Family RV Vacation of a Lifetime

RV Vacation Through Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico

The following was submitted by an RV Vacation Fan.

It was the summer of Y2k. My family (husband, wife & 2 sons) had planned a six-week trip traveling through five western states in an RV. We started with an RV Rental in Salt Lake City where we flew in two days before settling into our new "home."

Our RV was a Class A, 36 feet long and slept six to eight. It had all the makings of home except the washer and dryer. There were two TV's, stereo, refrigerator, stove and microwave. What more could we ask for? The grocery trips were fun - we could just leave the store and be home.

We drove up to Jackson Hole and to Grand Teton National Park. It was our dream family vacation. Teaching the boys, albeit young, only six and nine, about our country's history in real life!

After spending one night, we continued our drive north to Yellowstone National Park. It was amazing. We had booked the campground for a week, rented a car to tour the park and settled in to see the geysers and the wild life. Old Faithful was as true as they say. We hiked the trails and saw deer, moose and bison close enough to see the color variations in their fur.

The boys, with my husband, fished for dinner in the lake at the park. I never had trout that tasted so good. After making the kids try the fish, they chose to eat the hamburgers we brought as a backup plan.

From Yellowstone, we drove across Wyoming to Cheyenne, where we stopped to see a real rodeo, with bronco roping and everything. What a hoot. Next stop was Four Corners, in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. The boys loved the idea of being in four places (states) at the same time.

We arrived in Denver, happy to go to a Colorado Rockies baseball game at the infamous Mile High Stadium, drove up to the top of Rocky Mountain National Park and even tried Buffalo burgers.

In Moab, we went on a half-day rafting expedition in a class 4 river. The rapids were a blast. So were the water gun fights we had with the people in the three other rafts!

Driving west, we fell in love with Bryce Canyon. It was so beautiful to gaze down at the gigantic monoliths from the top of the trail. Of course, we spent time at Zion National Park as well, since it was practically across the street. On to the Grand Canyon, our final park before heading back to Salt Lake City to return our home on wheels. We went to both the north and south rims. Very different views and although each was astounding, I highly recommend visiting the north rim.

This was the trip of a lifetime. A memory making adventure my family still talks about and will always remember. We could not have done it without the RV.

El Monte RV has RV rental locations in many places that can be used for a similar vacation (depending on the starting point):

• Salt Lake City RV Rentals
• Denver Colorado RV Rentals
• Arizona RV Rentals
• New Mexico RV Rentals
  

Please feel free to share your RV vacation experiences with us. Send them to monty@elmonterv.com.

RV Camping, Golf & Breathtaking Beauty

As you may imagine, we have a lot of communications with various RV campgrounds. One who we have been speaking to recently, Cherokee Springs Golf and RV Resort, was kind enough to share some of the great things that can be done from their RV campground.

Cherokee Springs Golf and RV Resort is off Scenic Highway 89 between Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon in southern Utah's "color country". Cherokee Springs is literally a wonderful place to come up to - at an elevation 7200 feet the golf course at Cherokee Springs is one of the highest west of the Rockies.

Cherokee Springs Golf and RV Resort is located in what is known as Utah's "color country", a name derived from the similar scenic features and vivid and varied scenery that can only be described as breathtaking. Some of the wonderful natural resources that can be visited from the park include:

• Bryce Canyon National Park & RV Camping Ideas – Bryce Canyon, Utah
  
• Grand Staircase National Monument
  
• Capitol Reef National Park
  
• Dixie National Forest
  
• Kodachrome Basin State Park
  
• Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
  
• Anasazi Indian Village State Park
  
• Lake Powell in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
  

Other activities nearby include scenic drives, horseback riding, ATVing and mountain biking. You can actually bike or ride trails that lead from the resort all the way to Bryce Canyon via the back country. The fishing at Panguitch Lake or in the Sevier River is great and there are lots of hiking trails around.

Of course you should not forget that at the Cherokee Springs Golf and RV Resort you can enjoy the 9 hole, par 36 golf course offering a challenging layout and scenic views. You may also bring your horse as they have a 9 stall barn, riding arena and pasture area.

So if your travels take you to southern Utah's color country, check in on our friends at the Cherokee Springs Golf and RV Resort. You can get more information on their website www.cherokeespringsresort.com or you can call them at 435-619-0391.

And remember, if your RV travels take you to the State of Utah, El Monte RV can accomodate you from our Salt Lake City RV Rental location.

Other campgrounds, please share with us the cool things that can be done in and around your campground. Contact Val at vluongo@elmonterv.com to share your stories.

