Count Down to Quartzsite!

As children we often counted down to days like our birthday, a day at Disneyland, or Christmas, but at RV Country we count down to Quartzsite! We even have a countdown ticker on our blog! We just can’t wait until this gathering in the desert begins! For us, the countdown begins in October. You may think we’re kidding, but we aren’t. It’s the anticipation of moving all of our units from Fresno to the empty desert sands of Quartzsite for the biggest RV show in the country! It's the eagerness of watching the big white tent go up. It's also the joy of seeing all of our old friends and making new ones. We’ve been attending the show since 2000, and we’re also the exclusive dealer! You’ll find our big white tent set up right next to the main stage. You’ll get to look at some amazing RV’s, and enjoy some entertainment. Speaking of entertainment...Johnny Goodrum will be there again this year.  This will be his 9th season!

Last year our top selling unit was the Keystone Montana, and it was such a hit that we literally SOLD OUT of them. This year, we’re coming prepared! You’re definitely going to want to stop by our big white tent and take a look at the country’s number one selling fifth wheel! If you’re as excited as we are, and just can’t wait until January, you can swing by our Parker RV Show going on right now at the Blue Water Casino in Parker, AZ.  We sometimes get carried away talking about the Quartzsite RV Show and forget to mention that for the entire month of December we're in Parker, Arizona. We've got every type of motorhome, fifth wheel, toy hauler, and trailer you can imagine. We've made quality purchases and received some real gems for trades too!Although we have quite a bit of inventory at Blue Water, we are going to have even more at Quartzsite, including:

Diesel Motorhomes
Class A Gas Motorhomes

Class C Mini Motorhomes
Class B Van Conversions
Fifth Wheels
Travel Trailers
Toy Haulers
Tent Trailers
We also specialize in sales and financing to Canadians. We have a long and successful history of selling to our neighboring countrymen, so it's no hassle at all... We know how to get it done right! It is surprisingly simple and we will provide you with all the paperwork you need. We also welcome trades, so if you’re looking to trade in that old motor home for a brand new one or a more up-to-date model, stop by and see us. We'll be looking for YOU, in Quartzsite!

Meteor Craters to the RV Lifestyle

50,000 years ago an asteroid decided that Winslow, Arizona looked like the perfect place to crash into Earth and create a crater that is about one mile across, 550 feet deep, and 2.4 miles in circumference. All to crater, err...cater to the RV Lifestyle. Today this area is known as Meteor Crater RV Park. The park has 71 pull-through RV and camping spaces, private restroom and shower facilities, plus two designated ADA and special needs accessible restroom and shower rooms. The park is also fully fenced with a secure gate. Pets are allowed and there is also a laundry room. Meteor Crater RV Park is in a great location. 

It is close enough for visitors to take day trips to the Grand Canyon - a must see for anyone within visiting range.  It is after all one of the seven natural wonders of the world!

There’s also the Navajo and Hopi Nations Tour  where you can experience the mysteries of the ancient past and unique modern culture of Navajos and Hopis who share more than 25,000 square miles of striking desert and mesa country.

Or take a trip over to the fascinating remains of a forest turned to stone to the Petrified Forest National Park. The 94,000 acre park includes a visitor center, restaurant, gift shop and scenic drive with parking areas and interpretative signs to help visitors understand this rare geologic phenomenon. If you don’t feel like venturing into town, you can always take a walk over to the visitors center at Meteor Crater Park, where there’s an 80 seat wide screen theater, an indoor crater viewing area, crater trail access, interactive discovery center, artifacts and exhibits, gift shop, and Subway restaurant.

You’ll want to be back at the RV Park by night fall and you’ll definitely want to set up your chairs outside, grab a drink and maybe a snack and prepare for one of the most amazing sites you may ever see.  The open sky full of bright stars is truly amazing and the possibility of witnessing a falling star is likely. The sunsets and sunrises are also one of the beautiful, natural experiences you won’t want to miss. While there is a lot to do away from the park, there are certainly plenty of reasons to stay.

If this sounds like an ideal spot for you, be sure to call ahead to make reservations and check on line for their admission prices and holiday hours.

Happy stargazing!

We can't contain our excitement for Quartzsite!

Are you as excited as we are to get out to the desert in January and get the party started at Quartzsite?!  There’s just something about this event that gets us buzzing around here... From October until we leave we’re dreaming of the 1,000,000 people that come out, the food, the entertainment, and of course the BIG WHITE TENT! It's a 20 acre facility with FREE customer parking! Its 69,000 sq. ft. of fully carpeted indoor exhibit area! Please tell us you’re just as excited as we are! You must be, its the largest gathering of RV’ers on Earth!  

