TrailBlazer Magazine - September 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015

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$2.00

WINE COUNTRY CENTRAL COAST CALIFORNIA Most award-winning wineries in the United States

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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©2014 Winnebago Industries, Inc.

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

VOL. 37

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WHAT’S INSIDE

ISSUE 8

SEPTEMBER 2015

Columns

Features

5 Message from Marguerite

22 Wine Country

9 Tech Topics 48 Ask RV Bill 59 4 Paws on the Road

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32 Deep South: Discover San Diego

Calendars 10 Preserve Events

Lifestyle 18 Out n’ About:

Santa Barbara to

San Diego 28 I Knew I Was A Trailblazer 30

Trail Mix: Under the Radar - Southwest Trails

40 On The Road:

Junk Gypsies

14 Local Events 63 Club Calendar

▲ Wine County California boasts the most award-winning wineries in the United States, with stunning wine country spread all across The Golden State.

Regulars 50 Member Deals 58 Crossword Puzzle 62 Sudoku Puzzle

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46 Who’s in the Kitchen

with TrailBlazer?

66 On Location

Deep South: Discover San Diego Quite simply, California’s “deep south” region is a world apart from the rest of The Golden State. The great outdoors from the Pacific Ocean to the desert is a region that invites exploration for many miles on the coast and inland.

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▲ Out n’ About Immerse yourself in the rich history of our 31st state or enjoy the varied world of the arts.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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▲

速

Camping is

Always Better with Friends!

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

Plus!

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)

THIRD PRIZE

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

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

CONTACT US TODAY!

(888) 808-8925

or visit THOUSANDTRAILS.COM 4

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

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

▲ Pacific City, OR

MESSAGE from MARGUERITE Recently, a contingent from our corporate office had the opportunity to not only visit and stay at a few of our Oregon properties, but also to work side by side with our on site teams. Encouraging team members from marketing, operations or sales to step into key roles at our properties provides a better understanding of what’s working or can bring to light areas that may require some improvement. As you can imagine, this visit created a buzz at the properties, not only from our members/ guests, but from our on site teams as well.

The stories told by so many of you who have visited numerous properties and the tips offered for areas of improvement have all been well received.

I can definitely say, these employees returned with a better understanding of what it takes to operate our properties on a daily basis. How we approach the day-to-day responsibilities ultimately determines how satisfied our customers are with our operations.

Thanks to All and Happy Camping –

In addition to the time spent with our on site teams, the time spent speaking directly with our customers provided valuable insight into our customers’ satisfaction. A common theme witnessed by the team was the camaraderie that exists among our customers and employees alike.

As you visit our properties over the next month or two I would ask each of you to request one of our TripAdvisor cards and be sure to go online and give your favorite property employees a shout out for the services they provided; chances are they do not hear it enough.

Marguerite Nader President & CEO

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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www.trailblazermagazine.net CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mark Slattery EDITOR tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mellissa Brosius, 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.

TRAILBLAZER MAGAZINE Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606 www.trailblazermagazine.net NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-877-252-9320 PRINTED IN THE USA

THOUSAND TRAILS RESERVATIONS

▲ Lake of the Springs (CA): Swimming at the lake – Norman Froggatt, Yuba City, CA

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.

Call: 800-288-7245

Canada: 228-497-3594 April 1 to August 31 Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST September 1 to March 31 Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST

VISIT WWW.THOUSANDTRAILS.COM STARS AUTOMATED RESERVATIONS

800-859-STAR (7827)

ENCORE RESERVATIONS 877-570-2267

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

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

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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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

PICS FROM THE PARKS

▲ Chesapeake Bay (VA): Red Sunrise – Ron Thill

▲ Lake and Shore (NJ): Close up look at a beautiful flower – Barbara Olson

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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SM

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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 look at some advanced tips for sizing RV battery banks and consider a few simple organizing strategies to help keep your RV Navy Neat. Let’s get going – time’s a-wasting!

Quick & Easy Organizing Tips: Keeping your cargo and living area neat and organized always makes traveling easier – and safer. Not only does organization keep things in their place so you can find them when you need them, it also helps keep loads from shifting while you’re underway. And that’s a big plus, for safety’s sake.

Use drawer and shelf inserts to make the most of available space.

Plastic dividers and lightweight bins are great for organizing underbed storage, so you can quickly and easily find packed items. Pack clothes to be stored under the bed in sweater bags or space-saving air bags. Not only does this method make clothes easier to find, bags also protect your clothing from dust, odors, and carpet fibers.

Make the most of valuable refrigerator space and drawer space by using Ziploc bags instead of rigid food storage containers. Keep paper towels from unraveling during travel by surrounding the roll with a rubber band before placing in the paper towel holder. When parked, just toss the rubber band in a drawer until your RV is rolling again!

Minimize packing and unpacking between trips by outfitting your RV with its own set of dishes, linens, towels, silverware, etc. Line kitchen shelves with slip-stop to help keep cups and plates in place. Put a layer of slip-stop between plates for cushioning. For longer trips, it’s a good idea to consider using paper cups and paper plates to save both time and water on the road.

Sizing Your Battery Bank: As we all know, the heart and soul of a modern RV is its house battery bank: this is where all the power for the 12 volt system is stored for future use. The house battery bank lets us take all our modern conveniences like TVs, lights, and computers along for the ride.

It’s important to match your rig’s battery bank to your appliances’ power needs.

The good news is that your RV manufacturer has already done this hard work for you and, generally speaking, most RVs have the right size battery banks built right in.

However, you might find your power needs are a little greater than the “standard build.” This is sometimes the case if you do a lot of boondocking, have a lot of extra electronics on board, or if you’re considering adding a solar power system to your rig. If so, you might benefit from some relatively simple math. A little time investment and some quick calculations can help you determine the battery capacity your rig requires for optimizing its performance.

You can calculate the amp-hours of power you need and then buy your supplemental batteries based on their combined amp-hour rating.

The amp-hour rating for a battery is found on its label and represents the amount of energy a battery can store that will allow one ampere of current to flow for one hour.

To determine the actual amp-hour size needed for your RV battery bank, just add up a typical day’s electrical requirements in amps (total load – i.e. lights, TV, water pump, radio, etc.). This amp information is ordinarily found on a label located on the back or bottom of your appliance (such as a radio).

If only AC wattage is listed on the

label, you can roughly calculate amps just by dividing the stated wattage by 120 (representing 120 volt current). This gives you the AC amp total. Multiply this number by 10 to get the DC (12 volt) amp total for this appliance.

Step One: Start your calculations by making a list or spreadsheet of all your appliances with their corresponding DC amp-hour ratings (DC amps X the hours operated).

Total the number of DC amp-hours for all appliances.

Step Two: Multiply this total amphour load by 2. This calculation keeps the total amp-hours within most manufacturers’ 50% battery discharge guideline.

Step Three: Multiply this result by the number of days typically needed before recharging your batteries (example: 1, 2, or 3 days). This final result will give you the amp-hour size you’ll need for your ideal battery bank.

It’s also a great idea to use a charging monitor to keep tabs on battery reserves, especially when dry camping/boondocking. An inexpensive (under $30) and easy option is the Innova 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor, which simply plugs into any 12 volt “cigarette lighter” charging port in your RV. It can monitor battery inflows and outflows and can be used to check your engine battery by plugging into the cab’s “cigarette lighter” and/or your house batteries by plugging into the house 12 volt accessory ports. It features an easyto-read, color coded LED display with digital voltage readout and a bar graph showing state of charge.

This handy device is available at Amazon.com, some auto supply shops, and perhaps even your local RV service center. Happy trails!

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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SEPTEMBER events AND

Activities and Events – On-Site

ACTIVITIES

This month’s theme weekends are chock-full of fun ways to celebrate the end of summer!

WEEKEN

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

DS

Find Your Trail

ThousandT 2015 TT Theme

rails.com

Weekends V10.indd

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4/2/15 6:20 PM

Labor Day

Finish the summer with live music, BBQs, and even a wacky camper parade. The fun doesn’t stop!

Don’t forget – member appreciation events are happening all weekend!

Paradise, WA

Cool off by the pool at Paradise (WA) and enjoy local band, Rock City, playing on Saturday afternoon.

Enter the Wacky Happy Camper’s Parade at Russian River (CA) where the weirdest and wackiest will be awarded ribbons. Details can be found in the Lodge. Say goodbye to summer on the last big holiday weekend of the summer at Gettysburg Farm (PA). Slip down the giant Slip ’n Slide at Hidden Cove (AL) or attend the Hawaiian Luau for Labor Day at Bay Landing (TX).

The luau features a performance by T-Bone Road at the Beachview Pavilion under the stars! Enjoy the last big weekend of the summer at Oakzanita Springs (CA) with live music, a nature program, and a magician.

Fall

The autumn season is fast approaching. Check out how these TT campgrounds are welcoming their campers into the new season!

Tranquil Timbers, WI

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

The Clinton County Corn Festival is the same weekend in Wilmington (OH) and celebrates the place’s agricultural heritage and honors one of the area’s biggest industries with a three-day extravaganza. There will be apple picking the weekend of Sept. 18-20 at Rondout Valley (NY), a celebration of September birthdays at Colorado, (TX), a Fall Fest at Tranquil Timbers (WI) and Twin Mills (IN), Colorado River and Pumpkin Weekend at Seapines (NJ). Sept. 25-27, it’s Apple Harvest Weekend at Chesapeake Bay (VA) so enter your favorite apple dish or beverage in the Apple Cook-Off. Apple bobbing and apple races for our kids and the young at heart. At, Pine Country (IL) it’s time for caramel apples, scarecrows, fall colors and punkin’ chunkin’ at Pine Country Fall Fest.

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Activities and Events – On-Site

End of Summer Weekends It’s the end of the summer, but the fun doesn’t stop!

See how TT is celebrating the final moments of the summer season.

Birch Bay, WA

At Lake of the Springs (CA) it’s Summer’s End Weekend Sept. 4-6 with a kid’s fishing derby, teen dance with a DJ, and a family dance with a live band. Don’t miss the Craft & Variety fair too.

The same weekend at Birch Bay (WA), the Replayzmentz will rock the park on Friday night!

Saturday is the yearly pool party. End your summer season at Pacific City (OR) with a farewell scavenger hunt, all ages water balloon & squirt gun fight, pickleball tournament, and much more! Sept. 18-20 is Thunder on the Water Weekend at Lake Minden (CA). This event promises rip roaring, lake pounding fun and excitement. Please note that swim beaches will be closed during the boat races. End the summer with a twang and head to the Bluegrass by the Bay Festival from Sept. 17-20 at Chesapeake Bay (VA). Three full days of bluegrass music.

Make your reservations early because this event is open to the public and the park will be filled!

Lake of the Springs, CA

Grandparent’s Weekend

This year, Grandparent’s Day falls on Sept. 13th, but Thousand Trails members are celebrating Grandparents all month long!

The folks at Lake Gaston (NC) will return the love back to their grandparents with homemade gifts from the heart.

There are planned activities to make memories with your grandparents at Sturbridge (MA). At La Conner (WA) and Moody Beach (ME), there will be heirloom ornament making and a free pancake breakfast. Grandparents can brag as much as they want about their grandkids at Lake Texoma (TX) on Sept.12. Don’t miss out on Old Timer’s Weekend at Lake Conroe (TX) on Sept. 26. They’ll raise a toast to the oldest, longest married, and longest traveled, plus an old-time egg toss and relay races.

Some events may require a participation fee.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Activities and Events – On-Site

Seaside, OR

Tournaments

Keep up with the friendly competitions for as long as possible with these endof-the-summer tournaments.

The last fishing tournament of the season at Idyllwild (CA) will take place on Labor Day Weekend, plus a fun craft, weekend entertainment in the amphitheater, and a special meal at the Pine Cove Café. The folks at Green Mountain (NC) will also have Labor Day tournaments including golf, horseshoes, and cornhole, plus a park wide sale and a live band.

Games take place at the activity center and there may be brown bag bingo, ice cream bingo, or card bingo – you’ll have to go to find out!

It’s Pickleball Mania Weekend at Seaside (OR) the weekend of Sept. 16-20. The 5th Annual Pickleball tournament is a USAPA scheduled event has become a great tradition at Seaside! Novice through advanced skill levels are welcome.

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Football Season Begins

Fall means football season is back! Tailgate, pass the ball, and watch sports history happen at these TT campgrounds…

Sept. 5-7 at Twin Mills (IN) will be a weekend of all things football with some competitions and contests. The same weekend, the folks at Bear Cave (MI) will be tailgating for their favorite college and professional football teams! Enjoy a Football by the Fire weekend at Gateway to Cape Cod (MA) and don’t forget to show your support for your favorite football team by wearing a logo jersey, hat, or jacket. Sept. 12 at Natchez Trace (TN) is Football Fanatics weekend. There will be a kickoff contest, “Most Team Spirit” contest, and a tailgate party while the game plays on the big screen. Football Weekend is Sept. 1820 at Moody Beach (ME). Enjoy rooting for your favorite teams on the widescreen TV plus snacks and treats to be provided.

