TrailBlazer Magazine - June 2015

JUNE 2015

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Great (Lakes) Expectations The Wisconsin Dells More Than Just Waterparks Updates and Upgrades: Introducing The Reserve at Lake Conroe

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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WHAT’S INSIDE

VOL. 37 ■ ISSUE 5

PART SHERPA. PART BASE CAMP. ALL YOURS.

JUNE 2015

Columns

Features

5 Message from Marguerite

20 Great (Lakes) Expectations

9 Tech Topics

38 The Wisconsin Dells – More than Waterparks

48 Ask RV Bill It drives like a car, camps like a dream and hauls like a mule. It’s like having your own bed and breakfast on wheels — with private bath to boot!

Combine all the comforts of home with terrific hauling, storage and towing capacity, add outstanding fuel efficiency and — voila! — you’ve got the perfect getaway vehicle. See the new Travato™ from Winnebago Touring Coach at your nearest dealer, or learn more at WinnebagoTouring.com.

59 4 Paws on the Road

Calendars

Lifestyle

10 Preserve Events

18 Updates and Upgrades 28 TrailMix: Walk the Trails

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14 Local Events 63 Club Calendar

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30 I Knew I Was A Trailblazer

Regulars

34 On The Road:

58 Crossword Puzzle

Charlie Daniels

50 Member Deals

45 Out n’ About: Door County

62 Sudoku Puzzle

Great (Lakes) Expectations From history and architecture to outdoor adventure and amazing scenery, traveling the Great Lakes is an experience everyone will enjoy. Photo courtesy of The Wisconsin Dept of Tourism

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46 Who’s in the Kitchen

with TrailBlazer?

66 On Location On June 6, Thousand Trails will be celebrating the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, a nationally recognized trail awareness program that occurs annually on the first Saturday of June and inspires the public to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in outdoor activities, clinics, and trails stewardship projects.

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▲ Wisconsin Dells Long before the water parks arrived, the Wisconsin Dells were a popular Midwest travel destination.

©2014 Winnebago Industries, Inc.

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Cover Photo: Sea Kayaking – Apostles Islands Photo courtesy of The Wisconsin Dept of Tourism

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®

Camping is

Always Better with Friends!

YOU receive a $25 Visa® PrePaid Card when your referral purchases a Thousand Trails Camping Pass!

Plus!

▲ Leavenworth (WA)

Your referral also enters YOU into our 2015 drawing for a chance to win these great prizes:

GRAND PRIZE

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

SECOND PRIZE

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

THIRD PRIZE

Free Dues for 2016 10 Winners Selected (Up to $545 value)

MESSAGE from MARGUERITE I

t’s time to celebrate the great outdoors! Once again June has been proclaimed as National Great Outdoors Month! It is a time for us to enjoy all of our favorite outdoor pastimes, whether that be camping, fishing, hiking, biking, or simply enjoying a neighborhood park. June is a month to step outside and enjoy time in the great outdoors with family and friends. Disconnect to reconnect. We do what we can to celebrate this year-round but are always happy to step up to the plate and have fun in the name of the Great Outdoors!

We will be celebrating National Trails Day on June 6, 2015, at all of our Thousand Trails locations. Make plans now to join us that weekend to hike, explore, and enjoy outdoor fun at your favorite location. If you can’t make it that weekend, National Get Outdoors Day is on June 13, and there’s no better place than with Thousand Trails to celebrate this day and the entire month of June. Plus, who doesn’t love joining others with the same hobby and touting it with pride?

CONTACT US TODAY!

(888) 808-8925

or visit THOUSANDTRAILS.COM 4

*Details andTRAILBLAZER qualifications for participation in this promotion may apply and are set forth on page 62 of this magazine.

JUNE 2015

Although I can appreciate these national designations, whether that be National S'mores Day, one of my favorites, or National Watermelon Day, another summer favorite, I think to myself - why do we need to be constantly reminded to take time to enjoy the simple things in life? Make a commitment to yourself and others to find happiness in the great outdoors,

not just for the month of June, but beyond. I can’t tell you how many times I hear that camping helps us to reduce stress and spend more quality time with family and friends. This is certainly a low risk commitment.

So in keeping with my challenge theme from last month’s message, I challenge all of us to spend some time and enjoy activities that are important to us and our families. Unplug the electronics, or at least put them in a back pocket for a bit, step outside, and take a look around. You’ll likely find a bunch of memories being made and fun being had. Snap a few photos of the moments and know that we’re here to help these memories happen.

Enjoy National Great Outdoors Month and get out and camp with your friends and family!

Marguerite Nader President & CEO

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PICS FROM THE PARKS www.trailblazermagazine.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mark Slattery EDITOR tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mindy Drexler, Susie Bue CONTACT US TBeditor@equitylifestyle.com ADVERTISING SALES TBads@equitylifestyle.com MISSION STATEMENT TrailBlazer provides exclusive news and information for the members and guests of Thousand Trails Family of Resorts. Each issue enhances the recreational lifestyle of its readers through a lively mix of camping and travel features, resort profiles and product features.

TRAILBLAZER (ISSN 0747-2293) is published monthly except bimonthly Nov./Dec. and Jan./Feb.

by MHCTT Memberships, LP, c/o Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc., 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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VISIT WWW.THOUSANDTRAILS.COM STARS AUTOMATED RESERVATIONS

800-859-STAR (7827)

ENCORE RESERVATIONS

▲ Lake Conroe (TX): Eagle – John Baker, Willis Texas

Now Win $50 EACH Issue!

Pics from the Parks Photo Submissions Do you have a winning photo from your visits to our properties? We’d love for you to share it with us and what’s more, your submission will now be entered into our photo contest. each issue!

Winners will receive a $50 Visa® Gift 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). Winning photo will be posted on the TrailBlazer website as well as in the magazine.

▲ Hershey (PA): We love to camp and take our three beautiful children with us. Elijah, Aaliyah, Isabella.

– Mandy and Raymond McNelley

Photo submissions should include a brief description, including location of your photo, your name, city and state and sent to:

TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com or mail to:

Equity LifeStyle Properties Attn: TrailBlazer Photos Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606

877-570-2267

VISIT WWW.RVONTHEGO.COM Remember! Thousand Trails members get preferred rates at Encore RV resorts.

Emailed photos should be high resolution. Photos are not returnable and become the property of Equity LifeStyle Properties 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 on www.trailblazermagazine.net.

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▲ Whalers Rest (OR): Carson found Wally the Whale at Whalers Rest, Newport, Oregon! In return for Wally he scored a treat...the staff made it so much fun looking around the resort for Wally. – Tracy Kane, Cottage Grove, Oregon JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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TECH

TOP CS:

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 some simple tips to help you keep your cool through the most sizzling of summer days. We'll also investigate some quick and easy ideas to help keep your power generator running smoothly.

Let's go!

Keeping Your Cool In the Summer Heat: Whenever possible, park your RV under shade trees. It also helps to park the RV in an East-West direction to limit the surface area exposed to the sun. Draw the blinds on the side of the RV facing the sun and extend your RV awning to shade the sunny side of the rig.

If your RV is equipped with awnings for your slide-out rooms and/or windows, use them. If you travel in a motorhome, close the sun shades for the windshield area, or use one of the many styles of portable sunshades available.

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You can also keep cooler by limiting the heat load inside your rig. Avoid showers and clothes washing/drying in the middle of the day. Cook meals in the early morning or later in the evening, or use the microwave. Better yet, grill outdoors on hot days, or treat yourselves to dinner out. Don't operate the kitchen exhaust fan excessively in the middle of the day, since hot air from outside replaces the cool air removed by the fan.

Open and close outside doors as little as possible, since hot air just replaces the air conditioned air you allow to escape through these openings. Experiment with sectioning off living areas so that your rig's air conditioner can work to cool smaller spaces. If your RV is equipped with “pocket” doors, use them! Smaller spaces are quicker and easier to cool. Another easy tip is this: pre-cool the living area by

opening a couple of windows and using your roof vent fan to extract hot air before turning on the A/C. This will give you an easy “head start” on cooling.

Generator Tips: Whenever you're on the road, your power generator (genset) is a powerful ally, allowing you to generate valuable kilowatts of electrical power from diesel or gasoline. But to keep that powerful friend running at its peak, you need to perform just a bit of preventive maintenance. Don't worry. It's not hard work, but there are a few little chores you need to remember to do, so your generator will be ready to run whenever you need it.

Check your Owner's Manual for specific details on your model's maintenance schedule. Even if you rarely use your genset, you should perform complete maintenance (oil filter, fuel filter, fuel line and exhaust inspections, etc.) on an annual basis, as per your manual's instructions. Remember that your genset charges your house batteries, so you also want to be sure all batteries are in good working order.

Check the battery terminals; make sure they're tightly snugged and free of corrosion. If they need cleaning, use a toothbrush and a baking soda/ water paste to clean them. Wipe clean, then apply a dab of Vaseline to protect against future corrosion.

Take a look at the fuel system, checking for leaks or damaged hoses. And if you find any fuel leaks, for safety's sake, don't use the genset until you get them fixed.

Perform a monthly check of your genset to keep it prepared for optimum service. Check the oil level and top off if necessary.

Change the oil filter at the intervals recommended by your

manufacturer, and take a periodic look at the hour gauge to assure that it's recording your usage time properly. System tuneups are usually based on hours of use, so you want to make sure that your gauge is accurately tracking the actual operational hours of your generator. Check the exhaust system for damage or loose connections. Inspect the wiring for nicks or cuts.

If your generator has started surging or chattering, or has become hard to start, a clogged fuel filter might be your problem.

Some systems require that newly installed fuel filters be primed after installation and the steps required are beyond the scope of this article. Consult your Owner’s Manual for complete instructions or visit your local RV service center for assistance. If your generator has its own fuel supply, it's a good idea to treat it with a fuel stabilizer like STA-BIL or one of the others on the market (just be sure to use the appropriate diesel treatment for diesel engines or gasoline stabilizer for a gas engine).

Resist the urge to store excess cargo items in the generator compartment. Adequate airflow is critical to the proper operation of a power generator, so you don't want to block or obstruct air flow and you also don't want items “banging around” in the compartment and into the generator while you're driving down the highway or over bumpy roads. Stow cargo in cargo holds, not in the generator compartment!

Enjoy these long, beautiful, sunny summer days; they won't last forever. Traveling is a joy; so let's get out there have some fun!

Happy trails, trailblazers!

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Activities and Events – On-Site

JUNE events For a complete listing of events at the preserves, please visit www.thousandtrails.com to view our Theme Weekends directory.

WEEKEN

DS

Find Your Trail

Father’s Day Weekend – June 18-20

2015 TT Theme

Don’t forget - Father’s Day is June 20. Celebrate dear ol’ Dad all weekend long at these fun events: Join Dad at Pacific City (OR) for a morning of crafts and a round or two of Goofy golf. Later on, grab a bite at the “manly” BBQ with food fit for a king plus live music

by Sedona Fire. Fair booths, games, bounce house, cotton candy, and snow cones at a fun, old-fashioned fair to celebrate Father’s Day at Birch Bay (WA).

