TrailBlazer Magazine - Summer 2021 by TrailBlazer Magazine

SUMMER ISSUE 2021 • $2.00

2021:

THE YEAR OF THE ROADTRiP WEEKENDS ARE FOR WANDERiNG INTRODUCiNG...AMERiCAN FORESTS

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 1

www.trailblazermagazine.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mark Slattery GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michelle Villadolid MISSION STATEMENT TrailBlazer provides exclusive news and information for the members and guests of Thousand Trails Family of campgrounds and resorts.

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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. TRAILBLAZER MAGAZINE Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606 tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com TrailBlazermagazine.net NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS Visit www.trailblazermagazine.net and click on the ‘Subscribe’ tab to easily subscribe online today! PRINTED IN THE USA

From left to right: Erica Bader, Ken Olney, Pat Olney and Debbie Comuso

Our winners for the Summer Issue are...Pat and Ken Olney from Philadelphia, PA. The Olneys were camping at Lake and Shore in NJ, when they were given the news! Thousand Trails is offering members the opportunity to win a $1,000 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. Gift Card

THOUSAND TRAILS RESERVATIONS Call: (800) 288-7245 Canada: (228) 497-3594 Mon - Fri 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST ThousandTrails.com Remember! Thousand Trails members get preferred rates at RVontheGo.com (877) 570-2267 RVontheGo.com

2 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

When you pay your annual dues for 2021 in full, you will be entered into our quarterly drawing for a $1,000 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. There will be one drawing/one winner each quarter from January through December 2021. In addition, once you pay your dues in full, each time you camp at a Thousand Trails campground in 2021, you will receive an additional entry into the drawing. The drawings are limited to persons who are of legal age. The drawings will be held at our corporate office on the 10th day after the end of each quarter. Winners will be notified by mail, phone or in person if camping at a Thousand Trails campground. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries but are not expected to exceed 1:100,000. Winners are responsible for federal and state taxes on the award. Accordingly, we recommend that all participants consult a tax advisor about reporting awards for tax purposes. We will issue the required 1099 to each recipient and to the IRS when the total cash payments and value of awards you are eligible to receive equal or exceed $600.00 for one year. You may also enter the drawings by printing your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, and email address on a 3” x 5” piece of paper and mailing it to the Sponsor in addressed, stamped envelope. You are limited to one mail-in entry which must be postmarked by December 15, 2021. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. The Virtual Visa® Reward will be sent via email to the email address provided. The Virtual Visa® Reward will come from reward@virtualrewardcenter.com. The Virtual Visa® Reward can be used to buy what you want, when you want it. Because it is so flexible and convenient, the Virtual Visa® Reward makes it easy to treat yourself to something special or to help cover your everyday expenses. The decision is yours. The virtual reward is issued by Sutton Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used wherever Visa® Debit cards are accepted. Terms and conditions apply. Your Virtual Visa® Reward may not be used outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia, nor may it be used with merchants located outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia for online, mail or telephone orders. Any purchases made with the Virtual Visa® Reward must only be in U.S. currency.

SUMMER 2021 VOL.59 • ISSUE 3

WHAT’S INSIDE

Outdoorsy

SUMMER ISSUE 2021 • $2.00

regulars

lifestyle

58 TT Adventure

Message from Marguerite

60 Crossword Puzzle

Pictures from the Park

61 Sudoku Puzzle

10 I Knew I was A TrailBlazer: The Lopez family

62 Preferred RV Dealer List

2021:

The year of the roadtrip Weekends are for Wandering Introducing...American Forests

tips & topics 56 Tech Topics 57 4 Paws on the Road

34 On The

Cover:

Upper Yosemite Falls: the river just before plunging down

Weekend Wandering

14 BUC-EE’S 28 Petite Retreats 30 #100DaysofCamping 32 Open New Doors at myMHcommunity.com! 38 Now Serving: One Ideal Summer 46 In the Kitchen: BBQ Campfire Ribs 48 On the Road with Johnny Lee SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 3

THE NATION’S TOP SELECTION OF RV BRANDS VISIT LAZYDAYS.COM OR CALL 866.531.6818

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* Only available when financing $50,000 or less, with approved credit. Financing terms subject to lender approval. Not valid with other offers. See dealership for complete details. ** Financing terms subject to lender approval. Not valid with other offers. See dealership for complete details.

SALES • SERVICE • PARTS & ACCESSORIES

4 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021 4

Ponderosa RV Campground - Lotus, CA

MESSAGE FROM

MARGUERITE

ummer is officially here and we’re celebrating the #100DaysofCamping. I hope you’re all enjoying the warm weather and taking advantage of the season in the best possible way: by choosing to get out and camp. All too often, life can get in the way and prevent us from spending time doing what we truly enjoy. The summer season reminds us to slow down a bit and get back to basics, and there’s truly no better way to do so than to spend time in the great outdoors and embrace the RV lifestyle. I’m sure you’ve heard friends and family talk about hitting the road and exploring the country while we continue to work through this new normal. Camping and RVing has proven to be an enjoyable travel option for many, and we’re seeing more individuals prioritize the great outdoors and genuine connections as they make their travel plans. The opportunity to make memories begins as soon as you walk out the door and hit the road. This issue of Trailblazer highlights a number of road trips across the country, from the beloved Route 66 and Pacific Coast Highway to shorter jaunts that can be accomplished in a weekend. Whatever your road trip preference (the scenic route or short and sweet), you’re sure to find one to enjoy this summer! A benefit of enjoying the RV lifestyle is the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and truly enjoy all your surroundings have to offer. Given our relationship with the great outdoors, Thousand Trails and Encore RV Resorts has committed to planting 100,000 trees with

American Forests. Since its founding in 1875, American Forests has proudly fought to protect the health of our forest ecosystems. Over the nearly century and a half that American Forests has been in action, they have achieved major milestones in forest conservation and regrowth, job creation, and public education. We are proud to work with this organization and to commit to planting trees in areas of need, including the Lower Rio Grande Valley and the southeast. As you find yourself vacationing with us and making memories with friends and family, I encourage you to share your photos with our #100DaysofCamping hashtag. I truly enjoy keeping up with your adventures throughout the summer camping season, and seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces. From catching that first fish to spending time together around the campfire, it’s a joy to see the memories being made and photos being shared from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. I hope you find both travel and sustainability inspiration in this issue of Trailblazer magazine. Enjoy the summer season and get out and camp!

Marguerite Nader President & CEO SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 5

Win

EACH Issue!

Share your adventures in 3 easy steps!

1. Capture a photo of your trip at one of our parks. 2. Share with us at TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com. 3. Check out next month to see if you’re a winner. Winners will receive a $50 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. Each issue we will select ONE “winning” photo from the submissions received (all submissions must be received by midnight on the last day of the month). The winning photo will be posted on the TrailBlazer website as well as in the magazine. Photo submissions should include a brief description, including location of your photo, your name, email address, city and state and sent to:

TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com

or mail to:

TrailBlazer Magazine Attn: TrailBlazer Editor Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606

Emailed photos should be high resolution. Photos are not returnable and become the property of TrailBlazer Magazine and may be used for publication on company websites and promotional purposes. One winner will be selected EACH month from submissions received. The winner will be announced in a future TrailBlazer issue and online at trailblazermagazine.net.

▲ South Jetty RV Campground (OR): Three great nights at Thousand Trails South Jetty. – Walter Morales 6 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

▲ Chehalis RV Campground (WA): Jackson (5) on the playground at Thousand Trails Chehalis. – Sarah Russell

▲ Little Diamond RV Campground (WA): Camp setup after a long trip. – Matt Shields

▲ Ponderosa RV Campground (CA): My sister and I painted rocks at Ponderosa to leave on the stump by the river where many leave rocks and other memories of their stay. – Debbie Williams SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 7

AMERICAN FORESTS

Introducing…

American Forests AlessandraRC / Shutterstock

t’s with you on every camping trip and outdoor adventure, but it doesn’t take up any room in your pack, RV, or tent. It’s been featured in every nature selfie, camping advertisement and video from the great outdoors – even though you can’t exactly see it. Who is this invisible yet essential partner? It’s the crisp, clean air that we enjoy whenever we’re in or near healthy forest ecosystems! Thousand Trails and Encore RV Resorts know that healthy forests are

