Houston Leisure RV Resort Blog - Latest Camping News

Hellllllo, Fall! We can’t believe that it’s already October. This year is just flying by — but we’re still so happy that autumn is here because we love all things fall. {You know that if you read our last blog post!}

It’s a fun, festive time and a lot of people are laughing, skipping, and playing at our resort, enjoying the beautiful camping season. We want to help you make it an October to Remember. Here are a few ways that you can help, give back, and celebrate this month!

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. In fact, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Awareness, prevention, and early detection are three very important factors in giving every woman the greatest chance for a healthy, happy life. Talk to your doctor, visit them for routine checkups and screenings, and schedule a mammogram today!

• Adopt a Shelter Dog Month: You’ve heard the phrase, “Adopt. Don’t shop.” You can make the difference in a sweet, innocent dog’s life by choosing to adopt! If you’re not ready to take on the responsibility of a new pet, and it’s a BIG, long-lasting responsibility, consider fundraising or donating to your local ASPCA chapter or shelter. You can donate your time, money, food, or supplies. There are so many ways to help out and get involved!

• National Pizza Month: Raise your hand if you celebrate National Pizza Month EVERY month!! {*Raises hand*} In fact, statistics show that over 90% of Americans eat pizza AT LEAST once a month. It’s inexpensive, easy to get, and DELICIOUS to eat! The only question we have is: cheese, pepperoni, or meat lover’s — which one are you voting for??

We hope you’re having an awesome October. Happy Camping!

Sources:
National Breast Cancer Foundation
ASPCA
Pizza.com

Can you believe it? It may not feel like it yet, but fall is in the air! Fall camping is AWESOME — we celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving, we eat and drink Pumpkin spice everything, and we enjoy the cooler temps and changing colors.

Here’s our take on FALL:

F is for FESTIVE! Halloween, Thanksgiving, colorful leaves, root veggies…we love it all. Take part and decorate your site or simply enjoy the autumn decor around the resort. It’s about giving thanks and being grateful, dressing up and being a kid again, eating everything that makes your belly smile! F is for festive!
A is for AUTUMN! When you think of the word autumn, what comes to mind? Campfires, hot drinks, big, delicious meals with family & friends, colorful trees, falling leaves, crisp air, themed activities, and Halloween night. This season is full of so many wonderful things. A is for autumn!
L is for LEAVES! DID YOU KNOW? Leaves make their own food. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color.  In the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.* L is for leaves!
L is for LANTERN! As in Jack-O-Lantern!
Carving silly, scary, or spooky faces into a pumpkin is part of the Halloween experience — and is a fun activity for the whole family. As a
bonus: scoop up, clean, and roast those pumpkin seeds for a delicious (and
nutritious!) snack. L is for (Jack-O-) Lantern!

We love FALL — and we know it’s a fun, exciting time for our camping families, too.
Tell us: What is YOUR favorite thing about camping in the fall?

WHAT IS LABOR DAY? Labor Day is a very important American holiday. Yes, we spend it “closing out” the summer, spending time with family and friends, BBQing, swimming, and having fun. But it’s about more than that. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. Now, Labor Day is always celebrated on the first Monday of September; it is a day dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

HOW CAN YOU CELEBRATE? Family picnics, community parades, and festive get-togethers are all great ways to celebrate this special holiday.

HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT AN AWESOME HOLIDAY? Make your Labor Day Weekend a CAMPING ADVENTURE! Grab your family and friends and spend the holiday at our resort.

DID YOU KNOW? Here’s a fun fact: Americans worked A LOT in the 19th century — 12-hour days every day of the week! Thank goodness for the Adamson Act, which was passed in September of 1916, which established a more reasonable eight-hour work day.

CAN YOU WEAR WHITE AFTER LABOR DAY? We say, why not??

WHAT CAN YOU COOK? Well, anything, really! But we found some recipes that we felt like we just had to share!
–    These Dijon Chicken Wings are sure to pack a big punch!
–    These Philly Cheesesteak Foil Packets can be cooked almost anywhere — BBQ, open fire, oven…so easy to make and so yummy to eat!
–    Best is in the title so these must really be the Best Campfire Baked Beans; perfect for any occasion!
–    Make a festive cocktail — or 10! You deserve it!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend with family & friends — at our resort! Happy Camping!

We’re officially in love with summer — this is a wonderful season and our resort is full of camping families & friends! Everyone is enjoying this relaxing, amazing time. There’s a lot of eating, drinking, and being merry. So, we figured we’d pop in and share some cool drinks that you can enjoy any time of year, especially when the temps are high!

