Monty's Musings

RV camping with kids creates family memories and instills a love of nature in the next generation. The State of Arizona is a favorite with families who camp, thanks to the wide range of outdoor experiences available. Here’s our list of six outstanding places to camp with the kids in Arizona.

Buckskin Mountain State Park, south of Lake Havasu on the Colorado River, will welcome your family with roomy riverside campsites and fantastic views of the surrounding mountains. Outdoor recreation the kids will enjoy includes several scenic trails, water sports (boat launch is located near the campground), fishing, swimming and photographing desert wildlife. There’s also a convenient market on-site to make your family camping vacation even easier.

Homolovi State Park, on Hwy 40 at Winslow, can kick-start your kids’ interest in Native American history. The park protects the 14^th century ruins of Homolovi, once inhabited by the Anasazi and considered sacred by the Hopi people.

Your family can learn more about the history and culture of this special place while camping there, thanks to the museum and visitor center with displays about on-going archaeological research. Another way this park will entertain and amaze the kids is with outstanding stargazing opportunities. Check the Homolovi SP website for special ‘star night parties’ throughout the year.

Before we move on to our next Arizona family camping spot, here’s a tip for parents: most Arizona state parks participate in the Junior Ranger program. Kids complete the activity book while visiting a state park and can then be sworn in to the Junior Ranger program by a Park Ranger.

Lost Dutchman State Park, east of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, offers camping in the shadow of the Superstition Mountains, and a whole lot more, for your family’s entertainment. From hiking trails through the rugged beauty of the high desert to nearby Apache Junction, complete with ghost town, cowboy shows and other Western-themed entertainment, Lost Dutchman can be the epicenter for a memorable camping vacation.

Ranger-led nature walks and demonstrations can inspire your youngsters to explore the desert habitat more deeply, and the stargazing opportunities are excellent here, as well. This park’s roomy campsites welcome your largest rental RV, so bring the whole family and enjoy the unique experience of camping in the Sonoran desert.

Lyman Lake State Park, just across the border from New Mexico on US-191, is a boating family’s dream vacation spot. The state park surrounds a fifteen-hundred-acre mountain lake that allows any size watercraft, so bring the boat, the fishing gear and the RV for a water-themed Arizona RV camping vacation.

Three shorter hiking trails will also encourage the kids to take time away from their screens to discover petroglyphs, mountain wildlife and great views of the lake. Bald and Golden Eagles and Great Blue Herons are known to nest near the lake, so why not teach the kids to identify these mighty birds while on vacation? You’ll find the campground, camp store, boat launches and no-wake swimming and fishing areas combine to create the best possible environment for your RV camping family.

Picacho Peak State Park, about an hour and a half south of Phoenix on I-10, is another high desert getaway your family will enjoy. It’s especially good for families with bored teens in need of a challenge, thanks to the hiking trails that wind their way up to the Peak. For this trip, bring your hiking gear and plenty of water and prepare to be pushed to the limit by the rocky Hunter Trail.

The campground has electric sites only, but water and a dump station are available in a central location. Science-minded youngsters will love the natural desert setting of the campsites, so be sure to have them pack their notebooks for recording plant and animal life. There are also a visitor center and historic markers with details on the only Civil War battle in Arizona, the Battle of Picacho Pass.

Kartchner Caverns State Park, a couple of hours south of Phoenix, through Tucson on I-10, is home to an underground wonderland waiting to be explored by your family. Only revealed to the public in the 1980s, this limestone cave in the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains can be seen on a Ranger-led tour that’s suitable for grade school kids and older.

Both mountain and desert trails provide even more interest for your family, and the park’s scheduled stargazing parties are popular with campers, as well. To ensure a pleasant experience on this vacation, be sure to purchase your tickets for the cave tour in advance and arrive at the park’s Discovery Center an hour before your scheduled tour time. The campground here offers electric/water sites plus shower houses, dishwashing stations and other amenities.

Come to Arizona on your next family RV camping vacation! It’s easy to rent an RV in Phoenix, and the state’s excellent highway system makes these state park locations simple to access. Whether it’s beside a mountain lake or in the peace and beauty of the desert, camping with the kids in Arizona is an experience every active family should enjoy.

Deep in the heart of Texas there are hundreds of public golf courses just waiting to rev up your RV camping vacation. With more than seven hundred courses to choose from, you could golf and camp full-time, or simply set up an impressive golfing itinerary for a shorter vacation. Here are top picks for Texas public golf courses situated near excellent RV camping.

