Snare a Bride or Groom, Spark the Heart or Renew Vows

Love is in the Air

Monterey’s (Calfornia) lure as a romantic haunt is well documented, from the days of Henry Miller’s love nest in Big Sur to poet Robinson Jeffers hand-built Tor House he fashioned for his bride in Carmel. This season, put romance on the front burner and point cupid’s arrow to snare a bride or groom. Spark the heart, renew vows or lure a loved one to this enchanted paradise by customizing a romantic getaway ripe for a proposal. From sunset kayak tours to Lover’s Point to a Big Sur marriage purification hike or rose-strewn beachfront bonfire delivered by a personal love valet, the options for fanning the flames are endless. Make like the whales or migrating Monarchs and indulge in the area’s pristine setting with nearly 20 attractions pert and ready to roll this February. From movie tours with a romantic twist to sunset kayak tours and stints on the sea, the options for couples chasing cupid are endless.

As an added twist, the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau is asking romantic minded proposers to upload their best Monterey County Proposal Images to our Flickr group, http://www.flickr.com/groups/seemonterey/. The best proposal image will be deemed the winner on February 13th and will receive exclusive Monterey County prizes. Contest rules available at www.SeeMonterey.com.

• Marriage Proposals on a Golf Course, Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills
• Marriage Proposals on a Beach, Carmel’s White Sand Beach, Julia Pfeiffer State Beach, Carmel Monastery Beach, SCUBA diving off of San Carlos Beach, Sunset Sail through the Sanctuary
• Marriage Proposals at a Famous Landmark, Bixby Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row
• Marriage Proposals in a Winery, Château Julien, Bernard us Lodge, Ventana Vineyards
• Marriage Proposals From on High, Pinnacles, Big Sur Hikes, Aerial Sightseeing Tour
• Marriage Proposals at a Restaurant, Fandango Restaurant, The Sardine Factory, Pacific’s Edge Restaurant, Aubergine
• Marriage Proposals on a Drive, Land Rover, Skip Barber, Limousine Service, Monterey Movie Tours
• Marriage Proposals at a Point, Point Lobos, Lovers Point, Point Pinos, Rocky Point
• Marriage Proposal at a Mission, Royal Presidio, Carmel Mission Basilica, Soledad Mission
• Marriage Proposals at the Zoo, Wild Things, Condor Camp, Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Marriage Proposals in a Garden – Earthbound Farms, Bernardus Lodge, Butterfly Sanctuary, Orientations Chinese Garden at the Marsh Building, Adobe Garden (Custom House Plaza)

Instead of a Vacation in 2009, Try a Savecation

by RVIA

With the new national focus on economizing, green living and getting back to basics, 2009 promises to be a year of change in many areas of our lives, including travel. Here’s a look at What’s Hot and What’s Not for 2009, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

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Brazel's RV Park in Centralia, Washington

Brazel's RV Performance Center, a full service, one stop facility for motor coaches and trucks, has announced its 20-site RV Park is now open adjacent to their service facility. The park is centrally located off Interstate 5 between Seattle and Portland (exit 88 or 83), situated between beaches and the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

Brazel's RV Park offers a large number of services:

• 20 paved sites that include 12 pull-throughs
• 50/30 Amp service
• Water hook-ups
• Centrally located sewer dump
• WiFi Internet connection
• Dedicated staff to assist you
• 24/7 on-site security

RVers may conveniently make one phone call to Brazel's RV Performance Center to obtain an appointment for service and/or performance work, while reserving accommodations at the Brazel's RV Park. There is a discounted rate of $20 per night for customers staying at the RV Park when service is being performed, and a rate of $25 per night for the general public. A special discounted rate of $150 per week (tax included) has been set up for RVers who would like to stay for longer periods of time.

The Brazel's RV Park is in an convenient location, being in close proximity to many local attractions including the Centralia Factory Outlet Mall, Lucky Eagle Casino, and the Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park. Brazel's RV Park has already successfully hosted its first rally in the short time the park has been open. The NWTFC Rally Master and Wagonmaster said, "…You guys did an outstanding job. We appreciate all of the great food and service that you provided to those desiring such. You have a great facility as well as an exceptional park." Another rally couple said, "Thank you for a very awesome rally, your hospitality, your facility and your team of professionals…the greatest…Keep up the good work!"

Brazel's RV Park welcomes all groups for rallies, events, and shows.

