Issue 103 Campground

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2010- Campgrounds are increasingly becoming more connected to internet and cell phone service, according to Broadband Breakfast, making some visitors feel like they cannot escape their work and responsibilities.

Companies that provide Wi-Fi connections to campgrounds are seeing gains in business from these outdoor recreation sites. Campers can now watch videos, stay connected to their favorite social networking sites, and reply to their email from the comfort of their

tents at many campgrounds.

According to the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, not all campground patrons are happy about the change.

Jessee Howry says that being disconnected allows Continued Page 2

Continued from Page 1 her to bond with her family, and “You can watch your children turn into different people when they’re not connected to that phone.” Even so, Howry says she still uses the Wi-Fi connection offered at campgrounds to check in with those watching her house and other family members.

According to Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds, many campgrounds risk losing business to competitors if they do not provide Wi-Fi connections.

She also said businesses expect their employees to be available at all times, and many business owners feel very uncomfortable not being able to check up on their operations.

Some will not even entertain the thought of camping at a site without an internet connection or cell phone service. In addition to competing with other campgrounds, places that have Wi-Fi are likely to attract campers who stay longer because they do not feel so disconnected.

Jim Ganley, managing partner of Portland, Me.based CheckBox Systems LLC, says that campgrounds without WiFi, or “primitive” camping, is becoming a smaller part of the market. He also said that 20 percent of his business in the last year was from remote campgrounds installing WiFi for the first time. The rest of his business came from updating campgrounds’ existing WiFi to include more gaming capabilities and internet phone calling service.

At the time of publishing Campground & RV Park E News the new online consumer magazine, GetawayUSA has been distributed to 15 million public opt in emails.

"This is only a quarter of our data base of 66 million and it is expected delivery of the full quantity will take until the end of the week" said Publisher Dennis Macready.

explore and expand their marketing reach by ensuring their website is actually working for them" he said.

The new GetawayUSA magazine can be read here: www.getaway-usa.com Media kit: http://issuu.com/industryen ews/docs/getawayusamedi akit1

The ground breaking venture utilizes the flip page technology and is sitting on the cusp of the ever increasing internet popularity.

"Campground owners are well advised, if they are not doing it already, to

Dennis Macready

CARBONDALE, Colorado — The town of Carbondale is under contract to purchase the Sopris RV Park property near the intersection of Highways 82 and 133, at the main entrance into town, for use as part of a planned “Gateway Park� development.

Before the scheduled Oct. 15 closing on the $2.52 million deal, however, the current owners are required to ask the existing tenants, some of whom have been living at the RV park for an extended period of time, to vacate the property.

The property has operated as an RV park for many years under a Garfield County land-use agreement that prohibits year-round occupancy, but allows for extended seasonal stays, according to Carbondale Town Attorney Mark Hamilton.

For the town's part, it still needs to firm up the funding to complete the intergovernmental deal, and ensure that the money will be available at closing, Hamilton said.

The town has been negotiating with the Koziel family, which owns the RV park, for some time to purchase the site to go along with other recently

acquired properties along the river. One is at the southeast corner of the highway intersection, and another, which includes a trail access to the Roaring Fork River, is across the river behind the Day's Inn and Comfort Inn & Suites hotels.

Town leaders have long envisioned the creation of the Gateway Park, including river trails, a whitewater park, better access to the nearby Red Hill Recreation Area and other park amenities.

Several entities have come forward with funding for the project in recent years, including a $1 million Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant that was set to expire at the end of this year.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has also committed $950,000 toward the project, in an effort to preserve an existing boat launch that's located on the RV park property and is heavily used by anglers and rafters. An additional $100,000 came from Garfield County, and the town is to cover the remainder of the purchase cost, Hamilton said.

Full Article: www.postindependent.com

With the development of China's tourism sector, recreational vehicle (RV) travel has become a widelyused method in China, according to China National Radio.

In some big cities such as Beijing, rapid development of the tourism industry has fueled RV campground construction.

RV travel is the cheapest way to travel compared with other methods such as by yacht, individual vehicle travel or business class flights. Research shows that a family of four can save 74 percent in travel expenses by traveling in a RV. To sum up, RV travel is the smartest choice even after the price of a RV, relevant taxes and rising oil prices are factored in.

However, RV campground construction lags behind the rapid development of RV travel.