Texas Star Golf Course – Euless

Located on the north side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Euless, Texas is home to top-ranked Texas Star Golf Course. RV travelers who love to play golf will enjoy the woodsy feel of this par 71 course featuring several natural rises in elevation, creek-side play and expansive greens. The DFW area offers dozens of RV camping choices, from high-end RV resorts to cozy campgrounds on the banks of one of the area’s many lakes.

The Golf Club at Fossil Creek – Fort Worth

Another highly-rated golf course in the DFW area is Fossil Creek, designed by Arnold Palmer. Park your RV at a Fort Worth campground and then come play 18 holes on this par 72 course. It’s blessed with enough challenge to keep every golfer in your foursome paying attention. Rolling hills, a scenic creek and lush, Texas-sized trees make playing a round on Fossil Creek a memorable experience.

Tribute Golf Club – The Colony

The Colony, on the shores of Lake Lewisville north of Dallas, is home to two outstanding courses. Book a site at your favorite DFW RV resort and then book a tee time at Tribute Golf Club, named #1 by Golf Digest for three years in a row. Golfers who enjoy Scottish style golf will be thrilled to discover the rugged, picturesque beauty of one of the best courses this side of Scotland.

Old American Golf Club – The Colony

Adjacent to The Tribute on the shores of Lake Lewisville, the Old American Golf Club was designed to offer a classic American golf experience. Windswept greens and natural bunkers are just two of the ways the course designers worked to create golf as it was played in the early 1900s. Old American is a semi-private course, so check the website for dress code and tee time opportunities.

Brackenridge Park – San Antonio

Not only will RV campers in San Antonio love the wide range of campgrounds available, they’ll also love the golfing experience at Brackenridge Park. Part of the Alamo City Golf Trail, this historic course gives golfers the feel of a city park combined with the thrill of championship golf.

Quarry Golf Club – San Antonio

With the back nine set in a one-hundred-year-old rock quarry, this San Antonio course offers Texas campers a unique golfing experience. Plan to play at least one round on the Quarry when you’re camping in San Antonio—it’s known among top golfers as one of the most memorable courses in Texas. Use this guide to book your San Antonio area campsite now.

Starting to get the picture that RV camping in Texas can include great golfing adventures? These are just six of the courses that top golfers have named best in the state. Book your Texas RV rental soon, pack your favorite clubs and get ready to play at the best courses the Lone Star State has to offer.

Exploring the vast national park that encompasses the Florida Everglades is an adventure every RV camper should experience. The wildlife, scenery and enormous land and water mass of Everglades National Park  come together to create an unparalleled camping experience. If you’ve never been, you may be wondering if it’s all about ‘gators and airboats, but there’s so much more to discover when you come to South Florida’s ecological treasure.

Camping Opportunities You’ll Find in the Everglades

The National Park Service serves up top-notch camping facilities in all fifty states, and campgrounds at Everglades National Park are no exception.

Two campgrounds within the National Park can accommodate RVs—Flamingo Campground and Long Pine Key Campground. You may find portions of the campgrounds closed during wet season (May to October) but they are both wide open and welcoming campers every day from November to April.

If you choose to camp at Long Pine Key, you’ll be on the Park’s southeast side, near the Homestead entrance. The quickest route is through Miami, south on the Florida Turnpike to Florida City. This plan positions you to explore the Long Pine Key Trail (see below) and the wildlife-rich trails connected to the Royal Palm Visitor Center. This is a no-hookups campground but water and a dump station are available. Campsites are first-come, first-served.

Farther south, at Florida’s most southern tip, Flamingo Campground has developed campsites, dump stations and solar showers. It’s also accessed via the Homestead entrance by traveling about forty miles into the park past Long Pine Key and the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook to the Flamingo Visitor Center. Camping at Flamingo puts you close to plenty of outdoor adventure, with easy access to water and hiking trails. We strongly advise reserving your campsite if you plan to stay at Flamingo Campground during the winter months.

Wildlife You Can Find in the Everglades

With more than a million acres covering the gamut from sawgrass prairie to mangrove swamps, you won’t miss out on wildlife watching opportunities when you visit the Everglades.

As you hike the trails, take a tram tour, paddle a canoe or take advantage of access points like the Shark Valley observation tower, you might just see not only alligators but also saltwater crocodiles, West Indian Manatees, bottle-nosed dolphins, several species of bats and an abundance of wading birds.

Depending on the habitat, you may cross paths with raccoons, grey fox, river otters and flying squirrels. Keep your eyes on the ‘River of Grass’ in all its forms—there’s always some kind of creature making its way through this one-of-a-kind sanctuary.

Outdoor Recreation You’ll Find in the Everglades

We’ve mentioned wildlife viewing and RV camping, but what else is there to do outdoors at Everglades National Park? Plenty!

