Airstream Destination: Petaluma/ San Francisco North KOA Though taking your rented Airstream to an ancient Redwood forest at Santa Cruz or near Big Sur is an experience that shouldn’t be missed, some folks prefer less hiking and more gourmet food and beverage type of experiences.  Then Petaluma/San Francisco North KOA is the RV park for you.  Situated about 40 miles north of the city, Petaluma KOA is the perfect place to stay if you want to visit Sonoma and Napa wineries, tour several breweries (including the famous Lagunitas Brewery), grab fresh oysters from local oyster farms, or eat your way through Northern California’s Cheese Trail.  This is the place for Airstream’in foodies. But first a note about this amazing KOA, which sits on 70 acres of prime Marin County land.  One of the best things about this RV park is the multitude of pull-through sites.  In fact, the majority of them are pull-through so if you’re a novice to towing, you don’t have to stress about reversing into a tight spot.  Also, if you opt for the end sites, they come with wood swings and loungers (see picture above).  And each campsite comes with your own firepit.  The majority of the sites also come with full hook-ups so there’s no need to dry-camp here (though if you like the challenge of no hook-ups, they have some of those sites as well). This RV park also has a variety of tiny homes you could comfortably stay in as well as tent camping sites.  There’s something for everyone here.   This KOA also has more activities for the whole family than most other RV parks.  There’s a petting zoo with some adorable goats (along with lamb and chickens).  There is a large pool with yellow cabanas, a 30-foot rockwall, a large bounce-pillow and a play ground for the kids, an expansive picnic area complete with charcoal grills, and a large dog park with obstacles.  You could easily spend several days at the park just enjoying their amenities.   But of course, part of the charm of staying at this KOA is to experience all the best that Marin County has to offer.  Here are some things you don’t want to miss when you’re here: – Downtown Petaluma, which is just minutes from the RV park, has a plethora of small boutiques and restaurants.  If you’re big on antiques, there’s a lot of that here.  Otherwise check out Acre Coffee for your caffeine fix and Central Market for some of the freshest farm-to-table cuisine out there (they even have their own organic farm in Petaluma).   – A short 30-minute drive west will take you to the California coastline.  Dillon Beach is a popular spot with some picnic benches and grills.  It’s also dog-friendly, so your well-behaved pooch can come with you to enjoy some surf and sand.  A little further north along the coastline is the town of Bodega Bay, which is also famous for their beach Bodega Head. source source – Also in that neck of the woods are several oyster farms where you can purchase oysters straight from the sea (you can also take some to go and enjoy them at Dillon Beach).  Hog Island Oyster Farm is about 32 minutes from the RV park and Tomales Bay Oyster Company is about 38 minutes away.  If you like your oysters cooked for you (BBQ’d) then Nick’s Cove is even closer. – If you want some wine to go with your oysters, then 30-minutes east of the KOA will take you to the famous wineries of Sonoma Valley.  There are just way too many to list here, but take a look at some of the top-ranked ones on tripadvisor.  If these aren’t enough for you, then Napa is just another 15 minutes away (Napa Valley Wineries on tripadvisor here). – And if beer is more your style, then Lagunitas Brewing Company is a 5 minute drive.  Also clustered in that area are 101 North Brewing Company and Petaluma Hills Brewing Company.  And 15 minutes north of the KOA is the Russian River Brewing Company. – If you’re a fan of cheese, then you will be in cheese heaven when you stay at the Petaluma KOA.  It is perfectly located so that you can enjoy a day of cheese-eating on the California Cheese Trail.  Plan out your cheese-trip using their handy trail map and you get to see these dairy farms and their cows up-close. – And lastly, for adults there is the Graton Casino and for kids of all ages there is the Charles M. Schultz Museum.   Whatever your interest, there’s something for everyone when you stay at the Petaluma/North San Francisco KOA!

