SUMMER 2020 • $2.00
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West coast to East coast Our Nature: People, Places & Purpose Finding your Inner Foodie with the Culinary Institute of America California Off the Beaten Path
SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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Invite Your Friends www.trailblazermagazine.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mark Slattery GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kenzie Greene MISSION STATEMENT TrailBlazer provides exclusive news and information for the members and guests of Thousand Trails Family of campgrounds and resorts. Each issue enhances the recreational lifestyle of its readers through a lively mix of camping and travel features, campground profiles and product features. TRAILBLAZER (ISSN 0747-2293) is published by MHC TT Memberships, LP, c/o MHC Property Management L.P., Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. An annual subscription is $20. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and additional offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to TRAILBLAZER, 2325 Highway 90, Gautier, MS 39553. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement 41461526.
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SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
SUMMER 2020
VOL.54 • ISSUE 3
WHAT’S INSIDE
8 Introducing Our Nature
regulars lifestyle
34
#100daysofcamping 6
5
Message from Marguerite
Member Deals 54
8
Introducing Our Nature
Crossword Puzzle 56
Sudoku Puzzle 61
Preferred RV Dealer List 62
North by Northeast SUMMER 2020 • $2.00
From
West coast to East coast Our Nature: People, Places, and Purpose
tips & topics
How to Keep your RV Cool 50
Tech Topics 52
4 Paws On the Road 53
Finding your Inner Foodie with the Culinary Institute of America
14 California: Off the Beaten Path 20 How to Spend the Longest Day: California Style 32 Virtual Tours at myMHcommunity.com! 34 North By Northeast 38 It’s a Shore Thing 42 Finding your Inner Foodie 48 Recipe – Dutch Baby Pancake 56 TT Game Page
California Off the Beaten Path
On The Cover: Pismo Beach (CA) SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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Mount Vernon (WA)
MESSAGE FROM MARGUERITE The summer camping season has officially arrived, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that it looks a bit different this time around. At the time of this publishing, our teams, members, and guests are working hard to adjust to the new “normal.” We’ve all been challenged with new ways of thinking, operating, camping, and most importantly, moving forward. One thing that has been so inspiring through it all is seeing all of our teams come together to do what we can to offer an escape from the day-to-day. I’m thankful we were able to remain open to members who chose to shelter in place with us while we followed the ever-changing landscape of state, county, and local shelter in place orders. The biggest constant through all of the changes was everyone working together to prioritize the health and safety of our members, guests, and employees. I am extremely proud of our on-site teams and their dedication to our members and customers throughout this pandemic. In this issue of TrailBlazer, I’m excited to introduce you to Our Nature, which is our sustainability initiative. Our Nature focuses on Uniting People, Places & Purpose and the recent events are a true testament to this. We’ve highlighted some examples on pages 8-13 of this issue of the magazine. From a recreation director making masks for local first responders to individuals grabbing their instruments and performing for our customers from an appropriate distance, the examples are encouraging and a reminder of Our Nature.
I hope you find inspiration in these pages for a trip, whether it’s more immediate or one you’re planning for the future, as we’ve highlighted a number of great spots to add to your list. An introduction to California phenomena you’ll only discover if you take the road less traveled, a history lesson on the original 13 colonies, and classes you can take at the Culinary Institute of America (including online options) make up a few of these stories. If you’re staying home just a bit longer, we’ve included some RV makeover tips and tricks, as well as some fun activities you can do at home, like a camping crossword or bingo game. This year, we celebrate the #100DaysofCamping a bit differently, but we celebrate it nonetheless. Whether you’re camping with us, or simply spending more time outdoors while at home, I look forward to seeing photos of our members and their families enjoying the great outdoors and celebrating the #100DaysofCamping throughout the summer. Camping connects us all, which may be more important now than ever before. Stay safe, and I hope you and your families enjoy the great outdoors this summer.
Marguerite Nader President & CEO
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SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
It's that time of year
#100DaysofCamping! Each year, we celebrate the 100 summer days in between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the official #100daysofcamping. This year, we've made a few changes to make #100daysofcamping more accessible wherever you are. All submitted #100daysofcamping photos will be entered into a photo contest with a grand prize of UPGRADE/DUES/PRIZE!
Here’s how it works: GET OUT AND CAMP! Take a photo while camping or during a makeshift camping adventure. CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO AS AN ENTRY: Upload your photo to Instagram using #100daysofcamping in your post caption. UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TO 100DAYSOFCAMPING.COM. Repeat to keep celebrating #100DaysofCamping! WE CAME UP WITH A FEW OTHER IDEAS TO SHARE YOUR LOVE OF CAMPING: A) Try
out our #100daysofcamping photo frame by adding the frame to your Facebook profile picture.
B) Use
our #100daysofcamping story sticker in your Instagram stories. C) Take
a photo with our printable #100daysofcamping 2020 graphic, or hang it proudly in your RV!
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Uniting People, Places, & Purpose embodies the three tenets of the Our Nature initiative: How we treat the planet, how we treat each other, and how we hold ourselves accountable
Lake of the Springs (CA)
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Introducing
At Thousand Trails, we recently launched a new initiative called Our Nature, which emphasizes our commitment to incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations in all realms of our business. This initiative touches all aspects of what we do and where we do it – from the physical properties to the real people who come to these locations – whether it be to work, to visit, or to make a vacation home for generations to enjoy. Our members and guests across the country, as well
as our employees, are the heartbeat of our company. Our campgrounds and resorts are not simply real estate assets, but places where our customer’s vacation, retire, and most importantly, spend time in the outdoors with their families and friends. We appreciate that you are emotionally investing your lives where we’ve chosen to invest as a company, and that relationship motivates us. The tagline “Uniting People, Places, & Purpose” embodies the three tenets of the Our Nature initiative: how we treat the planet (environment), how
we treat each other (social), and how we hold ourselves accountable (governance). And, Our Nature is more than a “green” initiative. While rooted in protecting and enhancing the environments where we live, work, and play, Our Nature also speaks to our culture of opportunity, inclusivity, caring, transparency, and respect. This initiative is guided by our core principles. It is built around a sound strategy and executed by an actionable and sustainable plan, while centered around delivering on our customer promise.
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Our Places From a real “green� perspective, the initiative covers the gamut of environmental issues, including biodiversity, water conservation, renewable energy, and waste reduction. While maintaining tens of thousands of acres that make up our network of campgrounds and resorts, we are also stewards to thousands of forested acres and wetlands while cohabitating with threatened and endangered species in critical habitats that call this land home. We responsibly and effectively encourage our members and guests to unite with nature while spending time with us. A great example of Our Nature at work takes us to South Jetty RV Resort, in Florence, Oregon. In 2018, South Jetty planted over 100 native coastal plants ranging from red-flowering currants to bunching bluegrass. As they matured and flowered throughout 2019, these plants specific to the Northwest Coastal region have attracted indigenous wildlife such as hummingbirds and the whitetail skimmer dragonfly, which positively impacted the environment and scenic vistas for our guests to enjoy. Healthy forests provide clean water, clean air and 10
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Morgan Hill (CA)
serve as home to thousands of animals and plants. Vital tree canopy provides green space, which has been proven to improve mental health for our guests. Tree cover can actually play a part in reduced electrical usage, thereby lowering emissions as well as providing reduced energy costs. Water conservation efforts come in the form of our Water Wise program, which encourages our guests to make a pledge to use less water as well as smart meter program that allows us to monitor water usage and proactively identify water leaks and wasted energy.
Our People On the human side of the initiative, it’s all about customer engagement, fostering a sense of community, showing appreciation, and helping others where we can. Encouraging customer engagement on all levels, encouraging feedback, as well as addressing that feedback, is a top priority in this tenet. Customer satisfaction surveys, an enhanced social media presence as well as our popular #100DaysofCamping social media campaign are just a few examples of ways we see, hear, and engage with customers.
South Jetty (OR)
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Our partnership with For Pete’s Sake offers respites to cancer patients by giving them free week-long vacations to rest and recharge at several of our Florida and east coast locations. Our way to say thanks to those who have served, or are serving our country, is to offer a 20% discount to active and retired servicemen from both the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, many of our communities feature memorials honoring our nation’s veterans. Finally, investing in our people, meaning the people who work at our properties as well as behind the scenes, is important. When they excel, we excel, and in turn, our members and guests reap the rewards in many ways. From diversity and inclusion to safety and compliance training, the Our Nature initiative touches the people who hopefully make your experience with Thousand Trails a meaningful and memorable one.
Our Governance Mt. Hood (OR)
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The entire framework of the initiative would mean nothing if there wasn’t a sense of accountability for all involved
Yukon Trails (WI)
as well as a sense of gratification in knowing our team members are making the right decisions: the best decisions. Through policies and procedures, a strong moral code, and an environment of open communication, we are equipped with the tools needed to be accountable.
Making a Difference The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may seem like the worst of times to some, but alternatively, it has shown us the best of so many people who are all living through this together. As the pandemic changed the very fiber of our day-to-day lives over the past several months, our teams, our members, and our guests have come together in many amazing, caring, and charitable ways to lend a hand, ease some fears and generally let everyone know
we’re all in this together and that no one is alone!
Soledad Canyon RV Campground (Acton, CA)
We’ve shared just a few here, but there are so many more stories like these and we want to thank everyone for being there for someone else! A sense of community is what makes our locations special, and these examples show just that.