8 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

important to every outdoor enthusiast. Through a new agreement with American Forests, Thousand Trails and Encore RV Resorts has committed to plant 100,000 trees in key locations, including the American Southeast and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuges in Texas. Established barely a decade after the Civil War, American Forests is the oldest national conservation organization in the country. Since its founding in 1875, American Forests has

proudly fought to protect the health of our forest ecosystems against irresponsible development and degradation. The reforestation projects are conducted by local partners and American Forests’ American ReLeaf program, a landscape-scale restoration program driven by one unifying goal: to restore North America’s native forest landscapes to full health and long-term resilience. Healthy forests are essential to people and wildlife. They filter our air and water, provide

jobs and help mitigate climate change. By working with American Forests, Thousand Trails and Encore RV Resorts can help maintain biodiversity across the company’s 8,000 forested acres and beyond. American Forests estimates that the trees planted as part of this comminment will capture, store, and filter 12,732,063 gallons of water a year – enough to fill roughly 19 Olympic swimming pools! Clean water is essential not just for your canteen, but also for the health of wildlife, our rivers and streams, and plantlife within and outside our forests. By the time they’re 50-years-old, these trees will have stored approximately 20,950 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in their roots, stems, and trunks. That’s roughly equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from energy use in 2,523 American homes. The relationship with American Forests doesn’t start and stop with replanting, however. American Forests, Thousand Trails and Encore RV Resorts will also be ensuring that forests have what they need to survive and thrive in a changing climate. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas – a biodiversity hotspot that’s home to threatened and endangered species such as the ocelot – seedlings with protective tubes that shield the young plants from hot sun and drying winds will be planted. Elsewhere in the U.S. (e.g., California, the Great Lakes, Southeast, Rockies, and Cascades) support from this

USFWS Midwest via Flickr

Over the nearly century and a half that American Forests has been in action, they have achieved major milestones in forest conservation and regrowth, job creation, and public education: • Originated the ideas for a national forest system and the U.S. Forest Service. • Created the first conservation periodical in the nation. • Successfully advocated for the expansion of national forests in the eastern U.S. • Worked alongside President Franklin Roosevelt to create the Civilian Conservation Corps. • Funded more than 1,000 forest restoration projects in every state in the nation and planted more than 65 million trees across the globe. • Helped launch and co-leads the U.S. chapter of 1t.org, a global community committed to conserving, restoring and growing 1 trillion trees by 2030. agreement will help to collect seed for future forests, control invasive weeds at planting sites, and give trees the follow-up care they need to grow.

like this one, American Forests is bringing folks together to help solve some of the biggest challenges facing our forests and climate today.”

“Forest sustainability is much more than just tree planting,” said Eric Sprague, Vice President of Forest Restoration at American Forests. “To grow and maintain healthy forests, we need a mix of approaches that includes tree planting as well as forest conservation, quality science and data gathering, and developing robust community networks. Through relationships

To learn more about American Forests and how you can help protect our public and private forest lands, visit americanforests.org. Keep an eye out for engagement opportunities on your next outdoor adventure and get to know the trees responsible for the crisp, clean air at your favorite campground or outdoor destinations! ■ SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 9

I KNEW I WAS A

TRAILBLAZER FEATURING

The Lopez family In this issue, Trailblazer would like to introduce you to the Lopez family. In 2019, they decided the fulltime RV lifestyle was for them – all five of them to be exact! Read on to learn more about why they value the RV lifestyle. 10 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

I KNEW I WAS A TRAILBLAZER TB: How long have you been camping and RVing? Who introduced you to it? Tell us how it all began! ML: We started in March of 2019; we wanted to simplify life. We had a 10acre farm, we were involved in our kids’ sports – hubby was a coach plus VP of the league – and we were already homeschooling plus running a business. The idea of scratching everything off and starting a new chapter sounded perfect. The thought of RVing was born right after my husband’s uncle came to visit us. He had just bought an RV to travel the country and once we got to talking more in depth with him, we knew this was something we definitely wanted to do. We wanted to explore the country but stay within the comforts of our home. TB: How did you first hear about Thousand Trails? ML: We actually went to a Thousand Trails park to reserve for a monthly stay and the receptionist mentioned that for the same cost we would be able to purchase the pass and camp free. Of course, we were very skeptical about it and asked the same question in many different ways: what is the catch? I’m glad there was no catch because this membership has saved us tons of money. TB: What is one of your fondest camping memories? How about one of your fondest TT memories?

ML: We’ve shared so many amazing memories with so many families but if we have to choose one then we’d say caravanning this past winter. We spent months with the same families, traveling to the same parks. It was like having your closest friends and family over for a weekend BBQ that turned into five months long. We love Hidden

Cove in Arley, Alabama. It has beautiful lake views and the kids enjoyed swimming in the lake almost every day. TB: Any funny camping/ RVing stories? ML: We’ve had so many rookie mistakes but the funniest would have to be the sewer hose. The boys are always in charge of SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 11

all connections. Apparently this day, someone didn’t sleep enough and failed to close the black tank after disconnecting the hose. So, you can imagine what happened when we arrived to the next park and the cap comes off for the hose to connect. Slush everywhere. We laugh now but I can assure you, nobody was laughing that day. TB: What type of camper are you/what equipment do you use? What do you prefer and why? (ex: fifth wheel, RV, tent, cabins, etc.) 12 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

ML: We pull a 44’ Sabre 38DBQ by Forest River fifth wheel with our Ford F350. We chose this camper because it has two full bedrooms and bathrooms. We loved the separation of space it provided for us with the kids plus we can tow it anywhere and feel at home. TB: Where have you gone that you wouldn’t have otherwise,

To hear more about the Lopez family and their adventures, follow them on Instagram at @lopez_partyof5_adventures

I KNEW I WAS A TRAILBLAZER if it hadn’t been for your Thousand Trails membership? ML: The Florida Keys! Hotel prices are expensive and being able to spend weeks/ months in the Keys has been a huge blessing. TB: What is your favorite part about the outdoor lifestyle? ML: We love everything about the outdoors. The beautiful and different sceneries, the fresh air, walking, fishing, kayaking, campfires, barbecuing, and swimming. But mostly, this lifestyle

encourages you to come outside which allows you to meet so many people. TB: This is the question we will be finishing the feature with every issue. We want to know when you knew you were the consummate camper, a true TrailBlazer. Can you finish this sentence? I knew I was a TrailBlazer when...

we can pick up and go as we please. We feel happy with this lifestyle and have no plans in sight to ever go back. ■

ML: I knew I was a TrailBlazer when the thought of going back to a stationary life in a sticks and bricks home didn’t attract us at all. We crave the changes and the flexibility that

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 13

BUC-EE’S The Theme Park of Rest Stops

By Cele & Lynn Seldon

14 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

BUC-EE’S

hey say everything is bigger in Texas. And that is certainly true for Buc-ee’s, a legendary convenience store/travel center headquartered in Lake Jackson, Texas. Back in 1982, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, a young Texas A&M University graduate, decided to open a typical convenience store on a whim, with the goal of offering the best selection and service in the category.

Fast forward 39 years and today, Buc-ee’s has 43 locations in four states (Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) with expansion plans into three additional states (South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee) to celebrate their 40th anniversary, as well as an equal partner in Don Wasek. But what makes Buc-ee’s not your run-ofthe-mill convenience store is their “everything is bigger in Texas” attitude and approach. With each subsequent opening since the original,

the stores have gotten larger, with additional merchandise like on-site kitchens preparing sandwiches and breakfast tacos, clothing, and fishing gear. But the constants have always been clean restrooms and cheap ice. As well as the name and logo – an homage to Aplin’s mother’s nickname for him, “Beaver,” and his beloved Labrador retriever, Buck. In 2003, Aplin and Wasek decided to enlarge their footprint even more with the opening of a travel center, offering more of,

Photos Courtesy of Buc-ee’s

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 15

well, everything. The largest of the travel center concept – representing half of their stores today – is 68,000 square feet (which could hold about 22 average-sized 7-Elevens or two average-sized Whole

16 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

Foods stores) in New Braunfels, Texas, and is the flagship of the expanding company. It’s definitely not your run-of the-mill convenience store, in that the New Braunfels

location boasts 120 gas pumps, 1,000 parking spots (don’t be fooled, it’s not a truck stop, however, in that Buc-ee’s doesn’t allow 18 wheelers at their gas pumps), 80 fountain dispensers, 64 ice freezers,

BUC-EE’S and 27 cash registers, not to mention 24/7 restrooms with more than 33 urinals and 50 toilet stalls. Although perhaps a bit smaller, the other travel

centers in the chain have a similar breadth of merchandise and variety, including: freshly roasted nuts; dozens of Icee flavors – including rarely seen concoctions like Dr. Pepper

and Big Red; coffee stations with a selection of flavored creamers that will boggle the mind; a fountain soda bar that comes close to the size of a football field; more than a dozen jerky flavors, including several wild game options; fudge made inhouse in special kettles; rows of their own sugary, caramelcoated corn concoction, Beaver Nuggets, along with the Nuggets’ savory cousin, Buc-ee’s Nug-ees, a cheesy, salty puff; and the traditional assortment of convenience store packaged food stuffs and beverages. According to Bon Appetit, Houston chef, Ford Fry calls Buc-ee’s, “the gold standard for road trip junk food.”