Destination: Jalama Beach, Santa Barbara County Park If you’re looking for a hidden RV campground next to a beautiful California beach, then we’ll let you in on a little secret. Jalama Beach County Park is part of Santa Barbara County and is about a 4.5 hour drive south from our Airstream garage in San Jose.  Thus, you’d probably want to make this stop a part of your itinerary if you’re doing an Airstream trip for 4 days or more.  And believe me, once you get here you’re going to want to stay longer!   This county park is very secluded and tucked away along the coast.  To get there, you will need to drive about 30 minutes on some narrow and winding roads.  But the trek out to the coast is worth it!  Once you get there, there is everything you need to make your rental Airstream your own beach cabin, mainly a large unpopulated beach.  For the most part, the only other beach goers here are your fellow campers.   Here’s a quick look at the sites available at Jalama.  Most of the sites (indicated in navy) are reservable sites.  The walk-ins are indicated in teal.  Because this beach park can get quite crowded in the summer, we recommend reserving sites ahead of time.  We advise calling in for your reservation since even though their website has a site for online reservations, it requires Flash.  After a quick chat with the rangers there, we learned that the “best” sites are 117 and 80-87.  We were able to snag site 108 (a walk-in site) since we were there in October.  And I have to say those sites at the top have some of the best views!  Also all the sites at the top have electrical hook-ups (indicated by the yellow dot).  If you’re okay to “rough it” a bit, then the sites at the bottom, 53-64 are right on the beach and the sand is pretty much at your doorstep.   The picture below is of sites 10-14, which is also quite close to the beach (though not on the sand).  There is also a dumping station conveniently located near the entrance to the park.  So you can dump and refill your Airstream before and/or after your stay or even during your stay if need be.  So even though there are no water and sewer connection at each site, at least you can take care of your dumping needs within the park.   Another great thing about this beach park is the Jalama Beach Store, where you can pick up anything you might have forgotten (thus saving you the trek out and back to grab your missing item).  The store has everything from personal care products to fishing supplies, and even beer and wine.  They also have a famous Jalama burger, which is quite good (but to be honest tastes like any other burger).   This campground is open year around and even in December the temperatures hover around the 70s.  Though I wouldn’t recommend swimming during the winter and spring months.  In the summer they do have a lifeguard but the water will still be chilly and there are rip currents and high surf to be wary of.  But if you’re looking for a beautiful beach getaway, it would be tough to find something better than Jalama.   The only drawback to this RV campground is that there is little to no cell reception or data service.  But the park does provide a slow wifi connection that can allow you to check email if need be.   We were lucky to find out about this place from one of our Airstream renters, who even extended their trip because they loved this beach park so much.  They were told by their fellow campers to keep this a secret (as were we).  But this secret is just too good not to share!

Airstream Destination and Delivery: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort Hands down, one of the best places to take an Airstream in the SF Bay Area is Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.  There’s nothing quite like living among some ancient giant trees to make you forget about city life.  These breathtaking redwoods emanate a special energy that you really can’t feel anywhere else.  Yet, you don’t have to drive hours into the forest to get away.  This park is a quick 35 minute drive from the GoSilver shop (and thus also a perfect place for those who want to get their Airstream rental delivered to a camp site).   The park is owned and operated by the nicest people, and their staff are super friendly.  When we got there, they saw that our site was partially flooded so they immediately moved us to a dry primo spot (we didn’t even have to ask!).  Here’s a map of their camp sites.   We stayed at campsite 20 and loved it.  I think campsites 1-22 are some of the best since the back of your RV faces the river, so there’s some views and some privacy.  This is one RV resort that definitely doesn’t feel like just another parking lot.  You can rent a fire pit for $5 (you can also bring your own as long as there’s no cut-outs on the sides) and buy a bundle of wood for $7 to get the complete camping experience. If you’re going to be there with a big group, you can rent out the clubhouse for a large dinner, and it comes complete with full kitchen and recreation room.  And coming this summer the park plans to do some wine tasting events and breakfasts on the weekends.   One of the best things about this park is that it’s right next door to Henry Cowell State Park, with its 30 miles of hiking trails.  Check out that link for a comprehensive list of hikes categorized by difficulty and how much time you have.   Some other awesome places to check out while you’re there: Mount Hermon Adventures: a jungle gym up in the trees (but definitely not for those who are afraid of heights). The Mystery Spot: A little touristy perhaps, but also just a fun place to see at least once for yourself.  And get one of those bumper stickers that seem to be on every other car in Northern California. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: a family fun institution since 1907, but now with modern rides for thrill seekers.  And for the laid back types, there’s always the beach. Roaring Camp Railroads: for kids of all ages who love trains (but just come prepared with water and some of your own snacks since refreshments seem to be lacking here). Santa Cruz Wharf: A great place to dine on some local seafood and shop for souvenirs.  Also if you walk to the end of the pier and look down, you might see some sunbathing sea lions hanging around. Natural Bridges State Park: Named after the limestone natural bridge, this state park is a beautiful place to take some breathtaking photos on the beach.  There is also a Monarch Grove, where 100,000 butterflies roost in the eucalyptus trees from fall to early winter. If you only have a weekend to spare for some much needed R&R then I highly recommend Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.  Even though it’s less than an hour away, it feels like another world.  And if you happen to have more than a weekend, then a splendid Airstream trip itinerary would be several days at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and then hitching up and towing to Costanoa for several days near the California coastline.  This way, you can enjoy both the redwood forests of California along with its beaches.  You get the best of what Northern California has to offer with minimal driving time!