The onsite team put together some gift baskets and the manager passed them out. People really appreciated the effort. In the bag was one roll of toilet paper, a small hand sanitizer, a small Soledad Canyon towel, and a granola bar. These are the times that we separate ourselves, and this is an opportunity to show how good we really are!
Lake Whitney (Whitney, TX) Our Recreation Director has made countless masks for our staff, members in the campground, our community, and first responders.
Sunshine RV Resort (Harlingen, TX)
Residents at Sunshine RV Resort have worked together Portland Fairview RV Campground (Fairview, OR) to make masks to give to those in need. A long-term customer of our campground is making meals Visit our Facebook page and and taking them to some look for more stories like of our elderly customers these and other examples of in the campground. She how Our Nature is making a also has offered to do difference in uniting people, grocery shopping or pick up places and purpose.¾ prescriptions for them. SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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California
Off the Beaten Path by Joan RyKal Who was it that said to take the road less traveled? Oh, yes, Robert Frost and, according to his famous poem, taking the road less traveled made all the difference. Come along with TrailBlazer as we choose the roads less traveled and go off the beaten path just a bit to see some truly unique places the average tourist might drive right past, on the other road of course! Donner Abandoned Railroad Hike: If you’re familiar with California history, you know that the Donner Summit is named for the Donner Party. 14
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This somewhat unlucky group of westward travelers was aiming to make California home but, due to a snowstorm, the group was forced to spend the winter on the east side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The outcome for some was not so great but we won’t go into detail here. However, modern day adventure seekers can tackle an abandoned tunnel hike trekking through tunnels #6, #7, and #8. This is a oneof-a-kind experience. Visit Truckee, California, to begin your Donner adventure – Truckee is roughly 30 miles from Snowflower RV Campground.
Monte Rio Beach: Truly a playground on the water, Monte Rio Beach has it all from kayaking to canoeing, plus tubing, swimming, and just lazing by the river. Different from California’s more popular oceanfront beaches, Monte Rio Beach runs along the Russian River. Surrounded by towering pines, this is a different California day at the beach experience. Russian River RV Campground is the perfect place to stay when enjoying Monte Rio Beach. Albany Bulb: As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That is
Mono Lake
definitely the case at Albany Bulb, the site of a former landfill that is now home to sculptures made of garbage, scrap metal, and driftwood, among other things. In addition to the sculptures and urban art, there are several hiking trails here as well as a dog-friendly beach. Albany Bulb is about 20 miles north of San Francisco RV Campground. Mono Lake: Believed to be one of the oldest lakes in North America (possibly 1 million years old), Mono Lake is known for its tufa towers, which are columns of calcium carbonate. Tufa towers are formed in soda
lakes (carbonate rich salt water) and begin underwater. The reason they are so visible at Mono Lake is because the lake level dropped drastically in the 1940s as it lost its freshwater sources. Mono Lake is approximately 100 miles from Tahoe Valley RV Campground. Largest Monopoly Board: Do you know the way to Park Place? Or perhaps Vermont Avenue? Well, if you know the way to San Jose you can easily find these other locations most typically found on a Monopoly game board. Head to the Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown
San Jose and you will find a 30-square-foot Monopoly board in the meadow adjacent to the museum. Created in 1922 for the San Francisco Garden and Landscape Show, the granite board is built to scale and free to see. However, if you want to play a game, reservations are required in advance and games run $300! San Jose is about 20 miles from Morgan Hill RV Campground. Gilroy Gardens: Axel Erlandson definitely had a way with trees. He is considered the father of the Circus Trees, which are uniquely shaped trees SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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created through Erlandson’s grafting techniques. Erlandson started grafting the trees as a hobby but they soon became a curiosity and people began to pay to see them. Sadly, in 1964 Erlandson sold his trees, but today, visitors to Gilroy Gardens can see 25 of his creations, including his original, the Four-Legged Giant, which is 80 years old. Gilroy Gardens are less than 15 miles from Morgan Hill RV Campground. McWay Falls: An 80-foot waterfall that flows yearround, McWay Falls is a must see on the Big Sur Coast (of course, most of the Big Sur area is a must see). In fact, McWay Falls is one of the most scenic and most photographed parts of Big Sur. McWay Falls is truly iconic California at its best. San Benito RV Campground is about 90 miles from McWay Falls. The Madonna Inn: You can choose to spend a night at this quirky hotel, which has over 100 one-of-a-kind themed rooms, including the Caveman, the Country Gentleman, Mount Vernon, China Flower, and Showboat, or you can just drop in for a quick drink, lunch, or dinner. Even a quick stop allows you to experience the equally unique dining rooms, which 16
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McWay Falls
include the Gold Rush Steakhouse with its oversized round leather booths or the Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge with its ornate woodwork and stained-glass windows. Pink is the color here and it’s worth a stop to see what some consider to be the quirkiest motel in California. San Luis Obispo is about 90 miles north of Rancho Oso RV Campground. La Brea Tar Pits: Smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles - sit the La Brea Tar Pits. In fact, they are within beautiful Hancock Park, and yet the pits are smelly
and bubbly. Surprisingly, they aren’t tar, but what is known as natural asphalt, which has been seeping up through the ground here for thousands and thousands of years. You may recall how they were depicted in your schoolbooks, trapping a wooly mammoth and other prehistoric creatures. Because so many prehistoric plants, insects, and animals were trapped here, the site still serves as a major fossil site. Soledad Canyon RV Campground is roughly 50 miles from Los Angeles.
The Madonna Inn
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Salvation Mountain
Cabazon Dinosaurs: Just about 46 miles from Idyllwild RV Campground, you’ll find a place where dinosaurs still roam the Earth, sort of! The Cabazon Dinosaurs – known formally as Dinny the Dinosaur (a brontosaurus) and Mr. Rex (a tyrannosaurus, of course) – are two very popular roadside attractions in California. In fact, they are movie stars having appeared in the film, “Peewee’s Big Adventure.” They were originally created to draw people to the Wheel In Restaurant, which was owned by the dinosaurs’ creator, Claude Bell, a sculptor and theme 18
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park artist. Mr. Bell, who was known for his work on California’s Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park, first began working on Dinny in the early 1960s and then created Mr. Rex in the early 1980s. International Banana Museum: This museum, dedicated to the banana, will charge you just $1 to see more than 25,000 bananarelated items. In fact, it holds a world record for the largest collection of banana-related items. Just a quick visit will do, and plan on a selfie or two with the large banana statue, but when you’re done seeing all things banana, you
can enjoy a fabulous banana shake and other bananabased treats! The International Banana Museum is located in Mecca, California which is less than 20 miles from Palm Springs RV Campground. Salvation Mountain: Drive a little more than an hour south of Palm Springs (roughly 88 miles) to find Salvation Mountain, and a little bit of religion in the desert. You should note, Salvation Mountain is not a real mountain per se, but rather crafted by Leonard Knight with adobe clay, hay
Potato Chip Rock
bales and other scraps he found in the nearby desert, as a testament to his faith. It took him over 25 years to complete the mountain on which he painted the words “God is Love.” Sunny Jim’s Cave: Enter through the Cave Store, browse around a bit and then descend down roughly 140 wooden, and slightly uneven, steps to see this man-made cave that was dug in the early 1900s. Created as a
tourist attraction since it was California’s only sea cave accessible by land (although before the stairs were built, visitors had to climb down a rope to view the cave), the cave was also popular with smugglers and bootleggers. The viewing platform provides a great way to see La Jolla Cove. Sunny Jim’s Cave is located in La Jolla, which is less than 35 miles from Pio Pico RV Campground.
Potato Chip Rock: Oh yes, the ultimate selfie location! Potato Chip Rock is a natural formation that can be reached by a lengthy hike (roughly 8 miles round trip) but it’s well worth the photo op. The “chip” can be reached via the Mt. Woodson Trail in Poway. In addition to the great pic on the chip, the hike itself is quite scenic. Poway is about 35 miles from Pio Pico RV Campground. ¾ SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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How to Spend the Longest Day of the year California Style By Joan Rykal Hello, summer solstice! After a long winter of gray days and early sunsets, it’s nice to bask in a few extra hours of daylight. And, on June 20, you can do just that as that is the date the summer solstice rolls around this year. How do you maximize the day which, by the way, falls on a Saturday? We’ve got some ideas on how to spend the day and get the most out of those daylight hours. Before we set off on our travels, let’s see what traditions the summer solstice holds. In Sweden, dancing around the maypole is the thing and in Greece, people celebrate by hiking to the peak of Mt. Olympus, a whopping 9,573 feet. England’s Stonehenge, the prehistoric rings of standing stones, is the site of one of the biggest solstice celebrations in
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the world as people come to watch the sun rise over the stones. In our world of fun, the day marks the official start of summer (although many people kickoff summer during the long Memorial Day weekend in the end of May), so let’s officially get summer started in the best way possible. Hit the Beach: California is home to some of the best beaches in the world, thanks to the more than 800 miles of coastline snugging up against the Pacific Ocean. Here are a few to consider: Coronado Beach (San Diego): Also known as Central Beach, this long stretch of beach on Coronado Island is a popular spot, but due to the width of the beach, it never seems too crowded. Thanks to the mica in the sand, the beach
actually sparkles. With the backdrop of the Hotel del Coronado, it’s a great spot to soak up the sun and the scenery. Arroyo Burro Beach/ Hendry’s Beach (Santa Barbara): One of Santa Barbara’s most popular beaches, Arroyo Burro Beach, which the locals call Hendry’s Beach, is also dogfriendly in parts. Surrounded by soaring bluffs, this beach is a hotspot for watching the sunset. Pismo Beach (Oceana): The pier at Pismo Beach is worth the visit to the beach. Built in 1928, the pier runs 1,200 feet and is a great spot for strolling, watching the surfers or fishing from the pier. Plus, the six-mile long beach is great for sand volleyball games and walking along the surf.
