Vanabode - Travel Destination Guides for the United States

The following destination guides contain custom written, first hand information from me personally or from those that have been there personally. This is information you can depend on when planning your travels.

California

China Ranch, Tecopa California a real live desert oasis, date palm farm, hiking, cool little hidden gem
   China Ranch, Tecopa California Pictures through their antique shop while sipping a date shake
Joshua Tree National Park Spring and Fall are the best times to enjoy this park, stay for weeks
   Joshua Tree National Park Pictures 2 deserts, 2 ecosystems, 5 palm oases, and great camping
California Beaches Silver Strand, San Mateo, Mission, La Jolla, Imperial, +More
San Diego California there is a plethora of activities around the San Diego Bay, shops to outdoor fun
   San Diego California Pictures 14 acres of museums, shoreline parks, entertainment, and dining
   Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo 15 museums, eight gardens, koala bears, huge zoo park
   Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo Pictures wade in the fountain at Plaza de Balboa and walk the zoo
   Coronado California classic Hotel del Coronado & Ferry Landing Marketplace, fun day or two
Los Angeles California Griffith Park, Hollywood Boulevard, Farmers Markets, big city life
   Huntington Library California library, art collections, and botanical gardens, astonishing must see
   Huntington Library California Pictures a place for everyone whether art, book or garden enthusiast
   Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden 127 acre botanical gardens well worth the visit
Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden focuses on California's native plant species, a little boring
California Beaches, camping, parks an experience best had with a van as most RV's are way too big
   Malibu Beach California where TV and movies are shot and movie stars surf and play
   Chart House Malibu Beach California not the experience we were expecting
   La Jolla Beach California kayak, seals, scenic seaside cliff strolls and great snorkeling
   La Jolla Beach Pictures swim with leopard sharks or with the ocean swimmers in the cold Pacific
   Santa Monica Beach California the original muscle beach and street performers
   San Mateo Beach California great campground with a trail leading to the beach, somewhat secluded
   Silver Strand State Beach California pedestrian trail, grunions, and lots of RVers, crowds of fun
   Imperial Beach California yearly U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition held here, quaint
   Mission Beach California the most popular beach in the City of San Diego, busy upbeat beach
   Venice Beach California gawk, shop, and stroll along the canals, beaches, shops and shows
   Monterey California huge shopping and tourist beaches, expensive and regulated, not recommended
   Santa Cruz California is a fun 1-2 day stop or longer if surfing or kayaking, free parking until midnight
Carmel by the Sea incredible bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods and coastal drives
Big Sur California heavy duty camping, big dark wooded forests, coastal drives, cold country inland
   Ventana Wilderness California more wild mountain lions than anywhere in the United States
California Wine Trip wineries in Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, Sonoma, Napa, Los Angeles
   Santa Ynez California Wine Trip now famous because of the movie "Sideways" which is not for kids
   Santa Ynez California Wine Trip Pictures 200+ wineries in charming Santa Barbara County towns
   Paso Robles California Wine Tasting over 140 beautiful, affordable small to medium sized wineries
   Paso Robles Wine Trip beautiful and friendly wineries, great little town and landscape
   Paso Robles Wine Trip Pictures quiet scenic drives, lazy winery pets and large yard art sculptures
   Sonoma California overview
   Sonoma California Wine Trip estate wineries, art galleries, stunning architecture, affordable tastings
   Sonoma and Napa Valley California Wine Trip older trip to beautiful estate wineries
Lake Isabella California free RV and tent camping, lots of hiking trails, water activities like fishing
Sequoia Kings Canyon National Parks California biggest trees in the world, must see
   Sequoia National Park Foothills very pretty forest, quiet and uncrowded campgrounds, clean
   Sequoia National Park Lodgepole camping is more commercial, all the amenities but more crowded
   Sequoia National Park Pictures beautiful woodsy California with waterfalls and great hikes
Kings Canyon National Park Grant Grove the third largest tree in the world found here, big sites
   Kings Canyon National Park Cedar Grove mostly for hiking through sequoia tree groves, relaxing
   Kings Canyon National Park Pictures lots of backcountry hiking opportunities and more remote
Cayucos California on to Hearst Castle great drive, scenic small towns then to the coolest castle in US
Hearst Castle California tour the magnificent and historic castle, Neptune pool is unbelievable
   Hearst Castle and Seal Pictures elephant seals, stunning beaches, big castle
Morro Bay California interesting place to hang for a day or two, surfing, boating, waterfront dining
Half Moon Bay California surfing, boating, waterfront dining, unique architecture, easy beach access
Muir Woods California offers super quiet long range heavy tree cover hiking, limited camping, unique
San Francisco the big picture, food, fun dining and a huge cultural scene
   San Francisco California Parking special strategies for parking and getting around the city safely
   San Francisco California stunning city, great atmosphere, China Town, great food, art, shops
   San Francisco California Pictures take time to plan each day for experiences you won't forget
California Coast overview of various Elephant seals, great ocean cliff pictures, beautiful, scary drive
Point Reyes National Seashore California see huge herds of Tule elk while hiking Tomales Point Trail
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens California dahlia blooming season is the best I've ever seen
Death Valley Badwater Basin, Artist's Drive, Racetrack, Sand Dunes, astonishing and one of a kind
Death Valley National Park highlights Artist's Palette, Mosaic Canyon and a castle
   Death Valley RV Camping lots of camping, hotel with natural spring pool, $5 showers for Vanaboders
   Death Valley backcountry camping and hiking where rocks move mysteriously
   Death Valley National Park Wildflowers the right amount of rain at the right time
Alpine Triangle Colorado 600,000 acres of extraordinary easy cheap uncrowded camping
Afton Canyon California rare water year round in the southern desert, super cheap and nicely remote
Alabama Hills Recreation Area California open desert camping, awesome Sierra Nevada Range peaks
Alturas Recreation Area California river flowing through remote desert plains and evergreen forests
American River North Middle South Forks full rush through 14+ miles of expert level whitewater rafting
Lake Tahoe straddling the California and Nevada borders offers upscale and expensive options