Photo Courtesy of Nick Hogan

Photos Courtesy of Buc-ee’s SUMMER SUMMER 2021 2021 TRAILBLAZER TRAILBLAZER 17 17

For the culinary connoisseur on the road, Buc-ee’s is home to the Texas Round Up BBQ bar. Cooking up barbecue all day long in a state that knows a thing or two about ‘cue, brisket, sliced sausage, turkey, and other fresh made-to-order sandwiches and tacos are available around the clock. Alternatively, visitors can satisfy their sweet tooth with 18 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

a dizzying array of kolaches, a fruit-filled sweet pastry that found its way to Texas by way of Czechoslovakia. According to Aplin, Buc-ee’s isn’t a restaurant in a typical tradition because of its togo format. However, they have put a lot of thought into manageable foods that can be eaten in your lap while driving. In addition to these

tasty Texas traditions, the menu items and merchandise mix is changing to highlight local and regional specialties of Buc-ee’s new locations. It’s not just the food that makes people call Buc-ee’s the Cadillac of convenience stores. They also stock all kinds of apparel, hunting and sports paraphernalia, toys, jewelry,

BUC-EE’S

Photo Courtesy of Nick Hogan

household décor, religious items, artwork, locally grown and made products like sauces, preserves and produce, and all kinds of Buc-ee the Beaver products like hats, t-shirts, and stuffed animals. But, perhaps, Buc-ee’s is best known for their pristine restrooms. With the New Braunfels flagship location

being named “Best Restroom in America” in 2012 by Cintas, the industry leader in restroom supplies, Buc-ee’s bathrooms are enormous, featuring spacious entryways with bright lighting, solid doors between stalls, and are maintained 24/7 by uniformed employees whose sole responsibility is to keep them immaculate. Obviously,

Aplin and Wasek are no fools. They know that to get to the restrooms, customers must walk past all those tasty rows of food, beverages, merchandise, and tchotchkes. DRIVE ON THROUGH Visit www.bucees.com for information about the nearest Buc-ee’s for your next road trip. ■ SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 19

ROAD TR

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ROAD TRIP

IP! Eight Great American Road Trips to Take This Summer By Lynn & Cele Seldon

uite simply, there’s never been a better time for a summer road trip in the United States. It’s time to hit the road, Jack…and Jill!

While there are dozens of widely varied possibilities across the country, here are eight great U.S.A. road trips for this summer, plus four more “extra credit” road trip possibilities. U.S. ROUTE 1: Running from Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, to Key West, Florida, U.S. Route 1 runs 2,369 miles, making it the longest north-to-south road in the nation. Picture-perfect monuments await road trippers at both ends. The road generally parallels I-95 most of the time though it’s much further east of I-95 between Petersburg, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida. I-95 replaced Route 1 as the main northsouth corridor starting in the late-1960s, so Route 1 provides a great alternative for road trippers who aren’t in a hurry. It passes through major cities, small towns, and lots of Americana and countryside. Moon’s e-book, Road Trip USA: Atlantic Coast, is a great resource. BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY: Perhaps unlike any other road in the world, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina offers one of the ultimate fall foliage road trips for RVers of all experience levels. It meets all of the prerequisites in resounding fashion: only two lanes of traffic; historical interest; friendly and interesting people; great scenery and fall colors; and many places to stop for the night. Since its inception, the Blue Ridge Parkway has been called “America’s Favorite Drive.” It was authorized in the 1930s as a Depression-era public works project, but was a half-century in the making. When completed, it was the nation’s first – and ultimately the longest – rural parkway. It connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (at the equally pretty 105-mile Skyline Drive, see “Extra Credit”) with Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The total distance is 469 miles, making it an ideal four- or fiveday trip in an RV (though it’s appealing to take longer and many RVers do just that come fall). Moon’s book, Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip, is a great resource. SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 21

ROAD TRIP

Overseas Highway

OVERSEAS HIGHWAY: There simply may be no better waterfocused road trip in the United States than the Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys. As the southernmost leg of U.S. Route 1 that’s often appropriately called the “Highway that Goes to Sea,” the Overseas Highway remains a modern travel wonder and one of America’s classic drives. The magic carpet ride cum highway follows a trail originally blazed in 1912 when railroad baron Henry Flagler completed the extension of his Florida East Coast Railroad from Miami to Key West. The Overseas Highway represents a remarkable engineering feat: 113 miles of roadway and 42 bridges leapfrogging across the water from key to key in a series of giant arches of concrete and steel. The Atlantic Ocean lies on one side of the highway, with Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on the other – providing 22 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

road trippers with breathtaking vistas of open sea and sky. Moon Florida Keys will be very helpful along the way. GATOR TRAIL: GATOR, the Gulf Alliance of Tourism Organization Representatives, is a brand-new partnership aimed at introducing road trippers to the unique culture of the Gulf Coast regions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This classic southern road trip encompasses eight distinctive destinations in three states that are linked by one body of water, thousands of fabulous recipes, millions of residents who make guests feel right at home, and countless extraordinary experiences. From east to west, highlights of the GATOR Trail include Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Mobile, Ocean Springs, Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Metarie, Thibodaux, Houma,

Road Reads Beloved travel book publishers Moon (www.moon.com)

and Lonely Planet

(www.lonelyplanet.com)

both offer an array of helpful books about road trips. Along with road trip-specific books from both publishers, Moon’s Road Trip USA features 11 road trips and lots of route combinations, making it a great choice for armchair travel, road trip planning, and ultimate road trips. They also publish The Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the USA and oversee a very helpful road trips website, www.roadtripusa.com.

Lake Charles, and much more. GATOR road trippers could make the drive in about six hours, but there’s so much to see and do (and eat) that it will likely take several days or even longer. Many RVers can now enjoy the GATOR Trail when they’re heading to the Southeast from the Southwest and beyond. Americana Music Triangle: Music fans across the country have a one-stop shopping resource to easily research and explore the more than 1,500 miles of Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas highways and backroads that make up the Americana Music Triangle. This massive preservation, informational, and premier road trip planning project brings to life nine uniquely American genres of music in the South. With more than 30 communities linked along the “Gold Record Road,” music-minded road warriors can explore blues, jazz,

Americana Music Triangle

country, rock ‘n’ roll, R&B and soul, gospel, Cajun/zydeco, bluegrass and more. From Elvis Presley’s birthplace in Tupelo and his over-the-top Graceland in Memphis to the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola, the honkytonks of Broadway in Nashville, and the history of the legendary Muscle Shoals sound at FAME Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, there’s something for everyone. Designed to be completed in about three weeks if pursued in one trip, but easily broken down into smaller outings, the American Music Triangle is divided into five general segments that basically complete a clockwise loop between New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, and back. The sections are: New Orleans to Natchez; Vicksburg to Memphis; Memphis to Nashville; Nashville to Muscle Shoals; and Tupelo to New Orleans. Those with even more time in this area can also enjoy The Great River Road,

which connects Louisiana and Minnesota along the mighty Mississippi River. Moon Nashville to New Orleans Road Trip is a great resource for both epic road trips. Route 66: Memorialized in song, television, and more, hitting the road on Route 66 is on the bucket list of many trailblazers. Originally running almost 2,500 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, Route 66 was – and remains – an American icon. From the Great Lakes to the grand Pacific Ocean, Route 66 is still very much alive and kicking at many stops along the way. One of America’s original highways, Route 66 was established by the U.S. Highway System on November 11, 1926, with signage marking the evolving road sprouting in 1927. Route 66 evolved out of several earlier trails and roads, including a government-funded wagon road from the mid1800s that followed the 35th Parallel, the Postal Highway, the Ozark Trails system, the National Old Trails Road, the Lone Star Route, and other SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 23

DRIVE: This short road trip Extra 1.SKYLINE adds another 105 miles of pretty driving from the northern starting point of the C redit: Blue Ridge Parkway. Four More Fun Road Trip Ideas

Here are five additional road trips to consider taking this summer:

early passages westward ho. The catchy name “Route 66” was first proposed in Springfield, Illinois, and the city still proudly features many original sections. Of course, many commercial establishments targeting and serving travelers opened along

CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL: Buy and use Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail to explore Black America’s fight for equality and freedom, including landmarks to celebrations of triumph over adversity.

