June 27, 2019, we began a 3 week camping trip up to Couer d’Alene, Idaho, to explore the area for possible retirement in 17 years. Our first few nights were spent on the Bridgeport Reservoir at Paradise Shores RV Camp. Here’s the campground website: https://www.paradiseshorescamp.com We really liked this campground. It’s right on the lake/reservoir at 6463 feet in elevation. There’s a decent size market a few miles away. The view was incredible all day but especially at sunset. We would do our usual and bring our beach chairs and a few bottles of wine to watch the daily sunset. One unusual thing I never saw on the internet during my research was the bird situation. At the campground, there are some bugs flying around therefore there are birds trying to eat them. What happens is, the bugs go near humans therefore the birds will swoop down near you to get the bugs and they occasionally bump into your body. This was jarring at first, but then you get used to it as crazy as that sounds. It’s not scary but I thought it worth mentioning. On both our nights at Paradise Shores, there was huge wind in the late afternoons. One evening I helped a family trying to secure there tent so it wouldn’t blow away. It was at that moment when my wife and I realized how nice it was to have an RV. Bugs and weather did not ruin our camping like it would have if we were still tent camping.

While there, we visited the Bodie Ghost Town which was 25 miles and a 45 minute drive away.

Well worth the visit, trust me. We also visited Travertine Hot Springs which was only 8 miles away from campground. It was a little bit different looking hot springs but worth viewing or sitting in which you can do.

We also spent a day hiking up by Virginia Lakes which is like 20 miles away. We left our campsite and it was noon and 70 degrees. When we arrived at Virginia Lakes Trailhead which is at roughly 9100 feet, you’ll need to a full winter coat, long pants, and for sure, sweaters for your dogs if you bring them. We actually walked half the trail on snow. We didn’t get to finish due to the heavy snow at one point on the trail, but I will say, it was unbelievably beautiful.

From Bridgeport, we did some heavy driving which my wife hates. We drove 730 miles with a sleep stop in a rest area for a few hours on our way to Badger Mountain Winery in the lower central southern section of Washington state. We belong to a group called Harvest Hosts which allow you to camp your RV at farms and wineries. Since we’re into drinking wine, we signed up for this thing. They only allow for one or two night stays, but after paying a yearly fee of $60, you get to stay at these places for free. You can call ahead and book your stay, but be mindful that there is no sewage hookup and half of them only have electric and water, usually, just electric if that. Also, you have to arrive usually by 5 pm at most places. So, we stayed at Badger Mtn Winery and it turned out to be one of our favorite nights of the trip. It was a Sunday and they were just closing up. We parked our trailer, got the last wine tasting and then .went to J. Bookwalter Winery for another wine tasting. Bookwalter had good wine and great hors d’oeuvres. Worth checking out. Got back to “our” winery, and we literally had the whole winery to ourselves as the employees left. We were parked up on a hill overlooking the vineyard and caught a beautiful sunset.

The next morning we had a dead battery as we were trying to pack up and leave the winery. Luckily, there was a Camping World only 20 minutes away. We therefore headed towards my buddy’s house in Spokane Valley for a night. After that, we headed to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and stayed at Camp Coeur d’Alene which we highly recommend. It’s at the very east side of the lake about a 15 minute drive to downtown. It had free firewood which is almost unheard of. Shady spots, not too cramped but not too spacey either. I read a lot of reviews about trouble backing up into your spot if you’re up further on the road, but if you know how to back in a trailer, you’ll be fine. They also have free kayak rentals, a pool to swim, and a small camp store. You’re in the wild yet 20 minutes from a Walmart. Is there anything better? We were here over 4th of July and we paid $80 each to watch the fireworks shoot off from the lake at the second floor roof of the Coeur d’Alene Resort hotel. This also included endless amounts of food and beverages but not including alcohol. Highly recommend that as well and they do fill up quick so if you know you’re in the area for sure, book a week or two ahead of time.

We left Coeur d’Alene and headed towards the California coast. Therefore, we did a one night stay at Sherman County RV Park. This place is in the middle of nowhere. It’s a mile away from a one street town in Moro, Oregon. It’s just a one night, move on kind of place but the fact that you’re in the middle of nowhere, it leaves you with a beautiful sunset of wheat fields. Cheap, clean restrooms and you might be the only person there on your one night. However, one other person was camping for the night a few spots over so naturally, we got to talking and oddly enough, this 70 year old couple was on their way to Crater Lake Resort the next day to meet their kids and grandkids and that’s where we were staying for the following 3 nights. Random?! I love how life creates these random yet connected moments and this, for sure, was one of them.

We stayed 3 nights at Crater Lake Resort. This place has full and partial hookups with great scenery up against Fort Creek flowing behind the sites. Make sure you have plenty of food stocked up before you get there because the market is quite a ways away. We visited the Crater Lake Lodge and had a cocktail outside on the patio looking over Crater Lake which was definitely cool. We then drove almost all the way around the lake and pulled over for photos. We had dogs with us so we couldn’t take the boat ride around the lake but I heard it’s totally worth doing.

We did a one night layover at Durango RV Resorts which was pricey and close to the freeway, but it was a super clean, nice resort with a pool, a spa, clean bathrooms. If you catn, I recommend grabbing sites 97-101. They’re up against the Sacramento River with a good piece of grass between the RV spots and the river which is great for the dogs and to sit in chairs and have a glass of wine. These 5 spots are the farthest away from the freeway. Most of the other spots you will hear a bit of freeway noise since you’re by it.

We spent our last 5 days on the California coast at Mendocino Coast KOA. This KOA is just off the coast of Manchester Beach. The CG was pretty good. Grassy sites, with full hookups, camp store, rec room, and community firepit which quite a few people would hang out at eating the free ice cream cones that they provide. Great way to meet people which we did. We drove the ten miles south to Bowling Ball Beach Trailhead which was a 20 minute hike down to the beach where these bowling ball rocks are lined up, sticking out of the water about ten feet from the shore. Recommend the hike and to take pictures. We took our dogs with us and let them walk with no leashes and they had a ball no pun intended. We drove up to Glass Beach in Fort Bragg which is 40 miles north of the CG about an hour drive. Big letdown. About 120 years ago, the Fort Bragg locals would dump their trash and bottles on the northern beach. Over 100 years later the glass has dulled and created this beautiful looking beach. They tell you not to steal the glass off the beach. Of course, much like Plymouth Rock and Stonehenge, human idiots wreck it by doing their own thing. Therefore, there is very little glass left on beach and there’s not much to see. We also checked out Point Arena Lighthouse. Nothing fancy but still worth a quick look. It was nice to finish the trip here because you’re really removed from most towns and civilization being out there by the coast. One huge note and I mean huge, if you’re towing or driving an RV, do NOT take the Mountain View Road to get back out to the 101 even though it’s close to the campground. It’s way too tight and curvy and absolutely not safe to drive and I’m not exaggerating. To avoid this problem, from the CG take highway 1 north to highway 128 south to the 101. It’s a bit out of the way but truly the best way to get back to the main highway.