Familly RV trip accross America

[Mark Sedenquist]

Here's an article with plenty of web resource links that ought to get you started in the right direction.

And we prefer that all posts make relative to this upcoming epic adventure be posted in this thread, please don't create new threads for the same trip.

Mark

[jukes]

Hi, I am jealous!! just noticed your question for me. WE got on very well with the RV, we had a 30ft slide out from Road Bear. The kids loved it, like a Ben 10 adventure. they were 3 and 5 at the time. We only had 3 weeks April last year, good time of year as not so busy. We started 4 nights in San Francisco stayed in Grosvenor Suites, large and good value. Gave us time to recover from flights and explore SF which is child friendly and easy to get around. then we collected RV and drove to near Santa Cruz for 4 nights (we had a friend to visit so stayed a bit longer), we stayed in the redwoods at Cotillion Gdns campground, near steam train ride. Then we went to Monterey stayed Marina Dunes campsite, good aquarium, walks for kids and parking in Monterey for RV. Then Big Sur which was nice to see but difficult to explore properly without walking miles of without car, could just 'drive' it. All these drive 2 hours or less. Then 5 hour drive to Yosemite, we enjoyed the drive actually, empty roads.. Yosemite great to explore, easy to get around by the valley shuttle bus, foot. Loads of big rocks for kids to climb. We stayed in the Yosemite upper Pines campground. Weather was warm on arrival but then it snowed! We were very cold in RV they don't supply enough warm blankets, take warm clothes as you may have colder weather in certain parts.
Then drove to Sonora and stayed in campground in the Columbia State Park an old gold mining town where the kids can pan for gold, see old buildings etc. It was hot here as more in valley! Had dinner with peope we'd met at Monterey who lived in Sonora!
then off to Half Moon Bay 2 nights stayed in state campground on beach, saw whales! Then dropped RV back in SF and home...... We had time to relax at each place and take it easy. SOme of the prettiest campgrounds were the state ones right in nature, no hook ups but didn't need as have shower facilities and waste dump station. Never even had a caravan holiday in England but got hang of RV fine. In April if you head further South than we did then the weather will get warmer, we had varied weather. We pre-booked all our RV campsites because some were in places that I'd read get very booked up (Big Sur, Yosemite etc). However for 6 weeks it would be nice to not book it all, perhaps just some. We did no night driving, the kids watched the TV, slept or just sat there when we drove, with RV you can easily pull over and have lunch etc. The driving was nicer than in England! Try to buy wood for campfire from the supermarkets, cheaper than in campgrounds, also there are washing machines and some campgrounds. Some had outdoor pools but too cold, not heated for April.
Check out RVparkreviews site for reviews of campsites, or Tom Stienstra book. You'll get in swing of things. Perhaps you could do trip like we did but then head down to Grand Canyon and SouthWest, there is so much to see there, want to explore it one day...any more questions let me know!
I am planning our next trip for April 2011, 4 weeks I hope! We have family to visit in Baltimore so may drive all the way across to LA via Route 66, Grand Canyon etc. But am working out if too much driving for the kids! If not may go Baltimore down to Florida. Trying to cater for the kids as well as the adults!