RV Park Review – Boise Riverside RV Park, Boise, ID

The green pet area at Boise Riverside RV Park

A basic, but very friendly RV park in a GREAT location in Boise, ID

Link to park here: Boise Riverside RV Park, Boise, ID
Link to map location here: Boise Riverside RV park, Boise, ID

1. Site quality = 2.5/5
   Just so-so sites here. They are all basic, cleared flat dirt with decent separation (there’s “double-size” between each RV -> a space for your RV and a space next to it for your car) with water/electric (greenbelt-facing sites) or full hookups (50 Amp/water/sewer), but really not much else. Most sites are separated by a concrete pad, some have a strip of grass, several have decent trees (ours was actually quite shaded although the tree threw sap all over the RV), but only a select number have picnic tables. The water/electric only sites had a bit more grass, but were generally smaller in size (smaller rigs only). Electricity OK, but water pressure was low.
2. Facilities = 3.5/5
   Decent facilities. Bathrooms and toilets were a tad older, but spotlessly clean. Low water pressure in the showers, but otherwise good temps and plenty of space. All showers have separate bench and hooks for your stuff.
3. Amenities = 3/5
   Decent, but basic amenities. There is a large, clean on-site laundry ($1.50 per wash), grassy areas, propane, dump and BBQ area. Decent (workable) on-site WiFi although signal was poor the further you got from the office.
4. Location = 5/5
   Location is what you come here for. Boise Riverside RV Park is literally ON the greenbelt with direct access to the bike-hike trail and only ~15 mins from downtown. Excellent location for anything you want to do in town.
5. Pet friendliness = 5/5
   Good area for doggie. There’s limited space at camp, but there is an on-site (large, green) pet-walk area and you are right on the greenbelt for access to miles of walking (and river dips) right from camp. Also, you’re only ~15 mins from the foothills and all the extra hiking there.

Overall rating = 3.8
BONUS ALERT: Camp RIGHT on the Boise greenbelt and only ~5 miles from downtown!

Summary: This park is all about location, location, location. On the cosmetic side I would call it a basic private RV park. Sites are basic dirt with full hookups (rather low water-pressure, but otherwise fine), decent separation, some basic grass or concrete in-between, decent trees, but not much in the way of “extras”. There’s good, basic facilities, good amenities, everything is clean and well-kept and the owners are super-friendly and supportive (e.g. you can wash your RV for only $5). All good stuff, but not exactly stunning. Where the park wins me over is location. You are literally RIGHT on the Boise greenbelt, with direct access to miles of walking, biking and water-dips (for doggie) right from camp. Also you’re only ~5 miles from downtown and the Boise foothills. When we came to Boise a few years back we stayed at Hi Valley which was a very neat park, but further from town. Boise Riverside is more basic and not as modern, but in a much, much better location. I think if we come back we’ll choose to stay here again.

Extra Info: Excellent Verizon signal (4G LTE and 3G). On-site WiFi is workable, although signal is poor as you get further from the office. Sites cost $32.56/night or $179.22/week or $375/month for full hookups. Water/electric only sites are $25/night. Good Sam’s Discount. On-site dump station and propane.

Front view of our site (#6). Very shaded, but the tree threw sap all over our RV

Back view of our RV site. We had no-one to the left and right side is empty.

View down front greenbelt-facing water/electric sites. Mostly smaller rigs here.

View down some sites near front entrance of park

Another view down front entrance rows

View of sites near back of park

Another view of back sites

View down middle row

View of facilities in middle of park (laundry, showers)

Walking Polly on the greenbelt right next to the RV park

SP Campground Review - Three Island Crossing State Park, Glenns Ferry, ID

Reblogged from Wheeling It:

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A very green and wonderfully historic State Park in South-Central ID.

Note/ Review updated as of last stay May, 2013

Link to campground here: Three Island Crossing State Park, ID
Link to map location here:  Three Island Crossing State Park, ID

1. Site Quality = 4/5
   The site quality here is very nice although upper & lower loops are quite different. All are long, flat paved sites with picnic table and fire-pit.

Read more… 574 more words

Just a quick update of our park review for Three Island Crossing State Park. Still ranks very high for us as a stop on I-84.

SP Campground Review – Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ

Distant view of A & B loops from 50-year trail in Catalina State Park.

A lovely State Park campground surrounded by stunning mountains & lots of hiking trails just north of Tuscon, AZ.

