Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Shout out to some Bloggers who recently Blogged Us - Thank You for the Reviews of Pine Near RV Park & Campground

Thought ya'll might like to read a few folks' personal insight on staying in our campground.

This review and photographs by Linda & Howard of stillhowlyntravels.blogspot.com

"Now the town of Winthrop is a destination in itself! Located at the north end of the 60-mile long Methow Valley, Winthrop is packed with history, a ton of recreational activities like mountain biking, cross-country and alpine skiing, hiking and rock climbing, fishing and rafting....all with a funky western flair. We scored once again!" ~Howard & Linda

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This review and photographs by Tonja of www.campingourway.com

"You don’t really come to this park looking for a KOA type experience, you come here for the proximity to Winthrop and all the things you can do in town. The amenities are adequate including 50 amp service for big rigs. The wi-fi was the best I’ve ever had at any rv park. I could actually stream movies on it. There is an on site really nice laundry facility there with bathrooms and showers that are tiled like a really nice hotel would be..." ~Tonja

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This review and photographs by Suzanne Anthony of www.taketothehighway.com

" Unlike most RV Parks that are just a gravel or asphalt parking lot, Pine Near is all grass….thick, lush green grass. The first question I am asked at check-in, “Do you want to stay hitched up, or unhitch?” The pull thrus on the lower level are so long, you just drive across the lawn and stop when you are level. I ask about the road noise behind my bedroom window. She looks at me with a deadpan expression, and says “We are a town of 349.”

The park has everything you could need, from laundry service to lending library. It is on a higher level above the fray of the main street, so it is quiet and peaceful. Yet a short walk through the Shafer Historical Museum full of old mining and logging antiques, then down the boardwalk, and you can find whatever you need in the little town." ~ Suzanne

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This review and photographs by Jim & Gayle of http://littleadventures-jg.blogspot.com

"A friend told us about a Passport America park, Pine Near, just a couple blocks from downtown, so we decided to check it out. Besides, we liked the name.

Full hookups, nice laundry, green grass, and deer everywhere. With tax we paid $18.67/night.

Winthrop Is a small western-themed town, which we figured would be another tacky tourist destination like Tombstone, AZ, but it surprised us by being tastefully done, and even having a brewery. And from the RV park it’s just a short walk to town, which is always a plus." ~Jim & Gayle

Friday, June 13, 2014

Winthrop, Wine & Western Women ~ 2014

Itinerary & Choices!

Thursday ~ Out to Dinner for those of us who are at the Pine Near. We’ll take a vote!

Or feel free to rest and relax with your own meal at the Campground. Visit as much or as little as you like in the evening.

...And perhaps some wine tasting at the Wine Shed on Main Street !

Friday ~

6:30 - 9:30am Rocking Horse Bakery or Shari’s Sweete Shop - Yum, think Chocolate, Butter, Locally roasted Organic Coffee. Yes, Rocking Horse Bakery has gluten and dairy free (vegan) faire. (Lunch available too.)

8:00am ~ Yard Sales, find them here: http://methowvalleynews.com/classifieds/#2 or here:

http://www.methownet.com/bulletinboard.html

Horseback Riding is available on Friday / Saturday 10, 1 and 3pm. $37. Call www.sunmountainlodge.com 509-996-4735 to make your reservations. Group up! It’s fun!

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping.... and plenty of Window Browsing in both Winthrop & Twisp. We have several Thrift & Antique stores in both towns. Feel free to group up and scout out treasures and trinkets!! P.S. If you end up making your way to Twisp, I suggest you check out Poppi Joe Galleria (a nice mix of old and new) Glover Street Market and the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery (both are on Main street - one block from Hwy 20)

Golf: See below.

Potluck ~ 7pm Show us what you've got! Bring your favorite dish and/or drink or pick something up at the store. (Hey, we can't all be fabulous cooks now can we?) Either way, there’s nothing better than a Potluck - Women Style. Yee Hah!!! We will provide paper plates and silverware if you forget yous…

After supper, we'll gather round for visiting, crafting, gaming, reading, guitar playing - whatever makes your heart happy!

Saturday June 28th ~ Make your Choices!

6:30am ~ Hot Air Balloon Rides ~ This is a rare opportunity! Kurt will take you high above the Methow Valley (we’ll wave at you ;o). Enjoy a Champagne PicNic with homemade bread & sweet bread, cheese and locally sourced champagne. Flights leave at 6:30am. Please plan about 2.5-3hrs so you can enjoy the picnic afterwards. There is a two person minimum. $225/pp. Please call Kurt to book. 509-996-2284 http://www.balloonwinthrop.com/flightsandrates.html

8:00am ~ Yard Sales, find them here: http://methowvalleynews.com/classifieds/#2 or here:

http://www.methownet.com/bulletinboard.html

TTBD ~ Paula Christain Water Colors Gallery - Open for viewing.