Morgan Hill (CA) will also have a carnival, which will surely bring laughs and fun for the whole

ThousandT

rails.com

Weekends V10.indd

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family. Would you like to make some funky tie-dye socks for Dad? Well, you can on Saturday at the San Benito (CA) campground, and to sweeten the deal – menu items are half off for dads during breakfast on Father’s Day. Dad loves a great car, right?

So take him to the Seaside (OR) campground where on Friday there will be a Hot Rod Car Show and on Saturday, Seaside’s Muscle Beach Cruz will take place. Also, don’t miss a great BBQ and music from The T3 Band.

Activities and Events – On-Site

Game Days

ACTIVITIES

What’s the summer without a little healthy competition?

La Conner (WA) will hold their annual RC Boat Races June 13-14 plus a bunch of other activities like the Potluck Social and Brown Bag Bingo on Friday, and Karaoke on the big screen on Saturday night. The same weekend, Sea Pines (NJ) has got kickball, tugof-war, bean bag toss, and more outdoor sports and activities lined up for kids, adults, and families. Take a break from the outdoor games at Circle M (PA) with board games all weekend.

They’ll ‘Clue’ you in about having the ‘Monopoly’ on fun – offering all the classic board games in a tournament on Saturday. Try your luck at Casino Nights hosted by Diamond Caverns (KY) and at Pine Country (IL), where there will also be a Silent Auction.

The folks at Pacific City (OR) have organized a Roll the Dice Weekend featuring scavenger hunts, an afternoon Bunko game with prizes, Farkle, plus other dice events.

National Trails Day – June 6

School’s Out for Summer Nothing’s better when you’re a kid than the moment you step out of school for the last day and start your summer. These TT and Encore campgrounds can’t wait to start the summer with you! Pio Pico will host a glow stick party, games on the lawn, and movie

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night. June 20-21 in Orlando (FL) will be kickin’ it old school with a drive-in movie night complete with popcorn and beverages.

Don’t miss the ice cream social planned for Saturday afternoon!

The folks at Gateway to Cape Cod (MA) are saying “good-bye”

to school and “hello” to summer with opening of their pool.

The Third Annual Campground Chopped competition is back by popular demand at the Lake & Shore (NJ) campground.

Jam-pack your weekend with pool parties, games and crafts.

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

We will be hosting Walk the Trails events the first weekend of June.

The Chehalis (WA) campground will be visited by the American Hiking Association for a Hiking, Safety, and Forest Survival workshop. The Pacific Northwest has thousands of acres of maintained open space, and the folks at Grandy Creek (WA) are reminding us of that fact with the miles and miles of trails to enjoy around their campground.

Get some great exercise at Harbor View (VA) by

participating in their Walk the Trails Scavenger Hunt. You’ll get to know the campground surroundings and wildlife that live around the grounds.

End the day with a fun craft by making your very own pine cone bird feeder!

Be sure to check out the full Theme Weekend booklet to see what Walk the Trails events are happening at your campground.

Some events may require a participation fee.

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Activities and Events – On-Site

Cool off from the summer heat with pool games, water guns, and ice cream!

Lake Whitney (TX) has planned a water balloon toss and a park wide water gun shoot out - stay inside if you don’t want to get soaked! Ice cream sodas, root beer floats. Mmm! Medina Lake (TX) will celebrate everything

that is tasty about summertime on Ice Cream Soda Day on June 20. Cool off with wacky water games. The pool will also be open. Chesapeake Bay (VA) encourages you to participate in the frozen t-shirt race or the Annual Pickleball Tournament the weekend of June 26-28.

Activities and Events – On-Site

Wet & Wild Weekend

Panning for gold at Ponderosa Resort

Kids can bring their water guns for the wet hay ride and water gun battle. The same weekend, Rondout Valley (NY) will be hosting pool games, beach ball volleyball, sand castle making, ice balloons with special prizes, water bucket toss, cool crafts, and the wet & wild wagon ride.

Phew!

Summer Exploration There’s so much to explore when you’re staying at a Thousand Trails or Encore campground.

Oakzanita Springs (CA) will host a challenging, fun-filled “Survivor” weekend June 13-14. Team games, scavenger hunts plus a campfire complete with s’mores to close out the weekend.

Ponderosa Resort (CA) is just a mile from where gold was first discovered, touching off the California gold rush, so it’s no wonder that a short trip to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park will have you in the spirit to go looking for buried treasure. Back at the park, take panning lessons and maybe

you’ll really discover some gold of your own! June 19-21 is Outback Weekend at Plymouth Rock (WI) and the following weekend, June 26-28 at Wilmington (OH), friends and family can compete in their version of “The Amazing Race.”

Tropical Weekends With June weather heating up, these campgrounds have planned some tropical themed parties for campers. Lake Conroe (TX) invites you to join them on the new, improved beach for the Beach Luau & Pig Roast. Enter the Hawaiian themed costume and limbo contests or just enjoy the entertainment planned for the night! From June 26-27, Leavenworth (WA) will host their Tropical Rio Carnival and Sangria & Salsa’s events. These tropical events include pineapple

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bowling, coconut relay race, tropical bingo, tug of rainforest, jungle cruise race, soccer, kids crafts and much more! Learn the Salsa from Dance4Fun dance instructor, Jen Philips, or imbibe in a glass of Sangria while sampling the Tropical Salsa Bar during the adult social. Moody Beach (ME) invites you to their Block Party Weekend from June 26-28 to enjoy the beaches, pool, or hot tub during the day and the party on Saturday night with a DJ.

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Western Weekends Yee Haw! Join the folks at South Jetty (OR) for a weekend filled of wild west fun. They’ll have cowboy crafts, horseshoe games and root beer floats. Bay Landing will host Rodeo Play Days and Cowboy Cook-Off the weekend of June 12-14. Bring the kids to the Little Buck-a-Roo Buck Out! Long Beach (WA) and Oceana (WA) campgrounds will both host a western themed weekend with a cowboy costume contest, water gun shoot out, and a chili cook-off.

Visiting PA Dutch Country (PA) the weekend of June 26-28?

Then enter their “Western Wear Contest” or make an “arrest” for charity.

Some events may require a participation fee.

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Activities and Events – Local

LOCAL

Bay Landing (TX)

Chestnut Lake (NJ)

June 6 CLINT BLACK LIVE AT BILLY BOB’S OF TEXAS

June 6 KIDS FISHING DERBY

See one of country music’s biggest stars at Billy Bob’s Texas, the “world’s largest honky tonk.”

Friday and Saturday Nights STOCKYARD CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO Bull riding, bareback, team roping and barrel racing.

stockyardsrodeo.com

Chehalis (WA) June 6 2015 SUMMER COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE 2015 Summer Community Garage Sale – area’s biggest garage sales! 350+ vendor booths available indoors or under cover.

Municipal Reservoir in Helvey Park

June 19 SMITHVILLE CHAMBER GOLF CLASSIC

Will be from 12 to 5 p.m. at the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex, 18212 Golf Drive.

For more information, contact Lia at 913-532-0946.

June 20 GOSPEL MUSIC HERITAGE 102 Lewis St., Edgerton, MO presents Matt Carroll at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Shirley Kimsey at 913-532-2485.

gospelmusicheritage.net

Circle M (PA)

southwestwashingtonfair.net

June 16 MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

June 20-21 FAIRYBLOSSOM FESTIVAL

Music of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Cal Perkins at the American Music Theater.

Produced by Fantasy Arts Entertainment (FAE) Productions, we are a fantasy-themed event that celebrates all things community, artistic, mythical, magical, musical and more! It is our mission to host a family-friendly festival celebrating fantasy, myth, magic, beauty, craftsmanship and art!

We aim to encourage community, education, and public works, all through the lens of folklore and fun. The Fairyblossom Festival is dedicated to providing professionalism, communication and good customer service to vendors, performers and the public.

fairyblossomfestival. wordpress.com

Lake of the Springs (CA)

Medina Lakes (TX)

June 18-21 FATHER’S DAY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

June 27 BANDERA RIVERFEST

40th Annual Father’s Day Weekend Bluegrass Festival.

Four days of family fun jamming, workshops, children programs, Luthier’s Pavilion, kids on blue grass, the best in Bluegrass,and old time music on stage under the beautiful pine trees at the Nevada Country Fair Grounds.

Lake Minden (CA) June 20 “FUN IN THE SUN" AT THE YUBA CITY SUMMER STROLL Plumas Street, Beautiful Downtown Yuba City!

Bring your family and enjoy this free event. The Yuba City Summer Stroll features: Shopping, Food & Fun. Check out the entertainment on three stages and activities for all ages including a Limbo Contest, Obstacle Course, Bounce House, and Hamster Ball. It all happens in the Plumas Street Shopping District, Yuba City, twenty miles from Lake Minden.

Diamond Caverns (KY)

Lynchburg (VA) June 6 2ND ANNUAL SPRING FLING WINE FESTIVAL Entertainment by a headline band to be announced.

Confederate Railroad & Lenny Cooper are confirmed. Come out to Devault Family Vineyards and meet some of our local wine vendors, we will also have a beer truck for those beer lovers.

devaultvineyards.com June 13 SALVATION ARMY-TRUCK, CAR & BIKE SHOW Trophies for Captains’ Choice, Best of Show, Pastor’s Choice, People’s Choice, Kid’s Choice.Vendor/craft fair concessions, door prizes, music, goodie bags to first 200 entries at the Tree of Life Ministries.

virginiasalvationarmy.org/ lynchburgva

June 5 MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK FROZEN NIAGARA TOUR Often the perfect taste of Mammoth Cave for visitors with very small children, elderly family members, or others who cannot walk long distances. Not sure you like close spaces? Have trouble walking or managing long staircases? This short visit through this very heavily decorated part of Mammoth Cave might be best for you.This section of cave is seen in its entirety on the Domes and Dripstones, New Entrance, Introduction to Caving and Wild Cave Tours.

Located at the Bandera City Park, there will be river activities, kayak races, paddle boats, river rodeo, arts and crafts, children’s activities, music and more along the river banks. Enjoy the car show and cook-off, plus food vendors.

THE MEDINA LAKE BARBECUE COOK-OFF

Long Beach (WA) June 4-7 30TH ANNIVERSARY GOONIES DAY CELEBRATION Each year on June 7th, fans flock to Astoria, OR for the Annual Goonies Celebration.

It’s a weekend full of treasure hunts, group ‘truffle shuffles,' scavenger hunts, cast and crew reunions, film screening and much more!

Sponsored by The Medina Lake Volunteer Fire Department will be held here at our preserve on Saturday, June 6th. This is the 7th year that has brought the great aromas of barbequed brisket, ribs and chicken to the preserve.

Come and let your nose guide you to the cook-off.

All profits go to the Medina Lake Volunteer Fire department.

thegoondocks.org

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Clermont Waterfront Park Family activities: music of different genres, many food vendors, Jerk-Cookoff competition, non-food vendors, arts/crafts, parade and more.

www.caalc.org

Pio Pico (CA)

Victoria Palms (TX)

Every Saturday THE WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN

June 15 MAMMA MIA

has a tour of the lush, charming and waterwise garden with a knowledgeable docent to hear what makes their garden special. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own.

thegarden.org

Oceana (WA)

June 20-21 AIR SHOW SAN DIEGO

June 6-7 KITE FLYING FUN!

