Swing Into Spring

No matter the geographic location, spring can lift one’s spirits. The sweet breezes, blooms, and bird songs that fill this season may motivate RVers to hit the road soon. Oh, the anticipation!

This edition is dedicated to helping you usher in the month of April. On the FMCA side, area rallies and chapter rallies are picking up steam. It’s also time to consider registering for FMCA’s 107th International Convention in Gillette, Wyoming, this summer. Refer to our rally calendar to see what might fit into your travel schedule.

As always, you can look to FMCA for a wide-ranging array of benefits and discounts specially designed to help you enjoy RVing to the fullest. We highlight several of them below.

As you plan your journeys, why not pack your racquets and golf clubs, or look into attending a Major League Baseball game? We offer some info sources that may be helpful. Or consider honoring U.S. national forests by planting some trees; read below for a way to celebrate Arbor Day.

If you’re unwrapping your RV and prepping it for travel season, we wish you well. If you’re new to this RV thing, read on for some tips, tricks, and inspiration. If you’re already on the road, carry on!

April is a great month. Enjoy!

The FMCA Team

Custom Glass Solutions

Custom Glass Solutions is absolutely a great glass company.  We used them in Salt Lake City, Utah, after catching a good-sized rock from an 18-wheeler in Whitefish, Montana.  Outstanding work.

Larry Key, F537134

As an FMCA member, you can work with Custom Glass Solutions to get your windshield replaced and earn a complimentary year of FMCA membership. Learn more here.

RV Know-How

It’s no hidden fact that RV owners love learning the ins and outs of their home on wheels, and most know it like the back of their hand. Whether it pertains to storage, maintenance, towing, essential supplies, or the best travel routes to take, RVers seem to have their own data bank of knowledge. And without a doubt, many love sharing that information with other RV owners.

Here at FMCA, we understand the importance of being armed with RV knowledge before you hit the road, and we have many tools to help you learn. Let’s start with the FMCA University. This vast online library holds decades of RV knowledge, all in one convenient location with 24/7 access, so you can learn at your own pace. Or maybe you like learning from other RVers. In that case, the online FMCA Forums is a great platform, enabling you to chat with other members and RV owners about everything RVing. Both of these valuable resources are included in your FMCA membership. You’ll also want to peruse FMCA.com to glean important information about member benefits, FMCA chapters, rallies and conventions, and more.

Family RVing magazine, available in print and digital formats, has a website as well — familyrvingmag.com — which enables you to view technical, travel, and lifestyle articles from current and previously published issues.

Are you planning to attend an FMCA International Convention? If so, consider signing up for one or more educational programs held just prior to the event. RV Basics provides 2½ days of classroom instruction focusing on various aspects of RV operation and maintenance. RV Backing and RV Driving sessions, presented by the RV Driving School, offer participants hands-on practice and learning in their own RV.

In addition, many industry allies are willing to lend a helpful hand, providing important information on getting started. View Go RVing’s YouTube video on How to set up a travel trailer at the campground, or one from RV Tips & Travels featuring Must have RV accessories, essentials and supplies for beginners in 2023. In a helpful blog titled Tips for New RV Owners: How to Avoid the Worst Mistakes!, RV Geeks help you prepare so that you don’t make some serious errors.

Still not sure where to start? Join our Facebook group RVs & Camping – On the Road with FMCA to meet like-minded RVers.

Swing Into Sports

Spring is a great time to get out, get active, maybe start something new. And that includes sports of various sorts. If you’re shaking off the winter doldrums, now is the time to pick up a club or a racquet and play!

Golf + RVing = a winning combination! Hit the links wherever you end up. Or plan a road trip to maximize the number of camping locations and tee times you can reserve. One popular destination is Indiana’s French Lick Resort. Its three courses, including one designed by famed golf architect Pete Dye, provide ample challenges among beautiful, rolling hills. Camping options include an RV lot at the resort and several RV parks in town. Nearby Hoosier National Forest offers camping areas also.

Other RVer-friendly golf options include Thunder Bay Resort in Hillman, Michigan; Joe Wheeler State Park on Wheeler Lake in Alabama; and Shore Gate Golf Club in Ocean View, New Jersey. Learn more in blogs provided by Transwest RV and Alliance RV.

Harvest Hosts, an FMCA partner, welcomes RVers at thousands of camping sites within its network of wineries, breweries, distilleries, farms, museums, and private properties. RVers also can stay at more than 435 golf courses that are included in Harvest Hosts’ All Access membership tier.

Several FMCA chapters are great groups for folks who are passionate about their team or sport. The Gamecock Cruisers center their activities around University of South Carolina sports. The Sooner Coaches enjoy a spring rally and one at Christmas, plus tailgating events during Oklahoma University’s football season. The Racecar Fans meet up at various racetracks and even help chapter members looking for great seats and RV sites at races. And at press time, a new pickleball chapter was being organized in the Rocky Mountain Area. Search the list of FMCA’s hundreds of chapters here. If you’re interested in organizing one to celebrate your favorite sport or other activity, FMCA’s Chapter Services Department will be glad to help. It’s a win-win!

Speaking of pickleball . . . this fast-growing paddle sport has caught the attention of RVers in a big way. It combines badminton, tennis, and table tennis in a fun, easy-to-learn activity. Campendium offers info about campgrounds in the West and Southwest that have pickleball courts. In addition, April is National Pickleball Month, so you’ll probably be hearing much more about the sport soon.

