RVing to the CMA Music Festival!

Want to see the country music fans in your crowd go crazy? Offer to take them by RV to the annual CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee in June! The Fest is one wild and crazy fanfest filled with concerts, meet 'n greet opportunities with the stars and a non-stop, four-day photo op. Find out how comfortable traveling to Nashville by RV can be and share the costs with several friends to make the trip very affordable. Here's the scoop on country music fun at this annual extravaganza.

Where's All the Action? The Country Music Association hosts this huge, four-day festival at several venues throughout Nashville. Fortunately for festival goers, shuttle buses run between venues, making getting to concerts and other events on time super easy. You'll get to see famous country acts at LP Field, Riverfront Park, Fan Fair Hall and Sommet Center Plaza during the festival. The lineup in past years has included stars like Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift and Sugarland.

How Much Does it Cost?
To attend the CMA Music Festival, purchase a four-day pass that gives you access to every concert, party and event open to the public. Prices range from $300 to $110, depending on the level of seating at LP Field. By the way, these passes sell out months ahead of time, so start making your plans now if you'd like to attend in June. Here's the link for ticket information. One more note: to make this trip really affordable, share costs on the RV rental and plan to cook at least part of your meals in your convenient RV kitchen.

Where Should We Camp?
The Tennessee State Fairgrounds is open for first-come, first-served RV camping for $35 per night. If that's the option you'd like to take, click here for more CMA ticket information, and plan to arrive early!

If you'd rather stay at a campground with more amenities, you're in luck! There are literally hundreds of RV campsites within a fifteen minute ride from downtown Nashville. Jellystone Camp – Park Nashville is twelve miles north of downtown, and very near the Grand Ole Opry. If you're traveling with younger country music fans, this is the place for you.

Nashville Country RV Park is another highly-rated campground with fantastic amenities. Free wi-fi, a fitness center and shuttles to area attractions are all waiting at this premium campground.

Another campground possibility is Nashville KOA Campground, near the Cumberland River. The campsite hosts are well-versed in Nashville attractions, and their campsites are very pleasantly well-equipped.

How Do We Rent an RV?
Whether your group decides to RV in from Florida or pick up an RV rental locally at our Nashville RV Rentals location El Monte RV is able to help. Contact us today at 888-337-2214 to reserve a motorhome at any of our nationwide locations.

Heading to Nashville by RV for the CMA Music Festival is an experience you won't soon forget. Call your friends, make your plans and get ready to have a magical time in Music City!

California RV Golfing Adventures

There are two recreation activities custom made for each other – RV camping and playing a great round of golf. If you love traveling by RV and can't think of a better way to spend an afternoon than on the golf course, it's time to learn more. Here's how RV campers in California find great golf just a few steps away from their comfortable campsites.

California Golf/RV Resorts
The Golden State is definitely gold for those who like the comfort of an RV while on vacation. Hundreds of fabulously scenic locations throughout the state make RV campers welcome. Even better, motorhome campers who also love to play golf will find golf courses with RV campgrounds throughout the state.

In El Centro, California, just north of the US/Mexican border, RV/golfing fans will find two resorts created just for them. Desert Trails RV Park and Golf Course features scenic campsites, fantastic amenities and an executive 9-hole golf course. Rio Bend RV & Golf Resort is a beautifully landscaped, one hundred twenty acre resort surrounded by wetlands. Lush scenery surrounds each campsite, and the executive par 66 golf course is PGA rated.

Farther north near Stockton, French Camp RV Park Resort and Golf Course caters to those who love the RV life, with a little golf thrown in. Located in Manteca, this resort offers a nine-hole, par 32 golf course with lots of water to challenge you. With a pool and spa, full hookups and shuttle service to the pro shop from your campsite, you'll be tempted to camp here long-term.

Another 9-hole executive golf course wrapped in a lush RV resort can be found in Desert Hot Springs, California. Just north of fabulous Palm Springs, the Sands RV & Golf Resort goes all out to offer guests the best in resort amenities. If you're looking for Palm Springs style luxury, this is the place to be.