Pismo Beach
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Take a Stroll through a Garden: Make future plans to visit some of the most beautiful botanic gardens in the state. A number of these are bucket list worthy – pick a couple to visit once they’ve reopened. University of California Botanical Garden (Berkeley): Set over 34 acres with more than 10,000 types of plants, the Garden was established in 1890. Originally part of the school’s campus, it was moved in the late 1920s to its current location in Strawberry Canyon. The collections here are from all over the world, including Asia, South Africa, and South America. Don’t miss the Garden of Old Roses and the Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden.
San Diego Botanic Garden
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Fullerton Arboretum (Fullerton): Located on the campus of California State University in Fullerton, this 26acre botanical garden is home to more than 4,000 plants. The charming Heritage House, which dates back to 1894, has
been restored and provides a glimpse into life in the 1890s. Stroll the walking paths, don’t miss the turtle pond, and enjoy this little bit of serenity in an otherwise urban locale. San Diego Botanic Garden (San Diego): Explore the 29 uniquely themed gardens which include an herb garden, the Palm Canyon Garden featuring palms from around the world, an Olive Tree Garden with a 100-year-old olive tree, and the Hamilton Children’s Garden. The Dickenson Family Education Conservatory houses rare and unusual tropical plants and plant “chandeliers” suspended from the ceiling, which were made specifically for the Garden. Enjoy California cuisine: California is known for a number of things, and its food is no exception! Take a culinary adventure and get your taste buds in on the fun. Avocado toast: A quintessential taste treat, avocado toast has gone
Indian Canyons (CA)
from simply that, avocado on toast, to a staple at many brunch and breakfast restaurants. There are now plenty of varieties to choose from, and the California food has made its way to the culinary stage, featured regularly by popular chef Bobby Flay. In-N-Out Burger: Though California staple In-N-Out has expanded to other states since its inception in 1948, a visit to this iconic burger joint is a must. The Double-Double is a popular choice and, if you want to feel like a true local, order something from the secret menu. Cruffin: Croissant + muffin = the cruffin, popularized by
Mr. Holmes Bakehouse in San Francisco. Pick one up, or try your hand at making one at home. With a mashup this good, you can’t go wrong. Take a drive or a hike: Summer is just beginning so roll the windows down, put on some tunes, and take a drive to some of these scenic spots. Drive from Monterey to Big Sur: In it for the views? This drive will leave you with some of the most gorgeous views of the California coastline and plenty of photo opportunities while you’re at it. Indian Canyons (Palm Springs): A footpath here winds into the canyon and provides a great spot to soak up the rugged scenery.
An abundance of California fan palms dot the canyons. There is also a Trading Post at the trailhead that offers refreshments and has Indian art and artifacts. Cucamonga Peak (San Bernardino National Forest): Take the longest day to new heights with a hike to Cucamonga Peak. This is a more challenging hike, topping out at around 12 miles, but the views are certainly worth it. ¾
Get more travel inspiration at TrailBlazer.net!
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Update Your
Camping Style By Joan Rykal
Feeling like your RV or camper needs a new look? Looking for a project to tackle? Let’s take a look at some renovation ideas you can do yourself to give your home on the road a quick, but satisfying, makeover.
Redo or Update? The first decision you need to make is whether you want to do a complete overhaul or just some minor cosmetic and simple DIY projects. Once you’ve decided what you want to do, the Internet has plenty of places to look 24
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to for ideas, advice, and how-tos, including our very our own Thousand Trails Pinterest boards (see sidebar)! Christie and her husband, Dan, have two kids under the age of five, and are an avid camping family. They recently purchased a used 2017 Vintage Cruiser 19ERD by Gulf Stream and they felt they needed to put a bit of their own stamp on it. They started with a fresh paint job on all the walls, and some kitchen updates and plan to tackle the bathroom fixtures and kitchen countertops next.
“We liked the vintage vibe of the outside of the camper but wanted the inside to reflect our own personal style. When we bought it, it had a 1980s vibe with wallpaper and dark cabinets.” said Christie. “The dark cabinetry and wallpaper made the space feel smaller. We like the look of the white walls and light cabinetry. Mainly, we wanted it bright!” Taking a nod from their recent home kitchen renovation, they used similar light colors and tile patterns. After a good cleaning of all the walls with a vinegar/
Big Jobs You Can Tackle FLOORING: With all the wear
and tear from bringing the “outdoors in” (think sand, dirt, and pet paws), replacing or completely tearing up carpet and dropping in a more environmentally friendly floor surface is a great idea. CO-Z offers some great eco-friendly vinyl floor planks and tiles.
BATHROOM AND KITCHEN APPLIANCES: Toilets should
water mix, they tackled painting the interior walls. For the wall paint they used Beyond Paint, which is a water-based and low VOC option, available from HomeDepot.com. “While this paint may be a bit expensive, we chose it because you do not need to sand the walls or use a primer or ‘gripper,’” said Christie, adding that she made sure to let the paint dry completely between coats. “RV walls are much different to paint than your home. It took several coats,” she said. Once the walls were done, she then used stencils purchased from
be lightweight and eco-friendly while doing the job and refrigerators should be compact yet able to provide the necessary storage while also being efficient when it comes to energy consumption. Check out dometic.com for some fridge options and thetford.com for a great selection of toilets.
PAINT: A fresh coat of paint can
make all the difference. Light and airy or colorful to reflect your personality, updating paint is definitely a project you can tackle yourself.
WINDOW DÉCOR: This is a simple
one and budget friendly since the windows tend to be smaller. One neat, and inexpensive tip – decorative linen or cotton towels are a great option for curtains.
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Before Etsy and a chalk pen, versus the suggested roller since the spaces were small, to provide a personal touch to each space. Replacing the outdated kitchen backsplash was as simple as using peel and stick tiles, specifically, STIQUICK TILES, available from amazon.com. A few coats of paint on the cabinets, new curtains in the same color as the vintage banquette cover, and a few new accessories moved the kitchen vibe from 1980 to 2020 in a flash!
to the renovation was the durability of the renovations, keeping the weight light for towing purposes and giving the space a fresh, bright feel!” Even the kids got to put their own style on the redo. “We got the kids involved by having them decorate the inside of their cabinets,” Christie said. “They chose animal track peel and stick footprints we purchased from Amazon!”
“It’s been exciting to watch our vision come “We didn’t really have a set together. There’s a sense budget in mind but tried to of empowerment and keep it all between $500 and satisfaction you get when you $1000. In all, these quick DIY do it yourself,” said Christie. renovations cost us just under “We still have things we want $500,” said Christie. “What to update but it now better was important to us with this reflects our vibe and energy. update was to create a more We are looking forward to minimalist look while keeping many awesome camping the vintage feel. Another key adventures.”¾ 26
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Follow us on Pinterest for more RV Interior Inspiration! If you’re looking for inspiration, check out the wide variety of boards on our Pinterest account. If you aren’t already following us on Pinterest, go to pinterest.com/thousandtrails. For specific RV renovations, decor and smart tips and ideas, take a look at our RV Hacks board or our RV Décor board.
THE WALLS: Check out the pin
“How to Paint RV Walls” or forego the paint completely and check out “How To: Faux Shiplap” (Found on our RV Hacks Pinterest board.)
ACCESSORIES: You will find
some of the cutest accessory ideas on the RV Décor board. From pillows to curtain ideas to string lights, it’s all here to inspire you. Fair warning, once you get on board with our Pinterest boards, you may find yourself checking out more than the just the RV Décor and RV Hacks pins. There is so much here from camping party ideas, camping crafts, camp gear ideas, great destinations, and all kinds of camp-friendly recipes. Our Thousand Trails Pinterest account may just become one of your new favorite destinations!
After
pinterest.com/thousandtrails/
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UPDATES AND
UPGRADES
The teams have been hard at work on a number of updates and upgrades across the country. This issue, we’re highlighting a few of the biggest projects and developments!
Orlando RV Resort Clermont, FL
Nearly 170 new sites are coming to Orlando! With the infrastructure set, the teams are focusing on the sites themselves. In addition to this expansive development, Thousand Trails members and guests may notice some work being done on one of our pools, bathhouses, and roads. Caribbean Club, Photo Courtesy of Katie Schweiss
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Indian Lakes Batesville, IN
UpdatesandupgradesatIndian Lakes are focused on outdoor fun. The team is working on a new open-air pavilion and pool area. Additionally, electrical upgrades are being worked on across the park.
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Moody Beach, Wells, ME
So much progress has been made since our last update. The teams wrapped up the 71 site expansion and these new sites look great! Up next will be an office refresh, bathhouse renovations, and amenity updates. The new entrance road will be repaved and landscaping will be updated, as well.
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Hidden Cove Arley, AL An 84 site development was recently completed at beautiful Hidden Cove. Up next, the team is working on a new bathhouse, as well as boat dock and ramp updates.
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Open new doors
LEARN MORE ABOUT
OUR VIRTUAL TOURS 3 Easy Ways to Explore our Quick Move-In Ready Homes VIRTUAL SHOWINGS
VIDEO TOURS
3-D TOURS
Our sales associates are ready to schedule an appointment for a private virtual showing at your convenience.
Video walk through tours of select home models are available online or upon request.
