Where We Are Now

We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.

   Ely KOA our site

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls

 Anderson Camp Stock Photo

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Washington

Washington (19)

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 04:37

Willow Bay RV Campground and Marina

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Willow Bay Campground & Marina, Nine Mile Falls, Washington

     We pulled into Willow Bay on a Friday morning and were greeted by a friendly young lady who checked us in.  She pointed out the four sites that had septic connections and said we were welcome to choose one or any other site for that matter.  The four full hookup sites had concrete pads, but there was quite a drop off to back in that our trailer hitch hit the ground preventing us from using any of them.  (Later we saw a motor home pulling after dark and simply drove through the grass from another road and pull forward into a site with septic) However, the site we did pick was much better, but since the campground has no dump station, we first tried on of those.  Most of the sites are in the grass and are very wide.  There is a “green area” along the river to prevent campers from parking too close to the water, which is nice.

 

      If you are looking for a nice place to sit and watch the sun set over the lake, this is the campground for you.  While the area is forested with mostly Ponderosa Pines with little underbrush and very dry, the campground is acres of green grass with Willow trees throughout.  The sites all have water and electricity and are really nice.  There is no AT&T cell service and Verizon is very weak.  The campground has no Internet what-so-ever and we couldn’t pick up local TV.  This gave us lots of time to kick back enjoy the lake, the view, a gas campfire, and our fellow campers. 

       While there we drove into Spokane to shop and visit Northern Quest Casino and Resort.  (they are currently building a new RV campground there) Also, we followed the lake / Spokane River to the dam which formed the 23-mile-long lake.  The dam was built in 1915 and at the time had the highest dam spillways in the country, however, didn’t allow for salmon to pass further up river to Spokane and Lake Coeur d’Alene. 

Willow Bay Resort - Advance Resorts of America

Resort ID: 2175

Type: Classic

Good Sam Rating: 4/4.5/6

Address: 
6607 Hwy 291
Nine Mile Falls, WA 99026

Phone: (509) 276-2350

Fax: (509) 276-5320

Reservations Phone: (800) 445-9519

Reservations Fax: (360) 466-1398

Reservations EMail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Resort Information: Willow Bay Resort is located on Long Lake. The resort features on-site boat launch, multiple docks, boat storage, clubhouse with HD satellite, hiking trails, boathouse, laundry facilities and 24-hour security. At Willow Bay Resort and Marina swimming, waterskiing, and trophy bass fishing are right in your front yard.

Directions: I-90 at Spokane take Division Ex 281. Follow 3 mi N to Hwy 291 (W Francis Ave). Turn L and continue approx 20 mi to resort.

Web Site:araresorts.com

EMail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Partial Sites: 100

Pull-through Sites: 20

Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: No

Maximum RV Length: 45 feet

Amenities: Activity center, picnic tables, beach, game room, hot showers, ice available, laundry, library, movie rentals, recreation hall, tenting, TV lounge, badminton, boating available, boat ramp, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, fishing available, horseshoe, hiking trails, volleyball, water skiing, gambling casino nearby, shopping nearby, tourist attractions nearby, boating nearby, fishing nearby, golf nearby, winter sports nearby.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: No aggressive or barking dogs

Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

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Tuesday, 21 May 2019 04:14

Tri Mountain RV Park

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Tri Mountain RV Park

      We lived at Tri Mountain for a month while trying to get settled back in the Portland area.  I thought that the photo from Google Maps would best describe the park.  Actually, it is a very nice, clean, well kept park.  The owners are extremely nice and the monthly rent was very reasonable which included electricity.  We would definitely return there again.  The obviously drawback is the freeway noise.  The actual freeway isn't bad, just the jake-braking trucks that use the exit. There is a nice coffee house and a pizza place right next to the park.  Also, just to the north (within walking distance) is a decent family restaurant featuring breakfast food and a convenience store with a Redbox.  