Link to campground here: Catalina State Park, Tuscon, AZ
Link to map location here: Catalina State Park, Tuscon, AZ

1. Site Quality = 3/5 
   Sites vary from very nice to very poor depending on which loop you end up in. A & B are lovely, but Ringtail is a dissapointment:
   A-loop -> This loop has 48 sites all paved with nice “sittting areas” containing picnic table and fire-pit. Sites are spacious, decently flat and have a lovely natural layout and feel. Half the sites have 30Amp/water (sites on left-hand side of loop) while the other half are primitive/no hookups (sites on right-hand side of loop). All sites are nice here, but the most desirable IMHO are outer-facing back-ins.
   B-loop -> This is the more “modern” loop and has 75 sites all paved with 50Amp/water and nice “sitting areas” containing picnic table and grill. They are laid-out in a grid-like fashion with equal spacing between each site. Not much privacy but good separation and decent size and levelness everywhere. The very nicest sites are outer-facing back-ins (B10-12, B45-48, B68-75) some of which have excellent (unobstructed) views and their own little trails directly into the mountains.
   Ringtail Loop -> This really (honestly) shouldn’t be called a loop at all. This is simply the old overflow parking lot which was recently converted into a “loop” by placing poles marking “sites” around the lot. There is no separation, no sitting area and you’re basically just camping right next to your neighbor in the dirt with no hookups. It’s a poor excuse for a loop and I would (personally) be rather pissed off to have to pay $15/night to stay here. Unless there is no other choice I would stay away from this area.
   NOTE/ There is also a separate equestrian camping area. This is just north of loop B and is a large open dirt parking area wih picnic tables, BBQ pits and 12 pens for horses.
2. Facilities = 3.5/5 
   Once again great to so-so facilities depending on which loop you’re in. The B-loop and Ringtail loop both have ultra-new facilities with large (enormous) individual hot showers (separate bench area, detachable shower-heads, temp control) and clean flush toilets. These are wonderful! On the other hand the A-loop has an older facility which sadly doesn’t mach up. Toilets here are clean and sizeable, but the showers have horrible spray head and button timing (in women’s the shower spray was so strong it was painful to stand underneath it). Several on-site dump stations (one near park entrance, one in B-loop).
3. Location = 5/5
   This is a fabulous location. You are right next to the awesome Catalina Mountain Range which dominates the view and provides endless hiking/biking trails. You are also just north of Tucson with super-easy access to shopping (Walmart is across the street with Trader Joe’s/Sprouts/Fry’s just a few miles down the road) and all the sightseeing that Tucson has to offer.
4. Pet Friendliness = 5/5
   Another fabulous pooch park. Lots of space to hang out in camp plus dog-friendly trails all around (only one trail, Romero Canyon is banned to dogs). There is also a creek in Canyon Loop Trail where doggies can splash in the water (such a treat in the desert). Another bonus is that the campground is grassy so no need to worry about cactus on the paws.

Overall Rating = 4.1
BONUS ALERT = Camp will full views of the gorgeous Catalina Mountains!

Summary: We’d heard alot about Catalina State Park before we came to Tucson and I have to agree with all the positive reviews. This is a lovely State Park set beautifully right at the base of the Catalina Mountains. The camping loops are in a grassy valley with Mesquite trees and excellent views of the range. Sites in A & B loops are all quite nice with paved driveways, good separation and decent “sitting areas” although the very nicest sites are the outer back-ins some of which have their own little trails into the hills.  There is a mix of either 50amp/water (in B-loop) or 30Amp/water & primitive (in A-loop).  The biggest negative to the campground is the Ringtail loop. This is the old overflow which they recently “converted” into a reservable loop, but it is really just a dirt parking lot with poles yet it is still charged the same price as the developed (non hookup) sites in A-loop. If you stay at Catalina I’d advise avoiding Ringtail and booking in either A or B-loops. Outside of the loops, the facilities are excellent and there are many wonderful miles of hiking/biking trails from easy to strenuous. Plus you’re within easy access of Tucson and all there is to see and do there. Then again, you could easily pass all day here just sitting around in camp and looking at the mountains (we certainly did!). Park does get very popular in winter so definitely book ahead if you want to stay here. A lovely spot and one we’d most certainly come back to.

Extra Info: Good Verizon signal (3-4 bars on both 3G & 4G). ~140 sites of which ~75 have 50Amp/water, ~24 have 30Amp/water and the remainder are nonhook-up all reservable on-line. Sites cost $25/night for electric/water, $15/night for primitive. There is NO overflow camping. Several on-site dump stations (by front entrance and in B loop).

View down the road from our 1st site B74. Site B73 behind us. This was a lovely back-in with 50Amp/water.

View of the “sitting area” in B74. No-one behind us.

View opposite our site in B-loop. Pull-through site B61 on right with site B62 to left.

Typical pull-through in B-loop. Site B24 shown. RV in B25 on right.

View of our 2nd site in A-loop. This is pull-through A24 (no hookups).

Another view down A-loop. Site A35 on left with A33 behind it. RV in site A34 on right. These all have 30Amp/water.

Another view down A-loop. Site A5 on left with A28 on right, both pull-throughs.

Typical back-in in A loop. Site A4 shown. This has no hookups.

View into Ringtail Loop. RV in “site” 22 on right.

