Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Death Valley was a great opportunity to get out of the Central Valley California winter storms and enjoy some warmer weather and sunshine.
Death Valley National Park: Badwater Basin, Sand Dunes & Nevada Desert Wonders
RV Travel
Yosemite National Park in Winter: Snow, Ice & Waterfalls
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Yosemite National Park is breathtaking in any season, but winter transforms it into something almost otherworldly. We visited in February, coming north from Sequoia and Kings Canyon, and encountered back-to-back winter storms that closed most of the park roads. We were fortunate to get one hour of blue skies during our entire stay — but that hour was spectacular. El Capitan gleaming in the sun, Bridalveil Falls thundering over ice-crusted rocks, and the Yosemite Valley floor blanketed in fresh snow. If you ever get the chance to see Yosemite in winter, take it.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks in Winter
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were a few hours’ drive from Paso Robles, California. We knew there would be limited access to both parks because it was February, but a few days of brilliant blue skies following a major winter storm gave us exactly what we were hoping for — snow-draped giant sequoias, frost-encrusted trees, and a winter solitude that summer visitors never see. The General Sherman Tree, the largest living tree on earth by volume, was magnificent even from a distance. This is Sequoia and Kings Canyon in winter: raw, cold, and extraordinary.
Central Coast California & Pinnacles
Last Updated: June 6, 2026
The Central Coast of California stretches roughly from Santa Barbara to Monterey — a sweep of beautiful coastline dotted with small cities, agricultural valleys, and some of the most dramatic scenery on the Pacific Coast. No major airports, no snowbird crowds, no rush. We based ourselves in Paso Robles and explored the entire region on day trips.
Temecula, California Wine Tasting
Last Updated: June 6, 2026
Temecula was less than a two-hour drive north from Santee Lakes. Over the past 25 years we had explored many of the wineries in the Temecula Valley, watching the region mature into something genuinely impressive. Not only has the quality of the wine improved considerably, but so has the culinary scene — and, inevitably, so have the tasting fees.
Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve
Last Updated: June 6, 2026
From Jacumba Hot Springs, California we headed west to Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, east of San Diego, where we set up for the holidays to visit Michael’s dad. After a couple of weeks in remote Jacumba at nearly 3,000 feet, it was a welcome change to have the full amenities of a major city within easy reach — Costco included.
