Travel tips

Hello. Please share your tips for places to visit, stay and camp by emailing us, and we will post them on this page.  You can also add them in the comments section at the bottom of this page. THANK YOU.

On this page you will find:

1. CAROLE BROWN’S TRAVEL TIPS

2. TIPS BY VISITORS

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1. CAROLE BROWN’S ‘CAMPING OVERNIGHT’ TIPS

CAMP SITES
On our road trip from California to Massachusetts January to July 2010, we found only a few camp sites that we could afford on our limited budget.

If you visit any sites mentioned below, it would be nice if you told them that we referred you. Please also add your comments about your stay on the bottom of this page in the COMMENTS BOX.
(N.B. we are mentioning these camp site because we enjoyed our stay; we do not receive commission)

One BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT site, in Three Rivers, New Mexico.
Beautiful setting and for only $2 per night it was incredible value. Small park out in the desert. Shade trees. Very clean and modern washroom (no showers). Stunning petroglyphs and views of White Sands in the distance from the hill where the petroglyphs are located. See photos on our Facebook page in the photo album section.

Prado Regional Park in Chino Hills. east of LA, southern California
Very large park with lake and many group sites. Shower and washroom blocks are located around the site. Quiet except for nearby shooting range. lake is good for boating. See all amenities at http://www.sbcounty.gov/parks/prado/prado.aspx
We were part of a VW club event, so were given a group rate. Enquire with them about rates.
Address: 16700 S. Euclid Ave., Chino, CA 91708
Telephone: +1. 909.597.4260
Make Your Reservations Online at www.sbcountyparks.com

Canyon RV Park (aka Featherley) on the Northwest corner of the 91 Freeway and Gypsum Canyon Road, east of Anaheim, southern California.
Medium sized park, some areas close to highway so may be noisy as the traffic never ceases.  Creek runs at the side of the site furthest away from highway. Beautiful area for walking or sitting and watching the birds.
We were part of a VW club event, so were given a group rate. Enquire with them on rates by emailing camping@canyonrvpark.com.

NON-CAMPSITE PARKING
Most times, we parked for the night in:

  • quiet streets after going round the block a few times to check out the area (even did this in LA)
  • church car parks or in the street outside a church
  • Wal-Mart, after checking on the individual store policy (only place that I found not allowing overnight parking was Oxnard, CA)
  • once, just off the highway  … I-40 ramp eastbound in Arizona at Winona exit, at top of ramp there’s small road to the right
  • a few hours in rest areas, sometimes midnight to 6:00am!  (Arizona and New Mexico okay, never tried this in CA as most were closed anyway)
  • large casino car parks in New Mexico (park in the RV section). These were clean and quiet plus there’s the added bonus of air conditioning and good value meals in the casino.
  • in 24 hour McDonalds with permission of manager; great free wifi, too (we found this to be okay in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, western New York state)
  • When we didn’t park in McD’s overnight, we almost always went there for early morning, great-tasting coffee. Many open at 5.30am.

    • Cheers from Carole and her YesWeCan CamperVan


    CAROLE BROWN’S ACCOMMODATION TIPS

    AVILA BEACH, California – INN AT AVILA BEACH

    Photos by Carole Brown, copyright Butler Brown Media

    Review that I posted on Trip Advisor:
    I was tired driving in the rain and wanted to rest a couple of days, so I searched on the internet for hotels in the area. I got lucky when I found the Inn at Avila Beach. The photos of this Inn attracted me immediately. Then when I read customer reviews it sounded just my kinda place, so I emailed the manager Edward and he got back to me immediately. From the moment I walked through the door my stay was a delight. Warm welcome, friendly staff, gorgeous colors and antiques, lovely common room with fire and dining area with complimentary coffee, hot chocolate and popcorn. My room was even better with comfy bed and sofa and sound of the ocean. Clean and beautifully appointed. On top of all this, there’s the roof deck – you just have to see it: set up like several living areas with sofas, tables, hammocks and barbecue fires. This place is unique and beyond words. And if you think I’m over the top, all I can say is I met others who come back year after year after year because they love it so much. The hotel brochure says they want you to experience your vacation here as “your best friends beach house” … it’s even better than that.

    It would be nice if you told them we referred you and also add your comments about your stay on the bottom of this page. THANKS.
    (N.B. we are mentioning this hotel because we enjoyed our stay; we do not receive commission)

     

    2. TIPS BY VISITORS

    Hello, please feel free to add to my notes above and contribute new ideas and suggestions in the comment box below. THANK YOU.

     

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