RVers may contact the RV Park Manager, Kathy Bronzini, by calling 1-877-786-1576 (during business hours) or 360-388-5881 (after hours). Kathy's email is kathy@brazelsrv.com. Brazel's RV Performance Center is a Premier Workhorse Chassis Service Center for the Western U.S. and also handles all extended warranted agreements.

Brazel's RV Performance Center and the RV Park are located at 3912 Harrison Ave, Centralia, WA 98531. If you would like to learn more about Brazel's RV Performance Center, please refer to their web site at www.brazelsrv.com.

Good Sam Club Survey

Despite the current state of the economy, 71 percent of RVers claim that the current financial crisis will not impact their RV travel plans this holiday season. An overwhelming 81 percent said they will travel the same, if not more than last year, with more than two out of three RVers reported planning to travel more than 250 miles this holiday season.

According to a recent holiday travel survey conducted by the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV owner’s organization with more than one million member families, most RV owners plan to use their motor home during the holidays, breaking the myth that RVs are only used for summer vacation travel. RVers point to the overall sense of freedom as the most valuable component of RV travel.

“RV travel will be up significantly, with 33 percent of our members planning to travel more and another 48 percent planning to travel the same amount as last year,” said Sue Bray, executive director of the Good Sam Club. “With gas prices continuing to go down, RVers appreciate the convenience and cost effectiveness of traveling in their RVs without having to deal with extra airline costs, lost luggage, or flight delays. Something fun we learned from this study is that RVers find it tougher to stick to their diets than to their travel budgets.”

The survey results also showed that RVers don’t forget their holiday spirit when celebrating the season in their motor homes, as more than a third plan to decorate their rigs this year. Among those that do, 43 percent decorate their rigs with lights, 38 percent decorate their entire RV campsite, 36 percent decorate their dashboard, while 34 percent put a Christmas tree in their rig.

Eighty four percent of respondents said the comfort of home was their biggest motivator for choosing RV travel over airline travel this year. RVers prefer the advantage of cooking their own meals, having their pets nearby, and putting their own personal touches on their motor homes.

The survey was sent to 10,000 Good Sam Club members, November 10-16, 2008. This is the first year that the Good Sam Club has polled its members on holiday travel and the factors behind their 2008 travel plans. For the complete survey, see below; and for more information on the Good Sam Club, log onto www.goodsamclub.com.

Good Sam Club 2008 Holiday Travel Survey Results:

The Bodie Times to speak for silent ghost town

Bridgeport, CA - The largest and best preserved ghost town of the Old West is talking, again, through the pages of its new, semi-annual newsletter: The Bodie Times. Stories in the inaugural edition (Winter 2008) include details on a new approach to locating lost burials by the use of forensic detection dogs, what’s next for Bodie’s cemetery, a Bodie decedent’s family story and the introduction of technology to Bodie.

"This town may be inhabited only by ghosts but those ghosts still have many stories to tell," says Kent Adams, Friends of Bodie President. "Whether it's a bone, a piece of iron or some markings on a stone--all of these things can now tell their stories through the pages of The Bodie Times." Adams says the newsletter will not only provide a forum for sharing information about the ghost town today, but create a record for future research.

The Bodie Foundation announces the availability of its beautiful 2009 calendar. The calendars will be sold to the general public at www.TheBodieStore.com to raise funds for projects in development by Bodie Foundation that support Bodie State Historic Park. Donated images of Bodie were submitted by photographers from around the world this past fall and selected by the Bodie Foundation board of directors. In addition to the 2009 calendar, the Bodie Foundation has added a new and expanded catalogue of available items in its online store www.TheBodieStore.com. Whether it be a great holiday gift, or a chance to build one’s collection of Bodie books, The Bodie Store is an excellent way to support the many projects of the Foundation.

The town of Bodie, California, remains in a state of 'arrested decay'. A thriving mining town from 1860-1900, its population peaked at nearly 10,000 in the fever of the California gold rush. 200 buildings still exist on the site which is recognized as a National Historic Site and a California State Historic Park. The Bodie Foundation, evolved from a dedicated group of 'modern-day Bodieites', was formally established late last summer with the launching of www.BodieFoundation.org. Consisting of an all-volunteer team, the Foundation is encouraged with the number of Charter Members who have joined, as well as the many notes of encouragement sent from around the country and around the world.

Download The Bodie Times (pdf version)