SFO-500 miles radius family fun location

rhvpilot

rhvpilot

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Nov 1, 2013
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san Jose, CA
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RHV PILOT
Hello guys,
Spring break is coming followed by Summer. I am looking for some family fun, kids activities airports, around 500-600miles range from SF Bay area.

i greatly appreciate the recommendations, as well the ground transportation etc.

Thanks
 
KONP, Hertz rental at the FBO(but schedule in advance) and an Aquarium and Marine Science center in town along with parks, seafood and the rest of the coastal experience. You could also hop up to KMMV and go to the Aviation Museum there.
 
We enjoyed Lake Powell. We rented a boat and visited rainbow bridge. We also toured antelope canyon.

Another one we enjoyed was Monument valley.

Palm springs is nice in the spring time.
 
Where is lake powel?
Also, what are the kids activities there and palm springs
 
chartbundle said:
KONP, Hertz rental at the FBO(but schedule in advance) and an Aquarium and Marine Science center in town along with parks, seafood and the rest of the coastal experience. You could also hop up to KMMV and go to the Aviation Museum there.
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What is the best time to visit? Thanks
 
rhvpilot said:
What is the best time to visit? Thanks
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The general answer to that is 'summer'. But summer only lasts 1-2 days per year. May to September are generally the driest months but there's still a chance of a marine layer. Also winds can pick up more than usual later in the summer/early fall.
 
rhvpilot said:
Where is lake powel?
Also, what are the kids activities there and palm springs
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Lake Powell straddles the Utah/Arizona border and is the portion of the Colorado River above the Glen Canyon Dam. Nearest airport is Page, AZ KPGA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Powell

I haven't flown in there, but spent about a week on a houseboat there with my family and my uncle's family in the mid-80s.
 
Jim Carpenter said:
Bend, or Sunriver, OR?
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Sunriver is a good place. It's a planned vacation community and thus everything is geared toward leisure! Lots of good food, lots of things to do. You can get a resort room, or a whole house. It's very easy and safe to get around via walking or bicycle, the airport is right on site and there's some scenery nearby that's great for giving aerial tours if you've got other family coming in.
 
wilkersk said:
L52 Ocean Airport. Pismo beach
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Thanks Wilkersk,
I have been to oceano, very nice place, good fun on the beach, but no approach proceedure, Marin layer makes it difficult to get in, the other issue is small runway, I was able to land my Seneca but for C421 it is too small.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Sunriver is a good place. It's a planned vacation community and thus everything is geared toward leisure! Lots of good food, lots of things to do. You can get a resort room, or a whole house. It's very easy and safe to get around via walking or bicycle, the airport is right on site and there's some scenery nearby that's great for giving aerial tours if you've got other family coming in.
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What is the best time to visit?
 
+1 for Sunriver. Great for kids and family. Got its own airport. Amazing water park, rock climbing walls, kayaking. Get a cheap AirBnb in the development. Most have bikes for use. The whole place is accessible by miles of paved bike trails. Its got its own shopping center, multiple swimming pools and tons of other stuff. Also some nice restaurants for mom and dad. Beautifully scenic. Rent a car at the airport to tour area - lots of stuff to see - cool volcanoes, etc., etc.. We did this last year and found the prices very reasonable.

Also, if you rent an AirBnb you get a "Sunpass" which lets you into most stuff as if you lived there (it's an HOA).
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Lake Powell straddles the Utah/Arizona border and is the portion of the Colorado River above the Glen Canyon Dam. Nearest airport is Page, AZ KPGA. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Powell

I haven't flown in there, but spent about a week on a houseboat there with my family and my uncle's family in the mid-80s.
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Thanks for the info,

Can you give some more information, best time to visit, where to stay, car rental, food, hikes?

Somebody said, fly Grand Canyon corridor, follow the river to page then go to monument valley... I wonder may be we should stay in hotel in Sedona, the fly Grand Canyon to page and land monument valley.. ... may be then should go to MOAB and see arches. May. Be stay in MOAB..
will appreciate the feedback
 
Lndwarrior said:
+1 for Sunriver. Great for kids and family. Got its own airport. Amazing water park, rock climbing walls, kayaking. Get a cheap AirBnb in the development. Most have bikes for use. The whole place is accessible by miles of paved bike trails. Its got its own shopping center, multiple swimming pools and tons of other stuff. Also some nice restaurants for mom and dad. Beautifully scenic. Rent a car at the airport to tour area - lots of stuff to see - cool volcanoes, etc., etc.. We did this last year and found the prices very reasonable.
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This is very helpful, thanks.
Do they have a website for detailed info, what is the airport identifier? I guess summer is best time to go.
 
