Leaving in 6 days...final questions.

My wife and I are going on a "trip of a lifetime" this summer. She is from Vancouver and hasn't been "home" in 7 years, so we are going to go visit her family (I haven't met most of them). We were going to fly there, but a co-worker convinced me that we should drive. I am a teacher and have June and July off. My co-worker is 65, my wife and I are in our early 40's, he wishes he were young enough to take such a trip, so before I let life pass me by I want to take this trip.
We have sat down and planned our trip to a certain degree, but there are many questions and concerns that we have. Here is what we have so far:
From New Orleans we plan on driving to Oklahoma City. It's a rather long drive, but I'm thinking the adrenaline will be flowing and why not knock this chunk out early. Nothing in Oklahoma City but rest. We then head to Wichita and a side trip to Dodge City. We are interested in the "Old West" and both cities appear to have that type of attraction. From Dodge City to Aurora, Colorado. We were expecting that to just be a rest stop, but there are many things to do and see in and around the Aurora area, and that's not even taking Denver into consideration. The towns of Black Hawk and Central City look awesome! From Aurora, a short trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming with a side trip to Laramie. From Cheyenne to Silver City, South Dakota. I must see Mount Rushmore. Question: Are the Black Hills and the Badlands worth the time considering the remainder of the trip?The next stop will be Yellowstone. Question: How many days should we take for Yellowstone? From Yellowstone we will go to Glacier National Park. Question: How many days to spend in Glacier? Next stop is Banff in Alberta Canada. Question: Will I need a passport? My wife has one, but I don't. How long does it take to get a passport?
Now at this point, from Alberta to Vancouver, my wife becomes the tour guide. We will probably spend 5 days in Vancouver visiting her family and she wants to show off her beautiful hometown to me.
Once we leave Vancouver we begin the part of our trip that is still kind of "up in the air". I want to see San Fransisco, Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, and Carlsbad Caverns. I know there are many things along that route; Redwood National Park, Yosemite, not to mention the states of Washington and Oregon. So any advice that can be given along this route would be appreciated.
What kind of budget should I be expecting? We have a tent and will be travelling in a Chevrolet HHR. I'm sure we will stay some nights in hotels. The whole while we are in Vancouver we will stay in a hotel. Are there any good tent camping sites that are complete with water and electricity? We don't own a cell phone, would you say that it's a must to get one before the trip?
It's a daunting task, but we are both getting more excited the closer it gets.
Any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
If I did anything wrong, I apologize, this is my first post and my first time to the site. I was reading the JimiHendrix thread and decided to post.
Thanks so much,
Badduke

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Originally Posted by Badduke

My wife and I are going on a "trip of a lifetime" this summer. She is from Vancouver and hasn't been "home" in 7 years, so we are going to go visit her family (I haven't met most of them). We were going to fly there, but a co-worker convinced me that we should drive. I am a teacher and have June and July off. My co-worker is 65, my wife and I are in our early 40's, he wishes he were young enough to take such a trip, so before I let life pass me by I want to take this trip.

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Welcome to the Great American RoadTrip and to the start of a trip of a lifetime!

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We have sat down and planned our trip to a certain degree, but there are many questions and concerns that we have. Here is what we have so far: From New Orleans we plan on driving to Oklahoma City. It's a rather long drive, but I'm thinking the adrenaline will be flowing and why not knock this chunk out early. Nothing in Oklahoma City but rest.

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Good thing, since this first leg is 700 miles and it will require about twelve hours of travel.

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From Cheyenne to Silver City, South Dakota. I must see Mount Rushmore. Question: Are the Black Hills and the Badlands worth the time considering the remainder of the trip?

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I have always found the Badlands to be far more interesting than Mt. Rushmore -- here is an excellent field report from the area written by Peter Thody. While in the badlands, turn on the local native american radio stations -- very interesting language patterns.

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The next stop will be Yellowstone. Question: How many days should we take for Yellowstone?

