Change of Perspective - KOAs

We just left Yosemite National Park and as I have been saying to anyone that will listen, it really was one of my favorite spots. The lush greenery all around, the multiple waterfalls throughout the park and the majestic views from every spot made it an amazing park to visit. I knew from the beginning I wanted to visit Yosemite on this trip, but we did not have very clear plans for the second half of the trip so we waited to make reservations. I knew it would be hard to find spots in the park, but I was hoping we would get lucky. When we finally made some plans for the tail end of our trip, we were about 2-3 weeks out and Andrew started searching spots to stay, everything in the park was booked, but what we did find was a lovely KOA on the West side of the park in Mariposa. It was about 30 miles from the park entrance, but the drive into the park followed the Merced River, as a passenger it was a lovely drive. As the driver, the road was narrow and curvy making it a little stressful. Even though the KOA was far from the park it was as close as we could get, with services. We could have found some BLM land to camp on, but we were also in need of showering and doing laundry, so for us, it worked perfectly. Because we drove in the first day, we got to meander around the park at our own pace, stop and take photos and explore crazy roads, like the journey up to Glacier Point. The second day we utilized the public transportation system. The YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) picked us up right in front of the KOA and dropped us off at the Visitor Center, then we were able to take the Yosemite Shuttle to get to the trail head for our hike up to Vernal Fall. Then, after a long day of hiking we were able to get back on the YARTS for the drive home and rest, read or just stare out the window, making the ride home very relaxing for everyone, which is one of the beauties of public transportation. 

KOA Midpines/Mariposa outside of Yosemite National Park

When we started this trip, I did not know much about KOAs, I had my narrow minded judgements about them, assuming it wasn’t really camping and it was a little cheesy. But this trip has changed my mind completely. When I can stay so close to amazing parks like Yosemite, and get great services, including public transportation, I became a fan. We have stayed at some really great KOAs on the this trip, Yosemite was beautiful, Healdsburg/Cloverdale, was another one of my favorites, with its lake and gorgeous trees and covered forest.

Lake at Healdsburg KOA 

Our camper nestled among the trees at the KOA in San Diego

We also really enjoyed the KOA in San Diego, just a 10 minute drive from the San Diego Zoo, the KOA had a huge pool, climbing wall, giant bouncy pillows and fun bikes for the girls to rent. The great thing that we have found about the KOAs is that they are very comfortable and consistent. On this trip, they have been a great place for us to stay when we want to explore a city as well (like the KOA in Vegas, next to a casino and a short Uber trip to the strip!), the spots are cheaper than a hotel room and in most cases they are centrally located, making it easy to get where we want to go.

KOA Las Vegas

I will always prefer nature and forest over city and concrete, but in most cases the KOA will usually provide a little piece of nature, close to a fun city. We have done our share of boon docking, national and state park camping and after being away from a real home for almost 9 months, as silly as it sounds, KOAs have started to feel like home. We know we can get clean showers and bathrooms, most have pools and fun playgrounds and we are able to plug in and refill water, it always feels like a little reboot after being away for a bit. Plus, they have a really easy to use app for the iPhone which makes it super easy to find a KOA near by and has tons of info to determine if it will work. The girls now ask if we get to go to a KOA, when we are heading out to a new place. Now that we are KOA members (or VIPs) we will likely renew our membership and explore KOAs closer to home. I don’t want to sound too cheesy or like a KOA ad (probably too late), but the bottom line with so many things on this trip, our perspective has definitely shifted on this subject and it's important to share that. Everything might not be exactly what you think and trying out something new might be a very rewarding experience. 

Nadia’s Blog – Seeing Family & Friends

A couple weeks ago we went to Las Vegas, it was SOOO cool! But, it was only one day. We drove down the strip in the camper when we got in town, I was like WOW – when I saw the Eiffel Tower! Then we went to our campground and we all took showers and then we headed back down the strip to  have some lunch and meet our friend Amber!!! After lunch we explored Amber’s hotel/mall – Caesars Palace. After we explored the hotel for awhile we went up to a restaurant and had sushi for dinner. It's was fun! Nice to see you Amber! 

Mommy & Amber at Caesars Palace

After we went to Las Vegas we went to Zion National Park and we got to see our friends The Goldsmith’s – yeah!!! We stayed in a nice hotel at the entrance of the park, with joining rooms with our friends. After we unloaded the camper we all went swimming and it was fun! 

Swimming with our friends! 

After swimming, we played football in the grass right outside of our rooms. The next day we went on a hike on the Riverwalk Trail. While we were hiking it started raining, then lightning and thunder and then it started hailing. AHHHHHH!!!!! I headed back early with Beth, William and Ella – while Sydney, Siena, James, Daddy and Mommy hiked to the end of the trail. The next day it was nice (and free to get in the park because it was the 100th Birthday of the National Parks). We hiked two super cool hikes, one to the watchtower (?) and the second to the emerald pools. Both were fun, and way better in the sunshine. It was so fun to see our friends!!! 

All the kids heading into Zion National Park 

Hiking in Zion 

After Zion, we headed to Palm Springs to see Nonni and Nonno!!!!! The first day we went shopping with Nonni, ate In and Out burger and hung out by the pool. The next day we went to Joshua Tree National Park, we didn’t see the actual Joshua Tree – we did see a lot of Joshua Trees but not the biggest one. We also took a tour of Keys Ranch, which is where people had built homes and lots of buildings and lived in the desert for a long time. After Joshua Tree, we went swimming when we got home. We loved Nonni & Nonno’s pool. The next day we went to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. We got to ride a camel and we went to the butterfly house and a butterfly landed on me, but mommy didn’t get a picture :-(, a butterfly landed on Nonni too. I loved being at Nonni & Nonno’s house in Palm Springs. 

Our camel ride at the Living Desert

Butterfly on Nonni's wrist 

The one photo Mommy got with the butterfly close to me. 

We loved playing in the pool at Nonni & Nonno's!

On Friday, 4/22/16 we got to Sanya and Phil’s house. It was so cool, I had so much fun. When we got there, Ava was home, then Peyton got home. They have two cute dogs named Bristol and Molly. They have two cats named Fred and Wilma. Peyton has two guinea pigs, named Zeus and Snickers. After we got to see all the pets Ava took us on a bike and scooter ride to the park. When we got home we played Wipeout and it was funny. Then we went in the pool. Then Sanya and Phil made us cheeseburgers and the adults had steak. The next morning we had to wake up at 5am to go on the Pat Tillman run, it was 4.2 miles, I stayed with Mommy, Ava and Siena, then I lost them and then I got to run with Sanya, Phil and Peyton. I finished the run with Phil and we beat the zebra!

Early morning, but lots of fun running with our friends!

After the race we went out for breakfast, at a place called Snooze, it was so good. Ava and I played ping pong – Ava was way better than me. After breakfast we went back to their house and had some chill out time. After that we went in the pool for a long time and then we had dinner. On our last day, :(we went to World of Beer and I had crab cakes then we went back to their house. When we got home we got to swim for awhile and we did a swimming race. After that we all played Minecraft, then we had a light dinner, which was very good. Then we went to bed…In the morning, I got ready with Ava and we went downstairs, we had Lucky Charms for breakfast. It was busy morning for their family, everyone was getting ready for school and work. We had to say goodbye. I think Sanya & Phil’s house was one of my favorite spots.  Thank you for letting us stay at your house!              

We get to come home in 4 week's yay!!!!: )