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Articles for ‘Events’

What to know before going to the Burner Festival

Wednesday, February 10th, 2016

You’ve bought your ticket to Burning Man, you’ve rented a Burner Friendly RV rental or are bringing your own motorhome, you’ve stocked your food, water, costumes, and gifts and are ready to head out on the road. Heading out into the desert to this amazing event is an experience not to be missed. However, on the way home, there are a few tips and tricks to make the cleanup process far less painful.

Black Rock Desert RV

What to know before you head out:

If you’ve never been to a Burner event, a good first times guide can be found on burningman.org. Living for a week in the desert has its challenges, go prepared and life at your first burn will be that much more fun.

Power
Solar power is the way to go. It’s hot and sunny in the desert, with the exception of those sand storms. Running a generator burns fuel and is a noisy neighbor. Plus power makes a few things a bit easier to navigate around.

Lights
It’s unbelievably dark in BRC. Lighting up your RV so that you can see it on your way back to your home base is priceless.

Keeping Cool
The desert temperatures often reach above 100 degrees and there is no offer of any shade aside from what you make yourself. Here are a few great tips for keeping cool in extreme heat.

Fuel
Make sure you have enough fuel to get into and out of the Burner Festival. Also, take into consideration fuel for the generator (just in case). There have been reports of people waiting in the line-up to get in for upwards of 9 hours! So go prepared. Also, fill your tank on your way out of Reno. The closer you get to BRC the longer the line is for gas. And the wait becomes insane.

Seal the Dust Out
The alkaline dust found at the Playa can damage everything it touches. It has a talcum powder consistency and gets EVERYWHERE. Using painters tape to tape up all seams in your RV is key. It won’t keep all of the dust-out, but it’s far better than using nothing at all. Sealing up a fresh set of clothes for the drive home is glorious.

Cleanup
The festival recommends a vinegar-based cleaning solution to clean everything right away. From your clothes to your vehicle. Here are a few of their tips for cleaning out the dust. Make sure to use an air compressor to blow the dust from the engine (as the dust will lead to corrosion), wash the entire outside and vacuum up on the inside as soon as you possibly can. If you opt to visit a self-service bay, make sure to find one that your RV can fit into. In Reno, this one is great. On the flip side, you can always pay a professional to clean your motorhome as well. They may charge a bit extra for the extra deep clean, but it’s well worth it.

In the end, remember to have fun, enjoy the experience, and open yourself up to new adventures.

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California Wine Road Trips

Thursday, October 15th, 2015

We’re incredibly lucky to have one of the top locations in the world for wine tasting right in our own backyard. When people think of the best vineyards, they think of California. And why not? California boasts cozy caverns, scenic vineyards, and more than 50 types of grapes. What better way to tour the top California wine regions then in an RV. Your home away from home is ready and waiting.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
When most people think of So-Cal they think of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu. For the wine lover, winemaking has been taking place in these wine regions since the late 1700s. Grab some lunch and road trip up to the high elevation wineries in Malibu. Elevations range from sea level to 3,111 feet at Sandstone Peak. The newly granted Malibu Coast AVA is mainly in the Santa Monica Mountains and is about 46 miles long and 8 miles wide and includes 198 acres of vines for 52 grape growers. The high elevation in this region’s climate, soils, and unique aspects affect the taste of the wine produced. Why does this matter? It matters because the combination produces the delicious wine we know and love in Malibu.

Malibu Wine Road Trip

While driving along the coast, don’t forget to stop by Mission San Diego de Alcala, as they are home to the oldest grapes in California. About an hour northeast of San Diego, off the beaten path, you can stumble upon Temecula. Best known for their Italian and Rhône varietals and the annual Balloon and Wine Festival. The Cucamonga Valley should also be on your hit list. Famous for preserving the past with historic vineyards and ranches and their old-vine Zinfandel and Port-style wines.

Hot air balloon being filled with flames to create heat. Man on the left operating the hot air dispenser. Image is in full colour.
HIGHWAY 1 – THE CENTRAL COAST.
If you’re doing a California road trip, how can you not drive highway 1? The coastal ocean views, the winding road, the wine along the way. Starting in LA, a quick two-hour drive north make sure to stop downtown Santa Barbara for lunch and visit beautiful State Street and sample some of the regional wines at one of the street’s many tasting rooms. From there head inland. The Paso Robles wine region is unique as the day/night temperature swings create bold red wines that are a must. Paso Robles is about halfway between LA and San Fran.

