Grand National Rally Countdown Continues

But there's still time to book your mooring at the annual WIT Club Grand National Rally, set for July 15 through 20.  

The theme this year is "Treasure Island," so strap on yer eyepatch, round up the crew, stock up on Parrot Chow and set a course for Forest City!

Find your treasure map to this annual event here.

From The Mailbox

It's not new, it's not even one of ours, but it's pretty cool anyway.

Mr. Gerald Hansen of St. Petersburg, Florida, was going through some boxes recently and found this picture.  It shows Gerald's stepfather, Fred Schmidt, Fred's family, and the motor home Fred built in Iowa in 1927.

Seems Fred's doctor told him he needed to get some rest and have some fun, so Fred built the motor home and he and his family traveled the U.S. and Canada for an entire year.  Times certainly have changed (and so have motor homes built in Iowa), but the need to relax, explore and get away from it all springs eternal!

Recipe

There must be some mysterious connection between RVing and plastic bag cooking, as this is the third recipe we've received calling for this unusual utensil.

Easy to prepare and store in your RV, this "baggie breakfast" is sure to be a hit!

Pour into baggie:

Shake well and store until ready to use.

To cook, pour contents of baggie into bowl, add 2 cups of boiling water. Let sit for 2 minutes. Serve and eat -- much tastier than instant oatmeal packets!

If you've got a favorite RVing recipe that doesn't involve a plastic bag - or even one that does -- by all means feel free to send it in to share! 

Our Famous Factory Tours Are Back!  

When do we put the roof on?

What's under the floor? If you've ever wondered how we build such great motor homes, you're not alone.  Every year, thousands of people, from lifelong RVers to the merely curious, get a behind-the-scenes peek right here at our Forest City manufacturing complex.

In fact, these tours are so interesting they've been featured on the National Geographic television program, Ultimate Factories, the Science Channel's How It's Made and the Discovery Channel's Building the Brand.

Tours last about two hours, and reservations are advised for groups larger than six. (The toll-free telephone number is 1-800-643-4892.)  Tours are free, and all ages are welcome, although children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.  The Visitors Center is accessible to those with disabilities; however the factory tour does include three staircases.  Closed toe shoes are also recommended.

Tours are offered twice daily at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday from April through October, and at 1 p.m. in November. Regular tours are not offered on holidays, the week of July 4 or during the winter months (Thanksgiving through March 31.)  Find out more about our factory tours here.

Can't make it to Forest City this year?  See the Ultimate Factories episode here.

2013 Winnebago Vista and Itasca Sunstar 35B

This impressive new triple-slideout floorplan is perfect for active families.  It features a master bath (with our exclusive Big Shower) as well as a mid-coach bath, while sleeping accommodations include bunkbeds as well as a walkaround queen bed in the master suite.

Upfront you'll find a full galley, sofa/bed or optional Ultraleather Comfort Sofa/Sleeper upgrade, and dinette or optional BenchMark dinette.  A 42" TV is positioned midcoach, and swiveling cab seats complete the versatile lounge area.

Learn more about the new Vista and Sunstar 35B at GoWinnebago.com and GoItasca.com, or at your nearest dealer.

Great Destination

One hundred fifty years ago, our nation was mired in a defining struggle, not just for its future, but for its very existence.

The Civil War pitched state against state, North against South, brother against brother, and caused more American casualties than any other war in history.

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service

Civil War Discovery Trail

Civil War Trust

National Park Service

Go RVing

Go Camping America

Wildernet