Utah

Lake Powell Arizona Utah Do whatever it takes to get here, absolutely stunning and unforgettable
   Lake Powell Arizona Utah pictures houseboat, jet ski, hiking, swimming, kayaking all so much fun
    mud fight pictures time for some dirty fun then a jump in the lake to get clean, camp forever here
Zion National Park Utah stunning, unforgettable, but a dangerous drive in a big motorhome
   Narrows hike and pictures the most unique hike in Zion and maybe anywhere in the United States
   Angels Landing hike and pictures last 1/2 mile is the most dangerous I have ever been on, NO kids!
   Hidden Canyon hike and pictures trail with less traffic, great scrambling and tight photo shots
   Canyon Overlook hike and pictures family friendly hike with great views
   Emerald Pools hike and pictures the most popular hike in Zion, short and shady with water elements
   Kolob Canyons hike and pictures fascinating change of scenery for Zion Canyon
   Watchman hike and pictures mild elevation gain with an additional loop at end, long
   Pa'rus trail and pictures the only paved trail in the park for strollers, pets, skaters, joggers
   Observation Point hike and pictures strenuous, steep switchbacks, 8 miles total, bring water
   Sand Beach hike and pictures sandy trail that horse tours use, quiet & serene
Bryce Canyon National Park Utah hike hoodoos, dark star-filled skies make the nights gorgeous
   Bryce Canyon National Park Utah Pictures beautiful bizarre rock spires of orange, yellow, pink
Capitol Reef National Park Utah waterpocket fold, earth's crust wrinkle 100 miles long, crazy views
   Capitol Reef National Park Utah Pictures brilliant array of cliffs, canyons, arches, and domes
Arches National Park Utah 2,000 natural arches, balancing rocks, and fantastic views of geology
   Arches National Park Utah Pictures 40 mile scenic drive with scenic overlooks, trail access

