California

    On our first road trip to California, we stopped at only four campgrounds as we were heading back to Oregon for some repairs.  In the late fall of 2017, we came back to California and visited another nine campgrounds.  Jackie and I are looking forward many return trips.  There is so much to see in California.

From Wikipedia

California is a state in the Pacific Region of the United States of America. With 39.5 million residents, California is the most populous state in the United States and the third most extensive by area. The state capital is Sacramento. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, with 18.7 million and 8.8 million residents respectively.Los Angeles is California's most populous city, and the country's second-most populous, after New York City. California also has the nation's most populous county, Los Angeles County; its largest county by area, San Bernardino County; and its fifth most densely populated county, San Francisco.

     When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

     We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

Yuma Lake RV Resort

     Yuma Lakes is a private RV campground owned by Colorado River Adventures.  It is also a Coast to Coast campground and typically we are the mercy of the campground to chose our site.  On arriving we asked at the gate to be near friends who were already in the campground and it wasn’t a problem.  The campground had the same feel as Emerald Cove but without so many boats and ATVs.  Most of the campground is gravel with some asphalt streets that have no defined edges.  With the exception of the sites that are leased, all the camping sites are 30 amps.  Like most campgrounds, people are friendly and easy to meet.  The campground puts on many activities from breakfasts to dancing.  From what we were told, Internet is available, but far from good.  Our AT&T Internet worked well and we were able to stream most of the time.  Pedestrian access in and out of the campground available so it was easy to walk the dogs outside of the campground versus using the single dog walk on the far side of the park from where we camped.  Overall, we liked the campground, it has plenty of shade for the Yuma sun.  I think that the biggest drawback that I had to the park was that it is a ten plus mile drive to get to anywhere. 

Type: Deluxe

Good Sam Rating: 7.5/8.5*/7.5

Address: 
6275 South Ave 8 1/2 East
Yuma, AZ 85365

Phone: (760) 663-4968

Fax: (760) 663-4945

Reservations Phone: (760) 663-4968

Reservations Fax: (619) 663-4945

Resort Information: In the southwest corner of Arizona, located just 6 miles from Yuma. On a refreshing lake offering canoeing, row boating and fishing as a contrast to the desert beauty of the area. Yuma offers shopping and dining. San Luis and Rio Colorado in Mexico are a short drive away for additional touring opportunities.

Web Site:coloradoriveradventures.com

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

Full Sites: 180

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 9 a.m.- 6 p.m./ 11:00 a.m.

RV Site Minimum Stay: 1 night

Peak: Dec 1 to Apr 1
Open: Sep 15 to May 14

Maximum Electrical Service: 30 amps.

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: 40 feet

Elevation: 0

Amenities: Recreation hall, outdoor pool, hot tub, dock fishing available, boating available, hiking trails, horseshoes, shuffleboard, canoeing nearby, row boating nearby, fishing nearby, shopping nearby, restaurants nearby, tourist attraction nearby. Internet and Wi-Fi access in clubhouse only.

RV Notes: Drive-ups not accepted.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Visitor Mail Accepted: No

Yosemite Lakes RV Campground

Winter Quarters Manatee RV Resort

     I arrived at the resort and was invited to hop in a golf cart and ride with a host to pick a site that would work best for us.  The campground is basically a loop around a lake, so I picked a site near the pool and not next door to anyone else.  We walked around the park a bit, there are two pools, a hot tub, and a lodge.  The park host was very nice and the park seemed well maintained, but we weren't there long enough to get much more than that.  People who we had met at a previous park visited at the park and the next day we spent it with them at there home, so we didn't get much of an opportunity to go explore the area, other than to find a post office.

Centrally located in Florida

     Water views and activities abound at Winter Quarters Manatee RV Resort! This beautiful RV resort in Florida boasts a fantastic central location near Anna Marie Island, Siesta Key, St. Armand's Circle, Ringling Museum and Busch Gardens. This unbeatable area also offers the finest restaurants, beaches and a wide range of water activities including sport fishing.
     Winter Quarters Manatee RV Resort provides convenient access to local culture while also offering all the comforts of home within the resort. Come stay at one of the finest RV resorts in Florida. The outstanding facilities of Winter Quarters Manatee RV Resort and our fun staff will make your vacation one to remember.

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

Williamsburg RV & Camping Resort, Williamsburg, Virginia

      After a two and a half hour drive from Virginia Beach (70 miles), we were happy to finally get to Williamsburg.  There's an unmanned gate with a keypad to let you in.  Once the arm lifts, you follow the arrows on the road to the very center of the campground to the office.  The office gave us a choice of a couple of sites that didn't work out and then another couple.  On the second go-round, we decide on the least sloping site.  We still wound up with tires off the ground to level. The campground was fine, but felt crowded and could use work on some of its sites.  The office staff was extremely nice and very helpful.  The pool was nice and the lodge was fine, but the games all cost money to play.  Being there in June, the humidity was such that it wasn't comfortable to sit outside.  But with it being so close to Williamsburg, Yorktown Battlefields, & Jamestown, we really didn't spend much time in the campground.

      Williamsburg was very educational.  They offer 50% off on their annual passes for veterans, so it was cheaper to buy an annual pass than a three-day pass without the discount.  They also give 10% off on everything for veterans.  Colonial Williamsburg is separate from the town, there are no cars and everyone working there is playing a 1776 character.  Some of the actors were outstanding, especially the barber.  We did find that eating there was very expensive ($7 for a hotdog) and sit-down dining was even more expensive.  However at the end of the Colony is a William & Mary College store that has a coffee shop/cafe in it, which was very reasonably priced.  I visited Williamsburg in the early 70's and sent my sister a photo of me in a tri-cornered hat and she sent me a photo from that trip.

      We also visited the Yorktown battlefield.  It is a national park so with your park pass it's free.  I believe it was $14 per person without one.  We took the free one hour "Ranger Tour" in which a Park Ranger walked you outside the visitor's center and told you the story of the Battle of Yorktown.  This was very well done and interesting.  Then we took the driving tour of the park that shows the locations of earthworks, redoubts (outposts) the surrender field, the home where the surrender was signed and other interesting historic spots.  We also walked the town of Yorktown that has a nice beach waterfront area along the York River.  After Yorktown, we decided to drive over to the site where the Jamestown settlement was.  We checked out the glass blowing demonstration where the glassworks ruins were found, but when we got to the settlement, it was raining so we opted to skip it.  With your national parks pass it was only $5.  I guess we will have to come back.

Willard Bay South Marina & Campground, Willard, Utah

     After pricing Willard Bay State Park Campground, we opted for the $25 a night Willard Bay South Marina and Campground.  It was pretty much one big parking lot, but the sites were well spaced, most having a covered picnic table in the grass.  There was plenty of shade trees so it was a lot better than I imagined from the satellite view.  Each site had full hookups, which was nice, however, the sewer system ran below the parking lot and there was a vented manhole cover just a few feet from our door.  This was two problems, the smell, and the number of bugs that circled around it.  Since we were staying for just two nights and weren’t planning on sitting outside much because of the mosquitos, we didn’t change sites.  We probably should have, judging by the number of gnats that found their way into the coach by the second night.

      While there we drove down to the historic 25^th Street in Ogden, only to find that everything was closed on Mondays.  So, after looking at the map, Jackie suggested that we check out Antelope Island State Park. It was a great park which featured antelope, buffalo, and lots of birds.  There was a couple of campgrounds a visitor center, and a burger stand, which featured buffalo burgers.  We were assured that the buffalo came from South Dakota.  We didn’t go for the buffalo, but both our hamburgers were outstanding.  We learned the history of the island and of the Great Salt Lake and how the level of the lake changed over time.  Perfect, if you’re into that sort of thing like we are.  The Visitor Center also had this cool birdhouse.

       Overall, the park nice enough and would be great if you had a boat.  (just don’t park near a manhole cover) On the upside, we did see a pair of great horned owls and a couple of beautiful sunsets.  On the way out, you exit through the park gate and then there is about a mile of straight two-lane road and halfway down the road is a second gate which has two concrete bollards sticking up right in the middle of the road splitting the lanes.  If you’re not paying attention….

    (from Utah State Parks)   Boat, swim, water ski, and fish on the warm waters of Willard Bay.  Camp under tall cottonwood trees that frame the night sky. During winter months, Willard Bay is a wildlife watching area for nesting eagles. Two areas, North and South Marinas, offer all the amenities for a weekend at the Bay.

Wilderness RV Park

     When we pulled in and walked into the office we met the owner and another couple who were living there.  Our timing was good because those folks turned out to be some of the nicest people.  They invited us over for a Saturday morning breakfast and we got to know them better along with several other campers.  We picked a 30amp pull-through site.  It was tight and on grass, but not too bad.  We walked around the park which was nice, with lots of trees, a couple of ponds complete with ducks.  We did notice that most of the campers were older and many lived there full time.  There's a pool, but not heated, horseshoe pits, a laundry and not a whole lot else in the park, except for some really nice people.

     We did find that if you're willing to drive a little from the park, there are beautiful white sandy beaches and many other outdoor activities.  We drove down to Pensacola Naval Air Station and visited the free Air Museum.  It was one of the best air museums that we've seen and it was free! 

Type: Deluxe

Good Sam Rating: 8/7.5/7.5

Address: 
24280 Patterson Rd
Robertsdale, AL 36567

Phone: (251) 960-1195

Fax: (251) 960-1196

Reservations Phone: (251) 960-1195

Reservations Fax:

Reservations EMail:

Resort Information: Located on I-10 22 miles west of Pensacola, Florida and 27 miles east of Mobile, Alabama. Miracle Strip beaches and other historic sights all within a short drive. Area attractions: Six golf courses, the Naval Aviation Museum, excellent deep sea and freshwater fishing, hunting, canoeing and other water sports.

Web Site: wildernessrvpark.com

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

Full Sites: 71

Pull-through Sites: 71

Dry Sites: 6

Check-In/Check-Out Times: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m./ Noon

Open: Jan 1 to Dec 31

Peak: Jan 1 to Apr 30

Maximum Electrical Service: 50 amps

WiFi Available: Yes

Maximum RV Length: Unlimited

Elevation: 0

Amenities: Recreation hall, outdoor pool, fishing available, horseshoes, pavilion, picnic tables, bird watching, laundry, propane, golf nearby (6 courses), fishing nearby - deep sea and fresh water, beach nearby, tourist attraction nearby, Nearby: Miracle Strip beaches, Naval Aviation Museum, water sports. Wi-Fi and Internet access in the clubhouse.

RV Notes: Additional charges: 50 amp $2.20/night including tax. Wi-Fi access in the campground.

Accepts Pets: Yes

Pet Restrictions: No more than 4 pets per rig.

Visitor Mail Accepted: Yes