RV Dad

Backyard Rink Started

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:16:55 GMT

I started on my backyard ice hockey rink this last week. It won't freeze over till January, but we'll enjoy two months of ice this winter.

Mont Tremblant

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:24:20 GMT

One of the best ski resorts in North America is Mont Tremblant, located about 100 kms north of Montreal, Quebec. We went there back in 2005 for my cousins wedding. The kids loved the place and the snowed-in look of the place was amazing. From Brampton, it was a 8-9 hour drive or 650 kms and the minivan drank about $100 in gas. When you drive from Montreal to Mont Tremblant, I suggest you do it at night as the lights from the numerous ski hills make for a picturesque drive. We stayed at Le Grande Lodge on the mountain side of the city ($200 per night). There's dozens of places you can stay from cheap to expensive to really expensive. You can find a lot of ski deals on the Internet. The view from the village up the mountain is spectacular. Beyond skiing, just hanging around the ski village shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs is fun in itself. The ski season starts November 20th, so book your ski vacation now. If you are lucky, book for December 9th, as the Olympic torch is schedule to pass thru town that day. We'll get back there in the next couple years.

Cash for Christmas

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:25:10 GMT

It's Christmas! That means buying the perfect presents for your loved ones and flying home to visit Mom and Dad. But do you have the money? Are you considering emergency loan lenders? Elastic.com is a great way of making your paycheck stretch a little further thru the holiday season. Apply online today, it only takes a few minutes, 24 hours a day. Once approved, you can get up to $500 the next business day. Elastic is a great way of borrowing emergency cash, covering unexpected expenses, avoiding bank overdraft feeds and bounced checks, paying bills on-time and it'll help you build your credit. Here's how it work. Elastic charges you $2.50 on every $20 you borrow. That's considerably less than paying $34 for bank overdraft protection. If you pay the amount back by the due date, then you don't owe another penny. You can go online anytime to schedule your payment. If you can't, then you can extend the loan with the same $2.50 fee and paying 10% of your balance (on $500, that's only $50). You won't even have to remember to make your payments, as Elastic will automatically withdraw the minimum payment from your bank account. Check out Elastic.com right now!

Port Huron KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:11:07 GMT

On August 31st, we stayed at the Port Huron KOA north of Detroit. We've been there about a dozen times in the last 3 years. It's the best KOA and campground within 4 hours of Toronto. We were going to the Tigers baseball game on the 1st and needed somewhere to spend the night. Best thing is that it's cheaper than most every campground. So, it's good. And it's cheap. Quite a combo.

Port Huron has a great variety of sites from regular tenting to high end executive concrete RV pads. They also have low-end and high-end camping cabins. However you like it, they got it.

The WiFi was awesome, but more on that in a later post. We returned 3 days later for the labor day weekend. Stay tuned for that post.

http://koa.com/where/mi/22220/

Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:40:43 GMT

And my favorite restaurant is the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. It use to be my 2nd favorite and Zehnders was my favorite, but this last visit (Wednesday, August 26th) changed my mind.

I think the butter noodles are the best part. Two or 3 bowls.

Mashed potatoes. Kids loved 'em.

The meat. Bratwurst. Port schnitzel. And more. Brats are gone. I ate them 1st.

Stuffing. More than I handle.

Gravy and mashed.

The bread is better than Zehnders, cause you get the Stollen bread. My wife loves it.

Coleslaw. Barely touched.

Cucumbers with a cream sauce.

Chicken and Pasta Salad. We had a couple of these. Maybe three.

Sauerkraut. It would take me a month to eat that much sauerkraut.

Green beans with a little bit of carrot.

Anybody for desert? Sundae and cookies.

It's all you can eat, but they still let you take some with you.

The one things that makes this meal better than Zehnders is the German customers. Here's a pic of our waitress.

Two hostesses.

Unfortunately, a few days in Frankenmuth adds a few pounds.

http://www.bavarianinn.com/

Zehnders, Frankenmuth

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:40:07 GMT

My second favorite restaurant in the world is Zehnders. We went Monday, August 24th. More later on my favorite restaurant. Shhh! It's across the street.

If you ever go to Frankenmuth, then Zehnders is a must. And don't order anything but the Family Chicken Dinner. The chicken is a little salty. The chicken is good, but the best part is the fixings.

Bread. OK. Kids liked it with the jam.

Green Beans with Dumplings. OK. We didn't finish it.

Butter Noodles are awesome! We had two or three bowls.

Gravy for the mashed potatoes. Jam at the top left.

Stuffing. Good.

Pate and Crackers. Ate it before I took the pic. Couldn't resists.

And of course, beer. That's Hofbräu Oktoberfest.

