TrailBlazer Magazine - Spring 2022 by TrailBlazer Magazine

TrailBlazer SPRING 2022

Magazine

MUST TAKE

REFRESH

SPRING ROAD TRIPS

THIS SEASON

CAMPING TIPS

YOUR RV

EASY GREEN PLANT A SEED FOR THE FUTURE

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

Contents

TrailBlazer Magazine | SPRING 2022

CAMPING

TRAILBLAZERS

GREEN

I KNEW I WAS A TRAILBLAZER The Reinharts

IT’S EASY BEING GREEN Eco-friendly tips to keep in mind while you travel

ASPARAGUS PANCETTA SKILLET Delicious Campfire Breakfast

GREAT ALLEGHANY PASSAGE Bike the GAP this spring

GREAT ALLEGHENY PASSAGE Bike the GAP this spring QUICK ROAD TRIP Our list of the quick road trips you need to take ASAP

I KNEW I WAS A TRAILBLAZER Eric & Jen Reinhart

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

IN THE KITCHEN

CAMP IN COLORADO The newest Thousand Trails campground ST PHILLIPS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA Exploring a private island

IT’S EASY BEING GREEN Eco-friendly tips to keep in mind while you travel

TOP SEED SOURCES Plant some seeds for the future

WHAT’S GROWING ON The best spring color displays across the country

DISH OUTDOORS A special offer for Thousand Trails members

AMERICAN FORESTS Helping revive our forests

IN THE KITCHEN Asparagus pancetta skillet RV RENOVATION Spring decor inspiration to freshen up your RV

50 RV RENOVATION With Wisco Filp

www.trailblazermagazine.net GRAPHIC DESIGNER Michelle Villadolid MISSION STATEMENT TrailBlazer provides exclusive news and information for the members and guests of Thousand Trails Family of campgrounds and resorts. Each issue enhances the recreational lifestyle of its readers through a lively mix of camping and travel features, campground profiles and product features. TRAILBLAZER (ISSN 0747-2293) April 2022 Vol. 60, Issue #2 is published quarterly by MHC TT Memberships, LP, c/o MHC Property Management L.P., Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TRAILBLAZER, 2325 Highway 90, Gautier, MS 39553. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement 41461526. TRAILBLAZER MAGAZINE Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606 tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com TrailBlazermagazine.net PRINTED IN THE USA

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VISIT LAZYDAYS.COM OR CALL 866.531.6818 4

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TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

Leavenworth RV Campground

MESSAGE FROM MARGUERITE he arrival of Spring acts as our very own version of opening day, a time when so many of us can celebrate one of our favorite pastimes: camping! Northern camping season is here, the leaves are returning, flowers are blooming, and the chill in the air is turning into more of a memory than a reality. Mother Nature is prepping for a new camping season to begin, and a great one at that. If you’re searching for some RV travel inspiration, look no further than this current issue of the magazine. From simple spring road trips to help you get your camping fix prior to the full-blown summer season to approachable green and eco-friendly travel tips, the great outdoors is the star of the show. This issue also highlights a bike trip along the Great Allegheny Passage and a few other bicycle vacations and trails, which is timely given May is National Bike Month. We’ll be giving you an update on our commitment to plant 100,000 trees with American Forests, highlight some ways to plant a seed for the future, and so much more. Green is definitely this season’s color in so many ways. As the seasons change, we’re always given the opportunity to start fresh and try something new. In the spirit of broadening horizons and visiting places you have yet to see, I’m very excited to introduce you all to the newest member of the Thousand Trails family: Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch. Located in beautiful Gunnison, Colorado, the newest Thousand Trails campground gives campers the opportunity to check Colorado off their bucket lists while being centrally located to Black Canyon National Park and less than an hour’s drive to Crested Butte. We feature a bit more about this beautiful location in this issue of the magazine.

Now that the weather is warming up, the desire to get out there and go camping is stronger than ever. We’re kicking off the #100DaysofCamping a little earlier this year by encouraging our campers and RVers to take a pledge. By signing the pledge, you’re committing to making those summer camping days count. Throughout the summer, we’ll be sending you virtual badges based on camping accomplishments. I encourage you to take the pledge and join the camping movement by visiting ThousandTrails.com/100DaysofCampingPledge. I’m already looking forward to seeing your photos and videos on social media throughout the camping season! Here’s to another successful summer camping season for all of you. There are memories to be made, areas to explore, locations to check off your bucket list, and laughter to be had all throughout the country. I’m looking forward to hearing about your adventures this season as you do what we all love so much: get out and camp.

Marguerite Nader President & CEO

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Lake Minden (CA) Road trip to visit family. – Pat Willrodt

Win $50 each Issue!

Winners will receive a $50 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. Each issue we will select ONE “winning” photo from the submissions received (all submissions must be received by midnight on the last day of the month). The winner will be announced in a future TrailBlazer issue and online at trailblazer.thousandtrails.com.

Yosemite Lakes (CA): Marc and Phil relaxing in the river with Sofee and Shadow – Jane McAnally

Lake Tawakoni (TX): Lily Blossom. – Laura Quattlebaum

Photo submissions should include a brief description, including location of your photo, your name, email address, city and state and sent to: TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com or mail to: TrailBlazer Magazine Attn: TrailBlazer Editor Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60606 Emailed photos should be high resolution. Photos are not returnable and become the property of TrailBlazer Magazine and may be used for publication on company websites and promotional purposes. One winner will be selected EACH month from submissions received. The winner will be announced in a future TrailBlazer issue and online at trailblazer.thousandtrails.com. Share your adventures in 3 easy steps! 1. Capture a photo of your trip at one of our parks. 2. Share with us at TrailBlazer_photos@equitylifestyle.com. 3. Check out next month to see if you’re a winner.

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Pacific City (OR): View of their campsite. – Kristin Rogers SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

Alleg GREAT

PASSAGE

Sublime Spring Rails-to-Trails Cycling By Cele & Lynn Seldon

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gheny SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

ALLEGHENY PASSAGE

Spring is the perfect time of year to welcome the long-awaited warming temperatures and magical reawakening of Mother Nature. One way to get closer to both is to head to the great outdoors on two wheels with a multi-day, 148-mile bike ride through the Appalachian Mountains from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, along the rails-to-trails Great Allegheny Passage, or GAP as it’s known in cycling circles. Rail-trails are typically abandoned railroad tracks that have been converted into multi-use paths, and usually offer hiking, biking, and possibly even horseback riding. Often running alongside rivers and creeks, these former railbeds generally offer varied stretches of pavement, crushed rock, or cinder, which traverse small towns and cities — just like the trains did — making amenities like food and lodging readily available for cyclists on multi-day tours.

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

There are organizations that can help plan multi-day bike trips, starting with TrailLink, the trail finder app through the Rails-toTrails Conservancy, whose mission is to help build a nation connected by trails that get people walking, biking, and being active in the outdoors. There are also many bike companies that put together guided and selfguided multi-day bike trips across the country, including the GAP. However, if independent biking is preferred, it’s relatively easy to create your own itinerary with the help of many resources, including TrailGuide, published by Great Allegheny Press, or, alternatively, purchasing a “blueprint” for the ride from Noble Invention Bike Touring. A digital itinerary service that uses Noble Invention’s curated bank of knowledge and expertise from their many self-guided tour options, the blueprint provides recommended routes, accommodations, transportation and luggage shuttle services (Sunshine Luggage Shuttle comes highly

RAILS-TRAILS

CYCLING RESOURCES Here are some great resources for cycling the GAP or other rails-trails across the country: RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY: www.railstotrails.org; www.traillink.com ADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION & EXODUS TRAVELS: www.adventurecycling.org; www.exodustravels.com NOBLE INVENTION BIKE TOURING: www.nobleinventionbiketouring.com WHEELZUP ADVENTURES: www.wheelzupadventures.com SUNSHINE LUGGAGE SHUTTLE: www.sunshineluggageshuttle.com WILDERNESS VOYAGEURS.COM: www.wilderness-voyageurs.com recommended), dining, and practicalities along the way. With the GAP being a linear trail, coordinating a shuttle from the end point (Cumberland is the preferred ending location for GAP cyclists) to the beginning of the trail in Pittsburgh is necessary — about a three-hour drive. There are several to choose from, including a shuttle offered by bike store, Wheelzup Adventures, in downtown Cumberland. After some exploration and a Pittsburgh overnight, the trail starts at Mile 148 at riverfront Point State Park. Following along the Monongahela River, the trail passes many of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, bridges, and remnants of its steel industry history before diverging into more rural territory and onto the Youghiogheny River in McKeesport at Mile 132. The next 20 miles are more typical of what’s to come on the GAP with former mills, remnants of small coal company towns and settlements, and lots of wide-open spaces. The small bike town of West Newton at Mile 114 is the perfect stop for the night, with biker-friendly