At present, many people cannot find a place to park

their RVs. Under this condition, RV campground construction is an urgent task for some regions where the tourism industry is developing rapidly.

The Huairou International Auto Campground is Beijing's only auto campground. The facility, which meets the five-star RV campground standard drafted by the Federation Internationale de Camping et de Caravanning, provides services including camping, RV-rental, leisure, food and accommodation.

RVs provided by this facility feature advanced sewagedisposal technology.

It is said that nine additional auto campgrounds will be built in Beijing in the future.

China's RV travel sector still has a long way to go compared with the United States, which has nearly 16,000 public or private auto campgrounds with fitness centers, golf courses and tennis courts.

CRESCENT CITY, Calif., July 7, 2010 – When John Croce led an investor group to purchase Ramblin Rose RV Resort four years ago, it was one of most poorly maintained parks he had ever seen.

“I couldn’t even find the campsites because it was so overgrown,” Croce said, adding that the park, which was in foreclosure, had so many code violations that the state Department of Housing and Community Development had not only terminated its operating license, but initially refused to allow local utilities to turn on the power after Croce acquired the property.

“We had to use generators to test the power lines and make the necessary repairs before we could even have the power turned on,” Croce said.

But Croce persevered, brought in construction crews, renamed the park The Redwoods RV Resort and succeeded in securing a new operating license. He and his fellow investors have since spent more

than $1.2 million in improvements, effectively transforming the park into a thriving resort that caters to tourists and seasonal campers alike. Croce added that guests at his park patronize local businesses, providing a significant economic multiplier effect for the community as well as thousands of dollars in tax revenue.

“We’ve begun a new chapter in the history of

this park,” Croce said of the 123-site park, which includes 19 mobile home sites and five park model cabin rentals.

And the improvements are continuing. “Right now, we have a commercial modular building that will eventually become our formal store and office. We also plan to add a dump station and a propane station as part of the store operation,” Croce said, adding that future improvements include Continued

Continued

Debbie Sipe more campsite sewer connections and upgrading electrical connections to 50 amps in certain sections of the park.

“We’re real pleased with the success John Croce has had in transforming his park into an attractive and well maintained vacation destination,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds.

Sipe added that the private campground industry is attracting growing numbers of investors who are purchasing parks and transforming them into attractive weekend retreats or vacation destinations California residents as well as visitors from outside the state. “Entrepreneurs and investors are increasingly realizing that the campground business is a viable and growing niche within the travel and tourism industry,” Sipe said, adding that the campground industry has been the most resilient segment of the tourism business during the recession.

Sipe also said that the association and its members are working to create a sense of mutual respect and teamwork with state HCD officials, particularly as investor groups purchase aging or neglected parks with plans to transform them into viable businesses.

Redwoods RV Resort offers three types of cabin accommodation. Deluxe, Premium and Luxury. All cabins include linens and a fully furnished kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, cable TV (in every room) and Wi-Fi.

MILFORD, Ohio, July 7, 2010 – It takes two to five years for cigarette butts to decompose in the natural environment, while disposable diapers require 10 to 20 years.

Aluminum cans? 200 to 400 years.

A plastic six pack holder?

450 years.

These statistics may sound trivial, but when children hear this information, they tend to act more responsibly and take better care of the environment.

Children across the country will have a chance to hear how they

can be better stewards of the environment while camping at Jellystone Park Camp Resorts.

The Milford, Ohio-based family campground chain is the first campground organization in the country to join Leave No Trace, a Boulder, Colo.-based nonprofit organization that develops educational programs designed to help children and adults take better care of the environment.

“Our franchisees attended training sessions with Leave No Trace earlier this year, and many of them are now incorporating LNT’s

nature based educational programs into their weekend activity schedules,” said Kelly Jones, director of franchise development for Milford, Ohio-based Leisure Systems Inc., which franchises Jellystone Parks.

The Lake Monroe Jellystone Park in Bloomington, Ind., was one of the first to implement the program.

“It’s been very popular,” said Cheryl Smith, the park’s general manager, adding that she has scheduled nature activity weekends periodically throughout the summer and fall.

Young children typically participate in ageappropriate discussions about the importance of recycling and taking care of the environment. “That’s when they learn how long it takes for different things to decompose in the natural environment,” Smith said, while classes in environmental ethics are offered to teenagers.

