Apache Junction & Tucson

From Lake Havasu we’ve arrived in the Valley of the Sun, just east of downtown Phoenix in Apache Junction.  As last year, we’re parked at Campground USA for our 2 week visit.  This is one of the newest RV parks we’ve stayed at and it provides nice wide sites, full hookups, a great pool/hot tub area and a beautiful clubhouse.  However, with its location right next to highway 60, it does experience some highway noise, especially with a southern breeze.

Beautiful Superstitions from Apache Junction

As in past years, we planning to attend Rockies spring training games.  We have gorgeous weather for our first game on Sunday, Rockies against the Brewers, and totally enjoy our afternoon at Salt River Fields – we think one of the nicest Cactus League stadiums. On the following Friday we have tickets to the Rockies and the Rangers.  Unfortunately after arriving to cloudy skies, the rains begin and the game is cancelled only a few minutes after the 1^st pitch.  Along with baseball, we enjoyed some of our favorite restaurants around Apache Junction along with a splurge at one of the top Phoenix restaurant, LONS’s at The Hermosa Inn.

Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, AZ

After what seemed like a very quick 2 weeks, we’re on the road again, headed to Tucson.  We’ll be joining friends for the next 2 weeks at Rincon West RV Resort just south of Tucson.  Rincon is huge, with nearly 1200 sites, mostly park-models, this resort offers something for everyone.  A very unique feature is the “G-gage” model railroad just outside the main office and clubhouse.  Model railroaders were cleaning and working on the exhibit almost every day as well as watching their trains chug around the endless loops through model villages and mountain passes.  Other amenities include a beautiful pool area, tennis, pickleball, a woodworking shop, pottery studio, card room, billiards, several laundry facilities and of course pet parks!

Rincon West RV Resort, Tucson, AZ

Rincon West RV Resort, Tucson, AZ

With a lot of friends in the area, we saw much more of Tucson than we have on past trips.  Just after our arrival we spent an evening star gazing at the nearby Kitt Peak National Observatory.  Kitt Peak does an excellent job of their nighttime program which include learning to read star charts, viewing celestial objects in their small telescopes and the one we enjoy the most, laser pointer “mapping” of the constellations and planets overhead.  Another highlight was a beautiful and relaxing tram ride into Sabino Canyon.  And, we spent an afternoon at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  This place is huge, with both indoor and outdoor displays – much more than can be seen in a single visit!

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Sabino Canyon, Tucson, AZ

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

After spending an afternoon wandering through the stalls at the Forth Avenue Street Fair, we returned a few nights later to check out restaurants.  We started at the unique Boxyard, a collection of stacked shipping containers with 3 pop-up type restaurants and a large outdoor bar area.  From the Boxyard, we moved onto appetizers at Ermano’s Bar, a beautifully remodeled historic building just down 4^th Ave.  For dinner we enjoyed BOCA, by Chef Maria Mazon who prepares modern Mexican fare on a comfortable outdoor courtyard.  After dinner we found Corbett’s – self-proclaimed “restaurant with a beer garden, pickleball courts, live music and great provisions”.  Returning a few night later we agree – Corbett’s is loads of fun, great food with fun live music in the beer garden.

Ermano’s Bar, Tucson, AZ

 

We also enjoyed Oregano’s, “your neighborhood Italian joint” for pizza, and the Bashful Bandit Barbeque – with a welcoming outdoor patio where you can watch the smoke-masters in action. Their interesting  “Smoked Crack Pie” is an delicious gooey desert that might make you skip your entrée.   But, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their sliced brisket, green chili pulled pork, or chili relleno sausage, either by the pound, plate or  sandwiches.

From Tucson we’re off to the Texas Hill Country for the great solar eclipse of 2024.  More from Bandera, TX!

Lake Havasu City, AZ

We’re back to one of our favorite places in Arizona, along the Colorado River near Lake Havasu.  We’re parked at River Island State Park, about 2 miles south of Parker Dam.  This section of the river is impounded by the Headgate Rock Dam, just north of Parker which creates Moovalya Lake. It’s not as deep as Lake Havasu, but there’s plenty of bass boats and jets skis that put in right at the campground boat ramp.

