San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA

We stayed at San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA in Petaluma, California. (Campground Reviews listing.)

Another nice RV park in another wine country.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-04-30
  • Check out: 2023-05-07
  • 7 nights

Weather:

  • Cloudy and drizzle
  • High temps ranging between 58-64°F, lows around 43-47°F
  • Negligible wind in the shelter of redwood trees, apparently up to 25 MPH gusts nearby

Noise:

  • No freeway noise
  • No road noise
  • Distant train noise, rarely heard
  • Occasional neighbor noise (kids)

Site:

  • #17, back in, gravel
  • Needed to disconnect toad; parked beside coach
  • Very unlevel; used blocks on front jacks
  • Medium site: about 40 feet long by about 40 feet wide
  • Swing seat, table & chairs, fire pit on nice concrete patio
  • Tall trees; shrubs and hedges between sites

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 55 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Loose sewer connection, conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • T-Mobile: 20 Mbps down, 5-14 Mbps up, 45-140 ms ping
  • AT&T: 11 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up, 35 ms ping
  • Verizon: 16 Mbps down, 10 Mbps up, 30 ms ping
  • Starlink: not used
  • Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

  • Garbage dumpsters
  • Swimming pool
  • Petting zoo

Our review on Campground Reviews:

A bit expensive, but pleasant enough after the initial hurdles

We stayed for a week in a deluxe patio back-in site in the redwood grove. The beginning of our stay was not auspicious: firstly, my husband went to check us in but didn’t have his wallet, and they demanded ID, so I had to go in with my full wallet because they not only wanted ID but to also actually physically see the “card on file” and made me swipe it instead of just charging it from the computer.

Secondly, unlike most KOAs, we did not have an escort to show us to our site…which was occupied by a long-term resident. So we had to drive our rig back around to the office to get that sorted out. They were due to leave the following day, but we got the (almost) as good site next to it. So even though I’d paid the site lock fee (like a chump), I didn’t get the site I’d selected (and did not get a refund).

The site was unlevel front-to-back and was just big enough for our 40-foot motorhome. Any longer and we would have either 1) hit the berm behind the site or 2) had our nose out in the street.

However, once we settled in, we enjoyed our stay here. The large family groups were in another part of the park, and the redwood grove area was nice and quiet. We also enjoyed the hedges between the back-in sites, which provided some privacy on the lovely patio. We camped at San Francisco North / Petaluma KOA in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: The Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa is fun for Peanuts fans. Lots of fantastic wineries in the area. If you enjoy bubbly, definitely check out Iron Horse. Head to Muir Woods for a beautiful walk and take the scenic route along Hwy 1 back to camp.

Interactive map:

The RV park map; it says our site was #16, which was the one we had chosen (and paid the site lock fee to reserve), but when we pulled up to the site, it was occupied. So we went back to the office, and they reassigned us to the site next to it, #17:

Map

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

A nice fairly private patio, with shrubs and a hedge providing screening, and attractive stamped concrete:

Patio

Patio

Bear and fish stamps:

Bear and fish stamps

Our site

Not much clearance:

Not much clearance

Utilities; I used a water-weighted bag to secure the sewer, since it was unthreaded:

Utilities

This is site #16, which we were supposed to have, next to where we ended up; a bigger site, being on an angle, but otherwise much the same:

Next site

A free range peahen:

Peahen

Peahen

Peahen

Other sites:

Other sites

Most of the sites seem rather unlevel:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Entrance gate:

Entrance gate

Office:

Office

Office

Office

Petting farm:

Petting farm

Goats:

Goats

Goats

Goats

Goats

Goats

Goats

Jenn petting goats

Games:

Games

Deflated jump pad:

Deflated jump pad

Picnic area:

Picnic area

Picnic area

Chicken run:

Chicken run

Chickens and peacock:

Chickens and peacock

Chickens

Rooster and peacock:

Rooster and peacock

Chickens

Rooster

Chickens and peacock

Donkeys:

Donkeys

Donkeys

Dogrun:

Dogrun

Games:

Games

Feral cat:

Feral cat

Cabins:

Cabins

Cabins

Cabins

Cabins

Cabins

Covered seating:

Covered seating

Covered seating

Playground:

Playground

Travel from Paso Robles to Petaluma, California

We drove our coach 244 miles, about four hours of driving, from Paso Robles, California to Petaluma, California.

Here’s the map route, heading northwest:

Route

An interactive map, with potential and actual stops:

A steep hill in the RV park on the way out:

Steep hill leaving RV park

Joining US-101 for our trip up the coast (somewhat inland at this stage):

US-101

Listening to a Mariners baseball game, streaming from the MLB app:

Listening to Mariners baseball game

Pump jacks; when did we get back to Texas?

Pump jacks

Vineyards:

Vineyards

Roadside artwork:

Roadside artwork

A lunch stop at Wildhorse Cafe in King City:

Restaurant

Restaurant

Menu

Menu

Coffee

Breakfast for lunch

Back to our coach:

Back to our coach

Paladin on the steps, with my feet up:

Paladin on the steps

Historic El Camino Real bell markers:

Historic El Camino Real bell markers

Roadside artwork:

Roadside artwork

Bright pink flowers:

Bright pink flowers

Roadside artwork

Roadside artwork

A bald eagle:

Bald eagle

Historic El Camino Real bell markers

Paladin looking a little freaked out:

Paladin

A fuel stop at SC Fuels in Gilroy:

Fuel stop

Fuel stop

It’s a cardlock fuel station, but works with our Open Roads discount fuel card:

Cardlock fuel stop

Fuel stop

A snack (fun fact: the Pringles can sticks magnetically to the MacBook Pro in that spot):

Snack

Oakland Coliseum:

Oakland Collseum

Oakland:

Oakland

Flowers:

Flowers

Toll booths:

Toll booths

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge:

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Green hills:

Green hills

Drawbridge:

Drawbridge

Our destination, a KOA:

KOA

Following our coach to our site (with some adventures with that; stay tuned!):

Following coach to our site

A bubble level helps us check when leveling our coach

Our coach has built-in hydraulic and air leveling systems, with a display that shows the level:

Leveling control panel

Leveling control panel

We pretty much always use hydraulic leveling, as it is more stable. In theory we just use Auto mode and it works… but sometimes on a rather unlevel site we have to switch to Manual to convince it to actually be level:

Leveling control panel

A useful addition to help check how level it is is a bubble level that shows two dimensions at once:

Bubble level

Bubble level

Bubble level

We put it on the floor to help see how level the coach is, and guide adjustments to get it level.

Bruce Munro: Light at Sen­so­rio

An artistic installation in Paso Robles, California is Bruce Munro: Light at Sensorio.

It features a field of thousands of lights, and some light towers.

We arrived just before sunset:

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Path to the light towers:

Path to the light towers

Light towers, made of wine bottles (of course):

Light towers

An interesting shed:

Shed

We got a couple of beverages from the bar:

Bar

Sunset:

Sunset

Light towers:

Light towers

Light towers

A shot from my 360 camera:

Light towers

A 360 camera effect:

360 camera effect

Light towers

Back to the Field of Lights as it gets darker:

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Back to the Light towers, now that it’s dark:

Light towers

Light towers

Light towers

Light towers

Light towers

Grass lights:

Grass lights

The Field of Lights again:

Field of Lights

360 camera effects:

360 camera effect

360 camera effect

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Field of Lights

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle is an iconic mansion about midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

They offer a number of tours, from the basic Grand Rooms Tour, which we did 22 years ago when we first moved to the US, to a more exclusive Julia Morgan Tour, about twice as long, limited to just eight visitors, and gets to go places not seen by other tours. We opted for the latter this time; a very worthwhile experience.

