RV Vacation to Washington Wine Country

Here's a great way to spend your next RV camping vacation - touring Washington's Wine Country! More than one hundred wineries can be found throughout Washington's wine-producing regions, and there's no shortage of gorgeous RV campgrounds as you travel. Let's take a quick drive through two suggested Wine Country itineraries, just to give you a taste.

Wine Country Itinerary 1: Columbia Valley
We suggest starting your trip in Seattle, where the great staff the El Monte RV Seattle RV Rentals location will have your reserved RV waiting. On this trip, head to the Columbia Valley wineries via I-90, then back north at George on Hwy 28. On this northern leg, visit Saint Laurent and Sunset Vineyards, then continue north to find Horan Estates at Wenatchee. There are actually eleven wineries along the road from Quincy to Leavenworth, so plan to visit tasting rooms to your heart's delight!

If you're ready for more wine-tasting adventures, wind your way a bit farther north to Lake Chelan, where nine wineries are nestled near the city of Chelan itself. There's a terrific RV campground right in a City park there, so why not camp in the center of this wine-rich city and plan to spend several days?

Wine Country Itinerary 2: Yakima Valley
This itinerary also starts at El Monte RV Rentals in Seattle, then heads south from I-90 on Hwy 97 to Yakima, WA. From Yakima to Benton City along Hwy 82, you'll find more than fifty wineries to tempt your palate! Fabulous variations of Chardonnay, Riesling and Merlot are available in wine-tasting rooms throughout the Valley.

Labels like Sagelands, Piety Flats and Masset Winery can be found at Wapato. Farther south, the town of Zillah boasts Claar Cellars, Agate Field and Paradisos Del Sol wineries, among ten or more vineyards in the area! You could literally spend weeks learning the joys of Washington vintages, without ever leaving the Yakima Valley.

As you rest your palate for another round of wine-tastings, consider staying at Yakima River RV Park, just north of Yakima, WA or Wine Country RV Park in Prosser, WA.

Whether you're filling out your own wine collection, or buying Washington wines to give for gifts, making the trip to Washington wineries by RV will be unforgettable. Experience Washington's Wine Country for yourself, we're here to help make your pursuit of the grape most enjoyable!

Favorite Year-Round RV Campgrounds

If you're like many of our customers, the fun you had RV camping this summer has you longing to be back out on the road. Our clients who live in warm climates will enjoy RV camping trips all winter, but did you know many cooler climate campgrounds are open year-round? To encourage you, no matter where you live, to enjoy RV camping as the leaves begin to change, here are some favorite year-round RV campgrounds.

Mountain Shadows RV Park, just south of Salt Lake City, is close to snow ski resorts and numerous Salt Lake City attractions and can accommodate the largest of RVs. You can pick up an RV rental at El Monte RV's Salt Lake City RV rentals location to start enjoying the best in outdoor winter fun.

Speaking of spending time in the great outdoors, Winding River RV Resort at Grand Lake, Colorado is right in the middle of a winter sports wonderland. Families will love the activities they offer—horseback riding, snowmobile rentals and guided hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. The historic village of Grand Lake is definitely worth some exploring, too.

One more great place to stay in Colorado if your family loves to ski is Cozy Comfort RV Park in Dolores. This southwest Colorado resort is located near both the Telluride and Durango ski areas. It's also surrounded by Native American history and culture, so why not plan to stay a few days longer and explore? Let our Denver RV Rentals office help you rent the right RV for your trip.

For our friends who enjoy Pacific Northwest scenery, why not pick up the perfect motorhome at our Seattle RV Rentals location and then head for Tall Chief RV Resort near Redmond? This top-ranked RV campground in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains puts other RV parks in the shade. What a great way place to come home to after a full day of hiking or skiing!

Here's another tip for a great Northwest adventure year-round: SealBay RV Park on Vancouver Island, BC is at the heart of the glorious Comox Valley, home to some of the best winter sports venues in Canada. Mount Washington Alpine Resort is a particular favorite among downhill and cross country skiing enthusiasts and snow boarders. Making your trip in autumn, instead, will reward you with fabulous mountain to ocean views on this unforgettable island.

Doesn't a winter RV camping trip sound great? Get in touch with the El Monte RV Rentals location nearest your favorite winter destination and get rolling!

Fantastic RV Road Trip Idea: Seattle to Anchorage!

We have just heard about a super RV road trip idea and wanted to pass it along to our readers. If you're ready for the ultimate RV journey, plan a road trip from Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska! Does that idea have you running to pack your bags? Here's the scoop on how to travel by RV from Washington to Alaska.

Washington/Alaska Road Trip Itinerary
The drive from Seattle to Anchorage is about 2400 miles one-way. Obviously, you should set aside two or three weeks to mosey up the road to Alaska with time to enjoy the sights along the way.

