2025 Travel goals?

[bpaikman]

I do see a lot of elks lodges around when planning. I don't know of any in our area, and we can't consider joining anyhow, too busy already.

 

[bpaikman]

We're heading out in early June, briefly visiting a few spots (Cheyenne Mountain State Park, wagon ruts at Guernsey SP, then on the Dubois for a few days, then a few week in Oregon/Vancouver area to visit family....Then we're tentatively planning to drop down into San Jose and Huntington Beach areas to visit friends and family, then over to Colorado for 7 weeks in our fav - Lake City. Heading home in October. Planning to miss out on summer in Texas. Longest trip ever.
We did nearly 3 months out in 2023, and it went great, and it's good that we get along well with each other.
Would appreciate tips on where to stay in California - we've never been there in an RV, and I think Bob has never been at all. I visited friends in the late 70s, and they took me around to Napa Valley, Sausalito, Top of the Mark, Lombard, Ghiradelli, Redwoods. Tourist stuff - it was OK.

 

[Neal]

I'm not planning to make a reservation for any place until a day or so before arrival. We plan to use Harvest Host, Elks Lodges, Walmarts, etc when a park isn't available or needed.

I don't like to make reservations early if I can avoid it as well. I'm worried if I do that then something is likely to go south somewhere enroute. If it's a popular destination then I have no choice. My Colorado adventure was one where it was hard in some places, or sites were not available and then 1-2 weeks prior things opened up. I think people reserve just like hoarding toilet paper (now eggs) and then cancel as the reservation nears so things always seem to open up. I at least need to figure out where and when and what to see.

 

[bpaikman]

BTW, I only made reservations at 4 or places that were time-critical. for example,> places where we plan to stay for a while.
We do plan to visit Butchart Gardens with our daughter and I had to make a lot of reservations for that.
I found other places about the same to get reservations. But they are places that are always difficult and I get the reservations in January. When we traveled in 2023 I noticed every place that we stayed had empty sites so we decided to wait until the day before to make reservations for just the overnight sites. I might make a reservation a few days before Big Texan in Amarillo, because the last time we passed through they put us in a more expensive area because the cheaper area at the front was full lol.

 

[bpaikman]

my husband has always wanted to see Bouchart Gardens and we are making a mini trip in the middle of our long vacation to see that. We are taking a train from Vancouver Washington to Seattle (My daughter lives close to the Amtrak station n Vancouver). It's very cheap.
Then we're taking the Clipper to Victoria BC, staying two nights, and then the whole trip in reverse. The train ride and clipper are part of the fun - (we did upgrade seats for a nice view on the Clipper)

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I'm hoping the park availability will be like last year, we didn't stay in one park that was full.

@Neal you have enough solar you can stay anywhere and there is BLM land and many National Forest campgrounds.

 

[bpaikman]

I don't like to make reservations early if I can avoid it as well. I'm worried if I do that then something is likely to go south somewhere enroute. If it's a popular destination then I have no choice. My Colorado adventure was one where it was hard in some places, or sites were not available and then 1-2 weeks prior things opened up. I think people reserve just like hoarding toilet paper (now eggs) and then cancel as the reservation nears so things always seem to open up. I at least need to figure out where and when and what to see.

it infuriated me the last time we stayed at Cheyenne Mountain and half the spots in the loop that we wanted were never occupied during our two days day. they are so difficult to get that I have to sit on the computer and be ready to login at 8 o'clock on the date 5 months before that makes sense.
And yet I they're almost always all booked and I'm lucky to find a two day slot. I think they are being booked by Colorado residents whose booking windows open earlier, I'm guessing. They might be hoarding sites and then not bothering to release them, and I guess they don't have a penalty to pay.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

We're heading out in early June, briefly visiting a few spots (Cheyenne Mountain State Park, wagon ruts at Guernsey SP, then on the Dubois for a few days, then a few week in Oregon/Vancouver area to visit family....Then we're tentatively planning to drop down into San Jose and Huntington Beach areas to visit friends and family, then over to Colorado for 7 weeks in our fav - Lake City. Heading home in October. Planning to miss out on summer in Texas. Longest trip ever.
We did nearly 3 months out in 2023, and it went great, and it's good that we get along well with each other.
Would appreciate tips on where to stay in California - we've never been there in an RV, and I think Bob has never been at all. I visited friends in the late 70s, and they took me around to Napa Valley, Sausalito, Top of the Mark, Lombard, Ghiradelli, Redwoods. Tourist stuff - it was OK.

If you are into "wagon ruts" Baker City in Oregon has an amazing Interpretive Center. Interpretive Centers: National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center | Bureau of Land Management Highway 101 along the Washington, Oregon and California coast is, in my opinion, the most scenic drive in North America. The Monterey Aquarium (and Monterey) are worth the look. Just an FYI.. Highway 101 south of Monterey doesn't have many RV Parks that are Big Rig Friendly. I would plan dates and book if you can. San Francisco has some interesting things to do and see. We found the Alcatraz tour spectacular.