Destination: Carpinteria State Beach Campground Hi guys, so this is a bit of an unusual Airstream Destination review because I’m not only recommending one particular campground at Carpinteria State Beach Park, but I’m also recommending one particular RV spot.  Speaking from personal experience, if you’re in the Santa Barbara area and want to experience your Airstream like your own personal beach house, then you need to go to the Santa Cruz campground, spot 210. It is the best spot in the park by general consensus (that would be Brian and I, as well as the park ranger who was helping us).  And this is why:   Yep, that’s your own private access walk-way to a sprawling California beach right behind your Airstream.  Spot 210 is also surrounded by greenery, with the fire pit behind your parked trailer.  So it’s the most private and secluded spot in the park.  Also the bathroom is located conveniently directly in front of the spot (the bathroom has flushing toilets and hot water showers).  The rest of the spots in this campground, as you can see is a bit more like a parking lot.  If you unfortunately aren’t able to snag spot 210 in the Santa Cruz campground, then the Santa Rosa and San Miguel campgrounds (also part of Carpinteria State Beach Park) are also fronting the beach.  These campgrounds also have clean and spacious dumping stations, which will make maneuvering your trailer easy, as well as a water source to fill up your fresh water tank.   Now a little bit about Carpinteria.  It’s 12 miles south of Santa Barbara and is a small sleepy surf/beach town.  There’s only one street of restaurant and shops that span about two blocks and it’s conveniently located about 4 blocks from the campground, which is walkable if you’re up for a bit of exercise (or it’s a 3-minute drive).  But as tiny as the town is, there is a lot of options for dining.  The Thai restaurant, Siam Elephant there comes highly recommended, but we opted for the tacos at Casa Don Roge and it was delicious!  And in the morning, you have to hit up Ernie’s café for an all-American diner breakfast.  For a list of restaurants in Carpinteria, go here. But what you’re really there at Carpinteria for is the beach!  In addition to some pretty amazing wildlife viewing (whale watching, seals, sea lions and shore birds to name a few), visitors can enjoy surfing, swimming, beach-combing, fishing, hiking, and biking.  Or just relax under an umbrella with a good book.   So if you’re looking to turn your Airstream rental into your own personal beach cabin, then spot 210 at Carpinteria State Beach Park is the one for you!

Destination: Big Sur Campground and Cabins If you want to camp in California’s Redwood forests you could go to Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort or go to Big Sur Campground and Cabins, which has the added benefit of being near Monterey, Carmel, and some of the most beautiful beaches California has to offer.  In all transparency, we haven’t camped there yet ourselves, but have had several of our Airstream rentals towed there by guests and we’ve also delivered Airstreams there.   Big Sur Campground and Cabins is located 2 hours south of our Airstream garage, about 30 miles south of Monterey.  The drive there is absolutely beautiful, though if you are towing a trailer you probably won’t be able to enjoy the scenery as much.  Here are some things we learned about the actual campground: – The most important thing to know about Big Sur Campground and Cabins is that it does not have a sewer connection.  That means all the water that is used onboard the Airstream will need to be stored in holding tanks during your trip.  They do have one dumping station which looks like a big well of filthy water, which can be used in case you really need to clear the tanks.  But most Airstream renters probably won’t want to deal with the hassle of dumping (and as Elite RV guests you won’t need to since we do all the dumping and sanitation for you).  But this does mean that when you’re staying at this campground you will need to be very conscious of your water usage, especially your gray water usage (this is all water from sinks and showers).  Once your gray water tank is full, you will see dirty water start pooling in the shower.  The 19′ International and 20′ Flying Cloud can hold 21 gallons of gray water, while the 25′ Flying Cloud and 25′ International can hold 35 gallons and the 27′ International can hold 37 gallons.  You will also need to be aware of your black water usage (that’s all things flushed down the toilet), but that won’t be as much of an issue normally since the black tank can hold as much as the gray tank, but each flush is minimal.  So what does it really mean to not have a sewer connection?  No long showers.  But the campground also provides bathrooms with free hot showers, and their bathrooms are clean and well-maintained. – Also the spaces at this campground are very close together and the path/road to get to sites are very narrow with some really tight corners.  In fact, the first incidence of major damage to one of our Airstreams occurred at this campsite.  