California's North Coast is home to a challenging 9-hole, par 35 course nestled among towering redwoods. Benbow RV Resort & Golf Course is adjacent to the historic Benbow Inn, and is one of the most scenic places you'll ever park your RV. Surrounded by redwood-covered mountains, this resort offers your golf party the serenity of the forest and many other outdoor recreation possibilities.

For true Wild West flavor, you won't want to miss the Likely Place RV and Golf Resort in Modoc County. This northern California resort grew from one family's ranch to become a celebrated RV resort with an 18-hole, par 72 golf course. Surrounded by the rustic Warner Mountains, this resort offers an RV/golfing vacation with a little extra.

North of Fresno in Chowchilla, The Lakes RV & Golf Resort gives RV campers the chance to play free on Pheasant Run Golf Club's 18-hole executive course. This scenic lakeside resort is within easy driving distance of many of California's most beautiful natural wonders—Yosemite, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe, just to name a few. Full-service campsites and nice extra touches throughout the resort make this a must-stay on your California RV/Golfing tour.

Hit the links and camp in style at one of California's luxurious RV and golf resorts. If you have plenty of time to travel, why not sample the scenic pleasures of more than one resort? Either way, the joys of California RV golfing are likely to lure you back for another round soon.

For more RV Golfing fun across the United States, check out RV Parks with Golf / Golf Courses with RV Parks.

RVing to Gem Shows!

Are you distracted by bright, shiny objects or just love attending gem and mineral shows? Here's a tip: renting a motorhome instead of booking a hotel room is a much more economical way to visit your favorite gem shows. Spend more money on gems and jewelry by planning to cook most meals in your RV, and trade the noise and congestion of convention hotels for a peaceful RV campsite.

Ready to head out to hunt for treasure? Here are just a few of the fabulous gem shows our customers go RVing to each year.

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
This week-long, internationally-famous gem and mineral event is actually made up of many "mini shows" at multiple venues. Some events are open only to dealers, but there are enough open to the public to completely fill your week! The biggest public show of all is held the final weekend (always the second full weekend in February) at the Tucson Convention Center. Hundreds of gem, mineral, bead, and jewelry dealers set up shop at this expo and offer the world's finest specimens to the public.

Why not plan to spend at least a couple of days looking for treasure in Tucson next February? Our El Monte RV Rentals Tucson RV Rentals location can help you rent the right RV for your stay. Stay at beautiful Beaudry RV Resort nearby to make your stay even more memorable.

American Opal Society Show – Anaheim, CA
For fabulous opal and other gemstone finds, plan to spend a weekend in November in Anaheim. This is the largest opal show in the US, and you'll find lots of other gems offered by dealers there, as well. Anaheim RV Village, in the heart of this exciting city, makes a convenient base camp for your visit. Our Santa Ana RV Rentals office is conveniently close for picking up your RV rental, so why not come to California in search of opals next November?

Denver Gem & Mineral Show
The second largest gem and mineral show in the country is held each September in Denver, Colorado. Thousands of gem enthusiasts and rock hounds flock to Denver to see this huge expo at the Denver Merchandise Mart. An added bonus is the variety of smaller gem shows held the same week in the Denver metro area. Our Denver RV Rentals office is the perfect spot to reserve your RV, so be sure to call early so you don't miss this show. While you're there, Denver Meadows RV Park in Aurora is a safe, comfortable campground about fifteen miles from the Mart.

East Coast Gem & Mineral Show
About an hour and a half east of Boston, MA, West Springfield hosts the East Coast Gem & Mineral Show each August. More than two hundred dealers display not only fine gemstones but also fossils and museum quality mineral specimens. After swinging by El Monte RV Rentals in Sutton, MA, head for the show and use the money you save on lodging to take home plenty of treasure!