This year’s air show features a collection of aircraft to support the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII and is San Diego’s largest civilian-run show.

Bring your kite and join everyone from beginner to expert on the beach for some seriously fun kite flying.

www.oceanshoreskites.com June 26-28 SAND AND SAWDUST FESTIVAL World class woodcarvers come to Ocean Shores to compete in the Five Star Dealership Sand and Sawdust Festival. If sawdust isn’t your thing, grab a bucket and compete in the sand sculpture competition on Saturday. Free sand sculpting lessons Friday and Saturday.

www.oceanshoresact.com

June 12-14 24TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL Lakeridge Winery’s flagship festival has the ever popular annual stomping of the grapes and loads of fun for the entire family, all ages welcomes to participate. Over 80 local Artists and Crafters are invited to display their work. Incredible live Music can be enjoyed during the entire weekend. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks and a variety of food is available for purchase, along with complimentary Winery tours and tasting.

lakeridgewinery.com 14

TASTE OF THE CARIBBEAN & JERK FESTIVAL

banderariverfest.com

Orlando (FL) Medina Lakes (TX)

Orlando (FL)

Pacific City (OR) June 20 MUTT MASTERS DOG SHOW & OLYMPICS The Annual Mutt Masters Dog Show And Olympics will take place on Saturday June 20th in Lincoln City and is a fun event for the entire family.Visit booths with pet-related info, local animal and welfare pet service organizations.

Doggie activities include a tennis ball dunk, doggie limbo, and a “confidencestyle” agility course.

The 9th longest running show in the history of Broadway is coming to Harlingen Municipal Auditorium and will be presented by Rio Grande Valley Broadway.

rgv.tips/event/mamma-miapresented-by-rio-grandevalley-broadway/ June 26 Last Friday of the Month HARLINGEN ART NIGHT. Make your way to downtown Harlingen from 7-9pm for art exhibitions, live music, and shopping.

ag1caf.org

rgv.tips/event/harlingen-artnight/2015-06-26/

Ponderosa (CA)

Williamsburg (VA)

June 18-21 EL DORADO COUNTY FAIR

June 20 NEW TOWN SUMMER FEST

The El Dorado County Fair returns this year with the theme: Hog Days of Summer! Enjoy the lights, vendors, rides, food, music, attractions, and of course, the animals, at this year are fair.

Activities and Events – Local

CALENDAR events

Join in New Town’s Second Annual Summer Fest ~ Sample craft beers and enjoy live music by The Hark.

newtownwilliamsburg.com

eldoradocountyfair.org

oregoncoast.org/muttmasters/ June 27-28 TILLAMOOK COUNTY RODEO The 29th Annual 2015 Tillamook County Rodeo rides in the weekend of June 27 & 28th at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. Exciting entertainment for the entire family including bareback riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing, tie down roping, breakaway roping, and a western dance.

Don’t forget to also attend the Tillamook June Diary Parade on the 27th.

tillamookrodeo.com

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Lucky winners,

Eric & Cindy Mount from Garden Grove, CA were camping at Idyllwild when they were presented with a $1,000 gift card!

Thousand Trails is offering members the opportunity to win a

$1,000 Visa® Prepaid Gift Card To earn entries into our monthly drawing, simply pay your 2015 dues on time and camp at your favorite TT Preserve.

When you pay your annual dues for 2015 in full, you will be entered into our monthly drawing for a $1,000 Visa® Prepaid gift card. There will be one drawing/one winner each month from January through December 2015. In addition, once you pay your dues in full, each time you camp at a Thousand Trails Preserve in 2015, 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 month. Winners will be notified by mail, phone or in person if camping at a Thousand Trails preserve. 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. 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, 2015. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.

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JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Pictured left to right: Manager Jeffrey Gutman, Eric & Cindy Mount

60 Days JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Updates & Upgrades

Introducing Our New Development...

The Reserve at Lake Conroe is a new development located on the

southeast shores of scenic Lake Conroe. Our upgraded marina and boat ramp give perfect access to the 22,000-acre lake that is a favorite for fishing, water sports, and relaxing. Newly upgraded sports courts, pool area, restrooms, and large sandy beach make this the ultimate place to vacation.

Amenities:

The Reserve A T

L A K E

R

C O N R O E

11720 Thousand Trails Rd. Willis, TX 77318

Large Sandy Beach Upgraded Pool Area Adult Center Basketball Courts Tennis Courts Volleyball Courts Fitness Center Boat Docks Boat Launch Miniature Golf Boat Rentals

Conveniently located near shopping, dining, sporting events, amusement parks, and cultural attractions!

Local Attractions: Jurassic Quest Inc Museum

The Woodland Waterway

Space Center Houston

Spring, TX

Woodlands, TX

Bernhardt Winery

The Houston Museum of Natural Science

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston,TX

Conroe, TX

Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Park Complex Huntsville, TX

TM

Houston, TX

Houston Zoo Houston, TX

Houston,TX

Moody Gardens Galveston, TX

Market Street

The Woodlands, TX

Purchase a Resort Cottage today!

With three models to choose from and limited waterfront sites, there is something to fit anyone’s unique vacation cottage needs!

For more information or to book a tour, call (844) 350-0035.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Great(Lakes) Expectations If you studied your grade school geography, you know that HOMES is a mnemonic for remembering the five Great Lakes of North America – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

So, now that you can name them all, read on to find out how much fun traveling the Great Lakes region can be. From history and architecture to outdoor adventure and amazing scenery, traveling the Great Lakes is an experience everyone will enjoy.

by Joan Rykal

Put-in-Bay – Ohio Photo courtesy of shoresandislands.com 20

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The majority of this easternmost, and smallest, Great Lake is bounded by the Canadian province that bears its name, Ontario. The US shores, run along New York State. Encore's Brennan Beach RV Resort is located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Pulaski, New York.

Harbourfront Centre is located on the waterfront in the city of Toronto, Canada. Enjoy weekend festivals and weekday activities as you stroll the Queens Quay Promenade. Celebrate Canada Day July 1 with live music, food, and all things Canadian. Or, to see more of the lake and lakefront, board the tallship Kajama and enjoy a day or evening cruise on Lake Ontario.

For a more natural experience, visit nearby Missisauga and explore the Waterfront Trail, which includes the Rattray Marsh, one of the few remaining wetlands along Lake Ontario.

▲ Mackinac Island – Michigan

Lake Huron Lake Huron is the second largest, by surface area, of the Great Lakes and is the third largest fresh water lake on Earth. It has one only US border, which is the state of Michigan, as well as the Canadian province of Ontario.

Many will agree that the most romantic site on Lake Huron is Mackinac Island, Michigan, an idyllic 3.8 square mile carfree location. You can hike, bike, kayak, enjoy the island’s famous fudge, tour the island via horse-drawn carriage, or

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transport yourself back in time with afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel. Don’t miss the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival scheduled for August 21-23.

For more information on Mackinac Island, visit www.mackinacisland.org.

On the Canadian side, there’s Georgian Bay, which is often referred to as the sixth Great Lake. Georgian Bay has more than 30,000 islands as well as lighthouses, beaches, towering cliffs, and waterfalls. Outdoor

opportunities abound including hiking, sailing, and mountainbiking. Visit Bruce Peninsula National Park,

a popular hiking

and bird watching location, as well as home to the Grotto, carved out by the waves of Georgian Bay thousands of years ago.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a charming Canadian town where Lake Ontario meets up with the Niagara River.

So, of course, one of the main attractions is the nearby Horseshoe Falls, one of the three waterfalls of the famous Niagara Falls. But there is more to see here than just the Falls. This area is known for its winemaking districts, with 10 distinct areas, as well as its fabulous fishing opportunities where the waters abound with bass, trout, walleye, salmon, and perch. For a scenic tour, drive the Niagara Parkway, a route that runs along the Niagara River through several little villages on its way to the Niagara Falls tourist area. The area also has miles of bike trails for a more leisurely ride.

Nearby to the Brennan Beach campground is the town of Sackets Harbor, home to the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site that features reenactments of camp life for a soldier during 1813 when the area was a naval center during the War of 1812. There are also fishing and sailing opportunities, the Lake Ontario Playhouse and several specialty shops. Nearby, the Robert G. Wehle State Park in Henderson has plenty of biking and hiking trails as wells as 17,000 feet of Lake Ontario shoreline.

▲ Brennan Beach RV Resort (NY) ▲

Lake Ontario

Horseshoe Falls – One of the three falls of Niagara Falls.

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Lake Michigan Third in size and the only Great Lake with the distinction of having its shorelines solely in the United States, four states share access to the lake that means “great water.”

You can enjoy the lake from portions of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

If you’re planning a fall trip, explore Lake Michigan via the Lake Michigan Circle Tour when the foliage explodes with color.

In Illinois, enjoy the beaches that hug the shoreline including Oak Street Beach, one of Chicago’s most popular beaches offering magnificent views of the city’s iconic skyline. Another way to enjoy Lake Michigan in Chicago is to visit Navy Pier,

a popular landmark that offers live entertainment, museums, restaurants, and boat cruises.

Choose from the fast-paced Seadog that offers a thrilling ride with glimpses of Buckingham Fountain and Chicago’s famed Museum Campus or the more leisurely Spirit of Chicago options that offer lunch and dinner cruises. Plan your trip to take in the 2015 Chicago Air and Water Show, scheduled for August 15 and 16, and enjoy the show from North Avenue Beach.

From a Wisconsin standpoint, enjoy the charming towns and bigger cities that are situated along the shoreline. Architectural buffs will appreciate the Johnson Wax Headquarters, located in Racine, which was designed

by Frank Lloyd Wright. Further north is Milwaukee, the state’s third largest city and home to the Milwaukee Art Museum, with its unique Burke Brise Soleil structure atop the museum.

Don’t miss the Lakefront Festival

of Art scheduled for June 19-21.

Picturesque Port Washington is further north offering a “New England” setting with historic buildings, sandy beaches and boating and fishing opportunities.

Green Bay, which is actually situated on an arm of Lake Michigan, may be most notable for its football team, the Green Bay Packers, but there is plenty more to see and do here.

The Bay Beach Amusement Park has16 carnival rides, including the Zippin Pippin, the fourth oldest wooden roller coaster in the world.

There’s also the Bay Beach Wild Sanctuary, a 700-acre wildlife refuge with live animal exhibits, educational displays and hiking opportunities.

And Door County, a peninsula that is bordered on one side by Green Bay and the other by Lake Michigan, boasts 300 miles of shoreline, 11 lighthouses, five state parks, and a plethora of performing arts, galleries, shops and restaurants. This popular place is another don’t miss Badger State destination. ▼ Navy Pier – Chicago

▲ Round House Bar – Put-in-Bay, Ohio Photo courtesy of shoresandislands.com ▲ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Michigan’s east coast is dotted with quaint beach towns starting with New Buffalo in the south all the way north to Harbor Springs.