“In the environmental ethics class, teens learn about the erosion that takes place when they take shortcuts on hiking trails or the lasting damage that occurs when they carve their names in trees or leave trash behind,” Smith said, adding, “The whole point of this effort is to raise awareness about things we can do to

lessen our negative impact on our natural surroundings.”

Other activities include crafts classes in which children make various crafts out of recycled materials, garden activities, in which children plant various trees and shrubs in the campground, and short educational videos, which parks can show before their regular nighttime movies.

Dana Gabriel, who co-owns the Jellystone Park in Swansea, S.C., said her park has already had Earth Day activities and plans to offer additional nature activities based on the Leave No Trace curriculum this fall. “We do as much education as we can with the kids,” she said. “We tell them, ‘If you pack it in, pack it out.’ And we see that this helps produce tidier campers. They start to feel a synergy with the park and we’ll even start to see kids out there picking up after each other.”

By Art Lieberman A study done by SpiderLabs, a part of the consulting company Trustwave, found that 38% of the credit card hacking cases last year involved the hotel industry, according to an article in the July 6th issue of the New York Times. The reported theft of data in hotels was far ahead of the banking industry (19%), retailing (14.2%) and restaurants and bars (13%) according to the study.

It would seem that hotels are being targeted because this is where the richest “vein” of personal credit card data is located and also because data security is at a minimum in these facilities.

Our company, in its webinars, has been warning campground owners about securing credit card receipts and

making sure that transactions carried out on computers are secure. In previous years, college campuses, federal offices, insurance companies, hospitals and other places where people gather have been targeted by hackers.

The new survey has proven that hackers have now been concentrating on the hotel industry.

Anthony C. Roman, a private security investigator with extensive experience in the hotel industry stated that hotels have “the greatest amount of credit card information” which could be “obtained using the most simplified methods. It doesn’t require brilliance on the part of a hacker.” Mr. Roman continued, “Most of the security breaches in the hotel industry are the result of a failure to equip, or properly store or transmit, this kind of data, and that

starts with the point-of-sale credit card swiping equipment.”

Last month Destination Hotels, a chain of luxury properties notified customers that credit cards “may have been compromised”. ABC News reported that Destination was the victim of an “intense database attack that lasted over three months”.

Also last month, Wyndham Hotels sent customers a statement saying that a “sophisticated hacker had penetrated our computer system” and that as many as 31 of their hotels might have been effected.

According to the Credit Clearinghouse we cite in our webinars, Wyndham has been breached before.

The difficulty for Campgrounds is that in

many respects, such as the check-in and services that they offer they closely resemble hotels.

We have jokingly stated that hotels and RV campgrounds are almost the same – except that in campgrounds visitors bring their room with them.

As far as data breaches, however, this might not be a joke!

Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored

by Woodforest Bank NA. Art has been in the Credit Card industry for nearly 13 years. Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions

Listen up! The old-school rules of Marketing are long gone. Today we are living in what is being called The Information Age. With the prevalence of the Internet and all its social networking mediums, consumers all over the world are requiring more information than ever before to validate and decide who they are going to do business with next.

and internet statistics library, there are currently 1.8 Billion Users on the Internet today. That is 1.8 Billion Users who could very well be customers for your business!

The fact of the matter is that if you are a serious entrepreneur determined to succeed in the Information Age, Internet Marketing is essential to your Business.

According to Internet World Stats, an internet coaching

You're going to have to leverage things such as, Internet Search Engines, Internet Marketing Blogs, Internet Marketing Articles, Press Releases, Videos, Search Engine Optimization, etc.

There is only one problem.

How do you reach 1.8 Billion people and get your Business in front of them?

What do you have to do?

Keyword Optimization Let's say you're a customer who is looking for a sword as a collectible. If you are looking for a samurai sword, which is called a katana, an obvious word that you type into a search engine box to look for that sword, would of course be 'katana'. When the search engine generates results for you, you will notice various websites that sell that sword.

Now instead, picture yourself as a retailer who is promoting your samurai swords in your website.

Now in order for your customers to look for you, you have to optimize your website title to have the word 'katana' in it.

However, since there are too many websites that have that keyword on their sites, you have to find other keywords that other people use to search for the katana in your website title as well.

You can use this free tool called Good Keywords to

find out what other keyword or keyword phrases they use that have the word 'katana'in it. www.goodkeywords.com Site Submission You can submit your website to various website directories. When you type 'Submit website' into a Google search engine box for example, it will list down millions of websites that provide free website submission to established search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and MSN and also other respective search engine websites. It will take you about one to three months to get listed into these search engine directories.