Route 66 during the late-1920s and through World War II and beyond. They ranged from accommodations and dining options to service stations, gift shops, wide-ranging attractions, and more. Though a majority have since closed, many now-classic places remain open on various sections of still-open Route 66. Lonely Planet and Moon both have great Route 66 guidebooks. THE LONELIEST ROAD: Like Route 66, U.S. Highway 1, and many other longdistance drives, the coast-tocoast drive from San Francisco to Ocean City, Maryland, on U.S. Highway 50, provides a classic road trip of about 3,200 miles. Of course, it’s easy to plan shorter

24 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

road trip segments anywhere in the country along this route. The name originates from the long stretches of desolate landscapes along the route – especially in Nevada, where the moniker evidently originated. Moon’s excellent book, The Loneliest Road Road Trip, says don’tmiss highlights on this classic road include South Lake Tahoe, California, The Million Dollar Highway (stunning scenery on U.S. Highway 550 spur road off U.S. 50), and Dodge City, Kansas. Those with time should consider combining The Loneliest Road with Route 66 in the St. Louis area and beyond, or connecting with U.S. Highway 1 on the east coast. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY: The Pacific Coast Highway is simply one of the roads every American should drive at least once. Running from the rugged coastline of northwest Washington State near Seattle down through Oregon and California to San Diego, the PCH is perfect

ROAD TRIP

CIVIL WAR TRAIL: Lonely Planet’s Civil War Trail Road Trips is the perfect companion for exploring Civil War history, including four specific road trips and more.

BASEBALL TRAIL: Baseball fans can hit a home run with Moon Baseball Road Trips, which covers all 30 Major League ballparks, including road trips like Boston to DC, a loop through the Midwest, and a West Coast swing.

Pacific Coast Highway

for varied segments or the entire drive of about 1,650 miles. Running around 300 miles to the Oregon state line, the aptly-named Evergreen State’s portion of Pacific Coast Highway is generally assumed to start in Port Townsend, overlooking Puget Sound. However, many PCH adventurers start their drive in Seattle and head straight

to the coast in Aberdeen for incredible Washington State coastal road tripping. Next, running for more than 350 miles along the rugged Oregon coast from Astoria to Brookings, the Beaver State’s stretch of PCH features a bevy of protected areas hugging the cold Pacific Ocean, where fresh seafood is found for all to enjoy. Finally, the

Golden State features about a thousand miles of PCH pleasures and it gets started with a bang almost as soon as drivers cross the state line. This is classic northern California coastal nature at its best. Whether you choose a section or all three states, be sure to take Moon’s book, Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip. ■ SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 25

CAMPING

NEVER LOOKED (or Tasted) SO GOOD With unlimited overnight stays at over 2400+ incredible locations (including 409+ golf courses) across North America, Harvest Hosts offers a unique RV experience like no other. Visit harvesthosts.com to start your adventure today!

26 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

HARVEST HOSTS

ave you ever pictured yourself waking up to the sunrise over golden-lit vineyards, parking your RV amongst beautiful columns of lavender, or enjoying delicious pizza and brews with your own homeon-wheels parked just steps away? All of these experiences and so many more can be shared through the incredible program that is Harvest Hosts. What is Harvest Hosts, you may ask? At its core, Harvest Hosts is a special type of membership club for RVers, offering overnight RV camping accommodations at 2,400+ locations across North America. Once members join the Harvest Hosts program, they gain access to the full list of locations available to them, allowing them to book Harvest Hosts stays and begin camping right away.

Harvest Hosts locations include businesses such as wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, museums, golf courses and other unique attractions, each of which open up their parking lots, farmlands, or other types of property to allow RVers to spend the night at no additional cost. In exchange for the night’s stay, members are expected to make a purchase of at least $20 at the place of business. This mutual relationship benefits both the host and the member,

providing additional business to the host and an overnight camping spot to the member. In addition to providing benefits to both parties, the Harvest Hosts program also provides one-of-a-kind experiences that one would not generally find on a typical road trip or at a standard RV campground. Many Harvest Hosts members are able to learn about all sorts of different businesses, simply by striking up a conversation with their Host. Furthermore, they are able to gain insight to many of the inner workings of rural America and learn about all sorts of small businesses and ways of life for many different people. Essentially, these stays offer the exact type of soughtafter experiences that tend to convince RVers to hit the road in the first place. Staying at Harvest Hosts locations compliments a typical RV road trip in the best possible way. When going to or coming from a vacation destination, travelers can use the Harvest Hosts website or app to locate Harvest Hosts locations nearby and book these stays. Members could even create an entire road trip out of Harvest Hosts locations if they wanted! There are locations in almost every area of the country, and the program is constantly

expanding and adding even more possible locations. All of these locations are available for the price of $99 per year for the classic membership or $139 per year for the upgraded golf membership, which allows access for 400+ additional locations, such as golf courses and country clubs. The Harvest Hosts mission is simple. We feel that RVing provides a sense of ultimate freedom, which most people seek and not enough find. As cheesy as it sounds, we think we can help a lot of people live happier lives if we can get them off of their couch and onto the open road, connecting with fantastic businesses all around North America. If you are looking for a unique RVing experience that the entire family can enjoy, then look no further! With hundreds of locations available, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy with Harvest Hosts. Whether you find yourself sipping wine at a California vineyard, petting alpacas on a farm in Maine, or touring an RV history museum in Indiana, we can guarantee that you will make incredible memories that will last a lifetime. For a glimpse at the small-town, hidden gems of Real America, consider a Harvest Hosts membership for your family. You’ll be glad you did! ■

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 27

Your vacation plans may be tiny… but they will be mighty. From tiny houses and cabins to yurts or covered wagons, your next vacation will leave a big impression.

Natchez Trace s TN

Visit petiteretreats.com to plan your getaway today!

COMING SOON!

We’re excited to announce our upcoming Natchez Trace Tiny House Village, located about an hour outside of Nashville, TN. These six tiny houses can’t wait for you to visit. Rancho Oso s CA 28 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

Marina Dunes s CA

SPING 2021 TRAILBLAZER

Leavenworth Tiny House Village s WA SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 29

30 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

#100DaysofCamping Each year, we celebrate the 100 summer days in between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the official #100DaysofCamping. 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 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: • Use our #100DaysofCamping story sticker in your Instagram stories. • Take a photo with our printable #100DaysofCamping 2021 graphic, or hang it proudly in your RV!

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 31

It’s not about what you’re leaving behind.

Open New Doors

to new family memories.

The most exciting doors in life are the unfamiliar ones, the doors that are full of possibilities. The doors that make you feel like a kid again. And sometimes, when you open new doors, it means you finally feel at home.

Take a Virtual Tour and make it yours! 32 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

It’s about what you’re going to.

3 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.

ideo walk through tours of V 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.

Learn more at or Call (800) 274-7314 SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 33

WEEKEND WANDERING

Weekend L

et’s face it, the weekends come and go so fast you almost forget you had one. We’ve got some ideas on how to make this summer the summer of unforgettable weekends. Spend the weekends wandering on some of these incredible, but short, road trips. Chicago to Door County, Wisconsin Leave the Windy City behind for a few days and wind your way through Wisconsin to the pretty eastern peninsula that is Door County. In just under a four-hour drive, you’ll find a summer adventure waiting. The great thing is that Door County has something for everyone. Being a peninsula, it is obviously surrounded by water so aquatic adventures are on the agenda. Kayak, jet-ski, stand-up paddle board, or just splash around in the cool waters of Lake Michigan. There are also lighthouses to tour (11

34 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

in fact); wine to be tasted (consider exploring the Door County Wine Trail); an old-timey drive-in that plays the latest movies; plenty of hiking in the five state parks found there, and charming towns to visit including Egg Harbor, Sturgeon Bay, and Ephraim. For extra fun, visit during the annual Door County Fair, scheduled for July 28 through August 1, 2021. Philadelphia to Gettysburg Of course, Philadelphia is a great place when it comes to attractions and things to do. There’s the whole history perspective and then there’s the iconic Rocky Steps and the LOVE sculpture, but if you call Philly or the surrounding ‘burbs home, you’ve been there, done that. But just two hours west of the city, you can explore history and enjoy more greenery than the city may have to offer. Gettysburg is one of the most historic areas in the country in