There are dunes and bluffs, lighthouses and wineries, farm stands and fruit stands and plenty of sandy beaches and rolling shores. The Dutch inspired city of Holland offers windmills and wooden clogs while South Haven is knowns for its annual National Blueberry Festival (August 6-9) and Traverse City for its annual National Cherry Festival (July 4-11).

In 2001, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore won the title of Good Morning America’s “Most Beautiful Place in America.” With 64 miles of beaches, sky-high dunes, inland lakes, two islands and amazing scenery, this is a must-see Michigan destination.

▲ Boat House Eatery – Put-in-Bay, Ohio Photo courtesy of shoresandislands.com

Lake Erie History buffs know that the Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812, was a decisive US victory over the British. While this battle was off the shores of Ohio, Lake Erie, the fourth largest by surface area of the Great Lakes, also borders Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario, Canada.

In New York, the city of Buffalo hugs the shores of Lake Erie.

Known as one of the snowiest cities in the US, a summer trip to Buffalo is a probably a better travel option (unless you love snow!). In addition to sampling the famous Buffalo Chicken Wings at the Anchor Bar, where they are said to have originated, visitors to Buffalo should not miss the Brain Museum at the University of Buffalo which has one of the largest exhibits devoted

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solely to the brain, and the Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum with its large collection of antique vehicles and a filling station designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. On the lakefront, enjoy Canalside, a historic redevelopment of the Erie Canal Harbor, which offers activities, restaurants, live entertainment, festivals and more.

In Ohio, explore the Lake Erie Islands which include Kelleys Island, the North, Middle and South Bass Islands (commonly known as Put-in-Bay), all located in the US, and Pelee Island which is located in Ontario.

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Presque Isle State Park, in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a state park located on a peninsula in Lake Erie. It is a National Natural Landmark and offers plenty of pathways for hiking, biking, and walking. Known for its wildlife, it is a noted bird watching spot with over 320 species observed here. Visitors can also take scenic cruises or enjoy several beaches.

Lake Superior The most popular way to view the largest of the Great Lakes is the Lake Superior Circle Tour. Before undertaking this 1,300 mile trek you need to plan accordingly as there is so much to see and do on this journey that takes you through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ontario, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Lighthouses, waterfalls, small islands, charming towns and historic landmarks highlight this road trip of a lifetime.

For information visit www.lakesuperiorcircletour.com The Apostle Islands in northern Wisconsin are definitely a stop you should plan on this trip. Often referred to as “The Jewels of Lake Superior,” the Apostle Islands are comprised of 21 islands that offer stunning scenery. A quick way to see the beauty of these islands is via the Apostle Islands Cruises which provide several tours out of Bayfield, Wisconsin. There’s a Glass Bottom Tour that explores shipwrecks and other underwater historic artifacts and you don’t ▲

On Put-in-Bay, visitors can see Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial honoring those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. There’s also the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum as well as Kimberly’s Carousel, a 1917 Herschel carousel still in operation. Kelleys Island is home to the largest exposed glacial grooves in the world.

Adventure-seekers will enjoy snorkel and scuba diving tours to see shipwrecks (www. lakeerieislandtours.com). On the mainland, don’t miss the family fun of Cedar Point, the second oldest operating amusement park in the US.

Cedar Point – Ohio Photo courtesy of shoresandislands.com

▼ Split Rock Lighthouse – Minnesota

▲ Kayaking – Apostles Isles Photo courtesy of Tim Wilson

even have to leave the boat, thanks to a large glass bottom viewing well. There’s also the Grand Tour, which is a 55-mile, three and a quarter hour tour that highlights Devils Island, the historic Raspberry Island Lighthouse and unique rock formations, known as Sea Stacks.

For more information, visit www.apostleisland.com.

In Two Harbors, Minnesota, you’ll find one of Minnesota’s most famous landmarks, the Split Rock Lighthouse which operated from 1910 to 1939 and was at one time the most visited lighthouse in the US. Two Harbors is also home to Gooseberry Falls State Park, a 1682-acre park that features several waterfalls, trails and picnic areas.

Further north, visit Grand Marais, as much a destination for adventure seekers as well as those that enjoy scenic views.

Drive along Highway 61, also known as the North Shore Scenic Drive, and enjoy a view

of Lake Superior on one side and bedrock formations and cliffs on the other. You can also enjoy Lake Superior aboard a classic 50-foot rigged schooner, The Hjordis, which offers several cruises daily.

Dine on a meal of fresh Lake Superior fish at the Angry Trout or enjoy some fish and chips at the Dockside Fish Market.

Marquette County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has 77 waterfalls. Most of them are accessible by foot or bicycle.

You can tour these waterfalls which are rated by exertion level (one being the lowest and 10 being the highest).

Marquette County also has several lighthouses, including Huron Island Lighthouse, located on West Huron Island, part of the Huron National Wildlife Refuge, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905.

In Ontario, visit Thunder Bay, named for the large bay located at the north shore of Lake Superior.

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

▲ Kakabeka Falls – Thunder Bay

offers fantastic views of Lake Superior as well as the occasional wildlife including moose, wolves, and lynx and more than 200 bird species. There is also Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, home to the second highest waterfall in Ontario. Both parks contain plenty of hiking trails.

Five great lakes, eight great states, plus one Canadian province – combine to make a sightseeing trip (or trips) you’ll remember for years to come thanks to a variety of flora, fauna, attractions, adventures, big cities and little towns and whatever else your heart desires.

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Southeast

Daubenmire Trail in Singletary Park Daubenmire Trail in Singletary Park is just a short 10 mile drive from Three Flags (FL). Expect to see a lot of wildlife as this park is a true example of the diversity of Florida’s environment. If you’re inclined, renting a canoe along the Flat Island Preserve is also a great way to enjoy the trails.

TrailMix

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY Northwest Southwest

On June 6, Thousand Trails plus people around the country will be celebrating the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day®, a nationally recognized trail awareness program that occurs annually on the first Saturday of June and inspires the public to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails while participating in outdoor activities, clinics, and trails stewardship projects. National Trails Day® is a registered trademark of American Hiking Society.

Take a peek at trails to check out across the country.

Willamette River Trail Lush and green, the Willamette River Trail runs through Willamette Park and the Crystal Lake Sports Field in Corvallis.

This dog friendly, naturally surfaced trail can be slick in the springtime when the river floods, so be careful! The Willamette River Trail is located near South Jetty (OR).

Oyster Dome Trail The 6.5 mile, moderate level, Oyster Dome Trail features softflowing rivers, waterfalls, a cave, and is accessible all year round.

There are various overlooks with benches spread through the park and it is located not far from the La Conner (WA) campground.

Cherry Creek Falls Trail A short drive from Thunderbird (WA) in nearby Duvall, is the Cherry Creek Falls Trail, where lots of picturesque waterfalls and creeks flow all year round.

Just make sure you stay on the main path and bring a camera so as not to miss any views of the scenic waterfalls.

®

Waterfall Tour of Uvas Canyon County Park Take a hike to see one of the Bay Area’s hidden gems of a trail – The Waterfall Tour of Uvas Canyon County Park. There are about seven miles of trails in the park but the waterfall loop is only 1.5 miles. Another option is to take the Swanson Creek Trail if you’re looking for a longer journey. Uvas Canyon County Park is located 10 miles from Morgan Hill (CA).

Marshall Gold Discovery State Park A very short trip from Ponderosa (CA), tucked away in the valley of the Sierra Foothills, are the rails at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park, a moderate 2.5 mile trail with plenty of picnic spots along the way. Learn about the gold rush while you hike along the Monroe Ridge Trail or while you visit some of the historic monuments in the park.

Hudson Valley Rail Trail The Hudson Valley Rail Trail is an easy, family-friendly paved trail along the Hudson River and located east of Rondout Valley (NY). Some of the old railroad structures, including a restored antique caboose, have been maintained on the trail for tourists to see. Make sure to take the Walkway Over The Hudson State Historic Park to experience the spectacular views of the Hudson River from 212 feet above.

Price Lake Loop Trail Known for a high amount of beaver activity, the Price Lake Loop Trail is a favorite among kids. And since it such a close drive north of Green Mountain (NC), visiting this trail is a no brainer.

Northeast

Cape May Point State Park Just a 30 minute drive on the Garden State Parkway from Sea Pines (NJ) will take you to Cape May Point State Park.

There you can hike one or all three of the easy trails in this park that many visitors say are great for birding and picnics.

Big Pocono State Park Trails Big Pocono State Park, located a very short distance from Scotrun (PA), features 8.5 miles of trail. If you’re an experienced hiker who seeks a more rugged adventure, try the North or South trails that extend East along the side of Camelback Mountain. For an easier hike, it’s recommended that you take the upper loop of the South Trail and Indian Trail.

There’s even a restaurant near the summit of Camelback Mountain.

M

idwest

Turkey Run State Park Trails With a total of 11 miles of trails, Turkey Run State Park is a great place to bring trail hikers of all levels. With numerous steps and ladders around the park, you’ll get lots of different perspectives of the scenery. There’s so much to explore here you might find that you end up staying all day.

Turkey Run State Park is located about 45 minutes northeast of Horseshoe Lakes (IN).

Warren Dunes State Park Trails Looking for a trail on the shoreline? The Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan is a pleasure for hikers looking for a trail along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Open year-round, this park features six miles of trails and three miles of shoreline.

The dune formation rises about 260 feet above the lake providing gorgeous views of Lake Michigan.

Warren Dunes state park is located just 30 minutes from Bear Cave (MI).

Remember to check your Theme Weekends guide for National Trails Day® activities at your favorite campground!

by Annie Berman

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I KNEW I WAS A

TrailBlazer

TB: How did you first hear about Thousand Trails?

▲ Mich Lundgren with her family.

This month, TrailBlazer would like to introduce you to Mich Lundgren, a blogger, photographer, and ultimate roadtrip lover. Read on to hear about their adventures with their camper, Terrible Terry the Luckless Trailer, and keep up with their story at RambleandRevel.com.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

ML: We hit the road in late July of last year. We first headed to Asheville, NC, and spent an amazing month tent camping throughout the Pisgah National Forest. In September, we bought our starter camper and headed for California! We are not well off, so it has been a year of a lot of hard work on our businesses, and a lot of stressful (even hopeless) moments, but it is so incredibly worth it for every memory we create, and every moment I get to witness my kids revel in new places, natural wonders, history, ideas, and friendships.

While I was always a wanderer dreaming of longer roads and bigger adventures, I genuinely

ML: We are members of the group Fulltime Families and learned that Thousand Trails is the place to be if you want to connect with other families on the road, and just for family friendly campgrounds in general. The day we arrived in California, we called and got a zone membership. That night we pulled into San Benito for our first Thousand Trails experience.

I don't think we could have asked for a better first park. We were actually about an hour south of Williamsburg Thousand Trails early this year when we realized it was only open on weekends.

We were faced with finding an expensive park up north (and freezing) or turning back and going to Florida. We decided in favor of warmth and the families we knew were hopping the Florida Thousand Trails parks! We upgraded to an Elite membership and headed back to Florida! Hands down the best purchase we have made on the road.