If you haven’t been a part of this amazing event in the past, this is the year to do it. What better way to relax after the holidays than to take off for the Arizona desert and explore acres of beautiful RVs, exhibits of all kinds, a great car show, a world renowned rock and gem show, and countless flea markets to visit. You don’t have to take our word for it, just check out this video!

Now, that you’ve seen the video we know we’ll see you there this year! Look for us by the main event stage under the big white tent!

Fall Foliage You'll Fall in Love With

One great thing about our beautiful country is that we have the freedom to go wherever we want, whenever we want. It's like the song says “This land is your land, this land is my land” and if you live in a state that doesn’t get to see much fall foliage (ahem...Florida) why not pack up your RV and head out to somewhere you can witness the colorful miracle that is the Autumn changing of the leaves?  To make the trip even sweeter, how about a visit to some of the most amazing national parks the good ol' USA has to offer! Here are some of the prime parks you won't want to miss this Fall:
1. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Peak colors expected middle to end of October. On October 18, a hiking event to Whiskeytown Falls offer a perfect way to view the foliage during the peak season.
2. Curecanti National Recreational Area - Peak colors begin in late September and run through the end of October.
3. Natchez Trace Parkway - In middle to late October, the maple, hickory, oak and other hardwood trees begin to change colors.
4. Glacier National Park - The bright yellow and gold colors on the aspen and larch trees run through mid-October covering the trails around the park, but particularly along Summit Trail. For more information on the best trails to see colors or view photos of the fall colors, visit Glacier’s Facebook page.
5. Flight 93 National Memorial - The trees across the Flight 93 National Memorial begin to turn around mid-October. Check out the Honor Flight webcam today to find instant inspiration for a trip to the site or to take a virtual fall foliage tour.
6. Great Smokey Mountains National Park - The Great Smokey Mountains boast over 130 different tree species, many of which  produce breathtaking Autumnal colors. Peak foliage viewing depends greatly on the various levels of elevation found within the park, but overall, the Smokies’ foliage shows run from late September through October.
7. Zion National Park - Peak foliage colors appear at the end of October and into the first few days of November.
8. Shenandoah National Park - Peak colors in the upper elevations begin early to mid-October with lower elevations peaking at the end of October into November.
9. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park - Rich with sugar maples and 400-year-old hemlocks, this site boasts outstanding fall foliage each year.  This year’s prime viewing is expected from mid-October through early November.
10. Apostles Islands National Lakeshore - Peak foliage viewing various depending on inland or coastal location, however the foliage show runs from late September through October.  Additionally, many bird species are migrating through the park right now, so foliage seekers get an extra show from Mother Nature.

Special thanks to the National Park Foundation for providing us with this amazing list of parks, and their prime time for Autumnal viewing! Remember to share your stories and pictures either by submitting your story or on our Facebook wall.

Happy RV’ing!

Haunted Camp Grounds and RV Parks

So, you’re looking for a haunting good time this Halloween? The typical campgrounds just aren’t going to cut it for you - the ghost seeking adventurer? Then you may want to try one of these camp grounds where the legends say there’s more than the wind that blows through after midnight.

Santa Fe National Forest
There is a scarey story behind the Holy Ghost campground. Legend has it Holy Ghost Canyon, where the campground is located , is haunted by a spirit of a priest killed by Pueblo people in the late 1680s. As the only allegedly haunted campground in the Forest Service, it is recommended visitors bring flashlights and lots of campfire ghost stories. For a place with only haunting beauty there is Jacks Creek campground. Set at the furthest reaches of State Route 63 and near the headwaters of the "talking" Pecos River, Jacks Creek campground, with its nearby horse camp, is located in a mountain meadow surrounded by thick aspen groves. The Pecos Wilderness beckons visitors from just over the ridge to come and explore while a breeze through the aspen whispers "set a spell."

Fernwood Campground 
For many years this area was considered sacred by the Esalen Indians and today stands as a commercial campground. According to employees and guests the ghost of an Indian wearing a corn mask has been seen between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. near the cabins.

DarkSyde Acres Haunted Campground
A Michigan campground located in Hillsdale County approximately five miles north of Jonesville and just over a mile from Mosherville. Close to both the Indiana and Ohio state borders, the rustic campsite and adjacent DarkSyde Acres Haunted House are set on 38 acres with over 70,000 square feet of indoor haunted house attractions. In addition to the attractions, according to the DarkSyde website there have been reports of supernatural events, and witnesses say the location is really haunted.

