RV Camping to Grapefruit League Spring Training In Florida

Did you know that fifteen major league baseball teams head to Florida each year for spring training? During the month of March, more than a million fans watch "Grapefruit League" spring training games, and RV campers who love baseball are always in the stands.

The possibilities for being in the stands are fantastic, with some early planning. Here's a quick look at the Florida cities that host Grapefruit League games each year (courtesy Florida Grapefruit League Association):

• Atlanta Braves - Lake Buena Vista
• Baltimore Orioles - Sarasota
• Boston Red Sox - Fort Myers
• Detroit Tigers - Lakeland
• Florida Marlins - Jupiter
• Houston Astros - Kissimmee
• Minnesota Twins - Fort Myers
• New York Mets - Port St. Lucie
• New York Yankees - Tampa
• Philadelphia Phillies - Clearwater
• Pittsburgh Pirates - Bradenton
• St. Louis Cardinals - Jupiter
• Tampa Bay Rays - Port Charlotte
• Toronto Blue Jays - Dunedin
• Washington Nationals – Viera

We did a little advanced scouting and found some great RV campgrounds near spring training venues. Use our list to help plan your trip, or reserve a campsite at your own favorite Florida campground, instead.

Here are our top picks for Florida RV campgrounds this spring:

• Sun-n-Fun RV Resort – Sarasota: Your family will love this very large camping resort close to the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates spring training fields.
• Calusa Cove RV Resort – Fort Myers: Why not plan to see both the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins in Grapefruit League games? This beautifully wooded RV campground is the perfect home base.
• Bay Bayou RV Resort – Tampa: Camp in luxury and watch the New York Yankees work out at George Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of Yankee Stadium.

For additional Spring Training information see: Major League Baseball Spring Training.

As you can see, there are fifteen great venues to visit in March if you enjoy combining great baseball action with comfortable RV camping. So, here's the game plan: use this handy link to Grapefruit League team schedules, plan an itinerary and then contact one of our Florida RV Rental locations to reserve a motorhome for the trip. With RV rental locations in Miami, Orlando and Palm Harbor, picking up your RV for your spring training pilgrimage is a breeze. See you at the stadium!

RV Camping NASCAR 101

Are you ready for racing season? There's nothing more exciting than RV camping in the infield! If you've never indulged in NASCAR RV camping, here's a tutorial for getting ready for the races.

I. Where Would You Like to Go?
Every single NASCAR track works hard to create a memorable experience for die-hard NASCAR fans who also love RV camping. Race weekend at these tracks means a veritable city of RVs and motorhomes springs up, and it's time for you to be part of it! Here are some favorite tracks suggested by our RV rental clients: Kentucky Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway. If none of these get your engines revving, check NASCAR.com for information on world-famous tracks like Daytona, Talladega and Chicagoland.

II. Make Reservations Early!
As you're choosing your favorite NASCAR RV campground, remember that infield camping and nearby campgrounds fill up many months in advance, so make your reservations soon. A terrific resource for NASCAR RV campers can be found at LaidBackRacing.com. They charge a minimal fee for the information, but they've done an amazing amount of research on campgrounds, onsite camping and local amenities for nearly every NASCAR track.

III. Arrive Early!
You're going to find a party waiting at any RV campsite near a NASCAR track, long before the race begins. Make your vacation super-memorable by arriving early. Our clients have shared some great stories about marathon poker games, non-stop tailgating and incredibly friendly fans. If that sounds like the perfect vacation to you, plan to set up camp as soon as the gates are open.

You can find information about individual tracks and race weekend particulars at NASCAR.com. The fan guides for each track explain when and where camping is allowed, where RVs can park for tailgating if you're camping off-site, and the best traffic routes.

IV. Know What to Expect!
There's nothing worse than arriving for a long weekend of NASCAR racing and RV tailgating, only to realize the infield camps don't have hook-ups. If this is your first time RV camping at a particular NASCAR track, head for the track's online fan forums and ask questions. You'll find plenty of NASCAR RV camping veterans able to help.

RV camping on-site at a NASCAR track is the ultimate experience for racing fans. We're ready and waiting to help our customers enjoy maximum NASCAR excitement. Give us a call to start your NASCAR season rolling or check out NASCAR Vacation / NASCAR RV Camping on the El Monte RV site.!

Wilmington/Cape Fear for Romance

Thanks to the Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau for tipping us off to the following...