All events, times and dates are subject to change.

Activities and Events – On-Site

Do Good!

Start the fall season by giving back – these events are for the “do-gooder” in us.

Labor Day Weekend at Chesapeake Bay (VA) features a “Womanless Beauty Pageant” – a hilarious event for a serious cause.

Proceeds from this event benefit the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Show your pride and appreciation by supporting this event as a participant or spectator. The fun alone is worth the price! Join Lake Gaston (NC) Sept. 18-20 for a cornhole tournament, bake sale, movie night, and other events as they raise money for a worthy cause. And, at Orlando (FL), it’s Harvest time. Join in for a baking contest and taste test mouth watering treats. All of the proceeds from these events on Sept. 19 will go to the local food bank.

Orlando, FL

Cook-Offs & Cook-Outs

Have you always dreamed of claiming the title of “Best Chili at TT”? Or, maybe you’re defending your title as “Best Lemon Meringue Pie at TT”! Well, here’s your last chance for glory at these end-of-summer cook-offs.

The 3rd Annual Blackberry Harvest Cook-Off and Potluck is Labor Day Weekend at Chehalis (WA).

Bring your berry creations to the cook-off contest on Sunday where the “Berry Best” wins a prize and a potluck will follow. See if you have what it takes to say you have the best ribs in San Benito (CA) County on Labor Day Weekend at the Rib Cook-Off! Bake your best recipe and compete for the title of “Best Baker” on Sept. 18 at Harborview (VA). The Annual Chili CookOff at Wilderness Lakes (CA) is on Sept. 12. And, don’t forget to dig out your secret recipes for pie, salsa, and cookies and you could win a prize at the Country Fair on Sept. 26 at Lake Texoma (TX).

Cook-Outs

Not in the competitive spirit but want some good food? Hit up the end-of-summer cook-outs listed here.

Start your engines! Root on your favorite NASCAR driver on the outdoor big screen at Chesapeake Bay (VA) the weekend of Sept. 11-13. Brad at the Pavilion Trails Café will be preparing a Pig Roast and all the fixings for the outdoor event race weekend.

Let others do the cooking at Carolina Landing (SC) on Sept. 19 at their cook-out of hotdogs and burgers. The Third Annual Twin Lobster and Clam Bake takes place on Sept. 25-27 at Moody Beach (ME). $25 per couple and you’ll be treated to an old fashioned clam bake – two lobsters, homemade clam chowder, steamed clams, mussels, corn on the cob, and much more! Bring a dessert to share.

Some events may require a participation fee.

Moody Beach, ME SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Activities and Events – Local

LOCAL

OF

CALENDAR events

Cultus Lake (BC)

Sept. 24-27 Snowbird RV Show & Sale This is the largest fall recreation vehicle show in Greater Vancouver. Over 140,000 sq. ft., indoors and outdoors, of RVs for sale plus exhibitors. Seminars, “how-to” demonstrations also scheduled. rvshowsbc.com

Sept. 16 Fraser Valley Culture & Craft Beer Festival Micro-breweries, live music, silent auction, raffle, food; proceeds go toward supporting the arts. $45 ticket price includes beer tokens and souvenir glass. chilliwackculturalcentre.ca/ event/fraser-valley-culturecraft-beer-festival

Oceana (WA)

Sept. 5 Paddle-a-thon Whether you want to take part or just watch, the Paddle-a-thon is great fun. Bring your homemade watercraft and join the others at Duck Lake in North Bay Park. oceanshoresact.com

Sept. 12-13 Up Your Wind Kite Festival Hi-flyers kite shop sponsors this fun event. Plenty of kite flying contests and choreographed kite flying. Grab your kite (or buy one) and head to Pacific Beach State Park. pacificbeachwa.com/ events.htm

Verde Valley (AZ)

Sept. 5-6 Red Rocks Music Festival Extraordinary chamber music performances by world acclaimed musicians. Works by Brahms, Bartok, Klezmer arrangements, and much more. redrocksmusicfestival.com

Sept. 12 42nd Annual Fiesta De Tlaquepaque Continuing a long tradition of fabulous food, music, dance and entertainment for young and old, this year’s Fiesta De Tlaquepaque promises to be extraordinary.

Arts and crafts exhibits will abound offering a glimpse into the traditional and present artistry of Mexico. tlaq.com/event/detail/id/6

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Sept. 12 Hot Rods & Hogs Car Show Live music, vendors, etc. flhrh.com

Sept. 18-29 Thunder Valley Rally Motorcycle Event Live music, motorcycle vendors, food, etc. cottonwoodaz.gov/ thundervalleyrally

Sept. 19 Julian Music Festival 46th Annual Julian Music Festival; benefits the California Wolf Center.

Feat. performances by Abrakadabra, Lacemakers, Natalie Gelman, and Trails and Rails. julianmusicfestival.com

Lake Minden (CA)

Sept. 26-27 Sedona Winefest Enjoy scrumptious Sedona cuisine, live music, vendors, and wine tasting from over 20 Arizona wineries while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views of the majestic red rocks.

Sept. 4-7 Gold Rush Days Turn back the clock to the 1860s as the annual Heritage Festival returns this year. Live street theatre, wagon rides, music, gold panning and more bring the Gold Rush back to life in Old Sacramento.

sedonawinefest.com

sacramentogoldrushdays.com

Thursdays in September Farmers Market The farmers market in the City of Cottonwood is Thursday and features live music plus a wide array of local vendors. oldtown.org

Oakzanita Springs (CA) Sept. 5 Julian Grape Stomp Festa Taste local wines and stomp on grapes!

Lynchburg (VA)

Sept. 12 43rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival The 43rd Annual Lynchburg Art Festival represents 130-150 fine artists from across the state of VA and surrounding states. The show is judged with over $5,000.00 in awards presented at 3:00PM. lynchburgartclub.org

julianca.com/grape-stomp.html All events, times and dates are subject to change.

drumhellersorchard.com

Chehalis (WA)

Sept. 18 Dinner Steam Train Ride Take a scenic trip through upper Chehalis Valley, crossing through many historic farms and over several wooden trestles.

See the schedule and website for tickets and also special event dinner trains like Murder Mystery Dinners, and more. steamtrainride.com/schedules

Sept. 19 Opening Reception – ARTrails of SW Washington Join this year’s ARTrails artists and art enthusiasts for the Gala Opening Reception. It’s a wonderful way to meet the artists and view the ARTrails gallery. artrailsofsww.org

Sept. 19-20 ARTrails Studio Tours Take advantage of this rare opportunity to meet artists in their studios. ARTrails aids and supports local artists and provides an educational experience to the interested public. artrailsofsww.org

Wilmington (OH)

Sept. 4 ZZ Top and Blackberry Smoke Catch the classic American blues-rock trio and their famous beards.

Atlanta southern rockers, Blackberry Smoke opens. ticketmaster.com

Sept. 11-13 38th Annual Clinton County Corn Festival Come to the 38th annual Clinton County Corn Festival. Help us celebrate our agricultural heritage as we honor one of the area’s biggest industries with a threeday extravaganza. clintoncountyohio.com/list/ events/events-38th-annualclinton-county-corn-festival

Sept. 17-20 Grapefest In historic Grapevine, Texas, The Largest Wine Festival in the Southwest! grapevinetexasusa.com

Idyllwild (CA)

Sept. 26 San Joaquin Valley Brew Fest Featuring several types of craft beers and breweries from around the county.

A variety of food vendors, car show, games and music will be a part of this fun filled day!

Sept. 19 Idyllwild Area Historical Society’s Home Tour Come view five unique homes that vary in age, style, and setting. This is a unique opportunity that introduces visitors to a range of mountain lifestyles. Help support the operating budget with this fundraiser.

Activities and Events – Local

Sept. 26-27 Drumheller’s Orchard Festival We have apples, apple butter, apple cider, honey, side meat, country hams, cookbooks, pumpkins, baskets, baked goods, etc. We will have a wide range of activities for all ages, such as, hayrides to pumpkin patch and corn maze, apple sling shot, and moon bounce.

As always, we will have country music and plenty of food vendors.

sanjoaquinvalleybrewfest.com

Ponderosa (CA)

idyllwildhistory.org

Diamond Caverns (KY)

Sept. 10-13 31 W Treasure Hunt/Yard Sale This yard sale spans over 150 miles from Louisville to Nashville. trailsrus.com/hwy31

Sept. 19-20 Kentucky Railway Museum Take a 2-hour scenic ride through the countryside on a vintage steam locomotive. But, watch out! Robbers are after its liquid gold cargo!

All donations collected by the robbers go to Crusade for Children. kyrail.org

Turtle Beach (CA)

Sept. 19 Disney’s Choo-choo Soul with Genevieve Bringing the popular TV show to the stage, perky Genevieve Goings makes learning about the ABCs, numbers, and how to be polite and soulful. Kids and parents will love this fun show. tickets.galloarts.org

Sept. 19 Marilyn’s Ghost Concert New Country/Rockin’ American Concert featuring Marilyn’s Ghost – Maralee Marquette.

Sept. 12 More Chili Cook Off and Classic Car Show Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises Inc. (MORE) is hosting the 13th annual Chili Cook Off and Classic Car show at the Pollock Pines/Camino Community Center. Get a chance to taste and vote for your favorite chili and favorite car. MORE is currently accepting applications for the chili making and classic car competitions. morerehab.org

Lake Gaston (NC)

Sept. 4-5 Littleton Lake Gaston Festival Musical entertainment, carnival rides, food booths, games, craft venders, parade, large yard sale and classic cars. lakegastonguide.com

Sept. 19 2015 Annual Ducky Derby Admission is free.

The event is a major fundraiser for the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, offering rubber duck adoptions for $5 each.You may also adopt six for $25 or 25 for $100. rvchamber.com

marilynsghost.com All events, times and dates are subject to change.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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WANT TO BE A

LUCKY WINNER? Lucky winners,

Stephen & Mary Capaldo from Raymond, NH

were camping at Moody Beach, ME when they were presented with a $1,000 gift card!

Pictured left to right: Stephen & Mary Capaldo

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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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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Out n’ About

by Joan Rykal

Santa Barbara

▲ The Hollywood Bowl Photo Courtesy of Michael Li

CULTURE, HISTORY AND MUSIC

to

Immerse yourself in the rich history of our 31st state or enjoy the varied world of the arts.

What Lies Between

Enjoy some live music surrounded by picturesque mountains and star-filled California night skies. Both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara offer the opportunity to view big-name acts bowl-style.

San Diego I

f you plan on taking a southern California road trip and visiting any, or all, of the locales detailed in our features this month, we’ve added a few more spots to consider as you drive from Santa Barbara south to sunny San Diego. Or, you may prefer starting in San Diego and heading north!

Either way, you’re guaranteed a wonderful adventure chock full of breathtaking sights and out of the ordinary adventure.

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HOLLYWood bowl or Santa Barbara bowl

The infamous Hollywood Bowl, in Los Angeles, has hosted major musical events including The Beatles, as well as theater productions and symphony orchestras. It is considered the largest natural outdoor

amphitheater in the US. Visit www.hollywoodbowl.com for a list of events.

Carved into the hillside as part of a WPA 1936, the Santa Barbara Bowl was recently renovated and offers a full concert schedule through October. For a schedule of events, visit www.sbbowl.com.

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Bonus STOP

A favorite among our Thousand Trails Rancho Oso staff and campers alike, the historic Cold Spring Tavern is a good place to grab a bite on your way to the SB Bowl. Opened as a stagecoach stop in 1866, the charming locale still offers the road warrior a full menu for lunch and dinner daily (breakfast is served on the weekends).

Check out more details at www.coldspringtavern.com.

▲ Olivas Adobe in Ventura Photo Courtesy of Konrad Summers

▲ J. Paul Getty Museum Photo Courtesy of Mark Weston

Olivas Adobe

GETTY VILLA

Located in Ventura, this expansive adobe home and courtyard, built between 1847 and 1849 by Don Raymundo Olivas, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The grounds contain a memorial grove with over 75 trees, a rose garden, herb garden and the historic Olivas fuchsias – three of which still thrive from the original planting by the Olivas’ 21st child, daughter Rebecca, in 1899. Please note that while the grounds are open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., house tours are only available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, visit www.cityofventura/olivastour.

Located in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, the Getty Villa is one of two locations of the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria, it features more than 44,000 Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities dating from 6,500 BC to 400 AD. An added bonus of a visit here would be the beautiful gardens and the spectacular views of the Pacific. For information, visit www.getty.edu.