We invite you to enjoy a virtual walk through of our stunning model homes with our Interactive Model Home Tours.
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to a great community lifestyle.
Take a Virtual Tour and Make It Yours! Learn more at or Call (800) 274-7314 SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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North by Northeast
By Joan Rykal Portland Head Lighthouse (ME)
Did you know that the terms New England and the Northeast are not interchangeable? In fact, the states that comprise New England are only six of the eleven states that make up what is considered the Northeast. For our visit to New England, we will focus on the Northeastern states where you can camp with us and explore the state’s major attractions, as well as their little known fun things to do. Another fun fact – all the states we will focus on were part of the Thirteen Original Colonies. So, as you travel, keep our forefathers in mind as you plan a future trip to this area and enjoy the open roads that connect this very important part of our country. 34
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Maine: Maine was the 23rd state to enter the Union but was originally part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was one of the original 13 colonies. Maine was initially colonized by European settlers and the original colony, known as Acadia, included parts of what is now Quebec, Canada. We can thank Maine for our lobsters and our blueberries as the state produces 90% and 99% of those products, respectively. Mystery writer Stephen King hails from Maine, as do actors Patrick Dempsey and Anna Kendrick. Maine has more coastline than California and 3,166 off-shore islands!
Major Attractions:
Portland Head Lighthouse,
Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, Stephen King’s House.
Don’t Miss: A traditional
Maine Lobster Bake, sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, the L.L. Bean store in Freeport, and the charming coastal town of Ogunquit.
Camping: Moody Beach,
Mt. Desert Narrows, Narrows Too, Patten Pond, and Pinehirst.
Massachusetts: As part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Massachusetts was one of the Original 13 and a place of many firsts. Massachusetts had the first American lighthouse, the first university (Harvard), the first public park in America (Boston Common), and was the site of the first battle
Historic Salem (MA)
of the Revolutionary War (Lexington and Concord). It is the birthplace of four U.S.. Presidents (John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F Kennedy, and George H.W. Bush). It was the sixth state to join the Union. It is also the birthplace of the Boston Cream Pie, the Parker House roll, and everybody’s favorite chocolate chip cookie, the Tollhouse Cookie.
Major Attractions: Cape Cod, Plimoth Plantation, the town of Salem, Bunker Hill, and Old Sturbridge Village. Don’t Miss: Boston’s Freedom
Trail, Norman Rockwell Museum, and Faneuil Hall.
Camping: Gateway to
Cape Cod, Old Chatham, and Sturbridge.
New Hampshire: Although it was the 9th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, the Granite State was, however, the first to have its own state constitution and the first to declare its
Gateway to Cape Cod (MA)
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Path off the Atlantic City Boardwalk (NJ)
independence from England in 1776. The state’s fierce sense of independence is echoed in their official state motto – Live Free or Die. New Hampshire was initially settled as a fishing village by English settlers. It is the 5th smallest state and home to the White Mountains and has the shortest coastline of any coastal state. The New Hampshire coastline is a mere 18 miles!
Major Attractions:
Shaker Museum, Robert Frost Homestead, and Mt. Monadnock.
Don’t Miss: Franconia Notch State Park, the Kancamagus Highway in autumn, and Hampton Beach. 36
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Camping: Pine Acres, Sandy
Beach, and Tuxbury Pond
New Jersey: As one of the original thirteen colonies, it was known as New Jersey Colony. The name came from an island of the same name in the English Channel. In December 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. While New Jersey is largely urban, it retains the nickname given to it in the 1800s: the Garden State. New Jersey has produced one U.S. President (Grover Cleveland), an astronaut (Buzz Aldrin), and plenty of stars from the sports and entertainment world, including Bruce Springsteen and Meryl Streep. The famed Atlantic City Boardwalk was
the first of its kind when it was built in 1870 and it remains a tourist attraction to date.
Major Attractions: Atlantic
City, Historic Cold Spring Village, and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Don’t Miss: Atlantic City Boardwalk, Cape May Lighthouse, and Lucy the Elephant.
Camping: Chestnut Lake, Echo Farms, King Nummy Trail, Lake & Shore, Mays Landing, and Sea Pines.
New York: The fifth state to enter the Union, New York did so on July 26, 1788. Iroquois and Algonquian tribes inhabited the area as
Niagara Falls (NY)
far back as the year 1100 and early colonial settlers were of Dutch descent, originally naming the area New Amsterdam. Like its neighboring state of New Jersey, New York played a major role in the American Revolution and was actually the first capital of the United States after the Constitution was ratified in 1788. Despite being home to the most populous city in the US (NYC), a vast majority of the state is quite bucolic with mountains, lakes, forest, and farmland. It is the home state of five U.S. presidents, in the top 10 producers of the country’s apples, and the third leading producer of America’s dairy products.
Major Attractions: The
Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Guggenheim Museum (all in New York City), the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, and the Adirondacks.
Pennsylvania became an English colony when it was taken over in 1667. In 1681, William Penn, for whom the colony, and later state, was named, founded a religious colony for Quakers. The city of Philadelphia was the site of the first and second Continental Congress, with the second of note as being the place where the Declaration of Independence originated. It was the second state to ratify the Constitution. The state’s Lancaster County is home to the oldest Amish settlement in the U.S. and it remains a popular attraction today.
Major Attractions: The
Liberty Bell, Hersheypark, Valley Forge, Penn’s Cave, Bushkill Falls, and Lancaster’s Amish Country.
Don’t Miss: Ellis Island,
Don’t Miss: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, Gettysburg National Military Park, and the spectacular rotunda in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg.
Camping: Alpine Lake,
Camping: Appalachian,
Fort William Henry Museum, Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, and the Victorian charm of Saratoga Springs. Brennan Beach, Lake George Escape, Lake George Schroon Valley, and Rondout Valley.
Pennsylvania:
Originally colonized by Dutch and Swedish settlers,
Circle M, Drummer Boy, Gettysburg Farm, Hershey, PA Dutch, Robin Hill, Round Top, Scotrun, Spring Gulch, Sun Valley, Timothy Lake North, and Timothy Lake South.¾ SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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It’s A Shore Thing By Joan Rykal
There’s something about a beach – it can bring about all kinds of feelings, from pure joy to complete serenity. If you find yourself in the Northeast anytime soon and are looking to stir up a boatload of emotions, consider these beaches. They’re “shore” to give you all the feels!
to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean along this coastal stretch in Maine. Old Orchard Beach, in Old Orchard, is everything you would expect of a beach. It has an amusement park nearby, there are plenty of food offerings from pizza to fried dough, plenty of shops to browse during beach breaks and a long pier. Historic Ogunquit Beach Maine: Did you know the runs three miles long and has coastline of Maine actually plenty of white powder to has over 50 more miles than stroll along on the flat, wide California’s? To that end, there are loads of sunny spots beach front. It is often named 38
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one of the most beautiful beaches in New England. Sandy Beach in Maine’s Acadia National Park, while small in size (approximately 290 yards), offers the added plus of breathtaking scenery. Located on an inlet between the rocky shore of the Atlantic and the soaring granite mountains of Acadia, a visit here is not your typical day at the beach. Massachusetts: Massachusetts’ Cape Cod is home to more than 130
Cape Cod (MA)
beaches and whether you like small and secluded or crowded and loaded with fun, there is a beach for you. Mayflower Beach in Dennis is a larger beach, meaning there are more people seeking sun and sand here. There is a boardwalk, the sand is powdery, and the water is calm. Oyster Pond Beach in Chatham is quieter, very scenic and offers calm, warm waters. Other top beaches in Cape Cod include Herring Cove
Beach in Provincetown at the top of the Cape, known for its beautiful sunsets, and Breakwater Beach in Brewster – another quiet one and the bayside location provides for calm, clear waters. New Hampshire: Running 13 miles along the Atlantic coast, Hampton Beach is an iconic New England scene. There are the waves crashing against the rocks spewing cold Atlantic water into the air, the requisite boardwalk
with all kinds of eateries, grassy dunes, fishermen, and great sand. Time in New England spent at this popular beach is well worth it. New Jersey: New Jersey has roughly 130 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the “Jersey Shore” runs from Perth Amboy in the north down south to Cape May Point. There are plenty of beaches to be enjoyed along the way, but we will focus on the beaches of Cape May and SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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Atlantic City. How many beaches have a six-story elephant? Head to Margate Beach and you will find Lucy, a larger than life “elephant” that was constructed back in 1881 to draw people to the town of Margate City. After you tour Lucy, it’s just a quick walk to the quiet, clean beach. Whether you’re in the chips or not, a visit to Atlantic City’s beach costs you nothing in terms of admission. The entertainment here includes kayaking, windsurfing, and people watching. Plus, there’s the historic boardwalk. Spend a day at Cape May’s Sunset Beach and stay for the Flag Ceremony, a 40+ year tradition that honors U.S. Veterans. During the day, the beach offers fishing, views of the S.S. Atlantus, a sunken concrete ship dating to World War I and a chance to find Cape May “diamonds,” which are quartz pebbles hidden in the sands. New York: Of course, there are the beaches along the Atlantic in such fabulous locations as Montauk and The Hamptons, but we’re looking at the beaches of the Adirondacks – the lakeside beaches, and in this case 40
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Cape May Lighthouse (NJ)
specifically, the beaches of Lake George. Lake George, which is nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is part of the St. Laurence watershed. Thomas Jefferson said it was the most beautiful water he had ever seen. So beautiful in fact, many artists have painted views of Lake George, including Georgia O’Keefe. The most popular beach here is Million Dollar Beach. Also known as Lake George Beach, it has boat access, food concessions, lifeguards and 51 acres of beach. The price of admission has nothing to do with the name – admission
is free but the cost to open the beach in 1951 was one million dollars! Rogers Memorial Park Beach is one giant playground situated on Lake George. It has a basketball court, tennis courts, a playground, and a public pavilion. If you choose to park in the lot, the cost is $5 per car, but if you park elsewhere and walk to the beach, the cost of admission is free! If you want to combine a day at the beach with some fishing and evening entertainment, consider a trip to Shepard Park Beach. A public dock allows anglers to try their
The Poconos (PA)
Lake George (NY)
luck for trout, bass, and pike, while the amphitheater that overlooks the lake has live music entertainment several evenings a week during the summer season. Pennsylvania: Landlocked as a state, the beaches here are the lakeside kind and just as beachy as you can get. Mt. Gretna Lake and Beach in Lebanon bills itself as a swim and recreation facility. It boasts eight acres of beach, which makes for an
expansive lawn for all kinds of recreation. A diving platform in the freshwater lake adds a nice touch. Plus, there are kayak, canoe, and giant tube rentals. The lakes that dot the Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains provide great places to soak up the sun with a side of water. Consider Smithfield Beach National Recreation Area which has a nice grassy beach, a boat launch, and is great for canoe and kayak adventures.ž
Check out more travel inspiration stories at TrailBlazer.net!