And there's much more.

http://www.zehnders.com/

Coke Zero 400 Bumper Sticker

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:02:16 GMT

Two weeks ago, I added one new bumper sticker, which I picked up when we were at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona Raceway.

The full collection.

I've had more bumper stickers in the past, but got bored of some and removed them.

Jellystone, Frankenmuth

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:53:35 GMT

One of our favorite campgrounds is Jellystone, Frankenmuth. We been here plenty of time in the last year. It's a short walk to downtown Frankenmuth or you can take the shuttle, which seems to run summer long now-a-days. Birch-Run shopping outlet is a 10 minutes drive.

The campground itself has an indoor pool, miniputt, nightly movies and plenty of activities for the kids, even thru the weekdays. We stayed from Sunday afternoon, August 23rd to Thursday morning, August 27th. WiFi was great and I got a lot of work done.

http://www.frankenmuthjellystone.com/

The Summer Office

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:18:38 GMT

Here's a pic of me at work at my summer office. The eating table in the RV.

Although we RV most all of the summer months, I still work at least an hour and sometimes as much as eight, seven days a week. We stay almost exclusively at campgrounds with good WiFi to make this possible.

Emmett KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:28:07 GMT

On Saturday August 22nd, we stayed at Emmett KOA in Michigan. This was a great KOA for the kids. Swimming and fishing pond. Wagon ride. Mini-golf. Bouncing pillow. Sunday breakfast.

http://koa.com/where/mi/22227/

Flint/Holly KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:43:11 GMT

After the Michigan race, we went to the Flint / Holly KOA (August 16th-17th). Last year, this was a Jellystone campground, but they converted over the winter to KOA.

Since it use to be a Jellystone park, this is an awesome KOA for kids. They had tones of parks, swimming, jumping pads, games, awesome mini-putt. My kids really enjoyed it.

I didn't like the fact that they had no sites with sewage. Neither did I like the fact that their WiFi sucked! I got 1/2 hour free, but then when I went to pay I had all kinds of problems. Basically, their PayPal-based payment option is broken. The lack of sewage and good WiFi is likely enough that I won't be going back much. Still, the kids loved it.

http://koa.com/where/mi/22230/

Monroe/North Toledo KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:35:32 GMT

August 14th to the 16th, we stayed at the Monroe/North Toledo KOA. We previously visited this KOA in July and liked it so much that we put it on our list of campgrounds to visit in August. Being only 45 minutes from the Michigan Internation Speedway, it was a perfect stop during our NASCAR weekend.

The kids ate corn dogs and slushies all day at the snack bar.

They have an awesome 1 acre swimming pond with a 200 foot waterslide. We swam twice on Saturday.

They have the cutest little tree houses that you can rent.

On the negative side, they gave us the dumbest firepits. Trying to make a fire in this pit was a challenge. Cutting corners by having ridiculous firepits doesn't seem very business savvy to me.

http://www.koakampgrounds.com/where/mi/22105/

Santa's Village

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:21:02 GMT

August 8th and 9th, we went to Santa's Village in Bracebridge, Ontario. This place is a great bang for the buck. Camping and a small amusement park for the family for less than $200. We've been the last two years with my brother and sister's families.

Everytime I go to the show there, I get picked from the audience to participate in the show. Yep, that's me in the pic below. I'll post video later (my sister took it).

There's lots of kids rides and even a small roller coaster. The best ride (for adults) is the boat ride.

If these guys had WiFi, then we'd go all the time. I wish I had better pictures. This place is great for kids 2-10 yrs old.

Niagara Falls KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:57:13 GMT

We left Pocono/Hershey on August 6th. Our plan was to drive past the house and up to Santa's Village in Bracebridge. I took the interstate back (big mistake) and didn't make it to the border. There's only three KOA's in Western New York State. The NASCAR race was at The Glen, so the Watkins Glen KOA was full. We chose the Niagara Falls KOA on Grand Island.

I called them up while driving on the interstate.

One site please.
That'll be $85.
But it's not the weekend.
Yep!
What's your cheapest site?
$65.
I'll take it :(

I wasn't too happy. And the price obviously scared everybody else away. It was almost empty. I suspect they get a great weekend crowd, as they are located immediately next to the Fantasy Island amusement park.

We won't be back at that price.

http://koa.com/where/ny/32101/

Hersheypark

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:31:05 GMT

While on our Pocono vacation, we twice visited Hersheypark. We also went last year and we liked it. I suspect we'll be back annually during our Pocono Raceway excusion.

Before entering Hersheypark, we always hit the Chocolate World. Chocolate World is free and has a free ride. There's also chocolate. We always buy a bucket of small chocolates.

Hersheypark has an awesome waterpark, full of some of the best water slides I've ever seen. Lot's of rides even for the kids. A gigantic wave pool. And wild rides for the teens. Check out this ride.

