Aguanga

Outdoor Resorts Rancho California RV Resort  
This is one of the nicest parks we have ever visited. Lovely setting and a very fancy resort. The only reason I gave it "only" a five rating is that there isn't much to do around the area. Golf, lakes, pools, full hook-up sites in a luxurious setting. RV restrictions: Class-A motorhomes only - no vans, pop-ups, Class B, truck campers or toy haulers permitted. Read our postcard 

In the area:
Mt. Palomar Observatory - see our photo

Arcata

Mad River Rapids RV Park 
GPS: N40° 54.126'/W124° 05.381' Altitude: 88'
Forget what they say in the Trailer Life guide. This should not be a highly-rated park. Though Mad River Rapids RV Park has all the amenities, it is just a basic campground with a lot of live-ins. Some 50 amp sites, pull-throughs and back-in paved sites with a little slice of lawn and picnic tables. Free wifi, but the signal was too weak for us to log on; modem in office. Pool and hot tub in season. Close enough to Highway 101 to be a convenient stop-over and far enough away from Highway 101 so it is quiet. No tents allowed and they seem to be picky about home-made type bus conversions and were not too friendly in general at check-in.

In the area: Read our postcard from Arcata

Restaurants & Food: For a great breakfast (or lunch) try dining in the 1876 Victorian home on the corner of 10th and I Street. The Crosswinds Restaurant offers traditional and vegetarian meals and daily low-priced specials. Service is good and meals are served in the former living areas of the home. Review

Arcata is also home to the famous Cypress Grove Cheese Company. Though they are not open to the public, be sure to pick up a package of their famous Humboldt Fog cheese while you are in the area.

Atwater/Merced

Castle Air Museum Family Camp  
GPS: 120.5775W/37.37036N
Of all the RV parks in California - we stay here very often, as it is the closest campsite to family in Merced. Very simple - just a parking lot - but all the basic hook-ups. Well-behaved pets are permitted to walk off-leash. Water, Sewer, 30 amp, back-in only, picnic table on lawn behind site, good cell service, quiet, safe. Also, a dump station. The manager, Sandra, is very helpful. (Be sure to pet her rambunctious cockers.)

In the area:
Castle Air Museum
Merced Multi-Cultural Arts Center

Anaheim

Anaheim RV Resort  
This park has it all, is very expensive, but probably your best bet for a visit to the Disney Resort parks. That said, it is just a basic RV Park - with a great location. The sites are pull-though, back-in and who knows what else as they have created sites anywhere and everywhere to accommodate campers. Great water pressure, sewer, cable, paved with lawn, patio, picnic table, good cell service, wifi, dog-friendly, pool, hot tub and very close to Disneyland. Lots of live-ins. One great reason to stay here: they provide a very nice (and very often) free shuttle back and forth to Disneyland. (NOTE: Even though the neighborhood is improving, I did not feel safe walking my dog after dark.)

In the area: Disneyland, of course, and Disney's California Adventure. There is no admission charge to enter Downtown Disney (above left) -  fun for shopping and has many dining and bar options. Downtown Disney also has a nice movie theatre complex.

Restaurants: Nearly every family-friendly chain restaurant is in the area. We dined at Buca di Beppo and thought it was only okay. We also drove over to near-by downtown Fullerton and had a delicious meal at Mulberry Street (Italian).

Bakersfield

Orange Grove RV Park 
GPS: 118.8803W/35.34078N
We pulled in early one evening without reservations and were greeted like long-lost friends - and have returned several times since. The Orange Grove isn't fancy, but it is in an orange grove and you are welcome to help yourself to the fruit - seems January is a good time for the ripest oranges. They have laundry, an exercise room, pool, and lots of gravel pull-through 30 & 50 amp sites. Popular with groups, this park is far enough off the freeway to assure a quiet sleep. Around the corner is a small nut stand/fruit stand where you can buy almonds, nuts and dried fruits. See photos

Smoke Tree   
They have a few paved pull-through sites, right by the office, for over-nighters. Lots of live-ins in this park. Level 50 amp, quiet, room for the tow car, cable TV. Good cell service.

A Country RV Park 
This park will suit you well only if there isn't an opening anywhere else. Pretty dumpy and many live-ins.

Bishop

Highlands RV Park (760-873-7616)
Small full-service RV park about one mile north of town. Friendly, helpful staff. Paved 30 and 50 amp sites. Pull-throughs and back-in sites available. Many live-ins. Dog friendly.

