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Recommendations for family trip out West
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Posted by lizb_1772 (My Page) on Sat, Aug 15, 09 at 11:50
| My DH and DD (age 10) will purchase a 17 ft, Jayco Hybrid soon and want to take an extended trip out West next summer. Trip originates in NC, and we want to stay primarily in state and national parks, preferring full hook-up places. We HOPE this will be the first trip of many. We realize it is a big country and will take several trips to do it justice!
We'd appreciate any and all advice regarding itinerary, planning, tips, etc. as we are inexperienced at camping. Of course, we will do some local camping trips to gain experience and work out kinks before the BIG trip.
Thanks in advance for help from the GW family! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Recommendations for family trip out West
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Google Camping World and ask for their camping magazine, and catalog. Don't go over-board in buying stuff, but you can get ideas there.
One or two words of advice for tent trailer campers: Do not camp in bear country! Bears have sharp claws and teeth, and a thin canvas won't keep you safe! But, if you insist--buy more life insurance, don't cook in the camper, don't store food in it, and, be ready to jump into the car if bears are near! (Have the keys with ya--the bears won't hand them to ya so you can get out of there--they do not want their next meal escaping, without a little taste of it! And, they ain't as friendly as Yogi and Boo-boo! And, do not keep your food in the car! Bears always have the window keys! |
RE: Recommendations for family trip out West
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| Most of the time I've spent in the west was in the Southwest, so my recommendations are biased to that region. I'd recommend stops at Dinosaur National Monument (UT-CO border) and Great Sand Dunes National Monument if you can work them in. I stopped at both but only had a couple of hours. Also, if you have a very good head for heights, drive up Mt. Evans. I'd leave the trailer at the campsite though. The Grand Canyon for sure. |
RE: Recommendations for family trip out West
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| Much of my time is spent in the redwoods. After selling my Komfort RV trailer, I converted a 6 x 12 cargo trailer. Which still leaves a hardshell. One person earlier, posted about bear country. There are beds in the redwood forests. But I know of one privately owned campground that seems free of bears. Look up Emerald Forest in Trinidad, CA. That's a half hour from Redwood National Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods. And maybe an hour and a half or so north of Rockefeller Forest. For Jedediah Smith Redwoods far north, camp one half hour farther up in OR at Harris Beach State Park - no bears there. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Harris Beach State Park
RE: Recommendations for family trip out West
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Ditto on the Grand Canyon
You Have to visit Yosemite!
And for a little urban play, camp right on the beach at 'Campland on the Bay' in San Diego. See link.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, also in CA, lets you visit nearby Santa Cruz, Roaring Camp, and Boulder Creek. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Campland on the Bay, San Diego
RE: Recommendations for family trip out West
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Bears: lock your food up elsewhere, hang it or use the onsite lock boxes.
Yosemite, Yellowstone, Lake Tahoe, Grand Tetons, Black Hills. Figure out what you would like to see, the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, the desert. Do you fish, sight see, photography, museums, history stuff. Plan your trip along those lines and you will not be sorry. If you love to fish and you don't go to any rivers or lakes what fun is that?
The West is full of stuff from the desert to the mountains, rivers, lakes and more.
The California State Campgrounds are nice and many offer full hook up and bear free too.
Let us know where you go! |
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