The Canyon Motel RV Park

Over the past few years, there has been an increasing amount of guests that have reported strange occurrences in their overnight Caboose visits. The reports of strange sounds in the night, the lights going on and off for no reason, and even the sight of an old conductor walking through the caboose swinging a lantern in the middle of the dark night. A housekeeper even reports hearing talking or whispering going on in the middle of the day while she works. She knows it’s weird, but also points out that nobody else is even around. They all say there is some type of inexplicable synergy taking place inside the Cabooses.

Sportsman's RV Park
Some say this RV Park in Libby, Montana is haunted. "It is said that many aimless souls lost their lives waiting for work at the site, camping in the woods when they could not afford a stay at the Inn. There is also a tale that every spring, thunderstorms bring about the shadowy figure of a ghost that wears a hooded poncho as he floats above the ground." Boo!

Where ever you end up staying on Halloween night we hope you have a fun and safe time and remember to bring your Proton Pack!

Happy Camping!

Octoberfest in Fresno, it'll cure what ale's ya.

Where will you and your RV be this weekend? If its Fresno, California, then we suggest you swing by The Tower District for the ‘Central Valley Craft Brewers Octoberfest’. Festivities begin at noon on Sunday, and will carry on until 5:00 p.m. Admission is $20.00, but you’ll certainly get your moneys worth! They plan on having over 40 breweries and wineries for you to sample great micro brews, and excellent local wines. Tower restaurants will serve up free samples of their fabulous food and 3 local bands entertain throughout the day. Demonstrations of how to make your own home brew are also featured. It's an afternoon of ales & lagers, chardonnays & merlots, chili & beerocks, blues & rock, and so much more. And if you're in the area, it would be a great time to swing by and say hello to everyone at one of your favorite places - RV Country! We always welcome a visit with our customers and by now, you know how much we LOVE for you to share your travels and pictures with us, so if you do get to Octoberfest (in any city) be sure to share your story and pictures with us... 

You never know when your story may show up on our blog, or win you a prize!

RV Country in Quartzsite, Arizona 2012

For over 35 years now, there has been a group of people traveling to a once barren area known as Quartzsite, Arizona. These seekers come by the thousands and are often referred to as "gypsies of the modern world".  Entering the grounds of Quartzsite is like entering another world... Back to the good old days in many ways. Though now, this place is no longer barren, but has a plethora of state of the art facilities. 

Once a year, for one week in January,  these RV gypsies pack into Quartzsite for one of the largest RV shows in America. According to the Arizona Highway Department, as many as 750,000 to 1,000,000 people converge on this sleepy little desert town, located just 20 miles east of the California border on Interstate 10.  It is host to the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show and the rock, gem and mineral shows, craft show, plus numerous flea markets. Admission and parking are both FREE. 

There is a 69,000 sq. ft. fully carpeted indoor exhibit area, an outside midway, free live entertainment, and tons to do and see! Paul Evert's RV Country is very proud to remain the exclusive RV dealer of the event, and as in years past, you can find us right next to the big white tent. The festivities begin January 21st, but we’ll be there in early January. We’ve got a lot more information to share with you as the event gets closer, so be sure to check back with us often!

See you soon in Quartzsite, Arizona!

An Inspiring Lake for the RV Lifestyle

If you haven’t been to Crater Lake  National Park in Oregon, you simply must go. Its among one of the most beautiful places America has to offer. No place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet and a violent volcanic past. This place truly is inspiring. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom, a place any parent would love to bring their children and feel privileged to do so. In the winter the snow starts to accumulate in October and doesn’t melt until around June. But when that snow does melt away you’ll want to be there to spend lots of sunny days pic-nicing and just breathing in mother nature. 

Crater Lake also has a web cam! How much fun is that? That way if you’re thinking about going you can always check to see how much snow is there (if any) they also have a current conditions page that can help you plan your trip! 

Close by is Mazama Campground open from June-September. It has has approximately 200 forested sites. Running water, flush toilets, bear lockers, picnic tables, and fire rings are provided. Collection of dead and downed wood is allowed for campfires with the fire rings. A range of site sizes are available; tent to RV lengths. Sites can accommodate up to 8 people and 2 vehicles. Reservations can be made calling 1-888-774-2728 or on-line. Around busy, holiday and vacation weekends reservations are recommended. 

With all the recent RV shows in Oregon, we even found a day to explore the Crater Lake area ourselves! We're always asking you for pictures, so this time we're sharing some of our own!