So we recommend that only experienced towers come to this site or have an Airstream delivered here.  Also, some RV parks will have staff help you back up an RV (especially since the staff usually know the easiest ways to maneuver into sites), however this RV campground doesn’t offer that service.  So you’re on your own, and for brand new towers this campsite can prove to be quite a challenge.  And definitely do not try to go there after dark.  I imagine trying to reverse a trailer in those narrow spots without light would be beyond impossible. – There is no cell reception here for AT&T and Verizon, and they don’t offer wifi.  So if you’re planning to do a working vacation, you will need to head to a bar that offers wifi (there’s one 3 miles away and one 1/4 mile away).   That was all the bad news, but if you’re ready to take on the challenge of partial dry-camping, this campground and Big Sur has plenty to offer! – This is a super family-friendly campground and they provide a lot of activities for the whole family.  They have basketball and volleyball courts as well as playgrounds for the younger kids. – There’s a mix of RV and tent camping, many times right next to each other.  So if you’re going with a big group and the rest of the group wants to experience tent camping, then its possible to do that with adjoining sites. – There’s a swimming hole on site and you can rent inner tubes for the day. – And from some research, the best RV sites are near the river.  So those are sites #99, #100, #11 and #13.  This particular site in the pictures is site #72.   The best part about Big Sur Campground and Cabins?  Location, location, location!  It’s close to some of the most beautiful beaches and state parks California has to offer. – Pfeiffer State Park (1.5 miles south): this beautiful picture below was taken here (enough said, right?).  The park can be a bit hard to find so here’s some tips. source – Andrew Molera State Park (2.5 miles north) is great for hiking and horseback riding on the beach. – Do some treasure hunting at Jade Cove, where you might find some actual pieces of jade. – Jade can also be found at Sand Dollar Beach, along with the beach’s namesake, sand dollars. (For more info on all of Big Sur’s beaches, find it here and here). – Bixby Bridge (pictured below), is on the way to Big Sur. – Carmel, which is about 25 miles north of the campground is one of the quaintest towns in California.  A bit upscale, but a fun place to browse.  More info here. – Monterey, home to one of the best aquariums in the country and the Monterey Bay is a great place to kayak (we’ve done it before and it’s the best way to see sea otters fairly close and in their natural environment). And if you’re looking to eat in the Big Sur area these places have come highly recommended: Big Sur Bakery, Big Sur Roadhouse, Nepenthe, and the Restaurant at River Inn (right next door to the campground).

Destination and Delivery: Santa Cruz / Monterey Bay KOA   Santa Cruz is one of our customers’ favorite places to take their rented Airstreams because not only is it relatively close to our San Jose garage but also because Santa Cruz has some of the best that California has to offer.  If you’re looking for a mountains-and-forest kind of vacation then we recommend Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort, but if you’re looking for more of a beach experience with your family then the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay KOA is the place for you.  This family friendly KOA is about an hour south of our Airstream garage in San Jose and is located on the northern edge of Monterey Bay.  And best of all it’s only 1 mile away from the nearest beach, Manresa State Beach Park, which is a popular destination for surfers (and on the way to the beach there’s even a surf shop where you can rent boards).  But if you and your little ones are not quite ready for the rough seas, there’s still plenty to do at the KOA itself!   This KOA, like most KOA’s cater to families with kids.  This Santa Cruz location not only has the usual playground, which is quite large, but they also have beach zone and a jumping pillow to ensure your kids expend as much energy as possible during the day.  There’s also a mini train, outdoor cinema night, pool and hot tub.  Click here to see all the activities this KOA provides for you and your family.  This KOA is very pet friendly, and has its own dog wash to clean your pup after a day at the beach.   Each RV site has full hook-ups (water, sewer, electricity, cable) as well as a fire pit, and is well maintained and level.  You will have to reverse the Airstream into your spot, but there is plenty of room to maneuver and the standard amount of space between each RV site.   When staying at this KOA, here are some suggestions for places to visit:  Manresa State Beach Park and Sunset State Beach Park: As I mentioned up top, the closest beach is Manresa Beach only a mile away, but if you’re looking for another beach to try during your stay, Sunset State Beach Park is about 4 miles south of this KOA (about a 9 minute drive).  