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I would spend a week if you could. There are two resources that I think will give you a great insight into Yellowstone. The first is an audiobook read by the author -- Tim Cahill and the second is this book.

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Question: How many days to spend in Glacier?

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I was only able to spend most of one day there last July -- it was pretty awesome. Take the time to do the side-trip the Bison Preserve -- you will never forget it!

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Question: Will I need a passport?[/U] My wife has one, but I don't.

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Technically, USA citizens won't need one, but given all that is going on, I wouldn't chance it. Here are some great links to current info on this touchy subject. Moderator Judy found these!

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If I did anything wrong, I apologize, this is my first post and my first time to the site. I was reading the JimiHendrix thread and decided to post.
Thanks so much,

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Lurkers are always welcome -- but we love the posters!

Mark

Thanks for the "heads-up" on the Bison Preserve, that's on the list now. I read the field report about the badlands, it didn't do much for me, but Deadwood, SD seems like a place we'd enjoy. Thanks so much for your time and insights. I'm thinking I should probably get a passport to be on the safe side as you suggested.
Badduke

We're heading out on our 15 state, 2 province road trip on June 8. We will have up to 50 days if we need them, so it will be a nice relaxing trip. The longest stay will be in Vancouver visiting family, probably 7 days. This should leave us plenty time to see whatever strikes our fancy and spend a few days at the major points of intrest without having to drive too many miles in a day.
I have just a few questions before we head out.

1) Is anyone familiar with KOA Campgrounds, and is it worth the extra money for the tent sites with wireless internet access and electricity? I will be travelling with my laptop and e-mailing family and friends to keep them informed of our progress is important. Also, electricity would be great to re-charge batteries for the cameras, laptop, cell phone, etc. (not really "roughing-it" are we!) haha

2) Am I making a mistake by deleting San Fransisco from our trip and adding the Reno/Tahoe area? (Leaving Vegas we will go to Tonopah, spend a night, then head to Yosemite, a day or two, then to Reno/Tahoe instead of Frisco.)

3) Any "MUST HAVE" items for a trip this extensive that will include lots of tent camping? Honestly, I've never camped in a tent before. My wife has, and she's been very helpful in getting things together, but it's been many years since she's done it, so any help is appreciated.

4) Birth Certificate, Driver's license, Social Security card...these items should be enough to cross the Canadian border right? Also, my wife still does not have permanent residence status, but she does have conditional status and she has her "green card", a Louisiana Driver's license, a social security card, and a passport, this should be good for her to cross the border? (She is Canadian, we met on the internet 8 years ago...is that cool or what!?)

Just a final thank you to everyone on this site. I tell you what, venturing out on a road trip knowing that there are such generous and caring people out on the road with us is very comforting.

Buckle-up and stay safe.

Being a bit of a net freak..I would think being connected is valuable.

Having said that, electricity can always come handy. We camped last year during a very hot summer and just as we finished packing up the 4x4, i threw in a fan (and swallowed the digs).

Believe me it was the best thing I could have done !

Sorry I guess I was too fast at hitteing the send button so here it goes

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Originally Posted by Badduke

We're heading out on our 15 state, 2 province road trip on June 8. We will have up to 50 days if we need them, so it will be a nice relaxing trip. The longest stay will be in Vancouver visiting family, probably 7 days. This should leave us plenty time to see whatever strikes our fancy and spend a few days at the major points of intrest without having to drive too many miles in a day.
I have just a few questions before we head out.

1) Is anyone familiar with KOA Campgrounds, and is it worth the extra money for the tent sites with wireless internet access and electricity? I will be travelling with my laptop and e-mailing family and friends to keep them informed of our progress is important. Also, electricity would be great to re-charge batteries for the cameras, laptop, cell phone, etc. (not really "roughing-it" are we!) haha
See msg below

2) Am I making a mistake by deleting San Fransisco from our trip and adding the Reno/Tahoe area? (Leaving Vegas we will go to Tonopah, spend a night, then head to Yosemite, a day or two, then to Reno/Tahoe instead of Frisco.)