Wandering By Joan Rykal

terms of Civil War history and is home to the Gettysburg National Military Park. Visitors may also find the David Wills House of interest – it’s where President Lincoln prepped and practiced his famous Gettysburg Address. Gettysburg is also charming with an historic downtown full of shops, boutiques, and artisan galleries. Another fun weekend activity: exploring the bounty of farmer’s markets. If you visit Gettysburg, you’ll be smack dab in the middle of Pennsylvania’s Fruit Belt and there are plenty of markets to check out. Don’t miss the Adams County Farmer’s Market held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Gettysburg. Los Angeles to San Diego While they are both beautiful California locales with the ocean nearby and the marvelous west coast climate, Los Angeles and San Diego couldn’t

be more different. While LA may be a bit more go, go, go, San Diego is a bit more let’s just roll. One of the shorter, more popular California road trips is the 125-mile drive from LA to San Diego. You could opt for a quick freeway drive or take it slow and meander down the Pacific Coast Highway and see the sights along the way. This would have you leaving LA in the morning and bunking down in San Diego when that beautiful California sun sets. Stops along the way could include Huntington Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, and Carlsbad. Huntington Beach has a classic pier, which is one of the longest on the West Coast and is worth a look-see for photos ops and ocean views. HB is also home to the International Surfing Museum which is perfectly located in a town whose surfing history dates back to 1914 and hosts the U.S. Open of Surfing every summer. Further

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 35

WEEKEND WANDERING down the coast, you’ll find Dana Point – a great Saturday stop thanks to the fabulous farmer’s market with offerings like locally grown produce, avocado oil, raw honey, and artisanal crafts. Stretch your legs and walk the Bluff Top Trail along the Dana Point Bluffs. Carlsbad is home to LEGOLAND and Carlsbad AquaFarm, an historic oyster farm which offers tours while San Juan Capistrano has the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano and plenty more Spanish-style architecture plus shops and eateries in the downtown area. Austin to Dallas Texas is one big state but that’s what makes it fun to road trip around. At over 260,000 square miles, there’s gotta be a road you’ll want to travel or plenty of roads you’ll want to travel! Consider a road trip from Austin to Dallas for a long weekend getaway (travel tip: If you live in Dallas, just head south for a

WHERE TO

DOOR COUNTY

STAY

Wondering where to stay for these weekend wanderings? Check out our suggestions below, and make your reservation at RVontheGo.com!

CHICAGO

CHICAGO TO DOOR COUNTY: •

Tranquil Timbers

PHILADELPHIA TO GETTYSBURG: •

Drummer Boy

•

Gettysburg Farm

GETTYSBURG

36 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

PHILADELPHIA

similar experience). Overall, the mileage between the two cities is a hair under 200 but you can stretch the ride out and have some fun along the way. How about exploring a 10,000-year-old-plus cavern? Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown offers several different tours of this amazing cave. If you need to fuel up, grab a bite or just be amazed at this larger-thanTexas-sized convenience store/travel center with a pit stop at Buc-ee’s in Temple. Have you always wanted to “be a pepper?” Stop in Waco and tour the Dr. Pepper Museum, learn the history of this much-loved soft drink, and even try your hand at making your own soda pop! Want to see the world’s largest caterpillar? Make a stop in Italy, Texas, to say hello to Bruco, who is made of seven interconnected 60-foot domes. Then on to Dallas and the city’s offerings, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, and the arts and entertainment offerings of the city’s Deep Elum neighborhood. ■

DALLAS

AUSTIN

LOS ANGELES

LA TO SAN DIEGO: •

SAN DIEGO

Soledad Canyon (LA) to Pio Pico (San Diego)

AUSTIN TO DALLAS: •

Colorado River

•

Bay Landing (Austin)

•

Lake Whitney

•

Lake Texoma

•

Lake Tawakoni (Dallas)

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 37

NOW SERVING

NOW SERVING:

One Ideal

Summer By Joan Rykal

38 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

ummer 2021 has some big shoes to fill. After all, things appear to be trending more towards normal than the previous summer season and people are ready to get out and enjoy their vacation time like never before – or at least much differently than Summer 2020! The dilemma now becomes what to do. Everyone experienced the same 2020 when it came to closures and quarantines, so that means everyone has been dreaming of what they would do once they were sprung from the four walls of home for some time now. That can make for a wide range of ideas so we narrowed it down to a few destination ideas and perhaps these will serve you well when planning this summer’s itinerary.

Beaches

Summer and beaches go together like, well, summer and beaches! Any beach anywhere in the country is going to be full of sunbathers, volleyballers, sandcastle architects, and sunrise and sunset lovers. According to U.S. News and World Report, the beaches listed below are ranked as the best beaches in the U.S.

Cannon Beach: Oregon’s Cannon Beach, which is less than 10 miles from Seaside RV Campground, comes in at number seven on the list. And while the water here is a bit chilly, Cannon Beach offers the opportunity to see Haystock Rock, the 235-foot seastack rising from the ocean just offshore. There are four miles of sandy beach to enjoy, and the beach is dog friendly in case your furry companion is barking for a selfie with a Haystock Rock backdrop! The town of Cannon Beach is also worth a look-see with many shops and eateries. Cape May: To be clear here, there is not just one beach but many beaches on the Cape May Peninsula, located in southern New Jersey. They all offer sand and the opportunity to dip your toes (or more of yourself, if you prefer) in the Atlantic Ocean but each offers something a bit different. If you’re looking for small, head to Sunset Beach; if you’re looking for bird watching and a beautiful lighthouse, head to the beach at Cape May Point State Park. For a family-friendly spot with plenty of surfing, head to Cove Beach,

Cape Cod, Massachusetts SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 39

NOW SERVING

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Cape May, New Jersey 40 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

Miami Beach, Florida

which is part of the Cape May City Beaches. Check out Sea Pines RV Campground or Lake & Shore RV Campground for great camp locations while you enjoy the many beaches of Cape May. Cape Cod: Like Cape May, Cape Cod is not just one beach. The Cape Cod National Seashore stretches 40 miles along the warm waters of the Cape Cod Bay and has more than 100 beaches. Cape Cod has scenic dunes, quaint towns, and plenty of biking trails. As for beaches – Mayflower Beach in Dennis offers a boardwalk, is family friendly and is noted for great sunsets; Old Silver Beach in Falmouth offers views of Buzzards Bay and is popular for fishing, and Bass Hole Beach offers a boardwalk, glimpses of wildlife in the nearby marshes, and a picnic

pavilion. Gateway to Cape Cod RV Campground and Old Chatham Road RV Campground are two options for a Massachusetts camping and beach-filled vacation. Miami Beach: This famous beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast is a people-watcher’s dream. Of course, it’s great for sunbathing and water fun, as well, but the people provide the entertainment here. Again, there’s not just one beach, but many beaches in the area, including a nudist beach (Haulover Beach, just so you know)! Sunny Isles Beach is very family-friendly and less crowded, and Crandon Park Beach is great for water sports with rentals for kiteboarding, stand-up paddling, and kayaking. For more beach information, visit miamiandbeaches.com. SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 41

NOW SERVING

Yosemite National Park, California

National Parks

America’s National Park System has 423 national parks! That’s an awful lot of natural beauty combined in over 84 million acres in each U.S. state, plus the U.S. territories. No matter how organized you are, it’s doubtful you’d be able to visit every single one, but you never know! We do know that if you’re camping with us this summer, you’re close to several. California’s Yosemite National Park is considered one of the most beautiful of the national parks in the U.S., thanks to its soaring granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoias. Most people know about the Park’s El Capitan and Half Dome, but there’s so much more to see in this 750,000-acre natural treasure. Yosemite Lakes RV Campground in nearby Groveland is just five miles from the Park. Don’t miss the display of wildflowers in Tuolumne Meadows, where blooms begin in earnest in late July. 42 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

If you’re camping at Chehalis RV Campground, not only will you have spectacular views of Mt. Rainier, but you’re about 70 miles from Mt. Rainier National Park. This beautiful Washington state national park has plenty to do with hiking, biking, scenic drives, fields of wildflowers, and fishing and boating opportunities. During summer, the fields on the slopes of Mt. Rainier (which is an active volcano) are covered with wildflowers and the waterfalls are flowing. A few hikes to consider could include the paved, 1-mile round trip loop to Myrtle Falls or the 1.5-mile walking trail that is the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail and home to some of the oldest trees in the Park. Texas is home to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park, which is part of the National Park system. If you want to combine a history lesson with a national park visit, this is the place to be. Visitors to the Park can learn all about Lyndon B. Johnson, our 36th president and a native Texan. In fact, the

Mt. Rainier, Washington

Park includes Johnson’s boyhood home. Guided tours of his home as well as self-guided driving tours of his ranch (which is also part of the Park) are available. Visit nps.gov/lyjo for more information on hours, admission, and Park details. Medina Lake RV Campground is less than 80 miles from the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park. How about a trail walk on the same trails once roamed by mammoths and saber tooths? Head to Ice Age, a National Scenic Trail just outside Madison, Wisconsin, and you can do just that! Campgrounds in Milton are a great home base for this trail trek (check out Lakeland RV Campground or Blackhawk RV Campground). While Ice Age is primarily a hiking trail, it is also great for bird watching, fishing (license required), wildlife viewing, and biking. The trail itself is 1,200 miles long but there are many trailheads and access points along the route. Stay with us and camp while you explore the trail!