Restaurants & Food:
Yamatani | Review
Schat's Bakkery | Sorry, no photos allowed

Bodie Ghost Town

Bodie State Historical Site | Read our postcard

Borrego Springs

The Springs at Borrego RV Resort & Golf Course 
GPS:  N33° 16.127'/W116° 21.758'   Altitude: 545' The Springs ranks right up there in the top ten RV Parks we have visited, and just like it says in their brochure, it is a Grand Desert RV Oasis. The campground sits about a mile outside of town. They offer full-service, long pull-through paved sites, with 50 amp, cable, wifi. The sites are landscaped with coarse sand and desert plants. The sites are spacious and well-planned. There is a great recreation center with a big heated pool, tennis court, horseshoes and a basketball hoop. Around the pool are four hot tubs - filled with natural mineral water from their on-site deep well. Indoor at the recreation center you will find several meeting/card rooms, a full kitchen for rallies, a fitness center, large laundry and private shower rooms. Around the lake are several group BBQ areas with shaded tables (left) and communal fire pits for cozy evenings with fellow campers. No messing around with an executive golf course here - The Springs course is a championship nine-hole course - gorgeous and green in the desert, lined with the requisite palm trees. Designed by Thomas Fredericks, the course features an island green on the ninth hole, a pro shop, putting green and driving range.
See photos | Golf course photos

The golf course at The Springs at Borrego RV Resort

Palm Canyon Resort 
Palm Canyon RV Park is a large traditional campground close to town and at the entrance to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Sites are a bit close together, in sandy-dirt. Most sites are 30 amp, but they do have a few 50 amp sites. Cable TV and exercise room. The RV park is behind their motel, so RVers can take full advantage of the motel pool and hot tub, along with the restaurant, bar and meeting facilities.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - Borrego Palm Canyon Campground 
What a great find! Camping in the desert - but will full hook-ups! The Borrego Palm Canyon Campground is near the trail head to the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail (see below). They offer 51 30-amp, full-hookup pull-through some-what-paved sites and two bath houses. There is wifi access at the park headquarters. Pay showers, pay phones, picnic tables and a dump station. There is an amphitheater and group campfire center with ranger programs. There are also over 50 primitive tent sites.

Other camping options: There are a few more basic RV parks in town which we did not inspect. Also, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park allows dry camping at no charge anywhere in the park where there is a known road. Rules including parking less than one car-length from the road, camp more than 100' feet from a water source, and no open fires. There are several popular areas for dry-camping east of town on S22. Some were filled with ATVers, a few were for a quieter crowd. There is a dump station at the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground (fee). Contact the ranger station for detailed information.

In the area:
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Visitor Center
Read our Palm Canyon Trail hike postcard

Anza-Borrego National History Association

Day Trip: Read our postcard from Julian, California

Restaurants:
Pablitos Mexican Restaurant | Review
The Krazy Coyote Restaurant | Review
Red Ocotillo | Review

Burney Falls

Near Burney, California, McArthur-Burney Falls is a nice stop on Highway 89 to stretch your legs. There is a large parking area for RVs. Burney Falls is 129 feet high and the plunge pool at the bottom is about 24 feet deep. The falls are named for an early settler in the area, Samuel Burney.  Spring fed, an unbelievable 100 million gallons of water flow over the falls every 24 hours! Read our postcard

Calistoga (also see Healdsburg, St. Helena, Sonoma, Petaluma & Vacaville)

Napa County Expo Fairgrounds 
The fairgrounds is a very basic campground, but will do the trick for a visit to wine country. After trying campgrounds and RV parks all over the area we have learned this is the most convenient of the choices. Full hook-up sites. Be aware this campground closes from the last part of July to mid-August annually for the county fair. About a ten minute walk to the very cute town of Calistoga - many shops and restaurants. See a photo

In the area:
Old Faithful Geyser | Yep, they have one in California too | See a photo
Castello di Amoroso | Architecturally-correct medieval Italian Castle/Winery. Really. | Read our postcard

Restaurants & Food:
Flatiron Grill | Review
Calistoga Cal-Mart - great grocer with a fabulous local cheese selection