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Bonus STOP

While they are known to have a great lunch menu as well, Pete’s Breakfast House is known for, well, breakfast. Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily (lunch is only served after 11 a.m. but breakfast is served all day), Pete’s has been featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Don’t miss the Pancake Roll, made with fresh berries, vanilla yogurt and homemade granola.

For more information, visit www.petesbreakfasthouse.com.

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Bonus STOP

For more breathtaking views of the ocean, visit Duke’s Malibu after your tour of the Getty Villa. Just a short drive from the museum, the restaurant is dedicated to the “Father of Surfing” and Olympic Gold Medalist Duke Kahanamoku and provides great ocean views while enjoying tasty food and tropical drinks. There’s also a chance to meet the inspiration for the novel Gidget, Kathy KohnerZuckerman, who serves as the restaurant’s Ambassador of Aloha.

For information on Duke’s, visit www.Dukesmalibu.com.

▲ Potato Chip Rock Photo Courtesy of Chrispy Studios

PHOTO OPS Of course anywhere along the California coast provides fabulous photo opportunities, but we’ve listed a few just in case you blink!

Potato chip rock The trick here is not taking good pictures but getting to the site itself. Located in Mt. Woodson Summit in San Diego, reaching Potato Chip Rock requires a bit of a hike (approximately eight miles round trip) on a trail that provides very little shade. Hydrate, cover your head, and plan to snap some great shots once you reach the top. There are some neat rock formations along the way so have your camera at the ready.

For more information visit, www.gohikeit.com or alltrails.com.

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▲ Unconditional Surrender Statue Photo Courtesy of Kevin Harber

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER STATUE Based on the iconic photo taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt in New York’s Time Square on V-J Day in August 1945, this 25-foot tall version of the infamous kiss sits at the Port of San Diego not far from the USS Midway Museum. Whether you remember the photo or not, it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.

Hollywood sign While the south facing sign is fenced off from foot traffic, it’s still possible to get some great shots of the famous letters heralding your arrival to La La Land. The Griffith Park Observatory, thanks to its high hillside location, offers a great opportunity to capture your family’s stars with the iconic sign as a backdrop. Plus, you get to visit the newly renovated Observatory and maybe replay a scene or two from Rebel without a Cause!

Adventure road

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Stearns wharf You may not be lucky enough to have a sea lion hitch a ride on your kayak (see http://abcnews.go.com/ US/sea-lion-hitches-ride-familyskayak/story?id=29001259) but taking a kayak around the Stearns Wharf area in Santa Barbara is popular with tourists and locals alike. There’s also the classic wharf to see, plus plenty of shops and restaurants.

Hiking Trails in Crystal Cove State Park

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Isn’t California all about the water and the weather? Take advantage of every moment spent in the Golden State and enjoy the great outdoors.

▲ Kayaking in Santa Barbara

CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK With hiking and biking trails, plus the three miles of beachfront, this 2400-acre coastal parkland is a California dream come true.

From sunrise to sunset (the park is open from 6 a.m. to sunset) there’s plenty to do here. Swim, surf, scuba dive, hike, bike or just simply bask in the sunshine – find out more at www.park.ca.gov.

SURF SAN DIEGO The San Diego Surf School offers one day classes and is a great place for a Barney (an inexperienced or beginner surfer) or a seasoned surfer. With a variety of 90-minute classes ranging from family, to group, to private, they’ll have you hanging ten and yelling Cowabunga in no time! For details, visit www.sandiegosurfingschool.com.

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WINE COUNTRY CENTRAL COAST

CALIFORNIA

by Lynn & Cele Seldon

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Taste testing at Carr Winery and Vineyard in downtown Santa Barbara.

Photo Courtesy of Oscar Rohena

For about 300 miles between San Francisco and Santa Barbara (mostly accessed by US 101), the Central Coast presents a wide array of vineyards, wineries, wines, and other destinations and activities associated with wine country – like great dining.

Thanks to varied locations, terrain, microclimates, and other conditions, the wines of the Central Coast can be widely varied – even between wines from vineyards just miles apart.

This means lots of different grapes lead to varied wines in bottles.

The Central Coast is rightfully well-known for pinot noir and chardonnay – along with classic and creative blends. Other grapes and wines gaining favor in the

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Central Coast and elsewhere in California include riesling, viognier, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc, semillon, gewürztraminer, merlot, zinfandel, syrah, petite sirah, sangiovese, grenache, tempranillo, and more, as well as rosé and dessert wines.

Independent tasting tours of the Central Coast are quite easy to pursue, with varied vineyards, wineries, and tasting rooms often just around the next bend. Organized tours of all sorts are also on offer throughout the Central Coast.

Food-and-beverage-focused events and festivals also provide a great time to head to the region. In any case, designated drivers are highly recommended in wine country.

Central Coast winery visits, tours,

and tasting experiences can be widely diverse. However – very generally speaking – visitors should expect to pay a tasting fee for a certain number of wines. This fee is often waived with the purchase of a certain number of bottles (sometimes as little as one) or a specific amount spent.

Starting from the south in and near Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara County wine country provides a perfect introduction to everything Central Coast. Immortalized in the 2004 novel and feature film, Sideways, Santa Barbara County is known for pinot noir – and now much more.

Santa Barbara County’s wine tourism features six distinct AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) north

of Santa Barbara proper, but the town of Santa Barbara is a great place to start, thanks to a unique area of town called the Funk Zone.

This walkable area, which is part of Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail, consists of a wide range of tasting rooms on several bustling blocks.

Some specific Funk Zone tasting possibilities include: Santa Barbara Winery (established in 1962 and the county’s oldest winery); Oreana Winery & Marketplace (located in

▲ Sniffing the wine aromas Photo Courtesy of Oscar Rohena

a former tire shop); Carr Winery & Vineyard (each drip hand harvested with organic grapes); and The Valley Project, a great place to taste wines from all five growing regions (look for the county map in chalk behind the bar). Figueroa Mountain Brewing has a quirky outpost here and the dining scene in the Funk Zone rivals the wine and beer vibe, with The Lark remaining very popular with locals and visitors alike – thanks to creative California-style cuisine paired perfectly with wines from near and far. Nearby, the Santa Barbara Public Market is a great place to purchase picnic ingredients to enjoy down on the beach in the Stearns Wharf area.

the Hitching Post II the place to head to re-live the meals and wines the characters enjoyed.

For a completely different dining experience, head to sprawling Pea Soup Anderson’s, where they’ve been serving up pea soup, and much more, since 1924 – including two million bowls a year in modern times, plus many more Danishleaning lunch and dinner menu items, filling breakfasts, and a fun gift shop.

The rest of Santa Barbara County wine country presents many other tasting opportunities. The Santa Ynez Valley is next, with the towns of Solvang, Buellton, and Los Olivos all offering tasty possibilities.

Los Olivos is next and it’s well worth any slight diversion. Grand Avenue is truly grand when it comes to tasting rooms, with the laundry list of possibilities including: Carhartt (run by relatives of the legendary maker of pants and more); Andrew Murray Vineyards; Saarloos; The Sanger Family of Wines; Refugio; Evan’s Ranch Wine; Coquelicot Estate Vineyard; and Epiphany, which is a sister winery of Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard – yes, that Fess Parker, of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone fame. Dining options in the quaint town include: Los Olivos Café and Wine Merchant (also featured in Sideways), Panino, Sides Hardware and Shoes Restaurant, and Petros Los Olivos in the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa, while there’s fun shopping (including wine!) at the Los Olivos General Store.

Known as “Little Denmark,” Solvang was founded in 1911 by DanishAmerican settlers. Possibilities in this often-busy town include wines and more at the Wandering Dog Wine Bar, beers at the Solvang Brewing Company, and tasty pastries at Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery. Adjacent Buellton gained fame thanks to Sideways, with

For wine beyond the Hitching Post II, Terravant Winery is a great bet. For beer, aforementioned Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. features a fun spot in an industrial area of town.

To the east, the city of Lompoc provides another “urban” tasting experience in a neighborhood called the Wine Ghetto. Originally used as a wine production spot in the 1990s, tasting rooms arrived in the mid2000s. The resulting small-producer tasting rooms are one-of-a-kind, including Zotovich Cellars, among many, as well as Longoria Wines nearby. They’re all on the Lompoc Wine Trail. ▲ Carr Wine Expert Photo Courtesy of Oscar Rohena SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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▲ Fess Parker Winery - Santa Barbara County Photo Courtesy of Kurt Naks

Back to the north of Los Olivos, Foxen Canyon Road (part of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail) leads to several unique winery experiences.

The first is Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, which was founded by the actor Fess Parker in 1969 and is now a three generation operation with great wines and scenery – look for the coonskin cap wine bottle toppers as a unique souvenir. Further up Foxen Canyon Road, many more wineries await – including Foxen 7200 (“The Shack”), which was also featured in Sideways, and its nearby sister tasting room, Foxen. Foxen 7200 is known for its Bordeaux and “CalItal” blends, while Foxen features Burgundian- and Rhône-style delicious wines. These wineries and others provide a fitting end to Santa Barbara County wine country, which has lured lots more visitors since the movie.

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San Luis Obispo County is next.

Heading north, the town of San Luis Obispo (“SLO”) is well worth a visit, including the well-stocked Central Coast Wines tasting room and shop. Edna Valley Vineyard is nearby and provides a perfect example of Edna Valley wines in modern tasting rooms and picnic areas overlooking the expansive vineyards. It’s certainly a highlight of the San Luis Obispo Coastal Wine Trail, which is one of many SLO wine trails in the area. Next, there’s much to experience in and around the highly recommended town of Paso Robles. This quintessential Central Coast wine country destination seemingly has everything for visitors interested in the wine and dine lifestyle.

For wine tastings, there are many options right in town, including Parrish Family Vineyard Tasting Room and Grizzly Republic Wines

Tasting Room. Nearby, other wineries well worth a visit include Eberle Winery (including great cave tours) and J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines to the east of downtown and Halter Ranch Vineyard, Tablas Creek Vineyard, and Whalebone Vineyard & Winery to the west (all feature picturesque views for picnics). For food, the options include legendary favorite Papi’s (a locals favorite for inexpensive prepared-to-order tacos), renowned Il Cortile, La Cosecha Bar + Restaurant (a small plates sister restaurant of Il Cortile), and The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar, a new restaurant focusing on rotisserieprepared chicken and more. Varied Paso Robles General Store is also a great place for pantry provisions and more. Far-flung Monterey wine country to the north is next, with widely varied winery experiences – just like the rest of the Central Coast. Just off US 101, to the west,

“The quintessential Central Coast wine country destination seemingly has everything for visitors interested in the wine and dine lifestyle.” ▲ Marinated Garlic Mushrooms Gilroy Garlic Festival Photo Courtesy of Andrew Sorensen

▲ Solvang Brewing Company in Solvang Photo Courtesy of Sam Howzit

stunning Hahn Estate is situated on a mountain in an old cattle ranch, with world-class wines, fresh cheeses, and views awaiting visitors who make the trek.

Reached by heading further north from Hahn and Wrath or by taking the legendary coastal route on US 1 through Big Sur, the Monterey Peninsula proper also includes excellent wine tasting experiences to match the typical tourist experience in the city of Monterey and beyond. Along with many tasting rooms in Carmelby-the-Sea, the charming town of Carmel Valley is well a short diversion. The tasting rooms at Cima Collina, Bernardus, and Holman Ranch Vineyards provide ideal Carmel Valley experiences on the Monterey Peninsula.

The rest of the Central Coast to the north and east includes several other generally lessvisited possibilities. These AVAs include up-and-coming San Benito Valley, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara Valley, the Livermore Valley, and San Francisco Bay. Located northeast of John Steinbeck’s hometown of Salinas, San Benito wine country is mostly based just south of Hollister.

Wineries to look for include Pietra Santa Winery, Calera Wine

▲ Heller Estates Monterey Wine Carmel Valley Photo Courtesy of Stacibeck

Company, and Pessagno Winery.

For casual farm-to-table fare in Hollister, head to The Grove Restaurant.

One of California’s first AVAs, the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains are also well worth a visit. Among 70plus wineries, best bets include: Big Basin Vineyards, Foxglove, and Thomas Fogarty Winery. Situated in Saratoga, Plumed Horse cuisine pairs perfectly with local wines.

Silicon Valley’s Santa Clara Valley AVA is a hotbed for technology companies and more, but it’s also a hot winemaking area.

With more than two dozen wineries, Clos LaChance Winery and J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines are both worth seeking out if in the area. Known as “The Garlic Capital of the World” and home of the Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gilroy is the place to go for a garlic-infused meal – like the signature cream of garlic soup at Garlic City Café.

Pioneering Livermore Valley winemakers C.H. Wente and James Concannon planted vineyards in the area in the 1800s and both of their wineries are still growing grapes and pouring wines today.