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 43

NOW SERVING

Samson Luggage Sculpture – Sacramento, California 44 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

Cape Meares, Oregon

Oddities and One of a Kinds

Looking for the world’s largest ball of twine? Or maybe a giant lumberjack? America sure has many roadside attractions that are at once unique and odd. Here are a few that may leave you awestruck or just wondering – why? If you’re visiting Hidden Cove RV Campground in Alabama, you’re about 2 hours from the Unclaimed Baggage Center. “What is that?” you might ask. The Unclaimed Baggage Center is where unclaimed airline baggage goes and where about 1/3 of any items in those bags is then sold to the public, resulting in about 7,000 new items daily. Last year, the store celebrated 50 years in business, and you wouldn’t believe what they’ve found over the years. Visit the store (unclaimedbaggage.com) and see what treasures await. Outdoor concerts are definitely a cool summer event. But what about a concert played by the ocean? Head to San Francisco and check out the Wave Organ, a wave-activated acoustic sculpture and when the tide rolls in, just listen! Located on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay’s Marina District, this is one unique musical event. For information, visit exploratorium.edu/visit/ wave-organ. Plan a stay at the San Francisco RV Campground if you’re planning to see the Wave Organ – it’s less than 20 miles away.

Do you believe in Sasquatch? If you’re into the legend and lore behind not only Sasquatch but other unexplained creatures like the Loch Ness Monster or the New Jersey Devil, definitely make it a point to visit the International Cryptozoology Museum in Thompson’s Point Maine, which is about a half-hour’s drive from Moody Beach RV Campground. Cryptozoology is the study of hidden or unknown animals and the museum is the only one of its kind in the world. Visitors can expect a wide range of exhibits and artifacts and won’t want to miss the newest exhibit, Sasquatch Revealed 2020! Info can be found at cryptozoologymuseum.com. Oregon has many beautiful woodlands and one of them holds a unique oddity – a 250-yearold Sitka spruce whose limbs extend up and out making the tree look more like an octopus than just any old conifer! The Octopus Tree can be found in the Cape Meares Scenic State Viewpoint in Tillamook, which is about 30 minutes north of Pacific City RV Campground. So, what will it be: beaches, national parks, or oddities this summer? With a little planning, you may be able to experience all three! ■

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 45

IN THE KITCHEN

Who is in the kitchen with

TrailBlazer

HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE 1/2 cup vinegar 1 cup ketchup 1/4 cup brown sugar 2T mustard 2T worcestershire 1 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1/4 tsp salt

46 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

BBQ Campfire RiBS 1 Rack of Ribs - pork or beef 1 cup BBQ Sauce

1. Remove ribs from refrigerator or

cooler 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to grilling. Remove membrane if you wish, slather with BBQ sauce or your favorite rub.

2. Preheat charcoal grill to medium heat. Maintain heat throughout entire cooling session.

3. Oil grill grates. 4. Place ribs bone side down. Grill for 35-45 minutes.

5. Flip ribs, grill meat side down for 15 minutes.

6. Sauce both sides of the ribs with BBQ sauce and continue cooking for a few minutes, longer if you prefer to char the sauce.

7. Serve and enjoy!

*Ideal temperature for ribs, 203 - 205˚F

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 47

Road On the

W i t h E X I LE

By Lynn and Cele Seldon

48 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

oad

ON THE ROAD

hether you spend life on the road for pleasure or work, it’s nice to have the comforts of home as you travel the highways and byways. TRAILBLAZER checks in with folks who spend a fair amount of time on the road to see just what makes their home away from home. This month, we chatted with Marlon Hargis, keyboard player and spokesman for rock band, Exile. It’s easy for people to say that the rock band, Exile, was an overnight sensation when their 1978 hit “Kiss You All Over” rocketed to Billboard’s Top 40 #1 hit, where it stayed for four weeks. But the band had been hard at work for 15 years to get to that point. And it was just starting to pay off. Formed in 1963 by a bunch of high schoolers in Richmond, Kentucky, Exile started out playing local clubs, which ultimately led to touring with

Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars as openers for major rock groups. Then came their first studio recordings in Kentucky as the band continued to fine tune their sound. In the mid-1970s, a record producer from the UK who was looking for an experienced group who wrote their own material heard an Exile demo tape and convinced them to collaborate on their first album for Warner Records, Mixed Emotions. The first single to be released off that album was “Kiss You All Over,” and the rest, as they say, is history, with a total of 11 #1 songs, three gold albums and over eight million records sold. Now some 58 years later, the band is still putting out new music with the 2019 release of The Garage Tapes, a collection of 30 of their original “demo” songs from 1979-1982 and continuing to play their music on their 55+ No Limits Tour. SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 49

ON THE ROAD We caught up with Marlon Hargis, Exile’s keyboard player and spokesman between shows.

Is touring different today than it was in the early years?

You guys are on your 55+ Anniversary Tour. How’s that feel?

It’s totally different. The technology in the 80s and 90s wasn’t anything like it is today. There were no cell phones, internet, satellite TV. We were pretty isolated back in the day.

It feels old. We’re actually in our 58th year. We kicked off our 55th Anniversary Tour in 2018. This year we just added a plus to it as we continue to tour. Hopefully we’ll continue to tour for a few more years. We’re still the original five members from the 1970s and 1980s and we still enjoy touring and playing. Not many bands can say that. How long have you been touring and how many shows do you typically play? We’ve been touring with this lineup for the last 13 years or so. We typically play 50-60 dates per year, plus another dozen performances at the Grand Ole Opry. Although we hope to step that up a bit for next year. Before that, the band hadn’t toured extensively since the 1990s, when we were playing more than 200 dates per year.

50 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

You’ve toured with some pretty cool bands including Aerosmith, Heart, Dave Mason, Boston and others. Who were some of your favorites? We did a long tour with Heart and, in my opinion, they were one of the best bands I’ve ever heard live. They were at the height of their career and they were just nice to tour with. Aerosmith was fun but they were… loud (chuckle). The Dobbie Brothers were fun, too. Your most recent release is called the The Garage Tapes, with 30 of your original “demo” songs from 1979-1982. What did you think when you first

listened to those recordings? Those were demo tapes and alternates of the stuff we recorded in the late 1970s and early 1980s. We thought the tapes had been lost and destroyed. So, we were thrilled when they were found. There’s a lot of stuff we didn’t really remember recording. It had just been so many years. And, after 57 years, we had recorded a lot of songs. But we thought that it was really good material. We picked 30 for the CD, but there are probably another 20 or 30 in addition to that that we’ll probably never use. You recently released music on digital platforms with TIME LIFE, can you tell more about that? TIME LIFE Digital released all four Exile albums The Garage Tapes, Exile Hits, Live at the Franklin Theatre and People Get Ready. For the first time ever, the multi-award winning albums will all be available on all digital platforms and include

#1 hits and many all-time fan favorites including “Kiss You All Over,” “Woke Up In Love,” “I Don’t Want To Be A Memory,” “Give Me One More Chance” and many more. With our career spanning nearly six decades, this music represents eleven number one songs, 3 gold albums and 8 million records sold. The music is available for streaming on all digital music platforms including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. What did “Kiss You All Over” do for the band? It completely changed our lives. The band started in 1963 and that song was a hit in 1978. So, the band had been around for 15 years. We were struggling, we weren’t making a lot of money. We were kind of a regional success. We kept doing it because we just believed in the band. When “Kiss You All Over” hit, it was kind of an overnight thing. But we had been working at it for years. Now to talk about your bus and your life on the road. What kind of bus do you have? We lease our bus and we usually get the same one. It’s a 45’ 2004

Prevost H3 with a slide out. You kind of get used to a certain bus with your own bunk and bunk position and you know where everything is. Who travels on the bus? Five band members, a crew of three, and the driver. A total of nine people. Everyone sleeps on the bus. Some guys even prefer to sleep on the bus even when we have rooms. What are your three favorite things onboard? The coffeemaker, preferably a Keurig. A good fullsize refrigerator. And a comfortable bunk. What else do you do while you are on the bus? A lot of us are big sports fans so we watch a lot of sports. Usually some of the guys will be watching TV up front and the rest of the guys will spend time in their bunks with the laptops or phones. It’s never really very crowded. Any favorite places you like to eat on the road? You can’t really ever go wrong

with Cracker Barrel. You kind of know what you are getting. A couple of guys are addicted to Starbucks. If we’re traveling, it’s usually chain restaurants. But when we go into a town – especially smaller towns – we like to try to find local restaurants. When we can find them, we prefer to find mom ‘n pop kind of places. Highways or scenic routes? One different thing now than when we were younger is that when we were younger, we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities to see the sights that we could have. Now that we’re older, if we’re in an area where there is something of interest, like Mt. Rushmore or Niagara Falls, we’ll try to build in a day off to take in some of the sights. A couple of years ago, we went to Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, through Deadwood. So, in that case, we would take the back roads because we didn’t have a time limit. I remember playing near Niagara Falls a few years ago and taking the time to go to the falls. We were out West near the Redwood Forest a few years back and took the time to explore those. ■ SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 51

MEMBER DEALS MEMBER DEALS

YU MA, ARIZO NA

$125 OFF a 3+ month stay

Min stay 90 nights, max stay 180 nights. Valid at Araby Acres, Cactus Gardens, Capri, Desert Paradise, Foothill Village, Mesa Verde and, Suni Sands Call to Book Valid on Standard RV Sites Valid until 4/30/22. Book by 12/31/21.