Castello di Amoroso

Carmel

Carmel-by-the-River Campground   +
Once we squeezed into our site, we liked the campground - but I would not advise this option for a Big Rig. The road to the campground is terrible. Very old, very secluded (read that 5 miles from town) and "homey" (read that as some people LIVE here). It has a "frog" theme, and we are staying in the "Lily" site (the sites are not numbered, they are "named".) We had to cross over a one-way bridge on a road not built for large motor homes to reach our lily pad. Just as you near the campground, there is a sign reading: "Well, you made it. Just hop around the corner to the campground." Where is Kermit when you need him? Never mind... it is on a river, quiet and clean. See a photo of the bridge

In the area:
Monterey Bay Aquarium | Read our postcard
17-Mile Drive | Read our postcard
Pebble Beach Golf Club

Restaurants:
Favaloro's Restaurant in Pacific Grove | Review
Hog's Breath Inn

Chester/Lake Almanor

North Shore Campground 
This old-fashioned campground is right on Lake Almanor. They do have limited services - not many full-hook-up sites. Wifi, fire rings, fishing and boat rentals. Campground is under huge evergreen trees and quite peaceful.

Cloverdale

Cloverdale KOA  +
GPS: N38° 46.601'/W122°57.759' Altitude 568'
"Where the vineyards meet the Redwoods" is the slogan at his old-fashioned family-friendly campground. The friendly owners really made us feel welcome and it is a very nice park - but it is nearly six miles off Highway 101 and then up a very steep narrow one-mile road. Do not let this discourage you from a visit, but it isn't the best choice for a base-camp for touring the wine country or for an over-night stop. If you have a big rig, call ahead as there are not many sites that can handle a larger motorhome or 5th wheel. Great place for a weekend away with the kids. Cabins for rent, fishing pond, hiking trails, full hook-up sites - most are back-ins. Pool and spa in season, modem in office. Very quiet and peaceful.  See photos

Chula Vista

Chula Vista RV and Marina  
This park is very nice! Miles of bike paths and it is on the bay, next to a pretty marina. You can walk to several restaurants. All the hook-ups, bad water pressure, patio, picnic tables, really large sites, good cell service, pool, hot tub, quiet and safe.

Great Grocer:  Henry's Market

In the area:  Chula Vista Farmer's Market. It is small, but famous for two vendors - a local olive oil guy and an Argentinean Empanada guy. Enough free samples at the market, you won't need lunch. Every Thursday, rain or shine, on Center Street off Third Avenue, from 3-7 pm.

Corning

Rolling Hills Casino RV Park 
GPS: N39°52.353' W122°12.339' Elevation 277'
The RV park behind the Rolling Hills Casino is not affiliated with the casino or tribe, but is advertised on the casino's sign. The entrance is through the long-term truck parking driveway. This is a self-service RV park - or as it is referred to on the informational sign - an "automated attendant"! You can put cash or a credit card into the machine - similar to a machine at a parking garage - and out pops a receipt. Instructions are simple: pay for a ticket, place it in your window or pay a $100 fine. The sign states a routine security patrol checks your windshield. Check-out time is 10 am. Pick any site - they aren't even numbered. Every site is a long gravel pull-through with full hook-ups and the roads are paved. There is a bath house 150 feet away, which also serves the truckers. The campground is far enough away from the interstate that there is little freeway noise. Perfect for an overnight stay. A shuttle van comes through the RV Park on a very regular basis to give you a free ride to the casino. The casino also allows overnight RV parking in a special area of their (not very level) parking lot, at no charge. See photos

Crescent City

In the area: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. They have a nice visitor center. If you have a big rig, park along the main road. We have been through here about a dozen times and only once did we not see hundreds of elk. Elk Prairie/Prairie Creek Redwoods have a nice campground for smaller RVs and beautiful hiking trails under the massive trees.

Read our May 2000 postcard from Elk Prairie
Read our March 2007 postcard from Elk Prairie
Read our June 2007 postcard from Elk Prairie

Death Valley National Park

Furnace Creek Campground 
Dry camping only. Huge sites. They have fresh water and a dump station. Generator hours. Usually quite windy here. Showers, flush toilets. Walk to Visitor Center, restaurants, golf course, post office, some groceries. | See a photo

Death Valley National Park
Read our April 2000 postcard
Read our Oct 2000 postcard
Read our Oct 2004 postcard
Read our April 2005 wildflower postcard | Badwater & Golden Canyon


The Furnace Creek Golf Club
Read our 2000 postcard | Read our 2004 postcard

Scotty's Castle | Read our postcard
23 Skiddo | Read our postcard
Wild Rose Charcoal Kilns | Read our postcard

Wild Rose Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley National Park

Ferndale

The entire village of Ferndale has been designated a State Historical Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Ferndale is host to the strangest annual race - The Kinetic Sculpture Race: people-powered sculptures must cross-land, sand and water to travel from Arcata to the finish line in Ferndale.