Golf: See details below.

12:00pm ~ Methow Valley CiderHouse Extravaganza ~ Snacks or bring your own picnic and sample a variety of hard and not so hard ciders. Price depending but very affordable.

5:00pm ~ Cowboy Camp Dinner ~ Ride a horse or in a covered wagon out to supper with the Hands. (leave here at 4:15) $54 Leaving from Sun Mountain Lodge www.sunmountainlodge.com Call 509-996-4735 for reservations. I recommend you group up with other Western Women to make it more fun!

Or hang out in camp, eat leftovers, share your crafts or go downtown for dining and music.

Golf

Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 holes = $20. 18 holes = $30. Golf carts are available for rent but it’s a beautiful course for walking. Call for a tee time. www.bearcreekgolfcourse.com/ 509-996-2284

Sunday June 29th ~ Make your Choices!

Rocking Horse Bakery opens at 7am. If you didn't get a chance to swing through Sheri's Sweet Shoppe todays the day! They have homemade chocolate galore and countless flavors of ice cream - both imported and homemade.

8:00am ~ Cowboy Breakfast (leave here at 7:00am) Ride a horse or traverse in a covered wagon. $46. Leaving from Sun Mountain Lodge Corral. www.sunmountainlodge.com Call 509-996-4735. I recommend you group up with other Western Women to make it more fun!

9:00am ~ Fly fishing Casting Lessons provided by Griffs Fly Fishing Adventures. Rod Griffin is providing us with a special, special rate of $15 per person. That is a smokin' deal. I suggest you like him on facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Griffs-Fly-Fishing/394164943968986 Rod will be bringing five rods with him to use here at our campground. If you have your own rod, please bring it. Please let me know if you would like casting lessons.

Housekeeping

Bring your bicycles if you like to ride. Winthrop has lots of trails to enjoy!

I also encourage you to break out your Western or Vintage Western Duds. They fit right in, in Winthrop!

Please let me know if you plan to attend the:

Cowboy Dinner at 5pm on Saturday - leaving from Sun Mountain Lodge

Cider and PicNic at 12pm, Saturday - Methow Valley Cider House.

Griff’s Fly Fishing Adventure - smokin’ Casting Lessons Sunday at 9am.

Please call or email me with any questions, concerns, etc. ****And also, please forward this to as many sisters as you know who are coming. I fear this may get sucked into some ladies spam files.

See you soon and looking forward to Having more Fun than Anyone!

~Anna

509-341-4062

http://www.methownet.com/weather.php

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Winthrop Weekend Happenings... 01/23/14

The following information comes to you, thanks to our Fabulous Winthrop Chamber! See below for some weekend highlights. Yes, Pine Near RV Park & Campground is open!

We have good cross-country skiing right now. The MVSTA grooming report gives very accurate updates on the current conditions. The MVSTA Facebook page and the MVSTA website Photo of the Day show images taken daily on the trails. If you have any questions about conditions please feel free to call us or even better, call MVSTA at 509-996-3287. They are always up to date.
We would just call them and call you back

This Friday is a free ski day on the trails as part of the Methow Valley Nordic Festival. This includes free rentals, lessons and trailside fun at the Mazama Trailhead from 10am-3pm. Saturday there is a skate ski race in the Rendezvous.

Saturday evening you can go to the Nordic Festival Party and dinner at The Barn for the Methow Valley Nordic Team - the very team our, three awesome Olympic Skiers grew up on!

The Party goes from 5:30 pm to 9 pm at the Winthrop Barn. Dinner tickets are $10 - $16 in advance - available by emailing mvntdirector@gmail.com

Big Hockey Tournament Jan. 24-26

Come be a spectator! It's fun to watch hockey at an outdoor rink. By the way, you can sit inside the warm spectating area if you arrive early enough!

Please note that the regular ice rink schedule is modified due to this event.

THE ONLY PUBLIC SKATE IS SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 from 12pm-2pm and Sunday, January 26 after 12noon. The rest of the weekend is dedicated to the tournament and to a couple of public hockey games.
SEE THE ICE RINK WEBSITE FOR FULL ICE RINK SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEKEND
Come down and watch!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Stay Warm in the Winter - Really!