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D I N N I G F
YO
R U
E N R N FO I ODI E
COOKING CLASSES & MORE WITH THE CULINARY INSTITUE OF AMERICA By Lynn & Cele Seldon Founded back in 1946 by Frances Roth and Katharine Angell, The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is recognized as the world’s premier culinary college, with more than 50,000 alumni situated across the country and around the world serving as living tasty testaments to the quality of a CIA education. Originally designed to train returning World War II veterans in the culinary arts, Frances Roth hoped the school would eventually become “the culinary center of the nation.” Officially named The Culinary Institute of America in 1951, Roth’s long-ago goal has certainly been met by today’s CIA. The long list of famous CIA graduates includes: Cat Cora, Charlie Palmer, Michael Mina, Sara Moulton, Bryan Voltaggio, Anne Burrell, 42
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Richard Blais, Roy Choi, Maneet Chauhan, Grant Achatz, Geoffrey Zakarian, the late Anthony Bourdain, and many more. Though the CIA is well-known for producing world-class chefs, many foodies cooking in kitchens, campgrounds, and RVs from the Atlantic to the Pacific may not know they also offer a wide array of cooking classes and much more through their popular “CIA Foodies” food enthusiasts program at their iconic main Hyde Park, New York, campus, as well as at their satellite campuses in Napa (Copia) and St. Helena (Greystone), California, and San Antonio, Texas. Ranging from a few hours to popular one-day offerings and two- to five-day intensive classes (called “Boot
Camps”), there are literally dozens of different offerings from the CIA throughout the year, including chef demonstrations, hands-on cooking classes, familyfriendly classes, wine and beverages classes, holiday cooking and baking classes, and more. “We offer a wide range of possibilities for RVers to become better cooks in their RVs and campgrounds,” says Chef David Bruno, Associate Professor in Culinary Arts, who focuses on the CIA’s diverse offerings for food enthusiasts through CIA Foodies. “Pre-preparation is so important in small spaces, as is being more efficient and needing less tools to prepare recipes,” he continues. Chef Bruno even created a class called “Tips & Tricks: The Secrets of a Chef,” where
each recipe taught in the class highlights a tip or trick foodies can use at home – and in their RV or while grilling. Other specific possibilities that Chef Bruno sees as ideal for RVers who often prepare meals in small spaces or outdoors include: one day or shorter options, like “Everyday Grilling,” “Gourmets in Minutes,” “CIA Favorites,” and “Around the World in 8 Desserts,” and many multiday Boot Camps, including the popular four- or five-day “Best of Boot Camp,” which provides a taste of their varied Boot Camps and highlights the fundamentals of cooking and baking, as well as specific cuisines from their Boot Camps.
More CIA offerings that might appeal to an RVer’s inner foodie include their “Hors d ’Oeuvre Boot Camp,” “Pastry Boot Camp,” and varied three-hour “CIA Skills” classes (like “Brunch,” “Farm to Table,” “Cooking with Beer,” and “Grilling Like a Pro”). Wine-focused options offered at Hyde Park and out at Copia in the Napa Valley include “How to Taste Wine in 90 Seconds,” “Pairing Principles,” and “The History of Napa Valley in 8 Glasses.” One brand-new option that just started being offered in Spring 2020 involves an exciting partnership between The Culinary Institute of America and equally iconic America’s Test Kitchen (which devoted foodie fans know as
simply “ATK”). It’s definitely a recipe for success, in that two of the experts who help develop ATK’s foolproof recipes and star in their award-winning television shows are CIA grads Julia Collin Davison (CIA, 1996) and Dan Souza (CIA, 2008). The CIA and ATK are teaming up to bring one-of-a-kind culinary experiences to help foodies gain confidence and have more fun wherever they’re cooking. Led by CIA chef-instructors, the options include single-day handson classes, like “ATK & CIA Cooking Fundamentals,” several options for kids, and specific Boot Camps that feature years of culinary expertise through in-depth hands-on skill development, as SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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well as ATK’s beloved kitchenand chef-tested recipes. Those who don’t yet have the time or inclination for taking a class should still consider a visit to Hyde Park or the CIA’s other campuses in Napa and St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas. After even a short visit, which often includes a meal, most foodies decide to return for one or more classes. The main CIA Hyde Park campus has many options for visitors, including varied restaurants (mostly staffed by students), shopping, and popular tours led by students when classes are in session. The tasty dining options include American Bounty Restaurant (focusing on the seasons and products of the surrounding Hudson Valley), The Bocuse Restaurant (a French restaurant named for the most famous chef of France), sophisticated regional Italian cuisine at Ristorante Caterina d’ Medici, rustic Italian at casual Al Foro Trattoria, The Apple Pie Bakery Café, and The Brewery at the CIA, the college’s on-campus brewery classroom, which was named New York State Brewery of the Year at the 2020 New York State Craft Beer Competition. There’s also the Craig Claiborne Bookstore, 44
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which offers culinary delights, cookbooks, kitchen gadgets and gear, and souvenirs. Down in The Lone Star State, the San Antonio campus includes dining options that are also open to the public. Savor Restaurant is inspired by global cuisines rooted in CIA’s culinary arts curriculum, while CIA Bakery Café is a student-run pop-up featuring a variety of sweet and savory bakery items, great coffee, delicious wines, and more. Regular campus tours might include students cooking in the Skills Kitchens and maybe even a Boot Camp in action. The campus is located along the San Antonio River Walk and set among the restored 19th century buildings of the Pearl Brewery. Out in California, the historic campus of The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in St. Helena, Gather at Gatehouse restaurant showcases the talents of CIA student-chefs after two years of study and partly utilizes local produce sourced from the college’s own farms and gardens. Over at The Restaurant at CIA Copia in the quaint town of Napa, the open kitchen offers up seasonally inspired Napa Valley cuisine. Casual outdoor dining is available at Copia’s Colavita Olive
Grove Terrace and Outdoor Kitchen. In addition, The Bakery Café by illy back at Greystone features creative café cuisine. Foodie shoppers will also love Spice Islands® Marketplace at Greystone, where they can chat with chefs-in-training and shop for cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, and more. In addition, The Store at CIA Copia offers a selection of cookware and culinary tools as well as Napa’s largest selection of cookbooks. Guests can also find culinary antiques, hand-stitched linens, locally made pottery, home and garden items, gifts and accessories, and seasonal items, complemented by a selection of wellpriced, whimsical items and children’s toys and books. Some of the culinary antiques sold in the store come from the collection of Wade Bentson, one of the co-founders of the Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum, which is also housed at Copia. The Store hosts an annual Holiday Marketplace, featuring local artisans, the weekend following Thanksgiving. Tours are also available at historic Greystone, which is home to Brother Timothy’s Corkscrew Collection, the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Discovery Center, and more. SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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And, for those who can’t make it to Hyde Park or other CIA campuses for a visit or a class (at least not yet), there are also options available to foodies online and in books (both eBooks and in print). One great possibility online (at ciafoodies.com) is called “DISH®,” a membership program (free trials available) which offers immediate access to resources that will enhance any foodie’s enjoyment of food, wine, cooking, and more. DISH membership includes: videos where CIA faculty show new techniques and recipes, culinary greats, live demonstrations, CIAcreated and -tested recipes (including the ability to upload recipes to a personal digital Recipe Box), blogs, e-books with access to CIApublished books, and lots of special deals and discounts, with significant savings on CIA offerings, as well as on hundreds of projects and services through their nationwide network of merchants. There’s also a specific CIA book that Chef Bruno recommends for everyone looking to improve their cooking, wherever their kitchen may be at that moment. The bible-like book is called The Professional Chef and it’s packed with 46
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instruction, tips, recipes, four-color photos, and so much more. “It’s like a CIA Boot Camp in a book,” in a book, says Chef Bruno. For campground and backyard grillers, he recommends The Culinary Institute of America: Grilling, as well. Given all these options, it’s easy to see the many possibilities The Culinary Institute of America can provide to release your inner foodie. Now, get cooking and eating! ¾
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Arrowhead s WI
From tiny houses to cabins and yurts to covered wagons - with Petite Retreats, your next vacation will leave a big impression.