Hearst Castle

The experiences starts and ends at the visitor center:

Visitor center

The visitor center includes food, a gift store, and exhibits:

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Visitor center museum

Everyone takes a bus up the hill to the castle:

Bus to the castle

The tour started with the outdoor pool; we were on a side of the pool where the other tours can’t go:

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Pool

Castle:

Castle

Exploring one of the guest cottages:

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Castle

View:

View

Another cottage:

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

Cottage

The castle:

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Castle

Dining room:

Dining room

Dining room

Another room:

Room

Room

Game room:

Game room

Theater:

Theater

Another room:

Room

Julia Morgan’s room:

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Julia Morgan's room

Kitchen:

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Kitchen

Stairs:

Stairs

Bedroom:

Bedroom

Stairs:

Stairs

Ceiling:

Ceiling

Library:

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Library

Back of cottage:

Back of cottage

Underneath a large patio are some old hidden steps, that were built then covered up as Hearst changed his mind:

Hidden old steps

Hidden old steps

Hidden old steps

Indoor pool:

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

Indoor pool

I recorded a timelapse video of the tour with my new 360 camera as an experiment. Unfortunately, the timelapse is designed for static subjects, morphing any movement, which isn’t great with motion. I really should have done a hyperlapse instead, but this is still interesting:

The view looking down the hill, including the winding road to castle:

View and road to castle

Hearst Castle sign:

Hearst Castle sign

Photo:

Photo

Paso Robles wineries: McPrice Myers Vineyards, Calcareous Vineyard, DAOU Vineyards, Parrish Family Vineyard, Le Cuvier Winery

While staying in Paso Robles, we visited a few wineries. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, we figured we’d just head out on a Saturday for a bit of wine tasting, stopping by wineries that looked good. Imagine our surprise when we learned that that is not how things are done in California — apparently one needs reservations pretty much everywhere.

We did manage to get an inside table at one place without a reservation, but that surprise really put a damper on the experience that day.

The place that took pity on our backward ways was McPrice Myers Vineyards:

Tables

Tasting room

Wine tasting

Wine tasting

Wine tasting

We purchased a couple of bottles:

Bottles


After that, we didn’t try any other wineries that day; instead we went to Rustic Fire for a tasty lunch:

Rustic Fire pizza

Rustic Fire pizza

Rustic Fire pizza

Rustic Fire pizza


Learning from our experience, we made reservations for some vineyards on subsequent days. The first was Calcareous Vineyard:

Entrance

Inside the tasting room:

Inside the tasting room

Outdoor table:

Outdoor table

Tasting menu:

Tasting menu

Food menu:

Food menu

Order form:

Order form

View:

View

View

Outdoor seating:

Outdoor seating

Jenn:

Jenn

Tasty food:

Food

Food

Food

We bought three bottles (provided with a nice box):

We bought three bottles


Another vineyard, DAOU Vineyards and Winery:

Entrance

Vines:

Vines

The security station on the driveway; we were turned away here the previous weekend, but this time we had a reservation (and nobody was staffing it this time, of course):

Security

Fancy gate:

Gate

View:

View

Tasting room:

Tasting room

Tasting room

Patio:

Patio

Gardens:

Gardens

Patio

Tasting

Bottle list:

Bottle list

Flight and food menu:

Flight and food menu

Charcuterie platter:

Charcuterie platter

Charcuterie platter

Bottle:

Bottle

Views:

View

View

View

View

View

We bought three bottles:

We bought three bottles


Another winery we visited (on another day) was Parrish Family Vineyard:

Entrance

Entrance

Vineyard

Vineyard

Welcome

Patio area:

Patio area

Tasting menu:

Tasting menu

Food menu:

Food menu

Price list:

Price list

Glass

Patio

Vineyard

Jenn

Super tasty (and messy!) BLTA:

BLTA

Wine


Our last winery in Paso Robles was Le Cuvier Winery:

Le Cuvier Winery

They are situated on top of a hill, so have a nice view:

View

Though the covered patio is tucked away, not taking advantage of that view:

Patio

The experience there was a bit different, with wine and food parings to bring out the flavors:

Wine and food parings

Food

Sun Outdoors Paso Robles

We stayed at Sun Outdoors Paso Robles in Paso Robles, California. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A nice RV park in wine country.

