[greybeard]

We bought a 2000 17' Casita a couple of weeks ago and are looking at going South from BC in the new year.
We are new to trailer traveling and want to know if anyone here can suggest any locations in Southern Cailfonia for us to hang out for a few weeks.
Maybe close to San Diego or that area?
Any pointers will be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard & Carolyn

[nealreust]

Greybeard
We enjoyed the Anza Borrego State park in Southern California. Reservations are suggested in winter.
Heard a lot about Slab City near Niland and the Salton Sea but didn't take time to check them out.
No reservations required there.
Quartzsite Arizona is a popular winter destination, there will be an informal Casita/fiberglass rally there in February.
I'm sure others will be able to expand on these and to offer more suggestions.
Neal

[Oeuf Da]

We are currently staying at Santee Lakes near San Diego. Nice spots and amenities with clean bathrooms/showers. It's only 30 minutes or so from downtown San Diego, the zoo, beaches, Sea World. Would love to have another Casita join us! I agreewith the other suggestions too, especially Borrego Springs. It is especially beautiful in the Spring when the desert is in full bloom. Congratulations on your new Casita.

[greybeard]

We hope to leave early in the new year and since this will be our first trip anywhere and because we bought our Casita already winterized, we want to take a dry run at home before embarking.
We are grateful for all the tips and suggestions and would like to be with other Casita owners to get to know where everything is and to get some tips on how to make this lifestyle work for us.Better still, it would be nice to have a traveling companion along the way because I am sure we will have more unknowns at the beginning of our trip. However we are confident that if we take it slowly and look ahead a bit things will work out. We are really looking forward to the challenges this trip brings. Fall is here and I found a piece of ice in my truck box yesterday morning so that is giving us more incentive to go although the dry run may be a bit cool if this weather keeps up :-)
We will keep asking questions and will let you know when we actually leave and which way we are going with the hope of meeting Casitics (?) along the way.
Thanks again and keep the tips and information coming
Richard & Carolyn
Gabriola, BC

[Oeuf Da]

Just a head's up...if you plan to travel south down I-5, be aware that southern Oregon and northern California have a 4000'+ pass and winter driving (especially pulling a trailer) can be dicey. When we leave Washington to come south in the winter months, we tend to add more travel time and head over to the coast around Eugene and drive down Hwy 101. Then we are only dealing with rain instead of snow and ice. Still can be miserable and wet, but not dangerous for the most part, and there are lots of RV parks and even a few wonderful state parks. Plus, driving through the Redwoods is a visual treat. We cut back to
I-5 north of San Francisco so we don't get stuck in that traffic. Just some thoughts based on our years of experience making this trek!

[PhotoMike]

Second the recommendation of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I've been hanging around there for the last several winters. The Palm Canyon campground mentioned is a good one, and convenient for hiking to the palm grove (recommended, look for Borregos (bighorn sheep.)) ABDSP is the largest state park in CA and there is a great variety of landscapes and hiking opportunities, as well as miles of jeep-tracks to explore (4wd reccomended.) Check the state park website and also www.theabf.org for more info and educational opportunities. Last point, camping is allowed throughout the park as well as in the developed campgrounds. I much prefer to go this way, spending a week or so in each of several more or less isolated locations. Free dump site at the truckstop in Salton City. I could go on & on, feel free to ask me.

I don't disagree with the warning about Siskiyou Pass, but I do usually go that way from Eugene. Just depends on the weather of the moment. The coast isn't bad either.

[greybeard]

PhotoMike, on 20 November 2011 - 08:26 PM, said:

Second the recommendation of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I've been hanging around there for the last several winters. The Palm Canyon campground mentioned is a good one, and convenient for hiking to the palm grove (recommended, look for Borregos (bighorn sheep.)) ABDSP is the largest state park in CA and there is a great variety of landscapes and hiking opportunities, as well as miles of jeep-tracks to explore (4wd reccomended.) Check the state park website and also www.theabf.org for more info and educational opportunities. Last point, camping is allowed throughout the park as well as in the developed campgrounds. I much prefer to go this way, spending a week or so in each of several more or less isolated locations. Free dump site at the truckstop in Salton City. I could go on & on, feel free to ask me.