We hope you're excited about finding a gem show to build a motorhome camping vacation around. Choose your favorite and book your rental RV early. Who knows? Some serious bling just might be in your future!

The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Burning Man

The Burn started with an amazing fireworks show. Towards the end of the show the man started to burn first from the chest and then the legs. Pretty amazing...

Burning Man 2009 Fireworks

Burning Man 2009 - The Man Burning

Burning Man 2009 - The Man Completely Engulfed

Also see:

• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Black Rock Brews
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Technology of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Creativity of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Sunrise on the Playa

RV Vacation Idea - Exploring California Ghost Towns

We've had so much fun delivering the goods on great ghost towns in other states, we almost forgot to include California! For an RV camping vacation that's hauntingly spectacular, use these tips for exploring California ghost towns on your next trip.

San Bernardino Area Ghost Towns
Very near our El Monte RV Rentals San Bernardino RV Rentals location, you can explore ghost and historic mining towns to your heart's content. Twin cities along the Santa Ana River were once the largest between Los Angeles and New Mexico. A devastating flood in 1862, however, destroyed most of Agua Mansa and La Placita. Today, ghost town fans can visit the historic Agua Mansa Cemetery, with graves dating back to the 1840s, to learn more about San Bernardino County's earliest non-native settlers.

Ten miles from Barstow, discover Calico Town, the historic silver mining town that's a treasure for the entire family. With one third of this once-bustling mining town's structures still standing, your RV camping trip to Calico Town will provide an unforgettable glimpse into the California silver rush. Pan for gold, shop at the Mercantile and take the kids for a ride on the narrow gauge railway. A large RV campground onsite offers the amenities you'll appreciate after a day exploring Calico Town.

One more area for hardcore ghost town fans to explore is the Wildwash mining area east of Victorville. Numerous working mines, abandoned mines and rock houses can be found. Pay attention to private property signs and plan to hike this area to find clues of mining towns now vanished. While visiting both the Wildwash area ghost towns and Calico Town, why not park your RV at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park campground? These lakeside campsites are sure to soothe your spirits after a long day of hiking.

Sacramento Area Ghost Towns
Swing by our El Monte RV Sacramento Rentals location for the perfect motorhome rental, and then head south to the historic town of Locke. Locke is a delightful place to spend several days exploring. Built in 1915 by Chinese merchants, it has remained a marvelously quirky village with narrow streets, abandoned buildings mixed in with thriving businesses and its own unique atmosphere. Explore the only completely Chinese California ghost town, and stay in waterfront luxury at Snug Harbor RV Park in Walnut Grove.

While in Sacramento County, be sure to visit Folsom. Although still a living city, Folsom has incorporated its mining town past into an intriguing historic district. Located on the beautiful American River, just twenty miles from Sutters Mills, you'll find plenty of gold mining history to keep you busy in Folsom.

San Diego Area Ghost Towns
There are several fascinating ghost towns in the San Diego area. Start your trip at Stonewall Mine in Cuyamuca State Park. The collapsed mine shaft and a few ruins, as well as a cabin/museum mark a place where over one million dollars in gold was mined.

Vallecito stage station was rebuilt in the 1930s so that visitors to the area could have a taste of California's early history. To the north, visit Banner to see the remains of a mining town struck by three floods and a fire before being abandoned. While you're in the area, don't miss Julian, CA, a beautiful historic gold mining town that caters to history buffs. If San Diego County is your preferred ghost town exploration destination, be sure to reserve your RV first at our San Diego/Santee El Monte RV Rentals location.

Learning about the past while exploring abandoned or historic towns in a fantastic way to spend an RV camping vacation. Choose a comfortable RV as your home for the duration, and pack your camera and hiking boots. Who knows? Exploring ghost towns in California just might become a lifetime obsession!

Top Ten RV Camping Activities

Although the luxury of an RV might tempt you to stay inside on your next vacation, there are dozens of things to do outdoors, too! No matter what type of activity you enjoy, making a motorhome your home base gives the perfect blend of comfort and the great outdoors.

