MEET OUR MIDWEST ZONE

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MidwestZone-HorseshoeWe’d like to you to meet our newest Camping Zone – the Midwest. In our efforts to get everyone into the camping zone, we’ve re-aligned a few zones and created a zone specific to the heartland of our country.

The Midwest Zone will include a total of thirteen campgrounds – four in Wisconsin, three in Indiana, two in both Michigan and Ohio, and one each in Illinois and Kentucky. From locations near Wisconsin’s popular Dells and Door County to a picturesque Kentucky location that is just minutes from the entrance to Mammoth Cave, there’s a range of things to see and do in this new zone.

Please note that Kentucky’s Diamond Caverns campground has been moved from the Southeast Zone to the Midwest and our campgrounds in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan have moved from the Northeast to the Midwest. Southeast Zone Pass holders will still have access Diamond Caverns. Similarly, Northeast Zone Pass holders can continue to enjoy the campgrounds that have been moved to the Midwest Zone, which include Pine Country (IL), Horseshoe Lakes and Indian Lakes (IN), Bear Cave and St. Clair (MI) and Kenisee Lake and Wilmington (OH).

 

Encore Deals | Memorial Day Camping Fun!

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EncoreDeal-SandyBeachLooking for a great deal for Memorial Day camping fun? Look no further than Encore RV resorts who are serving up some super savings for the holiday weekend.

Consider a New England getaway at our two New Hampshire resorts – Sandy Beach and Tuxbury Pond or any of the great Maine resorts. Experience the true Florida when the crowds have long gone at your choice of more than 15 Florida resorts. Enjoy the peace and tranquility (and all the water fun) at Lake George Schroon Valley in New York’s picturesque Adirondack region.

There are plenty of choices and plenty of deals so make your plans now – visit www.RVontheGo.com for great member deals and book your Memorial Day fun!

 

El Monte and TT/Encore Team Up

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El Monte RV, America’s premier nationwide RV rental company, has teamed up with Thousand Trails campgrounds and Encore RV resorts, home to some of the most beautiful and natural campgrounds and RV resorts across the U.S., to create all inclusive RV getaways. The getaway includes an RV rental from any El Monte RV location nationwide with overnight campground accommodations at over 170 locations, unlimited mileage and free generator use for as low as $99 per night.

From now until May 24, RV enthusiasts can buy a certificate from El Monte RV for $15 that guarantees deeply discounted all inclusive getaway package rates for reservations from El Monte RV for three to 14 nights. These rates apply to reservations that occur from now through December 2013. RV rental options include a Class C Cabover Style C25 for $99 per night, Class C Cabover Style C28 for $149 per night and a Class A Family Sleeper for $199 per night. Overnight RV site accommodations are included in the rental at over 170 Thousand Trails campgrounds and Encore RV resorts locations.

For more information about the all inclusive RV getaways, visit the Cool Deals section of elmonterv.com.

 

June TrailBlazer

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Come along with TrailBlazer on our Summer Road Trip series. In May, it’s all about BBQ as we explore how different regions in the country have their own take on this foodie favorite. The trip continues in June as highlight some fun facts about our National Parks. There’s no better time to hit the road than summer, and there’s no better guide to summer fun than our Summer Road Trip series.

 

Hop on the Yosemite YARTS!

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Yarts-bus-in-YosemiteOne of the best things about our Yosemite Lakes preserve is that is it literally less than five mile from one of the most popular national parks in our park system, Yosemite. And, thanks to the YARTS (the area’s transportation system), you won’t have to hassle with any driving or parking issues. You can simply hop on the YART, which stops conveniently at the preserve’s front door.

Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) will now make a stop at Thousand Trails’ Yosemite Lakes Preserve. The Sonora Highway 120N Route will stop at the
preserve’s country store daily through September 30.

Initiated in May of 2000, YARTS has provided park visitors with a convenient, comfortable and economical ride into the park. Allowing Yosemite National Park
visitors to bypass the long waits and frustrations of finding suitable parking, the buses drop off and pick up passengers at the visitor’s center. Once inside the park,
guests can tour the park on the free shuttles.