• If you like coffee AND alcohol (and who doesn’t?!), this Mochatini Cocktail is for you! Perfect for those long, leisurely camping days!
• An Old Fashioned is an oldie but goodie — a classic cocktail that always hits the spot…if you like bourbon! What do you think?
• Margaritas? Yes, please! This Mountain Margarita recipe is easy to make and can be made as a pitcher so there’s enough to share!
• If you’re up for it, what about throwing Tequila into the mix?! A Tequila Sunrise is refreshing and delicious.
• The Mojito is a love it or leave it cocktail. If you love it, check out this delicious camping mojito recipe!

Just for fun, here are a few interesting alcohol facts that you may or may not know:

• Whiskey is made all over the world. The most popular type of American Whiskey is better known as Bourbon!
• A bottle of Champagne contains millions and millions of bubbles.
• Over 60% of countries have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old. Not the United States — as you probably know, the drinking age is 21!

We want to know — what is YOUR favorite alcoholic or virgin cocktail when sweating it out during those hot summer days?
Also, we want to remind everyone to drink responsibly, be aware of your surroundings and your neighbors, and enjoy yourself!

{Photo credit: Camping for Foodies}

New to RVing? Looking for some light reading? We’re bringing it back to the basics today with a little RV 101. Humor us, read on, and enjoy!

What does RV stand for? The term RV stands for recreational vehicle; RV does NOT stand for relaxing vacation or retro vehicle — although some RVs are pretty retro and are definitely used to relax on vacation! RVs are also called motorhomes, rigs, and campers, just to name a few.

Why should I get an RV? Recreational means relating to an activity done for enjoyment when one is not working. Um, hello?! That is EXACTLY the reason you should get an RV! It’s basically a home on wheels that you can park wherever you please (within reason!) — what an adventure!

It seems like such close quarters. It is, but that’s the beauty of it! Just enough space while you bond with family & friends.
You realize what you really need and what just takes up space.

Is there anything I need to do or does it take care of itself? Much like young kids and pets, an RV does not take care of itself! It’s definitely a responsibility and you must take proper care of your RV with regular maintenance. It’s good to be familiar with all aspects of the RV since it’s a LOT of moving parts (that can break). Plus, moisture and cold can do damage to your RV so you’ll want to properly store/cover it during the winter months if you aren’t using it.

What are some RV must-haves? We found this list of RV accessories that we think you’ll find helpful!

I don’t have an RV and it sounds like I’m missing out on tons of fun! You said it not us….but we agree! Get in on the RV action and get yourself a motorhome.

We hope you’re having an awesome camping season with us. Labor Day is right around the corner — book your next reservation with us NOW!

Happy 4th of July! July 4th is a very special day in our history; it commemorates the day (in 1776) when the 13 original colonies claimed their independence from England — which led to the formation of the United States of America! #themoreyouknow That is definitely something worth celebrating!

So, how do Americans celebrate this special day? BBQs, backyard games, fireworks, baseball games, parades, and picnics are just a few of the ways that we celebrate! Many businesses close and families and friends are able to spend the day together.

Whether you’re at home, on vacation, or camping with us, here are a few things to help you celebrate!

• BE SAFE: If you’re in a place that allows sparklers and fireworks, safety should be your #1 priority. Be smart, follow precautions and read the directions carefully. Keep the kids in a safe spot; after all, we teach them NOT to play with fire! And, remember your pets! Those fireworks could be really scary for cats and dogs.
• MAKE FESTIVE RECIPES: In this article, there are 22 easy recipes that are perfectly red, white, and blue to help you celebrate! You can create a beautiful spread that looks great AND tastes great, too.
• REMEMBER WHAT YOU’RE CELEBRATING: Today is a wonderful day to make memories with family & friends. Just take a moment to remember that you’re celebrating America’s independence so throw in a little history while you’re hanging around today!
• SPEND YOUR TIME OUTDOORS: It is summer – so take advantage and enjoy it. Swimming, and playing, and laughing is the perfect way to celebrate. (Don’t forget to hydrate and use sunscreen!)
• WATCH A MOVIE: After a whole day of fun in the sun, come into the air conditioning and put on a movie! There’s one that comes to mind.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday with family & friends. Be safe and have fun!

{Photo credit: Woman’s Day}

Hello camping friends and families! We are bringing you today’s blog post to give you a little chuckle – and we’re dedicating it to all of our awesome, diehard, amazing, thinks-about-camping-all-year-long, can’t-wait-for-camping-season friends.

Check out our “10 Signs That You’re a Camper’s Camper:”

1. Your favorite season is camping season!
2. Your RV is always “ready” for camping season.
3. You consider your camping neighbors part of your extended family!
4. You know every employee at our park by name – and you know details about their life, family, etc.
5. You know the layout of our resort with your eyes closed.
6. You check our website/activities page religiously.
7. You have signs, doormats, t-shirts, and/or coffee mugs with the quote, “Home is Where you Park it.”
8. Camping is a family tradition…your kids love it as much as you do!
9. You’re very active on our Facebook page – liking, commenting, and sharing posts and pictures almost every day.
10. Spending your summer at our resort with family and friends, making memories that will last a lifetime, is the best part of your whole year!