Use this list of the Top Ten RV Camping Activities to plan your next RV jaunt.

1. Fishing: Whether angling for bass or hoping to land a trophy trout, great fishing can be found at many fantastic RV camping destinations. Check local lakes and rivers, or branch out to state lakes and national parks to hook a great campsite close to the water. For up to date fishing reports, try ReelReports.com, and to find nearby campgrounds, check websites like GoCampingAmerica.
2. Boating: Love to hit the lake for a weekend of boating fun? Tow your boat behind a comfortable RV and you'll have a great place to relax back on-shore. Lakes and rivers throughout the US offer boaters a variety of experiences. Whether it's canoeing or kayaking at Delaware Water Gap or sailing on one of the Great Lakes, there are sure to be scenic RV campgrounds nearby.
3. Hiking: Pick a trail, map your course, and park your RV in a wooded campground for a wonderfully relaxing getaway. Most US National Parks have hundreds of miles of trails to hike, so why not plan a vacation there? Many eastern National Parks include sections of the Appalachian Trail, and the hiking possibilities in Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Bryce Canyon can keep an RV camper busy for weeks.
4. Nature Photography: One of the favorite activities RV campers report is taking photos of their surroundings. Whether you're one of those shutterbugs who'll climb a cliff for a great shot, or you prefer to take wildlife photos close to your campsite, spending time camped in the woods with a good camera can be very rewarding.
5. Horseback Riding: Spending time out in nature on the back of a horse makes for some wonderful memories, too. Many venues now offer scenic RV campsites and trail rides to campers. Here's one example in Missouri that promises plenty of family fun.
6. Mountain Biking: For a real adrenaline rush, plan an RV camping vacation around mountain biking trails. Some perennial favorites? Try the trails around Snowmass and Aspen, Colorado, or Porcupine Rim Trail near Moab, Utah. Make sure you ride the trails around Lake Tahoe, too, for a once in a lifetime experience.
7. Whitewater Rafting: If paddling through rapids and blasting past rocks in a raft gets your adrenaline pumping, whitewater rafting is one don't-miss RV camping activity. Use this site to find the right river for your next adventure, and get ready for some watery fun.
8. Skiing: What could be more luxurious than coming home after a long day of skiing to the warm and comfort of a motorhome? Smart RV campers know there are plenty of places they can ski that have campgrounds near the slope. Leave time on your next RV camping trip to the mountains to get in time on the slopes.
9. Golfing: Have a golfer in your camping group? Be sure to check out local greens when planning your RV trip. Or, plan an entire trip around playing eighteen holes at notable golf courses. Either way, golf is a natural activity for active RV campers. Here is a nice resource listing RV Camps with Golf courses.
10. Scenic Drives: And, don't forget why we travel by motorhome in the first place! Viewing beautiful scenery from the comfort of a motorhome will give you a whole new outlook on vacation travel. The America's Byways website has in-depth information on the most scenic drives in America. As you plan where to camp, plan time seeing the scenery that makes America beautiful.

Gemstone Hunting RV Camping Ideas in Connecticut

For a fantastic northeastern gem hunting experience, plan some motorhome camping time in Connecticut. There are numerous old and currently operating mine sites that allow prospecting.

If you choose Connecticut for your next RV camping and prospecting trip, definitely do some research on the Roxbury Falls area, where some of the world's best almandine garnets have been mined. Start at Green's Farm Garnet Mine near Roxbury. This former mine site still yields deep red garnets.

Another easy place to prospect in Connecticut is Old Mine Park in Trumbull. The Park Rangers can guide you to a construction site where topaz, beryl and an interesting form of emerald are being found.

These are only a few of the gem fee mining sites that can spark an entire RV camping vacation. Whether you find yourself hunting Herkimer Diamonds in New York, or digging for sapphires in Montana, it's a great way to spend time out in the wild with your family. Dig some more for fee mining sites in America, and prospecting is liable to become your favorite motorhome camping activity!

