We are headed to AZ this week, and would like to stay in the Mesa/ Apache Junction area for a week or two. DW is over 55 so I guess we can get in.
We tend to like SP's more than RV parks, but for a week or two it would be better to have wifi and cellphone coverage, proximity to "stuff", etc.
We'd like a place that is good for dog walking. That's a big deal, we don't enjoy it when the dog walk is confined to a little corner of the park. Of course we pick up after Fido.
Nice surroundings, roomy sites with picnic table, fire ring, are these possible? Or at least not being packed in elbow to elbow?
If the place had an actual golf course or pitch-and-putt on premises or connected, that would be nice. But not a big deal I guess. I would at least like to be close to decent, affordable golf.
If there were folks with jeeps where I could go hang around and maybe bum a ride when they go out, that'd be neat too.
Overall we are kind of on the young side of the curve. All the parks are marketed to an older crowd doing things we've never done, and then all the park models,etc., so it's all a bit foreign to us. There are so many parks, and we just don't know how to sort through them all.
I can't tell you much about Fido's situation, but here are some places to consider:
Cal Am Parks: Nice, very resort-ish parks in Mesa and surrounding areas. Usually pretty close sites but active and fun parks. You might look into Canyon Vistas. The short term sites aren't the best, but it's a nice park. Valle De Oro has nightly happy hours if you can get into it. Sun Life and Mesa Regal are popular too. If you choose any of the Cal-Am Parks, be sure to join Passport America. You get 7 days at the discount price and it will more than pay for your membership. You can even do one week at one park at the Passport rate then go to another Cal-Am park at the Passport rate (roughly $150 per wk). Or, if you do one week at Passport and another week at the regular rate, plan on roughly $420 for the two weeks.
Palm Creek in Casa Grande: This is a beautiful resort park with golf. If you ask, they have a special for first timers--buy one week, get one free (pay taxes only). It works out to about $325 for the two weeks. Casa Grande is a nice place and easily driveable to Mesa/Phoenix.
https://www.palmcreekgolf.com/rates.html
Quail Run in Arizona City: The town is nothing to speak of, but the park is a nice little oasis. There is a nice golf course in the town with good rates. The park is smaller so it's a little easier to feel comfortable going to the pool or whatever. The sites are much larger than what we've seen in the Mesa area and there is plenty of pet space. 2 weeks works out to $379 with taxes. If you like to go out to eat, there are just a few places in Arizona City, and Casa Grande is about 10 miles.
* This post was
edited 01/29/12 09:44pm by Jarand *
You're welcome. We just left Valle De Oro in Mesa and are in Quail Run right now. They are completely different, both with their good qualities. Quail Run is much more spacious, quiet, and low key. We're not golfers, but we hear good things about the golf course here in town.
Here's another. This is an absolutely beautiful park in the Gold Canyon (near the Canyon Vistas RV park I spoke of earlier). The Gold Canyon is about 10 miles East of Mesa. This park is upscale and really geared to golfers.
We are at Desert Gardens in Florence, Arizona. There is a two mile parameter around the park that is beautiful to walk dogs. The sites ae large. I hear people going out to golf. Check out the website.
Thanks all. Made it as far as Picacho Peak SP today. We got a site (last one) at McDowell Mtn for 5 days. Then we will look at the other places for another week. Usery Mtn was full.
Give Val Vista a call - there are a Cal-Am park that you can stay in for a week under Passport America. Same with Apache Wells. And if you have C2C, you can also use them for a week. We've stayed at Canyon Vista and while the short term sites are next to US Highway 60 and therefore noisy at times, it is a nice park but a long way from a lot of the activities in the Mesa area.
Our park (Mesa Spirit) has open sites, but they aren't available under Passport America.
As to site sizes, some of the Cal-Am parks are pretty close together. But most have enough room for you to park your car along side of your rig and still have a patio area.
Our site is 30 x 42, large areas for animals to walk (our cat walks on her leash every evening) and is close to a lot of things. No, you are not going to find fire rings - - though a number of people do have small containers for fires.
If it were me, I'd spend one week at Val-Vista (a big park) and one week at Apache Wells (smaller park) as that will give you a good feel for the area. I wouldn't stay at Mesa Regal - those sites are really tight and they put you in vacant sites between park models which means it takes a long time to get in and get out! We did that once, never again.
Barb
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You might try Usury Regional park out of Mesa,about 15 min. Not sure about reservations.We were told that they were going to a reservation system but (?)
We spent time there last winter and the winter before.Loved the time there.
It is more like a state park the an RV park.Lots of space 50-60' between most sites.We are not in AZ this winter but will be there next year.
Oh,you might also check out McDowell Regional park out of Fountain Hills/Scottsdale.
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