WestcountryGirl

Hi. Just hoping that I might be able to pick up a few tips. We're travelling from New Zealand next month. Having about 3 days in San Francisco and then hiring an RV for about 10 days to tour California. I have never RV'd before and have never been to California. Any recommendations or tips for my husband and I? Things to avoid? Places to avoid? I have a hankering to see Yosemite and any other National Parks we can squeeze in. My husband is interested in Big Sur/Wine Tours/anything to do with golf. Thanking you in anticipation.

naomi

We have an RV so I may be able offer you some advice. If you are planning on visiting popular places such as Yosemite, you may want to consider booking a camping spot in advance. The state parks are often a lot nicer than private RV parks. I've never RV'd it in California, but I know if you're stuck for a place to stay in Cali, a lot of the casinos have free hook up and water! Let's see...what else. Oh yeah, buy some septic tank pills to put down the loo, those things can get stinky. Also empty your septic tanks after 2-3 days or so, and bring some plastic gloves. Have fun, I enjoy our "camping/glamping" trips even though a lot of our friends make fun of us!
Naomi.

lapin_windstar

When renting, take your time in checking out the RV you are being given. Some of them are pretty shagged out - which is fine imo so long as you don't get stuck paying for the repairs.

Cape Blue

Should be fun.

Difficult to get close to SF on a campground and they charge up to $50/night (I have seen some places charging $80/night).

Yosemite, up/across to Napa, maybe over to Mendocino, down to Muir woods, past SF (drive over GG), Santa Cruz, Monterey, Big Sur - could try and drop off the RV in LA and fly from there, otherwise back up to SF.

These might help:

http://www.camp-california.com/
http://www.casinocamper.com/
http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions...a_Barbara.html
http://www.bigsurcamp.com/rv-sites.html
http://www.freecampgrounds.com/
http://www.gocampingamerica.com/campgrounds/
http://www.rvdumps.com/dumpstations/california
http://www.trailerlifedirectory.com/

Let us know how you get on.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

California is HUGE -- don't bite off more than you can chew. Reservations in and around Yosemite pretty hard to find in October.

Personally, I prefer in having a rental car and making motel reservations.

One of the more memorable trips I've ever had was up 101 from SF to Eureka and back hitting highway 1. I have fond memory of the Hartsook Inn south of Garberville outside of the Richardson Grove. Of course, don't expect 21st Century Amenities. Parts of the Wine Country. Calistoga is at the top of the Napa Valley and kind of cool.

Fort Bragg was interesting on that trip. Also, coast north of the Bay Area is not as touristy or crowded. But lots of redwoods.

The weather in California in October can be tricky -- it can be hot -- but last october we visited Sequoia and there was snow up there.

lapin_windstar

Also: check how much they will charge you per hour of generator use (you often need the generator to run the "main" AC), how much to drain the black and grey water, and how much to refill the propane that runs the fridge.

another bloody yank

Isn't there some kind of big fancy golf course up around SF somewhere?


Feel free to nominate this as "Most helpful post" in the end of year BE awards.

Burn1911

We did a "Road Trip" in California in October 2006........ had the BEST time... we didn't have as much time as you but this is the route we took.. also we stayed in motels/hotels, and bascially we didn't book anything before we went except Yosemite (stayed in the Evergreen Lodge - old and funky and didn't see ANY bears )

Well we flew into Oakland and then drove to Yosemite, had a night and a full day there, did some hiking and drove around and generally got a feel for the park, would have loved longer there it was GORGEOUS!!! from there we drove out of the park and stayed in Mariposa - Best Western, nothing much but clean and functional, good mexican hole-in-the-wall across the road

Then we drove from Mariposa to Santa Cruz - my favorite place.. then we drove down the coast to Pacific Grove - lovely, and then did the Big sur -BIG SUR is a MUST MUST MUST WOW!!, we stopped that night in Morro Bay. Then onto LA, Laguna Beach, and down to San Diego where we flew out and back to Seattle.

It was alot of driving - we had a convertible and so didn't mind too much! but we never felt rushed and never felt like we had too many miles to cover - it was so much fun and definately worth it!! There were so many highlights of the trip and I think its one we will do again one day!!

BTW we looked at RV rental and by the time we priced up a one way rental, and adding in all the extras like the kitchen pack, personal pack (for sheets, pillow etc) and extra mileage, it was cheaper to do hotels. We found that by not pre-booking we got really good deals on some really nice places just because they wanted to get rid of the room..

Folinskyinla

Hi:

Your route sounds quite good -- but quite full. If available. the Wawona Hotel in Yosemite Park is old and funky -- it is near the South Entrance. As I mentioned before, weather might be concern and it is 20 mile drive from Yosemite Valley although it is still in the park. You don't see the bears, but you will see a lot of dear.

BTW, the UC Santa Cruz campus has a lot of deer. Also, when daughter was at UCSC, we found the "Best Inn" on 600 River Street to be adequate and reasonable. Be aware that Santa Cruz is a very funky beach town and the accomodations are quite on the funky side but also relatively expensive.

However, if one is into the famed architect Julia Morgan, look into staying at the Asilomar Conference Center in Monterey [near Pacific Grove] and at Morro Bay, stay in San Simeon and go to visit Hearst Castle.

The drive through Big Sur is spectacular to say the least, but it IS long.

A stay in Santa Barbara is to be recommended. Brophy Brothers is recommended for a meal, but it is crowded and no reservations.

On rental cars, beware that the car rental companies like to offer free "upgrades" to bigger cars -- recent changes in the economics of the car rental business and increased gasoline prices have left the rental fleets quite out of wack with demand and the cars are now kept longer. If you use an airport that has them, Fox Car Rental is generally cheapest and they have good cars.

"One way" car rentals can be expensive. However, if you are moving the car from an area with high supply to one of low supply, they might be reasonable. [Many years ago, we saw a deal for a heavily discounted car rental from Burbank to Oakland with a "free" air ticket back. We took it and had to buy just three tickets back].

Which reminds me -- if ordered in advance, air tickets on South West Airlines are priced on a one-way basis and if ordered far enough in advance, can be quite cheap. A division of a trip is quite feasible.

As a Californian, this is a fun string. A lot of my travel has been in-state and I haven't seen all of it.

Poppy girl

I live in California and my favorite place is South Lake Tahoe, you would love a road trip to the lake and surrounding area, I live close enough to go at the weekends as and when, but still always hate leaving its beautiful

Mummy in the foothills

Thats where we are going in two weeks, I love it too.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

That is true for people in the Bay Area and particularly true for people in Sacramento area. A law school classmate had the family cabin off of highway 50 1/2 mile short of Echo Summit. Remember watching the bicentennial fireworks displays around the lake from the summit -- they were distant and quiet, but still spectacular. Of course, upon return, found about the joy on how Israel had upstaged the bicentennial. An early victory in the "War Against Terrorism."

Patrick Hasler

[QUOTE=WestcountryGirl;6790481]Hi. Just hoping that I might be able to pick up a few tips. We're travelling from New Zealand next month. Having about 3 days in San Francisco and then hiring an RV for about 10 days to tour California. Things to avoid?QUOTE]


Avoid California

clynnog

I was in CA for the 1st time in July and I would highly recommend the Redwoods area (btwn Eureka and Crescent City). Prairie Creek Redwoods SP was beautiful...unfortunately one of the nicest areas (can't remember the name of the actual park but it is where Fern Canyon is) in the area is not accessible via RV.

There are private campgrounds in the area, but they were a bit too KOA like for my tastes.

Not sure about golf courses as I tend to block them out.