Located near the town of Livermore and along with The Winemakers Studio at Wente Vineyards and Concannon Vineyard, other tasting and buying options might include Nottingham Cellars, Pat Paulsen Vineyards, The Steven Kent Winery, and McGrail Vineyards and Winery.

The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards features ingredient-driven California wine country cuisine.

Last, but certainly not least, the San Francisco Bay area tops off Central Coast wine country. There are just a handful of wineries in this AVA proper (with lots of ‘neighboring’ wineries and AVAs included), as well as still more “urban” wineries in Oakland, San Francisco, and more.

And, of course, Napa, Sonoma, and more are just to the north for those who have found that you just can’t get enough of California wines in the Central Coast.

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I KNEW I WAS A

TrailBlazer ▲ Bonnet Parade at Friday Creek, WA

▲ Skagit River near Grandy Creek, WA

▲ Halloween Pumpkin Carving at La Conner, WA

This month, TrailBlazer would like to introduce you to Sandra Schreiner, a true TrailBlazer in every sense of the word! After requesting camping gear as a high school graduation gift, Sandra knew she was in it for the long haul.

TB: How long have you been camping and RVing?

Who introduced you to it?

Tell us how it all began!

SS: When I was six or seven years old, my folks packed up the family, hooked the 16’ Terry trailer to the family station wagon and headed for Yellowstone National Park.

After several days of camping in the park, I wanted the family to move to Yellowstone permanently and cried for days when Dad said no! I’ve been camping since 1960-61.

For my high school graduation, my parents asked what special 28

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

present I wanted – I chose a camping tent and a set of campfire pans! I was on my way to a lifelong love affair with the outdoors! It wasn’t until I saw the name “TrailBlazer” used by Thousand Trails several years later, that I realized that, back in high school, I wasn’t just different, I was a Trailblazer!

TB: How did you first hear about Thousand Trails?

SS: My folks received an invitation to become one of the first members of the Mount Vernon Preserve, which they still have and use today!

And, on and off through the years, we joined my parents as guests, at several different Thousand Trails preserves.

After a road trip back to the east coast in the van and a few newly discovered health challenges, we bought our first motor home.

As we approached retirement, we decided that summers here in Western Washington are perfect and winters in Arizona are nice, too. So, we purchased our Thousand Trails membership in 2003, planning to bounce back and forth between the two. In one way or another, Thousand Trails has been part of my life for decades.

TB: What is one of your fondest camping memories?

How about one of your fondest TT memories?

SS: Our best Thousand Trails memory has to be a couple years ago at the Mt. Vernon Preserve where we had taken our two grand-nieces, Tess and Emily, for a long weekend.

Unbeknown to us, it was “Halloween in July Weekend” and the park had a trick-or-treat event planned. Most of the kids wore store bought costumes and were adorable, but our girls stole the show! Having gone swimming just before the trickor-treat session, they had damp, straggly, uncombed hair which they tied into pigtails with string. They wore their fanny packs, scruffiest jeans and dirty tennis shoes. They smeared lipstick “blood” over skinned knees, used bandanas as headbands to mostly hide trickles of more “blood” at their temples and on their cheeks. Ragged towels made slings in which bandaged hands/ arms were carried. A couple bandaids were stuck on for effect. All this was topped off with crooked “Y” sticks found in the brush and used as a crutch for each of them. The oldest,

Tessa, leaned on her crutch as she started limping into the lodge and it broke. A quick wrap of duct tape held the crutch together long enough for the girls to collect a bunch of laughs and applause! They even concocted a story for their sorry state – they were hiking, fell into a creek and finally found their way back to camp, in time to go trick-or-treating!

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.)

SS: We’re in an Itasca Suncruiser motor home with one slide these days, and tow a fourdoor Chevy Colorado pick-up.

At first, we moved into a motor home because my husband had multiple spinal cord surgeries and was unable to sit for little more than a few minutes at a time. The motor home allows him to sit in several different positions and/or chairs, or to stand or walk a bit while we continue to roll down the road.

And, as a bonus, we are still able to maximize our mileage every day we’re on the road, without a lot of stops along the way.

▲ The Schreiner’s and their grandnieces Halloween 2011 at La Conner, WA

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

SS: Medina Lake in Lakehills, Texas...What a beautiful setting!

A blue lake and shady trees set in gently rolling hills, without the thick underbrush of western Washington. Lots and lots of wandering deer and cooing doves!

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

SS: Nature’s fresh air and campfires, and all that goes with them. A gentle breeze rustling the leaves, warm earth, gurgling streams, birds chirping, sparkling night skies, and warm, welcoming campfires with friends, visiting and singing, s’mores, and dinners in foil.

What more could a person want?

TB: Can you finish this sentence? I knew I was a TrailBlazer when...

SS: For my high school graduation, my parents asked what special present I wanted – I chose a camping tent and a set of campfire pans! I was on my way to a life-long love affair with the outdoors!

▲ View on top of Mt. Erie near La Conner, WA SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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TrailMix

UNDER THE RADAR

SOUTHWEST TRAILS A

s you travel through southern California this month, consider extending your summer trip to visit the Thousand Trails and Encore campgrounds in the Southwest. This US region has some of the most diverse landscapes – from snow capped mountain ranges, to red deserts, the southwest is a special place. It’s so special that many believe there to be extraterrestrial activity there! But don’t worry, we’re not about to send you on a trip to search for UFOs. There are a huge number of trails to explore, especially when they are all so close to Encore and Thousand Trails campgrounds! Check out some of these if you’re camping at any of the southwest region Encore and Thousand Trails campgrounds today!

by Annie Berman

▲ Cactus Forest Trail Photo Courtesy of UGArdener

▲ Family at Coronado National Forest Photo Courtesy of Kevin Schraer 30

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Begin your journey at Coronado National Forest.

This Arizona national park is located a very short drive West of the Encore’s Valley Vista RV Resort. If staying at the campgrounds located in Arizona, you probably have already visited this national park. Have you tried the Seven Falls Trail yet?

This secluded trail is an easy hike and be sure to walk the whole thing for the views of the waterfall at the end of the trail.

Also in the Coronado National Forest is the Cactus Forest Trail. This very easy, 10 mile hike can take approximately 4.5 hours if you choose to make a day trip. This trail is favored by families for putting hikers in the heart of the desert, with lots of wildlife and cacti to see.

Usery Mountain Regional Park is located just under 14 miles from Encore’s Mesa Spirit RV Resort and

▼ Superstition Wildreness Photo Courtesy of Take a Hike Arizona

only 8 miles from Encore’s Monte Vista RV Resort.

If heading to Usery, check out the Blevins Trail, an easy trail that some say are “great for beginner trail runners.” The Blevins Trail is relatively flat and offers a vast panoramic view of the Superstition Mountain range.

Be sure to carry enough water and sunscreen, as there is more sun beating down than trees for shade along this trail. If you’re feeling ambitious and would like to add an extra mile to your trek, take the Moon Rock Loop. You don’t have to worry about maps to find the Moon Rock Loop, this part of the trail is marked with plenty of signage.

If you’re taking the family on a hike, try checking out the Lower Salt River Nature Trail. This 1.5 mile loop can be completed in about 1 hour. It’s located 16 miles from Encore’s Mesa Spirit RV Resort. This lush trail provides a view of the Salt River, the red mountains and make sure to look out for the wildlife on this trail.

If you’re looking to switch up your hiking routine, try some off-roading in the Superstition Mountains. Take the Montana Mountain Trail in the Superstition Wilderness. This 34 mile trail is an off-roading adventure with plenty of opportunities for photos of the Superstition Mountains.

▲ Hiking through the Superstition Mountains Photo Courtesy of Take a Hike Arizona

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DEEP

SOUTH

– DISCOVER –

SAN DIEGO

by Lynn & Cele Seldon

Jamul, CA

Quite simply, California’s “deep south” region is a world apart from the rest of The Golden State.

With seemingly ideal weather, widely diverse urban neighborhoods, and the great outdoors from the Pacific Ocean to the desert, this is a region inviting exploration for many miles on the coast and inland.

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San Diego County has more than three million residents, ranking it as the nation’s fifth largest county. The area also hosts more than 30 million visitors a year, but the sprawling nature of the region means residents and visitors rarely feel crowded.

SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOODS As one of the most varied metropolitan regions in the country, San Diego is surprisingly comprised of more than 100 colorful and unique neighborhoods. Each individual community has its own personality, with sightseeing, arts and culture, dining, shopping, and outdoors activities all reflecting the deep diversity of Greater San Diego.

Framed by inland mountains and desert and an iconic natural harbor, downtown San Diego’s cityscape is composed of unique neighborhoods, including: East Village; Gaslamp Quarter; Marina; Horton Plaza; the Core; Columbia; Cortez Hill; Balboa Park; and Little Italy.

Encompassing about 130 city blocks, East Village is downtown San Diego’s largest neighborhood. The once-blighted warehouse district has come into ▲ Horton Plaza Mall Gaslamp District San Diego, CA

its own in the past decade, ignited by the building of PETCO Park – the state-of-the-art baseball stadium built for the San Diego Padres in 2004. East Village now features lots of busy restaurants, rooftop bars and lounges, boutique shops, galleries, and several live music venues.

Before and after ballgames and throughout the year, dining is hot in the East Village neighborhood.

Appropriately named Neighborhood is the perfect place for a taste of the scene, with creative and classic American food like burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches paired with homemade gourmet sauces and sweet potato fries and more than two dozen local microbrews on draft (ask about the hidden speakeasy in back).

The historic Gaslamp Quarter is centered around 16 ½ blocks of Fourth and Fifth Avenues downtown.

The Victorian-era buildings have been restored into more than 100 restaurants, 40-plus bustling bars and nightclubs, some 100 retail shops, and theaters, art galleries, offices, and residences.

The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation (www.gaslampquarter.org) offers a great guided walking tour, including stories from the late1800s and early-1900s – when the area flourished as a red light district.

Among many offerings throughout Greater San Diego, So Diego Tours (www.sodiegotours.com) offers a “Brothels, Bites and Booze” tour of the Gaslamp Quarter, including seedy details and Gaslamp cuisine and libations.

▲ San Diego Pier Cafe Photo Courtesy of New Age Crap Photography

There’s also history at the William Heath Davis House Museum, the Gaslamp Quarter’s oldest surviving structure.

The saltbox-style home was shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego around 1850.

The historic Horton Grand Hotel, a still open Victorian classic, is next door to Ida Bailey’s famous brothel – the scene of the “Great Raid” in 1912 that marked the downfall of the red light district’s reputation.

Gaslamp Quarter dining is ethnically diverse, with options including Afghan, Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Spanish, Thai, and much more.

Among many options, BICE and NOBU are good options for international flavors.

The Marina neighborhood is home to the nautical Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and the bayside San Diego Convention Center, with its now-iconic

sail-roofed Pavilion.

The term ‘embarcadero’ is generally used for a waterfront landing or embarking space and that’s certainly the case for San Diego’s bustling renovated Seaport area.

A well-done recreation of a classic California harbor setting from years past, Seaport Village is a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. It features 50-plus themed shops, restaurants, and cafés, along four miles of meandering cobblestone paths, ponds, fountains, and lush landscaping.

Head to colorful Puesto for creative Mexican street fare, which is located in The Headquarters at Seaport, the old police department’s HQ that’s now a part of Seaport Village’s dining and shopping options.

Nearby, the New Children’s Museum offers an interactive arts destination for children,

grandchildren, and kids at heart. There are lots of innovative hands-on opportunities, along with classes and exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists. This museum was downtown San Diego’s first public “green” project, with environmentallyfriendly architecture and practices.

As would be expected for a tourist destination, there are lots of unique dining options. Fans of the feature film “Top Gun” will also want to head to Kansas City Barbeque, the setting for the film’s cult classic bar scene and now the home of movie memorabilia and traditional ‘que classics.

Occupying about 15 blocks in the heart of downtown San Diego, the Horton Plaza neighborhood is named for its main resident and destination – Westfield Horton Plaza Shopping Mall. Open since 1985,

the quite colorful and whimsical multi-level outdoor shopping and entertainment complex now includes more than 125 specialty shops, lots of restaurants, a movie theater, and the Lyceum Theater.

The arts, culture, and entertainment scene in the Horton Plaza neighborhood is quite vibrant. Westfield Horton Plaza’s Lyceum Theater is home to the San Diego Repertory Theatre, which annually produces a six-play season of drama and comedies. Nearby, the 1912 Spreckels Theatre features neoclassical and art nouveau architecture and a lineup that ranges from rock concerts to performances by the City Ballet of San Diego. There’s also the 1920s renovated vaudeville Balboa Theatre, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts a year-round schedule of movies and more.