3) Any "MUST HAVE" items for a trip this extensive that will include lots of tent camping? Honestly, I've never camped in a tent before. My wife has, and she's been very helpful in getting things together, but it's been many years since she's done it, so any help is appreciated.
My best advice - do not bathe in anything perfumed / wear perfumed stuff as you'll get bitten my insects - buy non scented soap Jergens etc.
Heres a good link
http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/Checklists.htm
http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/campi...and_Advice.htm

4) Birth Certificate, Driver's license, Social Security card...these items should be enough to cross the Canadian border right? Also, my wife still does not have permanent residence status, but she does have conditional status and she has her "green card", a Louisiana Driver's license, a social security card, and a passport, this should be good for her to cross the border? (She is Canadian, we met on the internet 8 years ago...is that cool or what!?)
This shld be adequate

Just a final thank you to everyone on this site. I tell you what, venturing out on a road trip knowing that there are such generous and caring people out on the road with us is very comforting.

Buckle-up and stay safe.

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Thanks for the links, I've just spent about a half hour looking through all the info and printing lists and adding information to our "camping guide".

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Originally Posted by Badduke

1) Is anyone familiar with KOA Campgrounds, and is it worth the extra money for the tent sites with wireless internet access and electricity? I will be travelling with my laptop and e-mailing family and friends to keep them informed of our progress is important. Also, electricity would be great to re-charge batteries for the cameras, laptop, cell phone, etc.

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I have stayed in dozens of KOA campgrounds -- they are very handy and in some locations are perfect places to stay. Just don't think of them as the "best" choice -- Since you are "tenting" and not using a RV, I would list them as the "choice of last resort" in most locations. Tenters, while welcome at KOAs are not the market of choice for that business model and you can often find better (more scenic) tent sites at the public parks. As far as Internet access goes -- for me (owner of RTA) such access is critical, but many, many sources of Internet access are out there. If you are not saavy about SMTP settings, you really should read Del's latest article about this.

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2) Am I making a mistake by deleting San Fransisco from our trip and adding the Reno/Tahoe area? (Leaving Vegas we will go to Tonopah, spend a night, then head to Yosemite, a day or two, then to Reno/Tahoe instead of Frisco.)

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I can't really remember the timing on this part of the trip (I merged some of the earlier thread to this one as an aid to other readers) but Tioga Pass into Yosemite is still closed. I used Sonora Pass last week and still encountered walls of snow about eight feet tall at the pass. My "cyrstal ball" is murky but I doubt Tioga Pass will open until mid-to-late June this year.

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3) Any "MUST HAVE" items for a trip this extensive that will include lots of tent camping? Honestly, I've never camped in a tent before. My wife has, and she's been very helpful in getting things together, but it's been many years since she's done it, so any help is appreciated.

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A good mattress pad, one of those one million candlepower lights, -- actually there is a camping site run by a friend that is quite good -- the advertising model drives me crazy but the content is guite good. Plus we maintain some tips about tent and car camping here.

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(She is Canadian, we met on the internet 8 years ago...is that cool or what!?)

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Very cool!

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Just a final thank you to everyone on this site. I tell you what, venturing out on a road trip knowing that there are such generous and caring people out on the road with us is very comforting.

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We look forward to reading your field reports!

Mark

Badduke, the links Einstein gave you have great camping information in them. However, the lists hit me as being more appropriate for long-term camping....like when you're going someplace fairly deep off the beaten path and camping for 4+ days and running to the store for something you forgot is not a good option.

For roadtrip camping, I pack the following: tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, extra blanket, pillow, and flashlight that can also be used as a lantern. Quite often, that's it! Easy. (Then, of course my clothes, personal hygiene stuff, etc. but that's stuff you'd be packing anyway, right?) Oh, and I will usually bring a comfy, telescoping camping chair, too.

