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Family RV Association’s South Central Area 6 State Rally

RV roof
Sparkle Travel & RV Services recently attended the Family RV Association’s (formerly Family Motor Coach Association FMCA) South Central Area 6 State Rally in Shawnee, Oklahoma. We departed from St. Louis on Monday, September 16th, made an overnight stop at a Love’s truck stop, and arrived in Shawnee by Tuesday morning. The week was unusually hot, but it didn’t slow us down!
View of a truck stop

With approximately 150 RVs at the rally, the St. Louis Gateway Getaways team did an excellent job coordinating parking for all attendees. Volunteers played a crucial role throughout the weekend, and they were rewarded with bonus bucks, which could be used with rally vendors—a win-win for both volunteers and businesses!

RV's

As vendors, we were busy offering discounted roof inspections and tank cleaning services to attendees, and we also had the privilege of teaching two seminars on Dry Camping/Boondocking. This is one of our favorite topics because while full hookups are great, free and affordable camping is even better! For example, we stayed overnight at Lowe’s on Monday for free, thanks to our solar setup, which powers everything we need on a cool fall night. In our seminars, we covered essential tips on managing power, water, and waste when dry camping.

Teacher and her class

A big thank you to Rose Willis, who did a fantastic job staffing our booth throughout the weekend. She promoted our services, made new friends, and still found time to attend a few craft sessions and the Ladies Tea.

Teresa & Rose Willis

The rally wasn’t all work and no play! We had some downtime to enjoy with friends. We dined with the St. Louis Gateway Getaways on Tuesday and Saturday evenings. On Tuesday, we indulged in delicious fish tacos at Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, which I highly recommend. On Saturday, we enjoyed a hearty meal at Sante Fe Cattle Company, a local favorite—definitely worth a visit! Every night, we relaxed outdoors, taking in the stunning full moon. On Friday, we gathered with the Gateway Getaways for a nightcap, adding to the fun and camaraderie.

If you’ve been considering attending a rally, we highly recommend it! They are packed with opportunities to make new friends, learn valuable skills, enjoy great food, and connect with vendors offering useful services. It’s always a memorable experience!  Check out our upcoming travel to see which rallys we will be attending next.