River Island State Park, Parker, AZ

River Island State Park, Parker, AZ

River Island State Park, Site #20

We’re parked in site #20, a long pull-through with water and electric.  None of the sites have dump ports, but there’s a convenient and free station in the park. There are a total of 29 sites, 1-4 back up to a tall rock wall, #4 would be furthest from traffic noise on highway 95.  Sites 24-29 are also back-in sites that back up to the boat ramp and parking, but most of the host sites are along this row.  We visited this park last year, but this was our first time staying here.  All of the Arizona park along this stretch of the river offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and river, but we think River Island suffers from a bit more road noise than Cattail Cove where we stayed last year.

River Island State Park, Site #4

One of the “excursions” with the Montana Owners group from Quartzsite that we missed was a trip to the Blue Water Grill at the Blue Water Casino in Parker, AZ.  On Thursday we decided to check it out – the casino is nice, but the dining wasn’t optimal.  We also visited the Black Pearl Restaurant at Pirates Den which we think is much better – waterside outdoor dining, great service and tasty food and drinks!

Pirates Den, Parker, AZ

From River Island we moved to one of our favorite parks, The Islander in Lake Havasu city.  This is one of 3 RV parks on the island, after you pass over London Bridge, and we think the best of the 3.  All sites are full-hookup,  graveled with a concrete patio.  All “transient” sites are pull-through along a central row in the park while most others are back-in.  All outer rows are park models, but this separation insures you are never parked between park models which we dislike in other parks.

Islander Resort, Lake Havasu

Islander Resort, Premium Coach Sites

Havasu continues to impress us with excellent restaurant choices – again this year we enjoyed great times at the Boathouse Grill with it’s convenient location right outside the RV park.  We also returned to College Street Brewery, the off-grid Bunker Bar and La Vita Dolce Italian Bistro.  And, of course ordered pizza from Rosati’s Pizza – the best pizza on the island!

The Bunker Bar, Lake Havasu City, AZ

From Lake Havasu we’re bound for the eastern side of Phoenix in Apache Junction.  More from AJ…

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort, Yuma, AZ

From San Diego it’s a beautiful drive along I-8, up from the coastal plain and into the National Forest near Alpine, CA.  From here the terrain turns rugged with arid mountains of huge boulders along both side of the highway and beautiful vistas to the south.  From sea level at San Diego, I-8 climbs to over 4000 feet in elevation before beginning a fairly rapid decent – arriving 51 feet below sea level at El Centro, CA.  This is the former Sea of Cortez valley which was once connected to the Salton Sea.  At El Centro the evidence of irrigation from the Colorado River becomes apparent as you are surrounded by agriculture – lettuce, figs, broccoli and other leafy vegetables.  These fields extend all the to the Salton Sea on the north and the Mexican border to the south.  Past El Centro the desert landscape returns until arriving to the lush green fields around Yuma.

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort

We’re once again parked at Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort, site #547.  This isn’t a great site. Both sites behind us have permanent fencing which encourages leaving dogs outside (and barking) all day long.  We’re not sure we’ll be back to Cocopah – there appears to be very little in the way of upkeep happening in the park and obviously no rules about the amount of junk that can litter the sites. In some places, you can barely drive down the narrow lanes. On Sunday we explored some of the foothills RV parks.  As we found on our first visit to Yuma, The Palms is still one of the best, and most expensive! Right next door is Sun Vista, an older resort that has been very well kept.  And, with rates around $30/day on monthly, it’s a great value!

Sun Vista RV Resort, Yuma

Even with a shortened stay in Yuma this year, we spent an afternoon over the border at Los Algodones and checked out some of our favorite Yuma restaurants including a new brewery “Pint House” downtown on Main St.

One of the many farm products grown in Yuma is the delicious Medjool date.  Prices in grocery stores generally range from about $4-$8/pound. Buying “farm direct” at the Imperial Date Gardens just outside of Yuma, we picked up 11 lbs for $22!  Plus, we sampled wonderfully decadent chocolate covered dates with pecan filling…yum!