I eat a lot out of my cooler while traveling but don't usually plan to take the time to cook. I eat lots of fruit, veggies, and more deli-style meats/cheeses/etc. However, if I think I might want to cook a hot meal or two, I will throw in a small duffle bag with a small camping stove (the type used by backpackers) and minimal kitchen equipment like a: large spoon/stirrer, spatula, turner, small plastic cutting board, and a knife. Add a few paper plates/bowls/cups and plastic utensils and any seasonings you like to use regularly and you should be covered. Oh, and a pot scrubber and some dish soap. The biodegradable stuff sold at camping stores is best (like Camp Suds). That's it. This all goes in quite a small bag and takes up little space but it's there if I need it. If you're not gonna cook every meal and try to be a bit more gourmet, this is all you need.

About KOAs. I agree with Mark that they aren't geared toward tent campers so the best spots will often be for motorhomes. However, some KOAs are really quite nice for tenters and have created nice places for tents removed from the RV crowd. But some just shove you in a corner right next to the RVs. So it's hard to make a blanket statement. However, even the KOAs with the best tenting facilities don't do much to give your tentsite any privacy. It's usually an open field type set-up. Personally, I would hate to tent camp at a KOA if I was going to stay for several days to enjoy the camping experience and explore the area. But if you're just zipping in for the night and will be out again in the morning, they are usually just fine for that. And they usually have decent bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities if you need them. And the condition of KOAs is usually relatively consistent (clean, well-cared-for, decent amenities, etc.).

As for web access, I'm one that usually tries to limit my access to technology when traveling. I'm a bit of an internet junkie so it's good to break the addiction now and then. So I can't speak to this from personal experience. However, you don't necessarily have to have web access at your tent site to gain internet access at a KOA campground. Most of them have internet access in their guest area of the check-in/out desk, store, laundry, recreation building. Yeah, not as nice as sitting in a lawn chair in the open air to surf the web, but it's an option to consider so you don't feel you have to limit yourself to KOAs that offer web access right at the tent sites.

I came across this link
http://upl.codeq.info/
I've found it useful for my last trip.
Depending on where you stay(hotel/tent/hostel), you will get your packing list.
The best part is their " Things to do before you leave" section :-)
Its a long trip you have ahead of you. And the weather is better(if not perfect)!

have fun!

cool

That is a very cool website for packing lists. Thanks for that, Cool.

You are very welcome, Judy. :-)

cool

Well, I guess I'm going to have to re-think camping. I was so sure KOA was the way to go, I've got the KOA directory and joined KOA's club, but I'd much rather have a positive camping experience than be miserable at KOA campgrounds, so thanks for the info, and I'll be looking more at my AAA campgrounds book and leave the KOA directory alone.
Also, I have read that there was a major landslide in Yosemite that closed a major road...so between that and the fact that the snow has Tioga pass closed I guess Yosemite will have to wait for another time. That's no big deal, we still have Carlsbad, Grand Canyon, Zion, Olympic, Banff, Glacier, and Yellowstone on the agenda...maybe we can add the Badlands of South Dakota.
Cool...The Website you provided the link to is AWESOME! Thank you. It hit things that you don't even think about, such as cleaning out your fridge...We were so caught up in the trip, we forgot to remember the house we were leaving for almost two months.
Judy, as usual, your posts hit home and are most helpful. The camping you describe is exactly what we plan on doing. I do not plan on camping in any one place for weeks, I want a convenient, inexpensive place to sleep, that's all. If I can stay and enjoy the scenery for a couple days or so, so much the better.
Thanks for the info.
I'll post an itinerary with timeline (all tentative of course) later.

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Originally Posted by Badduke

... and I'll be looking more at my AAA campgrounds book and leave the KOA directory alone.

