to and around downtown is also very convenient. Car services and taxicabs operate throughout the city as well as METRO Light Rail service. For more information on transportation in and around Phoenix please visit http://www.valleymetro.org/about_lightrail/.
    Phoenix is a melting pot for different types of food and dining. There are many international eateries like Avanti Restaurant and Caterers of Distinction as well as places to enjoy American cuisine like AZ88. There are also lots of locally unique wineries and wine bars like Cheuvront’s. And of course, there are plenty of places to grab a great steak or southwestern and Mexican food like Bandera and Barrio Café.
    There are also many fun events in America’s sixth largest city. You can enjoy live music in the Desert Botanical Garden which is home to over 50,000 desert plants along five themed trails. You can also stop by Artlink’s First Fridays, the nation’s largest self guided art walk with over 70 galleries. Whether you’re rooting for the Diamondbacks at Chase Field or the Rattlers at US Airways Center, if you’re a sports fan, Phoenix has room for you too!
    One thing is for sure, whether you’re sampling local cuisine, cheering your heart out at a sporting event, enjoying the many cultural activities, or experiencing any of the other wonderful things Phoenix has to offer, you are sure to have a blast on this RVing adventure.
    For more information on visiting Phoenix please visit http://www.visitphoenix.com/about-phoenix/index.aspx.  
    Photo by: KINKISHARYO
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/kinkisharyo/

  • Head of State says Head Outside!

    Photo by msuppa

    It’s time to saddle up the RV and get outdoors. President Obama has proclaimed June to be Great Outdoors Month. According to the proclamation the Great Outdoors Month initiative is meant to, “celebrate our long legacy of environmental stewardship and resolve to preserve clean and healthy outdoor spaces for generations to come.”
     As part of the Great Outdoors Month initiative there are many different events such as National Fishing and Boating Week (June 2nd-10th), National Marina Day (June 9th), Great American Backyard Campout (June 23rd), and of course National GO Day (June 9th).
    Great Outdoors Month isn’t the first push from the White House for us all to enjoy the outdoors. First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside! initiative also encourages families to participate in healthy outdoor activities and engage their children in outdoor recreation.
    With all the great things going on this month there’s no reason to be cooped up in the house. Gas up the RV and go, because the president said so!
    For more information on outdoor activities to enjoy during Great Outdoors Month please visit http://www.recreation.gov/recgovHome.do?topTabIndex=Home 
    Photo by MyFWCMedia
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/

  • Get Up and Out!

    National Get Outdoors Day, a fairly new annual event to encourage outdoor fun and activity, is fast approaching. On June 9, several federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the recreation industry are teaming up for the fifth time to host the National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day)!
    There are over 100 National Get Outdoors Day locations that will have a wide array of events that encourage a healthy outdoor lifestyle. In addition, participants will have free admission to a list of national and state parks. If you’ve been wishing for a day to just enjoy nature and the great outdoors, grab a few friends and get up and out!
    To find more information on National GO Day and how you can be part of the festivities, please visit

  • Joel Grimm Announced As Gas Motorhomes National Sales Manager

    Elkhart, Indiana May 29th, 2012 – Leading motorhome manufacturer Thor Motor Coach, Inc. has announced the promotion Joel Grimm to the position of National Sales Manager for the Gas Powered Class A and C motorhome divisions.

    Joel holds degrees in management and marketing from Florida State University, which helped him break into the RV market in 2004. Joel has served as a retail sales person and general manager at a large RV dealership in Florida, while spending the last 5 years as a regional sales manager at Thor Motor Coach.

    “Working in retail right out of college has enabled me to understand the dealer and retail customer’s needs in the marketplace. I have made some really close relationships with dealers and customers over the years which make this industry so rewarding. I look forward to creating many additional relationships as I challenge our group to continued excellence and improvement.” explained Grimm.