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Mt. Hood Tiny House Village t OR
Verde Valley t AZ
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Who is in the kitchen with TrailBlazer? a Dutch Baby Pancake (From marthastewart.com) INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 3 large eggs 3/4 cup whole milk 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat; set aside. 2. In a blender, combine eggs, milk, flour, salt, vanilla, and 1/4 cup sugar. Blend until foamy, about 1 minute. Pour batter into skillet; bake until pancake is puffed and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. 3. Working quickly, dot pancake with 1 tablespoon butter, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and lemon juice. Slice into wedges, and serve immediately. 48
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Members and guests in the Kitchen! We’re sure you’ve seen it – photos of your friends and family members baking bread from scratch (sourdough, anyone?), trying new recipes, and firing up the grill more often than usual. New hobbies are being formed and newfound skills in the kitchen are being discovered. We recently asked the fans and followers of the Thousand Trails Facebook page what they’ve been cooking up while spending more time at home. The results are mouthwatering. Check out these recommendations and even a few recipes below!
Jalapeño popper chicken!
- Holly S.
Saturday night steak and beans. Nothing more. It’s our family camping tradition
So this interesting concoction came about because our neighbor across the street gave us a Watermelon Radish. I peeled and sliced it, added sliced celery, olives, artichoke hearts, and tomatoes. Then, I added some olive oil and Greek dressing and let it marinate. Served it with Feta Cheese sprinkled on top. Weird concoction of the day. Tasted great, too! - Jodie G.
My husband made a jelly roll this past weekend!
- Roni G.
- Lori G.
Zucchini bread!
- Regina V.
We start the work week off with breakfast... it’s what’s for dinner Monday and always taco Tuesdays. We've recently added sundae Sundays late big lunch around 2pm, sundaes for dinner 6-6:30
- Marty O. SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT AND STAY COOL IN YOUR RV Original article can be viewed at Lazydays.com Summer marks the peak of the RV season and high temperatures in most parts of the United States. One of the most common challenges RVers all over the country face during this time is staying cool in their RV. For most, the solution is to keep the roof AC running. However, this increases gas usage while on the road and can rack up generator hours, if you are not hooked up to power. Many RVers are unaware that there are plenty of ways to keep cool without running your roof air conditioner unit all the time. Here are a few tips from the RV experts at Lazydays RV to beat the heat and stay cool in your RV during the summer.
gaskets and filters, as well as a visual inspection of the unit. While on your RV trip, a few tips for ensuring maximum roof AC performance include: • Run your roof air conditioner before hot weather peaks to start cooling your RV. • Use a few small fans or your RV’s ceiling fan to help circulate cool air throughout your RV’s interior. • Close off any vents you aren’t using while running the roof AC. • Check your roof AC filters once per month and clean or replace them as needed.
WHEN USING THE AC, HELP IT OUT
WAYS TO STAY COOL WITHOUT THE AC
Before heading out on your next summer RV trip, make sure your RV’s roof AC unit is in tip-top shape. Well before your first trip of the summer, take your RV in for routine maintenance, including roof air conditioner service. Routine roof AC maintenance is recommended in 12-month intervals. Lazydays offers a roof air conditioner service, which includes washing inner coils, cleaning the drains, replacing
• If you want to use your RV’s roof AC unit as little as possible, there are a few ways to keep your RV cool and comfortable during the summer: • Park your RV with the windshield facing north to have your RV awning block out the morning sun and create a comfortable outdoor area later in the day.
•
Keep your RV as covered as possible during the day to insulate the inside and keep it cool. Lower your window shades or use insulators to reflect the sun.
• Utilize insulators on your RV door windows since they do not typically come equipped with window shades. Another great tip that many RVers are not aware of is to use LED lighting as much as possible. Compared to halogen and other incandescent bulb types, LED lights put out much less heat. Cooking appliances like your oven or stove can quickly warm your RV up, so cook your meals outside or use a slow cooker. Contact Lazydays RV service department today by calling 866-531-6618 to schedule your routine rooftop AC maintenance and visit Lazydays RV accessories and more to gear up for your next RV summer trip. Make sure to follow along on the Lazydays RV blog for more helpful RV tips, summer trip ideas and more! ¾
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TECH TOPICS
RVing is a great adventure and there’s always something new to learn! By Paul and Kerri Elders This month, we’ll take a look at a few tips to help you keep your RV happily humming down the highway. Ready? Let’s go! Simple Driving Reminders: Some of the most beautiful scenery in America is in the mountains. Whether you’re traveling through the Appalachians, the Ozarks, or the Rockies, you always need to remember a simple fact of physics: adjust your driving habits to the terrain. When driving through hilly terrain and braking on hills, use your motorhome or tow vehicle’s gears whenever possible. If your RV’s speed increases five miles per hour in less than five seconds, you need to downshift to the next lower gear. Just brake gently and then downshift. And always do your best to maintain a safe following distance; we know how tough it can be as quick and tiny compact cars zoom into your space, but you’ve got to work diligently at keeping a safety cushion for yourself and others, especially when traveling downhill. Always signal your intentions, and check your mirrors diligently whenever changing lanes. Stay in the right lane unless passing slower traffic is a necessity. When you’ve passed a vehicle and are ready to return to the right lane, watch for small, quicklymoving cars that might attempt to pass you on the right side. It’s easy to judge proper lane position. Just keep the roadway’s white lane lines equally spaced in the outside rearview mirrors while focusing your driving attention on the center of your lane about 500 feet ahead. Make it a regular habit to keep your eyes moving at all times between the mirrors and the road ahead as you drive. If you have a car in tow (a “toad”), always remember that you also have its
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added weight tagging along behind you. You’ll require a little more time and distance when accelerating and when braking and you’ll need to accommodate for that little bit of extra length when maneuvering. Engine Oil: Have you ever wondered what causes an engine to use more oil when towing? Engine-oil usage increases with load; the harder you work an engine, the more oil it will use. Some experts say that an extra quart of oil use per 1,000 miles is considered acceptable when towing. One factor is something called “volatility burnoff.” Motor oil contains a number of chemical components. Some vaporize at different temperatures than others. As the load on the engine increases, the temperature of the engine oil can increase. This causes lighter components of the oil to vaporize, leaving heavier components behind. And since the engine must be held longer in lower gears, it has to produce many more revolutions for a given number of miles. The same concept applies if you’re traveling through mountainous terrain and straining your engine. Most experts recommend that drivers change to a higher viscosity oil when towing in hot weather. And synthetic oil is often recommended for best performance. Although more expensive than conventional oil, synthetic motor oil is more stable at higher temperatures and won’t burn off as easily. Pre-Cool to Stay Cool: Air movement leaves you feeling cooler, just as it feels cooler outside on a breezy day than it does on a still day. Good airflow increases moisture evaporation, which cools the body. A simple 12-volt roof vent fan can surprise you with the cooling power it offers. By simply
opening a few windows and turning on your roof vent fan, you can keep your RV interior significantly cooler. Roof vent fans are ideal for “pre-cooling” your RV for the RV air conditioner. Removing excess heat before turning on the air conditioner allows your rig to reach a cool and comfortable temperature faster than by using the air conditioner alone. Be sure to close the roof vent and all windows before turning the air conditioner on. Open and close outside doors as little as possible; hot air replaces the air conditioned air you allow to escape through any opening. And, if necessary, section off living areas so that your RV’s air conditioner can work to cool smaller spaces. Don’t operate the kitchen exhaust fan excessively in the middle of the day, since hot air from outside replaces the cool air removed. Food Safety Tips: RV refrigerators and freezers do a fantastic job storing food at a safe temperature. But if you’ve been enjoying an outdoor picnic and your food has been left out in the heat for a long period of time, it’s always best to discard questionable leftovers rather than trying to save them. Make a practice of always using an ice-filled ice chest to keep picnicking foods cool. Just as in your home-based kitchen, the easiest way to protect yourself from foodbourne illness is by maintaining food at its proper storage temperature and by carefully washing all vegetables and fruits. Always cook meats and other foods thoroughly to kill off any harmful bacteria; better yet, buy a small digital meat thermometer and use it! Keep your eyes on the horizon and blaze a trail!
Check out more tips & tricks on trailblazermagazine.com
4THE ROAD PAWS ON
By Jenn Swope Traveling and Camping with Companion Animals who all referred me to the American Veterinary Medical Association for coronavirus related questions and our animals. The link is: avma.org/ blog/what-do-you-need-know-aboutcoronavirus In addition, here are a couple of thoughts that I have.