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The AAA books are OK, but I really think your interests are better suited by planning to camp at Corps of Engineer, BLM, NPS and Forest Service campgrounds. (Truth be told, I haven't looked at a AAA guidebook in several years, so maybe they do include these places?). For a general guide, I don't think the Frommer's guide can be beat for tenting places, but Woodall's has a guide just for tenting campgrounds, Coleman's has one for forest service places.

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Also, I have read that there was a major landslide in Yosemite that closed a major road...

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Well, not really. It was just the Mariposa road.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Editor

The AAA books are OK, but I really think your interests are better suited by planning to camp at Corps of Engineer, BLM, NPS and Forest Service campgrounds. (Truth be told, I haven't looked at a AAA guidebook in several years, so maybe they do include these places?). For a general guide, I don't think the Frommer's guide can be beat for tenting places, but Woodall's has a guide just for tenting campgrounds, Coleman's has one for forest service places.
Well, not really. It was just the Mariposa road.

Mark

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AAA has two products for "camping" The first, is a glossy covered "camping travel book" which is geared for RV travelers. It does cover large regional parks, national forests and etc, but focuses primarily on RV campers. I have a couple of these from a year or so ago.

The other is a map series which is much more useful for tent camping. It covers BLM, National Forest, ACoE, local and regional parks, privately owned campgrounds, and etc campsites. It has a table which lists contact information, fees, number of sites, amenities (shower, laundry etc), and a map of the region giving a rough location for the campground. It's not as verbose as the travel book, but provides a better data source for camp campers I think.

Badduke, in no way did I mean to say that KOAs are bad places to stay. If I wasn't clear, I apologize. They don't necessariy provide a private camping experience for tent-campers. You will likely find yourself in an open field with no bushes or other barriers for privacy. But, when I go for a roadtrip, I often find myself staying in them. For a quick over-nighter, they're not bad at all.

In fact, there have been times when I've searched out an alternative campground to spend a night in only to drive up and go "Yucky!" and head down the road to the nearest KOA (I always travel with a KOA guidebook, just in case). Since I rarely know where I'm going to stop for the night, it's hard to research every potential location.

So, one major thing that KOAs have going for them is consistency. You know the bathrooms are going to be clean and decent. You know that quiet hours will be enforced so you can get a good night's sleep. You know that they will have a small store if you forgot something you need. And you know that they will have other amenities that you might need like laundry facilities, etc. And you know that most will have a pool or at least a hot-tub, often both.

If I'm rolling in somewhere at 7pm or later, and know that I'll be getting up and going by 7am or even earlier, a KOA makes a great place to sleep and clean-up.

However, if I'm going to be camping for a weekend or longer, I rarely stay in a KOA. But there are even exceptions to this. If I'm going to be leaving the campground all day to sightsee/explore the area, a KOA is just fine. They are usually crowded enough that I don't worry about stuff being pilfered if left out. There's enough people around that this should be discouraged.

And, occasionally, there are some gems in the KOA system that are wonderful places for tent-campers. I love the one in Bay City, WA. The one in Port Angeles, WA, is quite nice as well. I've also spent several days in the KOAs in Winthrop and Yakima, WA, and both have been fine. Oh, the one in Leavenworth is quite lovely as well. I can't remember all the other ones I've stayed in out-of-state but I know others have been surprisingly nice. (But avoid the one in Warrenton, OR)

But, yeah, most often if I'm doing a weekend or longer trip, I stay in national or state parks/forests and other more isolated places.

Anyway, I just wanted to make sure I was clear. KOA is not a bad choice and, quite often, it is the best choice in the vicinity. There are some real crappy, dumpy campgrounds out there. KOA has some decent standards.

And Mark gave you good recommendations for other guidebooks to check out.

One hint....I find it best to check out the campgrounds on the KOA website. It has a lot better descriptions and pictures than the KOA guidebook does.

Well, Mark re-posted my first post on this trip. Since joining this site and seeking advice that has changed. Some of the main visiting points are the same, but the order is totally reversed!

