Some Campground reviews

We've stayed at some very nice campgrounds so far, but two really stand out from the rest. Both are Good Sam Parks, so we get a discount as Good Sam members. The first is the Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This campground was beautiful, with gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. It was also very family friendly, with a pool and a playground and a movie every night of the week showing in the little campground theater. I popped up some popcorn and sent the boys down to watch War Horse while we were there. The campground also has a beautiful, secluded hiking trail and is just far enough away from the lights of downtown Santa Fe to provide terrific star gazing opportunities at night. The facilities and the laundry room were clean, the wifi worked well and the staff was very knowledgeable about what sights to see, even pointing us to downtown RV parking for the King while we took in the sights. Upon check in they handed us a campground brochure covering the campground rules and including a map of downtown Santa Fe, things to do and see in Santa Fe and a listing of special events going on in Santa Fe. The setting for many scenes in the 1978 Clint Eastwood film “Every Which Way But Loose,” the Teen met a film crew camping there to scout locations for a new Johnny Depp movie. Alas, we camped here a week early, as Johnny himself was scheduled to begin filming scenes in the area the next week.

The other campground was Alpen RosePark in Durango, Colorado. Set in the mountains not far fro Mesa Verde National Park, this campground was also surrounded by beautiful scenery and some of the nicest, friendliest people we have ever met. A pool and playground are available for the kids, the facilities and laundry room were immaculate and a delicious, reasonably priced pancake breakfast is served each morning. The boys took a short walk down the road to a grass airstrip and watched gliders coasting and landing in the late afternoon sun while I caught up on some laundry and reading.

If you ever happen to be camping out west, I hope you'll pay them a visit. I also hope we get the chance to visit again someday!