TB: What is one of your fondest camping memories? How about one of your fondest TT memories?

ML: While we were in Pisgah National Forest, we decided to

▲ Pisgah National Forest

go for a drive and ended up on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was nearing dark and we decided to take a random road off the parkway in hopes of finding a campsite for the night. We drove down an awful, steep, curvaceous road with “dispersed” roadside sites that were barely clinging to the side of this mountain. We slowly made our way to the bottom and there we happened upon a pavilion covered in moss. We got out and explored and discovered an abandoned campground that felt otherworldly. We decided to stay and, for the heck of it, put our tent up inside the pavilion.

We daydream about buying a place like that and restoring it someday. I think our favorite Thousand Trails memory so far was Thanksgiving at San Benito.

It was the first holiday my kids and I have had without my family and I was feeling particularly homesick. Not to mention I am no great cook and Tom is vegan – this meant I could foresee no turkey!

As it happened there was a Thanksgiving potluck! As amazing as the food was (and it was) the real joy was the warm atmosphere

and feeling so welcome. I take great joy in the way other campers interact with my boys and watching my kids chat with people from all generations with ease. It had the potential to be a really sad holiday, but instead it became an amazing memory.

TB: Any funny camping/RVing stories?

ML: It has been about nine months that we've been on the road, and in that time we have had many misadventures. Honestly, I think we still feel like it's too soon for things to have fully marinated and for us to have moved past “that was actually kind of horrifying, let's avoid talking about it” and into the territory of being able to laugh at our lack of experience and knowledge when it comes to RVing. The very first day we bought our camper we somehow got lost in Virginia and made a blind turn down a very dark road.

After about a mile down this winding road, we came to a hill and as we were going up... we weren't. The truck refused to budge up that slight rise.

There was no light outside, we had

Santa Cruz

▲

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TB: How long have you been camping and RVing?

Who introduced you to it?

Tell us how it all began!

no wireless signal, and there were a series of tight curves behind us.

We slowly began attempting to maneuver backwards around the curves. Mind you, this was our first time towing our new home, we had no experience backing up at weird angles, let alone in the middle of the night with ditches on either side of us. Eventually we decided to try to take the hill just one more time, after two hours on the road and having only made it around 2 of the curves. We made it! Another minute and we found ourselves at a very fancy retreat and were confronted by security who pointed us further down the road to turn around in the maintenance area. Now I insist we don't turn until we know what we are turning towards!

do not think it occurred to me to get an RV until beautiful camper remodels started making their way into my Pinterest feed! I started daydreaming and hoping that “maybe someday” it would be possible – and then my mom decided she was going to leave Minnesota. That was when I realized I had no excuse to stay put, to deal with another winter, to deny myself and my kids our greatest joy: exploring together freely. I then began researching and planning, and thanks to the many bloggers out there, I grew more confident that this was the right path.

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.)

ML: We call our camper Terrible Terry the Luckless Trailer. It's a 1984 travel trailer and while it isn't exactly easy on the eyes, it has carried us across the country twice, kept us warm and dry, and taught us a lot. It has been home. We are now in a position to save for the summer, do some greater improvements on Terry, and eventually upgrade to a fifth wheel. With this experience under our belts we definitely have a clear understanding of exactly what features we need most to make our life on the road work.

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TB: Where have you gone that you wouldn't have otherwise, if it hadn't been for your Thousand Trails membership?

cavern walls in California. I want to give them as much as the natural world as I can, and to nurture their curiosity and sense of wonder.

ML: Definitely Florida. If the system in Florida wasn't so appealing, both financially and as a family wanting to make connections, we would not have considered it an option for us – and it was the best place for us to be this winter. We had so much fun exploring and learning along the Gulf coast and we have formed friendships that have changed our lives for the better, in really significant ways.

TB: What is your favorite part about the outdoor lifestyle?

ML: While I love personally connecting with nature, there is something so beautiful about seeing my kids exploring and discovering the world around them in way I never had available to me as a kid. I have been there to witness my kids swim in the Gulf of Mexico with baby horseshoe crabs, they have hiked up a dormant volcano in New Mexico, listened to themselves echoing against damp

▲ San Benito

TB: Can you finish this sentence?

I knew I was a TrailBlazer when...

ML: I was a little girl who loved nothing more than a road trip. Part of me has always known. The road is what I have always wanted – but I was ready to turn in the wheels and settle back down in a house this past December. We

were leaving Arizona after a cold Christmas with my mom at her new home near Petrified Forest National Park, it had been weeks of cold and stress and one thing after the other going wrong. I was tired and I was done. We decided to head back east and settle down. After driving straight through for days, we spent an amazing week with the deer at Medina Lake Thousand Trails, and then headed for New Orleans.

I have always wanted to visit New Orleans so while we only spent one cold, rainy day there – it was a still a dream come true. From there we headed towards Pensacola, taking the “long way” on highway 90 along the Gulf of Mexico. Suddenly, we were warm again, and out our open windows was the most beautiful sand and water I had ever seen, and all of these adorable, unique towns scattered along the coast.

It was somewhere on that road that I realized I could not give up, that it was all worth it. That's when I really knew I really was a Trailblazer.

▲ Gettysburg Farm

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TB: Any other camping/RVing stories you'd like to share?

ML: I looked for a way to include this story somewhere above, because it feels like one of the most pivotal of our journey, for me. We took Route 66/Highway 40 across the country towards California and when we were leaving Albuquerque our engine started smoking and we had to pull off. We happened to land at an exit with two RV parks and picked the first one we could reach. There we met another family at the pool, the first traveling family we had met in the two months we'd been on the road. They had also arrived there unexpectedly.

We all decided to stay a week at this campground to fix the truck and have time to spend time with our new friends. After a few days the truck was fixed, we had money in the bank, and we started getting antsy, since we were due in California. We decided we needed to get the tires on the camper done while we were staying put and after we'd been out all day...we figured it just made sense to head out, instead of heading back to the campground. I texted our friends a sad goodbye and happy trails, hoping we would meet up again soon. We were back on Route 66, heading out of Albuquerque and up that same hill when our engine started smoking, and there we were for another night, given the chance to say a proper farewell. I think if it were any other family, it wouldn't have been so significant – but we had talked about this very thing, about how we can be put exactly where we are meant to be and how it felt like we were supposed to meet them. They have become not only friends, but sources of inspiration, encouragement, and a true example of loving acceptance that more people should aspire to, that I aspire to. The thing I took away the most is to trust in our journey – that if we just focus on being happy, and living our lives well, with love and kindness for our family and the people we meet, the rest will follow.

▲ Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

▲ Fort Pickens State Park

▲ Pisgah National Forest

▼ Shenandoah National Park

Charlie Daniels Photo courtesy of Erick Anderson

On The Road Whether 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 rocker legend,

CHARLIE DANIELS

by Lynn & Cele Seldon 34

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Known as the godfather of southern rock, Charles Edward Daniels – otherwise known as Charlie Daniels – symbolizes the South like few other entertainers.

Born and raised in North Carolina, skilled on guitar, fiddle, and mandolin, and writing and performing country, bluegrass, gospel, and southern rock for the past 50-plus years, 78-years-young Daniels is an icon in the music industry. In addition, he lent his time and talent to the Jason Foundation Golf Classic, which supports teen suicide prevention, and the Galilean Children’s Home, which provides a home for abused and neglected children.

He’s also been the headliner for many years of the Christmas 4 Kids concert at the Ryman Auditorium, which raises money to provide a happy holiday for needy children. And 2015 marks the 40th Anniversary of his annual Volunteer Jam concert, which is a world-famous musical extravaganza honoring our nation’s military, which is considered the prototype for many of today’s annual daylong music marathons and considered by historians as one of his most impressive contributions to southern music. This year's Jam

is August 12th at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and features performances by the Charlie Daniels Band (affectionately known as CDB), Alabama, Lee Greenwood, Phil Vassar, Travis Tritt, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Craig Morgan, and dozens more.

In addition to all of this, CDB performs more than 100 dates per year across the country and logs more than 100,000 miles on their custom 45’ Prevost tour bus. We caught up with Daniels as the devil went down to Georgia to kick off his 2015 tour.

Tell us about your bus.

It’s a Prevost 45-footer.

It’s outfitted for two, for my wife (of 51 years!) and myself. When my son started college in 1983 I got a bus for my wife and I to travel on. It’s not fancy. We had it built for hard traveling. It’s got a living area, a combined dining and sitting area, a bedroom, and a bathroom and shower in the back. My ranch in Tennessee is Twin Pines so I started calling my bus Twin Pines Rambler.

We call it TPR2.

What’s your favorite thing about staying on your bus versus a hotel room?

I hate packing. I despise packing and living out of a suitcase.

I’m not a very neat sort of person and it always seems like everything I want is in the bottom of the suitcase.

I also like sleeping while we are traveling down the road. I’ve just been doing it so long. We got our first bus in 1973, so I’m an old hand.

"I love traveling in the wide open

spaces out in the western part of the country.

It’s just so beautiful for one thing and the openness just kind of

appeals to me."

Photos courtesy of Jackie McClure

What are your three favorite things onboard?

What are a few favorite destinations and why?

I’m still astounded by technology.

I grew up when we had dial telephones. To be able to get satellite television while you are going down the road is an amazing thing to me.

I love traveling in the wide open spaces out in the western part of the country. It’s just so beautiful for one thing and the openness just kind of appeals to me. I just really enjoy traveling desolate sort of areas.

We have a rotary in the closet in the back of the bus. You know, like they have at a dry cleaners where you can just turn it on and it brings the clothes around to you. Your clothes are in the back of the closet and it just brings them up to you. It’s pretty amazing to me.

And then the telephone and wireless internet service.

What do you like to do onboard while enroute?

Pretty much whatever I want to. Sleep, read, watch TV. I can do creative things like play my guitar and fiddle. I write music.

Just whatever I feel like doing just like I do at home. I am about as much at home on my bus as I am in my house.

Do you generally like to take the highway or scenic routes?

We take the fastest routes. We’re doing business. We’re headed to a destination to do a show, so it’s all business. We’ll take a day once in a while to let the driver rest and rent a car, play golf, or whatever we feel like doing

Do you cook onboard?

We do. My wife does.

I can’t cook.

What’s your favorite meal to make onboard?

Pretty much whatever Hazel cooks up.

Do you listen to music on the road?

Not a lot. I don’t listen to music a lot. I play so much music and I’m constantly writing music that I don’t really listen to a lot of music. It’s not that I don’t love it but I just don’t usually get involved with other music…

I’m just so involved with mine.

Has anyone ever approached you at a rest stop or somewhere and asked to see your rig?

Probably, but it’s my home so we don’t let people come onboard. It’s like home for us.

How much longer do you think you will tour on Twin Pines Rambler?

As long as the good Lord’s willing. If people want to hear me, I’ll be out there doing it. I love it. I thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing. It’s a labor of love working on stage. I just thank God I can make a living doing something I enjoy so much.