On an Urban note, San Diego. Sea World, Legoland, great beaches. Balboa Park, museums for young and old and a great place to just hangout and a great zoo.
 
consider that Flagstaf Az is 7000' and it is cold mornings. and there is snow on the ground.
we did the train, and it was a fun day.
parking is pretty tight, and we were in the coach, thus the train trip.
 
Come down 100 or so miles south and have lunch at the new restaurant at the Watsonville Airport (KWVI). It's pretty good and the scenery of the Monterey Bay is worth seeing.
 
rhvpilot said:
What is the best time to visit?
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Sunriver? Well, I've only been there once. It would have been about the 2nd week of August. Since it's a ways away from the coast, I remember it being dry enough that it was comfortable.

rhvpilot said:
Somebody said, fly Grand Canyon corridor, follow the river to page then go to monument valley... I wonder may be we should stay in hotel in Sedona, the fly Grand Canyon to page and land monument valley.. ... may be then should go to MOAB and see arches. May. Be stay in MOAB..
will appreciate the feedback
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Another place you should be sure to check out while you're in that area is Bryce Canyon. There's a good-sized lodge there where I've stayed overnight as well: https://www.brycecanyonforever.com
 
Cruzinchris said:
Come down 100 or so miles south and have lunch at the new restaurant at the Watsonville Airport (KWVI). It's pretty good and the scenery of the Monterey Bay is worth seeing.
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Any ground transportation at KWVI?
 
rhvpilot said:
Any ground transportation at KWVI?
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There is Uber and a Hertz on site but if you want to see Monterey fly to MRY or OAR. Not too much exiting in the immediate WVI area. You could head up to Santa Cruz but from RHV it would be quicker and cheaper to drive!

Another fun destination is FUL to Disneyland. 10 min Uber ride to the park and super cheap airport for GA.
 
Yosemite is an easy visit from MPI. There is easy car rental at the airport, but just need to arrange it in advance.
 
Furnace Creek.
NOW, not summer.

The INN is high class, great restaurant. Nice pool. Lots of history. May have a new name.
>>Now called "INN at Death Valley"

The RANCH: Motel, cabins, rv pool cafe stores etc

Golf, museum, visitor center, jeep rentals, tours.

Not so nice in summer.
C180bill

(I started to say Panamint Springs: Rustic mining camp cabins as in Rustic. Was great food and lots of beer and wine. Strip is gravel, tight, one way, uphill: might not be what you want.)
 
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Shelter Cove is also a nice trip.
Watch the fog though, might have to wait to get out.

Great strip.
Motels and aircraft parking on each end.
Cafes.
I like the north end as on nearer the ocean.

No fuel.
C180bill
 
c180bill said:
Furnace Creek.
NOW, not summer.

The INN is high class, great restaurant. Nice pool. Lots of history. May have a new name.
>>Now called "INN at Death Valley"

The RANCH: Motel, cabins, rv pool cafe stores etc

Golf, museum, visitor center, jeep rentals, tours.

Not so nice in summer.
C180bill

(I started to say Panamint Springs: Rustic mining camp cabins as in Rustic. Was great food and lots of beer and wine. Strip is gravel, tight, one way, uphill: might not be what you want.)
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Thanks for the tip sounds very interesting,
 
Shawn said:
There is Uber and a Hertz on site but if you want to see Monterey fly to MRY or OAR. Not too much exiting in the immediate WVI area. You could head up to Santa Cruz but from RHV it would be quicker and cheaper to drive!

Another fun destination is FUL to Disneyland. 10 min Uber ride to the park and super cheap airport for GA.
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OAR is always deserted couldn’t find ground transportation last time..
MRY.. do I must go to FBO (not sure about the fees etc)
or is there another option like transient etc.. I think I read something aerodynamic aviation allowing people to park or something..
 
c180bill said:
Shelter Cove is also a nice trip.
Watch the fog though, might have to wait to get out.

Great strip.
Motels and aircraft parking on each end.
Cafes.
I like the north end as on nearer the ocean.

No fuel.
C180bill
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I thought there was nothing on the field, have to find a way to get to town for everything...
 
Thanks for the great tips..

One thought for everyone to consider is that you might want to include your own experience on the location highlighting, the technical/practical aspect of visiting the location...for example best way to get in and out, best time of the year, best way to get the ground transport, lodging food..best trip plan.. in other words a short story of your own experience..
This will allow all first time visitors to use your experience, which means more safety, less stress, better plan, and more confident family flying..
 
rhvpilot said:
I thought there was nothing on the field, have to find a way to get to town for everything...
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Yes, NOTHING to do. There is no real town.
Not even much of a real beach. I have never had luck with cell phone (verizon). I have never seen anybody on golf course. I think you can get boat rides. There used to be an older guy to call to get a ride, but no answer last time.