How many of these boxes can you check?? Hope to see you around our resort soon! #CampingSeason

Camping season is well underway and, now that school is officially OUT, it’s time for fun in the sun all summer long! We love that families and friends come to our resort to spend time together, make memories, and have fun. We have activities and themed weekends planned all summer long so we hope to see you there — it’s fun for everyone!

Here are a few ways to REALLY take advantage of the season so you can have the best, safest camping adventures with us this summer!

• Hydrate. The summer sun brings the summer heat! Spending a lot of time outdoors is wonderful, but it can leave you dehydrated – and that is no fun. Drink water often, take a dip in the pool, keep yourself cool so you don’t overheat!
• Brush up on swim lessons for the kids. Even the best swimmers need a little refresher every once in a while. Safety is #1, especially when swimming and spending time around the pool, and we know you plan on being in the pool A LOT this summer!
• Relax. At least try to relax! There’s no school, no homework, and no after-school activities. Schedule yourself to be unscheduled, even just for a bit. You may actually really like it!
• Plan your next camping adventure. Last, but certainly not least, make a date to come back. It’s never too early to plan your NEXT camping adventure! Come into the office and chat with us so we can help you book your next camping reservations at our resort.

We hope to see you this summer for lots of awesome camping fun! We thank you all for being a part of our memories — we truly appreciate that you make the choice to camp with us!

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

Memorial Day Weekend is here! It’s the (very unofficial) start of summer and is usually a time filled with family and friends taking advantage of the nice, long weekend with a day – or two – off of work and school. We know that there will be swimming, BBQing, and fun happening all around. But why do we celebrate this very special holiday? We’re here to tell you more!

Many people get confused between Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day where we remember those who died in active military service. It was traditionally observed on May 30th but now it is officially observed on the last Monday in May. {For this year, Memorial Day falls on May 28, 2018.} Veterans Day, on the other hand, is a day to honor all military veterans (people who served in the United States Armed Forces) and is observed on November 11th.

While we do usually spend the weekend with family and friends, sometimes we forget to honor the reason we have this holiday in the first place. So, we’re here with a few patriotic ways that you and your family can observe Memorial Day this year!

• Explain the holiday to your children! You can find stories or articles online to help you appropriately explain Memorial Day to your children, depending on their age. Remember, what they learn from you, they pass on to their peers, then to their kids, and so on! Keep our rich history alive.
• Go to a parade! There are parades and events scheduled all weekend long in every city and town in the country (just about!) — make some red, white, and blue signs or banners, bring your patriotic spirit, and go show support at your local parade!
• Send a care package to a soldier! A great way to honor and remember those servicemen and women that passed is to honor and care for those that are still here fighting for our country and our freedom. Send some homemade cards, crafts, or supplies — you will surely make an impact on whoever receives your thoughtful package!

However you choose to honor, remember, and celebrate this weekend, be safe!

{Photo source: City of Chicago}

It’s National Barbecue Month and we could NOT be more excited! We love sharing recipes and grilling tips so we’re going to take full advantage and dedicate this entire post to sharing our thoughts on all things BBQ!

You can cook these recipes on a bbq, an open fire (with a grill!), in the oven, or on the stovetop and they’ll be delicious. If you try one, let us know!

• This Camping Mac n’ Cheese is TOP of our list! So easy to make and so delicious — it’s like s’mores…everyone loves ‘em!! A camping menu must-have.
• Wanna keep it on the ‘cleaner’ side? Check out this green recipe – Quinoa Veggie Stir Fry! Serve it as a side dish or an easily accessible snack. YUM!
• One piece of foil is all you need for these Lumberjack Breakfast Packets! These are the epitome of camping all wrapped up in a little, easy to eat package – plus you can customize it with whatever you have on hand!
• Apple crisp? Yes, please! Check out these Campfire Apple Crisp Breakfast if you’re looking for a warm, delicious camping treat!
• Nachos…yes! That’s what we’ve been missing! These Campfire Nachos are perfect any day, at any time – seriously. Add your favorite toppings and enjoy!

We’re also sharing some BBQ tips & tricks!

• Remember to check your hoses and controls before you start – safety first!
• Always clean the grill before you “pack it up”…that way it’s ready the next time you want to use it!
• Do your research on your specific grill and use proper tools.

We hope you’re all enjoying the spring camping season at our resort. We’re so happy to welcome all of the wonderful families and friends who choose to camp with us — we hope to see you and your family around our resort in the near future. Happy Camping with us!