BACKROADS: www.backroads.com VBT: www.vbt.com TREK TRAVEL: www.trektravel.com

B&Bs, restaurants, grocery stores, bike shops, a post office, and even a brewery. The next 25-plus miles pay homage to former coal mining towns and remnants of coke production facilities (a valuable industrial fuel), as the trail heads towards Connellsville at Mile 88, once home to more coal millionaires than any other U.S. city of its size. Sporting a thriving business district, Connellsville is a perfect respite for a mid-day meal (don’t miss the creative salads and sandwiches at Kickstand Kitchen) or an overnight. Once rejuvenated, it’s just 16 scenic miles to the outdoors Mecca of Ohiopyle, the midway point for the GAP and home to whitewater rafting, Ohiopyle State Park and Cucumber Falls. A bustling tourist town, Ohiopyle offers plenty of accommodations, restaurants, shopping,

and outdoors-oriented outfitters to pick from. If there’s time, it’s fun to spend a few nights and enjoy a whitewater rafting trip with well-respected Wilderness Voyageurs or arrange for a shuttle to one of two Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieces — Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob — that are just a few miles out of town. If you’ve added on a day in Ohiopyle, a leisurely ride to Confluence, just 10 miles away, is perfect for the next stop. Named for the confluence of the Casselman and Youghiogheny rivers and Laurel Hill Creek, the working-class community — complete with town square and Victorian bandstand — has several B&Bs, a few restaurants, along with a local grocery store for a comfortable stay. Once fully rested, the easy 30-mile ride to Meyersdale features several railroad tunnels, a fossil quarry, lots of farmland, wind farms, and the Salisbury Viaduct, a 1,908-foot-long steel trestle that is one of the most distinctive structures along the trail. The highest point of the GAP, Meyersdale is one of the larger towns along the trail, with plenty of restaurant options (you can’t go wrong with dinner at The White House Restaurant), along with B&Bs for everyone’s taste and budget. The final 32 miles of the GAP features some of the most interesting landmarks of the trail, including the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,392 feet, the 3,300-foot Big Savage Tunnel, the Mason-Dixon line and the college town of Frostburg, Maryland. From there it’s all downhill as you sail the final 15 miles to the finish line in Cumberland, Maryland. Once in Cumberland, be sure to add a day or two to recover and explore this historic town including: one of the few passable natural cuts in the Allegheny Mountains at the Cumberland Narrows; the National Road, which was the first major improved highway in the U.S. and the main transport route for settlers heading West; George Washington’s Headquarters; the terminus of the Western Maryland Railway and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal; along with a robust downtown featuring museums, art galleries, and a pedestrian mall with shops and restaurants. ■

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

road tr GET OUT OF THE CITY

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

rips WITH THESE QUICKIE

By Joan Rykal

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

ost people plan their big vacations for summertime. Big meaning those trips span more than a few days and can run typically between one to two weeks. It makes sense to take long road trips come summer as schedules are lighter, students of all ages are typically on a summer break, and you don’t really have to worry too much about a snowstorm coming out of nowhere to put a wrench in your travel plans. But what if you just can’t wait until summer to get away? We’ve got some quick road trips that can serve as a dry run for the big trip or just a way to get out of the city and relax a bit for a day or two. That said, you certainly don’t want to spend too much time traveling, so we’ve targeted some great locations that are short drives from some of the major cities in the country. PHILADELPHIA TO GETTYSBURG: Historic Gettysburg is only about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Philadelphia but it’s almost like a step back in time. From the historic battlefield to the charming downtown, it’s quaint, quiet, and chock-full of history. Plus, it’s consistently named

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

one of the best small towns in America. Drummer Boy Camping Resort is one option when planning a Gettysburg getaway. It’s a wooded campground with cozy cabins for rent and offers a host of amenities. Your pet is welcome here, too. Gettysburg Farm in nearby Dover is another option and the working farm on this 120-acre campground, complete with horses, goats, and turkeys, will make you feel like you’ve left the city really far behind. If you want to mix relaxation with things to see and do, Gettysburg highlights include visiting the Gettysburg National Military Park, taking one of several ghost tours offered (this is one of the most haunted places in America), or visiting nearby craft breweries and distilleries. Speaking of haunted, the Sachs Covered Bridge, which dates back to 1854 and was used by both the Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War, is said to be the most haunted place in the U.S. and it’s right here in Gettysburg! BOSTON TO STURBRIDGE: Trade in cobblestone streets, loads of tourists and the buzz of Boston for a bucolic camping experience at Sturbridge RV Resort. Rent a cottage and kick back and relax at this 200-acre campground that offers both

woodlands and lake fun. The bike and hiking trails can be an option for outdoor fun as can the lake, which offers fishing and boating opportunities (boat rentals available). The Basketball Hall of Fame is a worthy nearby attraction as is Old Sturbridge Village, a living museum that depicts life in New England from the 1790s to the 1830s. Brimfield State Forest has more hiking opportunities as well as horseback riding while Wells State Park offers hiking trails and great fishing for largemouth bass, yellow and white perch, and pickerel. If you’re into antiquing, mark your calendars for the Brimfield Antique Flea Market. Billed as America’s Oldest Outdoor Antique Flea Market, there are three show dates scheduled this year: May 10-15, July 12-17, and September 6-11. CHICAGO TO DOOR COUNTY/ MADISON TO DOOR COUNTY: Road tripping from Chicago to Door County or Madison, Wisconsin, to Door County will run you about three hours and change, with Chicago being the longer of the two trips. But the trip is well worth the drive as the beautiful Door County peninsula has plenty to do both inside and out. Festival-wise, there’s Maifest, which runs May 28-29 or the Roofing of the Goats Festival, set for Saturday, June 11. If you’re not familiar

ROAD TRIP

with Door County, then you’re wondering, “what is the roofing of the goats all about?” Check out Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay and you’ll get the idea. Goats aside – there is plenty more to do in Door County. There are several wineries (check out doorcountywinetrail.com); a thriving art scene; the Peninsula Players Theater in a Garden, whose season opens June 14; and the Skyway Drive-In Theater, which opens in May. Camping reservations at Tranquil Timbers RV Resort are a must-do for a Door County adventure and cabin and cottage rental options, as well as an opportunity for a very unique yurt accommodation, are available here. Outdoor adventure in Door County can be found at Potawatomi State Park which offers hiking, biking, canoeing, and fishing and some pretty breathtaking limestone cliffs. PORTLAND TO CANNON BEACH: Leave the city and head to the beach and before you know it, you’ll be staring at one of the most iconic landmarks in America. After an hour’s drive west of Portland, you’ll find yourself looking at Haystack Rock, which can be found off the waters of Oregon’s Cannon Beach. Book a cabin or cottage at Seaside RV Resort and

you’re just 14 minutes from Cannon Beach. Other Cannon Beach getaway to-dos include hiking in Ecola State Park, exploring Hug Point (which has caves and waterfalls), or heading into the quaint town of Seaside where you can bike or stroll the 1.5-mile promenade, which offers great views of the beach. Seaside is also home to the Seaside Aquarium, one of the oldest aquariums on the West Coast, and has great underwater and seaside exhibits. Seaside also has plenty of shops and restaurants. Fun weekend events to consider could include the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest set for June 11, or the monthly First Saturday Art Walk, a free event that takes place in Seaside’s historic Gilbert District. TAMPA TO WAUCHULA: The distance between Tampa and Wauchula is less than 75 miles but they are worlds apart when it comes to vibe. Tampa is big city, go-go while Wauchula is all country from the orange groves to the grazing cattle. It’s where you can find Peace River RV & Camping Resort and, of course, the Peace River for which the campground is named. The Peace River offers the perfect spot for relaxing with canoeing and fishing opportunities. Or, the Paynes Creek Historic State Park is ideal for birdwatching and wildlife

viewing and also has plenty of nature trails. An onsite museum showcases the life of the Seminole Indians. The campground has cottage rentals available and plenty to do if you just want to relax without leaving “home.” There’s bocci courts, pickleball, mini golf, horseshoes, and nature and hiking trails. There’s also fishing and swimming, and pets are welcome! HOUSTON TO LAKE CONROE: Another short drive getaway that takes you miles away from the big city in terms of vibe is Houston to Willis – home to Lake Conroe RV & Camping Resort and the adjacent 22,000-acre lake prime for fishing and boating. There’s also a marina and bike trails, a fitness center, horseshoes, and sports courts including pickleball, volleyball, and tennis. In this area, it’s all about fishing, boating, and being outdoors. That’s a pretty relaxing getaway. There’s also the Sam Houston National Forest which offers bike trails, nature and wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and picnicking. What sounds more relaxing than a dinner cruise or maybe a cocktail cruise? If you want to explore Lake Conroe but want someone else to do the driving, consider one of the many cruises offered by Southern Empress Cruises (southernempress.com). ■

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

I knew I was a

TrailBlazer

Photo by: Oak and Iron Photography

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

I KNEW I WAS A TRAILBLAZER

This issue, Trailblazer would like to introduce you to Eric and Jen Reinhart of Stairs Up Handle In. They’ve been full-time RVing for 18 months and are continuing to evolve as campers and full-timers! TB: How long have you been camping and RVing? Who introduced you to it? Tell us how it all began! JR: Between Eric and I, we have two very different experiences with camping. Eric grew up tent camping, with his family frequently traveling to the Adirondack Mountains for vacations filled with hiking and biking and all things involving the great outdoors. I, on the other hand, was the furthest thing from outdoorsy. As adults, we actually didn’t really get into camping together until a few years ago when Eric talked me into trying to tent camp. I quickly learned that tent camping was not for me, but I let Eric know that I would be willing to give it another try if we had a camper. I swear, it only took him a week to find one. We started exploring with our small 20’ camper, and I became more

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

comfortable with this idea of camping. One day, I let it slip that ‘if our camper was just a bit bigger, I could probably stay in it for a month or more.’ And, long story short, we bought a bigger travel trailer and moved into it fulltime. We just celebrated 18 months as full-time RVers! TB: How did you first hear about Thousand Trails? JR: When we purchased our current travel trailer, we actually received a free year of the Thousand Trails Camping Pass from our dealership. Once we researched the membership options, we realized that becoming members would allow us the financial flexibility to make our dream of full-time RV life a reality. TB: What is one of your fondest camping memories? How about one of your fondest TT memories? JR: One of our fondest camping memories is definitely getting together with our families every summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We book multiple campsites

and spend a full week camping lakefront, floating on tubes, hiking trails, and shopping at the local stores. We talked our family into meeting us there one year, and it quickly became an annual tradition that we look forward to every year. Our fondest Thousand Trails memory would have to be the people at our “home base” Thousand Trails. When we first moved into our RV, we were stationary for 7 months at a Thousand Trails park that just happened to be about 10 minutes from our house. It was our first experience as “full-timers” and the employees and fellow guests were some of the friendliest and kindest people we have met. It really made us feel like home. 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.) JR: We currently have a travel trailer and chose this as a compromise between a smaller camper and a fifth wheel. We like the flexibility that comes with having the travel trailer, like still having storage and access to the truck bed.