Link Building Exchanging links with other recognized websites that have been online for a very long time can help your website gain recognition from search engines.

However, emailing every single webmaster of your niche to create a link to Continued

Continued your website is a very daunting task. There are some softwares out there such as SEO Elite that automatically sends out your email to thousands of other webmasters. When some webmasters of highend sites agree to link to your site, not only can search engines look for you easily, but the visitors of that site can click on your link and head down to your website.

Be a Friend.

Speak to the visitor directly in your targeted sales web page, not to your whole audience. Nobody wants to be sold to by a total stranger so be friendly in your website marketing sales text. If a friend recommends something to you, you are more likely to buy it - and the same holds true for your visitors. If your audience feels you are a friend with their wellbeing in mind, they will be more likely to buy from you.

Give Bonuses.

Bonuses that complement and enhance your product make your visitors feel you are giving them a good deal, one they would be foolish to miss out on.

Make sure when promoting your bonuses that you list their prices so that your visitors are even more compelled to take advantage of your great value-added bargain.

Be Visual.

Another website marketing 101 tip is to use visual media. Show the issues your visitors may have and

solutions that your product offers. Most people will not actually read your copy from top to bottom, but instead pay attention to the graphics on your website especially moving images.

Add an image of a person's face and attention goes up even higher.

Testimonials and Comments.

Publish both good and bad comments together - by doing so your reviews or testimonials will appear more real. It boosts visitor confidence when they see reviews, making it more likely that they will buy from you. Why? Because human beings naturally like to follow. If your product has been bought and used by others and you can show that what you are selling is not a scam or over-priced, your visitors are more likely to jump on the bandwagon and buy too.

State the Action Required.

You spent a lot of time writing content and laying out your web page but don't forget the most important element - ask for the sale! Many web sites lead their visitors and captivate them with the benefits of their products, display stories of issues that were overcome with them, even throwing in substantial bonuses, but forget to ask for the sale!

Supply clear directions for the buyer of your product so they know what do do next - instruct them to, "Press the button to BUY NOW!")

The economy suffered around the world in 2009, but the online advertising market showed its resistance to the recession.

eMarketer forecasts that 2010 will bring a return to double-digit online ad growth, with global spending set to reach $61.8 billion. Growth will continue at rates of over 10% each year through 2014.

“By 2014 eMarketer forecasts that figure will leap to $96.8 billion, growing at an 11.9% compound annual rate, despite the slow, uneven and fragile global economic recovery,” said eMarketer’s Jared Jenks, author of the new report “Worldwide Ad Spending.”

“These rates will be unmatched by other media.”

North America and Western Europe

accounted for nearly threequarters of the world’s online ad spending in 2009, but those mature online ad markets will post slower growth rates than developing areas in AsiaPacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

In terms of dollars, however, the more developed regions will still increase by many billions because of their large established bases and still largely untapped potential of the internet.

Continued high growth in the online space coupled with a 2009 spending decrease of 10.5% for total media, followed by a slower recovery, will help online get an ever-larger slice of the ad spending pie.

“The reasons for this growth in share are clear,” said Jenks. “Online is more measureable, more effective and where people are increasingly spending their time.”

BILLINGS, MT (July 7, 2010) – A record number of campers were hosted by Kampgrounds of America parks during the Fourth of July weekend.

The 475 campgrounds in the KOA system welcomed more than 20,500 camping families on Friday, July 2, making it the largest single registration day in the 48year-old camping company’s history.

“Kampgrounds of America has been serving campers at our top-ranked campgrounds throughout North America since 1962,” said KOA’s CEO Jim Rogers. “After nearly five decades, we’re more popular than we’ve ever been.”

Last weekend’s registration record was 8 percent higher than that for Fourth of July weekend in 2009.

Typically, the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend holidays are the highest check-in weekends of the year. With a record July Fourth Weekend in the

books, the outlook for the rest of the summer looks bright.

KOA’s advanced reservations for the 2010 summer season are already 11 percent ahead of the same time last year.

“We had a record summer in 2009, so it’s easy to see why we are very optimistic about not just this summer, but the camping and outdoor recreation sectors in general,” Rogers said.

“More and more families are discovering that camping is a fun, affordable outdoor vacation option that they can enjoy close to home.

