GreenSalsa
Monterey, California
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Joined: 09/13/2005
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Hello all...
We are trying to decide where to spend Christmas.
We are stationed in Monterey, CA and will have about 10 days for our trip. Ideally, we want to limit our traveling to no more than 800-900 miles one way to the destination.
We will need full hookups. We will be camping in our signature rig with myself, wife, and two daughters (5 and 7). The girls would love to find a campground with a heated indoor pool. We have heated tanks and enclosed underbelly but want to avoid prolonged temperatures below freezing (a couple of nights falling into the upper 20s is okay as long as the days get a little warmer).
Snow is okay (actually cool) as long as we don't have to tow through a lot of it.
We love National Parks, Wildlife, and forest settings.
So all said, where would you recommend? Which attraction? What campground?
Thanks for your suggestions.
GreenSalsa and family
2006 Ford F350 CC PSD DRW
2007 Cedar Creek 362BTS
GreenSalsa is a married Army Special Forces family that is "fulltimeing" while stationed at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
Registered on ProfessionalSoldiers.com and Socnetcentral.com
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Dernhelm
Las Vegas NV
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Joined: 08/16/2005
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Parts of Yosemite are open year round. Don't know about the pool, but the rest of it would be very nifty in winter. If you're up for a coastal area, try Buellton, CA - (Flying Flags) pool, hot tub, the works. Nice if you have an enclosed RV, I don't recommend it for popups or tents any more. The Wine Country (north of you) is also lovely in the winter and has some year round pools.
Now I camped at Sweetwater Summit just outside of San Diego twice for Christmas, loved every second of it. DH was a little cold, but we have a PU not your ice rig. San Diego has a TON of fun things to do over Christmas, and the campground at Sweetwater is very pretty (Site 7 is my favorite site). I also camped at Calico Ghost Town over Christmas one year and DH almost froze. No pool there, but again it was fun if a trifle....rustic.
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maddog348
Bakersfield,CA
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They turn the Yosemite pool at CurryVillage into an ice rink in winter. Spent Thanksgiving there a few years back never a Christmas. Really nice -- no hookups in valley tho' (do hear rumors may be a few coming)
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Turtle n Peeps
California
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We live right between the Napa Valley and the Redwoods. As much as I love the Napa/Sonoma areas - my family and I make as many trips to the Redwoods as we can. No matter what your budget, there'll be somewhere pretty and fun/interesting to stay. There was this one little place right on the highway we stopped at and DH went inside to check on availability - comes back & says it's $22 for full hook-ups(w/cable-free laundry room) I quickly said that I was "not going enjoy this dump one bit". To which he replied "too bad, I already paid." It was wonderful & I make a fresh humble pie every time we go back.
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~
"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"
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Doug and Cassi Glass
Clifton Forge, VA
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Try the Famcamps at Port Hueneme or Point Mugo, or Camp Pendleton, or San Diego. Mugo and Pendleton are right on the beach. Many choices in areas without snow. I doubt you want to risk mountain driving with your rig and having to chain up.
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Lakejumper
Northern California
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Joined: 09/11/2004
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How about the Palm Springs, Coachella Valley area? You can also check out Joshua Trees National park. Very nice area to go to for the winter and it's about 400-600 miles away from you.
Lakejumper
2004 Wildcat 27RL, 5th Airborne pinbox
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Keith M
Cle Elum
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Borrego Springs
How about Borrego Springs? Just a little further south than Palm Springs and off the beaten track. Warm temperatures anywhere in Northern California or the high desert are pretty rare past December 1st until late Feb so I would look at maybe San Diego County or the Palm Springs area.
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GreenSalsa
Monterey, California
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Thanks for the ideas...keep them coming!
I REALLY don't want to tow through snow, but wouldn't mind a little bit falling while we are camped...we have been to Yosemite 3 times now (4th trip scheduled for September--10 days).
Thanks for the suggestions about the FAMCAMPS--I have thought about camping directly on the beach at Pendleton. That is a real though, except since we live in a Beach community here in Monterey, wife is thinking something different--we will see.
The Borrego Springs idea is pretty intriguing. I really like the idea of stargazing with my girls--plus it is something we could work up to before the trip--reading books, watching shows, and maybe buying some optics. I also like the location next to Joshua Tree NP. Do you have any experience at Borrego Springs? Do they have a playground? Is the pool heated? Is it kid friendly? How about the fishing? I have always wanted to start fishing with my daughters and this might the perfect place.
Again--thanks for the suggestions we look forward to exploring them all.
* This post was
edited 07/06/08 10:02am by GreenSalsa *
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brauneyz
Fulltime
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GreenSalsa, the KQ Ranch in Julian (mts. northeast of San Diego) might work for you. Has heated pool, playground, horses, fishing, etc. We stayed there in May and chose a site 'upstairs' - way up high overlooking the valley. Gorgeous!
Here's a link. Good luck.
http://www.kqranchresort.com/
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WishWeWereCamping
USA
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Joined: 02/23/2004
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If you're looking for a jumping off place for Joshua Tree, we've stayed at Sam's Family Spa http://samsfamilyspa.com/ twice, once in the trailer and last winter I drove down with the kids for a few days and stayed in their motel. It's funky and older, but clean. They have wonderful mineral pools and a big heated pool. There is a clubhouse with a pool table. There are some play areas for kids (no formal playground, but little things here and there). Last winter we took two day trips into Joshua Tree, one from the north side and one from the south. There is a lot to see there but you have to get out and hike. There are old mines, an old stamp mill, old cars & a windmill left out to rust in the desert, and lots of other things we didn't get time to see. I think the Cottonwood side would be better camping for your size rig.
From there, you may want to go to Death Valley. There is a lot to see there too and even more if you want to get out and hike. I think DV gets pretty busy during the weeks the kids get out of school. The Furnace Creek Resort has a heated pool and showers you can use for $3 per person per day (at least they did when we were there a few years ago, you might want to call them and ask if they still allow that). So if you were to camp next door in the NPS campground Furnace Creek, you could probably just walk over there and use the pool. It's spring fed from an underground hot springs so it's nice and warm.
Here is an interesting website for people who love Death Valley: http://deathvalley.com/dvtalk/dvtalk.shtml#post. If you have any questions about things to do and see there someone is always willing to reply.
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