 

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Tuesday, 21 May 2019 04:11

Timber Lake Campground

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Timber Lake Campground

     Timber Lake is a nice RV/tent campground with only one thing missing... The lake.  We found that there were plenty of nice RV sites, both back in and pull-through.  The campground made a loop and in the center of the loop were hike-in tent sites.  It was really layed-out nice and looked like it was continuing to grow.  From what we saw, a good number of the campers were boaters.  It is just a short drive down to the Columbia River.  For us non-boater / hiker types, we found no trails, so we hiked around the loop several time and visited with other campers and chatted with the hosts.  Overall, it is a nice campground with a childrens play area and a rentable rec center for family gatherings or such.  We liked it and will go back again.

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Tuesday, 21 May 2019 03:26

Rimrock Meadows Resort

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Rimrock Meadows Resort, Palisades, Washington

      Rimrock Meadows is a private park and membership is required to use it.

     After getting diesel in Wenatchee, WA our GPS gave us a couple of options of getting to Rimrock Meadows, one was twenty miles shorter so we took it.  After driving halfway there on this route, the road turned to gravel.  Then when we were at the turnoff to the park, the sign for the park was set to be read from the other direction.  With our tow car attached, we couldn’t back up and little did we know it was another eight miles before we found a place big enough to turn around.  So much for short cuts.

     Once there, the park host showed us the sites and we picked one with morning sun and afternoon shade.  From what we could tell, the rec area with pool, camping, park setting and other amenities, were incentives for people to purchase acre lots and park their RV’s and build small outbuildings.  Being Coast to Coast members, we could camp there for free ($5 for a site with full hookup) The park is an oasis in the middle of the desert.  It has shade trees, lots of green grass and one of the nicest pools we’ve come across in our travels.  (the first one deep enough to dive in) 

    I think that the one drawback for the park was that there was nothing close by to visit.  However, it was worth the hour plus drive to the Grand Coulee Dam and learn some of the histories of the dam and the area.  Most interesting was that ten thousand years ago a glacier in the pan handle of Idaho formed a dam the created a huge lake (Lake Missoula) behind it.  Eventually, the ice dam gave way and the lake behind it caused a massive flood covered most of central Washington and Columbia River.  It is believed that there was 400’ of water covering Portland, Oregon.  For a period of time, the Columbia was routed over what is now called Dry Falls.  Dry falls is more than 3 ½ miles long, the largest waterfall in history.  Pictured is a comparison to Niagara Falls and a crop from Google Maps.

 

 Rimrock Meadows

Type: Classic

Good Sam Rating: 7.5/7/6

Address: 
4177 Tumbleweed Way
Ephrata, WA 98823
Phone: (509) 632-9800

Reservations Phone: (509) 632-9800

Reservations Fax:

Resort Information: Resort lies on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains and on the edge of the Moses Coulee, one of the West's most interesting geological phenomenon. The campground and Olympic-sized swimming pool provide a variety of family activities.

Directions: From Seattle: I-90 E, Ex 151/Hwy 283 to Ephrata. In Ephrata, L at 1st Ave NW. Approx 17 mi NW to Sagebrush Flats Rd and Coulee Meadows Rd (same rd). L on Sagebrush Dr (gravel), 1.5 mi to resort. From Hwy 2: S on Moses Coulee Rd, 20 mi from Waterville and Coulee City. The main entrance is framed by 4 basalt columns on each side of the rd. From I-90 Spokane: Hwy 17 Ex in Moses Lake and follow signs to Ephrata. R on Basin St and L on 1st Ave NW and follow directions above.

Web Site:rimrockmeadows.com

EMail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full Sites: 24

Partial Sites: 15

Pull-through Sites: 5

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m./ 2:00 p.m.

Open: Apr 1 to Oct 20

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 40 feet

Elevation: 1700

Amenities: Recreation hall, Olympic-size outdoor pool, kiddie pool, tennis, horseshoe, hiking trail, playground, basketball, ice available, candy, snacks, group activities, picnic tables, dump station, laundry, propane, TV lounge, tenting sites, tourist attractions nearby. Nearby: Moses Coulee geological phenomenon, Lake Chelan, Lake Roosevelt, Jamison Lake, Columbia River, and Grand Coulee Dam, all within an hour drive.

RV Notes: Rate includes 30 amp partial RV site. Additional charges: 50 amp full sites $10/night, Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Limited cell service. Closest goods and services are in Ephrata.

Pet Restrictions: Pets must be on a leash and are not allowed in the buildings or in the Courtyard area near the pool.

