Monthly Archives: August 2010

RV Fishing Vacation in New York

Monty August 30, 2010
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Reeling in a fantastic RV fishing vacation in New York is easy, considering the lakes, streams and ocean shoreline that offer a different fishing experience every trip. Add in the wide variety of RV camping venues, and you’ve got everything you need for one whopper of an RV vacation.

RV campers report the fishing’s fine on these New York waterways:

New York Great Lakes Fishing
New York boasts shoreline on two Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario. Lake Ontario is the place to go for great Coho and Chinook salmon fishing, while Lake Erie is well-known for its walleye and smallmouth bass. Park your RV at Lake Bluff Campground near Lake Ontario’s Great Sodus Bay. For your Lake Erie RV fishing vacation, why not try Lakeside Campground in Ripley, NY?

New York Adirondack Lakes Fishing
The beauty of New York’s Adirondacks is legendary, and so is the fishing! With hundreds of lakes and ponds to tempt fishing fans, the Adirondack Lakes Region presents endless RV fishing vacation possibilities. Here’s just a sample of what’s waiting for you there:

  • Saranac Lake Chain: The Upper, Lower and Middle Saranac Lakes are just three of dozens of bodies of water in the Adirondack Lakes Region. Connected by a series of locks, these lakes are prime brown bullhead and largemouth bass territory. Plan to spend time exploring six-million-acre Adirondack Park while in the area.
  • Adirondack Stream and River Fly Fishing: Another popular way to spend time in the Adirondacks is fly fishing the area’s streams and rivers for wild brook trout, brown trout and even salmon. The Ausable River near Lake Placid has a reputation for rewarding fly fishing experts.

New York Hudson River Fishing
The Hudson’s thirty boat ramps make access to this mighty river simple. Don’t have a boat? The fishing piers built by the State of New York give landlocked fishermen a chance to enjoy the River, too. This river’s unique blend of coastal salt water and fresh Adirondacks river water makes for some stellar fishing. Try your hand at catching some of the Hudson’s legendary stripers, and then relax for the night at River Road Campground in Corinth, NY.

New York Atlantic Coast Fishing
Fishing New York’s Atlantic Coast off Long Island is another “can’t-miss” experience for RV fishermen. We’ve heard great things about fishing the surf off Montauk for blue fish, and you’re sure to find places to catch tuna, fluke and striped bass in Long Island’s waters.

New York Lake George/Lake Champlain Fishing
Sport fishermen flock to northern New York’s Lake George/Lake Champlain area. So should you, if you’re hoping to catch lake sturgeon, channel cats or Atlantic salmon, as well as a trophy bass or two. Known as an ice fishing wonderland, Lake Champlain is accommodating year-round, with scenic views and abundant RV camping. Lake George, just south of Champlain, is also home to numerous bass fishing tournaments. Plan to stay at Brookwood RV Resort for easy access to both lakes.

Believe it or not, there are even more New York fishing adventures we don’t have room to mention! Use New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation website to learn more about where to fish and what regulations are in place. NYCampgrounds.com is an excellent source for RV campground information by region. And let us know here at ElMonteRV.com if we can help with an affordable RV rental for the trip!

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Football Tailgating the RV Way!

Monty August 27, 2010
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Football season is upon us, and there’s no easier way to throw a tailgate party than with a well-equipped RV. If you haven’t had the pleasure, it’s definitely time to get in the game! To help you get started with RV football tailgating, we’ve put together some helpful tips and tools.

NFL Football RV Tailgating
One of the ways we’re helping you prepare for pro football RV tailgating is by publishing a month-by-month schedule of NFL games on our website. After all, you’re going to need plenty of time to plan all those great tailgate party menus!

And speaking of menus, you’ll find plenty of help online. Websites like Tabasco.com, Tailgating.com and SouthernTailgater.com will deliver recipe ideas sure to score a touchdown with your RV tailgating crew. Another website you’ll want to visit is NFLTailgating, where you’ll find tailgating gear customized for every NFL team on the roster! One more hot tailgating tip: TailgatingWiki.com is up and running and shares lots of helpful information on “away game” stadiums and tailgating venues.

College Football Tailgating
A crisp, autumn day and the promise of exciting gridiron action…add in the aroma of great tailgate party food and it’s paradise for the college football fan! We want to help, so we’ve created a guide to this season’s college football and posted it at ElMonteRV.com.