It really made us feel like home.

TB: Where have you gone that you wouldn’t have otherwise if it hadn’t been for your Thousand Trails membership? JR: Rondout Valley in the Catskills! We actually were headed towards the Adirondacks and in our route planning, we saw that Rondout Valley was a good halfway point. We booked there not really knowing what to expect, and we fell in love with the Catskills! We had the greatest time, between the local breweries and shopping and people and the Thousand Trails campground itself. Everyone was having so much fun there, and the vibe was just really great! We actually booked it again this year, just because we liked it so much. TB: What is your favorite part about the outdoor lifestyle? JR: Eric’s answer is definitely fresh air. While I have made strides living the outdoor lover’s lifestyle, I am still very much indoorsy. TB: This is the question we will be finishing the feature with every month. We want to know when you knew you were the consummate camper, a true Trailblazer. Can you finish this sentence? I knew I was a Trailblazer when... JR: We are always evolving as campers, but I think we could safely say that we felt like Trailblazers when we looked back at our first year of travel and counted over 250 nights spent in a Thousand Trails campground. ■ SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

BLUE MESA

r o l o C LET’S CAMP IN

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o d ra

ucky campers who have a Thousand Trails Camping Pass with the Southwest Zone, a National Camping Pass, or an upgraded membership will soon have the option to camp in beautiful Colorado.

Introducing: Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch! By Joan Rykal

We are happy to welcome Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch in Gunnison, Colorado, into the Thousand Trails family of membership campgrounds. Camping adventures at Blue Mesa will be available May 1 and the season will run through October 1. If you haven’t camped in Colorado, you are in for quite an experience when it comes to unparalleled outdoor activities, breathtaking scenery, and living it up mountain-style. Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch has all the amenities you’ve come to expect when it comes to camping with Thousand Trails. There’s a clubhouse, swimming pool, and sports courts, including basketball and horseshoes. Plus, there’s mini golf, a playground, a billiards and game room, and fishing opportunities. And, it’s pet friendly! Nearby, there’s Black Canyon National Park for great hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing and Curecanti National Recreation Area, also great for fishing, boating, birdwatching, hiking, and horseback riding. Gunnison is a college town so there’s a cool vibe when you visit the downtown area to enjoy the shops and restaurants. Annual festivals in Gunnison and their neighboring town of Crested Butte include the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, scheduled for July 8-17 this year, and Gunnison’s annual Cattlemen’s Days, considered the “Granddaddy of all Rodeos” set for July 14-16, 2022. Crested Butte also has a Fine Arts Festival every August and a Film Festival in September. For more information about things to do in these two towns, visit gunnisoncrestedbutte.com. To reserve your Colorado camping adventure, visit www.thousandtrails.com now! ■ SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

St Phillip

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

ps Island, South Carolina: Exploring a Private Island By Cele & Lynn Seldon

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

ST. PHILLIPS ISLAND

The great outdoors means different things to different people. Lush landscapes, active adventures, immersive natural habitats, fresh air, and more can be found in all kinds of parks, attractions, preserved lands, and recreation areas. But exploring an island that had been private for over 40 years and that has maintained the unspoiled topography, rugged vegetation, and endangered animal habitats of a bygone era is a rarity. Such is the mystery of South Carolina’s St. Phillips Island.

Located at the mouth of the Port Royal Sound, sandwiched between Hilton Head and Beaufort along the coast of South Carolina, St. Phillips Island is a 4,690-acre barrier island that was once the private island of media mogul, Ted Turner, and is now the crown jewel in the South Carolina State Parks system. Purchased in 1979 with the goal of environmental conservation, Turner spent the next 40 years turning this rugged piece of Lowcountry real estate where few others had gone into a private family refuge. Charging the island caretaker, Ray “Boogie” Tudor, with creating accessibility throughout the pristine island, a magical, almost prehistoric paradise was cultivated creating a robust trail system, restoration of many endangered animal habitats, and the building of two ocean-front homes—a 2,177-square-foot caretaker

house and a relatively modest (at least by today’s private island standards) 3,351-square-foot residence. By 2017, Turner’s use of the island had dwindled and, wanting to sell to someone who would fulfill his lifelong commitment to land conservation, he approached the state of South Carolina. Within the next two years, the two had come to an agreement and St. Phillips Island became part of Hunting Island State Park and opened to the public for the first time in 2019. Not your typical state parks offering, St. Phillips Island has remained largely unchanged from when it changed hands, apart from updating and renovating the main house. Offering day-long tours departing from the Hunting Island Nature Center with Charleston- and Beaufort-based Coastal Expeditions, visitors enjoy a thirty-minute naturalistnarrated tour up the Story River to the St. Phillips Island boat dock. From there, guests can either engage in their own private trail walking and bird watching, or board a tram for a 30-minute ride through the wilderness to the inland trail system and unspoiled beach. However, the entire enclave might not be what is expected from a barrier island. The integrity and history of the South Carolina coast — along with its geology and maritime flora and fauna — has been

preserved. The trails are rugged, the bugs can be plentiful and the history is always palpable. Even the beach is not typical, in that 75% of the barrier island is a maritime forest, with infrequent beach accessibility and, at low tide, there’s a mystical “boneyard beach” covered with gnarled and weather-worn trees and roots. Although St. Phillips Island doesn’t conjure up images of a tropical beach resort, its unspoiled wilderness is a naturalist’s paradise, with massive magnolias, large dwarf palmettos, oak trees, loblolly pines, deer, alligators, fox squirrels, reptiles, and close to 300 species of birds, categorized seasonally. It is completely unspoiled, where the only human disturbances are generally your own footprints. The splendor of the island comes from hiking, birdwatching, and exploration, and it seems to serve as a spiritual reminder of Mother Nature’s role in the grand scheme of the world. The only sense of the modern world comes at the main house, which is available to rent seasonally. Renovated and updated, the house accommodates 10 with five bedrooms, five baths, a gourmet kitchen, a living area and massive screened-in porch serving as the perfect respite for multiple couples and extended families. It also comes with a full range of amenities for a spectacular island getaway, including outdoor cooking spaces, a fire pit, fishing equipment, and kayaks. Plus, bragging rights that you are vacationing on your own private island. ■

If you go

ST. PHILLIPS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK: $4-$8. Daily, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. during Daylight Saving Time). 2555 Sea Island Parkway, Hunting Island. 843-838-2011, www.southcarolinaparks.com/ hunting-island

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

ST. PHILLIPS ISLAND FERRY: $65 for adults; $35 for children under the age of 12, in addition to State Park entrance fee. Check in for tours at Hunting Island State Park Nature Center, 2809 Sea Island Parkway, Hunting Island. 843-881-4582, www.coastalexpeditions.com or www. stphillipsislandferry.com. Spring tours run on Saturdays, departing at 10 a.m.

TIPS: St. Phillips Island is a remote barrier island with very few amenities. Dress in layers, wear closed-toe walking shoes and a hat. Only bring what you can carry and store on your lap, including water, food, sunblock, and insect repellant.

Dish Outdoors

As the weather warms and thaws out our wanderlust, people are gearing up to get away. If your travel plans this spring include taking an RV to your favorite Thousand Trails campground, make sure you have everything you need to make your trip memorable. Wherever your travels take you, DISH Outdoors is a great way to compliment your adventures with live TV, anywhere. LIVE LIKE A LOCAL When you’re out on the open road, your next adventure is always top of mind. Access to local programming like news and weather can help you plan like a pro wherever you’re traveling. Whether it’s determining if an outdoor activity will be safe to discovering local celebrations and more, DISH Outdoors lets you watch live, local programming wherever you go.

TV THAT GOES AS REMOTE AS YOU If your RV adventure includes going to the most remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations possible, DISH Outdoors is ready to go with you. DISH Outdoors offers the convenience of highdefinition live TV anywhere, with or without a Wi-Fi connection. NO CONTRACTS OR COMMITMENTS DISH Outdoors programming is made to be as flexible as your travel plans. No contracts, no credit checks, and no commitments – just the entertainment you want to make your RV adventure even better. Whether you’re looking to activate service for an upcoming RV trip, there are monthly pay-as-you-go options to fit any budget. When you don’t need TV service anymore, simply stop making payments.

ACCESSORIZE IN STYLE With DISH Outdoors, you can customize your entertainment experience based on your viewing preferences. Record up to 100 hours of HD content to enjoy anytime, even while in motion, with the DVR upgrade. Users can also connect to wireless speakers to get the full audio experience during movie night with the Bluetooth adapter. However you decide to accessorize, DISH Outdoors can help make your campsite or RV the place everyone wants to be! SPECIAL OFFER FOR THOUSAND TRAILS MEMBERS Whether you choose to watch the big game by the fire, or enjoy your favorite show with a scenic view, DISH Outdoors helps enhance your RV adventure. For a limited time, DISH Outdoors is offering Thousand Trails Members $50 off any antenna and receiver bundle. Visit DISHOutdoors.com/Trails and use promo code TRAILS for $50 off. Not only can you personally enjoy all the perks mentioned, but having DISH Outdoors is a perfect way to enhance your Thousand Trails travel experience! Learn more about this amazing deal today! ■

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

GREEN IT’S EASY BEING

By Joan Rykal

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

N SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

EASY BEING GREEN

PACK IN, PACK OUT!

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

If you love camping, it’s probably fair to say that you love the outdoors. And that means every corner of our great big, beautiful Earth, from the mountains to the rivers and everything in between. So of course, eco-camping is an important aspect of any camping trip you plan, whether long or short. The goals are to be as zero-waste as possible and that your trip has little or no impact to the environment you visit. There are simple ways to accomplish these goals and here are a few tips to be kind to our Earth while enjoying the great outdoors. 1.

If you are a regular camper, then you probably have all the gear you need. But if you’re a first timer, eco-campers recommend renting gear or buying used. This helps in keeping with the good old 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. Check out used gear at rei.com. Also, if you’re an avid camper and are looking to trade up your camping equipment, consider trading in used gear. Rei.com is also a good spot for this, as well.