Nevada

Goldfield Nevada gold rush boomtown turned near ghost town, ruins and abandoned buildings
Laughlin Nevada highly recommended for cheap river front camping, casino's too, I love this place
Pahrump Nevada live for free on millions of acres of BLM land, peaceful, 45 miles from Vegas
Valley of Fire Nevada colorful red, yellow, and pink sandstone formations and secluded camping
Reno Nevada known as "The Biggest Little City in The World" and is the birthplace of gambling
Austin Nevada located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range, in the middle of Nevada
   Austin Nevada pictures wild west town near Spencer hot springs and great outdoor altitude camping
Spencer Hot Springs Nevada camp and soak in hot springs in the middle of the desert forever for free
Square Mountain Nevada super secluded and completely pitch black at night, millions of stars visible
   Square Mountain Nevada pictures wild great outdoor living in beauty and grandeur
Winnemucca Nevada has everything from golfing to riding your ATV, see a rodeo or a 50s car show
Las Vegas Nevada Most incredible city in the world, awesome food, shows
   Las Vegas pictures wax figures, moving statues, fast cars, fountains, The Strip
   Las Vegas Graveyard retired classic neon signs from Las Vegas casinos, hotels, restaurants
   Las Vegas Red Rock Casino Resort Spa a fine example of architectural beauty in a top notch resort
   Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa Casino very comfortable, lavish, hip, one of my favorites
   Sarah Girls First Las Vegas Vacation a first for flying, gambling, Indian food
   Las Vegas Bellagio Buffet absolutely, hands down, the best buffet in Las Vegas
   Las Vegas Wash Clark County Wetlands Park nature preserve, hikes, birds, Vegas outdoor fun
   Children in Las Vegas there is plenty of fun stuff to do, kids won't get bored
Mount Charleston, Nevada best cool hiking within 45 minutes of Las Vegas, skiing, snowboarding
Mount Potosi Las Vegas Nevada 30 minutes outside Vegas hike 9 miles to famous 1942 plane crash
Lake Mead Nevada for fishing, jet skiing, boating, house boats, sailboats, camping, restaurants

Oregon

Vanabode Oregon overview of the Oregon portion of this 22 day trip
Burns to Pendleton Oregon attacking bobcat, powerlines, rivers and sleeping in the rain
   Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon pictures plus Burns and Pendleton and John Day
Astoria classic Victorian architecture, ship wreck, lovely art galleries, crafts, and local candy store
   Astoria vacation pictures includes Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park and shipwreck at Fort Stevens
Tillamook known for it's cheeses but has more to offer than you might imagine, delicious
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area dunes covering 47 miles of coast, AKA Sahara-by-the-Sea
Oregon Coast Trip stopping and sightseeing from Pacific City to Florence along Highway 101
   Oregon Coast Trip pictures includes hunting for mussels, west coast sunrise, houses on rocky coast

Washington

Vanabode Washington overview of the Washington portion of this 22 day trip
Olympic Game Farm interactive game farm hosting hundreds of bears, elk, buffalo, deer, llamas, more
Chuckanut Drive slow scenic travel with friendly and cozy restaurants, antique stores, oyster farm beds
Deception Pass State Park popular state park to dive, hike, kayak, and search tide pools
Seattle friendly city with lots of sights to enjoy like the famous fish throwing Pike Place Public Market
   Seattle Vacation Pictures big city, markets, library, shops, eateries, fun places
Olympic National Park hike through rain forests, see glacial peaks, and the rugged beauty of the pacific
Forks currently famous for the Twilight series - nothing worth reporting here
Aberdeen home town of Kurt Cobain - nothing worth reporting here
Long Beach popular beach town with cranberry bogs, kite and sand castle festivals, upbeat fun place
Leavenworth friendly Bavarian style fun tourist town near super good hikes and fish hatchery
Lincoln Rock to Hedley Canada traveling thru WA into Osoyoos Canada and on to waterfront campsite
Prosser to Ellensburg Washington wineries, lakes, cities
Cape Flattery Washington most prized and magnificent coastal area for outdoor adventure in northwest
   Cape Flattery Washington Vacation Pictures woods, animals, coast line, gorgeous and moody
Sekiu Washington recreational fishing destination combined with a national scenic byway, beautiful
Port Townsend boutique shops, galleries and art shops, bars and restaurants, antique buildings