KOA’s CEO Jim Rogers With the largest campground network in North America, there is sure to be a KOA close to where our campers want to be.”

The July Fourth Weekend results were high despite depressed camper numbers along the Gulf Coast, due to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the recent Hurricane Alex.

Rogers said campers shouldn’t take camping’s

popularity to mean that campgrounds are crowded.

“With more than 70,000 sites for recreational vehicles and tents, as well as all of the wonderful Kabin and new full-service Lodge accommodations we have available, we still have plenty of room, but advanced reservations are always recommended,” he said.

ARVC Members ~ Host an Event at Your Park to Celebrate the RV Centennial & Submit Video From the Event to Win an Evergreen USA Sponsored $5000 Cash Prize!

It's hard to believe that it's been 100 years since the first RVs took to the roads to explore this glorious country of ours! To celebrate the past 100 years of RVing and to salute the promising future of this quintessential American epic past-time, we invite ARVC member parks to participate in the RV Centennial Video Contest, ‘Celebrating the RV Centennial’!

ARVC has teamed up with Official ARVC Insurance Provider, Evergreen USA to sponsor this contest. Insuring RV Parks and campgrounds since 1989, Evergreen USA, is offering a $5000 cash prize suggested to be used towards ‘Greening’ your park.

So get in on the action!

Host a cook-out, a vintage rally, a RV birthday party or some sort of celebration for the RV Centennial at your park, capture a 1-minute video of the day’s fun and enter it for a chance to win Evergreen’s $5000 cash prize!

The contest kicks off during the RV Centennial Celebration Month on June 7th and video entrants will be accepted until the end of August 2010.

Fans will be able to vote on the videos from August 31 September 30, 2010 and a winner will be chosen during the month of October.

The winner will be announced at InSites 2010 in Las Vegas. For more info & to submit your video: http://arvc.org/video/ ~ MUST BE AN ARVC MEMBER PARK~

PINE GROVE - The owner of a Lebanon County Pennsylvania resort and campground hopes to spark a feeling of nostalgia while raising money for a local charity.

When Twin Grove Resort and Campground owner Philip Moreau, Carmel, Calif., bought the resort on Route 443 just outside Pine Grove in July 2008, there was a bonus that went along with it - seven airplanes used in a 1930sera amusement park ride.

"We found them in a Lebanon warehouse covered over with inches of dust," Moreau said.

He said he knew immediately he needed to get the planes out into the public eye.

"In its heyday, Twin Grove was a place for working people and their families to enjoy themselves on Saturday and Sunday afternoons," Moreau said.

"There was a pool, penny arcade and, of course, rides."

Moreau said the former resort owner found the planes covered with a tarp and wasting away on a hillside on the property.

The former owner planned to restore the plane ride to working condition - a perfect addition to the 1950s Allan Herschell carousel and Garbrick Ferris wheel campers

were already enjoying.

"He built a 10-foot square solid concrete slab and a 75-foot tower to hold the ride and began restoring the planes," Moreau said.

"The National Amusement Park Historical Association was thrilled, but the state regulators were not. They really came down on him on a number of safety issues, one thing after another. It became cost prohibitive to get the ride going, so he gave it up."

When Moreau found the planes in the warehouse, he thought they were "cooler than can be," and decided to restore the planes to be used as show pieces around the campgrounds, a symbol of Twin Grove's past.

A.J. McIlvaine, 18, of Fairfax, Va., is working as a summer intern at Twin Grove and has become a plane ride restoration specialist of sorts. He has researched the amusement park ride and, by using spare parts and his imagination, is bringing each plane back to its former glory.

"I originally thought I could make three really goodlooking planes, but after really looking at the inventory, I realized I could make seven," McIlvaine said.

He got to work on the project a few weeks ago,

Philip Moreau, Carmel, Calif., owner of Twin Grove Resort and Campground, looks over the planes from the antique ride. facing some challenges along the way.

"Some of the seat cushions were actually from completely different rides, so I had to take them apart and reframe them," he said. "I also had to create three 'engines' to support the propellers which I made from paint cans and copper pipe."

McIlvaine's Eagle Scout background came into play numerous times as he thought up different ways to make the supplies he had fit the project.

Moreau said the work should be complete in a month and an auction of one of the planes will be held Labor Day weekend.

"We are looking for an area charity to donate all the proceeds of the auction to," Moreau said. "The community has always been supportive of us and we would like to help by making this donation."