Use only reusable drinking and dinnerware. Plastic dinnerware and plastic bottles aren’t good for the environment and add to the waste you’ve got to pack out. By using reusable for drinking and eating needs, you’ve got that covered. Check out amazon.com for a variety of reusable dinnerware that can cover anywhere from two campers to a whole group of family and friends.

Of course, there will always be some amount of trash so the goal here is to determine what you can compost, what needs to be recycled, and what can be packed out and tossed at the campground’s trash facility. A rule of thumb for composting is that the items need to be green and that includes fruits, vegetables, grains, bread, coffee filters, eggshells, and newspapers. When camping short term, composting can be an option but any long trips without proper disposal facilities could get a bit smelly. Also, it is important that you follow the campground’s rules for trash disposal of any type. You don’t want unwanted visitors showing up at your site! If you trash it all, make sure to recycle what you can. Amazon.com has some great reusable pop-up bins for both trash and recycling.

Look for products that are environmentally friendly to supplement your camping needs. For example, use a solar-charged power bank to power your electronics. Use only biodegradable personal soaps, shampoos, and cleaning products. Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash and Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castille Soap are multi-purpose products that can take care of you, your dishes, and your laundry! The Biolite CampStove 2 is another favorite with eco-campers; it’s eco-friendly and can charge your phone! Biolite also has some great options for solar-powered lighting. Check out bioliteenergy.com for more products.

Pack In, Pack Out! Did you know an apple core takes 8 weeks to break down? Or, that a banana peel can hang around for as long as two years? So going back to #3 above, don’t leave anything behind. Use doggie stations to dispose of pet waste. Also, the concept behind pack in, pack out is to leave nature undisturbed just as you found it when you arrived. This applies to camping activities, too. Don’t break off tree branches and leaves, don’t dig holes or trenches, and don’t go off any trail to get a different view. Nature is there to be enjoyed by all, and sometimes you undo anything you’ve done! ■

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

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

Open New Doors

to new family memories.

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

Take a Virtual Tour and make it yours! 30 TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

It’s about what you’re going to.

3 Ways to Explore our Quick Move-In Ready Homes VIRTUAL SHOWINGS

VIDEO TOURS

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Our sales associates are ready to schedule an appointment for a private virtual showing at your convenience.

ideo walk through tours of V select home models are available online or upon request.

We invite you to enjoy a virtual walk through of our stunning model homes with our Interactive Model Home Tours.

Learn more at or Call (800) 274-7314 SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER 31

PLANT some

SEEDS

12 TOP SEED SOURCES By Lynn & Cele Seldon

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

PLANT SOME SEEDS

Come spring and summer, almost everyone who loves the outdoors enjoys planting some seeds…whether they have a huge home garden or just a few pots that they carry from campground to campground. Like a dozen ears of juicy corn, here’s a list of 12 top widely varied seed sources for planting some…or a lot of…seeds: AMERICAN MEADOWS (www.americanmeadows.com):

For more than 40 years, American Meadows has been helping gardeners across the country create amazing wildflower gardens and meadows with 100% pure and fresh wildflower seeds with no fillers or grasses.

JOHNNY’S SELECTED SEEDS (www.johnnyseeds.com): With the first catalog printed in 1974 by founder Rob Johnston, then in his early20s, Johnny’s has grown into a Maine-based seeds phenomenon, with devoted fans anxiously awaiting their annual (and colorful) catalog to peruse and place orders.

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

EDEN BROTHERS (www.edenbrothers.com):

BAKER CREEK HEIRLOOM SEED CO. (www.rareseeds.com):

BURGESS SEED & PLANT CO. (www.eburgess.com):

Based in Missouri, founder Jere Gettle founded Baker Creek back in 1998 as a hobby and it’s now grown into North America’s largest heirloom seed company. Heirloom fans should ask about visiting their two Missouri locations, as well as one in California.

Traditionally offering free gifts with every order, Indiana-based Burgess is one of the largest producers and distributors of home gardening products in the United States, with a wide range of quality seeds, bulbs, plants, and supplies at very low prices.

KITAZAWA SEED CO. (www.kitazawaseed.com):

NATIVE AMERICAN SEED (www.seedsource.com):

PAGE’S SEEDS (www.pageseeds.com):

Gijiu Kitazawa worked as an apprentice for a seed company in Japan before starting Kitazawa in 1917 with a warehouse and storefront in San Jose, California. Now based in Salt Lake City, the company continues to offer the highest quality Asian seeds, with more than 500 varieties.

This Texas-based familyowned wildflower seed company prides itself on superior customer service and its focus on only those plants that are native to their bioregion.

Founded in 1896, The Page Seed Company is based in the village of Greene, located in the bucolic rolling hills of central upstate New York. As one of the largest seed companies in the world, they feature flowers, vegetables, herbs, and many organic varieties.

North Carolina-based Eden Brothers features an incredible list of flower, wildflower, vegetable, herbs, heirloom, and organic seeds, as well as flower bulbs and perennials.

PARK SEED (www.parkseed.com):

SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE (www.seedsavers.org):

SOW TRUE SEED (www.sowtrueseed.com):

WILDSEED FARMS (www.wildseedfarms.com):

Since 1868, Greenwood, South Carolina-based Park Seed has supported home gardeners, and today they feature more than 1,100 varieties of tested and proven flower, herb, and vegetable seeds, plus a large selection of fruits, bulbs, live plants, and gardening supplies through their online garden center and nursery.

Founded in 1975, non-profit Seed Savers Exchange has grown into a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds. Making their home on 890 scenic acres at Heritage Farm in Winneshiek County, Iowa, they now feature more than 13,000 members (including Trailblazer contributors Lynn and Cele Seldon) and 20,000 plant varieties.

Asheville, North Carolinabased Sow True Seed was founded in 2008 by lifelong gardener and food activist Carol Koury. Today, Sow True is a small, dedicated staff of dirt worshipers committed to providing high-quality openpollinated seeds in support of sustainable food production and regenerative agriculture.

Texas-based Wildseed Farms has been growing fields of wildflowers for the production of seeds for more than 35 years. They are the largest working wildflower farm in the country, with more than 200 acres in Fredericksburg, Texas, alone (where they welcome wildflower fans seven days a week, 365 days a year). ■

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

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

Fiesta Key RV Resort s Long Key, FL

Visit petiteretreats.com to plan your getaway today!

COMING SOON!

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

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

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WANT TO BE A LUCKY

WINNER?

Our winners for the Spring Issue are...Terry and Shawn Brewer from Mt. Pleasant, TN. The Brewers were camping at Natchez Trace RV Campground when they were given the news! Thousand Trails is offering members the opportunity to win a $1,000 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. Gift Card When you pay your annual dues for 2022 in full, you will be entered into our quarterly drawing for a $1,000 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. There will be one drawing/one winner each quarter from January through December 2022. In addition, once you pay your dues in full, each time you camp at a Thousand Trails campground in 2022, you will receive an additional entry into the drawing. The drawings are limited to persons who are of legal age. The drawings will be held at our corporate office on the 10th day after the end of each quarter. Winners will be notified by mail, phone or in person if camping at a Thousand Trails campground. The odds of winning will depend on the number of entries but are not expected to exceed 1:100,000. Winners are responsible for federal and state taxes on the award. Accordingly, we recommend that all participants consult a tax advisor about reporting awards for tax purposes. We will issue the required 1099 to each recipient and to the IRS when the total cash payments and value of awards you are eligible to receive equal or exceed $600.00 for one year. You may also enter the drawings by printing your name, address, day and evening phone numbers, and email address on a 3” x 5” piece of paper and mailing it to the Sponsor in addressed, stamped envelope. You are limited to one mail-in entry which must be postmarked by December 15, 2022. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. The Virtual Visa® Reward will be sent via email to the email address provided. The Virtual Visa® Reward will come from reward@virtualrewardcenter.com. The Virtual Visa® Reward can be used to buy what you want, when you want it. Because it is so flexible and convenient, the Virtual Visa® Reward makes it easy to treat yourself to something special or to help cover your everyday expenses. The decision is yours. The virtual reward is issued by Sutton Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used wherever Visa® Debit cards are accepted. Terms and conditions apply. Your Virtual Visa® Reward may not be used outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia, nor may it be used with merchants located outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia for online, mail or telephone orders. Any purchases made with the Virtual Visa® Reward must only be in U.S. currency.

