David and Nancy Marchant, of Baynes Lake, British Columbia, were our first Affordable Travel Club hosts. Judy and Ward Lowrance, who introduced us to the Affordable Travel Club and invited us to split a house-sitting assignment in Seattle. A natural bridge slowly forms in Zion National Park, our destination in a week or so! Frugal [...]
Pinecrest Lake, at almost 5,700 feet, attracts crowds of both swimmers and fishermen to its clear, cold waters. Relief Reservoir shines its azure blue waters about 2.5 miles up the trail from Kennedy Meadows Resort. The high Sierra, looking northeast from Sonora Pass; great hiking from this vantage point! Horsemen and pack animals from Kennedy [...]
Trailerfest continues tomorrow and Sunday at Tower Park Marina, just west of Lodi on Highway 12. Tour through several hundred vintage camper trailers, with open house for the public on Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM. It’s your chance to view classic travel trailers, talk to the owners about buying or rehabbing an old [...]
Old Fort Point, tucked under the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge.The Balclutha, left, and Eppleton Hall at Hyde Street Pier. Mountain biker charges down a Ft. Ord singletrack trail. Ft. Ord wildflowers come in many hues on the old army base. Old windmill offers contrast from Carrizo Plain NM wildflowers. Explore some of [...]
Yosemite Falls thunders, with our ’64 Scotty trailer in foreground. Couple admires Grand Canyon from rim near Moran Point Our top six picks: The top national parks in California and surrounding states This week is National Parks Week, with admission to all national parks and monuments FREE through the 29th! Californians are blessed by close [...]
The hills along Electra Road are alive with California poppies and other wildflowers. Old homestead dating to late gold rush days along Middle Bar Road. California poppies blanket a hillside above the Mokelumne River just above Hwy. 49 in late March. Mokelumne River; wild and scenic river, wildflowers, history and quaint towns Recent spring rains [...]
Discovering ghost town gems along the Gold Rush Highway, CA Hwy. 49 Recent rains have cast our Sierra foothills in a verdant shade of green, perfect for exploring our state’s gold rush legacy. I always suggest starting in the place of gold’s discovery, just 80 miles northeast of Stockton, at the tiny town of Coloma [...]
Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Parks offer wildflower blooms, wildlife and other-worldly scenery Tired of chilly mornings and frosty windshields? Use the late winter/spring to take a road trip to the California desert for wildflower blooms, exotic wildlife and stunning scenery. Our destination includes two stunning national parks, Death Valley and Joshua Tree, and several [...]
Dodge Ridge re-opens for the season on Friday, March 2; Bear Valley also receives huge snow fall Dodge Ridge Ski Resort will reopen on Friday, March 2. Wednesday evening delivered a significant storm with three feet of new snow expected by Friday evening. With this significant snowfall, Dodge Ridge will have a majority of terrain open with [...]
Thinking of moving up from tent camping to a classic travel trailer? Be cool with the classics! Last week, I shared thoughts about moving from tent camping to small, newer travel trailers. I offered that small trailers share special qualities; they’re easy to maneuver into tight campsites, easy to store and can be towed with [...]