! s k r a p r e t a w t s u j n a h t e r Mo

Long before the water parks arrived, the Wisconsin Dells were a popular Midwest travel destination.

by Joan Rykal 38

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39

was Noah’s Ark in 1979 and is considered the largest water park in the US set on 70 acres while the Kalahari, another popular family destination in the Dells is the largest indoor water park in Wisconsin at 125,000 square feet.

▲

Stand Rock – Upper Dells

A stop on the upper Dells boat tours, locals actually jumped across the rock to entertain tourists. – Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

So, yes there is plenty of water fun to be had in the Dells, but there is so much more to this popular family vacation destination than that!

Dells History Long before the water parks arrived, the Wisconsin Dells were a popular Midwest travel destination.

Originally called Kilbourn City, the area was known for its scenic, natural landscape and Midwesterners wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city flocked to the Dells. Thanks to landscape photos taken by photographer H.H. Bennett in 1875, which were distributed throughout the United States, the area became a sought-after travel destination for travelers from around the country.

In 1931 the town changed its name to Wisconsin Dells to reflect the big draw, the Dells of the Wisconsin River, a five mile gorge featuring soaring cliffs, canyons and Cambrian sandstone rock formations created more than 15,000 years ago thanks to a glacial melt. The term “dells” comes from the word used by French explorers who named the area for the “dalles,” meaning rapids or narrows on the river.

Originally, tourists enjoyed boat tours through the beautiful scenery of the dells themselves.

In 1946, Milwaukee native Mel Flath put a spin on the boat tours by introducing the amphibious truck as a way to glimpse the sandstone formations. Flath purchased a surplus of these military vehicles and called his tour company the Dells Amphibian Line but when he sold the business in 1952 it was renamed the Wisconsin Ducks, Inc. The Ducks as they are now popularly known are not actually named for the water fowl but 40

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Enjoy the Scenery While you can still ride the famous Ducks, there are other ways to enjoy this beautiful setting.

▲ Wisconsin Ducks 1960s

Photo courtesy of Chaz Larson

▼ Early visitors to the Wisconsin Dells Photography by HHBennett

rather the model terminology used by GMC, the vehicle’s manufacturer. So DUKW stands for D, for the first year of production, which was 1942, U for the body type which was utility; K for front wheel drive; and W meaning it had two rear driving wheels.

By the 1950s, more than just natural scenery was making the Dells the place to visit. The now famous Tommy Bartlett water show arrived in 1952. Originally a traveling show, Bartlett set up shop permanently in Wisconsin and the show continues to perform on nearby Lake Delton.

The summer 2015 season will mark the 63rd year that this show has been thrilling viewers with daring water stunts.

Flath was responsible for another tourist attraction, Storybook Gardens, a 10-acre park that featured not only ponds and flower gardens but more importantly, life-sized figures from popular children’s books, including Humpty-Dumpty, Pinocchio and The Three Bears.

Sadly, the attraction closed in 2011 but plenty of childhood memories include a trip to Storybook Gardens.

Another now shuttered attraction that was a major draw for families in the 1950s and 60s was Fort Dells, an 11-acre amusement park that featured four separate areas: Adventureland, Frontierland, Indian Isle and The Children’s Farm. But, sadly, with the advent of the water parks, Fort Dells became less popular and was closed in 1985.

Speaking of water parks, the Dells are considered the “Water Park Capital of the World,” with over 18 indoor and three outdoor water parks to enjoy. Fun fact – more than 16 million gallons of water flow through the indoor and outdoor water parks.

The first water park to open

Travel through Lost Canyon, Wisconsin’s longest and deepest canyon, in a horse-drawn carriage on a Lost Canyon tour (www.lostcanyontour.com) which features a mile of cliff-walled gorges.

Trips are approximately 30 minutes long and run every 10-15 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Devil’s Lake State Park, in nearby Baraboo, offers plenty of hiking, biking and climbing opportunities. For a hike, you can choose from 29 miles of trails ranging in skill level from easy to quite challenging. The park also includes a 1.5 mile interpretive trail as well as 1.5 miles of trails accessible for people with disabilities. If you want to enjoy the park via bicycle, the Uplands Loop provides eight miles of bike trails. Some of the best rock climbing in the Midwest can be enjoyed at Devil’s Lake and there are several area guides and outfitters that can set you up (no pun intended) to enjoy the soaring quartzite rock cliffs.

Fly through the trees on a zipline at one of several Dells area canopy tours, including Bigfoot Zipline Tours (www.bigfootzip.com), Wilderness Canyon Zip Line Tour (www.wildernessterritory.com), and Vertical Illusions (www.verticalillusions.com).

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and a country-style dinner.

For more information, visit www.wisconsinopry.com.

It is Wisconsin after all, so why not take in a lumberjack show at Paul Bunyon’s Northwoods Lumberjack Show? This show features lumberjack competitions including the Axe Throw, Crosscut Sawing, and the Standing Block Chop. This is a show that not only pays homage to Wisconsin’s history as a leading timber producer, but also provides an evening of fun for all ages.

For show schedules and ticket information, visit www.dellslumberjackshow.com.

▲ Big Foot Zip Line Tours Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

All offer a variety of packages and the experience of a lifetime!

▲ Stand up paddle boarding - Mirror Lake Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

If you want to take to the water, consider a canoe or kayak trip on Mirror Lake, which provides a serene trip where you’ll be surrounded by sandstone bluffs and towering pine trees.

Plan your trip to visit the Seth Peterson Cottage, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, which is located in Mirror Lake State Park and is open for tours the second Sunday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. For information, visit www.sethpeterson.org.

Known as the “Jewel Box of Wisconsin,” Cave of the Mounds offers cave tours, a mining sluice and several gardens to view, including a butterfly garden, a rock and rain garden and prairie and savannah restoration gardens.

▲ Palace Theater

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Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

The cave tour itself features stalactites, stalagmites, and shimmering pools and crystalized rock formations during a one-

hour guided tour throughout the cave that maintains a temperature of 50 degrees year-round.

For information, visit www.caveofthemounds.com.

Take in a Show The Palace Theater, one of the Dells newest attractions, is an 800-seat dinner theater offering classic Broadway productions. Shows scheduled for the upcoming summer season include Pinkalicious, based on the popular children’s book; Ring of Fire, a musical based on the music of Johnny Cash, and a production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. For tickets and show times, visit www.dellspalace.com.

The Wisconsin Opry offers music and dining with a country flare, and hayride to boot! From bluegrass to fiddling and plenty of popular country music as well, you’ll enjoy a musical evening

Still as popular as it was back in the 1950s, the Tommy Bartlett Show should definitely be on your “things to do” list when visiting the Dells. There’s Aqua, the waterskiing clown, as well as plenty of daring boat maneuvers, water skiing daredevils and more to see at this show that has been thrilling families for more than 60 years. For show times and more information, visit www.tommybartlett.com.

▼ Circus World Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

▲ Tommy Bartlett Show Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

Out of the Ordinary Claiming to mix “old-fashioned circus thrills with tomorrow’s curiosities,” Mr. Marvel’s Wondertorium features 10 live acts and 100 attractions. Fireeaters, contortionists, shrunken heads and the truly weird and one of a kind come together at this museum that offers two locations (one in the Dells and one in nearby Baraboo).

For more information, visit www.wondertorium.com.

As the former winter headquarters for Ringling Brothers Circus, the town of Baraboo is bound to turn up an oddity or two. Start with the Circus World Museum, which in addition to containing a plethora of circus memorabilia, also houses a sideshow tent complete with life-sized replicas of freak show favorites including the

Fat Lady, the Bearded Lady, the Tattooed Woman, and the famous Siamese twins, Chang and Eng. A room made of duct tape, a vampire gallery and King Tut’s temple are just of few of the “odd, weird and unbelievable” things you’ll see at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! With 11 different galleries, there’s plenty of weirdness for everyone.

Don’t miss the six-legged lamb!

For more information, visit www.ripleysdells.com.

Eats & Drinks For some adult time, visit Fawn Creek Winery and enjoy a complimentary wine tasting, artisan cheeses, and live music on the deck overlooking the seven-acre winery. Check out www.fawncreekwinery.com for more details.

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Out n’ About

DOOR COUNTY Door County in Wisconsin is practically a summertime playground for visitors of all ages!

From beautiful shorelines and historical lighthouses to water sports and famous fish boils, Door County is a perfect summer destination and Tranquil Timbers (WI) campground is conveniently

▲ Mount Olympus Water Park Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

For some good food, check out Sprecher’s which features standard pub fare as well as ethnic specialties like schnitzel and a Wisconsin wurst platter.

Sprecher’s is also known for their exceptional brews and sodas.

You have to try the root beer!

There’s no shortage to enjoy creamy fudge in the Dells so take your pick or try them all. Wisconsin Dairlyland Fudge makes fudge and other confections using recipes handed down through generations. Swiss Maid Fudge features hand-dipped chocolates, salt water taffy and caramel apples in addition to their fudge offerings and Original Wisconsin Dells Fudge was the first fudge shop opened in the Dells in 1962. You can’t go wrong whichever you choose!

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And then there’s the waterparks!

Whether you want to be transported to the African wilds or ancient Greece, there’s a water park waiting for you at the Wisconsin Dells.

With both and indoor and outdoor water parks, the Kalahari offers a whole lot of water adventure. Try the Swahili Swirl or the Zimbabwe Zipper for water thrills or enjoy a relaxing trip down the lazy river. There’s also an indoor amusement park with a Ferris wheel, carousel, and ropes course.

The Wilderness offers 500,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor water parks that include wave pools, body slides, dumping buckets, and lazy rivers. Plus, there’s also a golf course, go-kart trails, an arcade and a margarita swim-up bar for adults!

Also worth a visit is the picturesque village of Ephraim where its rich Scandinavian heritage has been carefully preserved in more than 30 historical sites throughout the town. Ephraim is located right on the shoreline and is beautiful to see almost any time of the year.

Mt. Olympus is the new kid on the block and features both an indoor and outdoor water park as well as an indoor and outdoor theme park. Don’t miss a ride on the Hades 360, the world’s first all-wood roller coaster with a 360-degree upside-down barrel roll and a 110-degree turn. Yikes!

Noah’s Ark, the park that started it all, doesn’t stop bringing the fun when it comes to outdoor water park fun. With over 80 attractions it remains a premier Wisconsin Dells destination and features a dive-in theater, water slides, lazy rivers, wave pool and most recently added “Surfin’ Safari” where you can ride your boogie board and catch a wave!

Make plans to stay at Arrowhead or Yukon Trails RV Resorts while visiting the Dells.

The best way to experience all of the history and magic of these lighthouses is to take a tour with The Door County Maritime Museum. The Museum offers 14 lighthouse tours and includes stops at Sherwood Point and the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Lighthouses.

located right in the heart of this summertime playground.

With a total of five state parks, Door County has more state parks than any other county in Wisconsin and Potawatomi State Park is one of the most famous.

It features a bunch of different trails including Tower trail which is approximately 3.6 miles and takes you to a 75 foot observation tower on the highest bluff in the park. If you happen to visit in the wintertime, there are eight miles of snowmobile trails along the west and south boundaries of the park and four different loops for cross country skiing.