And what’s spring without baseball? Why not point your RV toward some of the 30 cities with major-league teams? From Atlanta to Chicago, and Los Angeles to Cincinnati, catch the excitement at different ball parks. Itinerant Fan offers several suggestions for putting together an MLB ball park road trip during the 2023 season. (Bonus tip: Search online for minor-league teams, which promise a host of fun activities and darn good baseball as well.)

FMCA Health Plan

RVers want health insurance that will be there when they need it. FMCA members now have a new resource to consult! The FMCA Health Plan network is a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan designed with RVers in mind. FMCA Health Plan agents work with the top-rated insurance companies to offer you the best solutions. Learn more about this member benefit here.

Fantasy RV Tours Rally Featured on the Discovery Channel - Watch Now! 

Filmed at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, an episode of the Discovery Channel’s show “The RVers” reveals to the world what it’s really like to travel with Fantasy RV Tours – FMCA’s official RV travel partner. From hundreds of hot-air balloons floating over your RV site to a private hospitality tent for catered meals and events, to having everything planned for you... click here to see what makes a Fantasy RV Tours rally so special!

FMCA's 107th International Convention & RV Expo

Don’t be a bummer this summer! Come join the fun as we commemorate FMCA’s 60th anniversary at our “Celebrating Sixty” convention, August 23-26, 2023, in Gillette, Wyoming. Enjoy far-out seminars, exhibits, RV displays, and more during this four-day event. Register online or by calling the FMCA Events team at (800) 543-3622 Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You don’t want to miss out on this groovy get-together!

Swan Lake Resort & Campground, C14291

Fergus Falls, Minnesota

Nestled on 18 acres next to Swan Lake, just south of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, is one of FMCA’s newest commercial members, Swan Lake Resort & Campground. The facility offers 6 acres of natural woodlands and lakeshore frontage where you can enjoy a nice, long hike in the woods or swimming from the beach. This resort and campground offers pull-through campsites with 20/30/50-amp electric, sewer, and water hookups, plus a paved patio, a picnic table, and a firepit at each. This beautiful, small facility has five lakeside sites and four wooded sites near walking trails. Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy the tranquility of nature in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

FMCA members receive a discounted rate at many FMCA commercial member campgrounds. To find more locations along your route, check out our RV Marketplace!

Celebrating Arbor Day

Celebrate Arbor Day this year by taking the Arbor Day Foundation’s tree survey. By completing the survey and donating $10, participants will receive 10 trees to plant in their area! Trees will be shipped to donors at the right time for planting based on the area. If you cannot plant the trees yourself, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant 10 trees for you in one of America’s forests that have been devastated by fire, insects, disease, or deforestation.

Best RV Grills for 2023

Looking for an RV grill to bring along this summer? Check out the BBQGuys’ Best RV Grills for 2023! This list is chosen by industry experts and rated on the quality, performance, and features of each grill. These grills are designed to live on the road, because they are lightweight and easy to store while still offering great power and performance.

Custom Pickleball Paddles 

Be the coolest player on the pickleball court with your own custom pickleball paddle from Zazzle! Zazzle has a large collection of premade designs you can select from and personalize, or you can upload an image of your choosing.  

Tennis Courts Near You

If you want to practice your serve, check out tennismaps.com for an interactive map of local tennis courts, tournaments, and coaches in the area! You can also use USTA’s website to find courts and programs near your campsite. Both resources are perfect for any beginner or pro while on the road.

Campfire Cooking And More

We couldn’t be more excited that the spring camping season is upon us! Time to load up the family and head for a favorite campground. Of course, part of planning for a trip is deciding what good things you’ll be eating during your outing. Although we have all the conveniences of home inside our RVs, sometimes it’s more fun to cook outdoors over an open fire. The readers of Taste of Home magazine agree, as evidenced by a website post titled 35 Easy Camping Meals You Can Actually Make Outdoors. This list of reader-supplied favorites covers everything from appetizers to main dishes to desserts, ranging from the simple to the sublime. If you’re a fan of the “life is uncertain: eat dessert first” philosophy, you might want to start with this fun take on a fancy sweet treat: Eclairs on the Grill.

If you want even more camp cooking inspiration, try Country Living’s 30+ Easy Camping Recipes for Your Next Trip to the Great Outdoors or 30 Easy Camping Recipes from Insanelygoodrecipes.com.

Good eatin’ and fun-filled travels to all! See you around the campfire!

FMCA Area Rally Schedule

June 2023

Great Lakes Area Rally — June 7-11 — Greenville, Ohio

Northwest Area Rally — June 7-11 — Albany, Oregon

Midwest Area Rally — June 13-16 — Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

July 2023

INTO (International) Area Rally — July 6-11 and/or July 12-17 — Calgary, Alberta

August 2023

Northeast Area Rally — August 3-5 — Frankfort, New York

September 2023

South Central Area Rally — September 13-16 — Shawnee, Oklahoma

October 2023

Eastern Area Rally — October 4-8 — Lewisburg, West Virginia

Click here for more information about FMCA’s upcoming 2023 event schedule.

Are you looking to meet other RVers? Look no further. FMCA has nearly 300 chapters across the United States and Canada. FMCA chapters are made up of RV enthusiasts who have a zest for travel, as well as hobbies and interests off the highway. Find a chapter that best suits your interests here.

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Family Motor Coach Association 8291 Clough Pike | Cincinnati, OH 45244 US

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