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It's never too early to start planning for warm weather RV camping adventures. A place you'll want to add to your itinerary is Bloomington, Indiana, where outdoor attractions, historic sites and an exciting college town atmosphere mean you'll have plenty of places to play.

One of the best ways to get to know Bloomington is to pull into one of the area's excellent RV parks and then embrace nature. Bloomington RV campgrounds are in such beautiful settings as Lake Monroe, where tall, rocky bluffs ring Indiana's largest lake. Favorite ways RVers enjoy Lake Monroe include boating, fishing from the piers, hiking the woodland trails or swimming at one of the reservoir's two beaches.

Lake Monroe sits on the northern boundary of Hoosier National Forest, a two-hundred-thousand acre green space complete with hillside lookouts, scenic trails and an impressive collection of waterways. Nearly every kind of outdoor recreation can be enjoyed while you're here. Here's a tip for vacation photographers -- wildlife in this forest is abundant, so pack your favorite camera as you pack your motorhome.

Want to take your vacation adventures underground? Bluespring Caverns, just a short drive from Bloomington, offers RVers a trip along a mysterious subterranean river. Older kids will especially enjoy the underground snack bar and the amazing cave-dwelling creatures.

And what attracts RVers to Bloomington itself? Indiana University's Hoosiers lure loyal fans to baseball, basketball and football games, not to mention a whole host of other sporting events year-round. Imagine enjoying an RV vacation in a beautiful setting with the added bonus of first-rate collegiate sports nearby.

That's just the beginning of what you can do while in Bloomington. The BEAD (Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District) is a sixty block collection of restaurants, galleries and shopping venues sure to please everyone in your RV camping crew. Don't miss this pulsing heart in the city's center during your stay in Bloomington.

And you can't truly appreciate Bloomington without knowing a little about its history. The city features no less than thirteen walking tours that highlight vintage neighborhoods and structures. Start here to collect more information on the Showers Brothers Furniture Factory Tour, details on the Vinegar Hill Limestone District and other memorable treasures from Bloomington's fascinating past.

There you have them -- seven tips for an exciting Bloomington, Indiana RV camping vacation. Whether you're planning a long weekend of RV camping or hope to settle in for an extended stay, you won't run out of ways to play in and around Bloomington. Get ready to experience the beauty of nature, the energy of a great university and the wealth of visual history that keeps RV campers coming to Bloomington, Indiana.

Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. You can see more great RV vacation ideas in their Monty's Musings RV Travel Blog and be sure to check out their RV Camping Pictures.

No matter the style of quilt you prefer, the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show has you covered. From traditional patterns to the very modern of designs, one of the largest shows in the Midwest is proud to have some of the very best quilters from around the country submit their entries.

Not only are there wonderful quilts on display, but workshops taught by some of the most sought after instructors around, from Edyta Sitar to Karen Eckmeier.

The community gets involved too with several museums and galleries throughout the downtown offering exhibits of their own, with free transportation from the show. In 2012, the Everchanging River exhibit will be on display and over 30 vendors will be on hand at the Convention Center with quilting notions. The show is held March 1-3, for more information visit www.ihqs.org.

Here are a few photos from last year's show to give you an idea of what to expect. Hope to see you there!

You've been seeing references to Pinterest for awhile now. It pops up in your Facebook news feed when your friends pin something, you've seen links on Twitter, maybe you've had friends rave about it. If you're Pinterest-curious but just don't know where to start, don't worry - we've got your crash course, right here.

Pinterest is the hottest social site of 2012. They've got over 10 million registered users, their number of daily users has increased by more than 145% since the beginning of this year and they're still in an invitation-only beta stage. So, what exactly are these millions of people doing on Pinterest?

Being inspired. Getting organized. Shopping online. Collecting ideas. Uploading photos. You see, Pinterest is like a giant digital cork board. You can create as many boards as you want for any categories you want. Planning a wedding? Having a baby? Remodeling your house? Need ideas for a science project? Planning a vacation? No idea what to make for dinner tonight? Pinterest to the rescue! Simply create a board for each of these topics, download the pin-it add on for your browser and start surfing the web or uploading your existing photos.