Utah Freshwater Fishing Destinations

Does the idea of dropping a line in a clear, cool lake have you reaching for your fishing tackle? RV campers from all over are discovering the joys of freshwater fishing in Utah. Huge lake trout, abundant striped bass and tiger muskie that will give you the fight of your life are all waiting for you in Utah. Here are some places RV campers report make a great fishing vacation destination.

Lake Powell
Deep blue waters and amazing red rock canyons are only two of the reasons motorhome campers who love to fish love Utah's Lake Powell. Located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which stretches from northern Arizona into Utah, Lake Powell has thousands of miles of shoreline waiting to be explored. Every campground on this enormous lake offers scenery that will have your camera clicking. Fishing for striper is especially popular at Lake Powell, and this handy Fishing Lake Powell guide will point you to the coves with the most action.

Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Located near the Utah/Wyoming border, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area has spectacular scenery, woodland RV campgrounds and thousands of trophy-size rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout! While you're in the area, fish the Green River in the scenic canyon below Flaming Gorge Dam for record-breaking brown trout. This popular RV camping destination does require campground reservations, so use this Camping at Flaming Gorge Reservoir link to make yours.

Jordanelle State Park
West of Salt Lake City in the front range of the Wasatch Mountains, you'll find Jordanelle State Park, home to abundant fishing opportunities. It's famous for its smallmouth bass population, and also offers plenty of cutthroat, brown trout and perch fishing. Nearby, Rivers Edge at Deer Park Resort features picturesque, tree-shaded RV campsites and fly fishing adventures on the Provo River.

Ready to find your own trophy trout in Utah? Our Salt Lake City RV Rentals location is ready to provide you with a well-equipped RV for your Utah camping and fishing trip. The fantastic scenery, comfortable RV campgrounds and memorable fishing experiences make Utah one of the best places you'll ever visit. Let us know what your Utah fishing adventure reels in!

RV Camping Outside Yellowstone

With boundaries in three states, and millions of acres of forest land surrounding the Yellowstone National Park, there's no shortage of scenic RV campgrounds outside Yellowstone. West Yellowstone, Montana, for example, boasts more than a dozen RV campgrounds.

Towns like Jackson and Cody, Wyoming also offer campgrounds close enough to use as your base camp. Many offer bus tours to the Park, so why not plan to spend at least one day getting familiar with Yellowstone with an experienced guide?

Use this link to choose the state and town you'd like to camp in and make your reservations early! The National Parks Service site also has a wealth of fascinating information to make planning your trip to Yellowstone easier.

The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Man

This is part of a series of posts about Burning Man 2009 submitted to us by a friend who attended the event...

"The Man" at Burning Man 2009 consisted of irregular wooden triangles surrounding The Man; no two triangles were alike. It was supported by a central tree, with a beribboned double helix. The structure changed appearance unexpectedly during the week, time of day, weather and finally the burn.

The Man at Sunrise

The Man Early Evening

The Man at Night

Also see:

• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Black Rock Brews
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Technology of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - The Creativity of Burning Man
  
• The Best of Burning Man 2009 - Sunrise on the Playa

RV Camping Inside Yellowstone National Park

With numerous campgrounds operated within the Park itself, and a wide variety of private RV campgrounds nearby, finding a place to park your RV rental isn't difficult. Here are some basic guidelines for finding an RV campsite within the Park:

• The twelve campgrounds within Yellowstone are operated by a private firm, and several are on a first-come-first-served basis for campsites.
• RV campers not planning to stay another night must check out by 10 a.m. at these campgrounds. Arm yourself with a plan for which campgrounds interest you and be there to claim your site.
• Here is a wonderful website with comprehensive information about all Yellowstone campgrounds, as well as many RV campgrounds outside the Park. You can also use this site to find how to reserve campsites in campgrounds that take reservations.
• Camping along roadways or in undeveloped areas isn't allowed at Yellowstone. One more important rule to plan for: generators aren't allowed after 8 p.m. at most campgrounds.
• Yellowstone is a wild and wooly place! Bears, wolves, bison and coyotes are only a few of the species roaming the park. Food, cooking utensils, coolers and anything that might attract animals must be stored inside your RV unless being used.
• Yellowstone is enormous! More than two million acres, spread across Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, make this Park the perfect place to camp for a week, or two. It also makes drive times outside the norm. It's common for campgrounds to be twenty or thirty miles beyond the closest entrance, so plan your arrival times accordingly.
• Your RV is a comfortable way to view the remarkable beauty of Yellowstone. Grand Loop Road takes you around the Park to most of the major attractions. Plan several hours to traverse this one hundred forty two mile series of figure eights, designed way back in 1883!

RVing to the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival

Need a quick, late autumn RV camping vacation that includes music, hot air balloons and worthy causes? The Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival is held each year in late November in Yuma, Arizona. Located in the far southwest corner of the state, a stone's throw from both California and Mexico, Yuma hosts this fabulous festival that raises money for local charities.

Here are the five top reasons RV campers will love this Balloon Festival.

1. Great Location!
   The Colorado River runs through Yuma, and the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival is set against its wild beauty. Imagine waking up to dozens of balloons rising on the riverbank, with picturesque mountains as a backdrop! Three different venues in this Sonoran Desert city set the stage for the three day invitational Festival.


2. Great Events!
   One of the things that make this Balloon Festival unique is the variety of venues for Festival events. A special Media Flight lifts off from the grounds of a local school, and mass ascensions each day are based at a scenic park. The crowning event of the weekend, a sundown tethered balloon "glow" set to music, takes place at Desert Sun Stadium. You won't have time to be bored on this RV camping trip. There are colorful, thrilling events occurring everywhere you turn!


3. Great Balloons!
   Did we mention this is an invitational Balloon Festival? That means that only about three dozen top-notch balloonists from around the world are invited to take part in the three-day Festival. You'll be amazed at their expertise is piloting their balloons during the weekend.


4. Great People!
   The City of Yuma, civic-minded corporations and an organization called the Caballeros de Yuma go all out to make this annual invitational Festival a family event. Not only do the Caballeros raise money for scholarships and charities by operating the event, there are also connections to kids throughout the Festival. One very special annual tradition is the Tissue Balloon Launch featuring miniature hot air balloons created by area children. Another great Balloon Festival community tradition—breakfast made by local law enforcement during the early morning ascensions!


5. Great RV Camping!
   Pick up your luxurious RV rental at our Phoenix RV Rentals office and head south to Yuma for a weekend of Balloon Festival fun. While in Yuma, plan to stay at Shangri-La RV Resort, a large, full-service RV resort and campground. With all the amenities you could possibly need right there in the neighborhood, your Balloon Festival RV camping adventure will be memorable.
   
   Just twelve miles west of Yuma, you can also experience desert camping with full hookups at Gold Rock Ranch RV Campground in Winterhaven, California. If you've never experienced the Southern California desert by RV, this is the place to do it!
   
   There's still time to plan a fabulous Balloon Festival weekend in Yuma. Grab the kids, pack your casual clothes and make your RV reservation today! What better way to spend a November weekend than immersed in music, hot air balloons and RV camping fun?

Gemstone Hunting RV Camping Ideas in North Carolina and Georgia

A perennial family favorite in the Eastern US is Gem Mountain in Spruce Mountain, North Carolina. Located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in the area known as "Little Switzerland," this family destination offers mine tours and the chance to screen for Crabtree Emeralds and Brushy Creek Aquamarines. Park your RV nearby at the Bear Den in Mount Pisgah National Forest.

For a truly Southern gem prospecting adventure, join the owner of the Hogg Mine near LaGrange, Georgia most Saturday mornings for a day of surface fee mining for aquamarine beryls, tourmaline crystals and literally boulders full of rose quartz!