Medjool Date Farm

From Yuma we’re headed north along the Colorado river to the Lake Havasu area where we’ll spend one week at River Island State Park and another week at one of our favorite parks, The Islander.  More from Lake Havasu…

 

 

 

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay

Good morning from Chula Vista, CA.  We’re parked at Sun Outdoors RV Resort on the southeast corner of San Diego Bay.  This is a beautiful resort.  Purpose built by Sun Outdoors and opened in 2021, the resort features nearly 200 RV sites, both back-in and pull-through and 50 rental cottages.  Amenities include a beautiful swimming pool/hot tub area that overlooks San Diego Bay, a café/bar, sports areas including Bocca Ball, Cornhole, a Playground and of course Pickleball.  There’s even meeting/event space, and an indoor/outdoor fitness center.  Individual sites provide full hookups including cable TV, 4 Adirondack chairs around a firepit, a picnic table  and access to park WiFi.  Basic WiFi service provides about 3 Mb down and 1Mb upload.  Premium WiFi is also available for 2 devices at $5.95/day or $14.95/week or a Family Plan supporting 4 devices and HD Video streaming at $7.95/day or $19.95/week.

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

We’re parked in site #135, a back-in towards the rear of the property and near the café/bar and pool.  Traffic noise from I-5 is noticeable, especially at night as well as the every 15 minute clanging of the train crossing on E-Street. Sites 15-20 offer the best views across the water toward downtown San Diego, but probably still suffer from the neighborhood noise.

Site 135, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

Site #20, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, Chula Vista, CA

From the resort we’re about 15 minutes to downtown San Diego and 25 minutes from the San Diego Airport and only about 12 minutes from the Mexican border at Tijuana. With the continuing flow of the onshore atmospheric river, it’s a great excuse to stay near the resort and in, out of the rain.  Just a few miles south is the Chula Vista Marina, home to The Galley.  A typical “yachty” type restaurant, they offer great daily happy hour and dinner specials.  On Thursday we enjoyed their unlimited Fish & Chips – quite tasty!

The Galley Restaurant, Chula Vista Marina

With the rain finally starting to subside on Saturday we hopped on the San Diego light rail for a trip into old town.  For $2.50 each way the trolley services much of the city, and on the blue line, all the way south to the Mexican border.  It’s about 15 stops and 50 minutes to reach the Old Town station.  Here we wandered among the shops and enjoyed great margaritas and appetizers at Café Coyote.

Cafe Coyote, Old Town, San Diego, CA

On Sunday we’re headed back to Arizona, to Cocopah Bend RV and Golf Resort.  More from Yuma…

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, CA

With 4 nights to fill-in between our departure from Palm Springs, and our arrival in San Diego, we fairly randomly picked Temecula.  As it turns out, there’s a lot to see and do in Temecula.  Based on a personal recommendation and RV Life reviews, we’re parked at the Pechanga Casino RV Resort.  Located nearly in the shadow of the casino hotel towers, this is a modern RV resort with full hookups, pools, dog parks and even some “elite” sites that include a gazebo, built-in BBQ and firepit.  Mature landscape provides nice shade and lush grassy areas.  During our stay the pacific “atmospheric river” brought plenty of rain over the Santa Anas, but we still enjoyed our stay.  Rates during this prime season run about $90/night and up.  Pechanga is a Passport America member, and with proper planning rates are around $40/night.

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, CA

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, CA

Pechanga Casino RV Resort, Temecula, C

There’s plenty to do in Temecula – We enjoyed the shops and restaurants in Old Town, especially dinner of tasty pizza at the Goat & Vine.  And, no visit to Temecula would be complete without some wine tasting.  We had a wonderful lunch in the barrel room cave at the nearby Oak Mountain Winery.  Over at the casino, with 10 dining options from the upscale Great Oak Steakhouse to a Sushi & Oyster Bar, Pan-Asian, Italian and the 1882 Mexican Cantina where we enjoyed our departure day breakfast.

Oak Mountain Winery, Temecula, CA

Oak Mountain Winery, Temecula, CA

From Temecula we’re headed to Sun Outdoors RV resort on San Diego Bay.  More from the west coast!

Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs

Good Morning from Outdoor Resort – Palm Springs, actually located in Cathedral City, CA.  This is a gorgeous RV Resort!  We’re parked in site 784, a beautiful back-in site right next to 4^th tee on the 18-hole golf course. With over 1200 sites, this is a huge resort, providing nearly every amenity imaginable.

