(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Thoughts of summer were present last night as The MARVAC Battle Creek Camper & RV Show got under way at the Kellogg Arena. The show features folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers and plenty of information about campgrounds throughout the state, reports the Battle Creek Enquirer.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- "Lightweight trailers really help open the demographic of the show because younger families who already have a mid-size SUV, but don't want to move up to a pickup truck, can tow these units," Merkowsky said.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- A proposal to return some cabin units in the Old Faithful area back to visitor use has been released for public review and comment.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Dale Ditmanson, Smokies Superintendent, said, "This study clearly demonstrates the economic benefits that communities located near national parks receive by being collocated with these unique national, historic and cultural sites."

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Dan Weber, the owner of Jordan Marina on Norfork Lake, is ready to add 40 campsites scheduled for closure by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District to his lease agreement with the Corps, and have them ready for the 2012 season, reports the Baxter Bulletin.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Family Motor Coaching’s annual “Towables” guide takes the guesswork out of finding a vehicle that can be towed four wheels down. It offers valuable advice to motorhome owners regarding vehicle selection, making sure it is outfitted with the proper towing equipment, and how to safely tow it.

(Jan. 27, 2011) -- Best Parks in America is now affiliated with Normandy Farms Family Campground in Foxboro, Mass.; Lakewood Camping Resort, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and Twin Fountains RV Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- The Caravan Times reports that it has been announced that Saturday Kitchen star James Martin will be a special guest at The Motorhome, Caravan & Camping Show at ExCeL London in February.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- According to Exhibition News, Clarion’s Manchester Caravan and Motorhome Show in the United Kingdom reported a 42 percent year-on-year visitor increase at its larger, new home.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- "Since it was established a century ago as the Dominion Parks Branch, Parks Canada has worked tirelessly to protect Canada's diverse national heritage and encouraged Canadians everywhere to appreciate, experience, and enjoy all of Canada's national treasures," said Minister Kent.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Friends and family of murder victim Thomas Kitto are holding a BBQ benefit today at the Rox Convenience Store in Canyon Lake. Kitto, of New Braunfels, was stabbed to death last Thursday in the Canyon Falls RV Park, reports KGNB 1420 AM.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Board has approved six outdoor recreation projects, including a project for a nine-pad RV park, half-mile fitness trail and nine-hole disc golf course at South Park in Arapahoe, reports the Kearney Hub.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- According to Leagle, the plaintiffs purchased an RV from Wheeler in 2002 for $124,527.50, but the dealership failed to disclose that the RV was a manufacturer's buyback. When a legal issue arose, Wheeler's attorney, informed plaintiff's counsel that the company he sued was not the company from which his clients purchased their recreational vehicle. The dealership was under new ownership.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- First a drought, then an historic fire and now a flood has hit Bastrop State Park. This week, the park only saw a few inches of rain, but it had nowhere to go. It washed away topsoil and collected in pools several feet deep, reports KVUE.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- “We’re off to a very promising start in what is just the first stage of what is an ongoing state park fundraising campaign,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director. “This shows that the people of Texas truly care about their state parks and want to see them stay open and accessible for all to enjoy.”

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- A privately funded program in Minnesota offers low-cost spay and neutering services to shelters, rescues and low-income pet owners, reports the West Central Tribune.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- "We've had our experiences with solar, wind and electric and, to date, we've not see those pay the dividends Washington promised," Dorinda Heiden-Guss, president of the county's Economic Development Corporation, told the Chicago Tribune.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- SPRAYNSEAL Instant Rubber Roof Repair is a UV stable white elastomer in a spray can that dries in 10 minutes, leaving a durable rubber coating that fills small voids and plugs leaks.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Ares Capital expects to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay certain outstanding indebtedness under its debt facilities and, to the extent not applied for such purposes, for general corporate purposes, which may include investing in portfolio companies in accordance with its investment objective.

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- Sales volumes are much lower in the RV, marine and powersports industries than the auto industry, and there's less consistency in terms of sales and marketing incentives from the manufacturers, "so dealers tend to keep mum on their invoice pricing," Taylor explained. "SeeDealerCost.com is meant to educate and offer more transparency so people feel more comfortable -- and eager -- when making a new or used vehicle purchase."

(Jan. 27, 2012) --  "Much of the strength in the fourth quarter of 2011 reflected a sizeable addition to growth from inventories that is not likely to be repeated," Janzen explained. "This suggests some downside risk to our forecast for GDP growth early in 2012. However, recent strengthening in labor markets, including a slowing trend in layoffs, bodes well for consumer spending to continue to grow."

(Jan. 27, 2012) -- The 135-pitch park, located on a 20-acre site alongside the River Teme, and with good road links to the A49 near Richards Castle, is already generating huge interest from caravanners who are keen to pay a visit.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- The Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association is contemplating a move that could reunite two industry segments as a single voice under the RV Industry Association's umbrella for the first time since 1983, RV Daily Report has learned.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- For the first 11 months of 2011, trailer sales are down 1.4 percent. While overall sales are down, the percentages are getting close to even with those of 2010, said Andy Ackerman, president of NATDA.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- "Our view is that recent economic data suggest that the U.S. economy has been able to raise its game with solid employment gains recorded in December," said Desjardins. "Recent reports also point to the economy having grown at a 3 percent annualized pace in the fourth quarter of 2011 with early signs showing that the momentum continued into the first quarter of 2012."

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- This week's recipe is for cabbage and bacon skillet. It was submitted by Paul Meicher, from Sioux Falls, S.D. He has been RVing for eight years and has a Class A motorhome.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- WHSV reports that a bill in the Virginia General Assembly, which would have required public campsites to base their fees on private ones, has been dropped.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- Residents of the Corral RV Park in Tomball love living the simple life. But developer Mike O’Brien's plans to expand could force most of those residents out because of a zoning ordinance that limits tenant stays to only 90 days, a restriction he was unaware of, reports Your Houston News.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- Last week, the Chisago County Board approved a permit amendment for Rushmore Campgrounds in Nessel Township, reports the Chisago County Express.

(Jan. 26, 2012) -- The Waterbury Republican American reports that an explosion in a small RV this morning on Lines Hill Road Extension in Naugatuck, injured a man who was living inside.