Moreau said he is hoping the remaining planes will enhance the 100-acre grounds, which include tent and RV sites as well as four yurts and several cabins and cottages, as well as a restaurant, ice cream parlor, band stand, pool, arcade and movie theater.

The site also strikes up some memories in area residents.

"When I was a little girl growing up in Lebanon, Twin Grove was my Hersheypark," said Diane Thornton, Pine Grove, resort activities director.

"This was always a destination park, very family-oriented and it has remained that way.

"The airplanes remind me of the old Twin Grove, which is very special to me.

My parents met here. We came here every weekend.

Continued next page

Continued I rode in those very planes.

They were a part of my childhood."

Thornton said she is not alone in her memories.

"I listen to all the locals talk about the old days when they visit," she said.

"Everyone is going to love seeing those planes."

Article and photos: http://republicanherald.com

A.J. McIlvaine, summer intern at Twin Grove Resort and Campground, Pine Grove, talks about the restoration work he is doing to 1930s-era amusement park plane rides. Nick meyer/staff photos Republican Herald

The main reason? They just lost interest There’s no question of Facebook’s position at the top of the social networking space, and one thing that makes the site so powerful is that when it comes to social networking, a user’s friends must be users too.

But among some teens, Facebook may be losing its stickiness.

According to a study from OTX and virtual fashion site Roiworld, nearly one in five teens with a Facebook profile had decreased or discontinued their use of the site as of April 2010.

What’s more, the decreases seemed to speed up in recent months, with twothirds of the lapsed users having turned away from the site in the past six months.

In addition, 9% of teen internet users said they had a Facebook profile but had completely abandoned it.

This turnover does not approach the level of MySpace, where 22% of teens had completely stopped using a profile.

YouTube and Twitter both sported relatively high 15% abandonment rates.

In Facebook’s case, decreased usage does not appear to be related to the privacy issues raised in spring 2010, or even to the influx of older users on the site. Instead, the plurality of lapsed users simply find the site boring.

Keeping fickle teens’ interest will be important both for Facebook and the marketers who want to connect with them there.

Social games, which most consider a cheap way to relax, have fun and kill some time while playing with friends, are one solution.

According to the report, 73% of teen internet users play some kind of social games, and 81% of teen Facebook users play games on Facebook. And the time spent doing so can add up: Facebook gamers reported spending 7 hours a week on the activity.

Source: www.emarketer.com

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. is pleased to announce that six of its campgrounds have been awarded in four different categories of ReserveAmerica's 2010 Top Campgrounds.

ReserveAmerica, one of the largest providers of campground reservation services, provided the guide to help campers and families plan trips across the country.

The categories in which the ELS campgrounds were named include, Hiking, Horse-Friendly, Scenic Views, and Tours & Events.

ReserveAmerica evaluated over 3,000 parks, to determine the top campgrounds and locations, which were based in part on testimonials from park rangers, regional park management and campers, as well as specific familyfriendly criteria including kid-friendly parks, scenic views, hiking trails, children's activities and more.

Equity LifeStyle Properties' campgrounds that were named to the 2010 Top Camping Spots include: Top 50 Hiking Trails Snowflower, located in Emigrant Gap, California, is situated in the High Sierra Mountains of Northern California. Visitors are able to enjoy rental boats, fishing and swimming on the nearby

23-acre lake, as well as hiking and mountain biking.

Resort amenities include a beach, boat dock, canoes, cross-country skiing, swimming pool, and more.

Top 20 Horse-Friendly Parks -Pacific Dunes Ranch is located in California's Pismo Beach area, within the dunes of the Oceano Preserve, in Oceano, California. Resort amenities include horse rentals and facilities, a large BBQ area, off-road recreation, and a clubhouse, to name a few. Rancho Oso, located in Santa Barbara, California, is bordered by the Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Ynez River.

Rancho Oso's scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for horseback riding, hiking and fishing, and its dude ranch has cattle grazing in the fields, along with horses suited for all levels. To unwind after a day outdoors, visitors are able to enjoy the unique cobblestone lodge with its huge fireplace. Visitors can spend the day at the pool and spa or take a short drive to Santa Barbara.

Additional amenities include guided horseback

riding, nature trails, and miniature golf, among others.

Top 50 Scenic Views Narrows Too is located minutes away from the 120 miles of hiking at Maine's Acadia National Park and near historic Bar Harbor.