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

AMERICAN FORESTS

Growth of the

AMERICAN FORESTS PROJECT HOW IT STARTED In 2021, Thousand Trails and Encore RV Resorts began collaborating with American Forests, the oldest conservation organization in the United States, in their efforts to create healthy forests from coast to coast. The goal, over a period of three years, was to plant 100,000 trees as part of their Resilient Forests program. Specifically, the trees were to be planted in areas that had been identified as those in need of climate-smart reforesting. Those areas included the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Northern Rockies, the Great Lakes region, as well as areas in the Southeast. It made perfect sense for us to jump on board with this task and dig in to help. After all, with our business rooted in outdoor recreation, and the woodlands being so conducive to a fabulous camping experience, helping to save our forests was a meaningful concept to us. And by the way, a byproduct of the reforesting is not only carbon sequestration which helps combat climate change, but also ensuring the habitats for so many threatened and endangered species remain intact. For example, in the Southeast, these reforesting efforts affect the habitats

for gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and indigo snakes, while reforesting in the Northern Rockies helps the Grizzly bears, red squirrels, and golden-mantled ground squirrels. HOW IT’S GOING In January 2022, 22,500 trees were planted in Florida. Following that huge planting effort, another 5,000 trees were planted in Texas over a two-month period with another 2,500 planted in March in California. The trees planted in Florida were longleaf pines, which are important to the gopher tortoise as they burrow in the needles of this pine tree. The gopher tortoise has inhabited southern forestlands for more than 60 million years! However, as deforestation occurred, these tortoises were listed as vulnerable, which ultimately has a real domino effect in the animal world. The burrows created by the gopher tortoises within the pine needles are used by more than 360 other species for shelter, so the importance of helping to save their habitat results in helping so many more critters. Given the spate of forest fires in recent years, and the resulting devastation to our

woodlands and forestlands, the following is good to note about the fire-resistant trees that were planted in California as part of these efforts. These trees have:

•

Widely spaced branches and an open crown, so flames have a harder time spreading in the tree canopy

•

Fire-resistant needles with high moisture content

•

High branches so fire can’t climb into the crown of the tree

•

Thick, inflammable bark that insulates the tree from heat

Some even have the ability to resprout from their roots after a fire, even when the above-ground parts of the tree have burned, and others have evolved seeds that spread and grow especially well in the aftermath of a fire. As the reforesting efforts continue, we will continue to update you as more trees are planted, and more habitats are saved. In the meantime, appreciate our great forests when you visit, treat them with care, and make sure you leave them as you found them! ■ SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

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WHAT’S

Growin ON By Joan Rykal

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

ng SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

WHAT’S GROWING ON

has sprung so that means plenty of new blooms to see along your travels. We’ve rounded up some places to see the magnificent colors that explode each spring and summer thanks to the abundance of sunshine these seasons offer. If you miss a bloom, just schedule it for next year when blooming season rolls around again! CALIFORNIA If you find yourself camping in California this spring, don’t miss the spectacular nature show at the Carrizo Plain National Monument when fields and hillsides alike bloom with seasonal colors. Book a stay at Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort in Oceano and you’re less than 30 minutes from this one-of-

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

a-kind display of spring wildflowers. Daisies, coreopsis, and all kinds of wildflowers bloom from March through April and blooms typically remain through June. COLORADO Planning to visit the newest campground in the Thousand Trails family? Then you will be happy to know that Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch is a great place to stay if you want to take in the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, set this year for July 8-17 in Crested Butte, which is known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Events include classes, garden walks, and guided hikes to see the beautiful Colorado wildflowers. For details, visit crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org. MICHIGAN Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan, is an experience not to be missed if tulips

are your thing. The 2022 Tulip Time Festival will run May 7 to 15 and in addition to the millions of blooming tulips, there are all kinds of events including an Artisan Market, a Carnival Midway, several walking tours, and the magnificent Tulip Immersion Garden. Plan a stay at nearby Bear Cave RV Campground and take in Tulip Time. Tulip Time is an annual event that has taken place since 1929! For details, visit holland.org/events/tulip-festival. NORTH CAROLINA Azaleas, dogwood trees, tulips, roses, and wisteria are all ready to spring to life at Grand Gardens at Biltmore House just outside Asheville. Beginning in April, forsythia blooms and daffodils get things going followed by tulips and blooming dogwood trees. Early May brings millions of azalea blooms and the month ends with an explosion of roses in in the Rose Garden. Biltmore

If you miss a bloom, just schedule it for next year when blooming season rolls around again!

Blooms will run from April 1 through May 26. Information can be found at biltmore.com. Plant yourself at Lake Myers RV & Camping Resort to experience the gardens which are just over an hour’s drive away. OREGON Oregon has plenty of flower festivals to take in and they include the annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival each March; the Camelia Festival in April; the Rhododendron Festival and Keizer Iris Festival, both held in May; and the Dahlia Festival in late August. Come July, it’s all about the lavender fields near the Hood River which are celebrated with the Lavender Daze Festival. Check out which event you want to see by visiting traveloregon.com/things-to-do/events/ the-bloom-beat-flower-festivals-statewide and then go to thousandtrails.com to see which campground is conveniently located to all the blooming fun!

TEXAS Texas has several scenic drives where wildflowers are the main event. If you are staying at Medina Lake RV Resort, consider the 100-mile Bandera Loop or the Willow City Loop that will take you through Hill Country. The Bluebonnet, Texas’ state flower, is on display as well as sunflowers and verbena. If you like sunflowers and our Lake Conroe campground, check out two of the best sunflower farms in the area. Dewberry Farm hosts a Sunflower Festival in May and P-6 Farms in nearby Montgomery has sunflower fields (check their website for specific 2022 dates at p-6farms.com). VIRGINIA Just about an hour’s drive from Chesapeake Bay RV Campground, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden offers their celebration of spring with “A Million Blooms,” which runs from

April 1 to June 1, 2022. In addition to the gorgeous blooms that will be highlighted, including tulips, roses, and peonies, other events include Butterflies LIVE and PlantFest (set for May 13-14), which is more than just your average plant sale as the event also features live music and plant experts. WASHINGTON We’ve got next spring covered with a road trip for tulips that begins in early April. Book a stay a La Conner RV & Camping Resort and prepare to experience the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The festival began as a 3-day event back in 1984 but has since grown into a month-long celebration that has all kinds of events in addition to the fields of flowers that are scattered between the towns of Mount Vernon and La Conner. The tulip fields are different each year so you can never say, “been there, done that.” ■ SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

IN THE KITCHEN

Who is in the kitchen with

TrailBlazer 48

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

Asparagus Pancetta Campfire Skillet Hash 1 TBS oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 medium potato, 1/4” dice

1/4 tsp sea salt

1 bunch of asparagus, 1” pieces 2 eggs 4 oz. pancetta, diced PREP TIME 5 minutes

COOK TIME 20 minutes

TOTAL TIME 25 minutes

COOK THE POTATOES: Heat the oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat on a grate over your campfire. Once the oil is hot, add the potatoes in an even layer. Cook for about 8 minutes, turning occasionally so that all sides have a chance to brown, until the potatoes are beginning to turn golden.

COOK THE ASPARAGUS & PANCETTA: Add the asparagus, pancetta, garlic, and the sea salt to the skillet. Continue cooking an additional 8-10 minutes, until the pancetta is crispy and the asparagus is cooked through and tender.

FRY THE EGGS: Push the hash to the side to create a well in the middle of the skillet. Crack the eggs into the well and cook them to your desired doneness.

4. SERVE: Serve immediately, either in the skillet to share, or divided between two plates. *Make it vegetarian by omitting the pancetta. Recipe from freshoffthegrid.com. SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

R V Renovation 50

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

pring has sprung and the change of seasons calls for more than the traditional spring cleaning. These tips and tricks from Wisco Flip, an RV renovation company, will have you ready to take on a spring refresh for your rig so you can camp in HGTV-worthy style this summer. FOR THE LOVE OF (FAUX) SHIPLAP. Probably the most popular topic other than paint (which we’ll cover shortly) is faux shiplap. People want to know how and why we do it. First and foremost, if you’ve ever renovated an RV and taken down the old valances, then you’re very aware that the manufacturers screw all of those into the walls themselves. When those are removed, the walls can be in pretty rough shape, even when taking your time to do it. Shiplap (brought to us and made super popular by Joanna and Chip Gaines of “Fixer Upper” fame) is a great way to cover the existing wall structure and make it aesthetically pleasing. Most people prefer white shiplap. I’m going to walk you through some easy steps to create faux shiplap for your rig. It’s perfect for an RV because of the light weight and side note, there’s no need to remove the manufacturer’s wallpaper that currently exists. You can go right over it! We rip down sheets of 1/4 inch plywood veneer (also known as utility board) that comes in 4ft x 8ft sheets and can be purchased at any big box home improvement store. We rip them with a table saw to 6” widths. Once all of your shiplap is cut and then measured to size, you can begin installing. We use a glue substance called mastic and apply it to the back of the shiplap with a plastic putty knife. You can also use Heavy Duty Liquid Nails Construction adhesive. We’ve used both but prefer the mastic because it’s less messy. Once the mastic is applied, we simply adhere it to the wall and use pin nails (nail gun required) to hold them in place (the glue does most of the work). We’ve found the easiest way to space out the shiplap is to use pennies or quarters to space in between each board. After your shiplap is applied, some folks like to leave the nail holes for character and some choose to spackle over them. If you choose to spackle them, a little goes a long way so spackle sparingly. Let dry and sand lightly with 220 grit. You’ll need to apply a light coat of paint over the spackled areas but then your project is SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

RV RENOVATION complete. You’ll sit back and be super proud of yourself along with loving the fresh, new look of your RV. LET’S TALK ABOUT PAINT COLORS. It’s no secret that the timeless trend for the last few years in RV renovation has been white cabinets. We’ve done them ourselves many times. Some think that white is impractical but it’s really all about prepping and personal preference so I wouldn’t stress too much on that one. If you’ve always wanted white, do white! We’ll share some very common colors at the end of this section. We’ve also seen green come on the scene over the last year as a choice for RV cabinetry in various shades. Green is associated with nature and the outdoors so that makes sense, and acts as a way to bring the outdoors in. It can also be a gorgeous contrast if you have white walls. Black is also used as an accent color that really pops against white walls. We did a black fireplace for our very first renovation and loved it! Navy blue is also one of those trends you won’t have to worry about. It’s a timeless color that has always been favored by interior designers. Using it as a cabinet shade ensures that your kitchen or bathroom cabinets will go the distance over time. One color that might surprise you that is most certainly on its way out is grey. Yes, you heard that right, grey is out and color is finally in. At the end of the day, it really is personal preference and what you like because after all, it’s your rig! Below are some of our favorite color choices for walls (whites and greiges) and cabinet colors, too. It’s important to note, whatever color you choose we highly recommend a sheen of satin for walls and semi-gloss for cabinets for ease of cleaning. THE HARDEST PART: PAINT PREP AND PAINTING. Paint prep and paint choices are by far the two hardest but most rewarding things you’ll do to reimagine your RV space on a budget. We always say a can of paint can go a long way but only if you put the work in and prep the right way. Be sure to make any repairs beforehand, and then clean all surfaces with a degreaser such as TSP. This will not take the place of any prep sanding that needs to occur before you prime. We see a lot of comments on several RV forums from people who didn’t sand before they painted. We think that’s the