Wherever you rent your El Monte RV from, if Valentines day will find you in the Wilmington and North Carolina's Cape Fear Coast region, you may want to check out these romance-inspired events during the month of February:

FEB. 4-6: 30th ANNUAL N.C. JAZZ FESTIVAL. More than a dozen traditional jazz artists perform in a cabaret-style setting. Admission charge/advance reservations. Hilton Wilmington Riverside. 910-793-1111

FEB. 5-7: 8th ANNUAL WILMINGTON CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL. Chocolate makers demonstrate & sell their sweet treats. Chocolate Gala Fri. 7pm-10pm ; Festival Sat. 11am-6pm & Sun. 11am-4pm. Admission charge (AC). Senior Center, Wilmington; 910-798-6402

FEB. 11-13: HOLD-YOUR-HONEY-TIGHT HAUNTED TOURS. Guides tell tragic love tales. Ghost Walk at 6:30; Haunted Pub Crawl at 7:30. AC. Reservations required. 910-794-1866

FEB 12-14: VALENTINE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE. Moonlit ride with private coach, rose, chocolates. Admission charge. Reservations required. Downtown Wilmington. 910-251-8889

FEB. 13-14: SWEETHEART CRUISES ABOARD THE HENRIETTA III. Cruise, buffet meal, and cash bar aboard NC's largest riverboat. Dinner/dance cruise: Saturday (6:30-9:30pm); Lunch cruise: Sunday (12-1:30pm); Sweetheart Supper cruise: Sunday (4-6pm). Boards one-half hour prior to cruise. Admission charge. Advance pre-paid reservations required. Cruises depart at Dock & Water sts., Downtown Wilmington. 910-343-1611; 800-676-0162

FEB. 13-14: WILMINGTON GARDEN SHOW. 50+ exhibitors with products and presentations. 9am-5pm (Sat.) & 11am-4pm (Sun.). Admission charge (AC). Schwartz Center, Wilmington. 910-798-7670

FEB. 14: THAT'S A MORAY! VALENTINE DINNER. Couples-only 4-course dinner and dancing surrounded by the magic of the ocean. 6:30pm. Admission charge; advance reservations required. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. 910-458-8257

RV Tailgating at NASCAR Races

"Daytona", "Talladega" and "Watkins Glen," those names run through the dreams of NASCAR fans as racing season opens. They know there's not only great racing to be enjoyed at NASCAR tracks, but non-stop tailgating fun, as well. Those fans lucky enough to travel by RV have a leg-up on the competition. Here's a primer on how to plan a full season of NASCAR RV tailgating.

Choose Your Favorite Tracks
For a winning season of NASCAR RV tailgating experiences, start by choosing your NASCAR itinerary for the season. Besides local and regional racing, NASCAR features three national racing series - Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series. They also have a sanctioned racing season in Canada and Mexico.

You might also have a favorite driver or two that will help you decide which races to follow. Drivers like Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon have built loyal throngs of fans who line the stands every time they race.

If you've been following NASCAR racing for years, you probably already know which drivers you'd like to watch and their scheduled races. Newcomers to NASCAR racing can look here for schedule information, and then decide how many races you'll travel to attend. An important tip: order tickets early! Many NASCAR tracks, even those holding nearly two hundred thousand fans, have been known to sell out during the more famous races.

NASCAR Tailgating Traditions
Every NASCAR track has unique attractions, and they've created RV camping and tailgating traditions at each. Daytona International Speedway, for example, offers NASCAR fans five different RV campgrounds within sight of the speedway. During races like the Daytona 500, thousands of NASCAR-loving RV campers bring out their best tailgating recipes and enjoy a non-stop party over race weekend.

Bristol Motor Speedway in the hills of Tennessee, Infineon Raceway near Sonoma in California's Wine Country and Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway with its convenient infield RV camping are just three of the tracks that are known for great RV tailgating possibilities.

To get the latest in RV camping and tailgating information, and to learn tips such as what can be carried into the grandstands, go to each individual track's website and follow the links to their fan guide. Also, find out which RV campgrounds require reservations and be sure to make yours early for this race season.

Plan Your Tailgate Party Menu
Now, let's talk about food! That is, after all, what's at the heart of every great tailgate party. The convenience of an RV kitchen can make all the difference in whether your NASCAR tailgate party crosses the finish line first. Think about which of your favorite recipes could be easily eaten at the track—grilling brats and burgers, cooking a batch of your famous chili or roasting veggies in foil are all tailgating traditions.

Food Network's website offers dozens of tailgate party recipe ideas, everything from Uncle Bubba's Wings to Deviled Crab Potato Skins. The Tailgating.com blog also features favorite recipes from hundreds of tailgate party aficionados.

Remember, if you're traveling to the track by RV, you won't be limited to a hibachi outside your mini-van. You'll have well-designed kitchen appliances perfect for preparing a meal on the road. There's really no better way to host a tailgate party than in the shade of a great RV!