    “Joel’s experience in retail and wholesale, as well as his commitment to his dealers made him an exceptional choice to lead the gas sales team”, stated Dana Simon, V.P. of Sales and Marketing for Thor Motor Coach.

    Joel and his family will relocate to northern Indiana this summer and he can be contacted at 800-860-5658.

    Joel Grimm’s product offerings Includes: Class A Gas Motorhomes; A.C.E., Daybreak, Challenger, Hurricane, Windsport, and Outlaw Toy Haulers, Class B+ Gas Motorhomes; Siesta and Citation, Mercedes Benz Sprinter Based Diesel Motorhomes; Siesta Sprinter and Citation Sprinter, Class C Gas and Diesel Motorhomes; Four Winds and Chateau. More information about Joel’s product lines can be found at http://ThorMotorCoach.com/product-lines.php.

    For more information on Thor Motor Coach motorhomes, call (800) 860-5658, visit http://ThorMotorCoach.com, or write to: Thor Motor Coach, Inc., PO Box 1486, Elkhart, Indiana 46515.

    About Thor Motor Coach

    Thor Motor Coach, Inc is an operating unit of Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE:THO), producing various motorized recreation vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Thor Motor Coach RV brands include Class A Diesel Motorhomes; Palazzo and Tuscany TAG & XTE, Class A Gas Motorhomes; A.C.E., Daybreak, Challenger, Hurricane, Windsport, and Outlaw Toy Haulers, Class B+ Gas Motorhomes; Siesta and Citation, Mercedes Benz Sprinter Based Diesel Motorhomes; Siesta Sprinter and Citation Sprinter, Class C Gas and Diesel Motorhomes; Four Winds and Chateau.

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  • Live it Up on the Lake!

    Photo by VJ_fliks. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vj_flicks/

    Picturesque in its splendid clarity and purity, Lake Tahoe spans 22 miles long and 12 miles across both Nevada and California. Its northern shore boasts diverse beaches and infinite wilderness for hiking, biking, and camping. For anyone looking to pack up and go RVing, it’s time to hit the road because Lake Tahoe’s northern shore is a sure fire bull’s-eye.

    Lake Tahoe’s northern shore has many different kinds of beaches. Secluded waterfront getaways at the end of a hike through the wild, vast sandy wonderlands that host weekly events and concerts to remember, the perfect place for a waterside picnic, and rocky shorelines to explore all line the pristine shores. Also a perfect destination for hikers and bikers, the northern shore offers infinite paths and trails to discover. The northern shore offers paths for beginners and experts and even sports nationally ranked mountain bike trails. For true enthusiasts, June, which is Lake Tahoe Bike Week on the shore, is a great time to plan a visit.

    Everyone can feel like a pro on the northern shore’s 10 golf courses. Home to six championship courses and four executive courses as well as a host of PGA Pro’s, Lake Tahoe can provide the course or coaching you’re looking for.

    If golf isn’t your cup of tea, there are many other activities to enjoy at Lake Tahoe. Fishing, horseback riding, art classes, ropes courses, climbing walls, and even a swing on the trapeze are just a few of the activities offered on the northern shore. There are also live outdoor concerts and movies to enjoy at various times and locations. The shore forgets no one. Even the family dog can enjoy activities at the shore. Dog parks, doggie day care, and even dog friendly restaurants, all ensure that your pooch enjoys the trip to the shore as much as you do. Dog owners may also want to consider planning a trip during late August this year. The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is having their 3rd annual Peaks and Paws festival the weekend of August 25. The festival will feature live music, local art and lots of fun for you and Fido.

    The moral of the story is this: pack up the RV, head to Lake Tahoe, and make some memories at the northern shore this summer!

    For more information on Lake Tahoe’s northern shore please visit, http://www.visitinglaketahoe.com/.

    Photo by  Fovea Centralis. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivaprakash/

  • Park and Play in the Bay!