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

biggest mistake you can make if you want the paint to last for a long time without peeling or cracking under any extreme weather conditions (hot or cold). Once you’ve cleaned the surfaces well, you’ll need to scuff sand all of your cabinet surfaces. On the upside, the RV walls do not need to be sanded. Since they are typically slightly textured, the primer takes right to the walls without issue unless you try to paint in temperatures below 65 degrees. We had another renovator reach out to us when they tried to paint the RV walls in the winter. They had space heaters on which warmed up the temperature on the inside,

but the metal frame was still cold and the paint did not stick to the walls in those metal areas. The space heaters also add humidity to the area and when you add in wet paint on top of it, you can have a runny mess on your hands and you have to repeat the job again. After scuff sanding all parts of any wood or faux wood surface that you want to paint, you’ll need to wipe down again with TSP after sanding is complete to clean the surface. Let the surface dry completely. All surfaces including walls will need to be primed with a bonding primer. We’ve tested several different brands out and our

PAINT C OL OR REC OMMENDATIONS WALLS Sherwin Williams – Pure White #SW-7005 (our personal fave and a great neutral white, not too bright)

Sherwin Williams – Simply White #OC-117 (more creamy with slight yellow)

Sherwin Williams – Modern White #SW-6168 (more of a greige) CABINETS Sherwin Williams – Pure White #SW-7005 (white)

Benjamin Moore – Revere Pewter #HC-172 (greige) Sherwin Williams – Retreat #SW-6207 (darker green)

Sherwin Williams – Evergreen Fog #SW-9130 (sage green) Benjamin Moore – Hale Navy #HC-154 (navy blue)

Sherwin Williams – Tricorn Black #SW-6258

two favorites are Zinsser B-I-N Shellac based white interior primer and Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer. Since Sherwin Williams has recently had a shortage on all paints and primers, we mostly default to the Zinsser B-I-N. This is an oil-based primer and does have high fumes so it’s important to wear a respirator while painting, especially if you’re trying to spray the whole rig at one time (if you’re rolling the paint, you’re likely not painting the whole rig the same day so the fumes are much less). This primer dries very fast, so we can typically do two coats in one day and then let it dry overnight. The next day we go through and inspect to see if there are any runs, and ensure we sand them just enough to take out any texture before we apply the first coat of paint. If you walk through and there is any bubbling on the wood surfaces, that means the surface was too smooth and you didn’t sand enough or just missed that spot but don’t worry, you can hand paint those spots with primer again. The real painting can finally begin...well, maybe. You’ll want to walk through your rig to see if you need to sand any raised or rough spots on the walls or cabinets. Sometimes, especially if it’s real wood, the wood grain raises during the primer phase so you’ll need to sand with a very light 320 grit. You’ll sand just enough to

make smooth. Wipe down again with TSP and then you can start painting. In all 11 of our renovations, we’ve always used the Sherwin Williams Emerald line for RV cabinets and the Duration line for walls. The Emerald line is a varathane paint that hardens and self levels. It’s exceptional and so far, we’ve gotten no complaints! We recommend breaking up painting over at least 2-3 days and we always do 2 coats of paint on all surfaces. This is the same for all cabinet doors, which should be removed during painting. For all cabinet doors and drawers, we spray everything because the finish is nice. You can hang your doors or you can lay them flat to let dry but if you lay them flat, you’ll need to make sure they are nice and dry before flipping or you could create an issue of your doors sticking and removing some of the paint when you lift them up to flip them. Paint takes several days to fully cure so it’s important to remember that and allow the cabinets to dry thoroughly. We actually wait 3 days before we apply the second coat. Once your second coat is on, give it some time before you fully use your cabinets. For reference, paint isn’t typically fully cured for about 30 days on cabinet surfaces but can be handled within 1-2 weeks on a daily basis.” ■

Follow WiscoFlip’s beautiful RV renovations on Facebook at @WiscoFlip or Instagram @Wisco_Flip

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

NEW MEMBERSHIP OFFERING LIMITED TIME | LIMITED QUANTITY

NEW UPGRADE

NEW RECIPROCAL PROGRAM

Your Adventure Starts Here Introducing a new upgrade for you to choose from! Choose the

Adventure

upgrade and expand your options!

Most Flexible

Best Reciprocal Program

Only Available to Adventure Members! 100+ Campgrounds and Resorts 90 Day Advance Booking Window 21 Day Stays Park-to-Park Access

ThousandTrails.com/adventure-upgrade 54

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

Newest Reciprocal Program Only Available to Adventure Members! Incredible Getaway Benefits! Adventure Includes 10 Free Weeks in a Getaway Cabin and discount rental rates.

Get More Locations

Travel Club & Reciprocal Program

Stay Longer

Explore New Accommodations

Plan Further Ahead

Family Benefits

Upgrade to Adventure Today! Check out our newest Reciprocal Program Only Available to Adventure Members • 100+ Campgrounds and Resorts 90 Day Advance Booking Window • 21 Day Stays • Park-to-Park Access Ask how you can camp all year long with our Thousand Trails Camping Pass! Our Thousand Trails Camping Pass is offered by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. This is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of resort campground memberships. This document has been filed with the Department of Licensing, State of Washington as required by Washington Law. Value, quality or conditions stated and performance on promises are the responsibility of the operator, not the Department. The filing does not mean the Department has approved the merits or qualifications of any registration, advertising, or any gift or item of value as part of any promotional plan. The Trails Collection Plus is a reciprocal use program operated by Encore Royalty Club, L.L.C. (“Encore”) that allows participating Thousand Trails Adventure members to use campsites and other facilities at the RV resorts affiliated with the program. Encore is an independent company and does not own any of the resorts affiliated with the program. Encore provides access to these resorts through agreement(s) between Encore and the owners of the resorts.

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

TECH S

pring is springing and RVers everywhere are raring to go, ready to explore our gorgeous country’s mountains, lakes, forests, seashores, and more. Here are some quick tips to help make your travels a little brighter. We’ll look at a few practical slide out hints and learn a bit about the purpose and use of emergency breakaway systems for trailers. Ready? Let’s go!

QUICK TIP FOR SUCCESSFUL TRAILER TOWING: Trailers that require brakes must be equipped with an emergency breakaway braking system, just in case the trailer separates from the tow vehicle for any reason while being towed. They’re a great safety feature, and this is how they work: Emergency breakaway systems are engineered specifically for your trailer’s brake type, whether hydraulic or electric. With a hydraulic surge brake system, a cable or chain is connected to the tow vehicle. If the trailer should break away during towing, this mechanical connecting linkage activates the master cylinder, immediately engaging the trailer’s brakes. If your trailer has electric brakes, the breakaway system is comprised of a breakaway switch with a pull pin and a cable attached to your tow vehicle; a separate battery is usually required for the trailer itself, to power the breakaway system in an emergency. If the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle during highway travel, the trailer’s emergency battery backup system will provide electrical power to the brakes, slowing the trailer to a safe stop. Regardless of the type of breakaway system your trailer needs, it’s important to use it. Always connect your breakaway cable to your tow vehicle each and every time you hook up your trailer, no matter how long or short a trip you plan to take.

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

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

It’s also important to always use safety chains on any bumper towed trailer. Attach safety chains by crossing them under the hitch in an X pattern from vehicle to trailer. SLIDE OUT TIPS: Whether you roll down life’s highway in a motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, or mini, slide out rooms are a huge hit with RVers. Slide out rooms are expandable spaces built into the body of the RV and are some of the most popular features available in today’s RVs. Most are electrically or hydraulically operated, allowing you to easily widen your RV’s living area or expand your sleeping area with the simple push of a button. Here are a few tips to help you keep them operating at their best. Once you’ve picked your perfect spot and are parked and level, double-check the location of shore power service posts and sewer connections before extending the slide out; you want to be sure you’ll still have unhindered, easy access to all utility hookups once the slide out is fully deployed. It’s a good idea to close any exterior storage bay compartment doors before extending or retracting any slide out room. And, remember to watch out for picnic tables, lawn chairs, kids toys, or other items that might be in the way of free and easy slide out movement. Do a quick check of the interior floor space around the slide out room before retracting or extending it, removing any loose items such as shoes, rugs, clothing, or bags that could become trapped by the moving parts of the room. Make sure all electrical cords are unplugged in the slide out room itself and the area around it to avoid damaging cords. Some manufacturers recommend retracting slide out rooms during heavy rains to prevent excess water buildup around the seals. This is particularly

important if you plan to be away from your rig for an extended period of time. If it’s raining heavily when you retract the room, slowly retract the slide out, allowing adequate time for water to drain off the slide out’s outdoor surface, instead of indoors. Once it’s fully retracted, take a moment to wipe the interior top and sides of the slide out with a paper towel or soft cloth to remove any random water drops. If you’ve parked your RV under shade trees, it’s always a good idea to check for and remove any debris like twigs, leaves, pine needles, pine cones, etc., that might have fallen on top of the slide out. Slide out awnings that automatically retract and extend with the slide out are a great accessory to consider to minimize this issue. Lubricate slide out room seals as required by the manufacturer. White colored slide out room seals usually require occasional lubrication to prevent the seal from drying out; these products are available at your local RV supply house. Black slide out room seals usually have an integrated UV-ray inhibitor that helps protect the seal and usually shouldn’t be lubricated, since some lubricants can chemically react with the inhibitor, actually degrading the UV coating. Just clean these seals occasionally with mild soap and water, rinsing well. From information we’ve seen, it’s usually okay to “brighten up” dull black seals with a touch of a protectant like Armor-All, if you wish. As always, it’s best to check your Owner’s Manual for specific instructions and maintenance details pertaining to your RV’s specific style and make of slide out rooms. HAPPY TRAILS, TRAILBLAZERS! ■

Check out more tips & tricks on TrailBlazerMagazine.com

ROA D ON THE

By Jennifer La Follette

: Hello, Jennifer! My partner and I fondly recall meeting you recently at a campground on the Oregon coast. You gave us some helpful tips regarding training and the advice has been amazing! May we inquire with another question, please? We’re having some trouble with the puppy beginning to chew up items in the trailer when we are gone for short periods of time (as in when we head to use the campground pool or shower facilities for 30 to 60 minutes). Any recommendations?