Whether you’re cheering for Fresno State or call yourself a die-hard Clemson Tigers fan, there’s no reason not to enjoy a full season of RV football tailgating. No matter what kind of food and drink you plan to serve, starting with the convenience of a motorhome kitchen makes it easy.

To get you in the mood, here are some of our favorite college football tailgating websites:

Ready to get your grill on? There’s an RV waiting at one of our rental locations that will fit your football tailgating needs perfectly. Read the football action guides we’ve posted on our website, pick your RV and your menu and get ready for some serious RV football tailgating this season!

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Time for an RV Camping Trip to the International Bluegrass Music Museum

Monty August 25, 2010
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On the banks of the Ohio River in Kentucky, with its toes on the Indiana state line, stands a town steeped in bluegrass music history. Owensboro, KY is home to the International Bluegrass Music Museum, where legends of this uniquely American art form are celebrated every day. If combining memorable RV camping with your love of bluegrass sounds like a top ten vacation, it’s time for an RV camping trip to the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

Owensboro is the perfect spot for this museum which, incidentally, also houses the International Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Just down the road are the small towns where Bill Monroe lived and played his exciting new sounds while on the way to becoming the “Father of Bluegrass Music.”

Since the 1930s, when Monroe and his band The Blue Grass Boys, used mandolin, guitar, banjo and fiddle to craft a hauntingly honest blend of music, fans from around the world have recognized Kentucky as the home place of bluegrass. In 1985, the International Bluegrass Music Association was formed to preserve the heritage and art form of bluegrass music, with help from such music greats as Ricky Skaggs and Ralph Stanley.

The result of their efforts was the Museum and Hall of Fame, where exhibits, music camps, education programs and the annual “River of Music Party (ROMP)” share the birth and ongoing joy of bluegrass music with its fans.

Since you’ll be traveling to the epicenter of bluegrass music by RV, we thought we’d also share some suggestions for memorable RV camping. At Diamond Lake Resort in Owensboro, five lakes offer the chance to relax and fish after a day at the International Bluegrass Music Museum. Twenty minutes away in Boonville, Indiana you’ll enjoy Scales Lake Park, a county-run complex that includes a campground, swimming beach, waterpark and petting zoo.

While in the area, also plan to visit Rosine, KY, the birthplace of Bill Monroe. This unpretentious, unincorporated little town houses the graves of Bill Monroe and many members of his family.

Posted in Kentucky RV Camping, Kentucky RV Vacation, rv vacation, rv vacation ideas | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore-A Perfect RV Getaway

Monty August 23, 2010
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Indiana Dunes National LakeshoreWouldn’t it be nice to lie on the beach, enjoy great RV camping and really get to know the region, all in the same vacation? We think it would, so we’ve put together all you need to start planning a trip to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. A Northern Indiana treasure, Indiana Dunes combines regional flavor and casual beach pleasures in one enormous RV camping destination.

What can we say first about this premier Lake Michigan attraction? How to get there is a good start! The National Lakeshore lies between Gary, Indiana on the west and Michigan City, Indiana on the east, and is roughly fifty miles from Chicago. For quick interstate travel to reach the beach, I-80/90 is the best east/west route. Once you’re there, you can access all areas of the Lakeshore from Indiana State Highway 12.

Now, to the reasons this will become one of your favorite motorhome camping destinations. Attractions you’ll surely want to spend time exploring include the following:

  • Bailly Homestead/Chellberg Farm – this historic landmark was once home to the first non-native resident in the region (and they still make their own maple syrup!)
  • Indiana Dunes State Park – adjacent to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is a bonus-a two thousand acre state park on Michigan’s south shore boasting three miles of pristine beach and plenty of RV campsites.
  • Ly-Co-Ki-We Trail (PDF) – take the family on a memorable hike on loops of varying lengths, all offering the chance to learn more about the beauty of Lake Michigan’s windswept shoreline.
  • Mount Baldy – a natural wonder, this ever-moving twelve story sand dune will fascinate as you take the trail to the summit.
  • Northern Indiana Art and Earth Trail – seven scenic loops have been mapped to take you to regional attractions such as blueberry farms, farmer’s markets, and arts centers. Whether your tastes run to Amish handicrafts or the eclectic art of Winona Lake, you’ll find more than enough to enjoy on the Art and Earth Trail.
  • West Beach – located at the southern-most tip of Lake Michigan, West Beach is the only one of eight Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore beaches protected by lifeguards. Spend the day swimming in the lake, exploring the dunes or simply soaking up the sun at this classic summer attraction.