    Local RV Park:

    Only ten miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Park is the closest RV Park to San Francisco. The park is just ten minutes away from the Larkspur Ferry and Golden Gate Transit Bus stop. Also in close proximity to the park is MUNI (San Francisco bus and cable cars) that can take you almost anywhere in the city! During the summer months, the rates for Marin Park are $50.00 + 10% tax for 2 people, plus $2.00 for extra persons (over the age of 5). The park also offers travel discounts such as AAA. If you enjoy RVing, this is the place to stay to enjoy San Francisco. While there are many great things to do in the area, Fisherman’s Wharf is a definite must-see!

    What to Do:

    Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco is a great place to enjoy many different activities. Ripley’s Believe It or Not, the San Francisco Maritime Museum, the Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf, and remarkable views of Alcatraz Island are just a few of the attractions. In addition, Fisherman’s Wharf sports the Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco’s only aquarium dedicated to the marine animals that live in San Francisco Bay and nearby waters. Pier 39 at the wharf is also home to some of California’s most lovable sea creatures. A group of sea lions, who have been endearingly coined “Sea Lebrities”, have been a hot tourist attraction at Pier 39 since 1989. Another marvel of the sea, The USS Pampanito also calls Fisherman’s Wharf home. The USS Pampanito sank six Japanese ships in the Pacific during World War II and damaged four others. Although the Pampanito is retired from battle, she is still open daily for visitors as a museum and memorial.

    For the Adventurous Traveler:

    For the more adventurous traveler the wharf also sports bike paths and tours, as well as guided electric bike tours across the golden gate bridge. Visitors can also take in awesome views of Aquatic Park, Cupids Arrow, McCovey Cove and the Bay Bridge from kayaks provided by City Kayaks. Advanced kayakers can even paddle around Alcatraz Island. The wharf also offers many sport fishing tour and charter boats that offer everything you need to catch a monster fish, including bait, equipment rental, and fishing licenses.

    Time to Eat!

    The fun of Fisherman’s Wharf isn’t just in the adventure. The wharf also holds some gems that everyone should visit for food and wine. From cafes and bistros to bars and grills, Italian to Vietnamese, and bakeries to seafood, the wharf has just what you’re looking for in a full dining experience. A few of the big names on the wharf include Alioto’s Restaurant, which has been owned and operated by the Alioto family since 1925, Beach Street Grill, home to the famous original Phyllis’s giant burgers of Marin, and Castagnola’s. The wharf is also a great place for wine lovers. Cellar 360 and Wattle Creek Winery, among others, are great places to browse, sample, and purchase wine.

    After an appetizing meal and a hearty adventure there is nothing more satisfying than sinking your teeth into something sweet. Fisherman’s Wharf has dessert for you too! Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Shop, Cold Stone Creamery, Ben and Jerry’s, Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop and Caffe, Mrs. Field’s Cookies, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and Maui Wowi Hawaiian Smoothies are just a few of the big names on the wharf for sweet indulgences.

    For anyone visiting the San Francisco area, Fisherman’s Wharf is a premier destination. For more information on any of the establishments mentioned in please visit http://www.fishermanswharf.org/

    It’s time to pack up the RV and enjoy your stay at Fisherman’s Wharf!

  • EverGreen Ever-Lite Rated a “Best Buy” In Consumers Digest’s June 2012 RV Industry Review

    Middlebury, Ind. – EverGreen Recreational Vehicles, LLC. announced that their Ever-Lite travel trailers were rated a “Best Buy” by Consumers Digest. The recommendation appears in the publication’s June 2012 issue and online at www.consumersdigest.com. The publication is highly respected as a valuable resource for information on buying a variety of products. 2012 marks 50 years of helping consumers “identify exceptional values in a complex and confusing marketplace.”

    “It is an incredible honor for us to be recognized as a ‘Best Buy’ by a publication as widely read and respected as Consumers Digest,” said EverGreen CEO Michael Schoeffler. “This recognition by a major consumer publication further validates our mission of making the most lightweight, durable, and green travel trailers and fifth wheels on the market.”