Visitor Mail Accepted: No

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Monday, 20 May 2019 22:35

Ponderosa Falls RV Campground

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Ponderosa Falls RV Campground, Cheney, Washington

     Ponderosa Falls is not a public campground, it is a KM resort which welcomes Coast to Coast members.

    We arrived at the campground around 9:30 am on a Saturday and had to wait until ten for the office to open.  The office assigns sites based on availability and size of rig.  They were very friendly and suggested a few sites that we either empty or going to be available by noon and welcomed us to go check them out before deciding.  We found a great site that was to be available that morning, so we opted to wait for them to pull out.  They did but without their trailer.  After a couple of hours of waiting, we picked another site, which turned out just fine. (without the grass) Most of the sites had full hookups and varied in size with plenty of both pull-throughs and back-in sites, along with a few cabins.

     The campground had a very nice lodge with some weekend meals.  It also had a very small indoor pool, a weight room, and laundry.  Outside there was a basketball and pickleball court, horseshoes, a kid’s play area, and one of the better miniature golf courses we’ve seen.  Each hole had three holes to choose from.  For little kids, there was a small paddle boat pond. 

     Just a few miles away was the Northern Quest Casino.  We checked it out and saw that it had headliners like Donny & Marie.  The gaming floor was nice as well. We also drove into Spokane to walk around.  The city has some neat history, but what I enjoyed most about the city, is that it’s the site of the 1974 World’s Fair.  I was there when I was twelve and some of the old pavilions are still standing.  Over the years the city has let the area go, but are currently rebuilding it.  I look forward to seeing it again when the construction is complete.  The Spokane River runs through the center of the city with several natural waterfalls.   

Ponderosa Falls Resort 

Type: Deluxe

Good Sam Rating: 7/7.5/8.5

Address: 
7520 S Thomas Mallen Rd
Cheney, WA 99004

Reservations Phone: (509) 747-9415

Resort Information: Nestled among beautiful pines in the foothills of Eastern Washington, this year-round resort offers the very best in amenities and local attractions. It is famous for its style of camping where the fun never ends.

Directions: 10 minutes W of Spokane. From I-90: Ex 272, S to 4-way stop by Petro truck stop. Go straight, through the housing development. At next stop sign, see our sign and turn R. Where the road turns to gravel, see our carved rock sign and turn R.

Web Site:kmresorts.com

EMail:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full Sites: 168

Pull-through Sites: 47

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 1:00 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.

Peak: Apr 1 to Sep 30
Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps.

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 40 feet

Elevation: 2400

Amenities: Indoor/outdoor pool (heated), sauna, hot tub, fitness room, kiddie lagoon with paddle boats, sports center kiosk, basketball court, pickle ball court, volleyball court (sand), horseshoes, 18-hole mini golf, game room (adult and children), group activities (scheduled in season), laundry, outdoor movies in season, big rig pull-through, pet walk, cable TV, playground (4), meeting & kitchen facilities, Wi-Fi, BBQ grill, community fire pit.

RV Notes: Additional charges: Cable $2/night, electric $2/night. Reservations required.

Pet Restrictions: All pets welcome. Please leash your pet, pick up after them and do not leave outside unattended.

Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes

Visitor Mail Restrictions: Packages accepted, no regular mail.

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Monday, 20 May 2019 22:29

Paradise RV Campground, WA

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Paradise RV Campground, Silver Creek, WA

     We pulled into the campground while the gate ranger was working up on top of the water tower.  (The camp had a water shortage and was buying more)  He greeted us via a radio and told us to go find a spot.  (We could see him while we were talking) Paradise is built on a hill so that almost all the sites are pull-throughs carved perpendicular to the hillside leaving tiers.  Unfortunately, once you rig is pulled in, there isn’t really much of a level area for a picnic table.  The campground offers campsites in the thick woods as well as out in the open.  There are also campsites that offered more seclusion because they were located at the bottom of the campground and I just don’t think that most people ventured down there looking for a site.  There are a lot of sites that just don’t get much use.
Paradise deck     The pools are nice, with the adult pool located next to the family pool and hot tub.  The hot tub was big but seemed to be populated with kids who can’t read.  There are tennis courts, horseshoes, a basketball court, and there once was shuffleboard.  There are two lakes to fish from or to just row around in.  The campground has a small store, laundromat, family and adult centers and a large room and area for group activities like bingo and barbecues for lots of people.  Overall, the campground was good and one we’ll visit again.  We also were able to use our phones and have the internet through AT&T.
 