Thanks, Kayla and Lynda Susie the Havanese

: Ladies! How nice to hear from you all and thank you for the report. Of course, I’m happy to advise regarding your current situation. I highly recommend being diligent with your crate training. It’s always easier to keep bad habits from forming by keeping young puppies safely isolated when we cannot keep them under close observation. Be sure to take Susie outside to potty before you run your campground errands. Place a safe toy in the crate with her and be sure your demeanor is calm and unemotional when you take her in and back out of the crate. Be certain that you leave a little music on for her. When you return, be calm to not add to her excitement and take her right out to go potty again and reward her outside after she does her business. Take good care!

: Do you know of a favorite dogfriendly trail in the Moab area and into Colorado? I’m traveling between

Thousand Trails campgrounds and am always looking for “not to miss” adventures with my dog.

Thanks; love your write-ups over the years! Don & Bucky the Blue Heeler Provo, UT

: Don, helping our readers is my pleasure! And yes, check out Grandstaff Canyon Trail near Goose Island in Moab. It’s an absolute must do! Once you get into Colorado, I recommend looking at Highline Lake State Park. The hiking and mountain bike opportunities within the park are sensational! Fruita, Colorado, is the closest town, yet beneath the towering cottonwoods and migrating birds who enjoy the surrounding wetlands of the quaint little state park, it feels as though you are in a high desert oasis. When you’re in that area of western Colorado, be sure to drive up to the top of the Colorado monument and take in the scenery! Pets on a leash are a must. Enjoy!

: I want to hike with our dogs more but I’m worried about beaver fever. What do you do to avoid this parasite?

: Giardiasis, sometimes called “beaver fever,” is an intestinal infection caused by the Giardia parasite. It can affect many mammals including dogs, cats, and humans.

Prevention and awareness of your pet’s stool formation and creating a timeline to make informed decisions is critical when you can’t get to a vet. That being said, I recommend talking to your veterinarian about the Giardia vaccine and possibly having a prescription on hand in case you end up in an area where you need to treat. Know the signs: Fecal matter from a dog who has Giardia includes foul smelling, often greenish diarrhea. In the past, I have been able to get a small, fresh sample of stool in a Ziploc bag and take it into a local vet for a “SNAP” test to determine the diagnosis and get a prescription, if necessary. This nasty little parasite can be spread easily and is often difficult to get rid of. Do your best to keep your pet out of stream water as the protozoa thrive in a wide range of environments. Familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of Giardia to best avoid transmission, but have a plan in place for quick action. I always keep a little canned pumpkin, coconut oil, and metronidazole on hand when I travel just in case I can’t get to a vet. Bring fresh, filtered water and try to keep your dog from drinking stream or pond water. I know this can be very difficult when your pet is wanting to cool down or get a drink at water crossings. Carrying water with you that can be filtered on the go is very important in case you run out of water on your hike. I use a Grayl Geopress Bottle and would not leave home without it! https://www. royaltreatmentflyfishing.com/ copy-of-the-grayl-geopressbottle-amber.html My dogs have both contracted “Beaver Fever” a few times while traveling on the road for nearly eight years straight, and in those times, they needed to get in the water to cool down, so there was a trade off in the risk. Each time the symptoms of gas, discomfort, and diarrhea were present except once, when only exceptionally foul smelling stool was the clue. Be aware and watch your pet. ■ SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

INVITE YOUR

FRIENDS

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

Your referral also enters YOU into our 2022 drawing for a chance to win these great prizes:

GRAND PRIZE SECOND PRIZE

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

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

THIRD PRIZE Free Dues for 2023 10 Winners Selected (Up to $630 value)

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

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

2021 Referral Winners GRAND PRIZE:

Steven & Aimee Jones | Wonderlake, IL

SECOND PRIZE:

Felix & Roberta Martinez | Palmdale, CA

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

C r o sswo rd

Across

1 Left turn 4 Eucalyptus secretion 8 Wool (Lat.) 12 Gelderland city 13 Eastern bishop’s title 14 Work (Sp.) 15 Stool pigeon 16 Record 17 Growl 18 Enamel (Fr.) 20 Migratory worker 22 Faithful Follower of Lear 25 Agog 28 High (Lat.) 31 Assistant 33 Exclamation 34 Bureau of Indian Affairs (abbr.) 35 Fr. month 36 Article 37 Blunder 38 Sideshow performer 39 Gorgons’ parent 40 Four (pref.)

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

42 Ravine 44 Rhine tributary 46 Gr. colony in Asia Minor 50 Broad-leaved 52 Tight 55 Aid to Dependent Children (abbr.) 56 Polynesian god 57 Herring barrel 58 Estuary 59 Assistant (abbr.) 60 Filament 61 Cape

Down

1 Roll-call response 2 Original sinner 3 N.Z. locust 4 Bail 5 Mother of Hezekia 6 Able-bodied seaman (abbr.) 7 Silver-iron ore 8 Religious sayings 9 Renounce

10 “Blue Eagle” 11 Berne’s river 19 Presidential nickname 21 Part of a ship 23 Church center 24 Weary 26 Very (Ger.) 27 Current (pref.) 28 Foment 29 Read (Fr.) 30 Hades 32 Wild mango fruit 35 Culture medium 39 Chief executive officer (abbr.) 41 Polishing material 43 Metric measure 45 Depict sharply 47 Sleep (pref.) 48 One’s own (pref.) 49 Academy (abbr.) 50 Federal Aviation Admin. (abbr.) 51 Approves (contr.) 53 Amer. Automobile Assn. (abbr.) 54 N. Caucasian language

SUDOKU

Answers can be found on page 67.

F i nd T h e E v er g reen T ree An evergreen tree is hidden somewhere in this issue. Send us a postcard telling us where you found it, and if your card is drawn you’ll win a $25 Virtual Visa® Reward Card.

Elizabeth Myers Wanatchee, WA Found the tree on Page 14 of the Fall Issue 2021.

Did you find the tree in this issue? Send your entry (postcards only) to: TrailBlazer Evergreen Tree Two North Riverside Plaza Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. Postmark deadline is March 31st, 2022 Please include an email address on the post card to be considered. The Virtual Visa® Reward Card will be sent via email to the email address provided. The Virtual Visa® Reward Card will come from reward@virtualrewardcenter.com. The Virtual Visa® Reward Card can be used to buy what you want, when you want it. Because it is so flexible and convenient, the Virtual Visa® Reward makes it easy to treat yourself to something special or to help cover your everyday expenses. The decision is yours. The virtual reward is issued by Sutton Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used wherever Visa Debit cards are accepted. Terms and conditions apply. Your Virtual Visa® Reward Card may not be used outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia, nor may it be used with merchants located outside of the U.S. and District of Columbia for online, mail or telephone orders. Any purchases made with the Virtual Visa® Reward Card must only be in U.S. currency.

Terms and Conditions for 2022 Referral Promotion from page 58. For each Eligible Referral (as defined) through December 31, 2022, you will receive a $25 Virtual Visa® Reward Card. In addition, for each Eligible Referral through December 31, 2022, you will receive one entry in a drawing for the following prizes: (i) Grand Prize is either a trip to Hawaii or a 7 night Caribbean Cruise, valued at $4,000, that includes round trip coach airfare for two adults from the continental United States to either Hawaii or Florida, and one hotel/cruise room for 7 nights; (ii) Second Prize is a trip to either Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando, valued at $2,000, that includes round trip coach airfare for two adults from the continental United States to either Las Vegas, San Francisco or Orlando and one hotel room for 4 nights and (iii) ten (10) Third Prizes waiving payment of the winners’ annual dues for 2023, not to exceed $630 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, 2023. 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, 2022 and December 31, 2022 and (ii) lists you as the referring member. This offer is only for members in good standing of Thousand Trails and its affiliates. Due to legal restrictions, (a) residents of AZ, FL, NV, and PA are not eligible to participate in the drawing and you will not receive an entry in the drawing for purchases made by residents of AZ, FL, NV, or PA, and (b) residents of AZ and PA are not eligible to receive a $25 Virtual Visa® Reward Card and you will not receive a $125 Virtual Visa® Reward Card for purchases made by residents of AZ or PA. We reserve the right to extend, modify, suspend, or terminate this promotion at any time for any reason; however, any rewards earned prior to the suspension or termination of this promotion will be honored. Employees of MHC Property Management, L.P. and its affiliates are not eligible to participate in this promotion. All local, state and federal income taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. Accordingly, we recommend that all participants consult a tax advisor about reporting rewards for tax purposes. We will issue the required 1099 to each participant and to the IRS when the total value of awards you are eligible to receive equal or exceed $600 for one year. This advertising is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of resort campground memberships. This document has been filed with the Department of Licensing, State of Washington, as required by Washington law. Value, quality, or conditions stated and performance on promises are the responsibility of the operator, not the Department. This filing does not mean that the Department has approved the merits or qualifications of any registration, advertising, or any gift, prize, or item of value as part of any promotional plan. This promotion is sponsored by MHC Thousand Trails Limited Partnership, Two North Riverside Plaza, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

Take the

#100DaysofCamping pledge!