I feel a little better about the KOA sites now, but still, I’d like to avoid as many mistakes as possible on this trip, so if you’ll all indulge me, I’ll post our itinerary and maybe if any of you have camped in an area we will be visiting, you can recommend a campground that you had a positive experience in.

June 8: New Orleans to Fredericksburg, TX
June 9 & 10: Fredericksburg to Carlsbad, NM
June 10, 11, 12: Carlsbad to Tombstone, AZ
June 12 & 13: Tombstone to Grand Canyon
*June 13: Grand Canyon to Zion national park, UT (could possibly stay in an area around here longer, probably first camping area I’ll be looking for.)
June 13-16: Las Vegas and surrounding area. (If we stay in the Grand Canyon/Zion areas longer this will be pushed to 18-21 I don’t want to be in Vegas on the weekend!)
*June 16, 17, 18: Las Vegas to Yosemite (hopefully we can do Yosemite by this time or maybe a few days later)
*June 18,19,20: Yosemite to Reno/Tahoe area
June 20 & 21: Reno/Tahoe to California Coast above San Francisco. Will spend a night in a hotel to cut the drive short and just get a good hotel sleep and shower. Thinking of stopping in Clearlake for the rest.
*June 21 & 22: The Northern California coast. This is where we just relax and drive until we want to spend a night in the tent.
*June 22 & 23: Klamath Falls & Crater Lake, OR. This will probably be our only detour inland from the coast.
*June 23 - 30: Crater Lake to Oregon Coast near Coos Bay/Bunker Hill north to Olympic National Park in Washington. I’m sure camping will be beautiful all along the coast.
June 30 – July 7: Vancouver, BC.
*July 7 – 9: Vancouver to Banff, Alberta.
*July 9 – 12: Banff to Glacier National Park, MT
*July 12 – 15: Glacier National to Yellowstone, WY
July 15 & 16: Yellowstone to South Dakota.
*July 16 – 18: Deadwood, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, and Rapid City.
*July 18 – 20: South Dakota to Cheyenne, WY. Stop at Fort Laramie along the way.
*July 20 – 22: Cheyenne to Denver, CO
July 22 – 24: Denver to Dodge City, to Wichita, KS
July 24 & 25: Wichita to Oklahoma City, OK
July 25 & 26: Oklahoma City to Tyler, TX.
July 26 & 27: Tyler to Alexandria, LA
July 27: HOME

The stops with the asterisk will be the places we will be looking to camp in our tent.

When in Crater Lake, just stay at the Mazama campground near the lake. It's not ON the lake but it is close. Very nice. The smaller Lost Lake one might be pretty cool and is probably quiet and peaceful but I'ven ever stayed there so I can't speak for it.

I stayed at the Page Lake Powell Campground the night after I left the Grand Canyon. It's not quite half-way between the GC and Zion. It was nice, very clean, but it is in town so it's not particularly rustic or near any trails or any other kind of outdoor activity. The tentsites were on nice grass lawns with a picnic table and a tree. You might check out the photos.

The Meeks Bay campground in Lake Tahoe is pretty cool. We didn't stay there but we walked around there. I don't recall the name of the campground we stayed in but it wasn't all that. If the Meeks Bay campground would have had any openings, we would have moved in a flash.

Gosh, it's been a few years since we camped the Northern CA/Southern OR coastal areas. And, at the time, we had a truck/camper combo so we weren't tent camping. I can't remember just where we stayed. I can only tell you that there seemed to be a wide selection of very nice campgrounds to choose from.

About 40-50 miles north of Coos Bay, OR, is the Carter Lake Campground. I recall this being pretty nice.

The KOA in Lincoln City is nice. The tent campers are up against a grove of trees and setback a bit from where the RVs are.

Cape Lookout State Park is awesome. It's between Lincoln City and Tillamook, OR, out on the coast. Very nice.