Read our postcard from Ferndale

Restaurants:
Restaurant Matias | Review

Garberville

Benbow Valley RV Resort & Golf Course  
GPS: 40.06912N/123.7874W
Close to Avenue of the Giants. RV park has a par-3 golf course and a driving range. Full hook-up pull-through sites. Great water pressure, cable TV and wireless internet. Poor cell service. We have stayed here several times - good for an over-night or for a visit to the Redwoods. See a photo

Restaurants:
The Benbow Inn| Review | Yet another delicious meal and photos of the Inn

In the area:
Avenue of the Giants in the Humboldt Redwood State Park. This road parallels Highway 101 and passes through ancient forests with gigantic trees. If you are in your tow car (and you have kids along) don't miss the chance to drive through a tree! It is hokey, but what a great photo!
Read our May 2000 postcard
Read our June 2006 postcard

The Travel Log | Read our postcard

A nice drive: Shelter Cove | Read our postcard

Groveland

Yosemite Pines RV Resort    +
This park is about 20 miles from the Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park (see below). Not the greatest location, but a good option for a Big Rig. (Their website claims they were rated the "8th best RV park in the World by The Travel Channel". I don't know about that... but it is a nice campground for a few days.) We had a long pull-through, full-hook-up gravel site with a picnic table. They have very good water pressure, free WiFi, a petting zoo, a small grocery, pool, and trailers and yurts for rent. They are very friendly and accommodating.

Restaurants:
Iron Door Saloon | Read our postcard

Healdsburg

In the area: Healdsburg is a very pretty town. There are fun shops and good restaurants surrounding the shady central city square. Healdsburg also offers two fancy dog boutiques, if you need a souvenir for your pooch.
 
Restaurants:
Cena Luna | Review

Other culinary highlights in the valley included stops to Olivier, Dean & Deluca, Oakville Grocery and the Bouchon Bakery next-door to Thomas Keller's Bouchon restaurant (and just down the street from his French Laundry).

Idyllwild

Idyllwild | Read our postcard

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park
Read our 2000 postcard
Read our 2004 postcard
Read our 2005 postcard

Julian (also see Borrego Springs, above)

Read our postcard from Julian

Restaurants & Food:
Romano’s Dodge House | Review
Julian Pie Company | Review

Klamath

In the area: Trees of Mystery | See a photo

Kings Canyon National Park (also see Three Rivers, below)

Kings Canyon National Park | Read our postcard

Lakehead (on Lake Shasta)

Lakehead Campground 
Lakehead Campground is an old-fashioned campground, built long-before such things as slide-rooms and luxury motor coaches and they have not updated in a while.

Restaurants:
The Bass Hole | Review

Lee Vining

Mono Vista RV Park 
37.95866N/119.1225W
This is the only show in town and it will work for a base camp if you wish to enter Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass. There is one restaurant in town and limited groceries. No cell service. Good water pressure, cable TV, quiet, 30 amp gravel sites.

Nearby:
Mono Lake | Read our April 2000 postcard | Read our May 2007 postcard

Loleta

In the area:
Loleta Cheese Factory | Read our postcard

Lone Pine

Boulder Creek RV Resort 
GPS: 36.54278N/118.04100W
Boulder Creek RV Resort is just a few miles south of town on Hwy. 395 and is your best bet if you want hook-ups. Campsites are in sandy-dirt, and though surrounded on both sides by trees, are satellite-friendly. Full-hookups, 50 amps, pool, hot tub, laundry, store, petting zoo and activities. The staff are very friendly. The campground is on the highway, so ask for a site on the east side of the park, if possible, for a quiet sleep. See a photo

Other camping options: We also toured through Diaz Lake Campground (three miles south of Lone Pine on Hwy. 395). This campground has 200 sites - all dry camping. If you have a larger RV, drive through the first camping area, over the bridge and camp in the grass along the lake. This park is operated by Inyo County and information about camping can be found at www.395.com. Just before the Whitney Portal Road starts the big climb you will find Lone Pine Campground (US Forest Service) on the left of the road. If your rig is over 25-30 feet, I think you would have a difficult time staying here as sites are narrow, some are not very level and there are many over-hanging trees. If you have a smaller rig, or are tent camping - this is the place as it is so close to Whitney Portal. Be careful during bad weather, this campground is, for some strange reason, in a wash along a creek.