Use promo code:

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VENTU RE IN, A RIZO NA

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Min stay 90 nights, max stay 180 nights. Valid at Venture In Call to Book Valid on Standard RV Sites Valid 5/1/22 - 11/30/22. Book by 8/31/21

Use promo code:

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52 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

Call! Click! Camp!

Camp! Call! RVontheGo.com 1 (888) 443-7301 Click!

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Thousand Trails members always save on RV Sites & Rentals at

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Min stay 90 nights, max stay 180 nights. Valid at Lakewood, Paradise South and Sunshine RV

Call to Book Valid on Standard RV Sites

Valid until 4/30/22. Book by 12/31/21.

Use promo code:

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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. SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 53

Busiest

National Parks for Summer 2021

Summer is always a busy season for National Parks, and 2020 was no different. Okay, it was a little different. That said, even amidst a pandemic and temporary closures, National Parks received 237 million recreational visits throughout the year. As a sense of normalcy slowly and safely makes its return in Summer 2021, you can expect National Parks to be as booked and busy as years past – especially the 10 mostvisited parks of 2020. 54 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 12,095,720 Since 1944, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has remained the most-visited of the bunch. Once you experience the wildlife and wildflowers this summer, you’ll know why.

2. Yellowstone National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 3,806,306 Sixth on the list in 2019, Yellowstone National Park made a big move to second! Every summer, huge crowds flock to the park to see its world-renowned geysers.

3. Zion National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 3,591,254 Zion National Park is a fan favorite! If you haven’t hiked Angel’s Landing yet, what are you waiting for? Make sure to pack lots of water – Utah summers are hot!

OUTDOORSY 4. Rocky Mountain National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 3,305,199 Summer in the Rocky Mountains means flowing rivers, cascading waterfalls, and blooming florals. Not to mention, the weather is absolutely stunning.

5. Grand Teton National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 3,289,638 From eight to fifth, Grand Teton made quite the jump in visitations, and you can expect that number to keep growing this year. Perfect for summer activities, you can float along Snake River or go fly fishing!

6. Grand Canyon National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 2,897,098 Holding second place for 30 years, Grand Canyon National Park moved down the list. But you can expect business to pick back up this year as summer promises nearly 15 hours of sunshine.

7. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 2,755,628 Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the only national park in Ohio, made its way onto the top 10 list in 2020. Home to the “Crooked River” and 33,000 acres of forest and farmland, there’s much beauty and history to explore.

8. Acadia National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 2,669,034 “The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast” protects Maine’s rocky coastline. In Acadia National Park, you can spend your day basking in the sun on Mount Desert Island or take a ferry to the remote island of Isla au Haut.

How to take advantage of the summer boom Whether you rent out your rig to other renters or hit the road yourself, here’s how you can make the most of the summer boom. RENT YOUR RIG A busy season for National Parks also means a busy season for the RV rental business. As travelers flock to parks across the nation this summer, consider taking advantage of the outdoor boom by renting out your RV. IF YOU DECIDE TO LIST YOUR RV ON OUTDOORSY, HERE ARE A FEW TIPS: 1. Set a seasonal rate: Some owners may raise their rates during the busy seasons and offer seasonal discounts when there are vacancies. 2. Offer add-ons: A great way to enhance the renter experience and make some extra money is to offer summer add-ons, from paddleboards and kayaks to grill sets. 3. Adjust your minimal rental period: During busy seasons, many owners will require travelers to rent for a minimum of three days. HIT THE ROAD And if you’re heading to the National Parks yourself, make sure to book your campsite early. Thousand Trails campgrounds and Encore RV Resorts are conveniently located to many of the National Parks on this list. Check out RVontheGo.com to plan your adventure! ■

9. Olympic National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 2,499,177 Olympic National Park spans a vast wilderness. From Hurricane Ridge to the Hoh Rain Forest, there is plenty of wild beauty to venture into.

10. Joshua Tree National Park Recreational Visits in 2020: 2,399,542 Summer is scorching in Joshua Tree, making the season a rather quiet one. Though you may not want to do much adventuring during the heat of day, the park is perfect for a peaceful sunrise or sunset hike. SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 55

ECH

UMMERTIME IS FUN TIME! Time to get out into the fresh air, enjoy some healthy sunshine and see firsthand some of the gorgeous scenery our country has to offer. Whether you’re headed to the mountains, the lakes, or the beaches, RVing is the greatest way to go! A few quick and easy pre-trip inspection habits can help you make the most of your RVing adventure. We’ll also look at some time-tested tips for caring for your RV’s portable patio (its roll-up awning). Ready? Let’s get going! CHECK IT OUT: Before leaving on any trip, it’s always a great idea to take just a bit of time to do a quick overview of your RV. Take a few minutes to perform a simple walk-around inspection, checking tires, the exterior of the rig, doors and locks on the storage bays, the position of the exterior mirrors, hitches, and electrical hookups. You’ll also want to check all of your RV’s signal lights and exterior lights for proper function. This task is best done by using the buddy system: one person in the driver’s seat, and the buddy outside verifying the results of the driver’s action. First, turn on your headlights and check high and low beams. Check tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, clearance lights, and fog lights, if you have them. This is also the perfect time to take a minute or two to check all compartment lights in all storage areas. Make sure you’ve packed a working flashlight and extra batteries. If you find any defective bulbs, now’s the time to replace them. It’s always a good idea to pack a small supply of extra bulbs that are specific to your vehicle, since they may not always be readily available on the road.

56 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

OPICS

RVing is a great adventure and there’s always something new to learn! By Paul and Kerri Elders

Inspect the condition of the windshield wipers and be sure you have plenty of windshield wiper fluid in the reservoir. Now’s a good time to do a quick visual check for any new stone chips in the windshield. Check oil levels, water levels, and battery connections. Look for fluid spots under your rig to help diagnose any leaking problems. If you’re carrying anything on the roof, verify that it is tightly secured and travel-ready. Make sure your RV’s windows are closed, all awnings are in their “locked” positions, and that your satellite and/or TV antenna is in the retracted position for travel. Double check the entry step, making sure it’s properly stowed before moving your rig. And remember to check your fuel gauge before hitting the road. Now you’re ready to roll!

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR “PORTABLE PATIO”-- AWNING HINTS 101: Retractable awnings add a cool, comfortable, shady spot to any RV. They’re easy to use and even easier to store. Extending your awning not only gives you a nice comfy place to sit, it also works as a “sun shade” for the side of your RV, keeping the interior significantly cooler. Have window awnings or slide-out awnings? Use them – you’ll be surprised at how much these awnings can help reduce the heat load inside your RV in the summer sun! Whenever you retract your awning, make it a habit to engage the awning locks, which are usually located on each end of the “roller.” It only takes a second or two, and you’ll never make the mistake of driving off with an unlocked awning, which can result in a dramatic, unscheduled unfurling on the highway if hit by just the right gust

of wind. When you make your final walk-around inspection before departing from your campsite, always make sure all awning locks are fully engaged. Check the patio awning and all window and slide-out awnings, too. THE EASIEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR PATIO AWNING IN TIP-TOP SHAPE IS BY REMEMBERING TWO SIMPLE RULES: 1. Keep it Clean and 2. Keep it Dry. If you travel during a heavy rainstorm, moisture can potentially penetrate the edges of the awning. So, as soon as you’ve parked your RV and it’s stopped raining, extend the awning and allow the fabric to dry completely before retracting it again, rinsing first if necessary. Cleaning an RV awning is simple! Just fully extend the awning, locking the support arms securely in place to avoid any unexpected “rollups.” Rinse the top surface of the awning and apply an RV awning cleaner (available at your local RV supply house) according to the product’s label. Use a medium bristle brush to thoroughly clean your awning. Now just rinse thoroughly, and then allow the fabric to air dry completely before stowing. An easy method for dealing with more stubborn stains is to rinse the awning and apply the RV awning cleaner; then, just roll up the awning and wait 30-60 minutes. Unfurl, then brush and rinse thoroughly. To avoid encouraging mold and mildew growth, always allow your awning to dry completely before stowing. Take good care of your awning and it will take great care of you as you enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors on each and every adventurous trip. Happy trails, trailblazers!