I don't disagree with the warning about Siskiyou Pass, but I do usually go that way from Eugene. Just depends on the weather of the moment. The coast isn't bad either.

Thanks for more good information.
As far as the pass goes, I guess watching the weather, using WiFi and being aware of what's up ahead is a good way to be.
Thanks,
Richard

[DeadEyeDan]

We have stayed at the Sierra RV Park just outside Mojave. It is not a place I would neccesarily stay for weeks as I am not sure there is a whole lot to see around there, but it is a clean and quiet park excellent for an overnight while passing through. Was not real $$ either, like $23.00 with full hook ups. Save the $2.00 extra on their cable TV though. Weak signal.

If you are going coastal then Morro Dunes in Morro Bay is nice. Maybe not far enough south for winter warm weather but lots of cool touristy restaurants and shops nearby. It is clean, well run, was a bit busy when we were there, is right on the beach, and consequently a bit more pricey, around $42.00 with full hook ups.

Either one of these might be a good overnight spot before the last push through or around LA to get to San Diego.

This post has been edited by DeadEyeDan: 21 November 2011 - 06:28 AM

[mary2003]

Oeuf Da, on 18 November 2011 - 06:26 PM, said:

Just a head's up...if you plan to travel south down I-5, be aware that southern Oregon and northern California have a 4000'+ pass and winter driving (especially pulling a trailer) can be dicey. When we leave Washington to come south in the winter months, we tend to add more travel time and head over to the coast around Eugene and drive down Hwy 101. Then we are only dealing with rain instead of snow and ice. Still can be miserable and wet, but not dangerous for the most part, and there are lots of RV parks and even a few wonderful state parks. Plus, driving through the Redwoods is a visual treat. We cut back to
I-5 north of San Francisco so we don't get stuck in that traffic. Just some thoughts based on our years of experience making this trek!

My husband and I just drove from North to South last May, before we picked up our trailer. We encountered some very challenging road conditions on the inland road, going over Mt. Ashland, just south of Ashland, Oregon. There was very heavy rain and fog, with many fast moving 18 wheelers. Visibility was very limited, but we couldn't slow down much due to the trucks. In October, after picking up our Casita, we again drove from North to South, this time on the coastal highway, all the way to Jenner, where the Russian River meets the sea. The last section, while quite scenic, had many hairpin turns, and the road was quite narrow, with a lot of exposure. I would recommend turning inland near Fort Bragg, to avoid this slow and difficult section.

Be sure to spend at least a night or two among the Redwood forest, as this is truly part of Northern California. Walking across the Golden Gate Bridge can be a wonderful, if sometimes chilly experience, depending upon the weather. Don't miss tasting our famous sourdough bread in San Francisco or the Bay Area in general. It's available in most grocery stores or at bakeries like Le Boulangerie, but be sure to get the sourdough version.

I would recommend taking Highway 280 (if you're headed toward San Jose) or Highway 1 south from San Francisco, if you want to take the coastal route. Highway 101 is just a busy freeway with lots of traffic.

Check road conditions south of Monterey, as Highway 1 is sometimes closed in winter.

We found that many of the state parks in Oregon were closed or closing shortly, because of the winter season, so be sure to call ahead to check if they will be open. The state parks in California cost about $35. per night, with no hook-ups, so we found staying at KOAs to be a better value.

One of the biggest surprises for us, when towing a trailer, was how long it took to get somewhere. The maximum speed limit in California is 55mph when towing a trailer, and if there are 3 cars or more behind you, you are obliged to pull over and let them pass. It's a beautiful state, but just be prepared to take your time when traveling through it.

Enjoy your trip!
Mary