Jenn, These past several months have been unlike anything we have experienced in the RV industry and truly, all over the world. With your diverse background in both human and animal medicine, have you concerns about our animals getting sick with coronavirus and what changes have you made to your normal every day life that might enlighten fellow readers and people who travel to be safe with their pets. I know this is a loaded question but I’m confident that you will give us some insight that will be of benefit. Thank you, Sara Sara, Thank you for entrusting me with such a personal question. I certainly don’t have all the answers, nor will I never pretend that I do. And yes, these are changing times where common sense, continued education and creativity will help sustain us. I have seen several changes and concerns that have caused alignment shifts in my pets life as well as in my own. My email box has been flooded with questions regarding our pets and what types of safety precautions we can take for ourselves.I am not a doctor, nor a veterinarian, but I have consulted with several veterinarians
My dogs do not understand, and I say that in an anthropomorphic fashion, why it is they are no longer allowed to be greeted and loved on by strangers or even people that we know. All of the sudden, the only attention they receive is from my husband and myself. We noticed that the dogs were sticking a lot closer to us at home and are extra friendly. Even the neighborhood cats were coming by and hanging out. In petting animals outside of our home, it is critical that before we touch our own pets, each other or any surfaces, including door handles, arm railings of the chairs we are sitting in, we have to wash with hot water and soap. And this of course, is the reason we are not allowing anyone that we see on our walks to pet the dogs. Maintaining safe social space is so important. It’s sad really, and I’ve noticed that my dogs are eager to see and interact with other dogs and their humans and I feel bad for people who don’t have more than one pet, or who live alone. Maybe this is a good time to consider fostering an animal in need or add an additional member to the family as a companion animal for the one you currently have. My dogs love cats, and it’s a treat when they show up just to hang out. I have received phone calls from friends who have asked me to FaceTime with them to teach the proper steps on how to properly trim toenails on dogs, cats and birds; in addition to stepping up their game in routine dental care and how to make all of these necessary grooming and hygienic tasks at home daily, weekly
or biweekly standards. I’m proud to see folks just like you stepping up to take on responsibilities that are important to our pets overall healthy lifestyle both in and out of the RV. I have also been corresponding with a friend I used to help with animal training for Hollywood Studios in Southern California. We often brainstorm different ideas on games to play while indoors and tricks to teach our pets. For those of you that have cats in the RV, you know that they are not always keen on interacting but sometimes they surprise us! Did you know that many cats enjoy watching Dominoes fall when in a line up?! If you can prick their interest, a lot of times you can make it their idea to engage and this is a fun suggestion on how to entertain yourself and maybe even your finicky feline! Start small and be creative. Here’s a little inspiration to fuel full timers, snowbirds or even the stay at home more than not days in the RV with your feline friend. https://nerdist.com/article/catsdominoes-video/ My other suggestion is to use natural cleaning products that are non toxic to you and your pets. Caustic cleaners such as bleach and ammonia are as harmful and damaging to your sensitive skin, eyes and lungs as they are to our pets. Check out what my awesome friend, owner of a Spokane based pet grooming “Shear Heaven Pet Salon” and renowned French Bulldog Breeder, Jamie Wilke, suggests for safe household cleaning. See her Facebook group “A Drop in Thyme” jam packed with info on non-toxic options or reach out directly Rkfdbay@aol.com.
Email Jenn your questions and share your pics to JennSwope@gmail.com
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SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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Mention promo code: TTFL20 Restrictions/exclusions apply.Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on standard site unless otherwise specified. Electric not included for stays of 30 days or longer. Rates do not include taxes. Amenities vary by resort. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotions. Rates exclusively for members of Thousand Trails, NACO, Mid-Atlantic, Leisure Time and Outdoor World. Offer not valid on holidays and special events; certain restrictions may apply.
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Thousand Trails
Crossword, Bingo, Maze and Coloring Pages We’re all getting creative with how we’re spending time these days, so we have a few activities to share with you!
Answers found on page 64 56
SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
Play Bingo! How many times can you say BINGO? Mark off the things you’ve done and share your boards with us on the Thousand Trails Facebook page!
SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
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Coloring Pages
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SavetheDate!
Join Us
FOR A ONLINE EDUCATIONAL MEMBERSHIP WEBINAR
On Thursdays at 3pm PST & 6pm EST thousandtrails.com/membership-webinar-rsvp
Ask how you can camp all year long with our Thousand Trails Camping Pass! Our Thousand Trails Camping Pass is offered by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. This advertising is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of resort campground memberships. This document has been filed with the Department of Licensing, State of Washington as required by Washington Law. Value, quality or conditions stated and performance on promises are the responsibility of the operator, not the Department. The filing does not mean the Department has approved the merits or qualifications of any registration, advertising, or any gift or item of value as part of any promotional plan. 60
SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER
SUDOKU
Answers can be found on page 65.
Find The Evergreen Tree An evergreen tree is hidden somewhere in this issue. Send us a postcard telling us where you found it, and if your card is drawn you’ll win a $25 American Express® Prepaid Gift Card.
Tom Mott
Milwaukie, OR Found the tree on Page 15 of the March / April Issue.
Did you find the tree in this issue? Send your entry (postcards only) to: TrailBlazer Evergreen Tree Two North Riverside Plaza Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. Postmark deadline is July 15, 2020 and remember – the tree could be a different color and size.
Terms and Conditions for 2020 Referral Promotion from page 2. For each Eligible Referral (as defined) through December 31, 2020, you will receive a $25 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. In addition, for each Eligible Referral through December 31, 2020, you will receive one entry in a drawing for the following prizes: (i) Grand Prize is either a trip to Hawaii or a 7 night Caribbean Cruise, valued at $4,000, that includes round trip coach airfare for two adults from the continental United States to either Hawaii or Florida, and one hotel/cruise room for 7 nights; (ii) Second Prize is a trip to either Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando, valued at $2,000, that includes round trip coach airfare for two adults from the continental United States to either Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando and one hotel room for 4 nights and (iii) ten (10) Third Prizes waiving payment of the winners’ annual dues for 2021, not to exceed $599 each. The trips do not include taxes, meals, beverages, transfers, gratuities, activities and other personal expenses. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. The drawing will be held at our corporate offices on or about January 7, 2021. The winners will be notified by telephone. The odds of winning a prize depend on the number of entries and are not expected to exceed 1:10,000. For this promotion, an Eligible Referral is a person who (i) purchases a new Zone Camping Pass from us between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 and (ii) lists you as the referring member. This offer is only for members in good standing of Thousand Trails and its affiliates. Due to legal restrictions, (a) residents of AZ, FL, NV, and PA are not eligible to participate in the drawing and you will not receive an entry in the drawing for purchases made by residents of AZ, FL, NV, or PA, and (b) residents of AZ and PA are not eligible to receive a $25 Virtual Visa® Reward Card and you will not receive a $125 Virtual Visa® Reward Card for purchases made by residents of AZ or PA. We reserve the right to extend, modify, suspend, or terminate this promotion at any time for any reason; however, any rewards earned prior to the suspension or termination of this promotion will be honored. Employees of MHC Property Management, L.P. and its affiliates are not eligible to participate in this promotion. All local, state and federal income taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. Accordingly, we recommend that all participants consult a tax advisor about reporting rewards for tax purposes. We will issue the required 1099 to each participant and to the IRS when the total value of awards you are eligible to receive equal or exceed $600 for one year. This advertising is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of resort campground memberships. This document has been filed with the Department of Licensing, State of Washington, as required by Washington law. Value, quality, or conditions stated and performance on promises are the responsibility of the operator, not the Department. This filing does not mean that the Department has approved the merits or qualifications of any registration, advertising, or any gift, prize, or item of value as part of any promotional plan. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.
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PREFERRED RV DEALERS Check out member specials on parts, service, and sales by visiting our preferred RV Dealer partners listed here.