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▲ USS Midway Aircraft Carrier

Situated along Broadway and stretching toward San Diego Bay, the neighborhood of Columbia is mostly made up of up and coming commercial developments – with residential condos, restaurants, and sightseeing destinations dotted throughout the thriving area.

Varied sightseeing options include: the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD; with another location up in La Jolla); the USS Midway Museum; a moving statue and tribute to Bob Hope at Tuna Harbor Park; and the floating Maritime Museum of San Diego (including historic ships, harbor tours, and more). Many boat tours – including

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whale watching trips – are also available through Hornblower Cruises & Events and Flagship Cruises & Events.

Further along the water, the road leads past the popular and convenient water-focused destinations of Harbor Island and Shelter Island. Shelter Island is specifically worth a visit thanks to the urban island vibe and tasty Vessel Restaurant, a soothing spa, and more at Kona Kai Resort. About five miles past Shelter Island, Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542.

With City Hall, the World Trade Center, and more,

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the Core is downtown San Diego’s busy central business district. Arts and culture can also be found here, thanks to the San Diego Civic Theatre, featuring the San Diego Opera and Broadway San Diego, and historic Jacobs Music Center’s Copley Symphony Hall, home to the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

Named after the historic Spanish Colonial Revival El Cortez Hotel (now the El Cortez Condominiums), Cortez Hill is one of San Diego’s oldest residential neighborhoods. As the city’s highest land mass, it boasts views of downtown proper, Balboa Park, San Diego Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Many original Victorian-style dwellings

of some of San Diego’s early settlers remain in again-thriving Cortez Hill.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2015, San Diego’s sprawling Balboa Park is the largest cultural complex west of the Mississippi, the largest urban cultural park in the nation, and often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West.” Depending on interests, the possibilities include: the San Diego Museum of Art; the Timken Museum of Art; the San Diego Museum of Man; the San Diego History Center; the San Diego Natural History Museum; the San Diego Automotive Museum; Spreckels Organ Pavilion; the Botanical Building; the Japanese Friendship Garden; a pretty and peaceful lily

▲ Little Italy Festa Photo Courtesy of Geoff Dude

pond; several excellent guided tours through the helpful Balboa Park Visitors Center; and more.

Last, but certainly not least for downtown, the Little Italy neighborhood was once home to San Diego’s thriving tuna fishing industry and generations of Italian families who made their living from the sea.

Today, Little Italy is a quaint neighborhood filled with shops, restaurants and cafés, many events, and pretty Amici Park.

India Street is Little Italy’s main thoroughfare and features top Italian dining: Davanti Enoteca; Bencotto Italian Kitchen; and Filippi’s Pizza Grotto. Waterfront Bar & Grill has been a neighborhood watering hole since 1933. Little Italy is also known for many annual cultural celebrations and festivities, including ArtWalk in April, May’s Annual Sicilian Festival, and October’s Annual Little Italy Festa.

Located across a bridge from downtown San Diego, the waterfront community of Coronado is well worth the short trip. Known as the “Crown City,”

Coronado is a seaside paradise that features pretty gardens, elegant mansions, a 1950s-style downtown, and lots of special events. The famed Hotel del Coronado was the largest hotel in the world when it was built in 1888 and, today, the grandeur of the Victorian age is showcased in the hotel’s Museum Market, including historical displays and photographs showing the hotel’s construction, romantic past, and old Hollywood connections (including its role as the backdrop for “Some Like it Hot”). Along with varied area walking tours, there’s the excellent Coronado Historical Association’s Museum of History and Art on Orange Avenue, Coronado’s main thoroughfare.

Situated about five miles northwest of downtown, Old Town San Diego is where visitors will witness the living legacy of California’s birthplace at Old Town San Diego State Park. This was the city’s first “downtown” and marks the site of the first Spanish settlement on the west coast of what would become the United States.

It also represents San Diego’s Hispanic heritage from 1821 to 1872, when Mexico gained independence from Spain and took over the area.

The six-block park features Mexican lore and historical sites presented through museums, preserved and restored adobe and wooden buildings, shops, and cafes.

Old Town visit highlights might include: tours with state guides; Casa de Estudillo (one of the most famed original adobe dwellings); Casa de Aguirre Museum (home to one of the city’s wealthiest merchants and later a school for Native American children); Whaley House; Casa de Machada y Silvas Museum; the Wells Fargo History Museum; the Courthouse Museum; Heritage Park’s seven picture-perfect

homes and the city’s oldest synagogue; shopping; and historic Fiesta de Reyes, where restaurants like Casa de Reyes feature classic recipes from Mexico and stores are stocked with merchandise reflecting the park’s place history.

Located next to Balboa Park, Hillcrest is wellknown for diverse eateries and shops. Great Maple, a “European dinette” on Washington Street, is a locals favorite, while University Avenue and Fifth Avenue are the streets to hit for one-of-a-kind shops.

East of Balboa Park, North Park is yet another eclectic neighborhood for dining and shopping.

The popular Carnitas Snack Shack serves slow food-inspired, pork-centric American cuisine, while craft beers take center stage at hotspots like Toronado San Diego.

Greater Golden Hill is home to the neighborhoods of Golden Hill and South Park. Year-round events welcome lots of visitors, including the quarterly “Walkabout” when local shops and restaurants stay open late and offer special sales and tastes of

Further afield, just outside downtown proper, many other neighborhoods await, including: Old Town San Diego; Hillcrest; North Park; South Park and Golden Hill; Barrio Logan; University Heights; Normal Heights; Ocean Beach; Pacific Beach and Mission Beach; and La Jolla, known as, “The Jewel of San Diego.” ▲ Old Town Market SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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▼ La Jolla Sea Caves

seasonal menu items, and “30th on 30th,” which celebrates all things edible on 30th Street.

Barrio Logan is the epicenter of San Diego’s thriving Hispanic community. Of course, tasty Mexican food is easily found – like fresh handmade tortillas and more at Las Cuatro Milpas. The neighborhood’s Chicano Park under the San DiegoCoronado Bridge overpass features colorful murals.

Warm and welcoming, University Heights is centered upon Park Boulevard. Music scholars and amateurs alike love the collection of records at Folk Arts Rare Records, which also houses the Lou Curtiss Sound Library, featuring more than 90,000 hours and 90 years of vintage sound recordings.

The landmark Parkhouse Eatery and its large neon clock rising above Park Boulevard is the place to head for homemade food in a one-time University Heights house.

Normal Heights is known for being abnormally quirky.

Antiques aficionados and book buyers will love Adams Avenue, thanks to nearly a dozen “Antiques Row” shops and Adams Avenue Bookstore.

Referred to locally as “O.B.” the beach town neighborhood of Ocean Beach features busy Newport Avenue and its Ocean Beach Antique District, an outpost of aforementioned Hodad’s, 38

and, of course, the Pacific Ocean. It’s also convenient to aforementioned Cabrillo National Monument. Just north, Pacific Beach and Mission Beach are connected by a three-mile boardwalk and feature the beachside Belmont Park amusement park and even more of the San Diego area Pacific Ocean scene.

Of course, no visit to Greater San Diego would be complete without visiting the Mediterranean-style village of La Jolla (pronounced “La-Hoya”).

There’s world-class shopping along Prospect Street, Girard Avenue and the Upper Girard Design District, and Bird Rock. Culturaland outdoors-oriented options can include: La Jolla Playhouse; the second location of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego; La Jolla Music ▲ Fiesta del Sol in Barrio Logan Society; the Stuart Photo Courtesy of Bob Ross Collection; the Birch Aquarium at Scripps; and pretty Torrey Pines State Reserve.

As would be expected, the dining scene is world-class in La Jolla. Locals like to send visitors to La Jolla Cove and George’s at the Cove, thanks to Chef Trey Foshee’s creative regional cuisine in three distinct settings: elegant “California Modern” on the first story; bistro-styled “George’s Bar” on the second floor; and the rooftop “Ocean Terrace.”

It’s a perfect place to end an exploration of San Diego’s tasty hot spots.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

▲ Cabrillo National Monument

THE DESERT It doesn’t take long to reach what is often called “San Diego’s Desert” to the northeast of city. In just two hours, Interstate 8 heads east from San Diego’s neighborhoods, through the mountains, and into the stunning 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Borrego Springs can serve as an ideal base for exploring the area, including AnzaBorrego Desert State Park, which surrounds the town, and many other wellknown desert destinations to the north in Greater Palm Springs.

Located at the eastern edge of San Diego County, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park provides a perfect introduction to deep south California’s desert country.

Abundant wildlife spottings might include desert iguanas, golden eagles, roadrunners, mule deer, kit foxes, bighorn sheep, chuckwallas, and four specific types of rattlesnakes. Anytime can be a great time to visit the state park, but the spring wildflower season is particularly colorful and the clear starlit night sky makes it worth staying up late. The park’s Visitor Center in Borrego Springs is a great place to start as is the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.

▲ Indian Canyon in Palm Springs Photo Courtesy of Yefim Bam

There are two attractions just to the south of Borrego Springs well worth a stop. The first is

La Casa del Zorro Desert Resort & Spa, which was founded in 1937 as a getaway and remains popular today – reopening in 2013 after major renovations. It’s a great lunch stop. Heading north toward Borrego Springs, be on the lookout for the stunning metal animal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda – located in Galleta Meadows.

Elsewhere and a bit further afield, more desert exploration awaits.

The Greater Palm Springs region continues the unique landscapes of San Diego County’s Borrego Springs area, with even more activities and destinations for interested visitors. Nine resort cities combine to make up the Great Palm Springs area: Palm Springs; Desert Hot Springs; Cathedral City; Rancho Mirage; Palm Desert; Indian Wells; La Quinta; Indio; and Coachella.

There are lots of options in the area to explore the desert and beyond, starting with The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, which is devoted to the sun-baked deserts of the world. If sunny shopping is more your style, then Palm Desert’s famed El Paseo features blocks of varied shops. Of course, there’s lots of golf – with more than 100 championship courses in the Coachella Valley – as well as varied casinos.

Over in Palm Springs proper, there’s lots to see and do. The possibilities include: stopping at the gas station-like Palm Springs Visitor Center just outside town; Agua Caliente Cultural Museum; the General Store of the 1930s Museum; Palm Springs Art Museum; Palm Springs Air Museum; the popular Palm Springs Aerial Tram; Moorten Botanical Garden; contemporary California cuisine at Lulu California Bistro, and, just outside town, picturesque drives to Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon in Indian Canyons on Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.

Be sure to look for the various Hollywood stars and others along the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Up in Desert Hot Springs, historic Cabot’s Pueblo Museum is well worth the short diversion.

Additionally, Rancho Mirage’s appropriatelynamed Sunnylands is the former glass-walled residence of publishing magnate and United Kingdom ambassador Walter Annenberg and his wife, Lenore. Driving enthusiasts will want to head to the new BMW Performance Center at The Thermal Club in Thermal (south of Coachella), with a few complement driving courses. It’s a great way to end a drive around San Diego and the desert.

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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 the trend-setting, design duo…

by Cele Seldon 40

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

All Photos Courtesy of April Pizana

Known as the top vintage designers in the nation, sisters Amie and Jolie Sikes have created an empire out of other people’s junk. Traveling across Texas selling vintage flea market finds since the late 90s, their business has morphed into their own primetime show on HGTV and GAC (Great American Country), designing backstage lounges at major music festivals, their own Junk Gypsy store in Round Top, Texas

(population 90), the annual Junk-O-Rama Prom, and the soon-to-open Junk Gypsy Wander Inn. Shoot, they even designed the country-fied wedding of Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton – with their own Airstream serving as the VIP lounge.

They’ve done it all with flea market and roadside relics of chipped, peeling, and worn vintage furniture, old concert posters,

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chandeliers made out of the least likely items (like banjos and gas tanks), dusty cowboy boots, and a knack for putting it all together to create a one-of-a-kind look. But their newest love is designing and decorating vintage Airstreams-of-thestars. We recently chatted with them about the who’s who, the funky finds, and how Airstreams are part of Americana.

You’ve designed RVs for some pretty bigshot celebrities.

How did that come about?

[Country music superstar] Miranda Lambert was the first Airstream that we did.

We’ve known her for a while – we’re from the same part of East Texas – and we’ve become good friends. The Airstream came about because she wrote a song called, “The Airstream Song.” Miranda said that our love of wanderlust and the gypsy lifestyle inspired her to write it. It was so cool! After we heard the song, we called her and said that we had to put our money where our mouth was.

We said that she needed to get an Airstream right now, we would decorate it, and then she could take it out on the road. Now, her Airstream goes to every show she does, pulled behind her tour bus, which we actually decorated years ago. She ended up loving it so much, we decided to get one too.

Then [country music singer and songwriter] Dierks Bentley called because, of course, he had seen Miranda’s and was in love with it. And then [lead singer and guitarist for legendary punk rock band Green Day] Billie Joe Armstrong’s wife called us. She had never seen Miranda’s, but had been Googling custom Airstreams for a gift to Billie Joe for their 20th wedding anniversary. Miranda and Dierks’ RVs 42

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

kept coming up on all of her searches, so she called us.