Dates:

  • Check in: 2023-04-20
  • Check out: 2023-04-30
  • 10 nights

Weather:

  • Mostly sunny
  • High temps ranging between 73-83°F, lows around 42-50°F
  • A little wind, typically in afternoons, up to 18 MPH gusts

Noise:

  • No freeway noise
  • No road noise
  • Very distant train noise, rarely heard
  • Some plane noise from nearby airport
  • Some neighbor noise from large groups

Site:

  • #316, back in, gravel
  • Needed to disconnect toad; parked in front of coach
  • Level
  • Medium site: about 60 feet long by about 35 feet wide
  • Picnic table & fire pit on concrete patio

Utilities:

  • 50 amp power, conveniently located
  • 80 PSI water, conveniently located
  • Good sewer connection, fairly conveniently located (1 10-foot + 1 4-foot pipes needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

  • Starlink direct: 85 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up, 45 ms ping
  • Starlink via modem: 10-45 Mbps down, 3 Mbps up, 40 ms ping
  • Campground Wi-Fi: 30-77 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, 50 ms ping (used on phones away from site)
  • Verizon: 30 Mbps down, 4 Mbps up, 60 ms ping
  • T-Mobile: 5-33 Mbps down, 0.5-3 Mbps up, 60-666 ms ping
  • AT&T: 2 Mbps down, 0.1 Mbps up, 64 ms ping

Amenities:

  • Garbage dumpsters (really should have pickup from site in a resort!)
  • Swimming pools
  • Cafe being renovated, so had food trucks instead

Our review on Campground Reviews:

Gorgeous campground in the heart of Paso Robles wine country

We stayed here for 10 days in order to experience the wine country scene and explore the central coast. Our site was a deluxe back-in, overlooking a greenspace and vineyard, which we absolutely loved. Our site was meticulously clean and perfectly flat. During the week, this place was absolutely wonderful and quiet. On the weekends, however, it got very busy with groups and families, so it was a bit noisier.

I have to agree with another review that pointed out they don’t enforce the “no political flags” rule because there were quite a few during our stay, which is unfortunate and creates a less-welcoming atmosphere. We also had issues with our neighbor not keeping their three dogs leashed or under voice control, and we had to repeatedly shoo them away from our living area.

The one thing keeping me from giving this a 5-star review is the lack of garbage pickup from our site. At such an expensive resort, it really should be a standard amenity. We camped at Sun Outdoors Paso Robles in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: Do the food & wine pairing experience at Le Cuvier, have lunch (and get the BLT!) at Parrish, and experience the art installations at Sensorio. It’s also an easy (and beautiful) drive to Hearst Castle and the coast.

Interactive map:

Campground map:

Map

Our site before parking:

Our site before parking

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site

Our site and beyond:

Our site and beyond

Moon:

Moon

Utilities:

Utilities

Working outside:

Working outside

Patio with our griddle, rugs, tables, chairs, and Starlink:

Patio

Hot dogs and beans:

Hot dogs and beans

Another day, a griddle pork loin and pasta salad:

Griddle pork loin and pasta salad

A nice view from the patio:

View from patio

A somewhat reduced view once a neighbor turned up:

Neighbor

Open space behind our site:

Open space behind site

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

Other sites

The Valley Pavilon:

The Valley Pavilon

The Valley Pavilon

Grills, fire pit, etc:

The Valley Pavilon

Hot tub; we enjoyed having it to ourselves on our first evening:

Hot tub

Hot tub

Welcome Center:

Welcome Center

Entrance sign:

Entrance sign