8 days, where to go?

[James_]

well my sweet heart and I have eight days to kill for our 20th anniversary. We'll be starting from our home in Ventura Ca. We really don't want to do the coast. What do you guys think?

[James_]

profdant139 wrote:
Great photos! That young lady sure looks happy -- looks like you picked the right place to camp! Were you boondocking in the Lower Rock Creek area? Was it cool enough? We just got back from a couple of days in the Upper Rock Creek area at East Fork Campground -- the nights were cold, but the days were pretty warm.

No BD-ing, I wish I knew where to do some of that there. days were 75-80 and nights got down to the mid 60s. It was perfect.

To everyone else, thanks for your kind words.

[profdant139]

Great photos! That young lady sure looks happy -- looks like you picked the right place to camp! Were you boondocking in the Lower Rock Creek area? Was it cool enough? We just got back from a couple of days in the Upper Rock Creek area at East Fork Campground -- the nights were cold, but the days were pretty warm.

[JIMNLIN]

Its hot so do the mountains.
Come on over to CO and NM and take her on On the Cumbres/Toltec all day train ride from Chama, NM over 10k pass through the mountains over to Antonito, CO.

Or the Silverton to Durango day trip along the Animas river canyons.

Lots to see and do in southern CO in the beautiful San Juans and northern NM.

[campingken]

Twin Lakes Bridgeport is a great place. For almost 20 years I took my sons out of school during the last week of Oct to spend a week there camping, fishing, and target shooting. Buckeye forest service campground is remote and a nice place to stay.

If you go to Twin Lakes have breakfast at the Hays St Café and pizza at Rhino's in Bridgeport. Also ask a local how to get to the hot springs. They are located above the city corporation yard.

[spacedoutbob]

Nice photos, My favorite place to camp is the Eastern Sierras. Thanks again for posting.

Bob in Calif.

[Community Alumni]

Nice! We'll be heading that direction (June Lake) next week.

[James_]

Well, Eastern Sierras was a GREAT choice. We went up into the Lower Rock Creek canyon right behind Tom's Place. Did some hiking and just kick-in back. Loved it.

Here are some pics:

[James_]

I was asked this once before... we'll take off on July 8th through the 16th.

[TCcruzn]

Definitely eastern sierra- June Lake Loop, Bridgeport and Twin Lakes all have nice USFS campgrounds. Bring a fishing pole

[Tiger4x4RV]

My vote is also Eastern Sierra, but did you ever say when you plan to go?

Summer - more people, but you will probably be able to find a campsite somewhere. Just start from the south end, explore every side road, camp at places which are appealing (dozens of campgrounds - BLM, USFS, county, national park, private), move on toward the north when the urge to wander strikes, head home when you run out of time.

Fall - fewer people, but some campgrounds close as early as mid-September, deer season can be a problem if you hike, and the weather can be colder but not necessarily.

This area makes for a great trip! We'll all be waiting for your trip report.

[dodgerdog]

Since I live in Whittier I am in your same geographic area... Well the Deserts are too hot... The mountains are nice like Bishop, Independence area... Heck I'd head for Napa and do the wineries.... There are a ton of them.... You can hit Solvang on the way there or back.... Just a thought....

Mike C.

[James_]

Thanks everyone, Sierras it is!

[clikrf8]

Ditto eastern Sierra Mountain area. We spent 3 weeks there back in 2009 September. If it gets too hot then head for the hills. The suggestion of White Mountain and old trees is a good one. The Bristlecone Pines are amazing. It is so quiet there @ 13,000 feet. Or is it 11k. Lots of lakes around Bishop. Check out Galen Rowell's gallery there. He is deceased but his images have a timelessness. All done with film. He outfitted a Bronco to get him to the waaay back roads. He spent lots of time traveling the world but settled in Bishop as he said it had it all. Also, Mono Lake is cool but may be too hot. The ghost town of Bode has is fascinating and a Cal state park. It is a high altitude, also. Maybe even take the Tioga highway into the eastern part of Yosemite.Have fun and happy anniversary.

[profdant139]

Eastern Sierra would be my choice. The camping is almost all at high altitude -- cooler than anywhere else in easy driving distance. Do you prefer campgrounds or boondocking?

And with 8 days, starting in Ventura, you have just one day of driving each way, with six full days to relax. If you have two weeks or more, that's a different story -- you could go to northern Washington, also very cool this time of year.

If you like to boondock, and you feel adventurous, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is fairly high and cool -- the Rainbow Rim area is wonderful and empty.

What activities do you like -- hiking? Fishing? Mountain biking? That will affect the decision, too.