Get the RV Bug - RV Rental Vacation Video

RV bug? No not an insect, it's the bug to hit the open road and see the wonderful sites and attractions that our country has to offer. Get the bug to see it in a way that you have never seen before - from the cab of an El Monte RV rental.

Check out El Monte RV Rental's new RV Camping Video

• RV Rental Vacation Video - Great Family Vacation Ideas from El Monte RV Rentals on YouTube
• RV Rental Vacation Video - Great Family Vacation Ideas from El Monte RV Rentals on the El Monte RV site

You're sure to get bitten by the RV Camping vacation bug after watching the video. Then give us a call and we will get you started on a dream vacation in your vacation home on wheels - an El Monte RV.

How About Looking for Gold on Your Next Vacation?

Old ghost towns, echoes of the wild west, and that yellow metal that has driven everyone crazy over the ages. Who could ask for more adventure for their next RV vacation?

Yes, you can go recreational gold hunting and many properties have facilities for recreational vehicles. The Lost Dutchman's Mining Association (LDMA) operates numerous properties across the United States. Many of the properties have facilities for RVs including full hookups. These include Italian Bar northeast of Sonora, California; Loud Mine between Dahlonega and Cleveland, Georgia; Stanton an old ghost town located approximately 2 hours northwest of Phoenix, Arizona; Blue Bucket south of Baker City, Oregon; and Vein Mountain about half way between Asheville and Hickory, North Carolina. The LDMA also operates other properties with much more rustic facilities or no facilities at all. Membership in the LDMA is required to prospect on the properties.

The site GoldFeverProspecting.com provides a nice list of places where you can recreationally look for gold. Another list of gold mining camps may be found on the Gold Miner's Headquarters web site.

For additional information you may also want to check out Gold Panning Vacation on the e-goldprospecting.com site or Family Vacations to the Old West on FavoriteFamilyVacations.com.

So if your are looking for an RV Vacation with a lot of adventure, why not try your hand at looking for gold? Maybe you will strike it rich - well maybe not rich, but you just might bring home enough precious gold and memories to make it a wealthy adventure.

Nevada Vacation Adventures

Who knew the "Silver State" could be so much fun? If you haven't planned a second Nevada vacation because you've already been to Las Vegas, it's time to start packing. There are hundreds of other attractions to tempt the most seasoned tourist.

Nevada Vacation – Outdoors
Did you know that fifteen minutes from the Vegas Strip, you'll find some of the most scenic hiking trails in the West? Red Rock Canyon is a photographer's dream, with gloriously colorful sandstone canyons, wild burros and lush stands of pines. If you prefer mountain vistas, be sure to visit Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. The scenery is just as breathtaking as the curving mountain roads.

We can't discuss Nevada vacations without mentioning what's there for skiers. Lake Tahoe, on the California/Nevada border, boasts world famous ski runs and plenty of other winter sports venues. Up in northeastern Nevada, ski buffs should check out Elko in the Ruby Mountains. This gorgeous area offers year-round mountain sports.

Whether you want to spend your time in Nevada hiking, fishing or skiing, you'll find the perfect spot to do it all. There are lots of other ways to spend your time, though, and here's information on some of those.

Nevada with the Kids
Plan a trip with the kids to Boulder City, a charming (gambling free!) small town just south of Las Vegas. Adjacent to beautiful Lake Mead National Recreation Area, it's the perfect jumping off point for an active Nevada family vacation. Whether your family loves boating, hiking, fishing, camping or simply sight-seeing, Lake Mead won't disappoint. And the friendly, casual feel of Boulder City will have you wondering why you haven't visited before.

Another great place for families near Lake Mead is Henderson, Nevada. Although it's moving rapidly toward three hundred thousand residents, careful planning has kept Henderson an attractive, family-friendly place to live and visit. Special attention has been given to creating beautiful outdoor parks and recreation spaces, so plan to spend time exploring the sporting possibilities. Lake Mead, of course, is a marvelous place to play, and having Henderson nearby ensures a multitude of vacation experiences.

One more place we simply must mention for families coming to Nevada—its theme parks! From Ultimate Rush & Thrill Park in Reno to GameWorks, AdventureDome and the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, there's something for adrenaline junkies of all ages. Check their websites for special offers to make the trip even more irresistible, and don't forget to bring your camera!

Nevada for Drivers
If you absolutely love NASCAR racing, there's no better place to see it live than Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This well-planned track is a favorite among fans, especially those inside the action at the infield RV camp! For more hands-on auto racing fun, book a day with the drivers at racing schools run by Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty and Mario Andretti.

Vacationers who prefer the driver in their golf bag should definitely plan a trip around the nationally-ranked courses in Nevada. Of special note are Wolf Creek in Mesquite and Edgewood Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe. Bring your clubs and settle in for a week (or two!) of golfing excitement.