New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns New Mexico giant black tornado of millions of bats swirls out of New Mexico Desert
Albuquerque New Mexico Sandia Peak Tramway, worlds longest aerial tramway, astonishing views
Aguirre Spring Campground New Mexico offers super rich views of the steep rocky Organ Mountains

Montana

Montana - Glacier National Park - best rugged hiking and wildlife I have ever seen in one place
Glacier National Park information forests, meadows, lakes, active glaciers, rivers, wildlife
   pictures Glacier these are some of the best pictures we have ever taken, such opportunities
   Mountain Goat pictures show how close to the wildlife at Logan Pass Visitors Center you can get
   Bighorn Sheep pictures show a herd of bighorns grazing just off the main Going to the Sun road
   Moose pictures finding, chasing and taking pictures of this moose took a lot of work, massive beast

Florida

Fort Myers Beach - awesome clean wildlife filled beaches and perfect weather
   Fort Myers Beach Pictures 4th of July, sand, birds, boats, ocean, sunsets, fun family destination
Fort Myers Beach, Lovers Key State Park, Bonita, Dog Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island
   Fort Myers Beachs the calm and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, pier, fishing
   Cape Coral waterfront 400 miles of navigable waterways, more than any other city in the world
Bonita Dog Beach showcases usually at least 50 different dogs every two hours, super clean
   Dog Beach pictures page 1 all breeds joyfully playing page 2 dogs greeting pooches every minute
   Bonita Springs Beach a fairly quiet little beach with gorgeous blue water
Sanibel and Captiva Island great beaches, clean and clear, pick up shells, lighthouse, fishing pier,
   Sanibel Island Beach expensive for rvers.
   Captiva Island Beach a romantic beach with beautiful sunsets, tropical foliage, more expensive
Cape Canaveral, Playalinda Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Daytona Beach, Salt Springs, Ocala National Forest - awesome clean beaches, wildlife
   Ichetucknee Springs State Park 4 hour inner tube river float in crystal clear water
   Nude Beach Playalinda Beach crystal clear water, sea turtles, dolphins, swim in private, no crowds
   Cape Canaveral the Space Coast is a water lovers paradise, from shuttles to Port Canaveral Pier
   Rabbit Pictures our pet rabbit traveled numerous times across the U.S. for over 50,000 miles
   Bunny Pictures show Bugsy on the beach, snow, and with other animals while Vanaboding
   Funny Bunny Pictures eating croissants, puppy purses, and put me down please pictures
   Bugsy Memorial and Pictures my sweet bun bun, your gone now but you will never be forgotten
Ormond Beach includes Tomoka state park, super clean beaches you can drive on, surfing
   Ormond Beach pictures famous hotels, Fortunato Park, hikes, beaches, good priced food
Daytona Beach super clean beaches you can drive on, surfing, great cheap food nearby, easy parking
   Daytona Beach pictures big lighthouse views, biker weeks avoid unless you want lots of action
Boca Raton super clean beaches, Mediterranean styled architecture with luscious tropical foliage
Florida Keys overview page covering how to Vanabode the keys and Miami's famous South Beach
    John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park discusses the best place to cheaply snorkel in Flordia
Miami South Beach expensive parking if you want to be right on the street right by the beach but fun!

Wyoming

Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming striking geologic wonder, climb, hike, camp
Grand Tetons National Park Wyoming rafting, mountain climbing, big open skies and huge ranges
Yellowstone National Park Wyoming big wildlife, good camping, massive park, take 3 months here
   bison pictures buffalo walk on road right next to your vehicle, great experiences

Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park Arizona hike, camp, ride mules, mind-boggling, go for weeks here
Agua Fria National Monument Arizona high mesa desert like prairie with pueblos on 71,000 acres

South Dakota

Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota granite structure memorializing four US presidents
   Mountain Bike beautiful and fun rides through the Black Hills Mountains
   Sturgis motorcycle rally biggest most incredible motorcycle convention
   pictures Sturgis motorcycle rally custom cars, fights, tattoos, bars, motorcycles
   pictures Sturgis motorcycle one of a kind choppers and motorcycle artwork
Sturgis South Dakota, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Buffalo Wyoming - good times

Missouri

Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri take the 4 minute ride to the observation room, very claustrophobic!