From art galleries to churches and even private residences, the Midsummer Music Festival brings classical chamber music for winds, strings, and piano performed in intimate settings throughout Door County. The festival is in its 25th year this June and was started by two long-time Door County summer residents and principal orchestral players of the Lyric Opera Of Chicago. It’s truly a unique way to experience live classical music and is sure to add some sophistication to your trip’s itinerary.

For the those travelers who like to eat their way through the places they visit, you won't go hungry in Door County. This place is famous for their traditional fish boils. At the fish boil, local fishermen catch fresh whitefish from Lake Michigan that is cooked outside over an open fire, just how the traditional Scandinavian settlers used to do it.

The White Gull Inn is a great place to try this traditional feast and don’t leave without sampling their famous cherry stuffed French toast!

Look out! Because you may never see a list of “Top Things to do in Door County” without mentioning the famous lighthouses.

by Annie Berman

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

45

Who’s in the kitchen with

TrailBlazer?

Green Beans and Potatoes

My favorites. Winners with everyone, especially with the judges!

These are some fun and good in the Dutch oven. The green beans are especially good when you can get fresh beans from the Farmer's Market! The bread...who can resist a nice, soft, and puffy bread bun flavored with parmesan cheese? The sausage roll won some prizes and definitely disappears during a tailgate.

Enjoy! Lesley Tennessen

by Lesley Tennessen, DutchOvenDiva Lesley Tennessen, Dutch Oven Diva

www.dutchovendiva.com or visit my blog at dutchovendiva.wordpress.com

Setup:

Directions:

• 12 in Dutch oven

1. Clean the green beans cutting off tips and ends.

Cut up into 1 inch pieces.

• 18 coals on top, 10 underneath

2. Light the charcoal. When ready, lightly cook the bacon and the onions together but not too crispy. Remove the oven from coals.

Ingredients:

Bacon Explosion

• 8 russet type potatoes

by Lesley Tennessen, DutchOvenDiva

• 1 large (fist sized) yellow onion, diced into ½ in pieces

Setup:

• ½ lb bacon cut up

• 12 inch camp Dutch oven

• 1 lb fresh green beans or 1 lb frozen cut up style green beans

• 18 coals on lid, 9 coals under to make a 350 degree oven

• Salt and pepper

Ingredients:

3. Cut the potatoes into ¼ in slices and then into bite size pieces (easy to serve at end!)

4. Put the potatoes, green beans with the bacon and onion. Salt and pepper to taste. Add in the butter (just cut it up in pieces). Stir up together to mix.

5. Put the oven back onto the heat and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour to make sure potatoes are done.

6. Serves 8 with big portions

• ½ stick of butter

• 2 lb ground sausage • 1-2 lb of thick sliced bacon

Hot Fudge Lava Cake

• BBQ seasoning • 1 cup BBQ sauce, about ¹/³ cup for inside and rest for basting.

by Lesley Tennessen, DutchOvenDiva

• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced

Make sure you follow the directions in order (no skipping around!)

• 1 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon • 1 large sweet onion, thick sliced

Directions: Using the thick sliced bacon, make a tightly woven lattice bed on parchment paper. I make it squared up with the size of the bacon. Make sure you get thick bacon or it's hard to keep together.

Sprinkle with BBQ seasoning.

Pat 2 lb of ground sausage evenly on your lattice square. I've made this a few times and our favorite sausage is Johnsonville Italian Sausage. Get two packages and 46

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

set next to each other on the bacon lattice and press out, they almost fit perfectly.

Roll the sausage part up, leaving the bacon lattice lie. Roll as tight as you can.

Now sprinkle that with cooked crumbled bacon. I've done fresh bacon, and cheated with the real cooked crumbled bacon you get already done. Both are good.

Roll back towards you picking up the bacon lattice. Place seam side down on a bed of sliced onion and cook low until internal temp reads done.

Now pour a gob of BBQ sauce over it. A generous amount, but not too much that it's a total mess.

I sprinkle more BBQ seasoning on top too. Then about the last 15 minutes, start basting with BBQ sauce.

Setup:

Combine:

• 12 in Dutch oven

• 1 cup sugar

• 17 coals on top, 8 underneath

• 1 cup brown sugar

Ingredients:

• 8 Tbsp cocoa

• 2 cups flour

Sprinkle evenly over the top of the cake mix. Then pour 2 ½ cups hot water on top.

• 6 Tbsp cocoa

Do not stir!

• 4 tsp baking powder

Trust me, it will work.

• ½ tsp salt

Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees.

• 1 ½ cups sugar

Photo courtesy of Kathy Owens

• ²/³ cup melted butter, cooled • 1 cup milk • 3-4 tsp vanilla Mix above ingredients together and pour into a greased 12" Dutch oven.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

47

ASK

RVBILL

YOUR TECH QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Q:

A:

Bill, I have a 2007 Jayco Jayfeather. The stabilizers in the front are positioned where they face forward, when lowered, they do not keep the camper from rocking back and forth. Wanted to know if they can be replaced with the scissor style stabilizers?

The scissor style stabilizers can reduce the back and fourth motion you are describing. If you have a tandem axle, I suggesting chocking the wheels to stop forward and aft movement. I use the X-Chocks by BAL Mfg. for in-between the tires in conjunction with SteadyFast Stabilizer System. The Steady Fast has produced the best results for

Thanks, Arthur Skaggs

Q: Bill, us in reducing continuous rocking/ sea sickness. I hope this info is helpful to you in enjoying your home away from home even more.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Richard Stone

Q:

A:

We are in the market for a new RV and have been looking at the NEXUS RV line; Super C built on the International frame with a 300HP MAX Force 7 Diesel power-plant. This engine does not use DEF but runs (as I understand it) using twin turbos to meet current EPA standards.

Richard, I believe that your concerns are valid, yet I have not heard of any major problems or premature failures with this engine although it will be a bit underpowered. I doubt that you will drive enough miles over its lifetime to wear it out anyway.

That being said, as far as needing DEF in the future to meet EPA standards, it shouldn’t be an issue as this engine has already met or exceeded EPA standards without it. Normally, the EPA doesn’t require retrofitting previous year models to meet the most current set standard(s). The NEXUS is a good quality RV that I hope you will enjoy for many years to come.

On a side note, don’t miss staying at one of the many beautiful state or federal parks in Colorado.

The Rockies are a delight and CO is our favorite state!

I have heard pros and cons on the durability of this engine and wondered what your opinion of it is. If we purchase a unit with this power plant, are we looking at problems down the road with it not using DEF to meet EPA standards? We will be using this coach to spend time with our children located in CO and CA, which means lots of mountain driving.

Just trying to determine if we would have problems with this power plant. Cannot seem to find any reliability on it.

Sincerely, Richard D. Harmon

GOT A QUESTION FOR BILL? SEND AN EMAIL TO AskRVBill@equitylifestyle.com

48

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

We have a 2004 Itasca Suncruiser with the Workhorse chassis.

We pull a 2007 Chevy HHR all 4 wheels down and will be going to Alaska this summer. What is the best method/item to get more performance out of the Chevy 454? Your recommendation is eagerly awaited.

Q: Bill, What is a cheap way to thaw your tanks when you are full timing and you can't put it in a warm building?

Cheers, Julie Benedict

A: Richard, Banks Engineering offers the very best performance package to meet your needs.

Their suburb design offers maximum torque specifically for towing heavy loads. Look at the PowerPack System for the 8.1 L Workhorse Chassis. (www.bankspower.com) This kit will include an air intake system and a custom exhaust system. Banks is top notch and their products will last the life of your engine. Don’t miss their impressive performance results on this website, too!

A: This is a good question that I’m happy to help you with. You can either purchase an electric holding tank heating system or simply add anti-freeze to the holding tanks. Being that you are full timers, I would install the holding tank heating pads or else you will need to carry gallons of anti-freeze with you. As far as your water tank, your forced air heating system should heat it just fine. However, you can install the pads there as well but it’s not critical. Look at www.pplmotorhomes.com for their RV Holding Tank Heater. In the long run, the electric heating pads are less expensive; they take up less room and weight than gallon after gallon of liquid anti-freeze. Opt for the worry free solution and buy the pads.

Bill’s Quick Tip For Freightliner Custom Chassis Owners: There is a new smartphone app that is a must-have called “Freightliner Custom Chassis 24/7 Direct.”

The app offers its users on demand support anytime, anywhere. Check it out!

▲ Bill enjoying the sunrise with a cup of coffee and his dogs, Ginger and Brie.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Member Deals

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**Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page. *Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. 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 offers 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. Two week maximum stay per resort at discounted rate.

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Crystal Isles, Fiesta Key, Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

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Use Promo Code: TT50AUG5 Remaining Florida Properties *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

**Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. 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 offers 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. Two week maximum stay per resort at discounted rate.

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Member Deals

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Not Valid at: Venture In and Salome KOA *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page. **Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. 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 offers 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. Two week maximum stay per resort at discounted rate.

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JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

*Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page. **Subject to availability. Reservations required. Rates based on a standard site. Stays of 30 days or less are subject to $4 per day resort fee. 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 offers 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. Two week maximum stay per resort at discounted rate.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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57

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers can be found on page 64.

4

paws ROAD ON THE

Traveling and Camping with Companion Animals

Q: Jenn, Is there a specific brand of

t in Gear e !

G • Hats • Sweatshirts • T-Shirts

ThousandTrailsGear.com

e or m d an

!

• Koozies

By Jenn Gehr

raw bones we can purchase & safely feed our two Labs and where do I find them? We only buy organic and made in the USA & know not to feed anything too small that they could choke on. Looking forward to visiting some of the Thousand Trails parks along the West Coast you suggested for us, too! We can’t wait to see our dogs run the beaches of Oregon.

Thank you for your helpful column, Sam & Keri Ragland, Boulder, CO

A: Hello, Colorado Friends! I only

feed and recommend that all raw bones be fed under supervision and that you begin your dogs on raw bones in 5 min. daily or every other day increments. This process will be sure to allow for the pets' system to adjust to the rich increase of nutrition found in bone marrow.

Feeding organic raw food in any way is the most biologically correct way to feed your pet – kudos for being so dedicated to your pets’ health.

As with any feed change, keep an eye on each dog’s stool and if it becomes loose, keep the introduction sessions shorter and consider offering the bone only a few times a week. Never feed cooked bones and be sure the bones you buy are hormone and steroid free, raised and processed in the USA. Look around your area and call smaller, boutique pet stores or local feed stores and ask if they carry raw, frozen bones from Primal or Northwest. You can check online for these companies store locations, as well. In your area of Boulder, CO, you shouldn’t have any problem locating a retailer to

meet your needs. Remember that there are raw “Treat” bones and raw “Meaty” bones. The treat bones will not suffice for a meal but depending on the size of your dog, a meaty bone will. The smaller bones in chicken or turkey necks or backs can easily be crushed and eaten by even a smaller dog. Even still, I suggest supervision when feeding bones. I feed treat and meaty bones several times a week and my dogs love it – they must know just how healthy it is for them and their teeth have never looked better.

For 3 years now, I have been feeding my dogs a 100% raw diet and we all couldn’t be happier with the results.

