Has anyone stayed around El Centro Ca. for the winter? Pro and cons? Thanks.

slickest1 wrote:Has anyone stayed around El Centro Ca. for the winter? Pro and cons? Thanks. 25% out of work.

Lived in El Centro when I first got married 36 years ago. I managed the twin drive in theatre and worked as the all night disc jockey at the country radio station in Brawley. Not much to do then except we would always love to go to Mexicali for dinner all the time and I remember going to Yuma to the dog races. Not much to do except watch the vegetables and Colton grow.The one big thing was that the Navy's Blue Angel's would winter out there at the Seely NAS and practice for their upcoming season. That was COOL. In fact working for the radio station I was able to fly with them one year during their media demonstration day. Biggest thrill of my life.

My wife and I spent a week there---after three weeks at nearby Borrega Springs. (Well, "near" being about forty miles or so!)We enjoyed it because there were no traffic hassles and long lines, etc. Just nice weather, which is what it is all about for us. Kinda strange, though, that rv parks are still what I would call expensive.But you might consider Borrega Springs, too. If you like the out of doors, the State Park there is nice. The town does have tge basics: a grocery store, a laundromat, a hardware store, and several decent restaurants.

We are headed for Borrego Springs for January and February, it's pleasant and relatively quiet. Downside is that the only good shopping is in Brawley about 40 miles away (but a nice drive!). It's a pleasant change from Yuma where it gets too busy after Christmas for our liking.

Not for the whole winter, but about 15 miles east of El Centro on I-8 is the BLM Hot Spring Long Term Visitor Area. BLM Hot Springs

El Centro | Good Sam Community

2gypsies1
Explorer III
Dec 20, 2013
Boondocking in Borrego Springs would be much, much more pleasant than at the Slabs!
arnko37
Explorer
Dec 20, 2013
If you like to boondock free check out the slabs. Go north from El Centro to Niland. The turn east in town and go about 4 miles and you are there. It was a WW2 military base. One square mile. the buildings are long gone but the cement slab bases are still there. No hook ups but there is a dump station in Niland with water and also a dump and water in a reast area just south of Niland. Interesting place and people. Just park wherever you want, get out the lawn chairs and get yourself a beer. Do a internet search on Slabs and you can see pics and more info.
RVLimey
Explorer
Dec 19, 2013
We are staying at the Springs at Borrego for 3 months. Yes it is expensive but we find we don't spend as much money once you are here. If shopping is high on the list, then maybe this is not the place for you. It is an hour from Indio. A trip into town every three weeks or so. We like to play golf and its very reasonable here, having our own 9 hole championship course. I buy a 10 pack of 10 rounds in a golf cart for $225.00. Also there are tennis courts, a great pool area with 4 spas and of course the desert. Last year we spent a week at Rio Bend in El Centro. Great sites if you can be near the pond. Good golf course and on Saturdays the Blue Angels give a free air show.
anyway do whats best for you but remember you sometimes get what you pay for...
Cool_Canuck
Explorer
Dec 19, 2013
Few years back we spent some time at Sunbeam Lake in Seely. Rates are reasonable. Just down the road from the Navel Landing Base. The Blue Angels would be over the park just about everyday. Had a hoot.
slickest1
Explorer
Dec 19, 2013
It sounds like the Springs are above my pay grade as well. Thanks to those for the alternatives, we will still check out the area. We have never been through there so will have to check it out.
rocmoc
Explorer
Dec 18, 2013
Great off-roading & other outdoor activities.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Dec 18, 2013
Borrego Springs - excellent boondocking - free!
aauummm
Explorer
Dec 17, 2013
mpierce wrote:
Looked at the website. Looks great. But mucho $! Wow. Above my pay grade.

About The Springs at Borrego RV Park and Golf Course: I was shocked also when I saw the current prices. We stayed there in Jan 2009 and it was $960/mo. They've raised the prices a lot. For us it was a splurge so we decided that it would be all of our birthday, anniversary, christmas gifts to each other for two years! We stayed at the Springs for one month and then other places before and after.

There are other more moderately priced RV parks in the vicinity and lots of people boondock in areas around town. As mentioned in other posts, the state park campground is excellent.

There's also Butterfield Ranch Resort: http://www.butterfieldresort.com/
and Stagecoach Trails RV Resort: http://www.stagecoachtrails.com/

Both are located toward Julian, CA but are not too far from Borrego.

More info on the area: http://www.desertusa.com/borrego/du_borregosprings.html
Art_Davis
Explorer
Dec 17, 2013
Just a couple more items on Borrega Springs. The state park camping is, as another poster said, very nice--and much cheaper than the upscale places like The Springs. One thing no one has mentioned are the fine Ron Braceda sculptings that just pop up at you here and there in the desert as you drive around. Mostly of the prehistoric native animals of the region.

On the Salton Sea: be careful! It is agricultural runoff, and our experience has been that the odor is none too pleasant.
mpierce
Explorer
Dec 17, 2013
Looked at the website. Looks great. But mucho $! Wow. Above my pay grade.