 
Thousand TrailsFrom:
     Washington is known for its great RV resorts, and Paradise RV Resort is certainly counted among them. Two stocked lakes are perfect for fishermen, while the nearby mountain ranges offer majestic views. Bring your camera! You will want to capture the beauty of the tulip and daffodil fields. Additionally, this beautiful Washington RV camp is located within an easy driving distance of Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, and Yakima in Washington. We are also surrounded by the majestic beauty of Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.
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Monday, 20 May 2019 21:50

Mount Vernon RV Campground

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Mount Vernon RV Campground


     Mt. Vernon is set up so that it’s easy to check in. The welcome center is outside the gate and just inside the gate is a large parking area to drop our dinghy and use it to find a campsite. This really helps for bigger rigs in tight campgrounds. However, this campground was anything but tight. At the entrance is most of the facilities, the pool, rec centers, laundry, basketball court, etc. The roads are wide and branches are trimmed back. The sites are large and well separated. Most sites are in the trees, but there are sites in the open if you’re trying to get satellite. The campground follows the freeway so that campsites on the west side get the steady hum of traffic. We noticed that the staff was continuously working on the campground and it shows, however they did seem to have difficulties keeping up with the blackberries in some sites. This is the perfect campground for any size rig and it is very easy to access from I-5. Also, there is a large casino right outside the gate, if you’re into that.
     From the campground, it isn’t too far to venture up into the Northern Cascades. We followed Mt. Baker Highway up the north side of the mountain pass the ski resorts to some of the most scenic views in the Cascades. Along the way up we stopped to check out Nooksack Falls.  It is well worth taking a day and driving up to Artist Point and taking a short hike along the ridge and taking in the views of two mountains, Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan. We had the bad fortune of having clouds come in and cover Mt. Baker, but it was still well worth the drive.

     Snow-capped mountains and scenic rivers offer a stunning backdrop for this RV camp in Washington State. When booking a Mount Vernon RV Camping trip, guests can look forward to enjoying area festivals, sporting traditions, and great American pastimes. Additionally, Mount Vernon RV Camping offers the perfect location for exploring the Cascade Mountains and appreciating the local scenery. Lush forests provide plenty of hiking trails while opportunities for golfing and fishing are available nearby. Ferries to the San Juan Islands operate daily and we're just a quarter mile from the nearest casino.

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:54

Maryhill State Park

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Maryhill State Park

        Maryhill State Park is located on the north bank of the Columbia River just a few miles to the east of The Dalles.  We found the park to be really nice.  Our space was large with a picnic table and fire pit.  (Full hookup)  The campground is located in the high desert of Washington with no trees for miles and miles, yet the park had lots of trees and was well watered to keep it green.  You need to pay attention to the sprinkling times or you'll get caught late at night moving things inside to prevent them from getting soaked.  We found having a bucket ready to cover the sprinkler to be a great help.  The park has a nice swimming area in the Columbia that is in a roped off cove.  It also has a boat ramp and is a very popular spot for wind surfing and wind sailing.  That being said, be prepared to stake down any tents or flys you may have, there is quite a bit of wind.  Many sites have wind blocks to help.  Overall the park was great.  If you left the park there is a museum and a war memorial to check out.  The memorial is a replica of Stonehenge.  Also nearby is an observatory.  We stopped in during the day and no one was there.  Maybe a night visit would have made more sense.

