Community Forums

Adventurous · 04-12-2006, 09:40 AM

As part of our big loop through the Northwest we will also be driving in the San Francisco area.
Are there any camping within resonable driving distance for sightseeing in S.F.?
Can this be combined with visiting the Napa Valley?
Looking at the maps it sometimes is hard to get a feel for the real situation or road condition
Thanks,

Adventurous · 04-12-2006, 09:40 AM

As part of our big loop through the Northwest we will also be driving in the San Francisco area.
Are there any camping within resonable driving distance for sightseeing in S.F.?
Can this be combined with visiting the Napa Valley?
Looking at the maps it sometimes is hard to get a feel for the real situation or road condition
Thanks,

Paul Heuvelhorst · 04-12-2006, 05:24 PM

Campgrounds in SF are few and far between. Here are some I know of, because we used to live in Novato, 21 miles north of the Golden Gate:
1. Treasure Island RV Park, San Mateo (south of SF), bghans@rcn.com,(650)994-3266. On the El Camino Real (old 101) should be quiet.
2. Candlestick RV Park, SF, candlestick_rv@msn.com,
(800)888-2267, right on the bay, across the road from Candlestick Park, home of the 49ers. Will be windy.
3. Marin Park, Larkspur, res@marinrvpark.com, (888)461-5199. Right on Hwy 101, and traffic noise will be high.
4. Golden Gate Trailer Park, Greenbrae, goldengatetrailerpark@comcast.net, (415)924-0683. Almost next door to Marin Park, and subject to the same noise.
5. Novato RV Park, Novato, novatorvp@aol.com, (800)733-6787. It is right on Hwy 101 at the north end of Novato, could have highway noise.
6. San Francisco North KOA, Petaluma, sfkoa@aol.com,
(800)992-CAMP. Approx 20 north of Novato. Off the road, very quiet.
7. Bothe-Napa Valley SP, St. Helena (Napa Valley)(800)942-4575. Beautiful Calif. state park, but no hookups. In the middle of the Napa Valley, and about 75 minutes from SF if you don't hit any commute traffic. Could be 3 hrs in commute traffic.
8. Samuel P. Taylor SP, Lagunitas, (415)488-9897, really off the beaten track in west Marin County. It is a state park, so no hookups, but very scenic. We camped there often as it was only 45 minutes from our house.

There are a few others, but quite a ways out of your way to sightsee in SF and the Napa Valley.

Enjoy your trip to our beautiful part of the state.

Adventurous · 04-13-2006, 12:27 PM

WOW Paul, that is quite a list. Thanks so much!
I'm sure we'll find a good place to stay.
Also thanks for the heads up on the traffic to Napa valley!

Paul Heuvelhorst · 04-13-2006, 07:30 PM

Ellen,
Perhaps I wasn't clear enough about the commute traffic... the commute in the morning on Hwy 101 is from the north into SF, and in the evening from SF northward.

The highway through the Napa Valley is #29, but you need to get from 101 to 29 via Hwy 37 or to 29 from Hwy 80 in the East Bay.

Bay Area commute traffic is heavier than anything you may be accustomed to in Florida. To miss the traffic, wait until about 10:00 a.m. to drive into SF from the north, and leave SF by 3:00 p.m., or stay in The City for dinner and the traffic northward will be gone by 7:00 p.m.

I hope this explanation clarifies any misstatement I may have made earlier.

Adventurous · 04-14-2006, 05:13 PM

Hi Paul,
Yes I'm sure the traffic here in Florida is not nearly as bad as in the bay area.( We carefully time our trip north to Ohio to avoid the rush hour traffic in Atlanta!) Thanks for the follow up on the traffic situation in your area.
I was in the area some time ago, even sat in a mud bath in Calistoga! But somebody else did the driving and it was at night.
We are looking forward to checking out the S.F. area and taking in the scenery.
Thanks for your help.

P.S. is your last name of dutch origin?

MnJLollar · 04-16-2006, 09:43 AM

The Petaluma KOA has a tour bus everyday that goes into San Francisco. Traffic is horrible.
Getting to the wine country is very easy from there and not so much traffic. Also very easy coast access.

Paul Heuvelhorst · 04-16-2006, 07:16 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Originally posted by Adventurous:
I was in the area some time ago, even sat in a mud bath in Calistoga! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Dr. Wilkins? That is our favorite "mud bath" hangout in Calistoga

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> P.S. is your last name of dutch origin? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yes it is. My grandparents on both sides were born in the Netherlands. Maternal grandparents settled in Rochester, NY before moving to Grand Rapids, MI. My paternal grandparents settled on the farm in North Blendon, MI (an western suburb of Grand Rapids). I was born in Grand Rapids. My parents moved to So. Calif. when I was 9, so after 57 years in this state, I feel like a native. My wife is also Dutch, and a native Californian... a rare combination.

Enjoy your trip... sounds like you have a lot packed into it... all enjoyable.

Adventurous · 04-17-2006, 05:58 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">My grandparents on both sides were born in the Netherlands </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was born and raised in the Netherlands and came to the USA after college for just one year!!! That was 35 plus years ago!!!
Do you speak dutch at all?
The dutch love to travel and I am always amazed how often we run into someone from over there in the most remote places.

Yes the trip I am planning for this summer is full with places to visit in the west. We plan to spend at least 3 months on the road starting in Florida with the first stops in Ohio and Michigan. Due west from there.
Thanks for your help, I saw your input in the Canada thread also.

"Groetjes"

Jim Gehlen · 04-18-2006, 09:35 AM

You might want to check out the fairgrounds in Calistoga. Stayed there in Dec 02 and believe the rate was $15.00/night for full hookup with 30/50 amp service. Very easy access to many parts of the wine country.

Adventurous · 04-18-2006, 02:01 PM

[quote]You might want to check out the fairgrounds in Calistoga. Stayed there in Dec 02

Thanks for the tip. Will put it on our list of places to check! Are they in the regular campground guide listings? I don't remember ever seeing a listing for fairgrounds as campings...

Paul Heuvelhorst · 04-18-2006, 06:15 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Do you speak dutch at all? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nope! Back in the "early days", it was the immigrants desire to become "Americans" so they put all their efforts into learning the English language, and didn't speak their native tongue at all.

It's a shame, because 3rd generation, like me, have no idea what the Dutch language is unless we spend a lot of time learning it. My wife's grandparents spoke Dutch in their home, but not out in the community. Her dad came, with his parents, to the USA when he was 2. She heard and learned to understand some Dutch, but did not learn to speak it.

We were raised in So. Calif. "Dutch" communities of Artesia, Bellflower and Paramount (40's & 50's), but all of our friends spoke English, too.

I showed her your salutation, and neither of us have clue what it means... sorry.

We hope you have a wonderful vacation. We are currently vacationing on the Central California coast, Morro Bay. Will return home the first week in May.

Adventurous · 04-20-2006, 05:30 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">"Groetjes" </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Greetings!!!!

I know the dilemma of kids and new/ old language.
I did not teach our kids dutch because my husband would not understand it and I felt it would become our little secret language. I probable was wrong on all counts but here we are.

Paul Heuvelhorst · 04-20-2006, 06:49 PM

Thank you, Ellen,
Now I know 2 words in Dutch, and the first one isn't very nice! ;-)

Actually I know a couple of words, but don't know how to spell them in Dutch: little young one; dumb. That's about the extent of my Dutch, words I picked up in school many, many, many years ago.

Enjoy your trip. As I read all the postings you've made, you will love all the sights and sounds you see on the West Coast.