There are so many more exciting activities to explore in Nevada! Pick one or two for this trip, then indulge a whole other set of senses on the next vacation. Answer the call of the desert; it's a wonderland of vacation excitement.

Colorado Vacation Adventures

When you sit down to plan a Colorado vacation, get ready to be amazed. Not only does Colorado offer some of the most glorious scenery in the country (if not the world), there is also a great vacation memory waiting around every turn.

Here is a quick list of vacation ideas for the Colorado traveler. Pick one or try them all, you can not go wrong when you vacation in the Centennial State!

Denver Area Vacation Ideas
Gateway to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Denver offers a stunning variety of vacation experiences. Families will want to visit the Riverfront district with its Children's Museum and Aquarium, while art lovers should plan time in the Golden Triangle Museum District. There is also an abundance of night life—from trendy LoDo to Colfax Avenue.

With a professional sports team for every fan, there's year-round sports excitement available. Whether you are cheering on the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, or the Colorado Rockies also at Mile High, you will be glad you added "catch the game" to your vacation itinerary. One more vacation idea: if you love rodeo, don't miss the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show in January!

And it wouldn't be Colorado without outdoor adventures. With the Rockies at their doorstep, visitors to Denver are minutes away from skiing, tubing, fishing, boating and hiking excitement. Numerous ski villages emerge as you travel west from Denver along I-70, so winter sports exhilaration is never far away. Come to Denver for the vibrant urban experience, but be sure to save some time for outdoor sports fun, too.

Pikes Peak Country Itineraries
Colorado Springs, Cripple Creek, Canon City and Manitou Springs, all within sight of Pikes Peak, each offer attractions to tempt the Colorado visitor. Pikes Peak, of course, is the granddaddy of all Rocky Mountain experiences, with its hairpin curves and breathtaking overlooks. Any visitor to this area should make the drive; hardier souls may even want to compete in the annual Pikes Peak Marathon!

Manitou Springs, with its beautiful Historic District, offers visitors the chance to taste mineral waters from the Springs that made the town famous. Local hospitality and the nearby Intemann Memorial Trail make this a lovely place for families to vacation.

Canon City and Cripple Creek each have plenty to interest Colorado visitors. The spectacular Royal Gorge Route Railway leaves the depot at Canon City and takes riders on an awe-inspiring trip into the Gorge. Visitors to Cripple Creek, on the western slope of Pikes Peak, will find this gold rush boomtown packed with history, adventure and scenic mountain beauty.

We can't leave our Pikes Peak itinerary without exploring Colorado Springs' vacation possibilities. Where else can you see beautiful Garden of the Gods and the U.S. Air Force Academy on the same day? Be sure to tour both, they are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. While you are in the area, why not try a float trip on the Arkansas River, a hot air balloon ride or a tour of historic Redstone Castle? It is all here waiting in the shadow of mighty Pikes Peak.

West of the Continental Divide
The western slope of the Colorado Rockies boasts some of the most gorgeous scenery imaginable. It is also home to endless Colorado vacation possibilities. Towns like Glenwood Springs, site of the enormous natural hot springs swimming pool, and Grand Junction, gateway to the red rock canyons of Colorado National Monument, beckon the visitor looking for the unusual.

East of Montrose, you will find the awe-inspiring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. And we can't leave out the beauty and grandeur that marks the Continental Divide itself! A drive along Big Thompson Canyon into Estes Park and over the Divide on Trail Ridge Road has fueled vacation memories for millions of visitors.

Whether you come to explore the history, culture or outdoor adventure of Colorado, it is going to be time well spent. You will soon learn why it's impossible to stay away from Colorado.

How About Digging for Diamonds on Your Next Vacation?

Yes, you read correctly. There is actually a place in the United States where you can legally dig for diamonds (and the fees are minimal - $7 for an adult, $4 for a child 6-12, free for younger)! That place is Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Diamonds of all colors may be found at Crater of Diamonds, but the most common colors are white, brown and yellow. Rock collectors can also find amethyst, banded agate, jasper, peridot, garnet, quartz, calcite, barite and hematite and more.

Diamonds in excess of 5 carats have been found, most recently 5.47 CT. and 6.36 CT. in 2006. The most common sizes found, however. is .2 to .25 CT. But be forewarned, only about 1% of the parks visitors find diamonds. But it could make for quire a family adventure, and who knows...

For campers, the park has 59 Class B camping sites with water and electric hookups. For the bigger rigs, you might want to try the Arkadelphia Campground, 40 minutes away in Arkadelphia, AR.