The first leg of our suggested itinerary takes you from Seattle through Bellingham to Vancouver, British Columbia. For an incredibly scenic side trip, detour to Hwy 11 from Burlington to Bellingham. Not only will you look out over the San Juan Islands, you'll also see some of the most fertile farmland, orchards and vineyards in the Northwest.

Head north from Bellingham to Vancouver, BC. The most popular place to cross into Canada is the Peace Arch/Blaine Border Crossing. American RV travelers will need a passport to enter Canada.

Plan to stop in Vancouver to visit Vancouver Lookout, a twenty-eighth floor observation deck at the top of the city's Harbour Centre. You'll find a thriving arts community in Vancouver, and this fascinating BC city also boasts mountains, ocean and river views!

If you're ready to stop for the night, Burnaby Cariboo RV Park in Vancouver sits on the shores of Burnaby Lake.

Once you leave Vancouver for the next leg of your RV camping adventure, get ready for the great outdoors! We're headed now for one of three destinations -

1. Prince Rupert, where you can drive your RV right onto one of the famous Inside Passage Ferries for the rest of the trip to Homer, Alaska, a short jaunt in your RV from Anchorage. Travel west from Prince George, BC on Hwy 16 to Prince Rupert to follow this route. RV campers recommend Prince Rupert RV Campground (have your camera ready for deer right next door!)
   
2. North from Prince George along the Alaska Highway (PDF) to White Horse and, finally, Anchorage. This route takes you along the eastern edge of British Columbia. You will definitely experience the vastness of both BC and Alaska if you choose this route. Wide valleys, mountains, and rivers rushing through canyons are standard fare along the "Alcan." RV campgrounds along the way include Tok RV Village in Tok, AK and Pioneer RV Camp in Whitehorse, AK.
   
3. Along the Stewart-Cassier Highway (Hwy 37) from Prince George, BC to the Alaskan border, then on to White Horse and Anchorage on the Alcan. I'm told this route is absolutely spectacular, winding past glaciers, deep mountain valleys and rivers full of salmon.
   

Once in Anchorage, you'll find a thriving city of about two hundred thousand people. Don't miss visiting the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Earthquake Park and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, where you'll see both mountain and ocean views as you hike or bike.

No matter which route you choose to travel by RV from Seattle to Anchorage, remember to fill your gas tanks whenever you have the opportunity. Also, plan ahead for emergencies, as services aren't available nearly as often as along most US highways. Even so, an RV journey from Washington to Alaska will be the trip of a lifetime.

El Monte RV Rentals help can set you up with a luxurious motorhome for the journey. Pick up your RV at either the El Monte RV Seattle RV Rentals or Vancouver/Bellingham RV Rentals locations. Head north to Alaska in a comfortable motorhome and bring home tales of the North to share for years!

Washington State Freshwater Fishing Destinations

Anglers who know where to find great freshwater fishing make tracks regularly to Washington State. The lure of clear, blue lakes and rivers with abundant fish species is hard to resist. Travelling there by RV keeps it comfortable and affordable.

Here is a quick rundown of lakes and rivers in Washington that boast fantastic fishing. We've included information of interest to RV campers to help make vacation planning easy.

Washington's Fabulous Fishing Lakes
There are hundreds of lakes in Washington to choose from. They make the perfect venue for a motorhome camping/fishing trip. Here are five spectacular fishing lakes that you can visit in the Evergreen State.

Lake Curlew – This gorgeous lake near the Canadian border in northeast Washington attracts bigmouth bass and trout fishermen year-round. Beautiful lakeside RV campsites allow you to dock your boat adjacent to your motorhome. What could be more convenient? Some nice places to stay when fishing Curlew Lake include Tiffanys Resort and Curlew Lake State Park.

Banks Lake – Carved into the red rock canyons near Grand Coulee Dam, Banks Lake offers trout, walleye and largemouth bass worth traveling for! Full service RV campgrounds are located near the water (including the Sunbanks Lake Resort), so plan to fish late and then sleep in motorhome comfort.

Spencer Lake – Largemouth bass, trout and crappie are waiting at Spencer Lake near Shelton on the Olympic Peninsula. Pull your RV into the pines, reel in a stringer full of fish and enjoy camping vacation memories for years to come.

Offut Lake – The perch and largemouth bass at Offut Lake equal family fishing fun on your vacation. Roll your motorhome into large RV campsites in the forest and enjoy classic Washington RV camping. You might want to check out the Offut Lake Resort when there.

Lake Chelan – Come to the largest lake in Washington State to fish for kokanee, rainbow trout, burbot and lake trout. You might even land a landlocked salmon or two! Located within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex in central Washington, Lake Chelan is an awesome experience for RV campers and anglers alike. The Lakeshore RV Park run by the City of Chelan might be a nice place to stay.

Rivers Where the Fish Are Jumping!
We'd be leaving out some of the best fishing in Washington if we failed to mention its rivers! The mighty Columbia, of course, rolls from its beginnings in British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Washington. If you're itching to fight a six foot sturgeon weighing in at over two hundred pounds, the Columbia River has plenty to offer! Chinook salmon are also stars of the Columbia, so don't miss a chance to land one yourself.