And, we did one for them.

Our most recent one was for Miranda’s mom, Bev. She handles the business side of Miranda’s empire. We are all really good friends – not like business associates at all – and we all just really wanted to do something for her.

She works non-stop all the time and it’s hard for her to relax.

And we thought an Airstream might help.

Had you traveled in an RV before?

We had two newer RVs – if you can call broken down 1980s models newer – to travel to flea markets and antique shows.

They weren’t fixed up or decorated. We’re in love with the flea market lifestyle and those two things go hand-inhand. Our first RV was a late80s Terry trailer. We named it “Cousin Eddie.”

What do you like about traveling in an RV? We were doing flea markets for a living.

So we needed a place to stay. And we wanted to stay on location because we were working crazy hours. We were just staying at random hotels and renting rooms from people at their houses and sleeping on sofas. We thought it would make our lives easier to buy a trailer so we could take it with us. Then we started going camping in it. And then we thought an Airstream would be so much more fun because it’s so cute and such our style. Part of our business is just built on the love of the road. And, for us, the spirit that a vintage Airstream embodies – it’s just a symbol of the great American road trip.

Tell us about the décor for Dierks Bentley’s Airstream.

Well, we know Dierks personally, not as well as Miranda, but we knew that he loves bluegrass and the Americana kind of feel.

We decided that he needed a multifunctional place where he could hang out with the guys and write music and drink beer. But, he also wanted a place where he could take his family. We wanted it to have a spiritual feel. Very Americana. His new song, “Up on the Ridge,” had just been released.

It was all about that spirit of being out with nature – the spirit of the American Bluegrass.

What’s your favorite thing in his Airstream?

There’s so much I love in his. Probably the booth that we made out of a church pew.

We also love the light fixture on the ceiling that we made out of a banjo. We also did a gas tank light which we love because he’s such a big motorcycle guy. We also love the bathroom. We made it look like an outhouse.

And the light fixture in the bedroom is an old minnow bucket so, when it’s on at night, it puts out this super cool star pattern in the room.

And then you moved on to Billie Joe Armstrong’s Airstream. How did you come up with his decor?

Every one we’ve ever done has been really especially suited to that individual.

Although we knew his music, we didn’t know Billie Joe personally. So we spent hours on the phone with his wife to get to

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

know her and, ultimately, him.

We watched several Green Day documentaries and really did our homework. What we came up with was a “Zen Surf Shack” theme. We wanted it to be a little more neutral, a little more Zen. But we still wanted it to have some quirky elements in there, because we just can’t do anything without that.

What’s your favorite design element in his Airstream?

We love the bed. That was the biggest feat of engineering.

We built the bed out of a vintage window that came out of a temple in India. We literally had to disassemble the entire window and rebuild it inside the Airstream.

What are the design themes in Miranda and Bev’s Airstreams?

Miranda’s is kind of “Cosmic Cowgirl,” with metallic turquoise walls and a pink glitter vinyl sofa. It’s like a party trailer for the road. For Bev, we wanted to bring in elements of her favorite album, Carole King’s ‘Tapestry.’

Since she runs full speed all the time and always takes care of business, we wanted it to be a really calming place. A place where she could calm down and forget about work for a while.

We focused on cream colors, more soothing – definitely not as rock & roll. Miranda and Bev go camping together all the time to get away from it all. So we wanted to make it comfortable for her.

Tell us about your RV. We got it after we did Miranda’s Airstream. Jolie and I really couldn’t decide on what the purpose was for an Airstream.

So I decided to get one initially for me and my daughter, Indie.

More of a Momma-daughter getaway place for us. I got it when she was 18 months old so it ended up being super girlie.

Do you travel in it or is more of a showpiece and office?

It’s not really an office. It’s more of a getaway place. We go camping in it, but just on our 40-acre property.

What’s your favorite thing about your Airstream?

Gosh, there are so many cute little features. The bathtub is made from an old water trough.

It’s got these carved Spanish columns and it’s just a crazy thing to have in an Airstream.

Everything is recycled or upcycled from stuff we already owned. The headboard is completely done out of decoupaged vintage maps.

Probably my favorite part of the Airstream is the way everybody feels when they are inside of it.

It’s just really dreamy.

Did you camp growing up?

We didn’t have a trailer, but we had a rustic cabin on the river in Arkansas. We had electricity, but no water, no air-conditioning.

It was one step up from being outside.

Tell us about your plans for the Junk Gypsy Wander Inn and how it will relate to your Airstream designs.

It will be an eight-room inn that we hope to open early next year. We also plan to put a few Airstreams on the property to rent out. The overriding thing for us when it comes to Airstream design is learning to take our wild, crazy style of decorating and adapt it to work in Airstreams. So the spirit of the Airstream and travel trailer bleeds over into all of our other designs. So yes, that style will be present in the Inn.

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Who’s in the kitchen with

TrailBlazer?

Chicken Tortilla Soup with Lime Crema SERVES 4-6 | 50 min

▲ Per Serving 527 Cal., 42% (220 Cal.) from fat; 31g protein; 25g fat (6.7g sat.); 47g carbo (13g fiber); 366mg sodium; 75mg chol.

The flower- and cactus-dotted deck at Sebastian’s is as bucolic a place as any I found along this entire spectacular coast. (And, lucky me, it’s only a 35-minute drive from my home.)

Just across the quiet street are the three warehouses that once contained massive swag from William Randolph Hearst’s legendary European shopping trips. Art, tile, wood panels, and furniture were off-loaded from ships into the warehouses, before making their way up the hill to his castle, perched like a vision from Disneyland just above your lunch spot. Sebastian’s very filling version of this classic CalMex soup calls for puréeing half the soup, making it even more of a hearty meal. Grab a glass of Hearst Ranch Winery’s Tempranillo to tame the soup’s bite.

• canola or vegetable oil, for deep-frying • 3 corn tortillas, sliced as thinly as possible (a paper cutter works well)

Ingredients

3. Remove the bay leaves from the soup. In a blender, purée about half the soup, making sure to include plenty of the solids. Return the puréed mixture to the pot and add the black beans and chicken, return to a simmer and cook, partially covered, 5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro; cover the pot and keep warm over very low heat.

Soup • 3 tbsp. canola or vegetable oil • 6 small corn tortillas, cut into rough pieces, each about 1 ¼ in • 1 large yellow onion, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 2 tbsp. chili powder • 1 tbsp. ground cumin • 2 fresh bay leaves or 1 dried leaf • ½ tsp. fine sea salt to taste • ¼ tsp. pepper to taste • 1 qt. low-sodium chicken broth or homemade chicken stock • 1 (14.5oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles • 1 (15oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½ in chunks • ¼ cup roughly chopped cilantro Lime Crema • Juice of 2 large limes • ½ cup crème fraîche

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Tortilla “Whiskers”

Directions 1. Start the soup: Place a soup pot or large dutch oven over medium heat and add the oil. Add the tortilla pieces to the hot oil and stir for 1 minute to warm. Add the onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, bay leaves, salt, and pepper; stir to toast the spices and coat the tortilla pieces and onion.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 8 minutes.

2. Stir in the broth and diced tomatoes with chiles and bring to a boil.

Simmer partially covered for 15 minutes, to blend the flavors.

Remove from the heat.

4. Make the crema: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice and crème fraîche.

5. In a heavy, deep saucepan or a deep-fryer, warm about 2 in. of oil to 350°, for frying the tortilla “whiskers”.

Add the slivered tortillas to the hot oil and fry, nudging occasionally with a skimmer, until golden brown and beautifully crisp, 2 minutes. Taste the soup for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and top each with a spoonful of the lime crema and a tangle of the tortilla whiskers.

WIN THIS COOKBOOK!!

We’re lucky to not only be able to highlight just a few of the great recipes from this cookbook, but to also announce a chance for five lucky readers to win a copy of this delightful cookbook. See details on P62.

Grilled Fish Tacos with Chile-Lime Slaw & Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa SERVES 2-4 | 35 min (plus 1 hr to chill and roast) Fish tacos are so popular in California that countless establishments are devoted to them. South of the border, fish tacos are a staple in every small town within a stone’s throw of the sea.

But the idea that really good fish tacos are fast street food is a misconception.

The slaw must be impeccably cool and crisp, the fish quality beyond suspicion, and the spices pungent.

When you experience the sublime marriage of all the carefully cultivated elements folded up into a tiny corn tortilla, you will know in your heart that the journey was worth every step. At The Marshall Store, they do it the oldfashioned way: right. You can, too.

Ingredients Slaw • 2 ½ cups each of shredded red cabbage and shredded green cabbage (each about ¼ of a medium cabbage) • 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped • ½ jalapeño chile minced • Juice of 3 large limes • ½ tsp. fine sea salt & ¼ tsp. pepper Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

▲ Per 2-Taco Serving 585 Cal., 43% (249 Cal.) from fat; 28g protein; 29g fat (2.6g sat.); 62g carbo (12g fiber); 816mg sodium; 37mg chol.

• 1 lb. tomatillos, peeled and quartered • ¼ yellow onion, sliced • ½ jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and halved • 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled • 1 cup cilantro leaves • ½ tsp. fine sea salt & ¼ tsp. pepper Fish • 1½ tsp. each ground coriander, ground cumin, and Hungarian paprika • ¼ tsp. each of fine sea salt & pepper • 2 tsp. canola or vegetable oil Eight 6" Corn Tortillas • 1 shallot, finely chopped • ½ jalapeño chile minced • garnish with cilantro & lime wedges

Directions 1. Make the slaw: In a bowl, toss together all the ingredients. Chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours, tossing occasionally.

2. Make the salsa: Preheat the oven to 425°. In a small roasting pan, toss the tomatillos, onion, and jalapeño together. Roast until browned in places and tender, about 25 minutes.

Cool to room temperature and chill until close to serving time.

In a blender, combine the roasted tomatillo mixture, avocado, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Taste for seasoning.

3. Grill the fish: Prepare a charcoal of gas grill for medium-high heat (about 450°). In a small, dry cast-iron skillet over medium heat, combine and toast the coriander and cumin until aromatic, about 20 seconds; combine with paprika. Season the fish on both sides with the dry spice rub, distributing it evenly. Brush the cooking grate clean and coat the fish on both sides with canola oil. Place the fish in a fish basket or on an oiled grilling grid on the grill and cook without moving for 2 min. Begin turning the with a metal spatula, in the order added to the grill, and cook until firm and golden, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a platter.

4. Warm the skillet over medium-high heat. Working with a tortilla at a time, dip it briefly into a shallow bowl of water. Transfer to the hot skillet and cook until water evaporates from first side and tortilla is browned in places, about 30 seconds. Flip and cook until dry, about 15 seconds more. Wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. Flake some fish onto each tortilla, then top with slaw and salsa.

Scatter a little shallot and jalapeño over the top, and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve with lime wedges.

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ASK

RVBILL

YOUR TECH QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Q

Hi Bill, We have a 2012 Fleetwood Bounder Classic with the 1.5 bath configuration.

The rear bath has a vacuum assist toilet. Note that I am a big guy. When we first got the RV (14 months ago) we noticed what appears to be plain water around the base after using the toilet. We paid a dealer to check it. They said they “tightened everything” and all appeared ok.

Now, about ten months later, I noted that when I use the toilet

Q

I saw your column in the TrailBlazer Magazine; I’d like to have your opinion on the 2014 Winnebago destination 5th wheel. I bought a beautiful trailer in May 2014, built fairly well except for the electrical system which have been giving us problems with the inverter since day one. The road service they give us the first year is horrible, and they are rude and not cooperative at all. I’ve been traveling to Dawson City, Yukon, and when I try to have something fixed, they told me I wasn’t supposed to go too far with the trailer and if I’d like something to get fixed I have to go to the nearest dealer to get it done.

Unfortunately the nearest dealer from here is High River Alberta, about 1600 miles, and they can’t do anything for me. I contacted Winnebago directly and Ron Levitz from customer service was very

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

the same problem occurs.

Not every time, but most times.

We checked hoses and collections and all seems ok. The unit is not loose on the floor. The water level is not above the floor when you look into the toilet with the value open, so we don’t think it is backing up. We’re stumped.

Any ideas?

Terry Hensley

helpful but couldn’t do much for me either since I was far away.

He was able to send me the parts I needed to repair the trailer, a thing I can do myself, which was ok.

He told me that if we use the trailer to live full time the warranty is void (something the La Mesa RV dealer in Fort Myers, FL didn’t tell us), do other people have complaints about this problem?

My one year warranty expires soon (also have an extended warranty that I haven’t used yet), but I’m not if they will give me problems using it.