Both beach parks have beach hiking trails, but Sunset State Beach Park is larger and also has multiple picnic sites.   source  Seacliff & New Brighton State Beach Park, Rio del Mar State Beach Park:  If the two closest beach above are not enough for your beach loving nature, then 15 minutes north of the KOA there are several more beaches.  If you want some fabulous pictures of an old ship ruin, then head to Seacliff beach park to view the SS Palo Alto in all its degraded glory.  And if you’re looking to build a beach side campfire, which is generally not allowed on California State Beach Parks, then there’s a small patch at Rio del Mar beach that allows for it.    Capitola: The tiny city of Capitola is located a few minutes north of Seacliff State Beach Park and also has its own city beach.  Along the beach there are cute, colorful houses that are a perfect photo-op!    The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park: If you’ve had your fill of the beach and want to spend a day hiking amongst the redwood trees then this state park is also located about 15 minutes north of the KOA.  This is quite a large state park with both hiking and biking trails.    Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row: This world famous aquarium is located about 45 minutes south of the KOA, but is worth the visit.  There’s enough exhibits to last a full day and the sea otters are my personal favorite.  Cannery Row offers a variety of restaurants and entertainment.  For those who want a bit of adventure there are several companies that offer kayak rentals so that you can go out and explore Monterey Bay for yourself (and this is the best way to see the otters in their natural environment, though you are warned not to get too close).    Carmel-By-The-Sea and Pebble Beach: Also 45 minutes south of the KOA is Carmel-by-the-Sea, a charming seaside town filled with cute boutiques and great restaurants.  There are so many good places for lunch there that I like to try a new place every time we go.  There’s also the Carmel Mission if you’re looking for to visit a piece of California history.  Pebble beach and the 17-mile drive are also popular activities in the area.   So if you’re looking for a family-friendly RV resort, located to near some of the most beautiful beaches in California, then the Santa Cruz/Monterey KOA is where you want to go!

Destination: Anaheim If you’re looking to take your rented Airstream on a quintessential California road trip, then going from San Francisco to Anaheim is the perfect route to see everything the Golden State has to offer.  Plus there’s something for everyone along the way.  From our headquarters in San Jose, Anaheim is about a 6 hour drive, which you could do in one day or spread it out by stopping off at other towns along the way (like Paso Robles or Santa Barbara).   Often when people think Anaheim, they think Disneyland.  But this Orange County town south of Los Angeles has a lot more to offer than just Mickey Mouse (though of course there’s nothing wrong with spending all your time at Disneyland when at Anaheim because well Disneyland!!).   When in Anaheim, the best RV park to stay at is the privately owned Anaheim RV Park.   Like most RV parks in a major metropolitan area, the RV park is mostly a large paved area with closely situated RV spaces.  But the major benefit of this RV park is the shuttle service that takes you directly to the Disneyland parks and other Anaheim attractions (including the Convention Center, if you’re there for a convention or conference).  The shuttle picks up right in front of the park and it’s fairly inexpensive (about $12 for an adult 3 day pass and $3 for children).   One of our favorite place in Anaheim is the relatively new Anaheim Packing District.  It was originally built in 1919 to be a processing and packing house for citrus fruits picked from the nearby farms.  The fruit would get to the warehouse via a railroad, which is still ingeniously being used at the side of the building as a comfortable patio for outdoor dining.  Now the Packing House is an awe-inspiring food hall with delicious eats from across all cultures.  This is the Disneyland for foodies.  List of all the restaurants here.  My top recommendations would be to indulge in amazing gelato or fruit popsicles at Popbar and having a fancy cocktail at the Blind Rabbit, a speakasy that’s hidden behind a false wall of Sake kegs that has live piano music. (Kids allowed and no reservations necessary during the day time, but no kids and reservations needed at night since it’s such a small bar.  Also, not on the menu, but for a super special non-alcoholic drink try their smoked rosemary lemonade).   Other places to check out while you’re in Anaheim: Westminster: The best place to get authentic Vietnamese food in the country.  Some top recommendations include Vien Dong and Pho 86 (thanks Nora for the tip!) Huntington Beach: Check out the Huntington Beach Pier or hang out at the beach itself. Downtown Los Angeles: There’s an endless possibilities of things to do in the revitalized and now super cool area including several new museums and Grand Central Market (another foodie heaven).