Read our postcard from Lone Pine

In the area:
Manzanar National Historical Site | Read our postcard

Translation of the kanji: "soul consoling" - Manzanar National Historical Site

Malibu

Malibu Beach RV Park   
GPS: N34°02.047'/W118°44.297' Altitude 110'
Malibu Beach RV Park is an old-fashioned style campground sitting on a bluff up above the beach just north of Malibu. The RV park is less than two miles from the campus of Pepperdine University. The driveway up to the campground is a bit steep, but don't worry - there is a large, flat, parking area at the top for registration. The sites are in every size and configuration - and the sites are very close together. All are on sand. 30 amp, cable TV, picnic tables, showers, laundry, a small store, free wifi and one of the best dog-walking areas we have ever encountered. There are restaurants nearby, and good hiking trails leading from the park. Just a few miles south you will find a nice Ralph's Supermarket and a post office one block south of the supermarket. There is quite a bit of noise from the Pacific Coast Highway below. As cramped as we were here, we really enjoyed our stay at his very expensive campground. Malibu Beach RV Park faces directly south, so you can watch the sun rise and set over the ocean - very unusual. We often saw porpoise in the sea below.
See many photos of Malibu Beach RV Park

Restaurants:
Paradise Cove Cafe & Mobile Home Park (not a typo) | Review

Mammoth

Mammoth Mountain RV Park
I can't give this park a rating, as we stayed here when it was off-season (the help was off, the owner was off...) and barely operating. Convenient location though. We still managed to enjoy our time here. Read our postcard

Morro Bay

Morro Dunes RV Campground  
Paved campground on the beach - easily the nicest campground in town. Good location. Full hook-ups, some pull-throughs, cable TV.

Read our postcard from Morro Bay

Restaurants:
Pizza Port | Our review
Harada Japanese Restaurant | Our review

Moss Landing

Moss Landing RV Park 
Sites are close together, all back-ins, but very nice! Basic cable. Close to everything too. Quiet. Friendly owner. 50 amp, paved sites, picnic tables, full-hook-ups, laundry, newspaper box. You can walk to the docks, the beach and many restaurants from Moss Landing RV Park.

Read our postcard from Moss Landing

Restaurants:
Phil's Fish Market & Eatery | Review

Pacifica (see San Francisco, below)

Palm Springs Area

Emerald Desert (Palm Desert) 
GPS: 33.77492N/116.3398W
Truly one of the best parks we have visited, but we didn't stay long because (at the time we stayed) they had no cellular service! They also had lousy water pressure. They have a little golf course and lots of activities.  Though they recently expanded, we heard they are closing and a building will go up on the site. 50 amp, sewer, cable, paved, lawn, patio, dog friendly, pool, hot tub, newspaper box, noisy - next to rail tracks. NOTE: Rumors say Emerald Desert was going to close... so check their website before starting your engine.
 
Outdoor Resort (Cathedral City)  +
Love this park! Everyone is very friendly and the trees and landscaping are all mature and quite lush. 50 amp, good water pressure, sewer, cable, paved with lawn, patio, picnic table, great cell service, dog friendly (but you have to take your dog to a yucky, sandy area to do his business), fabulous pools, hot tubs, quiet, safe. Par 3 golf course. Close-by shopping & restaurants.

Indian Wells RV Resort (Indio) 
Good location, but not our favorite campground in the area. Very friendly people, many live-ins and long-timers. Fabulous donuts on Saturday morning. Pet-friendly, great cell service, cable, great pool and hot tub.