I would love to tell you to camp at Fort Stevens on the Oregon side of the mouth of the Columbia River but when I went to get the link for ya, I see that it is closed for some major renovations. Too bad. It's one of my favorites. Well, if you need to spend the night along here, the KOA in Warrenton isn't my favorite for tenters. It's a very nice campground but the tent sites are a bit too exposed for my tastes. Again, if you're stopping just for the night, it will do.

Now, when you get to the Washington side, there are few campgrounds that can beat the Cape Disappointment State Park campground (formerly called Fort Canby). Lovely.

I like the Bay City KOA just east of South Bend/Raymond, WA. It's pretty nice. The tent camping sites aren't particularly secluded but it's a smaller campground so it tends to be quieter anyway. And there is a nice, short trail down to a great beach. When we're there, we're at the beach more than the campground anyway.

I'm running outta time to do more links to I'll just list some other nice campgrounds. You should be able to google them and find them without problem. If you can't find info on some, let me know. Here's some websites that should get you where you need to go:
* Washington State Parks
* Olympic National Park

Just south of Westport, WA, is Twin Harbors State Park. Fairly secluded tent sites. Decent facilities.

Just north of Ocean Shores, WA, Ocean City State Park is also quite nice. Very private tent sites.

Driftwood Acres in Copalis Beach, WA, is very nice. However...a caveat. They have two different tent camping areas. Make sure you get a place away from the main area....it's down a short road. Beautiful, awesome, some of the best camping ever. Secluded campsites nestled in old growth timber, next to the Copalis River where you can watch ducks, cranes, etc. from your campsite. And then there's a wonderful wetland area at the edge of the campground that takes you down to the beach. I can't recommend this place highly enough. Oh, heck, here's the website. If you come this way, I don't want you to miss it. I should warn you that due to some septic system issues, they have limited hot showers. To get a shower without waiting in line a long time, you either need to take it later at night or at the crack of dawn or in the middle of the day. After breakfast, there's a line all morning.

At Lake Quinault, Falls Creek campground is very nice. It's part of the Olympic National Park campground system.

Another favorite is the Kalaloch campground (Olympic National Park) roughly halfway between Lake Quinault and Forks, WA. It's right by the beach (and it's a lovely beach). If you stop here, don't miss going to Ruby Beach at the northern end of the Kalaloch area. Lots of great tide pools, etc. But it's all beautiful there. A very rugged beach.

Gosh, to be honest, I don't think I've stayed at a bad campground in the Olympic National Park system. They're all good. Just be aware that some still have pit toilets and no potable water so come well supplied. Of course, that means showers are out. Do you research so you're not disappointed in the lack of amenities. But they are all gorgeous, rustic, in beautiful settings and have campsites that range from semi-secluded to extremely private. Some I really like are the ones at Sol Duc, Hoh Rainforest, Elwa, Mora, Seal Rock, Staircase, and Heart of the Hills.

And most of the state parks in Washington are very nice as well. It's hard to find a bad one. Some you may want to consider are Bogachiel (south of Forks, WA), Sequim Bay, Old Fort Townsend. Dosewallips, Potlatch, Scenic Beach, Mystery Bay, Deception Pass, Bay View, and Birch Bay.

I've camped a fair amount in southern British Columbia but the name of any of the places we stayed totally escapes me. Sorry. I don't remember stopping anywhere that was disappointing. But I do remember driving a bit to find places.

The KOA campground in West Yellowstone is nice.

Well, enough for now. Gotta run. Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by Badduke

Well, Mark re-posted my first post on this trip.

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Actually I only merged your most recent post back into the original thread. I don't "re-post" anything unless I make a boo-boo some place.

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but still, I’d like to avoid as many mistakes as possible on this trip

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I think there is a philosophical disconnect at work here -- so-called mistakes are the things that give most roadtrips their meaning. It is the gist of discovery and how roadtripping is different from a visit to Disneyland.

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June 13-16: Las Vegas and surrounding area. (If we stay in the Grand Canyon/Zion areas longer this will be pushed to 18-21 I don’t want to be in Vegas on the weekend!)