Thank you, Jean Paul

A

Terry, I believe your problem leak is in the vacuum breaker.

When the toilet is flushed the water runs from the water valve through the vacuum breaker to the toilet bowl. When the seals deteriorate, often with hard water, the leak will show up on to the floor. This type of leak can be intermittent, making the diagnosis more difficult.

The vacuum breaker should be available on the Internet or through the dealer.

A

Jean Paul, Living and traveling in an RV can present many problems especially when long distances are involved. It is normal for manufacturers to require owners to take their RVs to authorized service centers for warranty issues. When distance is an issue, call Winnebago and try to get authorization for a local RV repair shop to perform the warranty.

Very often Winnebago will send them parts when properly authorized for labor costs.

I have never had any complaints regarding Winnebago and it sounds like they are trying to help you. Regarding the extended warranty, the coverage will not take effect until the original warranty is over. The coverage and process for a claim is very specific per their contract. Read the contract carefully to familiarize yourself with coverage.

Q

Hi Bill, We are new to RVing and we purchased a 2015 Thor Windsport 27K Class A motor home.

We plan to store it in Arizona from September through the following January. I read several articles on protecting the paint and roof of the RV. My question is, when storing an RV in Phoenix, AZ, where it’s warmer in winter, should I encapsulate the RV with one of those complete RV covers (and tire covers)?

Rich Aubert

Q

Bill & Jenn, Per your recommendation, (and thanks for all the tips and guidance!) we just bought a 2015 Grand Design Reflection 313RLTS. We are thrilled to say the very least but we have a question…it has a helium cooling unit powered Atwood Fridge in it. Is there anything we need to do differently and/or are there any helpful hints to use this new (to us) style fridge or does it work the same as the ammonia fridge we have grown used to? We hope that you are both doing well and enjoying life! :) I have watched all of your ABC’s of RV’s and look you up on YouTube on a regular basis! Thanks for telling us about Thousand Trails and how well the campground network has worked for you over the last 8 years.

Tony & Jodi

A

Hello, Rich! Thanks for this excellent question. For the all around protection of the roof, graphics, and plastic pieces on an RV, I have always kept my RVs and truck covered whenever possible and I suggest that you do the same.

When purchasing an RV cover, you need to buy one that is made of “Sunbrella” fabric – the same material that is used for boat covers. There are several companies that will make the cover to order. It’s the best brand cover bar none and will far outlast all of the others on the market.

In the long run, you will have

A

Congratulations on your new fifth wheel and I know that you will enjoy it so much!

The newer helium refrigerators work the same as the ammonia refrigerators – you don’t need to do anything different than you’re used to. Just make sure that it is kept level per the specifications put forth by the manufacturer during operation.

The helium refrigerators have been out for several years now with great success. Helium refrigerators are more efficient as they cool faster, just know they are a bit louder than an ammonia fridge when in the cooling mode. Note; read the owners manual carefully, manufacturers may have a section that requires an annual service inspection. The warranty will be void if it is not performed.

Enjoy your new trailer. Feel free to write in anytime!

saved money and protected your RV. Some of the RV covers are long enough to protect the tires, as well, (good thinking there, by the way) but if not, do purchase tire covers for added protection against the elements. Happy Trails!

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

BILL’S TIP Michelin Tire recalls NHTSA Recall# 13T-012 Identification will be located on your tires’ sidewall Model LTX MSLT 225/75R16 LRE MSPN: 25516 DOT Code sequence- B3JHAKEX Production periods: 0210 to 2512 Although this recall has been out for a few years, I wanted to bring it up as a general safety precaution. Many RVs sit for long periods of time and details get missed. Please contact your nearest Michelin dealer for further info if you think that your tires may fall into the recall category.You may also contact the National Transportation Safety Administration (NTSA) for recalls that have been submitted for any brand tire. Be well, Friends!

RV Bill

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

49

Member Deals

Thousand Trails Members Always Save At

RVontheGo.com Call! Click! Camp!

1-888-443-7301

▲ Mesa Spirit RV Resort (AZ)

Thousand Trails Standard Discount:

20% Off Daily Rates

S! ALWAY l l At a ENCORE !

Resorts

▲ Lake George Escape Ca

mpground (NY)

Use Promo Code:

TT20%

10% Off

▲ Tall Chief RV

rt (WA)

& Camping Reso

Monthly Rates Use Promo Code:

TT1015 Valid at all Encore RV Resorts *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

▲ Robin Hill RV Resort &

Campground (PA)

*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.

50

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Blackhawk Camping Resort (WI)

Wisconsin

RVontheGo.com 1-888-443-7301

Call! Click! Camp!

$399

4-Week Stay Fremont Jellystone Park ® Use Promo Code: TT4WTTF Valid 9/8/15 until close of season *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

Illinois

$499

4-Week Stay

Buy 1 Week Get 1 Week 50% Off Valid on Standard Sites

O’Connell’s Yogi Bear Park®

Valid at Blackhawk Camping Resort, Neshonoc Lakeside Camping, Lakeland Camping Resort

Use Promo Code: TT4WOAN

Use Promo Code: TT2W50WI

Valid 9/8/15 until close of season

Valid 9/8/15 until close of season

*Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

*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.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

51

Member Deals ▲ Echo Farms Campground (NJ)

New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts:

25% Off Weekly Rate Tuxbury Pond Use Promo Code: TT25TX5 Offer Valid for 2015 Season.

2 Week Maximum Book by 10/10/15

mpground (NJ)

▲ Mays Landing Ca

50% Off

Sunday - Thursday Daily Rates Valid at Encore properties in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Use Promo Code: TT50MWNE Valid 9/6/15-10/15/15 Book by 10/10/15

▲ Mt. De

sert Narro

ws Camp

ing Resort

(ME)

*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.

52

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals ▲ Miami Everglades RV Resort (FL)

Florida Resorts

30% Off

Weekly Rates ▲ Crystal Isles RV Re

Valid at Barrington Hills, Clerbrook RV & Golf Resort, Topics RV Resort, Clover Leaf Forest, Tobys RV Resort,Winter Garden, Bulow RV Resort, Sunshine Holiday Daytona, Vacation Village & Southern Palms

sort (FL)

Use Promo Code: TT30S15 Valid 10/15/15 - 3/31/16 ▲ Ramblers Rest

L)

RV Campground (F

Florida Resorts

50% Off

Weekly Rates

Valid at all Florida Properties except Crystal Isles, Fiesta Key, Sunshine Key RV Resort & Marina

Use Promo Code: TT50AUG5 Valid through 10/14/15

*Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

20% Off

Weekly Rates Valid at remaining Florida properties (not listed in above offer)

Use Promo Code: TT20S15 Valid until 10/15/15 - 3/31/16 *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.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

53

Member Deals â–˛ Victoria Palms RV Resort (TX)

Texas $149/Week Use Promo Code: TT149TX

$449/Month

Use Promo Code: TT449TX Valid at Country Sunshine, Paradise Park, Fun N Sun, Lakewood, Paradise South, Southern Comfort, Sunshine RV and Tropic Winds Offer valid 10/1/15 - 4/30/16 *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

Texas $199/Week Use Promo Code: TT199TX Valid at Victoria Palms

sort (TX)

â–˛ Fun N Sun RV Re

Texas

50% Off

A Weekly Stay Use Promo Code: TTATW15

or

A Monthly Stay Use Promo Code: TTATM15

$699/Month

Use Promo Code: TT699TX

Valid in Alamo Palms, Country Sunshine, Fun N Sun, Lakewood, Paradise Park, Paradise South, Southern Comfort, Sunshine RV, Tropic Winds and Victoria Palms.

Valid at Victoria Palms and Alamo Palms

Offer valid through 9/30/15

Offer valid 10/1/15 - 4/30/16

*Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

*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.

54

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Member Deals â–˛ Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort (AZ)

Arizona

$699 One Month Special Valid at Araby Acres, Viewpoint RV & Golf Resort, Voyager, Monte Vista, Paradise & Mesa Spirit (AZ) rde RV Resort

â–˛ Mesa Ve

Arizona

30% Off

Daily Rates Offer valid during October and November 2015

Use Promo Code: TT30AZ *Restrictions/exclusions apply and are listed at bottom of this page.

Use Promo Code: TT699AZ Offer valid 1 month max Offer valid through 10/1/15 - 4/30/16

$449 One Month Special Valid at Cactus Gardens, Capri, Casita Verde, Countryside, Suni Sands, Foothill Village, Mesa Verde, Foothills West, Desert Paradise, Fiesta Grande, Golden Sun & Valley Vista

Use Promo Code: TT449AZ Offer valid through 10/1/15 - 4/30/16 Offer valid for 1 month max

*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.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

55

RPI? “Our RPI membership provides us more access to camping. We currently stay close to the West Coast but our plans for next year include traveling and camping in the east. With our RPI membership that is possible.”

– David & Ruth, Whittier, CA

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SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

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57

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers can be found on page 64.

Get in Gear!

• Hats • Sweatshirts • T-Shirts

ThousandTrailsGear.com

e or m d an

!

• Koozies

58

ACROSS 1 Universal product code (abbr.)

4 From (Scot.)

8 S. Afr. language 12 Classic car 13 Mine stair 14 Sayings (suf.)

15 Automated teller machine (abbr.)

16 Calm 18 Broad hill 20 Royal Air Force (abbr.)

21 Provide 25 Austral. wild dog 29 Muse (2 words) 32 Ointment 33 Turkish caliph 34 Rom. farce 36 Energy unit 37 Crazy 39 Radial (2 words) 41 Cathedral passage 43 East wind 44 Hummingbird

46 49 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

Luxuriant Diva (2 words) Sheep’s cry Liability Berne’s river Son of Noah Hindu servant Batrachian Electric unit

DOWN 1 Russ. range 2 Wahoo fish 3 Staple 4 Illness 5 Lance of King Arthur 6 Abridged (abbr.)

7 Ivory (Lat.) 8 Luncheon 9 Mulberry of India 10 Donkey (Fr.) 11 Male person 17 Rage 19 Afghanistan (abbr.)

22 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 35 38 40 42 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

Feminine (abbr.)

Norse mythical hero Carbric grass 4th incarnation of Vishnu Eng. poet Prospects “The Bartered Bride” character Jewish month Antelope Serum (pref.)

Ancient Gr. city Robot play Extravehicular activity (abbr.)

Anti-satellite (abbr.)

Heddles of a loom Cordage fiber Unusual Edible seed Compass direction Truth: Chin.

Altar constellation Flushed

4

paws ROAD ON THE

Traveling and Camping with Companion Animals

by Jenn Gehr

Q + A

Jenn, I’m asking point blank. What would YOU do when your camping neighbors have an annoying, barking dog? It seems like just when I think I am going to get a chance to sleep in a bit when I’m on vacation, the 6:23am “alarm” goes off next door! The dog is so big & loud, it sounds like a sea lion being skinned. I was only there for 5 nights, and didn’t want to stir the pot, but every morning, like clockwork, there went the ALARRRRRRRRRmmmmm! It really got me thinking and wanted to ask you, as I’m sure you can relate with all your years on the road.

Thanks for your advice on this uncomfortable subject, Karen & Tim Glasgow District of Columbia, TT Member JENN I truly appreciate your frustration and your willingness to bring up this delicate inquiry. Been there, heard that. And nothing is worse than being woken up to the sound of an uncontrolled barking dog. Well, maybe it goes hand in hand with the ear piercing shrieks of exuberant children who feel compelled to rollerblade in front of your RV during a very well posted “quiet hour.” Yes, these along with other campground rules are put into place so that all campers may have the most enjoyable and safe

camping experience possible. It’s common courtesy to be mindful of others, yet sometimes I wonder if people even care at all about The Golden Rule: treat others the way you would like to be treated. I know that Thousand Trails Campground Managers are put, into place to ensure each persons satisfaction as well as listen to and resolve problems if at all possible.

I compliment you on biting your tongue yet encourage you to kindly say your piece to management the next time you are faced with such an issue. I believe that with the help of a neutral third party, a happy compromise would arise…and I sincerely hope it will find you well rested this time.

Hi, and thanks for your informative pet column. We have just retired and are new to long term camping in a 42 foot Motorhome with our 2 dogs and 2 cats. I have two simple but important questions.

1) Have you found any solution to removing pine sap, aka, pitch, from your dogs paws and fur? Can I use Goo-Gone?

2) Your favorite travel treats under $20 suitable for both dogs and catsMUST be made in the USA, corn, grain, soy gluten and wheat free. (thanks!)

Cheers, Diana and Calvin Roberts Tillamook, OR

Fur Kids. I wish you and yours the very best!

To answer your questions; 1) I use a generic, antibacterial solution (in a pump bottle) or wipes to help dissolve sticky pine pitch.