The bus will stop at Yosemite Lakes at 10:06 a.m. and return at 6:24 p.m. during weekdays. On weekends and holidays departure times from Yosemite Lakes are
8:48 a.m., 10:06 a.m. and 1:28 p.m. Buses will return to the preserve at 11:24 a.m., 6:24 p.m. and 8:24 p.m.

Round-trip tickets from Yosemite Lakes Preserve to the visitors’ center are available for purchase from the driver. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and
children under 12. One child, age 12 and under, can ride for free with a parent. The park’s gate fee is included in the fare.

All buses are equipped to accept wheelchairs.

To learn more about YARTS, call (877) 989-2787 or visit www.Yarts.comYarts-bus-in-Yosemite.

 

The Keystone State is your key to summer fun

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PropSpotlightGovernor Tom Corbett has proclaimed the month of May as Recreation Vehicle and Camping Month in Pennsylvania for the twenty-third straight year. Governor Corbett states, “The unique sites, history, and culture of Pennsylvania can be discovered by the entire family from the comfort and convenience of recreational vehicles,” and he encourages “all citizens to pursue their passions and escape with their families on the road across the farthest reaches of our state.”

That’s a perfect reason to visit the Thousand Trails preserves in the Keystone State which offer a home base to explore the culture, history and unique sites that Governor Corbett references.

donkeyCome to Gettysburg Farm to experience a true working farm – feed and pet the animals, see what crops are being planted and come meet Millie’s baby, the farm’s newborn donkey. Gettysburg Farm is conveniently located to the historic Civil War battlefields.

Can you smell the chocolate? Or hear the clip clop of the Amish buggies as they wind down the road. Both Hershey Preserve and PA Dutch Country provide the opportunity to experience the beauty of the rolling farmlands in Pennsylvania Dutch Country as well as the fun family times that can be found at in all things Hershey.

A visit to the Poconos in the summer is guaranteed to serve up a menu of fun with choices for the whole family. Make Scotrun Preserve your home base as you experience old-fashioned fun at nearby county fairs, the thrills of Pocono Raceway and whitewater rafting adventures.

In East Stroudsberg, Timothy Lake North and South, plenty of water fun can be found right onsite at Timothy Lake North’s Water World, the preserve’s indoor water complex. Mark your calendars for June 21-23 and come celebrate Water World’s 20th birthday.

 

Foodstuffs: Sweet Baby Ray’s Baby Back Ribs

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BBQMay is National Barbeque Month. That makes perfect sense to us since the weather is great, Memorial Day observance provides most of us a long weekend and people are firing up their grills after a long, long winter. Taking a page from this month’s TrailBlazer, we’re serving up some BBQ.

Who knows barbeque better than the folks at Sweet Baby Rays, makers of award-winning BBQ sauces. This recipe is compliments of Duce Raymond, Executive Chef/Partner at Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Sweet Baby Ray’s Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients
22 1/2-inch Weber Grill
Rib Rack
Grease Pan
10 pound bag of Kingsford Charcoal
8 ounces Hickory, Cherry or Apple wood chips, soaked in water
Pair of Tongs
4 Slabs of Baby Back Ribs, 1 1/2 pounds and down, skinned
16 ounce Bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce
Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
Onion Salt

Method

  1. Put 52 briquettes in center of grill and burn for ½ hour, then put 26 coals on each side with grease pan in the middle.
  2. Season skinned ribs generously with salt, fresh ground pepper, and onion salt.
  3. Stand ribs on rib rack in center of grill and cook for ½ hour.
  4. After ½ hour rotate ribs inside to outside and from top to bottom.
  5. Add soaked wood chips to each side of coals.
  6. Add 6 briquettes to each side of coals.
  7. After ½ hour rotate ribs again, checking every 15 minutes thereafter, rotating when necessary.
  8. Ribs are cooked when you can penetrate them easily with a fork after 1 ¾ to 2 hours of cooking.
  9. Remove rib rack and place ribs top down in center of grill. Brush on generous amounts of Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce. Cook 10 minutes.
  10. Turn ribs over and generously brush sauce on top of ribs. Cook an additional 10 to 12 minutes.