One more incentive to visit is the abundant availability of RV campgrounds. If you’re not camping at the National Lakeshore or State Park, try Sand Creek Campground at Chesterton, right in the heart of the Dunes. The family will also love Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Campground at Portage, Indiana, just south of the lakeshore.

There’s still time to unwind at the beach, and there’s no better place than Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Pack your swimsuit, pick up an affordable RV rental at our Chicago El Monte RV Rentals location and get ready for some later summer fun!

Posted in Indiana RV Camping, Indiana RV Vacation, National Parks | Tagged | Leave a comment

Be a Time Traveler to New York’s Cobblestone Country

Monty August 20, 2010
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By Sue Freeman, New York Outdoors Blog

Picture of a Cobblestone BuildingWhen early pioneers began to settle the wild frontier, they followed the Hudson River north, then the Erie Canal west, carving out a life of farming in New York State. They had to clear the forests to create farmlands. At first they built small log cabins, but as they cleared more land they found they could ship the lumber on the Erie Canal as a cash crop. The building material of choice became the glacially deposited cobblestones that rose to the surface each time they plowed their fields.

The farmers developed building with cobblestones into a fine art. Initially their buildings were crude, using stones of random sizes and colors, but it evolved into sorting stones and creating buildings with stripes, herringbone patterns and all sorts of creative flairs. They built houses, churches, schools, factories, smokehouses, stores, and even tombstones. It was hard labor, taking up to 3 years to manufacture a building, including hand hewing each window and door frame, and sometimes even carting wagon loads of stones back from the shores of Lake Ontario in a sled over snow. Imagine quarrying your own materials (such as ground limestone or dolomite, sand and water) to make mortar and waiting for it to age a year under a pile of manure until it was ready to use. That was only a small part of the entire process. Fascinating historical accounts of building cobblestone buildings can be found in the guidebook “Cobblestone Quest.”

Picture of a Cobblestone HouseThis building technique came to a screeching halt with the outbreak of the Civil War, but many of the buildings still stand today as a testament to their fine craftsmanship. The buildings are clustered in the northwestern part of New York State. You can drive by them to enjoy their diversity and learn the history of each using “Cobblestone Quest – Road Tours of New York’s Historic Buildings,” (Footprint Press, Inc.). There are also cobblestone buildings you can tour as museums, antique shops and art galleries, restaurants you can eat in, and Bed and Breakfast Inns for an evening’s repose.

Travel back in time to the days when New York State was the wild frontier. Come explore New York’s unique cobblestone history.

RV Campground Options:

  1. Medina/Wildwood Lake KOA, Medina
  2. Redbreeze Secluded Waterfront Campsite, Waterport
  3. Hamlin Beach State Park, Hamlin
  4. Lakeside Beach State Park, Waterport
  5. Letchworth State Park, Castile
  6. Lei Ti Campground, Batavia

Cobblestone Bed & Breakfast Inns:

  1. Captain Throop House Bed and Breakfast, PO Box 145, Pultneyville, NY, 14538, 315-589-8595
  2. Maxwell Creek Inn Bed and Breakfast, 7563 Lake Road, Sodus, NY,14551, (315) 483-2222
  3. Peppermint Cottage and Jackson Schoolhouse B&B, 336 Pleasant Valley Road, Lyons, NY, 14489, (888) 997-1998

Cobblestone Museums:

  1. Babcock House Museum, 7449 Lake Road, Appleton
  2. Hartland Historical Society District 10 Schoolhouse, 9713 Seaman Road, Hartland
  3. Cobblestone Society Museum, 14393 Route 104, Childs
  4. Alexander Town Museum in Alexander Classical School, 3323 Church Street, Alexander
  5. Livingston County Historical Museum in Geneseo District #5 Schoolhouse, 30 Center Street, Geneseo
  6. Chili Schoolhouse Museum, District #4 Schoolhouse, 2525 Scottsville Road, Henrietta
  7. Tinker Homestead & Farm Museum, 1585 Calkins Road, Henrietta
  8. Wallington District #8 Schoolhouse, 6135 North Geneva Road, Wallington

Cobblestone Restaurants:

  1. Wilson House Inn, 300 Lake Street, Wilson
  2. The Cobblestone Restaurant, 3610 Pre-Emption Road, Geneva

Cobblestone Antique Shops & Galleries:

  1. Golden Lynx Art Gallery, 16 Mendon-Ionia Road, Mendon
  2. Cobblestone Antiques, 6452 Victor-Manchester Road, Victor
  3. Cobble Ridge Antiques, 3049 Parker Road, Palmyra
Posted in New York RV Vacation, rv vacation ideas | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Another Guest Blog Post – RV Road Trip to the Lighthouses of New York

Monty August 19, 2010
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Check out our latest post RV Road Trip to the Lighthouses of New York in the New York Outdoors Blog.