It is a mess and I try to carefully cut the sap off my dog’s hair whenever possible, but the wipes seem to be more effective than rubbing alcohol and less offensive to sensitive skin and noses when trimming out the stick isn’t an option. While Goo-Gone works wonders on human clothing, it is toxic, and the foul smell resides long after it’s washed off with soap and water.

2) Primal Pet Foods “Chicken Nibs” Jerky are ($17 for 6 oz) or “Turkey Liver Munchies” ($8 for 2 oz) both are organic, preservative free, human grade treats for both your dogs and cats made without any of the additives you listed in your question! In addition, all of Primals extensive line of foods and treats are from grass feed animals, raised without antibiotics or added hormones. Another favorite treat brand I use is Papa Psuka ($16 for 12 oz.) by Koda Pet Foods Inc. – I love their lightweight treat sticks that easily break down into any size you wish to feed. These healthy, baked snacks are for dogs and cats, made in the USA of beef lung, beef liver, beef broth and turkey liver.

All prices listed are an approximate MSRP so shop around, but I know you will be happy with the products.

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

JENN Welcome to retirement! The best years of my life have been those living on the road in less than 400 sq. ft. with my Hubby and our SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

59

PREFERRED RV DEALERS Check out member specials on parts, service and sales by visiting our preferred RV Dealer partners listed here.

Ellis Travel Trailers GA - Statesboro www.ellistraveltrailers.com

USA

ET Quality RV CA - Two locations in Yuba City www.etqualityrv.com

A&L RV Sales TN - Christiana, Johnson City www.alrvsales.com

Browns RV SC - McBee www.brownsrvsuperstore.com

Floyd’s RV OK - Norman • www.floydsrvs.com

A Great Outdoor RV Center TX - Canton • www.agorv.com

Camperland Trailer Sales TX - Conroe • www.camperland.net

Freedom RV WA - Liberty Lake www.freedomrvusa.com

Action VR QC - Saint-Nicolas • www.actionvr.ca

Campers Inn CT - Union; FL - Leesburg, Jacksonville GA - Macon; MA - Raynham NC - Kings Mountain, Mocksville NH - Kingston, Merrimack www.campersinn.com

Affinity RV AZ - Prescott, Prescott Valley www.affinityrv.com Alpin Haus NY - Amsterdam, Port Jervis, Saratoga www.alpinhaus.com

Campers Inn/PECO Campers GA - Tucker • www.pecocampers.com

Al’s Trailer Sales OR - Salem • www.alstrailers.com

Canopy Country RV Center WA - Ellensburg, Union Gap www.canopycountry.com

American Family RV VA - Chesapeake www.americanfamilyrv.com

Charlie Obaugh RV VA - Staunton www.charlieobaughrv.com

B&B RV CA - Anderson • www.bbrv.me

Clear Creek RV WA - Silverdale www.clearcreekrvcenter.com

Bama RV AL - Dothan • www.bamarv.com Baydo’s RV of Chehalis WA - Chehalis • www.baydosrvs.com Big Country RV OR - Bend, Redmond www.bigcrv.com Blade Chevrolet RV WA - Mt. Vernon • www.bladerv.com

Conejo Wholesale Auto and RV CA - Thousand Oaks www.conejowholesaleauto.com Country Camping Corner NC - Kings Mountain, Matthews www.countrycamping.com Crossroads Trailers NJ - Newfield www.crossroadstrailers.com

Boat-N-RV NY - West Coxsackie; SC - Ridgeland PA - Hamburg • www.boatnrv.com

Curtis Trailer Center MI - Schoolcraft www.curtistrailercenter.com

Braun’s Fun Time Campers IN - Indianapolis www.funtimecampers.com

Economy RVs MD - Mechanicsville www.economyrvs.com

60

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Funtime RV OR - Tualalin • www.funtimervinc.com General RV Center IL - Huntley MI - Brownstown, Mt. Clemens, Wayland, White Lake, Wixom OH - North Canton www.generalrv.com Gibs RV Superstore OR - Coos Bay www.gibsrvsuperstore.com Hayden’s RVs VA - Richmond • www.haydensrvs.net Haylet RV MI - Coldwater www.haylettautoandrv.com J&M Camper & Marine ME - Augusta • www.jmcamper.com Keystone RV Center PA - Greencastle www.keystonervcenter.com Lakeside RV Sales SC - Anderson www.lakesidervsales.com La Mesa RV AZ - W. Phoenix, CA - Sacramento, San Diego FL - Ft. Myers, Orlando, Port St. Lucie www.lamesarv.com Lux-Liner LLC CA - Acadia • Lux-liner.com McKay’s RV & Marine Center ME - Holden • www.mckaysrv.com

CANADA Media Camping PA - Hatfield, Media www.mediacamping.com

RV Value Mart PA - Lititz, Manheim www.rvvaluemart.com

Véhicules Récréatifs JD QC - Sherbrooke www.vrjdrv.ca

Mike Thompson RV Superstores CA - Cathedral City, Colton, Fountain Valley, Santa Fe Springs www.mikethompson.com

Safford RV VA - Thornburg • www.saffordrv.com

VR Depot QC - Vaudreuil-Dorion www.vrdepot.ca

Opelika RV Center AL - Opelika • www.opelikarv.com

Scott Motor Coach NJ - Lakewood www.scottmotorcoach.com

Out of Doors Mart NC - Colfax • www.outofdoorsmart.com

See Grins RV CA - Gilroy, San Martin www.seegrins.com

Patterson RV TX - Wichita Falls • www.pattersonrv.com

Seguin RV TX - Seguin • www.seguinrv.com

Paul Evert’s RV Country AZ - Bullhead City CA - Fresno NV - Laughlin OR - Coburg WA - Fife, Milton, Mt. Vernon www.rvcountry.com

Simi RV & Off Road CA - Simi Valley • www.simi-rv.com

Phillips RV Center MI - Mount Morris • www.phillipsrv.com PPL Motorhomes TX - Cleburne, Houston, New Braunfels www.pplmotorhomes.com Princesscraft RV TX - Round Rock • www.princesscraft.com R.B. Taylor & Sons VA - Lynchburg www.rbtaylorandsons.com Recreation Plantation RV Sales IL - Lynwood www.recreationplantationrvsales.com Roy Robinson RV WA - Marysville www.royrobinsonrv.com Russ Dean Family RV WA - Pasco • www.russdeanrv.com RV City AZ - Huachuca City • www.rvcity.net RV’s For Less TN - Knoxville • www.rvsforless.net

Snyder’s RV VA - Virginia Beach www.snydersrv.com Strickland Marine & RV SC - Seneca www.stricklandmarineandrv.com Sunbelt RV Center TX - Belton • www.sunbeltrv.com Sundown RV Center CA - Atwater • www.sundownrv.com Super Deals RV Inc. GA - Douglasville www.superdealsrv.com TAC Trailer and RV NC - Moyock • www.tactrailerandrv.com The Trail Center SC - North Charleston www.trailcenter.com Vancouver RV & Park Model Center Wa - Vancouver www.vancouverrv.com Vogt RV TX - Ft. Worth • www.vogtrv.com

VR Emond Plus QC - Sainte-Nicolas www.vremondplus.com VR Prestige QC - Terrebonne www.vrprestige.com VR Souliere QC - Lanoraie, Lavaltrie www.vrsouliere.com GO VR QC - Ange Gardien • www.go-vr.com Horizon Lussier QC - Maryville www.horizonlussier.com JCS Entreposage QC - Trois Rivières www.entreposagejcs.com Leasure Days RV ON - Ayr, Kingston, Pembroke, Smith Falls, Sudbry QC - Buckingham, Gatineau, Sherbrooke NB - Salisbury NS - Truro www.leisuredays.ca Le Centre du Vr Victoriaville QC - Saint-Albert www.vrvictoriaville.com Roulottes AS Levesque QC - Châteauguay, Saguenay, Sainte-Hélène, Trois-Rivières www.roulotte.ca Roulottes Remillard QC - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu www.roulottesremillard.com

Welcome Back RV Outlet TX - Athens • www.welcomebackrv.com Western Travel Sales WA - Lynden www.westerntravelsales.com

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

61

Nature’s Precious Treasures

Adopt-A-Manatee® for the Holidays

Call 1-800-432-5646 (JOIN) savethemanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte

Cooking Tips with the West Coast!

Be one of five Lucky Winners to receive Eating Up the West Coast featured on pages 46-47. Simply send a postcard with your name, address and email to TrailBlazer Magazine.

Winners will be drawn in a random drawing in November and will be notified by mail or email.

Terms and Conditions for 2015 Referral Promotion from page 4.

Entries must be postmarked by 10/30/15 Win the West Coast Cookbook TrailBlazer Magazine Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606

This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.

Cookbook has a retail value of $24.95. The odds of winning the drawing depend on the number of entries received and are not expected to exceed 5:69,333.

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.

62

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

y l l a R It’s Time!

Calendar

CLUB SEPTEMBER 2015 Bounders United (BUTTN)

Northwest

Sept. 8-9......................... Las Vegas, NV Wagonmaster will be Jerry and Yvonne Codde, contact information (209) 207-8184 or jycodde@comcast. net; 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.

Sept. 25-27.............. Leavenworth, WA Oct. 23-25.......................... Seaside, OR Nov. 27-29.................... La Conner, WA 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.

TT SINGLES Central California

TT Travelers Southern California

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

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.

Sept. 14-16....... Oakzanita Springs,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 Mar. 7-9...............Soledad Canyon, CA Apr. 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) 583-3426 or jeff@nocciola.com.

TTN So Cal Weekenders

Sept. 11-13 ������������������������Pio Pico, CA Oct. 2-4 �������������Oakzanita Springs, CA Nov. 6-8 �������������Wilderness Lakes, CA Dec. 4-6 �������������������� Palm Springs, CA 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.

TTWest/FMCA

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.

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

63

REVIEW BO OK

{

Airstreams: Custom Interiors

by David Winick Schiffer Publishing, Ltd www.schifferbooks.com ISBN: 978-0-7643-3539-6

Answers – Sudoku puzzle can be found on page 62.

$29.99 Iconic Airstream travel trailers – with their shiny silver bullet-shaped aluminum design – have been the most recognized RVs in the world for 80-plus years.

From Junk Gypsies Amie and Jolie Sykes (see “On the Road”) to lots of celebrities, custom interiors for Airstreams are fascinating to everyone who loves the trailblazing lifestyle.

Through words and pictures, David Winick outlines his re-creations of custom-built Airstream trailers from 1948 to 2007, including his 75th Anniversary Bambi Airsteam. The challenge of creating functional and beautiful small spaces in which to live drove his restoration work – making living spaces that reflect the famed Airstream design. The resulting book provides food for thought, but it’s also just plain fun to peruse.

Other interesting Schiffer Publishing books include: Airstreams Memories; Camper & RV Humor; Pictorial Guide to RVing; Ready to Roll: The Trail Trailer in America; Amateur Radio Goes Camping & RVing: The Illustrated QSL Card History. We plan to review more of their books in coming issues.

Lynn & Cele Seldon

64

SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

Answers – Crossword puzzle can be found on page 58

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!

James & Stephanie Battle of Chesterfield, VA

found the tree on Page 28 of the July 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 Sept. 30, 2015

and remember – the tree could be a different color and size.

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

20% off daily rates through September at Canada parks.

325/month

425/month

$

$

September & October

November & December

Book by October 1 at select Florida parks. To find a participating park near you, visit carefreervresorts.com/specialoffers.

Not valid at Dunedin, Sun-N-Fun, Riptide or Pelican.

carefreeRVresorts.com SEPTEMBER 2015 TRAILBLAZER

65

On Location

For just $25, you can snag a 10-12 lb bag for picking and don’t be shy about filling it up! There are also picnic tables at the orchard so pack a lunch and make a day of it!

Picking season goes until early October this year.

The Apple Starr Orchard, located in Julian, CA, is the perfect place to kick off the fall harvest season!

This orchard has been open for over 30 years and has been certified organic since 2002. Apple Starr Orchards is approximately 28 acres with 8 acres and over 1000 apple and pear trees. The Apple Starr Orchard is THE destination for picking your own juicy, delicious apples and pears.

HARVESTING OPEN DAILY AUGUST 28TH THROUGH EARLY OCTOBER

Many of the trees on the orchard have low hanging branches, so kids love to come to this orchard.

It’s a great place for kids to learn about where some of their favorite fruits come from, instead of at the local grocery store.

Apple Starr Orchard is located just 21 miles from Oakzanita or 50 miles from Pio Pico. Be sure to visit apple-starr.com to find out more about Apple Starr Orchard and to learn more about the apple and pear varieties available for picking this season.

For more information on staying at Oakzanita or Pio Pico:

1-800-443-7301 ThousandTrails.com

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

NO ONE DOES IT BETTER

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

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

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

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

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www.skymed.com/thousandtrails

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