Meet the Hidden Valley Team

 

Rachel B Cardenas, a familiar face of the Hidden Valley RV Park team has been our office manager since her official start here in 2019.  Growing up at Hidden Valley she has a special place in our hearts and we like to think the park’s in her heart too. 

Her firsthand experience with customer service, computer systems and communications has been a great benefit for the park and our guests.  Read on to learn more about Rachel.

Where is your favorite place to camp?

I most often camp on Port Aransas Beach in the Gulf Coast.  I love the small beach town feel and that it is full of pet friendly areas and happy people.  Garner State Park is a close second choice for the river tubing and getting to the top of their hiking trails.  

What do you enjoy most about working at Hidden Valley RV Park?

I love the team I work with here plus the beautiful sunsets are the perfect close to my day.  I also really enjoy meeting new guests from all over the world and seeing them come back for years to see us at Hidden Valley RV. 

What does the Hidden Valley promise – “Southern hospitality” – mean to you?

Attention to details, going the extra mile and exceeding expectations by becoming our guest’s personal concierge, providing directions to attractions, parking options, new and unique events or things to do and just making our guests feel like family.  I want to make sure you love our city as much as we do! 

What Hidden Valley RV Park improvements in the area of customer care have you been a part of?

Implementation of a simplified and streamlined online reservation system for our guests.

Developing a touchless registration system to save our guests time and for their safety during the pandemic 

Tell us more about Hidden Valley RV Parks plans for the future.

There are some big changes in the works but they’re still in the development stage.  Keep on the watch at the park and on our Facebook page as the new year comes around.  Yep, it’s a cliff hanger!

RV Movies to Make You Laugh and Cry

 

Best RV Movies

This list of RV Movies will have you grabbing the popcorn and maybe even the tissues!

RV
This comedy stars Robin Williams and Jeff Daniels and has the best dumping scene in any movie ever; with a massive explosion that leaves Bob (Robin Williams) covered in an unpleasant situation. The funny thing is we have all been there. Bob goes to the dump and realizes he has no clue what he is doing. So, two kindhearted fellow campers offer advice, but they are as clueless as Bob. This scene alone is worth watching it repeatedly.
There are lots of mishaps along the way on this RV adventure! A run in with racoons, his laptop gets stolen, no internet (we’ve all been there) and constant run ins with an obnoxious, banjo playing, partridge family singing family that sells car horns for a living. This movie will have you laughing, singing and saying, "OMG, that's so US!"

We Are the Millers
This is a very adult movie! It is packed full of comedy, truth and intense moments that leave you cringing. It is the type of movie that has you up pacing and covering your

Is There Something Spooky Lurking in Your RV?

Dark, damp and dreaded by many. Often smelly and always unhealthy.  You may have guessed that this dastardly nemesis is MOLD and it's equally unwelcome cousin, MILDEW.  While mold can be an enemy anywhere from house to boat to garage, RVs have a propensity to produce this stuff of our nightmares.  

Yuck, MOLD

In addition to being bad for the RV or home, causing rotting and decay of the building materials, mold is particularly damaging to our respiratory systems. My husband is highly allergic to this fuzzy growth and it throws him for a loop even when it's in the outside air.

So, that begs the question, how can it be prevented, especially in our RVs?

Run a Dehumidifier

There are many electric air purifiers and dehumidifiers available through Amazon, hardware and big box stores that can pull moisture, that causes mold to form, out of the air.  These do a decent job but only when your RV is plugged in to shore power not when it's in storage.

Use Damp Rid Crystals

Available from Amazon

 

 

This is a pretty neat device that requires no electricity. All you do is put the crystals in the cup and leave it out to do its job. When all of the crystals have dissolved, it is time to replace them.You'll be surprised at the amount of moisture it pulls out of the air and into the cup.

 

 

 

 

Air Condition the Old Fashioned Way

Open the windows and roof vents and let fresh air clean the damp RV air for you.  When condensation collects and never has a chance to dry out, that is when mold occurs. Open a vent and a window, or a couple of windows to get the air flowing through your rig. This may not work well in very humid areas though.

Use Fans or Heaters or both

Fans keep the air moving and can help to keep moisture from settling. Depending on how large your RV is, you may want to use two or three fans in order to cover the entire area. Using both fans and a heater works quickly ot move out and dry out an RV.  Small electric heater are generally fine but your propane RV heater can be used as well if propane is readily available where you are and not priced sky high.