I think we ate 4 times (or more) in the 2 days at Prairie Dawgs. Our kids loved the Corn Dogs.

Hersheypark also has a lot of high energy roller coasters. My kids were chicken to test most of them, but we did go on one water coaster.

The best show is at their acquarium. Two sea lions save the day from three high diving villains.

The only bad park of Hersheypark was their theatre production. It was a really horrible Beauty and the Beast knock off. Neither my wife, the kids or myself had any idea what was happening.

And don't forget to check ZooAmerican, a small zoo attached to Hersheypark.

http://www.hersheypark.com/

VF Outlet in Reading

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:43:14 GMT

On Tuesday August 4th and Thursday August 6th, we were at the VF Outlet in Reading, Pennsylvania. I think this is my wife's favorite place to shop.

While my wife shopped, I hate shopping, there's a few shops in the area that I tried. West Reading Tavern was a nice place to have a beer, but they didn't have WiFi. I left.

Bistro 614 was an interesting little restaurant, but it was too expensive and again, NO WiFi.

I hung out most of my time at Hard Bean and Haute Chocolat Cafe. Both had WiFi, but the signal and coffee was better at Hard Bean.

3 Four Leaf Clovers

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:45:41 GMT

It had to be a lucky weekend, Adelaine found 3 four-leaf clovers in the grass at the Pocono Raceway. More to come here and the Talk-Sports blog. We did get lucky. Very lucky. Come back and see how.

More pics about Pocono over on the Talk-Sports blog.
http://www.talk-sports.com/game/default.aspx?search=pocono

LeHigh Tunnel

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:17:29 GMT

We always take the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Allentown to the Poconos (we were headed to the Pocono Raceway for the NASCAR event). It's a toll road with very few onramps and turnoffs. In fact, from the Allentown KOA, you have to go south to Allentown for quite a few miles to get on to the turnpike, because there isn't any onramps until you are half-way to the Poconos. Along this path is the LeHigh Tunnel. The highlight of this short trip.

http://www.pahighways.com/toll/LehighTunnel.html

Allentown KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:13:04 GMT

On July 29th, we stayed at the Allentown KOA. It's the second time we've been there. We arrived late. It was raining. It rained very hard. We left early (went to NASCAR's Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono). For the 2nd time, I didn't take any good pics of the campground. The WiFi was good. We didn't fish, but we previously did and the creek that runs thru the campground was stocked. This year, the creek's water level was much higher and the current was much stronger.

See my previous stay at this campground.
http://www.vacationrace.com/blog/default.aspx?search=allentown

Campground website.
http://koa.com/where/pa/38110/

Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:00:35 GMT

On July 27th and 28th, we stayed at the Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA. This is a great campground only a half hour drive from Hersheypark (our current destination). We stayed the first night in site 310, snuggled into the wood (awesome layout). WiFi was OK. The second night we stayed in site 202, right at the front. Wifi was awesome!

Lately, I've been charcoaling instead of propaning. I find it funner! It's a word.

We drove down Hwy 15 from North Western New York to Elizabethtown, Pennsylvani. That was a fast drive. We didn't go fast. It's just a lot straighter than previous routes I've driven.

http://koa.com/where/pa/38181/

How To Find Us?

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:53:21 GMT

If you ever see this sign at the front of a campsite, then you know you've found us. We don't always put it out. Only if we are staying awhile.

Jellystone, Niagara

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:45:35 GMT

On July 26th, we stayed overnight at the Jellystone Niagara. The Internet was good. We've stayed there before. Not much new to report.

Here's a previous post about this campground.
http://www.vacationrace.com/blog/?guid=20080709105750

Campground website.
http://www.jellystoneniagara.ca/

Bass Lake, Cobalt, Ontario

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:13:11 GMT

After getting stuck in the mud, I made it into my camping spot a Bass Lake. As usual, the bugs were overwhelming. The management changed this last two years since my last visit. It's no longer in the care of my uncle and there's new staff. Still, it was my family reunion and I had to beat my kids with a stick, kicking and screaming to leave.

Down and Dirty at Bass Lake

randy@kbcafe.com (Randy Charles Morin) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:35:30 GMT

Finally arrived Bass Lake near Cobalt, Ontario for my family reunion. A 5 hour drive, done in 3 days. I'm about to back-in to my campsite and my RV sinks into the wet grass.

I tried to dig myself out.

No chance. I don't look anywhere as dirty as I really was. After using the cell phone a few times, there was sand in the phone for the next week.

My uncles, aunts and locals tried to pull me out. We even tried serial 4x4s. We almost made it out twice, only to slip back in.

Finally, the heros arrived. They winched us out in one minute and for only $60. I think I got a break cause my uncle use to do business with them.