Visitors are able experience the resort's weekly entertainment, a heated pool, canoe and kayak rentals and an island explorer shuttle. A quick day trip to the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor provides a mountainside park, wildland hiking trails, and gardens overlooking the sea. Guests can spend the evenings relaxing on the 60foot porch facing the sea or at the community fire circles. -Pacific City is situated on 105 acres on the Oregon coastline in Cloverdale. The beach and Cape Kiwanda sand dunes are within walking distance, providing an idyllic destination for beachcombing, hiking, sightseeing, fishing, clamming, and crabbing.

Resort amenities include beach access, a family center, horse corrals, a horse trail to the beach, and more.

Top 25 Tours & Events Bulow Plantation is situated on the banks of Bulow Creek in Flagler Beach, Florida. The resort provides a destination for guests to boat, fish, hike and cycle. Bulow Plantation offers guests a 60-foot heated pool, grocery store, and activities center. The resort is a short drive on the Intracoastal Waterway to the beach and is in close proximity to the outdoor recreational activities of Flagler Beach, Daytona Beach and St. Augustine.

"We are honored to have been included in ReserveAmerica's 2010 Top Campgrounds," said Ellen Kelleher, Executive Vice President of Property Management.

For more information and to view the full list of the 2010 Top Camping Spots, visit: www.active.com/outdoors/ Articles/2010-OutdoorAwards-Americas-TopCampgrounds.htm.

When grilling season fires up, it's easy to stick to the same old tried-and-true chicken breasts, steaks, burgers and brats. But if you're craving some variety in your outdoor cooking this summer, let your grills go wild! All it takes to turn ordinary fare into something more memorable is an adventuresome spirit, a little grilling know-how and some easy-to-make recipes.

Use these hints to spice up your outdoor grilling and save money too.

1. Buy less expensive cuts of beef and pork, but tenderize them before grilling. This can be done by pounding the meat with a meat mallet, scoring it with a sharp knife or marinating it with a mixture containing lime or lemon juice, vinegar or wine. Always refrigerate meats while marinating them.

2. Grill less tender cuts of meat and then slice thinly for use in salads, wraps, fajitas or on grilled pizza.

3. Marinades and brines add tremendous flavor to ordinary meats and seafood.

Allow less tender cuts to soak long enough so the mixtures can fully tenderize the meat. Flavor combinations are limitless!

4. Apply wet or dry rubs on meat and seafood before grilling to deliver extra flavor, increase browning and create a crunchy texture while holding in the moisture.

5. For grilled meats with a smoky flavor, fill a foil pouch with small damp chunks of wood and perforate; when heated, the pouch will release smoke. Set the pouch toward the back of a covered grill, right on the charcoal or lava rocks.

Arrange food on the grate near the smoke, but not directly over it. Fruit woods such as apple, plum or cherry complement poultry.

Hickory is a good choice for most meats, especially pork.

6. While tender or thin cuts of meat can be grilled directly over high heat, larger or tougher cuts of meat need to be cooked more slowly over indirect heat using lower temperatures. Don’t rush it—be patient!

7. For added juiciness, allow 5 to 15 minutes of standing time after removing meat from the grill before serving.

8. Clean the grates well before grilling side dishes and sweets or your pineapple could taste like a T-bone.

9. To grill small or thin fruits and vegetables, use skewers, grill baskets or foil so pieces won't fall through the grate.

10. Grilling tends to bring out the natural sugars in fruit, though a sweet or savory glaze will add additional flavor. On the other hand, grilled vegetables will benefit greatly from a light marinating, glazing or basting.

Take a walk on the wild side this summer and turn up the heat on fresh-off-thegrill flavor when you try new rubs, marinades, sauces and salsas with meats, seafood and side dishes!

For exciting new grilling recipes, check out both Grills Gone Wild titles (Meats & Mains, Sides & Sweets) published by CQ Products (www.cqproducts.com).

Complimentary recipes provided by CQ Products (www.cqproducts.com) from the Grills Gone Wild books (Meats & Mains and Sides & Sweets).

Cola Marinade (Marinates 4 lbs. of beef ribs) 1 C. carbonated cola beverage 1½ C. soy sauce 2 T. rice wine vinegar 1 T. red pepper flakes 6 cloves garlic, mashed 1 small red onion, chopped Combine ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag.