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Why not? Las Vegas is a pretty interesting place on weekends. I am not sure what you are concerned by. The one thing I would warn you about -- summer has arrived here in Sin City. It was 106 today....

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*June 16, 17, 18: Las Vegas to Yosemite (hopefully we can do Yosemite by this time or maybe a few days later)*June 18,19,20: Yosemite to Reno/Tahoe area

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I think access from the east side will still be very iffy here. I would substitute the ancient Bristlecone Forest. Mammoth ski area is going to be open to skiing until July 4th and we encountered 8 foot walls of snow and ice at Sonora Pass last week!

Mark

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Originally Posted by Judy

Well, enough for now. Gotta run. Hope this helps.

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I can't tell you how much this helped. Thank you so much for the time you put into helping my wife and I. I've taken notes, directions, and reservation phone numbers where applicable of the campgrounds you suggested. I'll be sure to stay in Driftwood Acres in Copalis Beach, WA.

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Originally Posted by Mark

Why not? Las Vegas is a pretty interesting place on weekends. I am not sure what you are concerned by. The one thing I would warn you about -- summer has arrived here in Sin City. It was 106 today....

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Well, nothing against Vegas, it's just that I noticed rates at the hotels triple during the weekend. I look forward to camping, but while in Vegas, I'd like to stay at a casino hotel. I live in the New Orleans area...heat doesn't frighten me, scorpions and snakes scare the heck out of me though!! I'm pretty good about staying hydrated and finding shade when necessary. Thanks for the heads up though.

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Originally Posted by Badduke

Well, nothing against Vegas, it's just that I noticed rates at the hotels triple during the weekend.

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If only it were that simple! This is a city that is remarkably honest in terms of booking rates. The rates are always at the most they can reasonably get on any given night. What really drives the rates is what convention or special event is in town. It is almost a coincidence these days that these rates fall on the weekends. Which casino hotels are you considering? Three that I would give a hard look at would be Paris (on the strip) and the two newest ones -- South Coast and the Red Rock casinos. There are at least a dozen more I would give high marks to but these three have really nice rooms.

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I live in the New Orleans area...heat doesn't frighten me, scorpions and snakes scare the heck out of me though!!

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Good point.

I have stayed at hundreds of campgrounds in the last decade or so. My memory is fading, and I don't have time to grab the log book -- but Beverly Beach SP in Oregon is great -- I will look closer at your list when I return to the office this afternoon.

Mark

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Originally Posted by Editor

Three that I would give a hard look at would be Paris (on the strip) and the two newest ones -- South Coast and the Red Rock casinos. There are at least a dozen more I would give high marks to but these three have really nice rooms.Mark

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Well, I'm no dummy, If you say give a hard look at those three casinos, I definitely will. I honestly had no idea where we were going to stay. Imperial Palace had the best rates for such a good location, but I understand that the hotel isn't that wonderful. I'm looking for something under $100/night.

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Originally Posted by Editor

I have stayed at hundreds of campgrounds in the last decade or so. My memory is fading, and I don't have time to grab the log book -- but Beverly Beach SP in Oregon is great -- I will look closer at your list when I return to the office this afternoon. Mark

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Ahhh..reason #734 why this is one of the best web sites of any kind I've ever visited, and the best travel web site hands-down!
Thanks Mark.

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Originally Posted by Badduke

Well, I'm no dummy, If you say give a hard look at those three casinos, I definitely will. I honestly had no idea where we were going to stay. Imperial Palace had the best rates for such a good location, but I understand that the hotel isn't that wonderful.

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It does have its detractors (including me) but the location is pretty amazing. Actually, I would also suggest looking at the Tuscany -- about 1 block east of the strip, but a very nice place.

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Ahhh..reason #734 why this is one of the best web sites of any kind I've ever visited, and the best travel web site hands-down!

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Thanks for that, glad your visits have been helpful.

Mark