Safe travels

Darrell

 

[bpaikman]

If you are into "wagon ruts" Baker City in Oregon has an amazing Interpretive Center. Interpretive Centers: National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center | Bureau of Land Management Highway 101 along the Washington, Oregon and California coast is, in my opinion, the most scenic drive in North America. The Monterey Aquarium (and Monterey) are worth the look. Just an FYI.. Highway 101 south of Monterey doesn't have many RV Parks that are Big Rig Friendly. I would plan dates and book if you can. San Francisco has some interesting things to do and see. We found the Alcatraz tour spectacular.

Safe travels

Darrell

I have found a couple of Parks that will do for our access to family/friends.... we might have a 45-60 minute drive to meet up, but that's fine.
and thanks for the tip about Baker city, will be passing right through it so we should have time to check that out.
I know yeah I'm planning in booking exact dates

 

[dave54]

With the chaos in Washington DC and all the budget slashing, we are not counting on any national parks this year. Maybe boondock on NF lands a lot more.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

With the chaos in Washington DC and all the budget slashing, we are not counting on any national parks this year. Maybe boondock on NF lands a lot more.

I'm unsure what chaos you're referring to or all the budget slashing. Do you think the National Parks are going to close?

[mod edit: removed discussion related to politics]

 

[dave54]

I'm unsure what chaos you're referring to and all the budget slashing. Do you think the National Parks are going to close? There are some long overdue financial audits being done in DC and if that's the chaos you're talking about then every corporation in America is operating in chaos.

The national parks could close. Staffing and budgets are slashed. Some campgrounds will be closed. Visitor Centers will have sharply reduced hours if they open at all. No services like trash pickup or toilet servicing. SAR and Ranger personnel are cut 50% at many Parks. Firefighting crews reduced. Support staff completely cut. National Forests and BLM public lands are similar. It is going to the Wild West on public lands this year -- completely unregulated, uncontrolled, and unmanaged.

[mod edit: removed discussion related to politics]

 

[Neal]

Warning - let's not go there please!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

This season (winter), I prepared to travel and save. Most people save to travel, but normal I'm not.

I now have three trailers with sleeping arrangements.

Why is that important to voice? Well, my normal is summers on forest service land, never in camp grounds. I don't find joy bringing, or having to be around people that must bring civilization with them into serine environments. .

This summer, however I may travel some! I will never be allowed to grace an RV resort because I would not fit in, but I will enjoy nature while I move about.

My cargo trailer will find storage for a month, while I travel where the winds take me, in my freshly built harbor freight sleeper trailer to provide my shelter.

I anticipate great, and muchly needed changes in the public lands that I will roam. Yes I remember when fees were implemented for use of our property starting in the 60's and 70's and have longed for a return to a more civilized peasant time.

I think, maybe that time is now!

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

With the doom and gloom some see, you, Kevin, "anticipate great, and muchly needed changes in the public lands that I will roam." You have more experience camping on government land than most; I'm curious what are the changes you predict may come about?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

With the doom and gloom some see, you, Kevin, "anticipate great, and muchly needed changes in the public lands that I will roam." You have more experience camping on government land than most; I'm curious what are the changes you predict may come about?

Well! I watched many shows like flipper, mayberry RFD, chips where officers were peace officers rather than enforcers. Over time the officers became swatt teams, and dirty Harry.

I see this thread being hijacked should I answer what I hope for, and believe will come to pass. So start a thread that is along the lines of changes hoped for and I will answer your question, as best I can within the guidelines of this forum.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

Thanks, Kevin for your response, and I understand why you responded the way you did. We intend to stay in more national forests near several National Parks this summer than we did last year and just wondering what improvements there may be.

 

[dave54]

Just made some plans for heading up the Oregon Coast, east to the Cascades, and work our way south. ~5 weeks total. Maybe six.

 

[Boat Bum]

Headed back to St Paul MN in October for my youngest daughter's wedding. We were there last August for our first visit out to see her. Already booked a week at Lebanon Hills Campground in Apple Valley for our stay. We'll take a month in total there and back.

 

[BGMAC]

Just made some plans for heading up the Oregon Coast, east to the Cascades, and work our way south. ~5 weeks total. Maybe six.

At Tillamook is a nice Cheese factory and gift shop. A lot of good cheese. Also at the local airport is a small Aircraft museum in an old Blimp hanger. Lots of history about WWII and how Oregon was bombed by the Japanese.

If you go inland a little bit and head to Micminville there is the Evergreen Air & Space Museum and water park. Howard Hughes Spruce Goose is there. The water park is a one of a kind that you go up into a 747 on top of the building to start a water slide.