Paso Robles VIneyards

Continue heading north towards Monterey and stop by A Taste of Monterey, the region’s official wine visitors center. You can learn all about Monterey Bay’s unique landscape and how it affects the vineyards, sample the region’s wine, and maybe spot the whales migrating.

SAN FRANCISCO.
Next stop, San Fran. Home of amazing restaurants, fresh local foods, and the urban wine movement. During the day, wine and dine on Fisherman’s Wharf, then head to Jackson Square and sample wines at the various wine bars downtown. Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco

NAPA VALLEY.
Any road trip that’s centered around wine tasting isn’t complete without stopping in Napa Valley. Just an hour northeast of San Francisco, start the day wandering downtown Napa and enjoy some local wines at the Oxbow Public Market. Head up Highway 29 to fill your sights with what Napa Valley has to offer, stopping at renowned wineries for tastings. Keep an eye out for the landmark sign “Wine is bottled poetry” as quoted by Robert Louis Stevenson after a visit to Napa Valley in the 1880s. Known for its life-change Cabernet, Napa Valley boasts tiered hillsides, wine caverns, and illustrious estates, making for stellar scenery every wine lover will swoon over.

Napa Valley Wine Country Road Trip
SONOMA COUNTRY. 
Sonoma Valley, also known as Valley of the Moon offers a bit more laid back atmosphere in comparison to Napa Valley. However, there are still more than 400 wineries with some of the best being: Chateau St. Jean, Simi, Sebastiani, Rodney Strong, Marcassin, Paul Hobbs, La Crema, and Kistler. The Sonoma Valley is known for its cool-climate Pinot Noirs. Be sure to taste a variety. While in the valley, Sonoma Plaza lies in the heart and offers a historic view of the country.

Sonoma Valley Wine Country Road Trip

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Why Music Festivals? Why an RV?

Monday, March 16th, 2015
Music Festival Atmosphere

I love music festivals. Discovering new artists, being in a crowd of people thoroughly enjoying the pumping tunes coming out of the speakers, and singing along to my favorite songs being sung by the artists themselves, is a feeling of freedom. From Coachella to Lollapalooza, to Shambhala, to Osheaga, each offers a slightly different feel and experience. While Lolla happens in the fabulous Grant Park in the Windy City, Chicago, they offer the ultimate line up of artists right on the water, right downtown. Fun! Shambhala Music Festival brings the electronic groove to Southern British Columbia, Canada. You’ll be dancing the night away in a beautiful slice of forest and farm for the best outdoor experience. Osheaga is the mini if you can call it that, sister to Lollapalooza and Coachella. Offering epic music in downtown Montreal in Jean-Drapeau Park. And then there is Coachella, with its two-weekend, three-day music and arts festival. Located in the Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. No where else can you find the perfect variety of music, in a hot sunny desert with so many options for fun!

When getting around to all of these fun and fab music festivals there are many ways to live in comfort while not having to slog around in the mud and use public toilets. You can actually have that long-desired shower before the end of the festival.

Enter the RV. Recreational Vehicle. Motor Home. Whatever name you choose the luxury it offers while camping out at a music festival is great. Here are a few great benefits to going to a music festival with an RV:

Man Standing on RV in the mountains

1. Setup. Everything is already set up and ready to go when you arrive, and takedown is super easy.
2. Privacy. You have your own private toilet, toilet paper, and best of all SHOWER!
3. Location. You can stay right on the festival grounds, or nearby, which saves on taxi rides or additional car rental and parking costs.
4. Cleanliness. Your sleeping area is much easier to keep clean.
5. Food. You can easily cook your own food with nearly full-size appliances.
6. Safety. All of your belongings are safely locked away.
7. Comfort. There’s nothing like sleeping in a comfy bed instead of on an air mattress.
8. Weather. If it rains, or snows, or is extremely hot or cold, you have a safe haven.
9. Sound. If the show goes all night and you’re ready to crash, an RV provides some sound protection.
10. Convenience. It’s like a hotel room where ever, whenever you want.

Camping in the Mud at Music Festivals