Outdoor Resorts Motorcoach Country Club (Indio)  +
GPS: 116.2594W/33.69879N
Probably the nicest RV park in America. This is a park for owners, but they have plenty of rentals also. However, it is for motor coaches only. Check-out their website, because I can't describe how a several-mile long canal system is situated so you can go from your coach to your electric boat to enjoy your cocktails on the water each evening. They also have an executive golf course, several pools, hot tubs, tennis courts, exercise gym, pro-shop, restaurant, bar, laundry, putting green, 24-hour gated security and very nice landscaping and fountains everywhere. See photos | More photos

In the area:
Annual Golf Cart Parade | Read our postcard
National Date Festival and County Fair | Read our postcard
Living Desert Zoo & Gardens | Read our postcard
Thousand Palm Oasis | Read our postcard
Tahquitz Canyon | Read our postcard
Palm Springs Village Fest | Read our postcard
Desert Dunes Golf Club | Read our postcard

Day Trip:
Read our postcard from the Salton Sea, The Slabs and Salvation Mountain

Restaurants we recommend:
Bellini - Palm Desert
Don Diego's
Fisherman's Market & Grill
The Beer Hunter
La Estancia
Jakes Pizza
Bunz | Review
Sherman's Deli and Bakery | Review
Louise's Pantry | Review
Blue Coyote Grill
Taqueria Guerrero | Review

Diamondback Rattle snake

Petaluma

Petaluma/North San Francisco KOA  +
GPS: 38.27146N/122.6786W
Honestly, we don't like this campground very much, but we keep staying here, so there you go. It really is too far from San Francisco and too far from the wine country, but there are few options in this area. (WARNING: the park is on a working farm and in the fall manure is spread on the fields. The smell is over-whelming and the flies are everywhere... and I'm a country girl.) Few sites are good for a DataStorm or satellite reception. Old-fashioned campground with a pool and many planned family activities. 30 minutes to the city, 30 minutes to the wine country. They arrange for all-day San Francisco city tours which depart daily from the campground. Full hook-ups/cable at some sites, security gate, pet friendly, good cell service.

Pismo Beach

Pismo Coast Village    
We stayed here for three nights and thought it was a very nice park with friendly employees and many happy campers. 30 amp, good water pressure, sewer, cable, lawn, picnic table, good cell service, pool, newspaper box, quiet, great location and pet-friendly. Right on the beach.

In the area:  Solvang, a little of Scandinavia in California, is a short drive from Pismo Beach. Many theme restaurants, wine tasting rooms and a Wednesday Farmers Market.  Many great bakeries in town too.

Restaurants: Giuseppe's Cucina Italiana

Pomona

LA/Pomona/Fairplex KOA 
GPS: 34.08896N/117.7628W
If you need to be in LA, the pickings are pretty slim for campgrounds. Our site was so close to our neighbor that we couldn't totally extend our awning and I asked him to pass the salt during dinner. The joint is also teeming with trees and they have signs posted stating "We are not a Satellite-Friendly RV Park". So, do they offer cable TV? No, they do not. They do, however, offer high-speed wireless internet. Pool, hot tub, laundry, city tours, short pull-through paved sites - big rigs could have trouble. Pet and people friendly.

Red Bluff

Red Bluff RV Park  
We have stayed here several times, as an over-night stop.  Large pull-through sites and a great dog-walk area. Great water pressure, paved sites with lawn, patio and picnic tables. Some cellular service, pool, hot tub. It is just a short drive off I-5, so it is quiet.  Good for overnight.

Redding

Premier RV Resort   
This park has recently been totally upgraded (new owners) and is part of a group of several parks (with a few more being added soon). This park has very long pull-throughs, 50-amp service and a pool. On a nice creek. Cable TV and free high-speed wifi. Friendly owners and coffee and pastries in the morning - plus a newspaper delivered to your RV each morning!

Sacramento

Cal-Expo RV Park 
GPS: 121.4226W/38.58646N
We stay here often - another park close to family and we attend the big track meets at Sac State. This park is on the American River, with extensive paths for walking, running, biking and dog walking. Cal-Expo RV Park is associated with the State Fairgrounds. If you are a Big Rig, ask for the new gravel or "slabs" section in the back where they have 70 amp service available, and the sites are level. The main section of the campground (a big paved parking lot) is not level and sometimes it can be tricky to level your RV. Very friendly staff and tons of restaurants and shops nearby, including the Arden Fair Mall.