Pack Up the RV
You've chosen your RV roadtrip itinerary that includes time at your favorite NASCAR tracks. You've selected your very best tailgate party recipes, bought the groceries and planned for kitchen utensils and party ware. All that's left to do is pack what you need and head for the track.

Be sure to check with El Monte RV Rentals if you will be renting an RV for the trip. For additional information also see NASCAR Vacation, NASCAR RV rentals, NASCAR RV Camping & Tailgating.

It's going to be a great NASCAR racing season! Don't miss the excitement; start making your plans now for at least one weekend of race-car-watching-tailgate-partying fun this year.

RV Camping California's National Historic Sites

This is the 3rd of 3 posts on RV camping in California's National parks. Also see: RV Camping California's Desert Parks, and RV Camping California's Redwood Forests.

Not only do California's National Parks showcase the beauty of nature, they also preserve sites of national historic importance. Here's a short list of some of the NPS locations in the Golden State that should be on every RV-driving history buff's vacation itinerary:

• Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site: A chance to see where the Nobel Prize winning playwright made his home near Danville.
• Rosie the Riveter/World War II Homefront National Monument: A wonderful Bay Area attraction where the memories of how America responded to a World War are preserved.
• Tule Lake Unit: A sad page in American history is remembered at Tule Lake, where Japanese American citizens were incarcerated after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It's part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument near the Oregon/California border.

California's National Parks and Historic Sites are worthy of an entire summer of RV camping. But if you don't have that much time, pick one or two to visit this year. The sights, sounds and memories you'll encounter at our National Parks will have you wondering how soon you can book another RV trip to California.

For more California RV Camping information and information on where to rent you RV for a California National Park vacation, see RV Rental California - For Your California RV Vacation.

RV Camping California's Redwood Forests

This is the 2nd post of 3 posts on RV camping in California's National parks. Also see: RV Camping California's Desert Parks.

No RV camping trip to California is complete without time spent in its redwood forests. Fortunately, two parks sit side by side in California and showcase not only these redwood forests, but also mountain peaks, awesome caves and classic California chaparrals. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, east of the San Joaquin Valley, are a non-stop photo opportunity, as well as the perfect place to hike, ride horses or mountain bike.

Choose from hundreds of miles of hiking trails, take a Ranger-guided tour, or simply drink in the stillness of early morning in the forest. To plan a memorable RV trip to these two National Parks, use this link for campground information and pay attention to RV length limits and tips for camping amidst the abundant wildlife.

For the ultimate in California redwood viewing, plan an RV trip to Muir Woods National Monument, a spectacular part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Walk among the giant redwoods at Muir Woods, and then take in the astonishing variety of attractions in the Golden Gate NRA.

Being able to visit such sites as the Presidio, Alcatraz Islands and the beautiful beaches of the Bay Area all in the same trip make this a top pick among RV campers. Although no RV campgrounds exist within the NRA itself, campgrounds like Marin Park are close to public transportation and within easy driving distance of all the Golden Gate attractions.

And we haven't even mentioned the most venerable of California's redwood-filled National Parks, Yosemite. The waterfalls, granite slopes and sunlit meadows of Yosemite draw millions of visitors each year. RV campgrounds are available within the Park itself, and nearby parks like High Sierra RV give motorhome campers plenty of options.

For more California RV Camping information and information on where to rent you RV for a California National Park vacation, see RV Rental California - For Your California RV Vacation.

RV Camping California's Desert Parks

Three major National Parks in California showcase the wild beauty of the California desert. Joshua Tree National Park, one hundred forty miles east of Los Angeles, gives visitors the chance to enjoy both mountains and desert in one trip. The RV campsites here are minus hookups, so you'll need to fill your water tanks in designated areas. But the chance to camp in the middle of such breathtaking beauty makes an RV trip to Joshua Tree NP a must-do for motorhome campers.

For the ultimate Mojave Desert experience, turn your RV toward Mojave National Preserve. From volcanic cones to vast sand dunes, visitors will find the images of the Mojave unforgettable. Developed RV campgrounds exist within the park boundaries, so plan to stay in the midst of one of America's great desert treasures.

Iconic Death Valley National Park draws visitors not only to its enormous stretches of desert, but also to its snow-capped mountains and incredible array of wildlife. Fill your vacation photo albums with magnificent shots of Death Valley while camping in one of many developed campgrounds at the Park. Keep in mind the extreme temperatures here; visits in spring and fall will be much more enjoyable.

For more California RV Camping information and information on where to rent you RV for a California National Park vacation, see RV Rental California - For Your California RV Vacation.