Take a look at how Visit Bloomington is using Pinterest. We've got a board for IU Basketball, of course, but we've also got a board just for local beer and wine, one for foodies, family travel ideas, local music and more. We've even got a board dedicated to famous (or semi-famous) people who have ties to Bloomington and/or Indiana University. You can even create boards that multiple people can pin to, such as our Staff Pins board. That could come in handy if you're planning a girlfriends' getaway or a vacation for the extended family!

If you think you're ready to take the Pinterest plunge, here's our little gift to you. Instead of requesting an invite through the site itself and waiting days or weeks to get it, simply email us and I'll be happy to send you an invitation to join us on Pinterest. Happy pinning!

The Boy in the Bathroom opened with a bang on Thursday, February 2nd at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. The three shows last weekend were all sold out, and for good reason! This charming musical stars Evan Mayer as David, a college dropout who suffers from an extreme case of OCD and hasn't left the bathroom in over a year. This may sound depressing, but the play is actually very entertaining and humorous with his mother's (Lisa Kurz) sarcasm and Julie's (Indiana University freshman Maddie Shea Baldwin) cheesy knock-knock jokes.

Julie is hired by David's mom to clean around the house, and at first she thinks David is just a weirdo (who wouldn't-he sleeps in the bathtub!), but they end up falling in love as they tease each other and play board games through the bathroom door. She begs David to come out and run away with her, but is it enough? Find out for yourself! Do not miss this opportunity to see this clever production of The Boy in the Bathroom that is sure to receive a standing ovation time and time again.

The show runs through February 18. See www.newplays.org for more information or to order your tickets. 

This guest blog was written by one of Visit Bloomington's current Visitor Information Specialists, Kelsey Bussen. If you've called the Visitors Center recently, you may have spoken with Kelsey, who is currently pursuing a degree in Tourism Management from Indiana University.

Are you looking for something fun to do with your Valentine on this upcoming day of love? Well here are just a few specials that are going on in Bloomington during the next week.

Valentine's Day at Scholars Inn Gourmet Café and Wine Bar Four incredible courses with many options - only $65 per person! Enjoy wine and champagne specials as well (go to scholarsinn.com for the full menu). For reservations to Bloomington's most romantic restaurant, call 812-32-1892. Lights! Camera! Murder! At the Pourhouse Café It's an After Oscars Party Mystery Dessert Buffet! Friday, February 17 from 7-9 pm at the Pourhouse Café, 314 E. Kirkwood Ave. Be a part of the story with identity tickets for just $20; Non-identity tickets are $15. For more information, call 812-339-7000. Upland Brewing Company Valentine's Day Beer and Food Pairing Dinner Enjoy a four course dinner paired with Upland Brewing Company's delicious local brews on Tuesday, February 14 at 7 pm at the Upland Banquet Space. The Chef will be there to discuss the food and a brewer will be ready to answer questions about the beer! Only $50 per person; tickets can be purchased at the Upland Tap Room Contact Christen for reservations. Celebrate Valentine's Day at Scotty's Brewhouse Bloomington Two people eat for $30 at Scotty's Brewhouse. This offer is not just for couples, bring a group of friends to celebrate! Includes one appetizer, two entrees and one dessert off of the specialty menu. No reservations are taken at Scotty's - first come, first served. Enjoy a Valentine's weekend with Bloomington's Wineries The Indiana Uplands Wine Trail presents a Chocolate Lovers Getaway, featuring free chocolate and wine pairings during weekends surrounding Valentine's Day (Feb 11, 12, 18, and 19). Available at all wineries on the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail, including Oliver Winery and Butler Winery & Vineyards in Bloomington. The Irish Lion Valentine's Day Sparkling Wines Dinner On Tuesday, February 14 from 4-10 pm, The Irish Lion presents a three course meal for just $49 per person at one of Bloomigton's favorite restaurants. Reservations are suggested; Call 812-336-9076.

Looking to stay the night? Find a great deal on our special offers page and extend your celebration in Bloomington! 

This post comes to you from our current intern at Visit Bloomington, Tom Leland. Tom is seeking degrees in Tourism Management as well as German and hopes to spend some time working in Germany after graduation. He spends a lot of time playing piano and enjoys riding his bike around Bloomington and playing golf and soccer.