USA A&L RV Sales TN - Christiana, Johnson City, Sevierville, Columbia alrvsales.com A Great Outdoor RV Center TX - Canton • agorv.com Affinity RV AZ - Dewey, Prescott, Prescott Valley affinityrv.com Al’s Trailer Sales OR - Salem • alstrailers.com All Valley RV Center CA - Acton • allvalleyrvcenter.com Alpin Haus NY - Amsterdam, Port Jervis, Saratoga alpinhaus.com American Family RV VA - Chesapeake, VA - Salem americanfamilyrv.com Appleton Camping Center WI - Appleton • appletoncamping.com B&B RV CA - Anderson • bbrv.me Bama RV AL - Dothan • bamarv.com Baydo’s RV of Chehalis WA - Chehalis • baydosrvs.com Big Country RV OR - Bend, Redmond • bigcrv.com Blade Chevrolet RV WA - Mt. Vernon • bladerv.com Blue Dog RV CA - Redding ID - Coeur D’Alene ID - Post Falls NV - Las Vegas OR - Bend OR - Gresham OR - Medford OR - Redmond WA - Fife WA - Kennewick WA - Pasco WA - Spokane Valley bluedogrv.com Boat-N-RV NY - West Coxsackie SC - Ridgeland PA - Hamburg boatnrv.com
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Braun’s Fun Time Campers IN - Indianapolis • funtimecampers.com Browns RV SC - McBee • brownsrvsuperstore.com Camperland Trailer Sales TX - Conroe CT - Union FL - Leesburg, Jacksonville, Ocala FL - Saint Augustine IN - Clarksville SC - Myrtle Beach NC - Kings Mountain, Mocksville, Raleigh NH - Kingston, Merrimack PA - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, MA - Raynham VA - Fredericksburg GA - Macon, Atlanta camperland.net Campers Inn FL - North Jacksonville Fl - Jacksonville GA- Richmond Hill campersinn.com Candy’s Family RV TN - Murfreesboro KY - Scottsville candyscampers.com Canopy Country RV Center WA - Ellensburg, Union Gap canopycountry.com Charlie Obaugh RV VA - Staunton • charlieobaughrv.com Chesaco RV MD - Joppa, Frederick, Gambrills PA - Shoemakersville • chesacorv.com Clear Creek RV WA - Silverdale, Puyallup clearcreekrvcenter.com Cleveland RV GA - Cleveland • clevelandrvsales.com Coastal RV VA - Carrolton • coastalrv.com Colerain Family RV IN - Albany, Indianapolis OH - Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus colerainrv.com Conejo Wholesale Auto and RV CA - Thousand Oaks conejowholesaleauto.com
Country Camping Corner NC - Kings Mountain • countrycamping.com Crossroads Trailers NJ - Newfield • crossroadstrailers.com Cunningham Campers, Inc. IN - Jeffersonville • cunninghamcampers.com Dunlap Family RV TN - Knoxville, Chatanooga, Nashville KY - Bowling Green dunlapfamilyrv.com Economy RVs MD - Mechanicsville • economyrvs.com Ellis Travel Trailers GA - Statesboro • ellistraveltrailers.com ET Quality RV CA - Two locations in Yuba City etqualityrv.com FIFE RV Center WA - Fife • fifervcenter.com Floyd’s RV OK - Norman • floydsrvs.com Freedom RV WA - Liberty Lake • freedomrvusa.com Funtime RV OR - Tualatin • funtimervinc.com Gerzeny’s RV World FL - Nokomis• gerzenysrvworld.com Gibs RV Superstore OR - Coos Bay • gibsrvsuperstore.com Gloucester RV Sales & Service VA - Hayes • gloucesterrv.net Grand View Trailers Sales VA - Bedford • grandviewtrailersales.com Halterman’s RV WA - Arlington, Burlington • haltermansrv.com Hayden’s RVs VA - Richmond • haydensrvs.net Haylett RV MI - Coldwater • haylettautoandrv.com Hitch RV DE - Milford NJ - Berlin • hitchrv.com Indian Valley Camper Center PA - Souderton • ivccrv.com Jeff’s Couch’s RV Nation OH - Hamilton • couchsrvnation.com Johnson RV OR - Sandy WA - Fife • johnsonrv.com Keystone RV Center PA - Greencastle • keystonervcenter.com La Mesa RV AZ - W. Phoenix CA - Sacramento, San Diego FL - Ft. Myers, Orlando, Port St. Lucie lamesarv.com Lakeside RV Sales SC - Anderson • lakesidervsales.com
Lazydays RV AZ - Tucson CO - Denver CO - Loveland FL - Tampa FL - Ocala MN - Minneapolis TN - Knoxville lazydays.com Marjon RV CA - Moreno Valley • marjonrvs.com McKay’s RV & Marine Center ME - Holden • mckaysrv.com Media Camping PA - Media • mediacamping.com Mike Thompson RV Superstores CA - Cathedral City, Colton, Fountain Valley, Santa Fe Springs mikethompson.com Mount Comfort RV IN - Greenfield • mountcomfortrv.com Northside Family RV KY- Lexington • northsidervs.com Opelika RV Center AL - Opelika • opelikarv.com Open Road RV Center WA - Arlington, Monroe openroadrvcenter.com Out of Doors Mart NC - Colfax • outofdoorsmart.com Patterson RV TX - Wichita Falls • pattersonrv.com Phillips RV Center MI - Mount Morris • phillipsrv.com PPL Motorhomes TX - Cleburne, Houston, New Braunfels pplmotorhomes.com Princess Craft RV TX - Round Rock • princesscraft.com Recreation Plantation RV Sales IL - Lynwood recreationplantationrvsales.com Roadhouse Camper & RV PA - Lake Ariel, Scranton roadhousecamper.com Roy Robinson RV WA - Marysville • royrobinsonrv.com Russ Dean Family RV WA - Pasco • russdeanrv.com RV City AZ - Huachuca City • rvcity.net RV Country AZ - Bullhead City, Flagstaff, Mesa, Showlow CA - Fresno NV - Laughlin NV - Sparks OR - Coburg WA - Buckley, Fife, Mt. Vernon, Bonney Lake rvcountry.com
RV General Store OK - Newcastle • rvgeneralstore.com RV’s For Less TN - Knoxville • rvforless.net RV Source TX - Bryan • rvsource.com RVs Northwest WA - Spokane • rvsnorthwest.com RV Value Mart PA - Lititz, Manheim, Willow rvvaluemart.com Sahara RV NV - Las Vegas • sahararv.com San Angelo RV TX - San Angelo • sanangelorvs.com Scott Motor Coach RV Center NJ - Lakewood • scottmotorcoach.com Seguin RV TX - Seguin • seguinrv.com Simi RV & Off Road CA - Simi Valley • simi-rv.com Sky River RV CA - Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, Atascadero skyriverrv.com Snyder’s RV VA - Virginia Beach • snydersrv.com Strickland Marine & RV SC - Seneca • stricklandmarineandrv.com Stoltzfus RV’s & Marine PA - West Chester • stoltzfus-rec.com Sunbelt RV Center TX - Belton • sunbeltrv.com Sundown RV Center CA - Atwater • sundownrv.com Super Deals RV Inc. GA - Temple • superdealsrv.com TAC RV NC - Moyock • tactrailerandrv.com The RV Factory Luxe Fifth Wheel IN - Elkhart • luxefifthwheel.com The Trail Center SC - North Charleston • trailcenter.com Tonie’s RV VA - Salem • toniesrv.com Toscano RV CA - Los Banos • toscanorv.com TravelTime RV TX - Sulphur Springs • traveltimerv.com Vancouver RV & Park Model Center WA - Vancouver • vancouverrv.com Vogt RV TX - Airstream of Dallas Fourth Worth Two other D.F.W Vogt locations vogtrv.com Waterdog RV OR - Dayton • waterdogrv.com Welcome Back RV Outlet TX - Athens • welcomebackrv.com
CANADA Wilder RV WA - Port Angeles • wilderrvs.com Action VR QC - Saint-Nicolas • actionvr.ca Camp Out RV ON - Stratford • campoutrv.com Canadream AB - Calgary BC - Vancouver ON - Toronto NS - Halifax QC - Montreal YT - Whitehorse canadream.com GO VR QC - Ange-Gardien • go-vr.com Horizon Lussier QC - Maryville • horizonlussier.com JCS Entreposage QC - Trois Rivières • entreposagejcs.com Kustom Koach RV Centre BC - Aldergrove • kustomkoachrv.com Lardner’s Trailer Sales SK - Saskatoon • lardners.com Le Centre du Vr Victoriaville QC - Saint-Albert • vrvictoriaville.com Leisure Days RV ON - Aylmer, Kingston, Pembroke, Smiths Falls, Sudbury QC - Buckingham, Gatineau, Sherbrooke NB - Salisbury NS - Truro leisuredays.ca Leisure Trailer Sales ON - Tecumseh • leisuretrailers.com O’Connor RV BC - Chilliwack • oconnorrv.com Ottawa Camping Trailers ON - Ottawa • ottawacamping.ca Roulottes AS Levesque QC - Châteauguay, Saguenay, Sainte-Hélène, Trois-Rivières roulotte.ca Roulottes Remillard QC - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu roulottesremillard.com Véhicules Récréatifs JD QC - Sherbrooke • vrjdrv.ca VR Depot QC - Vaudreuil-Dorion • vrdepot.ca VR Emond Plus QC - Sainte-Nicolas • vremondplus.com VR Prestige QC - Terrebonne • vrprestige.com VR Souliere QC - Lanoraie, Lavaltrie vrsouliere.com
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Maze FINISH
START
Crossword Answers Across: 4. Small, foldable trailer (Popup Trailer) 7. Perfect start to a camping day (Sunrise) 11. Long or short, this is a great exercise (Hike) 12. Keeps you comfy at night (Sleeping bag) 13. You pitch this first (Tent) 14. Traveling Rig (RV)
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Down: 1. Gooey dessert made over fire (S’more) 2. First Thousand Trails campground (Chehalis) 3. You tell stories around this at night (Campfire) 5. Pulled by large trucks, vans or SUVs (Travel Trailer) 6. Lights your way at night (Lantern) 8. Daytime camp activity on water (Fishing) 9. The name of the Thousand Trails squirrel mascot (Philbert) 10. Best way to end your day at camp (Sunset)
Answers: Sudoku can be found on 61.
Branching Out... Seeking a Safer Tomorrow
Help the Manatees, Adopt One Today!
Are you a Photographer or an aspiring Photographer? Submit your high quality photos about your stay at one of our Thousand Trails Properties for a chance to be featured in TrailBlazer and our Social Media Pages! Submit your work to tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com Please submit photos with a short description about your stay. Must be a Thousand Trails Member in order to be considered to be featured.
savethemanatee.org Photo Š Wayne Hartley
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Visit DISHForMyRV.com/Trails or call 1-877-894-6220 Visit DISHForMyRV.com/Trails or call 1-877-894-6220 *With the purchase of a DISH Solo HD receiver and DISH-compatible antenna. Offer limit one per customer. Must mention coupon code at time of order. Not the validpurchase on previous Minimum programming requirement may apply. *With of apurchases. DISH Solo HD receiver and DISH-compatible antenna. Offer limit one per customer. Must mention coupon code at time of order.
Not valid on previous purchases. Minimum programming requirement may apply. View packages for complete details. For Pay-As-You-Go service, all charges, including monthly programming, pay-per-view and equipment upgrades, 66 SUMMER 2020 TRAILBLAZER must be paid in advance; failure to pay by due date will lead to service disconnection within 24programming, hours. All prices, packages,and programming, features, View packages for complete details. For Pay-As-You-Go service, all charges, including monthly pay-per-view equipment upgrades, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. State reimbursement charges may apply. Additional restrictions apply. must be paid in advance; failure to pay by due date will lead to service disconnection within 24 hours. All prices, packages, programming, features,
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Wherever your travels take you enjoy lifes’ delights with passion and
LIVE
All without worry, because if something happens and you need medical evacuation home then
LAUGH & Use your SkyMed membership card to pay the bill and
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