The Red Rock Balloon Rally

Seven miles east of Gallup, New Mexico, in some truly spectacular surroundings, Red Rock State Park has hosted the Red Rock Balloon Rally for twenty nine years! Our readers love this balloon fest, the second largest in the world, and we wanted to pass along this idea for a great RV camping vacation. Sit back and listen about how these wild canyons are transformed every December near Gallup, New Mexico.

The Destination
Just off I-40, about two hours west of Albuquerque, Red Rock State Park is a photographer's paradise. Smooth red rock bluffs surround the park on three sides, making this six hundred acre park the perfect setting for an international balloon rally.

Besides the vast red rock canyons in the area, the site of the Rally also offers a big taste of Native American culture. The Red Rock Museum features art and cultural displays from the Zuni, Hopi and Navajo cultures, as well as the ancient Anasazi who once inhabited the area. And, one more reason motorhome campers love this Rally - it's free to anyone who wants to come & watch!

The Event
Much more than just a major hot air balloon event, this huge festival raises thousands of dollars each year for area charities. Balloon crews from around the world gather the first week of December for three days of balloon races, mass ascensions and sundown balloon glows that will have your camera snapping.

If you've never attended a balloon rally, this is the perfect place to start! RV campers from all over have been fascinated by exciting events like the balloon races, in which balloon crews move from target to target, dropping their markers. And we can't even describe how awesome it is watching dozens of balloons “light up” in the evening sky against a backdrop of red rock bluffs.

In the midst of all that color and action, Red Rock Balloon Rally takes on its own unique flavor with the added ingredient of Native American culture. Special ceremonial dances, held as official Rally events, allow visitors a glimpse into ancient rituals. Native artisans sell pottery, jewelry and other handcrafted art throughout the Rally, so plan to come away with some wonderful finds.

The RV Camping Possibilities
Ready to roll to Red Rock? Here are some suggestions for making this your best RV camping trip ever! If you don't own a motorhome, call the El Monte RV Albuquerque Rentals office. They'll reserve a luxurious RV and help point you down the road to Red Rock State Park.

There's a very well-equipped RV campground on Route 66, in nearby Gallup. USA RV Park is in a scenic mountain setting and offers all the amenities motorhome campers could hope to find. There's also the large KOA Gallup Kampground within minutes of the Balloon Rally site. It features large pull-thru campsites, wifi, cable and a campground store for your convenience. Either way, your RV camping vacation will be a memorable one, thanks to the great campgrounds available near Red Rock.

We hope this stirs your interest to see the wonder that is Red Rock Balloon Rally! Book your El Monte RV Rentals motorhome now and plan to spend some time at the Rally this December. It could be just the lift your spirits need!

Gemstone Hunting RV Camping Ideas in Nevada

Nevada has been the site of fabulous gemstone finds, and the Garnet Hill Recreation Area near Ely is very popular with prospectors. Search two square miles of public land for likely garnet-containing specimens, and be sure to bring your rock hammer for breaking them! Camp just fifteen miles away at Cave Lake State Park, or really relish this remote region with a visit to Great Basin National Park, sixty miles east at the Utah/Nevada border. Both parks offer RV camping facilities.

In the remote desert of northwest Nevada near Denio, the Virgin Valley offers gem prospectors the opportunity to mine for precious black opal at three fee mining sites. Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, has yielded gorgeous specimens. The Royal Peacock Opal Mine, has RV camping available onsite, and allows both "tailings digging" or "bank digging," depending on how much you plan to spend. You can also search mine tailings for black opals or "fire opals," at the Bonanza Opal Mine in the Valley. A large, free campsite without hookups can be found at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge near the Bonanza Mine.

For an RV Rental for your Nevada gem hunting vacation, check out the El Monte RV Las Vegas RV Rentals or Reno RV Rentals locations.