Another view in Ringtail. From left to right site 15 (RV), 16 (RV), 17 (empty), 18 (RV), 19 (empty). No hookups or “sitting areas” here.

View of facilities in B-loop.

Yuma, AZ Has Grown On Me

Another great sunset in Yuma

It’s time to wrap-up our time here in Yuma so we can make it to the big show in Quartzsite. This is our second trip to this area and I have to admit it’s grown on us. Yuma is, in many ways, an odd kinda town…it’s a rather featureless valley that’s a huge snowbird destination, mostly for its costs and southern location. When you drive through town you see packs & packs of RV parks (many 55-and over) with RVers mashed together surrounded by flat desert, a spattering of flat farmland and somewhat nondescript strip-malls. At least that was the impression I had first time I came through here.

Who’d want to winter in Yuma….really?

But if you take a bit of time to look around, you realize there’s more to it than  meets the eye, and believe it or not it starts with nature. Once you get down to it Yuma has tons of open space around town for exploration. In the west there are the impressive Imperial Sand Dunes and the rich gold history by the Muchacho Mountains. In the north you have large wildlife refuges (the Imperial Wildlife Refuge and the enormous and rarely visited KOFA Wildlife Refuge), and in the east the landscape opens to pretty foothills and some excellent hiking (for more trails check out this PDF download too). Add onto that some pretty decent golf courses and a bike path along the Colorado River and you’ve got quite the diversity of outdoor choices.

Hmmm…this place ain’t looking so bad after all.

Oh yeah, that’s my kinda fiery heaven

Yeah, this is the life!

Taggart enjoys some afternoon warmth

And then there’s the boondocking….ahhhh….the boondocking. This is really what clinches it for me. I don’t think I would enjoy staying in one of the big RV parks in town, but once you get out into the wilderness it’s a whole other story. The area around here doesn’t have nearly the scenic beauty of some of our other favorite spots, but there’s so much space that you can easily find a secluded spot to spend those perfect winter days all by your nature lonesome. And when the winter weather does what it’s supposed to (which means a nice sunny mid-70′s during the daytime) and the wind isn’t being crazy (which it does get out here) it’s simply the most relaxing place. Walk the hills in your flip flops, bike around and explore the dirt roads in your shorts and then knock back in a chair with an appropriately adult beverage to watch an eternal horizon of fiery sunset.

Oh yeeees….I can see the draw now.

Boondocking w/ buddies. That’s us, Alex&Ellen (behind) and Watson’s Wonder in the far left background

And finally there are the quirky little things that make Yuma…well Yuma. Things you didn’t even remotely expect and that might even save you some dough:

American Gold Mine just west of Yuma

Crazy Los Algodones…I love it!

• Inexpensive dentistry just around the corner in Los Algodones. What a deal!
• The cheapest place (in the US?) to get your rig washed and hand-waxed. Can you say ~$40 for a wash and ~$130 for wash/wax of a 40-footer!!
• The salad Capitol of the US (~90% of all leafy veggies in winter for the entire country are grown here) with no less than 3 weekly farmer’s markets (here, here and here).Who would’ve thunk?

Ok…you had me at hello.

When we first came here we never thought we’d come back. Then we came back anyway, then friends came to join us (The Lowes, Alex&Ellen, OhThePlacesTheyGo, Watson’s Wonder all came by to visit…plus RV Sue, Ivan&His Kitty, & Metamorphosis Road have blown thro’ this joint in the past week!) and then we were hooked. Yuma has grown on us and we’ve decided we’re probably going to come back every year. I mean with so much going on, who wouldn’t want to winter here…really?

My great new smile!

Update On My Los Algondones Dentist Appt 1/21: I got my new crown installed yesterday morning and I am over the moon. This crown is 100% better fit than my old one (which always felt too big & awkward in my mouth), feels perfect and looks great. Dr. Urena did an outstanding job making sure the fit and look was just right. She even sent out the crown for some re-work in the AM to re-file the inner side and improve the fit. No-one can tell which tooth is the crown unless I point it out. We’ll see how this holds up, but for the moment I am very, very happy with the results!

An evening fire at our boondocking site

Playtime in the desert!

Gold in the hills

Gold in the sky

CP Campground Review - Armitage Campground, Eugene, OR

Reblogged from Wheeling It:

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A lovely, green county park just next to Eugene in Middle-West OR.

Review updated as of last stay Sept 2012

Link to campground here: Armitage County Park, OR
Link to map location here:  Armitage County Park, OR

1. Site Quality = 5/5
   Excellent site quality here. All sites are large, flat, paved with spacious "sitting areas" and full hookups (50Amp/water/sewer) and cable TV. 

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Just a quick re-blog of our Armitage County Park review from last year (updated with a few extra pics and tips). This is far and away our favorite place to stay in Eugene, OR.