In the area:
California State Capitol | Read our postcard

Restaurants:
Biba

The Salton Sea  |  Slab City  |  Salvation Mountain

Read our postcard from the Salton Sea, The Slabs and Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

St. Helena

Restaurants:
A cult-classic, Taylor's Automatic Refresher in St. Helena,takes you back in time. Huge burgers and famous shakes. Order at the counter and dine at a picnic table on the shady back lawn. (They have a restaurant in San Francisco too.)
June 2004 Review | June 2007 Review

Tra Vigne | Review

San Diego

San Diego RV Resort   +
GPS: 117.0384W/32.77217N
Right on the freeway, so noisy - but very convenient for visiting San Diego. This is a very modern park with full hookups and wifi, pool, spa and every other amenity. Friendly staff. Easy to hop on the freeway to reach San Diego attractions. The park is next to the 70th Street Station for the San Diego Trolley, which is even more convenient. The fare for seniors is only $1, and it is only a 12-minute ride to QualComm stadium and about 45 minutes to downtown, where you can switch to another trolley or bus and get anywhere you need to go. If you take a right out of the RV park and cross over I-8, you will find a Costco, restaurants and other shopping.

Campland by the Bay RV Resort 
Choose this location if you are camping with kids or want a quick drive to the beach. Near SeaWorld Too. Lots of activities and they have lagoon-type beach at the park (though sometimes the water is "closed" due to bacteria). Pool, store, shuttles to area attractions, entertainment, wifi - well, they have everything. A little worn, but still a happening place.

In the area:
Gaslamp Quarter
Balboa Park
Cabrillo National Monument | Our 2000 postcard | Our 2001 postcard
Hotel Del Coronado
San Diego Zoo | Read our 2000 postcard | Read our 2001 postcard
Wild Animal Park  | Read our 2000 postcard | Read our 2001 postcard

San Francisco

San Francisco Candlestick RV Park 
GPS: 122.3837W/37.71609N
If you are going to spend time visiting San Francisco, this park will be more convenient than the KOA in Petaluma. Friendly owner caters to many European travelers in rental RVs and provides shuttle bus service into the city if you don't want to drive. This park is at Candlestick Park (or whatever it is called these days), so don't expect to drive-in on a game day without a reservation. Full hook-ups, wi-fi, good TV antenna reception. It's a parking lot, and expensive.

San Francisco RV Resort (in Pacifica)
Just off Route 1, this RV park is about 15 minutes south of The City and is also close to a BART station. It is a paved parking lot on a cliff above the sea. We had a front-in site over-looking the ocean, which was very nice... but it was very much like having an assigned parking spot! The owners are extremely friendly and the place has everything: nice pool & hot tub, 50 amp sites, great water pressure, cable TV, Laundry, a small shop and a newspaper box. You can walk a few blocks north to a market and several restaurants. See a photo | See another photo

Read our postcard from San Francisco

Restaurants:
Manor House Pizza in Pacifica | Review

San Simeon

In the area:
Hearst Castle | Read our postcard from the Hearst Castle

Santa Barbara (area)

Ocean Mesa at El Capitan  +
GPS: N34°27.912"/W120°01.484 - Highway 101, exit 117
Ocean Mesa provides a great camping experience about twenty miles north of Santa Barbara. 80 paved full-facility sites (pull-through and back-in), twenty tent sites and fabulous wheel-chair access. Each site also has a fire ring - something rare in RV parks these days. Though technically all sites are ocean view, the campground is set on a mesa above the sea and on the east side of Highway 101 - and yes, you can just see the ocean and Santa Cruz Island. There is some highway noise. Ocean Mesa offers free high-speed wireless internet (and it actually worked, actually was free and was actually high-speed at our visit), cable television, very nice bathrooms, laundry, a small store for necessities, gifts and ice, a newspaper box and an ATM.  They also offer massage. Owners are friendly and the park is also very pet friendly. State beach across the highway and miles of hiking trails behind the campground. Ask for a premium site - above the pool - for the best vistas.
See several photos

Santa Clarita (Valencia, Castaic)

Valencia Travel Village 
The name says it all. Not my first choice, but the only choice in the area. This park caters to live-in's, but has a few 30 amp pull-through gravel sites for short-timers or over-nighters. They were very much behind in maintenance and upkeep during our stay. It is next to Six Flags Magic Mountain though. (PS: they charged us an unbelievable $48 to stay here in December 2005.)