    According to Consumers Digest, a Best Buy is a product that delivers exceptional value for a given amount of money and merits special attention from consumers based, in general, on its combination of eight criteria: performance, ease of use, features, quality of construction, warranty, efficiency, styling, and maintenance and service requirements. Best Buys in travel trailers, specifically, were selected based on quality of construction, features, use of space, durability and ease of towing.

    EverGreen’s unique use of durable, longer lasting, lightweight composite combined with vacuum lamination processes are featured prominently in the four-page review of the “Best Buys” for 2012 RVs in the June issue. Referring to the positive aspects of the RV industry coming out of tough economic times, Consumers Digest cited EverGreen’s innovative use of composite materials as key: “One of the newest manufacturers (EverGreen) introduced lightweight fifth wheels and travel trailers that have shells and other components that are made out of composite materials.” Consumers Digest also did its research on EverGreen’s Ever-Lite products through interviews with experts and dealers in the field. “Independent composite material experts and RV service center experts whom we interviewed say EverGreen’s claims hold, er…repel water,” states Consumers Digest.

    Dealers agreed with the service experts on the value of purchasing an RV built with composites. “Unchecked water damage can destroy a new trailer in a matter of months,” said Jim Jussila of I-5 Uhlmann RV in Chehalis, Wash., who sells EverGreen and was also interviewed for the Consumers Digest article. “An all-composite trailer has the potential to outlast a conventional trailer by decades.”

    For more information: www.GoEverGreenRV.com, www.GoElementRV.com, www.GoiGoRV.com, GoAscendRV.comEverGreen Recreational Vehicles, LLC 10758 County Road 2, Middlebury, IN 46540 Phone: 574-825-4298 Fax: 574-825-4299

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  • May Dealer Spotlight – PPL Motorhomes!

    HAPPY 40th ANNIVERSARY, PPL MOTORHOMES!

    HOUSTON, Tex.— PPL Motor Homes is currently celebrating their 40 year anniversary, according to a recent press release!  Just this year, PPL Motorhomes has helped customers and sold RVs in 36 states, as well as fulfilled orders in Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Italy, and Belize.

    PPL Motorhomes General Manager, Diana LeBlanc states, “I’ve watched PPL Motorhomes grow from an office with only 2 employees and a typewriter to the largest RV consignment center in the USA!  With over 30 years experience, I continue to eagerly share my passion of the RV lifestyle by providing a selection of over 450 consigned RVs at our Houston location.”

    LeBlanc credits PPL Motorhome’s success to her dedicated and knowledgeable staff members who understand the needs of RV owners. “Our staff works hard to provide the correct services and products instead of simply taking orders,” states LeBlanc. “We truly focus on a cohesive team environment which helps best serve our customers and provides the greatest experience we can offer.”

    PPL Motor Homes over 85 employees at two locations, many with over 25 years of RV experience. In addition, PPL Motorhomes has developed a blog, RVNana.com and has recently opened a new RV Consignment center in New Braunfels, Texas, with over 100 RVs on consignment currently.  This new center makes it even more convenient for South Central Texas customers to stop by.

    “We want to thank our customers for our success because without them we wouldn’t be here today,” said LeBlanc. We are so grateful to work with amazing customers, and we can’t wait to see what the next 40 years holds for PPL Motohomes.”

    Congratulations to 40 years!  To visit their selection of RVs for sale, click here!

  • National Park Week!

    It’s that time of the year again – when the sun is shining, the weather is warming up, and it’s time to start exploring the great outdoors.

    Looking for something fun to do?  Get up & Go to your local national park!  From April 21-29, all national parks are offering FREE admission!

    Whether you enjoy hiking, swimming, RVing, camping or numerous other outdoor activities, National Park Week is the perfect time to grab your friends and try something new!

    Did you know there are nearly 400 national parks in the United States? Click here to find a park near you.

    Grab your friends, family, and don’t forget your RV, and have some fun during national park week!