“Out the Back Window” – Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs, CA

In addition to the 18-hole course, there’s another 9-hole course, two large club houses with pools, 6 other “satellite” pool areas, 2 dog parks, pickleball courts, tennis, fitness center, a beauty/barbershop, a full service restaurant, convenience store and lots more.

Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs, CA

This is an RV-only resort – you’ll not find any permanent park-models or other buildings that have become predominant in so many other parks & resorts.  The 2 golf courses meander through the resort with beautiful greens, lakes, fountains and lush flower gardens.  Security walls extend around the perimeter of the resort, with buffers of green belts, the dog parks and a huge orchard filled with grapefruit, lemon. lime and orange trees – free for the picking to any resident or guest!

Outdoor Resort, Palm Springs, CA

Friends from Colorado recently purchased a site at this “all-RV” resort, so we’re here to check out their new place and enjoy the Palm Springs area.  After arriving on Tuesday, we’re off to the Tropicale restaurant, a Palm Springs institution of fine and fun dining.  On Thursday evening we wandered through the VillageFest along Palm Canyon Drive and ended the evening with the requisite photos at the “Forever Marilyn” sculpture.

“Forever Marilyn”, Palm Springs, CA

Saturday found us at the Salton Sea.  Less than an hour east of Palm Springs, this is one of the lowest land places on earth and was once the mouth of the Colorado River at the northern tip of the Sea of Cortez.  As the river carried silt into the valley and sea levels dropped, the Salton Trough was left high and dry.  Until, in 1905 when the Colorado River breached flood gates and refilled the depression.  It’s an impressive 35 mile long lake of high salinity and agricultural pollutants.  The area is thought to contain one of the world’s largest lithium deposits which is estimated to be worth over $500 billion!

Salton Sea, CA

After enjoying Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley we’re headed for San Diego, with a 4 night stop in Temecula.  More from wine country!

We’re off to Quartzsite!

After delaying our departure due to extreme cold and snow, we’re finally headed south to Albuquerque on January 17^th.  Our first night is at American RV Resort, just west of downtown Albuquerque.  The park is about as expected, and suffers from highway noise from nearby I-40.  From Albuquerque we’re headed to the KOA Journey in Holbrook.  Some sites here have been upgraded to KOA Patio sites with privacy fences and pergolas. But, located just off of I-40, again this park suffers from constant road noise. Our final night on the road to Quartzsite is at Verde Ranch RV Resort in Camp Verde, AZ.  This is a favorite park of ours with all the amenities of a nice RV resort.  From Camp Verde we transit around Phoenix and make the relatively short trip over to Quartzsite.

Holbrook, AZ KOA Journey

As we did last year, we’re in Quartzsite to meet other members of the Montana Owners Group. With our arrival there are 25 rigs in the “Circling of the Montana’s”.  The big RV show opens the day after our arrival and on Sunday we spend a few hours perusing the booths of RV suppliers from all of the US and touring some of the most recent floorplans in Montana and Brinkley 5^th wheels.  Flooding rains moved into the Quartzsite area, so outside activities were cancelled on Sunday evening and again on Monday.  On Tuesday we pack up our muddy equipment and head towards Palm Springs where we’ll spend the next 8 nights.

February/March, Arizona and California

This will mark our first Spring Trip that includes stops in California.  In addition to Palm Springs we’ll visit Temecula and San Diego.  More from California!

Colorado State Parks #2 and Season Wrap Up

After Chama and the Cumbres & Toltec train, we’ve returned to Cheyenne Mountain State Park enroute to Golden Gate State Park just west of Golden, CO.  Another favorite spot, this campground offers beautiful pine treed sites and miles of hiking trails all very convenient to the Denver metro area.

Following this outing, we’ve taken a break in the camping and jetted off to the UK to sail onboard the brand new Explora I luxury ship from Explora Journeys.  Our impressions of the ship are posted here: First Impressions Following 9 nights onboard, we enjoyed 3 nights in London catching up with good friends and seeing two West End shows, Mrs. Doubtfire and Crazy For You!

