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 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):
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:
Our site before parking:
Our site:
Our site and beyond:
Moon:
Utilities:
Working outside:
Patio with our griddle, rugs, tables, chairs, and Starlink:
Hot dogs and beans:
Another day, a griddle pork loin and pasta salad:
A nice view from the patio:
A somewhat reduced view once a neighbor turned up:
Open space behind our site:
Other sites:
The Valley Pavilon:
Grills, fire pit, etc:
Hot tub; we enjoyed having it to ourselves on our first evening:
Party central, not the place for quiet contemplation
This was the most expensive place we’ve ever stayed and I really wanted to like it but wound up counting the hours until we departed. Perhaps it was because it was spring break, but this resort was packed with rowdy groups and masses of kids. You could hardly drive down the road without dodging the corn hole games, kids on bikes, adults on skateboards, etc. And, oh the noise, noise, noise. If the neighbors weren’t blasting their music or shrieking, the park itself had music blaring from the pool area or roving the streets. We work during the week, so it was unconducive to concentration. It’s petty, but the biggest complaint is that for $165/night they should have trash pickup at your site. They have one dumpster/compactor and it’s equally inconvenient wherever you are in the park. They also have annoyingly planted trees right next to the patio on the northern sites along the fence. We couldn’t get between our front door and the patio without squeezing between the tree and our slide. On the plus side, the cafe and bar were nice and we enjoyed several meals there, and the plumbed-in gas firepit at our site was a nice addition. The Bayshore Bikeway runs right by the park and it was nice to ride around the bay. We camped at Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay in a Motorhome.
Tip for Other Campers: San Diego Zoo is worth the hype (order your tickets online to save a few bucks and avoid the line at the park), and Balboa Park has so much to see. The Cabrillo National Monument is also a great place to check out.
Interactive map; the RV park is too new for the satellite image as of this writing, but may be there if you check later:
Campground map:
Our site:
We rode our bikes:
This shrub was touching our coach; I trimmed it back so we could access the patio:
A nice plumbed-in fire pit:
We like places with on-site restaurants, even better when they will deliver to our site, which we took advantage of on travel day; we’re always tired then, so nice to not to have to cook or go out:
We went to the cafe a few times:
Breakfast:
Another day, free drinks from tokens given on arrival:
Dinner:
Another breakfast:
This place had a definite party vibe, including roving live music on our first day:
Other sites:
Cabins:
Pool area:
Finally, another view of our site, with our coach packed up and ready to leave:
This was a nice, new resort. We enjoyed the convenience of the cafe. But we didn’t enjoy the noisy neighbors, with lots of people having large gatherings in front of their sites (and on the roads), with loud talking, loud children, and loud music. Not our kind of place.
We visited Disneyland for Jenn’s birthday last year, and were in the area again this year, so decided to visit again, this time to celebrate our anniversary (28 years, if you’re curious). And just three days at the two parks, instead of five like last year.
We were very pleased that the trams were running again; last year, they had suspended the trams due to COVID, so we had to walk the half mile or so from the parking garage to the resort. Which is not much compared to walking around in Disneyland, but not the best way to start or finish the experience:
On the tram:
First thing after entering Disneyland is a photo op below the train station (once again we got the Genie+ service, which includes PhotoPass photos all over the park):
We enjoyed the Rise of the Resistance ride (again; we did most of the rides last year too; we used the Genie+ service to snag LightningLanes for most of the rides, where available, to minimize waiting):
Then we went on the Mark Twain Riverboat for a cruise around the Rivers of America:
A duck on a moose back:
For our anniversary dinner, we had a reservation at Blue Bayou Restaurant, overlooking the start of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride:
Here’s the menu:
Castle at night:
Viewing area for the evening Fantasmic! show (included with the dinner package):
The show featured projections on water, fire (but not dragon on fire), fireworks, dancing, etc:
Mickey photo op:
A couple of days later, we went back to Disneyland a second time.
The Pixar ball at the parking area:
We bought Magic Bands, which were very useful; they can be used to get into the parks, access fast lanes, link photos, and have bonus interactions, among other things:
Main Street:
We used the lockers; a great way to bring in extra clothing, batteries, etc, but not have to lug them around all day:
It was rather dodgy, though; near the end of the ride it shut down, and all the lights came on. We had to wait several minutes before being evacuated:
We were given a credit to come back later, which we did. The ride seemed to go down frequently. And when we went on it the second time, it had long pauses towards the end. Some more debugging needed, I think. Still, it was a mostly fun experience, and fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes peek.
This was our second time staying here, and I would happily stay again. For an urban setting so close to Disneyland and other attractions, they could easily charge more than they do. This park is genuinely a park, with lovely landscaping and attention to service. We had site 96, which was an interestingly located pull-through site right at the end of a row close to the office. The only downside to the location is there is no privacy screening between your living area and the check-in area. There’s entertainment value in watching the flow of people coming into the park, but I would’ve preferred a nice trellis or hedge to look at. We also enjoyed being close enough to civilization to order food delivery and get some service done on our rig while here. But the main draw, of course, is being a 10-minute drive to Disneyland. We camped at Orangeland RV Park in a Motorhome.
Interactive map:
Campground map:
They also have a map on a wall showing where all of the fruit trees are:
Our site:
Our site was near the registration area:
Setting up our site; here’s a video of a leveling jack going down:
Griddle, filters, and water softener stored for transport:
Setting up utilities:
A nice thing about being in a city; we can get pizza delivery:
Working outside:
The registration area was so close:
A nice thing about this park is they offer trash pickup from the site (and even provide a bag):
The Orangeland RV Park entrance:
Office:
Registration area:
Pool:
Hot tub (which was undergoing renovations last time we were here):
While staying in Yermo, California, we had dinner at Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner, a classic roadside diner built in 1954, and restored with lots of movie memorabilia. And a 5 & Dime store and dinosaur park.
Menu:
Malt shake:
Jenn’s French dip and curly fries:
My Hawaiian burger, curly fries, and potato salad:
