Saturday, April 30, 2016

Western Hills RV Park, Rawlins, WY

Stay Date:  Apr 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 8

Western Hills RV ParkWe spent two nights here due to a spring snowstorm.  Don't be tempted to turn into the park at the entrance of Cappy's restaurant, wait and turn at 23rd street to avoid bottoming out on a sharp curve. Check in was quick with a friendly and very helpful young lady. The park is basically a large flat area of an unusual surface; a mix of dirt and gravel that while holds up a vehicle when wet, results in a soft layer of mud. Sites are long enough to leave tow attached and have adequate space in between. OK cable TV, very good WiFi, didn't try the OTA TV. Verizon cell/data was strong, and no trees to impede satellite TV. Convenient to the interstate with shopping nearby.  $31/night with Good Sam Discount.  Western Hills RV Park

Area Tips:  Cappy’s restaurant is withing walking distance, but while it has good food, the smell of grease and a dirty interior is a good reason to explore the town.  There’s a new Super Wal-Mart at the east end of town, plenty of fast food joints, and an interesting downtown area.

Holiday Hills RV Park, Coalville, UT

Stay Date:  April 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 7

Holiday Hills RV Park1An interesting and unusual layout makes this a good place during the off-season, but probably not so much when crowded.  Easy access to the interstate, the “office’ is the gas station store. Holiday Hills RV Park2 Pull in, register, then make a U-turn back to the park area.  The layout is a curving road with cutoffs to make narrow pull-thus.  The first few on the right give you a large grassy area with a view of the river.  Holiday Hills RV Park3Sites on the reverse side are less desireable.  Good hookups, asphalt/concrete pads, and plenty of shade.  No cable, OTA TV, and marginal for a rooftop satellite, but good Verizon cell/data.  Nothing close by, just an overnight stop.  Anything over 40’ and tow will have a problem fitting in the sites.  Good Sam discount rate is $29/night.  Holiday Hills RV Park

Valley View RV Park, Ely NV

Stay Date:  April 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 7

Valley View RV ParkThis was our second stop in six months here as we continue to try (and get blown out by weather) and visit Wheeler Peak.  Easy access to the highway, nice enough staff, and long sites.  Valley View RV Park3A small patch of grass, table, and shade trees at each site.  Good cable TV, adequate WiFi, and strong Verizon cell/data.  Not great for satellites but some OTA channels. Valley View RV Park4 Nothing much to say about the park, except road noise is fairly significant at night.  $28/night with Good Sam Discount.  Valley View RV Park

Area Tips:  We found the downtown casinos and restaurants to be old and smelly with cigarette smoke.  Try the Prospector Hotel and Casino and it’s Margarita restaurant; a nice little casino and really good Mexican food. 

Friday, April 29, 2016

Young’s RV Park, Caliente NV

Stay Date:  April 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 8

Youngs RV Park1This was our second trip to Young’s RV park.  Our brief stop last fall convinced us that there was enough to do in the area for a return trip.  The park is family owned, and the manager Youngs RV Park2is friendly and helpful.  While nothing fancy, the park has everything we need for a convenient stay, at a great price.  Sites are long, level gravel with a small tree and table, and there’s a nice view of the mountains through the windshield. Youngs RV Park3 The free WiFi was excellent, Verizon cell/data were strong, and there were no obstructions to the satellite.  There’s also an older area with large shade trees and full hookups, but we opted for the mountain view sites.  Lots to do in the area, and a perfect place to stay.  A great rate at $25/night.  Young’s RV Park

Area Tips:  Caliente is a short distance from Rainbow Canyon, a 20-mile paved drive through beautiful rock formations and scenery.  Don’t miss Kershaw-Ryan State Park, a hidden oasis with beautiful grounds.  Take a trip to Cathedral Gorge State Park and Pioche, both worth a visit.  The two local restaurants (Knotty Pine and Branding Iron) are horrible – stick to Pioneer Pizza and JJ’s Fast Food.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Desert Eagle (Nellis AFB) Famcamp, Las Vegas NV

Stay Date:  April 2016

Our Rating:  GOOD – 9

Nellis Famcamp1We’re frequent visitors to this park since it’s often on our spring or fall route.  It’s never failed to be a comfortable, affordable stay.  This time we arrived when all of the full-hookup spots were full, and even though we had a reservation, we spent ten days in the partial hookup area.  Nellis Famcamp2The overflow, or partial hookup area is a number of circles, with trees in the middle, where RVs are parked end to end, six or eight to a circle.  Two sites share one power pedestal, with one 50A and one 30A, so whoever gets there first gets their pick. RV Park View Water hookups are also shared, but there are no sewer hookups.  It’s comfortable, and the downside was a trip to the dump station every five or six days.  When we moved to a full-hookup site, it was the standard back-in on a circle, giving us plenty of room to spread out.  Nellis Famcamp3The only complaint we had is that the system for moving to the full hookup area is not very transparent; it was never clear to us when we would be able to move, even when we saw empty sites.  But still, the professionalism of the staff, laundry and recreation room, and security made this a great stay.  Nellis Famcamp4The good news is that a large expansion is planned, and if funding remains stable, it will mean another 80 full hookup sites.  With the new “loop” around the north and west side of town being more accessible to the base, it’s easy to get around to shopping and dining.  Always a quality stay – $22/night for a full hookup site.  Desert Eagle Famcamp

Area TipsWith the new 216 Loop, it’s easy to access the Northern and Western suburbs with their shopping and their casinos.  Also, when leaving Nellis, turn north on Nellis Blvd to Hollywood (just short of the speedway) and you’ll hit a PETRO truck stop, right next to I-15.  We like the Station Casinos, Monday military specials and inexpensive buffets.  The base commissary is great, the BX large but not cheap.  There’s a small shoppette just past the RV Park.  If you’re visiting the strip, park at the Westgate Hotel, just off Sahara, and take the monorail from their station.  It’s fast, cheap, and convenient.