Every year, summertime seems to fly by faster and faster. #100DaysofCamping is your chance to slow down, get back to basics, enjoy the great outdoors, and reconnect. We encourage you to take the pledge to join the #100DaysofCamping movement this summer. By signing this pledge, you’re making a promise to yourself to make those summer camping days count. Throughout the summer, we’ll be tracking your camping pledge goal with email badges. You’ll receive an email, after your camping stays, once you reach the next badge level. Join in on the fun and share what camping badges you earn on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok using #100DaysofCamping. Take the pledge at ThousandTrails.com/100DaysofCampingPledge

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

THE OFFICIAL #100DAYSOFCAMPING KICKS OFF ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND! HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: GET OUT AND CAMP! Take a photo while camping or during a makeshift camping adventure. All submitted #100DaysofCamping photos will be entered into a photo contest with a prize! CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO AS AN ENTRY: Upload your photo to Instagram using #100DaysofCamping in your post caption. UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO TO 100DAYSOFCAMPING.COM. Repeat to keep celebrating #100DaysofCamping! WE CAME UP WITH A FEW OTHER IDEAS TO SHARE YOUR LOVE OF CAMPING: • Use our #100DaysofCamping story sticker in your Instagram stories. • Take a photo with our printable #100DaysofCamping 2021 graphic, or hang it proudly in your RV! • Share your #100DaysofCamping badges to your social media pages all summer long!

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

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

US A A&L RV Sales GA - Lake Park TN - Christiana, Columbia, Johnson City, Seveirville VA - Richmond alrvsales.com A Great Outdoor RV Center TX - Canton agorv.com Affinity RV AZ - Dewey, Prescott, Prescott Valley affinityrv.com All Valley RV Center CA - Acton allvalleyrvcenter.com Alpin Haus NJ - Oak Ridge NY - Amsterdam, Port Jervis, Saratoga alpinhaus.com American Family RV VA - Chesapeake, Salem americanfamilyrv.com Bama RV AL - Dothan bamarv.com Baydo’s RV of Chehalis WA - Chehalis baydosrvs.com Big Country RV OR - Bend, Redmond bigcrv.com Blade Chevrolet RV WA - Mt. Vernon bladerv.com Braun’s Fun Time Campers IN - Indianapolis funtimecampers.com Browns RV SC - McBee brownsrvsuperstore.com Camperland Trailer Sales TX - Conroe camperland.net Campers Inn AL - Madison CT - Union FL - Jacksonville, Leesburg, Jacksonville, Ocala, North Jacksonville, Saint Augustine GA - Acworth, Atlanta, Macon, Richmond Hill IA - Davenport

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

Campers Inn continued IL - Naperville KY - Louisville MA - Raynham, Tyngsboro NC - Kings Mountain, Mocksville, Raleigh ND - Bismark, Minot NH - Kingston, Merrimack PA - Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, SC - Charleston, Conway, Myrtle Beach VA - Fredericksburg campersinn.com Canopy Country RV Center WA - Union Gap canopycountry.com Charlie Obaugh RV VA - Staunton charlieobaughrv.com Chesaco RV MD - Joppa, Frederick, Gambrills PA - Shoemakersville chesacorv.com Clear Creek RV WA - Sequim, Silverdale, Puyallup clearcreekrvcenter.com Cleveland RV GA - Cleveland • clevelandrvsales.com Coastal RV VA - Carrolton • coastalrv.com Conejo Wholesale Auto and RV CA - Thousand Oaks conejowholesaleauto.com Country Camping Corner NC - Kings Mountain • countrycamping.com Crossroads Trailers NJ - Newfield • crossroadstrailers.com Economy RVs MD - Mechanicsville • economyrvs.com Ellis Travel Trailers GA - Statesboro • ellistraveltrailers.com ET Quality RV CA - Two locations in Yuba City etqualityrv.com Funtime RV OR - Tualatin • funtimervinc.com Gerzeny’s RV World FL - Bradenton, Nokomis gerzenysrvworld.com Gloucester RV Sales & Service VA - Hayes • gloucesterrv.net Grand View Trailers Sales VA - Bedford • grandviewtrailersales.com

Halterman’s RV WA - Arlington, Burlington haltermansrv.com Hayden’s RVs VA - Richmond • haydensrvs.net Haylett RV MI - Coldwater • haylettautoandrv.com Hitch RV DE - Milford NJ - Berlin SC - Cloumbia PA - Boyertown hitchrv.com Humphrey RV CO - Grand Junction CO - Montrose Indian Valley Camper Center PA - Souderton • ivccrv.com Jeff’s Couch’s RV Nation OH - Hamilton • couchsrvnation.com Johnson RV CA - Gilroy OR - Sandy WA - Fife • johnsonrv.com Keystone RV Center PA - Greencastle • keystonervcenter.com La Mesa RV AZ - W. Phoenix CA - Sacramento, San Diego FL - Ft. Myers, Orlando, Port St. Lucie lamesarv.com Lakeside RV Sales SC - Anderson • lakesidervsales.com Lazydays RV AZ - Mesa, Tucson CO - Denver, Loveland FL - Tampa, Ocala IN - Chicagoland, Elkhart MN - Minneapolis NV - Reno OR - Portland TN - Airstream of Knoxville, Knoxville, Nashville WA - Vancouver WI - Milwaukee • lazydays.com Lee’s Country RV IN - Batesville Marjon RV CA - Moreno Valley • marjonrvs.com Mericle RV CO - Fort Lupton

CANADA

Mike Thompson RV Superstores CA - Cathedral City, Colton, Fountain Valley, Santa Fe SPRINGs mikethompson.com Mount Comfort RV IN - Greenfield • mountcomfortrv.com Opelika RV Center AL - Opelika • opelikarv.com Open Road RV Center WA - Arlington, Monroe openroadrvcenter.com Patterson RV TX - Wichita Falls • pattersonrv.com PPL Motorhomes TX - Cleburne, Houston, New Braunfels pplmotorhomes.com Princess Craft RV TX - Round Rock • princesscraft.com Recreation Plantation RV Sales IL - Lynwood recreationplantationrvsales.com Rec Van CA - Fremont www.recvan.com Roadhouse Camper & RV PA - Lake Ariel, Scranton roadhousecamper.com Rodeo City RV WA - Ellensburg Roy Robinson RV WA - Marysville • royrobinsonrv.com RV City AZ - Huachuca City • rvcity.net RV Country AZ - Flagstaff, Lakeside, Mesa, Showlow CA - Fresno NV - Laughlin NV - Sparks OR - Coburg WA - Buckley, Fife, Mt. Vernon, Bonney Lake RV Source TX - Bryan • rvsource.com RVs Northwest WA - Spokane • rvsnorthwest.com RV Value Mart PA - Bath, Lititz, Manheim, Willow Street rvvaluemart.com San Angelo RV TX - San Angelo • sanangelorvs.com

Scott Motor Coach RV Center NJ - Lakewood • scottmotorcoach.com Scenic View RV Superstore VA - West Point • scenicviewrv.net Seguin RV TX - Seguin • seguinrv.com Sky River RV CA - Paso Robles, Pismo Beach,Atascadero skyriverrv.com Snyder’s RV VA - Virginia Beach • snydersrv.com Strickland Marine & RV SC - Seneca • stricklandmarineandrv.com Stoltzfus RV’s & Marine PA - West Chester • stoltzfus-rec.com Sundown RV Center CA - Atwater • sundownrv.com Super Deals RV Inc. GA - Temple • superdealsrv.com TAC RV NC - Moyock • tactrailerandrv.com Tonie’s RV VA - Salem • toniesrv.com Toscano RV CA - Los Banos • toscanorv.com Vancouver RV & Park Model Center WA - Vancouver • vancouverrv.com Vogt RV TX - Airstream of Dallas Fourth Worth Two other D.F.W. Vogt locations vogtrv.com Waterdog RV OR - Dayton • waterdogrv.com Wisconsin RV World WI - DeForest • wisconsinrvworld.com Wilder RV WA - Port Angeles • wilderrvs.com

Action VR QC - Saint-Nicolas • actionvr.ca Camp Out RV ON - Stratford • campoutrv.com Canadream AB - Calgary BC - Vancouver ON - Toronto NS - Halifax QC - Montreal YT - Whitehorse canadream.com GO VR QC - Ange-Gardien • go-vr.com Horizon Lussier QC - Maryville • horizonlussier.com JCS Entreposage QC - Trois Rivières • entreposagejcs.com Kustom Koach RV Centre BC - Aldergrove • kustomkoachrv.com Lardner’s Trailer Sales SK - Saskatoon • lardners.com Le Centre du Vr Victoriaville QC - Saint-Albert • vrvictoriaville.com Leisure Days RV ON - Aylmer, Kingston, Pembroke, Smiths Falls, Sudbury QC - Buckingham, Gatineau, Sherbrooke NB - Salisbury NS - Truro leisuredays.ca Leisure Trailer Sales ON - Tecumseh • leisuretrailers.com O’Connor RV BC - Chilliwack • oconnorrv.com Ottawa Camping Trailers ON - Ottawa • ottawacamping.ca Roulottes AS Levesque QC - Châteauguay, Saguenay, Sainte-Hélène, Trois-Rivières roulotte.ca Roulottes Remillard QC - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu roulottesremillard.com Véhicules Récréatifs JD QC - Sherbrooke • vrjdrv.ca VR Depot QC - Marieville, Vaudreuil-Dorion vrdepot.ca VR Emond Plus QC - Sainte-Nicolas • vremondplus.com VR Prestige QC - Terrebonne • vrprestige.com VR Souliere QC - Lanoraie, Lavaltrie vrsouliere.com SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

Sudoku can be found on 61.

Sudoku can be found on 60.

Did you know that Thousand Trails members receive discounts on popular brands? Visit our Member Benefits page and check out our exclusive partner deals!

TRAILBLAZER SPRING 2022

BrANCHING OUT... Seeking a Safer Tomorrow Help the manatees, Adopt one Today!

savethemanatee.org

Are you a photographer or videographer, or aspiring to be? Submit your high quality photos and videos about your stay at one of our Thousand Trails campgrounds for a chance to be featured in TrailBlazer or on our social media pages! Submit your work to tbeditor@equitylifestyle.com Please submit photos or videos with a short description about your stay, and the name of the campground you visited. Must be a Thousand Trails Member in order to be considered to be featured.

SPRING 2022 TRAILBLAZER

SkyMed is with you all the way. 800-475-9633 www.skymed.com