MISSION RV PARK, REDLANDS, CA

Our Opinion: Recommend. Typical urban RV/Mobile Home Park - but with fantastic owners.

Date of Stay: October 22, 2008 through end of January, 2009.

Weather During Stay: Started with a heat wave, but we expect it to cool to sunny winter weather as the weeks go by.

Site Description: Like all the sites here, our site is tight. When a mobile home was moved out, two RV sites were added in the same space, long but skinny. 50 amp FHU and a small patio of pavers set in gravel. There are several trees (including palms) in the park and patches of grass. Roads are paved and sites are either gravel (like ours) or concrete. 70 RV sites; 15 mobile homes sites (and it appears these are converted to RV sites as mobile homes are pulled out).

Clean restrooms and a large laundry room on site. Sufficient dumpsters and recycling bins. There is a small Mexican food/taco stand in front of the park for a quick bite, and newspaper vending machines (LA Times plus two local dailies). A very convenient and inexpensive bus system stops right next to the park for trips to Loma Linda and LLUMC or downtown Redlands - and points beyond.

Rate: We are paying the special “medical” rate: $515 per month for 50 amp FHU, plus an extra $24 per month for cable (optional). The daily rate is $38; weekly, monthly, senior and medical discounts are available.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon cell phones work pretty well here, though they occasionally drop the signal. The Verizon air card is more spotty, sometimes on Broadband, other times on a slower speed. Our TV satellite works great here - no obstacles in our site - and we also went for the cable TV for local stations. Local NPR is available on several stations, including 91.5 FM.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This small, flat park is located on a busy road in a valley at about 1,600’ elevation. I am amazed to see that there are still orange groves around here! Near views are of other RV’s and older mobile homes; far views are palm trees and mountains. We are next door to a school, with open land behind and on the other side.

Lighting/Noise: Night lighting is fairly unobstusive, just a bright light here and there, nothing shining in the bedroom windows. Although the interstate is just a block away and we are on a street that carries a lot of traffic during the commute, we are able to sleep with the bedroom windows open at night (until the commute begins in the morning). Not bad for an urban area.

Favorite Sites: There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of difference in the spaces. We are about halfway back in the park, and appreciate being back from the road.

Hiking/Walking: Sidewalks going in both directions from the park, a flat walk. WalMart and Food 4 Less are a short walk away. LLUMC is 3 miles away and would be a reasonably pleasant walk in good weather.

Comments: We are here so Odel can get medical treatment at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Mission RV Park is the closest RV park to LLUMC, and the nicest within a reasonable distance. The owners are GREAT and really work to keep the park friendly, well maintained, and quiet. They offer a discounted rate to LLUMC patients and give them first priority when making reservations. We recommend it if you need to stay in this area. Trader Joe’s, Costco, Target, chain restaurants and fine dining all within a 5 mile radius. Very convenient location.

CATALINA STATE PARK, TUCSON (ORO VALLEY), AZ

Our Opinion: Rave. This has been a favorite stop for several years.

Date of Stay: Our most recent visit was 1/29/2009. This review was written for our stay in October, 2008, one of several over the past 4 years.

Weather During Stay: October: Warm/hot and sunny during the day, cool at night. Late January: sunny and very mild during the day, cool at night. Click HERE to see flooding during another stay.

Site Description: We have been in backins and pull-throughs in both old Loop A and new Loop B. We prefer loop B (all the sites in this loop have 30/50 amp E and water) for the spaciousness of the sites and the exceptional restroom/shower facilities. All sites are fairly level, most are very long and big-rig friendly. All sites and roads are paved. About half the sites are back-ins; the rest are long pullthroughs. Each site has a heavy-duty picnic table.

Loop A is the old loop. Sites on the south side are dry, sites on the north (around 20 sites) have W and E. Clean restrooms are centrally located, and trees are scattered throughout the loop.

Loop B is the big new loop, with 75 large W and E sites. The restrooms, with showers, are the nicest we have ever used. There is a “family” restroom/shower we have used together, very roomy and comfortable. The great showers make it much easier to stay for an extended period without a sewer hookup.

Rate: $20/night for 30/50 amp E and water. No sewer hookups. $15/night to drycamp. Two large dump stations are conveniently located.

Phone/radio/TV: Aircard on broadband. Cell phone signal good. Local NPR on 91.5. TV on antenna is iffy - only the local CBS affiliate comes in clearly. No obstacles for satellite TV.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This flat, desert campground is at 2700’ elevation. Native trees are scattered throughout, providing a bit of shade. The arid, rocky, Santa Catalina Mountains tower over the campground - beautiful views.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet, very dark.

Favorite Sites: When available, we pick a perimeter back-in site, facing north or south depending on the season. Most sites here are very nice.

Hiking/Walking: Fantastic. Hikes of all lengths and difficulty. The hiking and views are the big draw for us here.

Comments: Catalina State Park is just north of Tucson in an upscale, quickly developing area. In the park, you feel as though you are quite remote from the city - we have seen a Gila Monster and a family of Coatamundi here - but dining and good shopping (including Trader Joe’s and several great grocery stores) are within a few miles. We were surprised to see that a signal has been added at the park entrance on Oracle Road (been needed for a long time), and that a new shopping area with a WalMart is going in across the street!