Gemstone Hunting RV Camping Ideas in California

There are so many possibilities for mining gem-rich ore in California. A popular stop for gem lovers hoping to find green or pink California tourmaline is the world famous Himalaya Mine near Santa Ysabel in San Diego County. Prospectors can purchase buckets of gem ore to screen onsite with equipment furnished by the Mine. Lake Henshaw Resort, adjacent to the Mine, is a beautiful site for RV camping, lake fishing and plenty of hiking in the foothills of the Palomar Mountains.

Another real gem for RV camping prospectors is found right in the same county! Oceanview Mine in Pala, California charges a set fee that allows gem hunters to screen fresh, unprospected mine tailings all day long. Recent visitor finds include aquamarine and many colors of tourmaline.

For your RV Rental needs in San Diego County, be sure to check out the El Monte RV San Diego RV Rentals location.

About two hours southwest of Fresno, screen for benitoite, California's state gem. The California State Gem Mine near Coalinga is open most weekends to prospectors. Dry camp your RV at nearby Los Gatos Creek County Park and spend the day sifting mine tailings near where a fabulous 34 carat rough benitoite was recently found!

El Monte RV has numerous California RV Rentals locations that you can use for a gem hunting RV vacation starting point.

El Monte RV Promoting Visiting Wine Country in an RV

El Monte RV Rentals is promoting visiting wine country in an RV. See:

• California Wine Country Events on the El Monte RV Website
• El Monte RV Rentals Promotes Fall Travel in California Wine Country

If you ever have had the opportunity to check out the prices of the B&Bs and resorts in California's wine country you would quickly come to realize that an RV rental is an excellent low-cost alternative for visiting wine country.

See the Wine Road Less Traveled's Wine Events Calendar for more California wine events.

Additional California Wine Country Resources

• California Wines
• Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission
• Napa Valley Grapegrowers
• Napa Valley Vintners
• Sonoma County Vintners
• Sonoma County Winegrape Commission

RV Parks in California Wine Country (Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma)

Some places to stay when RV camping to wine country:

• Mendocino Campgrounds & RV Parks
• Napa Valley Exposition RV Park
• Napa County Fairgrounds RV Park
• Skyline Wilderness Park
• Sonoma County RV Camping from the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
• Wine Country RV Park - Sonoma Grove

RV Rentals for a California Wine Country RV Vacation

To get set up for the perfect California wine country RV vacation, check out the California RV Vacation and Rental Resources page.

San Francisco Vacation Ideas for Everyone!

Where do we start explaining the experience that's called "San Francisco?" With so many things to do here on vacation, it would take several books to do it justice! That's why we've chosen to break things down to major categories to get your vacation dreams rolling.

San Francisco Museums and Galleries
Art and history lovers, in particular, should take advantage of the wonderful assortment of museums and galleries on their San Francisco vacation. The enormous Asian Art Museum at Civic Center offers visitors a glimpse of art from every Asian culture in the world. For interactive exhibits, film series and world-class collections, you should also take a trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

If American Art is especially interesting, be sure to visit the de Young Museum, located in Golden Gate Park since 1895. And don't miss the spectacular Legion of Honor museum, also located on the Pacific near Golden Gate Bridge.

Gallery browsers will find paradise in one building at 49 Geary Street, home to more than a dozen galleries featuring art across the spectrum. Fans of emerging artists will enjoy the offerings of Andrea Schwartz Gallery in the South of Market neighborhood. No matter what your taste in art, you won't leave San Francisco disappointed!

San Francisco Family Adventures
With great public transportation like the MUNI and BART rail systems, families will find it easy and fun to get around San Francisco. Take a ride to Pier 39, a child's wonderland of shops, arcades and a very special carousel! Keep going to the San Francisco Zoo, where rare animals, rides and interactive exhibits will keep the kids going the entire day. Your budding scientists will thrill to the Exploratorium, chock full of fun and facts for the entire family.

One more suggestion for active families-stop by Golden Gate Park for hours of outdoor recreation. Let the kids discover the wonders of Steinhart Aquarium, and be sure to take older youngsters on a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge!

San Francisco Vacation Menus
From remarkable fresh seafood to elegant Euro-Cuisine, San Francisco offers more dining adventures than you can ever imagine! Some of our favorite districts—Union Square, with its sparkling selection of both trendy and venerable eateries; Russian Hill, the perfect place to find chic bistros and sushi bars; Chinatown, where Chinese cuisine takes on every shape and flavor, and North Beach, for fabulous Italian fare. No matter what whets (and satisfies) your appetite, San Francisco vacationers can find the right meal.

There's so much more to do in San Francisco. Come the first time for the highlights, and then plan to mine more treasures each time you return.

And don't forget that if you RV Vacation plans start in San Francisco, be sure to check out El Monte RV's San Francisco RV Rental location...