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
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June 2007 Review

Tra Vigne
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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
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Our 2000 postcard
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Our 2001 postcard

Hotel Del Coronado
San Diego Zoo |
Read our 2000 postcard
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Read our 2001 postcard

Wild Animal Park |
Read our 2000 postcard
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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
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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
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HELPFUL LINKS
California Tourism
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Conditions
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Photographs
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Our RV Park rating


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