8 Tricks To Stay Warm All Winter - from our friends over at 50 Campfires

Posted by: Clint Carlson in Camping Tips, Featured Articles

I hate being cold. Like, I really hate it. So, it’s a good thing that I’ve figured out how to never be cold – ever. I grew up in International Falls, MN and now live in Minneapolis, MN. There’s a big, nasty polar vortex ripping through the state right now and a lot of people are freaking out about it. Not me. My system is dialed in. I know how to stay warm, and I’m going to share my secrets with you. Here are all of things that I swear by (and also the topics I annoy my coworkers with by discussing ad nauseam):

1. Start Stockpiling Merino Wool

In my opinion nothing beats modern merino wool. Five years ago base layers were all polypropylene and you didn’t have many merino options. Today you can get anything you want in merino wool, and in my opinion you should. It’s antibacterial, doesn’t stink, is very durable, and keeps you warm if you get wet. It’s also very breathable, so it’s comfortable across a wide temperature range. It’s not going to be cheap. It took me 2-3 years to get everything I wanted. Head to toe, these were the best deals I’ve found:

Hat and neckwarmer: Smartwool.

Base layer top and bottom: Minus33 all the way. I’ve worn my top base layer almost every day for two winters and it’s showing no signs of wear whatsoever. Their clothing is well made and reasonably priced compared to Icebreaker, Smartwool, etc.

Socks: Smartwool socks are as good as it gets and is money well spent. Be wary of blends. Always look at the percentages. Target actually has an excellent 80% merino unisex wool sock for about $8. It’s an incredible deal. For some reason they only stock them in the women’s dept. If you find them, but as many as you can afford. I’ve been wearing them for several years and they’re holding up well.

2. Flannel Lined Jeans Are A Little Bit Life Changing

I start wearing these in November and don’t take them off until March (no not the same pair). Seriously – it feels like you’re wearing pajamas and no one is the wiser. You’ll never go back. Personally I didn’t want a pair that made it look like I was going to work on a pipline somewhere. A lot of them a too heavy duty for casual wear. I picked up a few pairs from Old Navy $40 each and they’re great. Not too bulky and crazy warm. Women will have a harder time finding them. Cabela’s is a good place to start.

3. Steger Mukluks

My Steger mukluks are hands down the warmest boots I’ve ever owned. Nothing is even a close second. They’re only for really cold weather though. If it’s above freezing and it’s slushy and wet, you don’t want mukluks. I can run around in -10 all day in them and my toes are toasty. With that said, I know that Stegers aren’t for everyone. My advice outside of Stegers is to find a boot with a flexible sole and try them on with thick wool socks. Get a pair that gives you a lot of room in the toe box. If you feet can’t move very much you’re going to get cold. If you can’t afford a sweet new pair of boots right now but you love to be outdoors get some adhesive toe warmers. They’re amazing.

4. Get A Boot Dryer

Think your boots aren’t damp? Wrong. They are. When you wear your boots every day they never fully dry out, and that compromises their ability to keep you warm. I have this little one ($60) and it works great. You’ll use it for shoes, boots, gloves, hats, etc. At least once a week I’ll forget my boots out on the porch in the winter. If you have a boot dryer it’s no big deal. They’ll be toasty warm in 10 minutes (a hair dryer works well in this situation too).

5. Get A Pair of Smartwool Liner Gloves

Even the best winter gloves/mittens tend to get sweaty after awhile, leaving your hands cold. A pair of thinSmartwool Liner Gloves ends that. You hands will stay dry and warm all day.

6. Stay Hydrated

photo credit:Jean Fortunet

I have a friend who, when asked about staying warm in the winter will just say, “water and wool.” She says that staying hydrated and wearing a lot of wool is your best bet. I agree with her, and if you Google it, you’ll find that you do need to drink more water in the winter. The air is drier and dehydrates us quicker. When you’re dehydrated everything is more difficult, including staying warm and avoiding illness. Pound water in the winter!

7. Get Remote Start For Your Vehicle

Try to find someone that regrets dropping the cash for remote start on their car. You won’t. My wife and I got it for the first time three years ago on our SUV and I can say that I’ll never own another car in my life without it. You can get by with less gear if you have it too, because you’re just running from warm place to warm place.

8. You’d Care A Lot Less What Others Think Of You If You Realized How Seldom They Do – So Wear What You Want

No one is paying attention to me when I’m walking around with every piece of merino wool I own so I wear what keeps me warm. People in really cold climates are generally practical in the winter. However, we all see those people scurrying along in almost nothing complaining about the low temps. When it’s -20 you can’t have it both ways. Personally, I think everyone around you benefits when you’re cozy warm and in a good mood, so I say wear whatever you want and don’t worry about it. Besides, I think Steger Mukluks are pretty sexy.

Bonus Tips!

I asked my friends on facebook how they stayed warm on the coldest days and got some great responses. I’m adding them because I don’t want you to get cold and crabby. No one wants that. Especially you.