Idaho

Agency Creek Campground Idaho free camping and very remote private fun during warm months

Virginia

Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and family King Neptune statue, Colonial history, nice historical area

Maryland

Baltimore Maryland modern waterfront city, best crab cakes I have ever had, nice area not cheap

Texas

San Antonio Texas fun, cool outdoor eating riverfront plus hundreds of shopping attractions
   San Antonio Texas Pictures tour the missions one day and visit The Alamo and River Walk the next
Amistad National Recreation Area Texas boring, not recommended unless you have a boat

Mexico

Tijuana Mexico walk to another country but don't drink the water, seriously, don't drink the water

Alabama

Horseshoe Bend Military Park is a 2000+-acre day use park set up as a war history memorial
Little River Canyon National Preserve flows though forested uplands, waterfalls, canyon rims and pools
Natchez Trace Parkway 444 mile roadway, hiking, biking, horse riding, camping, photography
Russell Cave National Monument houses what many believed to be the oldest prehistoric U.S. relics

Alaska

Aniakchak National Monument Preserve known for its bad weather, remoteness and is the least visited
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve closer to Russian than to Anchorage, popular during summer
Denali National Park and Preserve wildlife and a glimpse at McKinley, breathtaking park
Gates Of The Arctic National Park and Preserve located above the Arctic Circle and far from any roads
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve diverse land and seascape with a variety of wildlife
Katmai National Park and Preserve is famous for volcanoes, abundant fish and a rugged coastline
Kenai Fjord National Park and Preserve valleys grow as glacial ice retreats and bald eagles cruise
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve volcanoes, glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, damp coast, dry interior
Wrangell St Elias National Park and Preserve most glaciers & peaks above 16,000 feet
Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve relaxing float trip and see wildlife along the Charley River

Canada

Vanabode Canada overview of the Canadian portion of this 22 day trip
Vancouver British Columbia clean fun expensive city, lots of outdoor sporting opportunities all year
   Vancouver British Columbia Vacation Pictures Stanley Park, downtown, walking areas, marina
Vancouver surrounding areas Squamish, Horseshoe Bay, Highway 99 Sea to Sky scenic highway
Othello Tunnels Canada Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park extraordinarily deep and old train tunnels
Manning Park Canadian outback encompasses 100,000+ acres in the Cascade mountains, pristine

Miscellaneous

Van camp Canada overview of 2,866 mile trip from Nevada through Oregon, Washington and Canada
RV Wine Trips tasting from south and central Florida to western Arkansas
Marietta Georgia, Buford Georgia, Franklin Tennessee, St. Louis Missouri, Overland Park Kansas having fun with the family, eating, biking, and goofing off
   Family Pictures of crazy people in paper hats after a long day sightseeing
   Stone Mountain, Georgia you can hike or take a ride to the top to see for miles
   Family Pictures its so much fun to visit family and exchange stories and eat good grub
   Percy Warner Park, Tennessee one of the largest municipal parks, lots to do
   Family Pictures KC steaks grilled to perfection, games, laughs, family
Big wild 7,980 mile 2004 family rv vacation report Florida, Yosemite, San Francisco with motorhome
   100 Top 2004 rv vacation pictures from our cross country summer vacation
   Josh funny face pictures you have to do crazy stuff for the camera or it's not fun, kids love camping
   Ben funny face pictures this boy's got character and we got pictures to prove it
   Kids vacation pictures the days are full of activity & adventure like the taco truck, the mudfights
   People vacation pictures an 8,000 mile expedition that will go down in history
   Animal vacation pictures from the no leg to the four legged and the winged beasts aflying
   Unique vacation pictures this is what you get with 4 people living in a 38 foot RV for months
   Ben vacation pictures

    

Sitemap List of All Pages
Order Book Now
How will this book help Me?
Do I Need This Book?
Excerpts from Book
Here's Why They Hate Me
Readers Opinions of Book
Great Money Saving Books
Authors Biography
Affiliates
Camping Travel Diary
Destinations Guide
Links
Contact us, Get Help