New Policy at Thunder Valley Casino, CA

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our E-mail Digest or RSS Feed. We will then send you the stories that are posted each day in an e-mail digest. We use a service called Feedburner for delivery of these emails. You will receive an e-mail from Feedburner after you subscribe and you must click on that email to activate your subscription. Thanks for visiting and enjoy all the information! RV.Net Blog AdminGood news for once… Casinos change their RV parking policy from time to time and for various reasons.  Construction projects sometimes take up too much space and RV’s are out.  Local ordinances occasionally get in the way, and we all remember the battles over Laughlin.  Once in a while the “bad apple” spoils it for everyone by abusing the casino’s hospitality and trying to make a residence - along with unsightly litter and other problem behavior.  Thankfully this last situation is very rare, although it gets a lot of publicity. But today it’s good news that I bring to you!  After several years of inconsistant policy, mostly disallowing any RV parking day or night, the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, CA has a new policy called “Park and Play”.  The short version is; you can park there for up to 3 days while enjoying the casino.  The casino’s website explains it, and also gives more details about the policy. Thunder Valley is conveniently located near Rocklin about 8 miles from I-80. ... Read more

Update: Reno Overnight RV Parking Ban, Enforcement Eases Up

As of February 11, 2009, the city council has decided not to actively enforce an ordinance that prohibits sleeping overnight in an RV unless you’re in an approved campground.  Instead, they will only respond to specific complaints.  This clears the way for business owners (Casinos, big-box stores, etc.) to decide whether to allow RVers to park overnight on their property, but allows the city to step in when necessary to respond to legitimate problems.   Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Our Grand Adventure and Parking the Rig

RV Parking “on the Road” Our Grand Adventure is moving along swimmingly. We have traveled from the Pacific Northwest down the magnificent coastline to Southern California. But a common problem with a big RV is parking. In a lot of the National Forest campgrounds, we are too big. In California, a number of the State Park campgrounds have signs, “No Trailers or Motorhomes”. That is, in the ones that are open during the winter. In California, posted rest areas allow overnight “rest”, not camping. Scenic overlooks are posted, “no overnight parking or camping”. However, in the National Forest along CA Pacific Coast Rte 1, a National Forest site host, with only short RV options available and night upon us, suggested to park in an overlook. So the rules appear to be different on federal land. We had an experience the other day while visiting the town of Solvang, CA, that took the fine edge off a visit to their unique town. Solvang is a Danish-themed village founded in the early 1900’s as a base for a Danish school. The town is unique in its architecture, typical of what would be found in Denmark. Delightful shops and restaurants line the streets and invite tourists. Solvang spends a good deal of money on advertising and for the most part the town lives up to its advertising. However, we encountered an attitude among a few of its inhabitants that left a bad taste. I am not sure how you do your snooping and sightseeing when on the... Read more

Free and Low Cost RV Parking and Camping

We’re not just talking about Wally-docking and casino camping.  There are many free and low cost camping opportunities in places far away from a paved parking lot.  As part of our “Ways to Save” week I’ve collected a list of links that will help you find parking and camping opportunities all across the country.  I’m sure I’ve left out many good resources, so if you know of one that I haven’t listed please share it with us all in the comments area at the bottom. Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Casino Camping Location Report - Quad Cities

I mentioned in my last post that I’m traveling through the Midwest and writing about several locations for Midwest Gaming and Travel magazine.  After leaving Dubuque, Iowa we traveled about 70 miles south to the Quad Cities of Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, and Rock Island.  If you make this trip, and have time, we recommend taking the “Great River Road” — longer, but more scenic.  We were in a hurry, so we took US-61.  Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Map your Driveway Invitations

You sure meet a lot of nice people on the road. At RV parks, and especially at the rallies, we meet people all the time who say, “If you’re ever traveling thru my neck o’ the woods, stop by. We have a big driveway and a 30amp hookup!” Our answer is, “Be careful when you say that, because we’ll actually do it!”  We love visiting people by staying in their driveway.  Here we are at a good friend’s in Florida: How do we remember where these places are? We put them on a custom Google Map. Watch the video below to see how to make one yourself. Chris Guld www.GeeksOnTour.com Computer Education for Travelers Tell a Friend Read More →

Casino Camping Update — Reno Nevada RV Parking Ban

A quick post today to bring this to everyone’s attention.  Reno Nevada has started enforcing the overnight parking restriction that has been a local ordinance since 1996.  Over the years there has been sporadic enforcement; although, several casinos made accomodations for RV travelers, especially those of us who are serious players.  It seems even this has come to an end. Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Almost Time To Hit The Road, What Have I forgotten To Do?

This trip has been a year in the planning and preparation. Last summer we trekked across the US to attend daughter  Becca’s wedding. The trip was a six week adventure that ended all too soon. Just around Christmas we were informed that a new grand daughter would arrive in the Seattle area in mid summer, so another trip cross country was in order. Then the gears in our heads began to churn and we came up with a grand plan. Back in the dark ages, 1984, when I was younger, I did things that normal people would consider a bit on the loony side. One such adventure was dreamed up by Brock Yates, former racer and auto journalist, called One Lap America. It was the natural progression of Sea To Shinning Sea Dash that duplicated the fabled coast to coast non stop dashes in the thirties by racer Cannon Ball Baker. The run,  made famous in a movie cannonball Run staring Burt Reynolds among others, started in New York City and ended in California some 30 plus hours later. One Lap was a little different. We left, spaced at one minute intervals, from Derian Connecticut determined to drive the perimeter of the country in seven days. We did it, and it was for the auto nut a true blast. Well now in my seventh decade of life, I have decided that seven days is too quick and seven months ought to be about right. Back then our steed was a modified Mazda Diesel Pick up. My son Steve took the truck and modified the suspension and added a turbo charger to the engine. He tweaked fuel injection... Read more

Confessions of a Wal-Mart Camper

Airstream RV Blog #76 - Wal-Mart Camping from Sean Michael on TheLongLongHoneymoon.com. Q: How many times have you camped in a Wal-Mart parking lot? A: I’m not sure exactly. Maybe a dozen. Q: Is it safe? A: Yes, as far as I can tell. I’ve never felt threatened in a Wal-Mart parking lot. At times, I’ve even seen private security making their rounds, and thus felt an extra layer of protection. Most Wal-Marts have security cameras running at all times. On the other hand, Read more Tell a Friend Read More →

Overnight Parking in Rest Areas - Texas

In my last Blog entry, I wrote about Overnight RV Parking in rest areas in California.  Today, we’ll take a look at the same topic, in the State of Texas. Texas makes a distinction between a “Rest Area,” a “Parking Area,” and a “Roadside Picnic Area.”  On Interstate  Highways in Texas, a rest area that has restrooms is called a “Rest Area,” just as we would expect.  Similar areas on Interstates in Texas, but with out restroom facilities, are called “Parking Areas.”  When you leave the Interstates, the terminology changes.  Roadside areas with rest rooms are still called “Rest Areas.” Those without restrooms almost always have one or more picnic tables, and they’re called “Roadside Picnic Areas.”  The Texas DOT website provides excellent information on the 85 Rest Areas (that is, with rest rooms, on Interstate or non-Interstate highways) in Texas.  There’s a page that lists them all at http://www.dot.state.tx.us/MNT/sra/sralocations.htm. The listing gives the name of each Rest Area, a description of its location, and GPS coordinates.  You can click on any rest area name to see a descriptive page about that rest area. The location descriptions are pretty general, and not all of them are accurate with regard to distances. The GPS coordinates are for the most part correct, but for the http://www.overnightrvparking.com/ database I’ve had to correct some of them. The... Read more

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