RV TRIP

Aspen is a ski resort in the state of Colorado in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States. Its little sister is the family-friendly Snowmass Village, which is about 10 miles from downtown Aspen.

In the winter, visitors can ski at the four city’s ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Highlands and Buttermilk. You can also hobnob with celebrities and jetsetters as Aspen also is known for its ability to attract both. Other family-friendly winter activities include sleigh rides, sledding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

There’s plenty to do in summer as well: mountain bike, hike, golf, take the chair lifts for scenic views, whitewater rafting, fly fishing or hot air ballooning. Visitors can also take in a rodeo, or one of the area’s many outdoor concerts and festivals.

Sedona is an Arizona town 120 miles north of Phoenix. Known for its beautiful and serene setting amidst the Red Rocks, the town is also famous for its vibrant arts community. It boasts nearly 100 art galleries and plays host to annual events such as the Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona Arts Festival and the Sedona Jazz Festival.

Canyons, creeks, mountains and forests surround the area, while the main attraction, the Sedona Red Rocks, appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. To hike, remember to buy a Red Rock Pass from the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. With the pass, you'll be able to park at or near the trailheads for some of the United States' most spectacular hikes. For a challenge, try Cathedral Rock. It's steep, but the view is unparalleled.

There is a specialized New Age tourism industry in Sedona, where the "Harmonic Convergence" was organized by Jose Arguelles in 1987. "Spiritual vortices" are said to be concentrated in the Sedona area at Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon and Schnebly Hill and many visitors come to the area in search of a mystical experience.

Located next to the beautiful Mission Bay, this park is convenient and scenic. Clean and restive, it allows you to drive your caravans, class A & C motor homes, travel trailers, 5th wheels, and toy-haulers onto the site. There are even special sites for super-sized vehicles. This home away from home offers laundry facilities, hot showers, internet access, and satellite cable TV all for free. You are even allowed to bring your pets over. Since you will be staying extremely close to the beach and a golf course, there's tons of stuff to do. Like all safe and secure environs, the RV Park also follows certain rules and regulations; make sure you check them out before your trip.

San Diego is a beautiful city on the Southern California coast known for its ideal climate, miles of beaches and location on the Mexican border. It has a rich heritage built around sailing and is home to the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy. One of the top family travel spots in the country, San Diego also is well known for its part in the wildlife conservation movement, being home to a SeaWorld theme park and the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park.

Visitors to the city can also enjoy activities from whale watching to scuba diving to rock climbing, or visit one of its many notes sites, including Balboa Park, the Old Globe theater, Legoland, the nearby resort town of La Jolla, the San Diego Maritime Museum or Old Town, with its preserved buildings and icons of the Spanish heritage of San Diego.

Yosemite National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in east-central California. Yosemite is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves and biological diversity. The 750,000-acre, 1,200 square-mile park contains thousands of lakes and ponds, 1,600 miles of streams, 800 miles of hiking trails, and 350 miles of roads.

Physically fit travelers will enjoy hiking the park’s many trails and footpaths. Check with rangers for trail conditions; snow and hazards from falling rock close many trails in winter. No permits are required park-wide for day hikes. The valley also offers some of the most challenging and spectacular rock climbing in North America, with vertical faces more than  3,000 feet tall. There are still commercial horseback-riding concessions in the Yosemite Valley, Wawona and Tuolumne Meadows areas.

For cross-country skiers the park offers over 350 miles of trails, with 90 miles of marked trails and 25 miles of groomed trails originating at Badger Pass. Downhill skiing options include 10 runs at Badger Pass. The majority of these runs are for beginners and moderate skiers, so thrill seekers may wish to ski elsewhere.