In late September, we’re back to Lake Pueblo State Park to enjoy the Pueblo Chile and Frijoles Festival in downtown Pueblo.  In early October, our last camping trip of the season is at Hecla Junction State Park which has become our traditional end of season trip.  As usual, fall colors  are beginning to show over the higher mountain elevations and along the canyon walls near the campground.  While in the Salida area, we explored Buffalo Pass Campground, a Federal campground just west of Saguache, CO.  This small rustic campground offers no services other than beautiful sites and pit toilets.  We’d like to return and spend a few days here next summer.

Hecla Junction, State Park

Buffalo Pass Campground, Site #19

Once again, we’ve winterized the rig and are patiently awaiting our winter/spring trip to Arizona and Texas.  More from somewhere in Arizona in mid-January…

Chama, NM and Cumbres & Toltec Railroad

After exploring 3 of our favorite Colorado State Parks, we spent 5 nights in an abbreviated stay in Cheyenne for Frontier Days.  We attended only 1 concert (compared to up to 6 in previous years) enjoyed the brews at the Accomplice Brewery, and wonderful dinner at the Rib and Chop house.  After Cheyenne we spend 3 nights at Boyd Lake State Park outside of Loveland visiting family in northern Colorado.

Old Dominion at Frontier Nights, Cheyenne Frontier Days

It’s been 4 years since we last visited Chama, and once again we’re parked at the Rio Chama RV part on the north side of town.  This park was recently sold, and from the looks of it – the new owners have a lot of deferred maintenance to deal with.  On the good side, this is a beautiful location along the Chama River, just next to the trestle bridge where the trains rumble in and out of town.  On the downside, many of the cottonwood trees have died or are dying and need to come out before one falls on an RV.  And, the old, possibly trusty back in the day WiFi, isn’t usable in it’s current state.

Cumbres & Toltec Historic Railroad, Chama, NM

Cumbres & Toltec Historic Railroad, Chama, NM

We’re parked in site N3, a very tight site that sits right next to highway 17, the main highway.  Last time we stayed in site #40, a huge long pull through site very close to the river.  We’d prefer to be back in that part of the park.

Rio Chama RV Park, Chama, NM

Our railway trip is everything you can imagine from the gorgeous scenery across Cumbres Pass, to stories and highlights from our guides and docents onboard.  The food hall at Osier station left a bit to be desired, but all in all a great day!  After returning to Chama we opt for some local BBQ at the Outlaw BBQ company.  We’d highly recommend the Outlaw.  The following evening we opt for “Local”, a pizza parlor that was in the middle of construction during our last visit.  If all you are looking for is pizza, Local does an good job.  All other items on their menu were out of stock, even the “Chef’s Specials” that were shown on the blackboard.

Following Chama we’re off to another favorite Colorado State Park, Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Golden, CO.  More from Golden Gate…

Best of Colorado State Parks #1

This year we decided to return to some of our favorite Colorado State Parks that we’ve stayed in over the years.  Reservations are nearly impossible to get at some of these more urban parks, but fortunately on exactly the 6 month reservation window, we were able to snag some great sites.  Thanks P&D for the online help!

Our first stop is Cheyenne Mountain, just outside of Colorado Springs.  In our list of “best”, this State Park certainly ranks in the top-10.  Beautiful views over Colorado Springs, excellent facilities, well maintained sites and miles and miles of hiking trails. And, it’s literally about a mile to entrance of the NORAD Installation deep within Cheyenne Mountain made famous by movies such as StarGate and War Games.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

NORAD from War Games

From Cheyenne Mountain we’re off to Mueller State Park.  Not as close to Colorado Springs, but still very busy – this park is located in the western shadow of Pikes Peak, between Divide and Cripple Creek. Campsites are Mueller are uniquely placed along the top of 4 mountain ridges.  With over 35 miles of trails in the park, there’s plenty of places to find beautiful scenery and wildlife.

Mueller State Park, site #35

Mueller State Park, site #40

Mueller State Park, site #41

After a great stay in Mueller, we’re off to Chatfield State Park outside of Denver.  Not necessarily one of our favorites, but this park provides easy access to all things that Denver offers.  Tonight it’s a Brother’s Osborn concert at Fiddlers Green.

Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre, Greenwood Village, CO

From Chatfield we’re headed home for a weekend, then up to Lake Pueblo State Park, then to Cheyenne for the 127^th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, carnival and concerts.  More from Cheyenne…