Check out more tips & tricks on TrailBlazerMagazine.net

ON THE ROAD By Jenn La Follette Traveling and Camping with Companion Animals

quickly turn into 70° inside which can stress your animal.

Always have fresh water Hi, we are looking into summertime options on how with you for your to keep our newly acquired English Bulldog on the pet to drink. cooler side of life. This is a new breed for us and I recommend also I know they have trouble with high heat. I have having a squeeze bottle spoken with the breeder on a couple of ideas so you can keep their but they don’t travel much, so I thought I would chest and neck cool. reach out. If you place your hand Jay & CJ S. on the concrete or asphalt and it’s too hot to touch, do not walk your pet across that surface.

rachycephalic breeds are more sensitive to temperature changes than dogs with longer snouts and for this reason, special considerations must be taken. The same is true for all pets to ensure they stay hydrated and cool. Here are several ideas and suggestions that help all pets, including long-haired cats! Avoid midday or late afternoon walks where the temperature is warm or hot. Before walking, get your pet wet or fully saturate their skin paying special attention to chest, belly, and neck. Keep a kiddie pool at your camp so they are able to jump in and out whenever necessary. Invest in a K9 Cool Coat and Gel Pad. Always have a portable fan with you and never ever leave your pet unattended in a car. Even with the windows cracked, 55° outside can

Standing in direct sun can heat up your pet’s body temperature without any exercise and can quickly lead to heat exhaustion. Always seek early morning play and shade throughout the day Be ever vigilant in observation on how your pet is breathing/panting. A short-nosed dog will pant far more than a regular snouted dog at rest. Adding even light exercise to an animal that is already struggling to regulate body temperature can quickly lead to a medical emergency such as airway collapse. Over my years of travel, there have been times that I have pulled over on the side of the road to carry my dog down to the water and physically submerge them to their chest to cool body core temperature. Mind you, this occurred when the air conditioning was running in the truck, but it just wasn’t enough to adequately cool down my pet. When mucous membranes such as gums and teeth turn bright pink, or “injected” as we say in medical terms, you are pushing the borderline of a heat emergency with your

brachycephalic pet. The only way to monitor such specific needs is to stay ahead of it before there is a problem. I appreciate you wanting to learn the signs and take action to ensure quality of life. My 11-year-old Boston Terrier female is getting along in age and I’ve noticed her weight dropping over the last year. She’s drinking a lot more water and is not as interested in her food. I took her to the vet and did a urinalysis; the results showed beginning signs of renal failure. We’ve made some dietary changes per the vet’s recommendation and I’m struggling to get her interested in meals on a regular basis. Do you have suggestions as toppers for this type of senior condition? Thank you for all of your guidance over the years. Callie & Ollie Smith May I extend my condolences to your situation, as I myself am dealing with similar health related issues with my older Boston Terrier. I understand this is not necessarily a breed ailment but rather an older dog condition. Nonetheless, the situation is challenging as it is sad to see our precious pups begin to struggle. The nutritional changes that need to be made depend on the severity of the kidney disease, but in general, pets should be given diets that are reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium and supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. You can certainly treat with kidney safe fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, blueberries, apples, baby carrots, and bananas. Be sure you do not use anything in high sodium like deli meat, bread, cheese, or most commercial cat and dog treats. I’ve switched to more fresh, cooked, organic lean meats such as chicken and turkey but beef is OK as well, my dog just doesn’t care for it. I still use Primal Bone broth as there is no added sodium and it helps to seal the gut and add in moisture. I know there is not just one solve all answer here, yet I hope that I’ve given you a few ideas to explore. ■ SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 57

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Upgrade to Adventure Today! Check out our newest Reciprocal Program Only Available to Adventure Members • 100+ Campgrounds and Resorts 90 Day Advance Booking Window • 21 Day Stays • Park-to-Park Access 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 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. The Trails Collection Plus is a reciprocal use program operated by Encore Royalty Club, L.L.C. (“Encore”) that allows participating Thousand Trails Adventure members to use campsites and other facilities at the RV resorts affiliated with the program. Encore is an independent company and does not own any of the resorts affiliated with the program. Encore provides access to these resorts through agreement(s) between Encore and the owners of the resorts.

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 59

C r o s swo r d

Across

1 Aid to Dependent Children (abbr.) 4 Ancient 7 Helper 10 Idea (Fr.) 11 Pro 12 Coagulated substance 14 Small goby 15 Flotage 17 Parent-Teacher Assn. (abbr.) 18 Name 19 River into the North Sea 20 Raise 22 Sp. article 24 Moon goddess 27 Medieval goblet 31 Part of a keel 32 Possessive pronoun 34 Macho 35 Ger. spa 37 Fortification 39 Ribbed fabric 41 Scand. people 60 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

42 Summer (Fr.) 45 Of birth 47 Interstate Commerce Commission (abbr.) 50 Round Table knight 52 Wings 53 Fare 54 Amer. Ballet Theatre (abbr.) 55 Dandy 56 Resin 57 Verily 58 Full of (suf.)

Down

1 Malay law 2 Gone 3 Chief executive officer (abbr.) 4 Natal (2 words) 5 Boor 6 Risible 7 Circuit Court of Appeals (abbr.) 8 Ger. theologian 9 Leader (Ital.) 10 Urchin

13 Fucus 16 Affirmative 18 Sailor 21 Avid 23 Pac. island 24 Asbestos (abbr.) 25 Jamaican dance music 26 Shak. contraction 28 Chambered mollusk 30 Caress 33 Boat race 36 Haw. goose 38 Delaware (abbr.) 40 Rice in the husk 42 Pixie 43 Asian weight 44 Sicilian resort 46 Afr. cotton garment 48 Eur. juniper 49 Curved letter 51 Centers for Disease Control (abbr.) 52 Commotion

S U DO K U

Answers can be found on page 65.

F i n d The E ver g reen 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 Virtual Visa® Reward Card.

Cheryl Swift Mesa, AZ Found the tree on Page 43 of the Spring Issue 2021.

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 September 30th, 2021 Please include an email address on the post card to be considered. The Virtual Visa® Reward Card will be sent via email to the email address provided. The Virtual Visa® Reward Card will come from reward@virtualrewardcenter.com. The Virtual Visa® Reward Card can be used to buy what you want, when you want it. Because it is so flexible and convenient, the Virtual Visa® Reward makes it easy to treat yourself to something special or to help cover your everyday expenses. The decision is yours. The virtual reward is issued by Sutton Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used wherever Visa Debit cards are accepted. Terms and conditions apply. Your Virtual Visa® Reward Card may not be used outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia, nor may it be used with merchants located outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia for online, mail or telephone orders. Any purchases made with the Virtual Visa® Reward Card must only be in U.S. currency.

Terms and Conditions for 2021 Referral Promotion from page 66. For each Eligible Referral (as defined) through December 31, 2021, you will receive a $25 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. In addition, for each Eligible Referral through December 31, 2021, 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 2022, not to exceed $615 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, 2022. 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, 2021 and December 31, 2021 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. SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 61

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Answers: Crossword can be found on 60.

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64 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

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.

SUMMER 2021 TRAILBLAZER 65

INVITE YOUR

FRIENDS

YOU receive a $25 Visa® Virtual Reward when your friend purchases a Thousand Trails Camping Pass!

Your referral also enters YOU into our 2021 drawing for a chance to win these great prizes:

GRAND PRIZE SECOND PRIZE

7-Night Cruise or Trip to Hawaii ($4,000 value)

4 Nights in Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando ($2,000 value)

THIRD PRIZE Free Dues for 2022 10 Winners Selected (Up to $615 value)

or visit ThousandTrails.com *Details and qualifications for participation in this promotion may apply and are set forth on page 61 of this magazine. 66 TRAILBLAZER SUMMER 2021

W e ’ re l o o k i n g f o rwa r d to a n ot her s e as o n o f f un !

W e ’ r e p l a nn i ng a n u mb e r o f T h e m e W e e k e n d s t h i s y e a r a n d c a n ’ t wa i t to m a k e m o r e m e m o r i e s w i t h yo u . S e e yo u t h e r e !

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Wherever the road takes you, We’re there for you! 800-679-2020 www.skymed.com