We’ve parked our RV in some pretty posh places in the six years we’ve been on this journey, including a sweet spot at Northern Quest Resort & Casino. But we’re also A-OK with a bare bones RV park… as long as it’s in a prime location.

We recently had a couple of excellent no-frills experiences on the California coast, which offered good jumping-off points for further exploration. Here are a couple of recent finds.

Monterey County Fairgrounds RV Park: This chunk of coast on California Highway 1 is a bit out of the way, but so worth the effort. We snagged a site at the fairgrounds on a weekend and considered ourselves fortunate. Judging by the license plates from everywhere, this is a popular spot.

We hopped on the bikes and made our way to the recreation path that runs along Monterey Bay, some of the nicest riding you’re going to find anywhere. Our destination was Wild Fish restaurant in nearby Pacific Grove, where Leslie was doing some research for a story on seafood restaurants that support the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Safe Watch program.

The dinner – a whole rock cod finished in a colorful chimichurri sauce – was excellent, and bonus, there was a jazz combo playing at the restaurant. Thanks to daylight savings time, we made it back to the rig well before dark after our feast.

There was more two-wheel wandering the next day, with the team going in separate directions. JN rode 20 miles to Marina, Calif., while Leslie met a friend for lunch at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf.

On our second evening, we stayed in and took care of some chores, enjoying the park’s peaceful vibe (except when jets were taking off from Monterey's nearby airport). We’d be happy to return to this hidden gem because of the access it offers to the Monterey Bay area.

Marin RV Park: Pull into this no-frills destination in Larkspur, Calif., and you might be a bit put off. The sites are tight and the surface is gravel rather than asphalt. There’s a whole bunch of full-timers living here, so some of the sites feel like an episode of “Hoarders.” We suggest you get settled in and walk on the recreation path to nearby Marin Country Market for some fabulous seafood at the rightly famous Hog Island Oyster Co. Any qualms about the RV park will soon disappear.

The main reason to stay at Marin RV Park is because of the access it offers to the Larkspur Ferry, which travels across the bay to downtown San Francisco. We hopped the ferry on our second day and spent the night at the lovely Beacon Grand Hotel, which used to be the Sir Francis Drake. This historic property near Union Square recently had a major refresh and it was a comfortable place to stay while the rig was safely parked back in Larkspur.

If you’re going to make that trek across the bay, be sure and carve out some time to explore The Ferry Building, a historic structure that houses cool retail and a collection of restaurants, including another location of Hog Island Oysters.

Back at our tiny home on wheels, we spent some time getting everything dialed in for our “quick” trip back to the Pacific Northwest. Another plus of this location is the easy access to U.S. Highway 101.

See you soon

Come hang out with us at the upcoming Active Living Expo on April 20 at Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center. We’ll share some of our all-time favorite destinations and answer any questions you might have.

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