Window Insulation

Window Insulation will create a barrier that keeps condensation that has formed on the window from reaching your living area. It also helps to keep heat from escaping.  I've seen products at Walmart and even some DIY projects using bubble wrap that both claim to prevent condensation on windows and around the sills.

Dry Wet Surfaces With a Cloth

When you see condensation forming on hard surfaces in your RV, wipe them up. Don’t leave your windows, counters, walls, and vents holding moisture. When you see it, wipe it up.

Use a Digital Humidity Meter

Ideally, you want to try to keep your humidity level inside between 30% and 50%. A hygrometer, or digital Humidity Meter can help. Some dehumidifiers come with hygrometers installed, but you can also purchase them separately from Amazon and elsewhere.

Inspect Your Pipes Regularly

Pipes can crack or leak, allowing moisture to collect in your walls and compartments. Check those areas regularly to make sure they aren’t any leaks or moisture and if there is, tend to it immediately.

Make Sure Your Bathroom Is Properly Ventilated

Bathrooms make a perfect mold habitat. Most people keep the door closed so it is essentially shut tight with no real air movement. The moisture can build and lead to some nasty mold. Open the vent regularly and let the fan run, especially after someone has taken a shower. Also, leave the door open. A heater at the doorway, run until the air is dry can be helpful.  Keep wet towels and bathmats elsewhere till they are dry.

Run Your Oven/Stove Fan While Cooking

Cooking generates a lot of moisture. Turn on the range fan while you are cooking and keep the lids on the pots as much as possible. If it is dry outside, open some windows. If it isn’t dry, consider turning on the central heat or a fan for a while. Heat dries up the moisture while cooler temperatures encourage it. Keep that in mind when you are fighting mold. If you need to get rid of moisture in your RV, turn up the heat.

This Water Damage and Mold Remediation Link has some tips to get rid of persistent mold.

What about y'all?  Do you have any mold busting tips?  Tell us about them below in the comments.
  

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. There is no additional cost to you. Full Affiliate Disclosure

Team member Rae B, is a long-time part of the Hidden Valley family.  Born and raised right in the park, she has a unique perspective to share Hidden Valley and San Antonio inside info. 

Stop by the Trading Post to meet up with Rae and the rest of the Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) staff. 

                                                          

RV Safe Go Bag

Wouldn't this be a great gadget to put by your RV door or fire escape window for your valuables?Amazon link below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                        

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. There is no additional cost to you. Full Affiliate Disclosure

BUY HERE

Hikers and Outdoor Lovers: Important Info About Ticks

Recently we've been hearing a lot about ticks and Lyme Disease and an increase of sightings in many parts of the country.  So we've updated some information from a past article on the topic.

Bad year for ticks? What you need to know

As kids we all knew about dog ticks and there were several tricks we used to rid our pets of them and keep them off but now there are several other varieties and they can be much more dangerous.  How can you avoid them and what should you do if bitten?

Here are ten facts about ticks you may not know.

10. Ticks crawl up. They don't jump, fly or drop from trees onto your head and back. If you find one attached there, it most likely latched onto your foot or leg and crawled up over your entire body.

9. All ticks (including deer ticks) come in small, medium and large sizes.

8. Deer Ticks in particular are not killed by freezing temperatures and will be active any winter day that the ground is not snow-covered or frozen.

7. Ticks carry disease-causing microbes. Tick-transmitted infections are more common these days than in past decades. With explosive increases in deer populations, extending even into semi-urban areas in the eastern and western U.S., the trend is for increasing abundance and geographic spread of deer ticks and Lone Star ticks. Scientists are finding an ever-increasing list of disease-causing microbes transmitted by these ticks including Lyme disease bacteria, Babesia protozoa, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and other rickettsia, even encephalitis-causing viruses and possibly Bartonella bacteria. Back in the day, tick bites were more of an annoyance but now a bite is much more likely to make you sick.

6. Only deer ticks transmit Lyme disease bacteria. The only way to get Lyme disease is by being bitten by a deer tick or one of its "cousins" found around the world.

5. For most tick-borne diseases, you have at least 24 hours to find and remove a feeding tick before it transmits an infection. Even a quick daily tick check at bath or shower time can be helpful in finding and removing attached ticks before they can transmit an infection. Lyme disease bacteria take at least 24 hours to invade the tick's saliva.

courtesy of Global Lyme Alliance

4. Deer tick nymphs look like a poppy seed on your skin. And with about one out of four nymphal deer ticks carrying the Lyme disease spirochete and other nasty germs in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and upper mid-western U.S., it's important to know what you're really looking for. They're easy to miss, their bites are generally painless, and they have a habit of climbing up (under clothing) and biting in hard-to-see places.