Best of luck to you and yours!

Q: Hey, Jenn. I know you travel a lot and was wondering if you vaccinate your pups for Rattlesnake bites?

It was suggested to me for my dogs, Brutus (Boston Terrier) and Stella (a Lab).

Thanks, Devon Cots, Del Norte, CO

A: Devon, thanks for this question!

I have done a lot research on the pros and cons of administering the Rattlesnake vaccine and to tell you the truth, I am still on the fence.

The vaccine is quite controversial and personally, I practice a limited vaccine schedule as is, so adding a vaccine is something I do with GREAT measure. In addition, my dogs are under 20 lbs. and that is somewhat of a concern as well if they were to have a reaction to the shot. That being said, just an ounce of precaution can sometimes safe a life. I strongly urge you to look

for a Rattlesnake Aversion Course in your area that helps teach your dogs to keep away from snakes all together. Make up a list of questions that you have and seek advise from your local veterinarian and listen to their personal experience in the matter. No vaccine is 100% effective all of the time, but there is evidence that suggests dogs that have been vaccinated and who are bitten by a Rattlesnake can show less severe symptoms, less pain, less treatment, lower death rates and have faster recovery times than those dogs who have not had the vaccine. In reading I have discovered that most owners of smaller dogs seem to lean on the side of not vaccinating while owners of larger dogs, consider the vaccine to be safer to administer with less side effects such as illness and irritation at the injection site. I know that if my dog were to be bitten by a Rattlesnake, I would second guess myself to the grave wondering if I had administered the vaccine, would the outcome had been any different?

Would their pain have been reduced and was it the reason my pet lived or died? Sigh… Truly, it’s a serious matter and one that I cannot decide on for sure as there are many variables to take into consideration.

No matter what, a snakebite is an emergency situation that requires immediate veterinary treatment and support. If you are still pondering the decision, talk to a few different vets and friends who live in your area about the Rattlesnake vaccine to brainstorm your best course of action. And please, let me know what you come up with. Hugs to the pups and congrats on your new home and Hubby!

Jenn Swope-Gehr is now a full-time RVer whose life would not be complete without animals. A vet tech for nine years and a professional horse trainer, rider, and instructor that still teaches national level clinics, Jenn’s expertise with helping animal owners to better connect with their own dogs, cats, birds, and horses have been a daily source of pleasure and passion. Jenn and her husband, Bill, travel the country year-round with their two Boston Bulldogs, Ginger and Brie.

Email Jenn your questions and share your pics at TBPets@equitylifestyle.com.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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y l l a R It's Time!

Make Dad Glad

Pio Pico (CA)

Calendar

CLUB JUNE 2015

Northwest

TTN So Cal Weekenders

June 16-19, 2015.. Bend/Sunriver, OR

June 26-28.................. Pacific City, OR July 24-26...............Whaler's Rest, OR August 28-30............Thunderbird, WA Sept. 25-27.............. Leavenworth, WA October 23-25................... Seaside, OR Nov. 27-29.................... La Conner, WA

June 5-7 ����������������������������Pio Pico, CA Aug 7-9 ���������������������������� Idyllwild, CA Sept 11-13 �������������������������Pio Pico, CA Oct 2-4 ��������������������������� Oakzanita, CA Nov 6-8 ��������������Wilderness Lakes, CA Dec 4-6 ��������������������� Palm Springs, CA

We also have new contact people and email, phone numbers: WagonMaster Daphne Bailey (Oregon) (503) 590-8566, daphnebailey07@comcast.net.

Secretary Dottie Michel (Washington) (360) 941-3126, ttnw_sec@yahoo.com.

We are a group of TTN members who meet once a month at Southern California preserves. All ages welcome; we have both working and retired members. No dues, just fellowship.

Email: ttnweekenders@earthlink.net website: http://home.earthlink. net/~ttnweekenders/.

Wagonmaster will be Dick and Dena Iverson, contact information (360) 883-5839 or denaiverson@q.com Bounders United/TTN are TTN members who own Bounder motorhomes and belong to Bounders United. For more information, contact Darlene Spalding at (951) 741-3881 or email at wrkerbees@yahoo.com.

Adopt-A-Manatee® for Him this Father’s Day

Attention Members

Our member rules have recently been updated. Please view our updated member rules in the member section at thousandtrails.com.

Call 1-800-432-(JOIN) 5646 savethemanatee.org

Bounders United (BUTTN)

Thank you.

Photo © David Schrichte

TT SINGLES Central California June 26-28 ����������������� Morgan Hill, CA July 24-26 �������������������Snowflower, CA Aug 28-30 ��������������������Snowflower, CA Sept 25-27 ������������������ Morgan Hill, CA Oct 23-25 �������� Lake of the Springs, CA Dec 4-6 ������������������������� San Benito, CA Contact Jane Davis at (209) 986-1088 or email to janedjd@pacbell.net; Becky Staffeld at (408) 253-6995 or email to bstaffeld@att.net.

Lewis and Clark TTN Terms and Conditions for 2015 Referral Promotion from page 4.

For each Eligible Referral (as defined) through December 31, 2015, you will receive a $25 Visa Prepaid Card. In addition, for each Eligible Referral through December 31, 2015, 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 roundtrip 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 roundtrip 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 2015, not to exceed $545 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, 2016. 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, 2015 and December 14, 2015, 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 Visa® Prepaid Card and you will not receive a $25 Visa® Prepaid 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 Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. 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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JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

June 18-22...............Whalers Rest, OR July 20-24.................... La Connor, WA August 17-21...................Paradise, WA Sept 17-21............. Bend/Sunriver, OR Oct 15-19........................... Seaside, OR Roger Beausoleil: President Lewis and Clark TTN chapter of FMCA. Contact person, Roger Beausoleil (503) 390-4753 or rogerabeau@msn.com

TT East Trail Buddies We are an FMCA chapter exclusively for TT Members. We have three rallies each year at TT preserves on the East Coast. For more information, please contact Club Secretary Peter Kamenik at (410) 287-8440 or email to trailbuddiestteast@gmail.com.

TT Travelers Southern California June 1-3............... Yosemite Lakes, CA July 13-15........................ Pio Pico, CA Aug 3-5............................ Idyllwild, CA Sept 14-16...................... Oakzanita,CA Oct 5-7........................ Rancho Oso, CA Nov 2-4..................... Palm Springs, CA Dec 7-9..............Wilderness Lakes, CA Jan 11-13......................... Pio Pico, CA Feb 1-3..............Wilderness Lakes, CA March 7-9............Soledad Canyon, CA April 4-6................... Palm Springs, CA We meet Mon, Tues, Weds, mornings for coffee and those evenings for potluck and games. For more information contact Wagon Master Jeff Hazelton (503) 583-5426 or jeff@nocciola.com

TTWest/FMCA July17-19 ��������������������� San Benito, CA Sept 11-13 ��������������� Russian River, CA Nov 13-15 ������������������Lake Minden, CA (rally follows FMCA West Rally in Indigo)

Members of Thousand Trails and FMCA meet at Northern California Preserves bimonthly. Contact Bob Litfin at (408) 226-6529 or email to clitfin@USA.com. Reservations are required two weeks in advance.

TT of Texas/FMCA Sept 11-13 ����������������Lake Whitney, TX New members must be a member of TTN and FMCA. Contact Connie Farrar at (817) 454-4612 or email to ttnfmcachapter@gmail.com.

Our website is: ttnoftexasfmca.com.

We also have a blog site: www.ttfmcaralliesandmore.blogspot.com.

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

63

At Carefree RV Resorts, getting away feels like coming home.

Find The Evergreen Tree An evergreen tree is hidden somewhere in this issue. Drop us a postcard telling us where you found it, and if your card is drawn you’ll win a $25 Visa Prepaid Gift Card!

Renee Johnson of Fife, WA

found the tree on Page 11 of the 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 June 30, 2015 and remember – the tree could be a different color and size!

20% off Midweek Rates To save 20% on July and August reservations, book online using code CFC20 for RV sites or CFR20 for rentals.

New Jersey/Atlantic City Long Beach · Barnegat · 609-698-5684 Shady Pines · Galloway Township · 609-652-1516 Ontario, Canada Arran Lake · Allenford · 519-934-1224 Craigleith · Clarksburg · 519-599-3840 Deer Lake · Huntsville · 705-789-3326 Grand Oaks · Cayuga · 905-772-3713 Gulliver’s Lake · Millgrove · 905-659-7300 Hidden Valley · Normandale · 519-426-5666 Lafontaine · Tiny · 705-533-2961 Lake Avenue · Cherry Valley · 613-476-4990 Pickerel Park · Napanee · 613-373-2812 Sherkston Shores · Sherkston · 877-482-3224 Silver Birches · Lambton Shores · 519-243-2480 Trailside · Seguin · 705-378-2844 Willow Lake · Scotland · 519-446-2513 Willowood · Amherstburg · 519-736-3201 Woodland Lake · Bornholm · 519-347-2315

Answers – Sudoku puzzle can be found on page 62.

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JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Answers – Crossword puzzle can be found on page 58

carefreeRVresorts.com Valid Sunday – Thursday only. Expires 8/31/2015. Based on availability, valid for standard sites only, not valid during holidays or special events, sites are limited and may sell out.

Please make your reservation online today.

JUNE

2015 TRAILBLAZER

65

NO ONE DOES IT BETTER

On Location

Mirror Lake, WI Photo courtesy of Travel Wisconsin

I t ’s t i m e t o s t a r t p l a n n i n g

C O S NSIN I W N !

O

Thousand Trails Members Qualify For Association Discounts Attend A SkyMed Meeting For Details call 800-679-2020 for meeting locations

Book your vacation now!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN AN EMERGENCY? SkyMed members simply call our toll-free number and speak to a caring SkyMed representative

When planning your trip to the Wisconsin Dells, consider staying at either Arrowhead or Yukon Trails RV Resorts in Wisconsin. Both are equally accessible from all things Dells and have many amenities to make your vacation a memorable one!

24 SEVEN 365.

• Swimming • Fishing

1.

• Mini Golf

2.

3.

4.

• Hiking/Biking Trails • Playground • Marina/Boat Dock Arrowhead RV Resort, WI

5.

Hospital-to-Hospital Emergency Air Transport Vehicle & Vessel Return Visitor Transportation Transportation for Recuperation Nearer Home Commercial Carrier Medical Escort Flights

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Ground Ambulance Helicopter 100 Mile Waiver SkyMed Plus (Pet Return) Minor Children / Grandchildren Return Primary Driver Disability Physical Remains Return

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

Escort / Companion Transportation Return Transportation After Recovery Incidental Expense Allowance Organ Retrieval Organ Recipient Transportation Global Emergency Travel Services

• Pets Welcome

To book your next stay, call or visit our website.

1-888-443-7301

ThousandTrails.com

800-679-2020

www.skymed.com/thousandtrails

JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER

67

SAVE TODAY. VACATION TOMORROW. See how much you could save on RV insurance.

for your RV

geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | local office

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2015 GEICO

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JUNE 2015 TRAILBLAZER