Add ribs, seal bag and refrigerate for 24 hours. To cook, lightly oil the grate and preheat grill to medium heat. Discard marinade. Place ribs on the grate, cover grill and cook for 20 to 25 minutes over direct heat or about 1 hour over indirect heat, or to desired doneness, turning once.

Sweet & Spicy Seafood Rub (Makes about ¼ cup) 2 T. brown sugar 1 T. chili powder 1 tsp. ground cumin ½ tsp. cayenne pepper Pinch of salt and black pepper Olive oil

Combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

Rub salmon fillets(or other seafood) with olive oil and sprinkle spice mixture evenly over each piece, pressing lightly into fish.

Place fillets over direct medium heat, cover grill and cook for 8 to 12 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling.

Spicy Potato Skins (Makes 4 servings) 2 large potatoes 2 T. olive oil ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. pepper ¾ tsp. chili powder ¾ tsp. curry powder ¾ tsp. ground coriander Pierce potato skins with a fork and place on a medium to hot grill. Close lid and bake for 1 hour, turning halfway through baking time. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and cool for 10 minutes. Remove pulp, leaving a shell about ¼" thick. Brush each potato with oil. Combine dry ingredients and sprinkle over potatoes. Grill until crispy and brown.

production, and public relations. She also produces and hosts the RV Cooking Show.

New Berlin, PA - One of the Campground Industry’s “celebrities” has become part of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo, which will run on the internet in early November .

The following bio is courtesy of Campground Success http://campgroundsuccess. com,

An online newsletter published by Pelland Advertising.

“Evanne Schmarder is the owner of Roadabode Productions, outdoor hospitality communication consultants specializing in social media consultation, seminar facilitation and educational presentations, SEO copywriting, business writing services, newsletter

Evanne is a full time RVer and has been “on the road” since 2000. This opportunity provides her realistic exposure to what’s new, happening, desirable, and lacking in the campground industry from the camper’s point of view. Real life research.

As a marketer, Evanne puts her observations to practical use. Partnering with her clients, Evanne provides insight and helps shape their message into a well received, even anticipated communication.

Her nationwide client list boasts such industry leaders as ARVC (as the editor of the ARVC Report), GoCampingAmerica.com, Woodall’s Campground Management, Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort, and Best Parks in America.

She also pens the Woodall’s Marketing eToolbox, delivering practical marketing techniques to help owners and operators sustain and grow their business.

Her products range from online media, columns, publications, public speaking events, guest to staff to organizational pieces, and RV cooking shows and her work has

been read and watched by literally thousands of campground owners and campers throughout the country.

“Communicating your message, building relationships, and creating value for your customers are critical to your success. Our industry is evolving daily and so are effective marketing methods. Today more than ever, understanding not only your customer’s needs and wants but establishing a “personal” connection and finding ways to deliver bang for their buck is key to driving your business success,” remarked Evanne.

Contact Evanne at evanne@roadabode.com or 702-460-9863 or visit her online at: http://www.roadabode.com or http://www.RVCookingSho w.com.”

Evanne will be an exhibitor at the Expo and plans are being worked out for her to host a webinar too.

By Larry Do you ever wonder if flooding is increasing or are you imagining? You are not imagining.

On balance most places still likely get the same amount of precipitation they have always received.

The annual averages will vary in any given month or year but over the long haul those averages are accurate. So why more flooding?

The single biggest reason for more flooding is more runoff.

Every time another structure goes up, a road gets built, a shopping mall housing edition is developed there is more surface runoff and less ground to absorb the water. Infrastructure designed to handle storm water and all other kinds of wastewater are designed for the average amount of precipitation that can be expected from storms in any given locale, not hundred year rains.

The assumption is that flooding will happen and when it does the plan is to evacuate.

There may be construction and development far away from your location that adds more water to your creeks, rivers or lakes.

Your County Conservation office will have maps showing the watershed area for any bodies of water near you.

The watershed area can be very large. Check what is going on in the entire watershed area. If the ground is being increasingly covered over with parking lots, roads, structures and various other “improvements� the amount of runoff will increase instead of being absorbed into the soil.

Parks and campgrounds in low-lying areas and along streams and lakes will notice the increase first.

Keep a close eye on land use plans and from time to time check out what is happening along every road in the watershed.

This will give you a reliable way of gauging if and when the flood danger will increase at your location.