The Rogue River had dozens of trails to explore!

Everywhere you looked the foliage was brilliantly green and river was amazing.

Found a map to a place called "Rabbit Ears" 30 minutes outside of Crater Lake. It was an easy hike with a great view!

Check out these trees! They were covered in moss that looked like hair!

The Crater Lake Lodge had good food and views.

Breathtaking view of Crater Lake from the Lodge's patio.

Look close, can you see the lodge? Several trails wound upwards to offer new views of the lake, but record snowfall only allowed hikers to go halfway.

View of the lake when entering from the North Junction

Mount Thielsen, Oregon

It seems you could pull over almost anywhere and find a sign mapping out new trails to explore!

Mill Creek Falls, Oregon

Now on the bridge seen above, overlooking Mill Creek Falls

We sure hope you’re able to travel to this beautiful location and don’t forget your camera! Now it's your turn to share pictures of your RV adventures! Click here to share your story with us!

Happy RV’ing!

Here's a camping deal worth Falling for!

Excited about fall? So are more than two dozen campgrounds and RV parks in California! They are so excited in fact, that they are offering a two-night, $50 weekend promo the first weekend of October. Executive Director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, Debbie Sipe explained that they are doing this to help attract campers who have not camped in the fall before, and to help promote camp-california.com. You can find a list of participating sites by going to the camp-california website, then to the mail page where you will find a section titled ‘$50 Camping Weekend’.  So, for only $50.00 here is what you can expect from the participating parks:

• A tent or RV site for 4 people with full hookups (or if not available, at least water and electricity) for Friday & Saturday, September 30 - October 1, 2011. Park may extend this offer to other types of accommodations such as cabins, teepees, etc.
• Possible additions: Local Transient Occupancy Tax, fees for extra cars, more than 4 people, etc.
• Reservations are required. Offer honored pending space availability. May not be used with another special offer or discount.

The first official day of fall is September 23rd, so be sure to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather before it disappears.  And as always, be sure to drop us a line or two, and send us a picture so we can share in your RV adventures! It's fast and easy to post them to our Facebook wall for all to see.


Happy Camping!

Last Minute Labor Day Plans

My goodness, another summer has flown by too quickly! If you’re like us, Labor Day has sneaked up on you faster than green grass through a goose (a funny old southern saying), and now it's down to the wire. You want to get away this weekend, but you’re thinking all the best RV parks and campsites are surely booked. Fear not, adventurous one!  According to Camp-California.com there are 34 campgrounds that still had vacancies as of Friday. The best course of action is to check the website and see which campgrounds are available now. Here is a list of the campsites that were still showing availability as of Friday:


San Diego Area

o Butterfield Ranch Resort, Julian

o Lilac Oaks Campground, Valley Center

o Oceanside RV Park, Oceanside

o Rancho Los Coches RV Park, Lakeside

o San Diego KOA, Chula Vista

San Francisco

o Petaluma KOA, Petaluma

o Oak Dell RV Park, Morgan Hill

Orange County

o Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, Newport Beach

o Orangeland RV Park, Orange

Shasta Cascade Area

o Childs Meadow Resort, Mill Creek

o Lassen Pines RV Resort, McArthur

o Mountain Gate RV Park, Redding

o Redding Premier RV Resort, Redding

High Sierra

o Coachland RV Park, Truckee

o Forest Park RV Spaces, Lake Almanor

o Meadowcliff RV Resort, Coleville

o River Ranch RV Park, Quincy

North Coast

o Edgewater Resort and RV Park, Kelseyville

o Kamp Klamath RV Park and Campground, Klamath

o Mirabel Trailer Park and Campground, Santa Rosa

Deserts

o Arabian Trailer Oasis, Boron

o Barstow / Calico KOA, Yermo

o Black Meadow Landing, Parker Dam

o Shady Oasis Kampground, Victorville

o The Springs at Borrego RV Resort, Borrego Springs

Gold Country

o 49er RV Ranch, Columbia

o Far Horizons 49er Village RV Resort, Plymouth

o Marble Quarry RV Park, Columbia

o Willow Creek Campground & RV Park, Camptonville

Central Valley

o Bakersfield Palms RV Resort, Bakersfield

o Bakersfield RV Travel Park, Bakersfield

o Kit Fox RV Park, Patterson

o Sequoia RV Ranch, Three Rivers

o Vineyard RV Park, Vacaville

Remember to share those RV stories with us and if you don’t happen to go on any RV adventures this weekend, stop in and see us, we’d love to see you!

Happy early Labor Day weekend and remember to drive safe!