Sequoia National Park (also see Three Rivers, below)

Sequoia National Park
Read our 16 May 2005 postcard | Read our 18 May 2005 postcard

The Parker Grove - eight Giant Sequoias

Sonoma

Restaurants:
Once the Depot Hotel, the Depot Hotel-Cucina Rustica is situated across the street from the Sonoma train station and was used for years by train travelers. The building is gorgeous and the patio is jungle-like with vines growing up over the fences, making a quiet and fragrant scene. Delicious Italian cuisine. Review

Sonora

Restaurants:
Garcia's Taqueria, on the second floor above the main street has delicious Mexican food and has many vegetarian options.

South Lake Tahoe/Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Valley Campground 
This campground is very popular and more like a state park than a RV park. It is pretty dusty, but a good location for a stay in the Lake Tahoe area. There are many tall trees, but it is possible to get satellite reception in some sites.

In the area:
Boat trips on the lake | Read our postcard
Pope Beach | Read our postcard

Restaurants:
Tahoe Pizza Company | Review
The Brewery at Lake Tahoe | Review

Three Rivers

Kaweah Park Resort 
Very nice, old-fashioned campground with very friendly and  fastidious owners. Most sites are in the trees, and a few face right into the river - request one of these sites when you make your reservation. There is nice river "noise". Small dogs only. We had a pull-through site on gravel, 50 amp, water, sewer, lawn, trees and a picnic table. There is a nice grassy area on the river bank for picnicking or lounging in the sun. Pool, good cellular service. See photos

In the area:
Kaweah Post Office | Read our postcard

Restaurants & Food:
Don't leave town without trying the wild blackberry ice cream at the famed, Reimer's Candies.  I can't tell you how delicious was this ice cream.

Vacaville

Vineyard RV Park 
This park was highly rated, but it was just another gravel parking lot. Our site was so narrow, we couldn't even use our awning or we would hit the RV next to us - I mean the RV next to us was less than 6 feet away. (There are some larger sites however. Some one has previously removed the stone table at our site too. I think we were given the worst campsite they had to offer.) We had a gravel, level, pull-through site with 30 amp (they have some 50 amp sites) with full hookups, pool, laundry, etc., good cell service. They give Good Sam or AAA discounts.

In the area: You can find every chain store in the world in Vacaville, plus a huge outlet mall (that seems to have seen better days). Also, in nearby Fairfield you can enjoy free tours at the Jelly Belly jelly bean factory and the Anheuser-Busch brewery.

Ventura

Ventura Beach Resort  
Nice little campground. A group was having a rally and they were having so much fun. 50 amp, good water pressure, sewer, paved site with lawn, picnic table, good cell service, dog friendly, good pool, quiet and a great location.

Ventura beach-front camping:
Just north of Ventura (exit 78 off Highway 101) you can park/camp along a wide spot in the road along the beach. It is a very casual-type setting - you parallel park along the shore - no reservations - pay at a kiosk and the spot is yours for 24 hours. See several photo here and more here

In the area:
We drove out to Avila Beach and dined at the Olde Port Inn at the end of the pier. Delicious fish & chips. You can actually drive to the end of the pier (but I wouldn't try it in a motor home.) Many sea lions too.

Weed

Friendly RV Park  
True to their name, this RV park is very friendly. Unfortunately, it is also next to a noisy truck stop! It is also next to many (you can walk) restaurants and right off the freeway, so it it a good choice for an overnight stop. Full service, wi-fi, level sites.

Winterhaven

Pilot Knob RV Park 
This park is okay for a few nights. Just west of Yuma. Pretty far from anything interesting and it is all gravel. They have a nice pool and a bad hot tub.

Yermo

Calico Ghost Town-San Bernardino County Park 
GPS: 34.90634N/116.8929W
We had planned to drive into Death Valley, but the roads were flooded.  It was a holiday weekend, so we were happy to find a spot here.  We had to dry camp in dusty dirt, but generators were okay. We had cell service and after all the generators were turned-off and the ATVers went to bed, it was actually quiet. They do have a full-hook-up section, but it was full.

Barstow/Calico KOA 
Not the best option in the area, but they do offer full-hookups in dusty sand right on the noisy Interstate. Pull-throughs and friendly staff, pool and hot tub.

In the area:
Calico Ghost Town is fun - and they allow dogs on leash! Read our postcard

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park
Read our April 2000 postcard
Read our May 2005 postcard

Hetch Hetchy | Read our postcard
Glacier Point | Read our postcard

The best photo of the day: Yosemite Valley - El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridal Veil Falls