Tracy Spicer's USA road trip
So it's with trepidation that we embark on an RV tour of the "wheel America" across California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. We're travelling with two other Aussie families as part of a modern-day wagon train.
"It's Cadillac camping," enthuses our tour boss, Mark Sheehan.
The rec-re-hay-shun-al vee-hick-al is surprisingly comfortable, with big beds, a kitchen, hot shower, toilet, TV and DVD player.
"We're driving a house," squeals our daughter, while our son says, "It's just like Uncle Max's van from Ben 10."
First stop is the adult theme park Las Vegas, five hours northeast of Los Angeles. There's an RV park on the strip next to the casino Circus Circus. This is appropriate because some of the occupants appear to be carnie folk.
The number plate on one woman's Winnebago boasts: This vehicle is powered by Smith & Wesson.
"If any-wurn comes onta ma propertie, I'll shoot 'em, right between tha eyes," she explains, helpfully pointing two fingers at her forehead.
But they're not all from My Name is Earl. We meet a former CEO of The Bank of America travelling in his 12.5m van, complete with open fireplace. Next door is a Barbara Cartland lookalike, sitting in her formal dining room with three poodles.
While Las Vegas is a parents' paradise, kids can enjoy the Mirage's erupting volcano, the musical fountain at The Bellagio, the pirate extravaganza outside Treasure Island and the wall of rainbow-coloured chocolate at M&M's World.
That said, my daughter appears a little confused by the transgender Cleopatra with a snake around her neck, performing on The Strip. "Mummy, why does that woman have a beard?" is not a question you expect to hear from your five-year-old.
The following day, we drive northeast through the surreal scenery of the Colorado Plateau. Dramatic blocks of sandstone thrust hundreds of metres skyward, like layer cake revealing seven different geologic formations. This is Canyon Country, used as a location for John Wayne films and the Indiana Jones franchise.
South Rim Grand Canyon Rv Parks - News
She has hiked into the Grand Canyon four times, the first time she hiked rim to rim with KrisAnn, and the next time with her husband. KrisAnn and Pursley did the Hermit Trail on the west side of the national park. The third time she hiked by herself to
An RV (recreational vehicle) parked in the Monument Valley in Utah. Picture: Tracy Spicer Source: Supplied Bryce Canyon National Park in Garfield County, Utah. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied IN National Lampoon's Vacation, the Griswolds leave a
Seven families from Canyon Lake made the journey to the Grand Canyon, stopping at the Grand Canyon Caverns on the way and staying at the Mathers Campground on the South Rim. • Dorothy and Ken Cable, Carolyn and Vick Knight and Leigh and Ron Martel
How to Score a Campground at Popular National Parks | the talking ...
On a Sunday morning calling the reservations hotline for Yosemite National Park, trying to score two campsites for our summer vacation. After 2 or 3 rings, I would hear a pre-recorded message stating that all phone lines were busy, and asking would I please call back. So I called back, hundreds of times, and about 2 hours later, I finally reached a live person . Amazingly, there were two shaded campsites available next to each other with an amazing view of Half Dome and we enjoyed a great vacation.
Today, the process is not so tedious thanks to the wonders of the internet. But the disappointments and the thrill of victory can hold the same keen excitement and can create an amazing sense of competition to score a campsite in the popular Yosemite Valley. It’s not too early to start thinking about summer plans , and it’s important to get the information you need in order to make reservations for the more crowded National Parks. Many of them have campsites that fill quickly with reservations on the first day they are opened. Here’s the information you need in order to plan for your summer and get the reservations you desire.
There are two campgrounds in Grand Canyon National Park that are reservable and are located on each rim. The South Rim campground, Mather Campground , is located next to the Grand Canyon Village and can fill up quickly because of the well-visited South Rim of the Grand Canyon. North Rim Campground is at a higher elevation and less crowded because it’s harder to get to the North Rim area of the Grand Canyon. Campsites at North Rim can be reserved that are near the edge of the canyon and reservations for these popular ones go quickly. However, I would imagine that most families would not want to camp so close to the edge when small children are with them.
Camping at Zion National Park is very popular with summer guests.