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RV Camping in Southern Vermont

Monty August 18, 2010
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Green hills, fly fishing and hundreds of miles of scenic hiking… these are just three of the attractions RV camping fans will find in Southern Vermont. Spend your days whitewater rafting or strolling quiet village streets, but definitely plan to spend time this year at one of Southern Vermont’s tree-filled RV campgrounds.

To make planning your RV camping vacation simpler, here are ten things you should know about Southern Vermont:

  1. Bennington, Brattleboro and Bellows Falls are just three of the picturesque towns vacationers love. Southern Vermont’s villages are famous for handcrafted art, working farms and historic spots like Robert Frost’s grave.
  2. Vermont’s wild rivers are the perfect setting for whitewater rafting and kayaking, The West River is a favorite for visitors who enjoy getting wet on vacation.
  3. Green Mountain National Forest is four hundred thousand acres of outdoor recreational opportunity! Two National Recreation Areas, eight primitive wilderness areas and access to three national trails (see #6 below) make it the perfect place to bike, hike, boat, fish and camp.
  4. Two man-made bodies of water, Harriman Reservoir and Somerset Reservoir, offer outdoor enthusiasts boating, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities in Southern Vermont. (Paddlers will especially enjoy the quiet coves at Somerset.)
  5. Memorable Southern Vermont RV campgrounds include:
    • Pine Hollow Campground – park your RV on this campground’s pond for easy access to area attractions and a truly idyllic setting.
    • Dorset RV Park is within easy driving distance of outlet malls, hiking trails and Hildene, the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln.
  6. Famous hiking trails dot the landscape throughout Southern Vermont.
    • Appalachian Trail: The famous “A.T.” winds one hundred fifty miles through Vermont, in a wide variety of terrain. Don’t miss the chance to hike a piece of history.
    • Long Trail runs the length of Vermont and also gives Southern Vermont visitors the chance to hike one of the oldest trails in America.
    • The Robert Frost National Recreation Trail (PDF) honors the work of this venerable American poet on short loops suitable for most campers.
  7. Covered Bridge Driving Tours allow visitors to experience in-depth the charm of the Vermont countryside. Here’s a helpful website with lots of information about these historic structures and how to find them.
  8. Southern Vermont’s Scenic Drives such as the Equinox Skyline Drive and Vermont Scenic Route 100 are guaranteed to provide awe-inspiring views year-round.
  9. Southern Vermont’s famous outlet malls provide great savings to make your vacation even more worthwhile. Here’s a link to information on malls near your RV campground.
  10. The arts are definitely being celebrated in Southern Vermont, with such attractions as the Norman Rockwell Museum in Rutland, exhibits and performances at world-famous Bennington Center for the Arts, and the annual Putney Crafts Tour.

The green hills of Vermont are waiting to welcome you and your RV. There’s something to enjoy for every kind of motorhome camper. Pick your favorite activities from the links above and make a trek to Vermont this year.

Posted in Vermont RV Camping, Vermont RV Vacation | Tagged | Leave a comment

Another Guest Blog Post – The Great River Road

Monty August 13, 2010
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This time we are in the Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel My Itchy Travel Feet. There we published Great River Road: An Epic RV Camping Journey. This article describes a wonderful RV trek along the the Mississippi River  “…passing through river towns, national forests and some pretty amazing scenery in ten states”.

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We’re Rewarding Your Loyalty with Monty Perks!

Monty August 11, 2010
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The loyalty of our long-term customers has helped build El Monte RV into one of America’s largest RV rental companies. We’re returning the favor by rewarding your loyalty with a great new program called “Monty Perks!”

This easy-to-earn, easy-to-redeem rewards program allows our customers to earn points for showing their loyalty in several ways. Not only do you earn points each time you rent an RV, we’ll reward you just for being a fan! Here are seven ways to earn points redeemable for free days/mileage on RV rentals:

  1. Each night rented = 100 points
  2. New account signup = 300 points
  3. Follow us on Facebook = 50 points
  4. Follow us on Twitter = 50 points
  5. Monthly Newsletter Signup = 100 points
  6. Guest Post on our Monty’s Musings RV Travel Blog (http://blog.elmonterv.com) = 100 points (must be camping or outdoors related – to learn more see Guest Blog for Us)
  7. Responding to Survey Questions = varies

Exciting, isn’t it? Now you not only will you be renting a luxurious RV from one of our locations nationwide, you’ll also be earning points for each night rented and for keeping up with our rental specials and travel information.

In case you’re wondering what rewards those points can earn, here’s the scoop:

  • For each 1,000 points earned, you receive 500 free miles on an RV rental
  • For each 2,000 points earned, you receive 1,000 free miles on an RV rental
  • You can also redeem 2,000 points earned for a free day of RV rental

As we mentioned, this is one easy-to-redeem loyalty points program. All you need to do is log into your account and print the reward certificate earned. The certificate is then presented to the El Monte RV Rentals counter agent when you pick up your RV. It’s that simple! Your points never expire and they’re good at all of our locations.

Ready to start earning points? Go to El Monte RV Monty Perks and create your account. (Make sure you include a valid email address.) Then all you have to do to earn points is to take advantage of our great RV rental rates when you’re ready to travel. Once again, we appreciate your loyalty!

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It’s Time for Gearheads to Take an RV Trip to the Motorsports Hall of Fame!

Monty August 9, 2010
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Where better to locate the place honoring the greats in American motorsports than Detroit, Michigan? That’s where car-loving gearheads will find the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and the centerpiece of an exciting RV vacation.

Located at the Detroit Science Center, the Motorsports Hall of Fame honors American drivers, builders, designers and others who have furthered motorsports during their careers. The Hall of Fame’s annual August induction ceremony is held in conjunction with the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

What’s there to see at the Hall of Fame? Plenty! Geared toward those who love cars, the Hall of Fame and Museum exhibits feature great cars, legendary races and exceptional drivers. Interactive displays, video presentations and memorabilia fill the galleries where American motorsports are constantly celebrated. Expect to see such things as:

  • Champion and record-breaking race vehicles of all kinds: Indy cars, stock cars and dragsters, just to name a few.
  • Vehicles like the Miss US-1 piston-driven hydroplane.
  • Art Arfon’s jet-powered Green Monster, Cyclops.
  • Photos and other memorabilia honoring Hall of Fame inductees since 1989.

By the way, admission to the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is included with your ticket to the Detroit Science Center. The Center itself is worthy of a road trip, filled with hundreds of hands-on exhibits and exciting presentations in the Chrysler IMAX Dome Theater and Toyota Engineering Theater. Plan enough time to see the entire museum; it’s not just for kids!

Now that you’ve decided an RV camping trip to Detroit’s Motorsports Hall of Fame is on your horizon, it’s time to choose a campground. Here are three possibilities:

  1. Detroit Greenfield RV Campground – about thirty minutes away in Ypsilanti, MI
  2. Beautiful Haas Lake Park – forty five minutes from the museum in New Hudson, MI
  3. Family-friendly KC Campground in Milan, MI – an hour away from the congestion of downtown Detroit

Planning to spend a few more days in the Detroit area? Here are some of our favorite area attractions:

  • Detroit Institute of Arts is located on the same street as the Detroit Science Center. Well worth spending a day at this enormous museum; there’s even a “Family Fitting Room” where museum docents can help you plan your visit.
  • For the chance to attend one of Detroit’s frequent festivals, head for Hart Plaza. This enormous riverfront park also features a fascinating collection of outdoor sculpture and is adjacent to the Detroit Riverwalk.
  • Take a cruise! The Detroit Princess and Diamond Jack are the best-known Detroit River cruise offerings. They’ll introduce you to a whole new Detroit in just a couple of hours.
  • Detroit sports! Depending on the time of year you visit Detroit, there should be a professional sports team playing nearby. Four pro teams make their home in Detroit, giving you the chance to see Pistons basketball, Tigers baseball, Lions football or Red Wings hockey. Pick your favorite and plan your road trip to include a game.

Motor City’s Motorsports Hall of Fame is a fascinating tribute to America’s automotive history. RV camping gearheads should definitely be making plans to visit the city where America’s love affair with cars began.

Posted in Michigan RV Camping, Michigan RV Vacation, rv vacation, rv vacation ideas | Tagged | Leave a comment