Fortunately for Columbia River fisherman, abundant RV camping can be found in the towns and villages along the banks of the Columbia. That's also true for another great Washington river, the Lewis, where quiet RV campsites near the river free your crew to fish steelhead in late winter. Whether you're chasing trout, sturgeon, salmon or steelhead, great Washington rivers like the Cowlitz and Wynoochee offer year-round fishing experiences.

Just in case you have questions about special rules that apply to certain freshwater species, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has a very informative website and a downloadable brochure to keep you up to date.

So why not come to Washington, where the fish are biting and full-service RV campgrounds are always plentiful? Once you've fished the clear waters of the Evergreen State, you're going to want to come back soon, we promise! El Monte RV can set you up for an RV rental from our Ferndale RV Rentals and Seattle RV Rentals locations.

A Working Ranch, RV Park, & Area Attractions - Yakima River RV Park

The following was provided by our friends at the Yakima River RV Park.

Yakima River RV Park is situated on a working ranch on the Yakima River, just a few miles south of the historic town of Ellensburg, and approximately 100 miles East of Seattle, Washington. Yakima River RV Park is a quiet Park in the country surrounded by numerous outdoor activities such as fly-fishing, hiking, river rafting, bicycling, nature trail walking, livestock and wildlife viewing, rock hounding, geocaching, swimming, golfing, horseback riding and sight-seeing day trips.

The Ellensburg area and beyond offers various attractions throughout the year, First Friday Art Walks, Wild Horse Wind & Solar Observatory, Jazz Festival, Yakima Canyon Bike Tour, Brew Fest, Whiskey Dick Triathlon, Wine Fest, Yakima Canyon Marathon, Toppenish Murals, Wine Tasting Tours, Coal Miners' Festival, Classic Car Shows, museums, galleries, Gingko Forest, Gorge Amphitheatre, Suncadia Resort and the Ellensburg Rodeo! Central Washington University is well known for its frequent high-quality music and theatre events.

Yakima River RV Park offers 36 RV pull through sites, several of which will accommodate a motor coach. Horse stalls are available for those traveling with horses. River floaters needing shuttles can make arrangements for that service through Yakima River RV Park.

Tenting is also available for quiet campers! Yakima River RV Park has an additional overflow area separate from the RV Park where large groups of tenters sometimes gather for special weekends away from city life! This camping area is treed giving good shade. A porta-potty is available, as well as good water, but showers are not provided. Those who really can't live without a shower go to the truck stop and shower for a fee.

Many Yakima River RV Park customers travel from all over the Northwest to meet friends and family in the middle and gather for reunions, floating trips and fishing vacations. They continue to return year after year and think of Yakima River RV Park as their home away from home!

Come on out and stay overnight on the ranch! Enjoy the fabulous sunsets!

People who wish to go RV camping in the State of Washington have a choice of two El Monte RV rental locations - our Ferndale / Vancouver RV Rentals location and our Seattle RV Rentals location.

Other RV Campgrounds should feel free to share with us the wonders that may be found in and around their campground. Please send your article submissions to monty@elmonterv.com.

RV to One of the Longest Beaches in the World

This is kindly provided by our friends at the Ocean Park Resort.

The Ocean Park Resort is located on the Long Beach Peninsula in Ocean Park Washington, just 4 blocks from the beach. The 28 mile beach on the west, Pacific Ocean, side of the peninsula is recognized as one of the longest beaches in the world.

For lighthouse lovers, the peninsula is home to two lighthouses - Cape Disappointment Lighthouse overlooking the Columbia River, which is the oldest lighthouse on the west coast, and North Head Lighthouse in Fort Canby State Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The area around the resort has plenty to offer, including:

• Art attractions including: Opal Art, Weir Studios, Wiegardt Studio, and Windy Meadows Pottery.
• The beach (of course)
• Leadbetter Point State Park
• Nahcotta Tidelands Interpretive Center
• Willapa Bay Oyster House Interpretive Center
  
• Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
• Festivals: Old Fashioned 4th of July, Northwest Garlic Festival, Water Music Festival, Rod Run to the End of the World put on by the Beach Baron's Car Club.
• Golf courses

The Ocean Park Resort prides itself on friendliness. It is owner operated and customers can perceive the difference between dealing with an employee and dealing with the owner.

The park offers a motel, RV sites, guest houses, and tent sites. Other park amenities include: a seasonal heated outdoor pool, an enclosed spa, coin operated showers, restrooms, a coin laundry, a recreation hall, playground, basketball hoop, volleyball net, fish and clam cleaning area, and propane sales.

People who wish to go RV camping in the State of Washington have a choice of two El Monte RV rental locations - our Ferndale / Vancouver RV Rentals location and our Seattle RV Rentals location.

Other RV Campgrounds should feel free to share with us the wonders that may be found in and around their campground. Please send your article submissions to monty@elmonterv.com.