The extensive paddling, biking and hiking trail system within the Park can keep you busy for weeks, so let’s talk about some of the most popular pathways:

• Anhinga and Gumbo-Limbo Hiking Trails, Royal Palm Visitor Center: Anhinga Trail is a little less than a mile long, full loop, and is accessible. Lots of bird and wildlife watching along the way. The shorter, quarter mile, Gumbo-Limbo Trail is also paved and wheelchair accessible, offering a quick view of the coastal hammock habitat.
• Bayshore Loop Hiking Trail: Two miles long and offering a view of Florida Bay, this trail can be reached via the Flamingo Campground.
• Shark Valley Biking Scenic Loop: This fifteen mile bike trail is for experienced bicyclists able to make the whole loop, but it is also a terrific opportunity to observe wildlife, birds and the ever-changing landscape of the Everglades. If you’re not up for the bike ride, tram tours are also available for this loop.
• Ten Thousand Islands Water Trails: Experienced paddlers will find the perfect challenge by following one of the water trails along the Gulf Coast of the Everglades. Start at the canoe launch at Everglades City and follow your chosen trail toward Big Cypress National Preserve. Not confident of your ability to paddle these backcountry trails safely? There are boat tours available, so you won’t miss out on the mystery and beauty of this vast wilderness area.

You can also indulge in saltwater and freshwater fishing at many spots throughout the National Park. Check the website for information on other activities such as birdwatching, kayaking and eco tours for an in-depth Everglades experience.

Setting up camp in Florida’s Everglades National Park can be the beginning of one of your best RV vacations. Make plans to visit now by reserving your Miami RV rental and planning your Everglades activities. The River of Grass is waiting to take you on the ultimate outdoor adventure.

The kids are out of school for the holidays, and many companies are on virtual shutdown. What to do with all that time on your hands? Head to sunny Southern California, where the camping’s fine and there are hundreds of ways to amuse, educate and entertain the family. Here’s a seven-day Southern California RV camping itinerary that’s sure to be a hit.

Days One and Two: Newport Beach

Pick up your RV rental and then set up camp at this beautiful Orange County city by the sea. Rent bikes or kayaks at a local outfitter and then head for Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, where a thousand acres of coastal wetlands invite paddlers, hikers, bikers and birdwatchers to discover the ‘Back Bay’ and its abundance of wildlife.

On your second day of camping in Newport Beach, treat the family to a short, scenic cruise from Balboa Peninsula to Balboa Island. While on the island, take the time to enjoy one-of-a-kind, locally owned shops and cafes and don’t miss the picturesque vacation cottages before heading back to Balboa Fun Zone on the Peninsula.

Tip: if you happen to come between Christmas and New Year’s Day, be sure to enjoy one of the Christmas Lights Cruises between Newport and Balboa Island. 

Days Three and Four: San Diego

An hour and a half south of Newport Beach, you’ll find a world of activities to keep your family entertained. Once you’re settled in your San Diego RV campground, make your way to the San Diego Zoo, where the annual Jungle Bells extravaganza turns this already fascinating place into a holiday wonderland.

You’ll also want to save time to visit Cabrillo National Monument. It’s a wonderfully scenic history lesson for kids and adults alike, featuring a visitors’ center, a restored lighthouse, nature trails and a monument to the first European to set foot on our country’s West Coast. Round out your trip by visiting at least one of the city’s iconic beaches—Mission Beach, La Jolla Shores and Coronado Beach are local favorites.

Days Five and Six: Joshua Tree National Park

Take the three hour drive northeast from San Diego to find a completely different SoCal landscape. Joshua Tree National Park, a desert wilderness that’s a haven for birds, wildlife and unspoiled scenery, also features several campgrounds that accommodate RVs. Arrive early on Day Five to ensure you’ll find a campsite and then take off into the wilderness on a scenic drive, a nature hike or a photography safari. The ranger led tour of Keys Ranch gives a glimpse into California’s ranching history, and there’s nothing quite like camping in the peace and quiet of the desert.

Day Seven: Travel Day to Newport Beach

As you journey back to Newport Beach to return your RV rental, don’t miss the sights along the way. Palm Springs, fabled home to the rich and famous, is just outside Joshua Tree National Park. Down the road in Riverside, CA, challenge your fellow campers to complete the hike up Mt. Robidoux for an awesome view of the city. Continue another hour west on CA-91 and south on CA-55 to Newport Beach to complete your journey. 

Are you ready to spend a week soaking up the beauty and excitement of Southern California? Here’s a listing of excellent California campgrounds to help you plan. Hoping for a couple more days RV camping in SoCal? No worries! Our Happy Holidays RV Rental Special offers nine days’ RV rental for the price of seven during the month of December, so call us now to book your RV. See you in SoCal!