If I’m doing anything outside I chew on candied ginger and make sure to reward myself with pho afterwards.
Carharts and Keens and Smart Wool.
Those Heater packs (all day heat), under Armour 4.0 base layer, a hood over your beanie, lots of liquids cause if dehydrated your body works harder to stay warm, and eat a big meal the night before.
Well I recently purchased closed cell neoprene (scuba dry wear material ) gloves. They’re incredible . Way back in the eighties my friend and I were skiing in subzero weather with scuba gear under our ski gear. We were the only two people out there.
It’s all attitude! The crisp air makes me feel alive, alert and ready to conquer whatever task at hand. Of course I go outside dressed appropriately so I don’t freeze my skin. Layers! And enjoy warm beverages , soup, etc. when inside.
I layer myself.. Three deep at minimum!
My Ugg gloves were a brilliant purchase 3 years ago. Worth every dollar. Also SmartWool socks. I also wear a Patagonia fleece layer almost 24/7. Have two favs that I alternate. And I never venture out without a scarf. And great hand lotion for liberal applications throughout the day and before bed.
Wool!!
Bird chirping sounds in the am and crickets in the pm on my coy pond app. And watching movies that take place in the summer.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Found this fantastic article over at CampingRoadTrip.com. We've added a few thoughts to it. Hope you find it useful!

Taking a trip in your RV can be a great way to get away from the stresses of everyday life. It is also an ideal way to spend time with friends and family. Let's take a look at some of the best accessories that will help to enhance your next RV getaway:

1. 50-Foot 30-Amp Extension Cord

Most rigs usually come with a standard 25-foot cord. While you will be parked in close proximity to the power source of the campground the vast majority of the time, there will occasionally be a time when you will need a longer cord. You might run into a situation where the power source for your parking space is broken. However, the person next to you has two plugs. Having a long cord in a situation like this will prevent you from having to park your RV extremely close to your neighbor.

Camco 55197 30 AMP 50' RV PowerGrip Extension Cord

2. Camper Leveler With Wheel Chock

You do have the option to buy only the chocks. However, it makes no sense to do this when you can buy a chock with a leveler built inside for a reasonable price. They are readily available at retailers everywhere. Make note of the weight cut-off. You will find some that can go all the way up to 5,000 pounds, but there are some models with a lower capacity rating.

Camco 44573 RV Yellow Tri-Leveler

3. 12-Volt Crock Pot (or we like a Rice Cooker to warm up leftovers :)

The microwave, stove and grill are the three most common ways to prepare food during a trip in your RV. A 12-volt crock pot is an excellent way to make some tasty meals that you can't make with the other devices. It can hold up to 1.5 quarts, uses your cigarette lighter for power and can make the food on your trip a little more interesting.

Aroma ARC-914SBD 4-Cup (Uncooked) 8-Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer

4. Awning for Rain Protection, Privacy and Shade

If your rig is missing an awning, you need to pick one up immediately. You will wonder how you ever got along without one. You will want to find one made from a fabric that is mildew-resistant. They come in many colors, so you are sure to find one that matches your current color scheme. It would be wise not to try the cheap route when buying an awning. Get a custom-made awning that is specifically designed for your particular RV. You can pick one up from a dedicated retailer.

12ft Carefree Simplicity - Ocean Blue - Vinyl - 77127900

5. Child Gates

You will put these across stair, kitchen and bathroom entries of RVs containing small children. You can also use them to create a perimeter on the patio for a small child, protect your food and cooler from pets and to corral your pets. The gates made with interlocking panels are ideal because you can change the gating size. You can find these at major retailers and stores that specialize in baby products.

North States Superyard 3 in 1 Metal Gate

6. Spare Sewer Hose

Abrasive rocks, animal damage and improper storage are just a few of the things that can go wrong with your sewer hose. It is also possible that a fellow camper could damage your hose by driving over it. Having an extra hose with you can be a lifesaver when you really need it. You can pick one up at a store that sells RV parts. Please, do not buy a 'cheap' sewer hose. It will crack sooner and likely be very difficult to attach. You will regret it!

Camco 39761 RhinoFLEX 15' RV Sewer Hose Kit with Swivel Fittings

7. Rear View Trailer Level

This device enables you to take all of the guesswork out of leveling your rig. It can let you know if the trailer is level front and back as well as side to side. You will no longer need a spotter to tell you this. Simply attach it to the front of the trailer. Make sure you can see it in the rearview mirror. It is especially useful for RVs that contain a fifth wheel.

Hopkins 04025 Rear View Level

8. Gardening and Disposable Gloves

When you're dealing with sewage lines, old water hookups or even mechanical things that require the use of a wrench they help protect your hands, keep them clean and give you extra grip. You may also consider getting some disposable gloves for handling sewer hoses and sewer hook-ups that previously were connected to other campers' sewer tanks. You can get gardening gloves and disposable gloves at Walmart, Home Depot etc.

500 Disposable Gloves

Having the best RV accessories can make your RV trips that much easier and enjoyable.

Brian Hawkins works as part of the internet development team at Dave Arbogast RV Depot in Troy, Ohio, where he writes about the RV industry daily. When he's not covering the RV lifestyle he enjoys camping with his wife and children.