3. The easiest and safest way to remove a tick is with a pointy tweezer. Using really pointy tweezers, it's possible to grab even the poppy-seed sized nymphs right down next to the skin. The next step is to simply pull the tick out like a splinter.

2. Clothing with built-in tick repellent is best for preventing tick bites. An easy way to avoid tick bites and disease is to wear clothing (shoes, socks, shorts or pants, and shirt) with a tick repellent built-in. 

1. Tick bites and tick-borne diseases are completely preventable. There's really only one way you get a tick-transmitted disease and that's from a tick bite. Reducing tick abundance in your yard, wearing tick repellent clothing every day, treating pets every month and getting into a habit of doing a quick body scan are all great actions for preventing tick bites.  Some have suggested that bounce dryer sheets, especially in a pant cuff or hanging out of a sock will waylay the little buggers.  I've seen it work with mosquitoes and ants: it's worth a try. 


If you've been bitten:  Time for Lyme, Inc. has compiled an interesting list of things to consider if you've been bitten by a tick.  The list promotes caution but not fear.  You can find it on the Global Lyme Alliance website.

Courtesy of www.tickencounter.org 

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. There is no additional cost to you. Full Affiliate Disclosure

Teri Blaschke is the RV Park operator of family owned HiddenValley RV Park in San Antonio, TX and writer of the park blog “A Little Piece of Country in San Antonio.” Teri contributes to various other blogs with a focus on either travel or social media and how it relates to the outdoor hospitality industry but her passion is serving the RV travel community by providing a memorable RV camping experience and growing the Hidden Valley RV family.  Connect with Teri on Google+, Facebook and Twitter@HiddenValleyRV.  

Hidden Valley RV Park Remains Open During COVID-19

Just a note about corona virus concerns:  We take very seriously the health and safety of our guests, extended stay guests and team members.  We are monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact it has on all of us.  We are following all the guidelines set out by the local and state health officials for prevention of spreading the virus as well as taking all necessary precautions in accordance with the CDC in regards to keeping our premises clean.

Even though some of our facilities (bath houses, clubhouse, pavilion) are closed till further notice and our group activities are suspended, we intend to remain open as an RV Park to serve our guests.  Our office hours are also reduced for the protection of both team members and guests but we are working remotely to be available to serve our guests and answer all concerns.  If at all possible please make reservations and payment online for protection of both guests and team members.If you would prefer to make a reservation over the phone you may do so by making the payment in full with a credit card. 

We wish you and your loved ones good health in the weeks to come. Please reach out to us with any questions or needs.

Right Up There With The Alamo

Remember the ALAMO SAGA

That's right, 'gotta love the Alamo, but there's a new favorite stop on our tourist to-dos—actually, for everyone’s to-dos. See the San Fernando Cathedral like never before during this 24-minute show by French artist Xavier De Richemont, in which lights projected onto the cathedral and period related music tell the story of San Antonio from its beginning to today.'

A Little History and Interesting Facts

On June 13, 2014, San Antonio debuted "San Antonio| The Saga" a captivating video art music

Go Bat Loco in Texas

The world’s largest bat colony is right here in Texas! 

Bracken Cave is the summer home of over 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats making it the largest bat colony in the world as well as one of the highest concentrations on earth of mammals in general.  It is a key maternity site for this species, and females congregate there each year to give birth and rear their young.  Most males roost elsewhere in smaller groups.

Some Cool Tips for RVing from The Experts

Whether you’re a first-time RVer or someone who's been on the road for years, taking a few pieces of advice from Full Time RVers wherever you go is never a bad idea. A digital RV magazine, "Mobile RVing" sat down with a few full-time travelers to ask them about their best pieces of advice for anyone who enjoys a good trip on the road or wants to see the world behind the steering wheel.  Thought I'd share them. 

Here are some of the best tips they revealed to make your traveling safer, more fun, and enjoyable!

“Make sure your sewer pipe is properly secured into the dump pipe before opening your black tank. Don’t ask how I know.” -- Jimmy Le, Airstream Owner

Easy Healthcare on the Road

There are many things to think about that could scare you out of the full time RV life, especially when wondering about healthcare and the well-being of yourself and family.  While you can always take advantage of the Affordable Care Act, insurance from a remote job or a private provider, another option available is RVhealth.com.  

 

This service has a monthly fee of