A New Camping Experience!

Well, this past weekend we had decided to go camping fro a couple of days at one of our favorite local campgrounds. Shortly before leaving we got a phone call from Vista Resorts. We had a free weekend of camping coming to us from the RV dealership where we recently purchased a fifth wheel. We decided, free camping, why not? The only catch was that we had to atend an hour long presentation about become members in Vista Resorts camping club. Well, after seeing the campground, talking to the friendly people camping there and hearing the presentation, we decided to join. We are now members of Vista Resorts, where we can stay at our "home" campground for $2 a night, Resorts Of Distinction, where we can stay at any R.O.D. campground for free, Coast to Coast and RPI where we get discounts on camping at their affiliated campgrounds! This means more camping opportunities for us so, as we camp I can bring you reviews and information about new campgrounds and towns to visit! Whoo, Hoo! See ya on the road!

Casini Ranch Family Campground

Well, that's it. We've found a new favorite place to camp. We just spent three nights camping at Casini Ranch Family Campground in Duncans Mills, California. What a great place to take the family! It is nestled on the banks of the Russian River, you can swim, fish, rent paddle boats or kayaks, or just kick back and relax. On Saturday evenings they offer hay rides and they have occasional movie nights. Here are some photos of the campground!

New RV!

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days. We've been out RV shopping. We decided it was time to trade up from our Laredo fifth wheel to something a little bigger. This one will be the last for awhile so we wanted to make sure it was the one we wanted. We found it and we go sign paperwork today! We are buying a Cedar Creek fifth wheel. This one has a great floor plan and lots more storage than the Laredo. I can't wait to try it out! Camping trip in two weeks!

Another flat tire

Last weekend we took our fifth wheel up to redding while we were working on my husband's grandpa's rental house. There were a lot of people up there working on the house because he was in the hospital having fallen and hit his head really hard. He is over 90 years old. We figured the easiest thing to do was to take our trailer up for us to stay in, then we would also have a good clean kitchen, working refrigerator, etc. It worked out great! We would tow the trailer between the rental and his grandpa's house each day. It was only about fifteen minutes away so it wasn't too bad, just leave it connected to the truck all the time, you know. Anyway, the second night up there, after we got parked at Grandpa's house my husband noticed we had a flat tire on the trailer. It was the same side and same tire as the last time in July!!!! Luckily we were able to get AAA out there and they changed the tire for us. That was the last thing we wanted to deal with at the end of a very long day, by the time it was taken care of it was after 9 p.m.! The kids and I just wanted showers and to go to bed. We finally got our wish sometime before ten. This seems a little early to go to bed I know but we had spent the entire day filling a 30 yard roll-off with junk that had been left around the property and in the house, as well as trying to get the inside of the house ready for paint. I guess this just proves that sometimes camping isn't always relaxing, but it sure was nice to have the trailer there with us. Here's hoping that we don't get another flat on our next time out! I started a blog of photos that my kids have taken! Check it out at http://ryanandjamesphotos.blogspot.com ! Summer is coming and with it is a great time for camping. Get out there and have fun, then let me know where you've been! I would love to hear about your camping experience!

Home Again With An Unexpected twist!

Well, We had an awesome time camping! We were called away a day early due to a family medical emergency so I haven't had the opportunity to really sit down and post about the trip. We were camping at Lake Solano Park near Winters and Lake Berryessa. The campground is located right along the Putah Creek and even though you are close to civilization you feel like you are miles away. The park is a great place for bird watchers and nature lovers. You can also fish in the river, or go across the road to the day use park and rent paddle boats or row boats. There are no motor boats allowed on Putah Creek however. I will write more about the park in my review article later this week. For now, take a look at some awesome pictures!

These are all partial hookup sites. They are back in and have awesome views. They are however close to a private road to a Walnut Farm that is next to the park. This road gets a decent amount of traffic.

This is one of the tent sites along Putah Creek. This is beautiful and has access to the water and a trail behind it.

One of the many Peacocks wandering around the park! They are beautiful and some will eat right out of your hand if you are offering peanuts and sit very still!

If you want the feel of walking through an enchanted forest, this is it! This is the Shoreline trail that runs along, well, the shore, behind the campsites and further down along the river.

This is a sign that was posted aroung the campground and the park. I think it speaks for itself! Look to the side of the blog for more photos from this trip. Also look at http://dogs-are-family.blogspot.com/ for photos as well!

GONE CAMPING!

Well, folks, it's that time again on the West Coast. Yep, you guessed it. We are taking our first camping trip since last July. WooooHoooo! I won't be posting for a few days because, well, let's face it, spending time with my family in the great outdoors will be more fun and relaxing! Don't worry though, I won't forget you all. When I return I will have lots of photos and stories to share! Stay tuned. While I'm away, feel free to check out my blogs and affiliates! Leave me a post and I will respond when I get back. Bye for now, though. The great outdoors is calling!

For The Love Of Camping

Hello fellow campers and those of you just starting out! Let me tell you a little about myself. As a kid my parents, would take us tent camping whenever possible. We would go to the Sequoias, Oregon, the Redwoods, and many other places that I was really too young to remember. Now that i am grown up married and have kids of my own we enjoy going camping in our fifth wheel. I had enough of the tent camping growing up! Our boys were 2 years and 4 months old the first time we took them camping. That first trip is one to remember. We went to Lake Tahoe for my Mom's wedding. We stayed at a KOA campground nearby and had a blast! Yes, even with a baby! I truly believe that if you are up to it, you should start your kids on camping at a young age. Our kids absolutely LOVE to go camping now and we take several trips through-out the year. Due to rising gas prices we usually stay fairly close to home for short trips. You can really find some good campgrounds close to home that make you feel like you are far away when really you are not that far. While living in Santa Barbara County, CA we frequently visited Cachuma Lake Campground. There you could fish, hike, ride bikes around, fly kites, and just relax. We have since taken the boys to the redwoods, Patricks Point Campground, Richardson's Grove Campground, Fort Bragg, Yosemite, the Sequoias, and we hope to get up to Diamond Lake in Oregon soon. While I was growing up my whole family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, the whole works would go stay in cabins at Diamond Lake. A tree was planted there in honor of my Grandfather after he passed away and I would love for my husband and boys to see the lake sometime. Our next trip will be close to home as well. I will post pictures from there when we return. We are looking for a good place to camp this summer. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them! Take a look at the photos around my blog and check out a few of the links while you are here. Have a suggestion for a link or want me to add your link to mine? Just let me know. I will be happy to take your link into consideration! Keep camping and enjoy life!