Serve and Enjoy

 

Preserve and Local Events

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Local-EventThe preserves are planning plenty of patriotic parades and more in honor of Memorial Day. Decorate your rig, your bike, your golf cart or your camping friends (not really) and join in the fun at your favorite preserves. On the local front, there’s outdoor fun, festivals and more. For a complete listing of all our preserve and local events, visit www.TrailBlazerMagazine.net

If you’re visiting Oregon’s Seaside Preserve, take in the Mix and Mingle Jazz Nights at Cannon Beach Gallery. Held every Friday, through June 7, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., enjoy an evening of evening of music, art, and conversation. This event is free and open to the public. Event is held at 1064 S. Hemlock Street, in Cannon Beach. For information call (503) 436-0744.

Florida’s Orlando Preserve is the perfect place to stay while you take in the Blue Skies and Silver Spurs Festival, held May 31-June 2 at the Osceola Heritage Park. The 131st Silver Spurs Rodeo is joined by events celebrating fun in the sky and on the ground during this exciting new festival in Kissimmee! A blend of great experiences combine to fill this early summer weekend!

Come stay at Idyllwild and experience the 94th Annual Cherry Festival, held just 35 miles from the preserve June 6-9. This California festival offers arts and crafts, live entertainment, food vendors and exhibits. Held at Stewart Park in Beaumont. For information call (951) 769-7114.

 

Trail News

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Introducing our Midwest Zone

We’d like to you to meet our newest Camping Zone - the Midwest. In our efforts to get everyone into the camping zone, we’ve re-aligned a few zones and created a zone specific to the heartland of our country.

The Midwest Zone will include a total of thirteen campgrounds – four in Wisconsin, three in Indiana, two in both Michigan and Ohio, and one each in Illinois and Kentucky. From locations near Wisconsin’s popular Dells and Door County to a picturesque Kentucky location that is just minutes from the entrance to Mammoth Cave, there’s a range of things to see and do in this newest zone.

Please note that Kentucky’s Diamond Caverns campground has been moved from the Southeast Zone to the Midwest and our campgrounds in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan have moved from the Northeast to the Midwest. Southeast Zone Pass holders will still have access to Diamond Caverns. Similarly, Northeast Zone Pass holders can continue to enjoy the campgrounds that have been moved to the Midwest Zone, which include Pine Country (IL), Horseshoe Lakes and Indian Lakes (IN), Bear Cave and St. Clair (MI) and Kenisee and Wilmington (OH).

 

Gear Up and Camp Sweepstakes

Thousand Trails is giving its Facebook fans a chance to Gear Up and Camp with the Gear Up and Camp Sweepstakes which runs through April 30! One lucky camper will win a free week of camping and a camping gear package, with a combined value of $1100. Sweepstakes entrants will also be entered for a chance to win one of four second place prize packages, and one of 30 third place prize packages daily.

The grand prize includes a week-long camping trip for the winner at any participating Thousand Trails or Encore RV resort campground. The winner will also receive a package of camping gear, including the following: Rand McNally’s RV-specific GPS device – the RVND™ 7720 LM; $100 gas card; Strongback Chair; Coghlan’s Camper’s S’mores Grill and Corn Popper; Coleman Lantern; $50 MyRVMarket.com gift certificate; Thousand Trails sweatshirt, umbrella, window cling, backpack, blanket and travel mug; and a Duck Harbor Cool Weather Sleeping bag.

Four additional winners will be selected each week of the promotion to receive a second prize package that includes a week-long camping trip at any participating Thousand Trails or Encore RV resort campground and a package including a Thousand Trails backpack, blanket, travel mug, and window cling.
Thirty winners will be selected at the end of each day of the promotion to receive a Thousand Trails camping pack, which includes a backpack, blanket, travel mug and window cling. All in all, 35 prizes will be awarded throughout the course of the Thousand Trails Gear Up and Camp sweepstakes.
Join us on the Thousand Trails Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ThousandTrails to Gear Up and Camp! The contest will run through April 30, 2013.