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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:52

Long Beach RV Campground

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Long Beach RV Campground

     Jackie & I enjoyed our time at Long Beach, there is a lot to see and we met some nice people.  The campground is very tight for bigger RV's.  All the sites are side by side in the middle of the campground and you back in so that you are back to back with another camper.  The water and sewer are at one location for a group of four campsites.  This was fine for the water connection, I could reach it with a 25' hose by routing it under our coach.  As for the septic, it wasn't practical, even with enough hose, it would have been an uphill battle.  I decide to dump at the end of the row on my way out.  (the dump station that I used, wouldn't allow my tanks to drain, so I left with full tanks)  Sites also shared electric pedestals.  Each one had a 50 & a 30amp, so you took whichever wasn't being used by the other camper sharing it. 
     The campground itself is nice.  There are yurts and a couple of cabins, areas for tent camping, and group camping.  The pool is nice but not overly large.  The family center is very small and the adult center is even smaller without wifi or TV.  It was probably their old guard shack.  There is a sand volleyball court and a paved basketball court along with horseshoes and tetherball.  The campground's best feature is its location to the beach.  There is a trail out to the beach which is just a few hundred yards away.  The trail crosses Long Beach's Discovery Trail, which is a wide paved trail running from Cape Disappointment to Long Beach.  Using the trail, from the campground to Long Beach is just over three miles.
   While in Long Beach the first thing Jackie looks for is a bakery.  Sometimes we have better luck than others with the quality of bakeries.  Long Beach is the perfect tourist beach town and every year it just keeps getting better and better.  Also while we were in the area, we checked out Fort Columbian and Fort Canby, Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and took a drive up the beach to Oysterville.  So if you don't mind the parking lot feel, Long Beach Campground is a great place to camp and explore.
 
 From:
     Talk about ocean access! This RV camp in Washington is located just 1,200 feet from the Pacific Ocean. Don't forget to bring your four-legged friends. All 28 miles of beach is 100% dog-friendly. All of the sites at our Long Beach campground offer full RV camping hookups and are satellite ready. A Long Beach RV Camping trip also features wonderful summer activities for the whole family. Explore bike paths, play on the beach, visit our historical lighthouses and much, much more.
Along with our on-site amenities, make sure to allow extra time to enjoy the nearby attractions. Just two miles up the road is the city of Long Beach, where great restaurants, shopping, and museums await.
     Don't wait to make reservations! There are many events happening around town and at the campground this year so we expect a very full and exciting season. We look forward to helping you plan a memorable time with us here at Long Beach RV & Camping Resort.
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Monday, 20 May 2019 20:47

Little Diamond Lake Campground

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Little Diamond Lake RV Campground, Newport, Washington

      After a not-so-fun drive through Spokane we arrived at Little Diamond Lake Campground.  The campground is both a Thousand Trails and a KOA campground.  It is divided as such, but only in aspects of campsite locations.  When we arrive a couple of days before the Labor Day weekend, the KOA section was all but empty, but once the weekend hit, both sides of the campground filled up.  The KOA side being newer had lots and lots of great sites.  The TT did too, but there was a difference.  The staff were all KOA people, but that didn’t really make a difference, everyone was quite nice.  As campgrounds go, this one is really nice.  Only, we stayed too long and with smoke from wildfires kept us and most of the rest of the campers inside after the Labor Day weekend.  

       The Campground features a small lake with a dock and paddle boats to rent.  There is also a nice clubhouse with pool tables, ping pong, and others.  There is a nice outdoor pool and an indoor spa.  Also, a laundry, a store, and a small room for wifi, with books, videos, puzzles, and a TV.  Overall the KOA people do a great job of keeping this rather large campground clean and well maintained.

     From the campground, we took a couple of drives before the smoke took over.  We drove down and explored Coeur d'Alene and Sand Point, Idaho.  Both are great tourist towns with shops and things to do and explore.  The best part of our visit here to Little River was the friend that we met, Lynne & Dean, and Patti & Dwayne.  Meeting great people is one of the best perks to full-time RV'ing.  Lynne & Dean introduced us to a website called RVillage.  It is like Facebook for RV'ers.  We signed up, saw who else was in the campground and met Patti & Dwayne.  

     Panoramic views of Northeast Washington are just one of this campground’s attractive features. Warm weather plus a trip to Little Diamond RV Campground in Washington is the perfect combination for summer fun. Our resort offers plenty of activities for the whole family, including fishing for Kamloops, paddle boating or lounging by the swimming pool. The popular nearby Silverwood Theme Park makes for a fun day out.

    A fun family getaway starts with a reservation. Book your Little Diamond RV Camping trip today. Our on-site activities and full-service amenities are designed to give you exactly what you’re looking for in your next Washington RV camping trip!

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