Sometimes the quiet is what I want, just watch the ocean beat on the cliff and play board games with the kids.

A good place to "isolate", but the whole place may be shut down now.
 
rhvpilot said:
I thought there was nothing on the field, have to find a way to get to town for everything...
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The field is sort of in the middle of town — it's surrounded on three sides by "the town". It's an easy walk to everything from stores to hotels to tourist traps to the beaches to the campground(s). I've been there a bunch of times over the years, and it's a nice day trip or overnighter from the Bay Area. I've never had a car in Shelter Cove, but then I'm a hiker and walker.

And "Watch the fog though, might have to wait to get out." is a bit of an understatement — it comes in very quickly (you're literally yards from the Pacific), and can stay for days…
 
woywoyboy said:
The field is sort of in the middle of town — it's surrounded on three sides by "the town". It's an easy walk to everything from stores to hotels to tourist traps to the beaches to the campground(s). I've been there a bunch of times over the years, and it's a nice day trip or overnighter from the Bay Area. I've never had a car in Shelter Cove, but then I'm a hiker and walker.

And "Watch the fog though, might have to wait to get out." is a bit of an understatement — it comes in very quickly (you're literally yards from the Pacific), and can stay for days…
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Thanks for the comments.
This is quite helpful, we all love to just fly and be happy. BUT the kids onboard, expect some activities on the ground.

Many a times, I see people mention real good destination, but then it stops right there..............We go there and land and then what??????????.... For me it is extremely helpful to know, what to expect, how to get around, and what kind of activities should plan for..
 
c180bill said:
Furnace Creek.
NOW, not summer.

The INN is high class, great restaurant. Nice pool. Lots of history. May have a new name.
>>Now called "INN at Death Valley"

The RANCH: Motel, cabins, rv pool cafe stores etc

Golf, museum, visitor center, jeep rentals, tours.

Not so nice in summer.
C180bill

(I started to say Panamint Springs: Rustic mining camp cabins as in Rustic. Was great food and lots of beer and wine. Strip is gravel, tight, one way, uphill: might not be what you want.)
Click to expand...

Thanks C180bill,
How long is walk from airport to those places, like RANCH,
Can the Jeep rentals pick you up from airport or we have to walk to them if so how long is the walk?..
how much water should be on board, any other tips.
 
rhvpilot said:
Thanks C180bill,
How long is walk from airport to those places, like RANCH,
Can the Jeep rentals pick you up from airport or we have to walk to them if so how long is the walk?..
how much water should be on board, any other tips.
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I can't answer the last questions, but the ranch and the rentals are about an easy mile or so walk from the airport tiedowns, maybe slightly more (and the park's visitor center is a lot closer to the airport, on the way to the ranch). You really, really, really do not want to do that walk in the summer when it gets above 50C (speaking from experience). You used to be able to get the ranch to send out a golf cart to the tiedowns if you were an incoming guest, but I don't know if that's still true; there was also once a shuttle, but I don't know how that worked. And note: the tiedowns don't actually have anything like ropes to tie your plane down with. Or didn't, anyway. And there's no fuel. But you can definitely do a lot once you get to the ranch... and you get to land at a strip that's well below sea level.
 
rhvpilot said:
Thanks for the comments.
This is quite helpful, we all love to just fly and be happy. BUT the kids onboard, expect some activities on the ground.

Many a times, I see people mention real good destination, but then it stops right there..............We go there and land and then what??????????.... For me it is extremely helpful to know, what to expect, how to get around, and what kind of activities should plan for..
Click to expand...

Yeah, I get that :) I used to love flying to places like Little River up near Mendocino, or Ukiah, but once you actually got there, what next?! Not everyone just wanted to fly... and at least the last time I was at KLLR it could be a bit of a pain actually getting to Mendocino itself from the airport. And don't get me started about Mariposa (KMPI)...
 
woywoyboy said:
I used to love flying to places like Little River up near Mendocino, or Ukiah, but once you actually got there, what next?! Not everyone just wanted to fly... and at least the last time I was at KLLR it could be a bit of a pain actually getting to Mendocino itself from the airport. And don't get me started about Mariposa (KMPI)...
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What's wrong with Mariposa? I was there just about 4 years ago and they had friendly people and rental cars on site... I rented one for the day and went to Yosemite.
 
woywoyboy said:
Yeah, I get that :) I used to love flying to places like Little River up near Mendocino, or Ukiah, but once you actually got there, what next?! Not everyone just wanted to fly... and at least the last time I was at KLLR it could be a bit of a pain actually getting to Mendocino itself from the airport. And don't get me started about Mariposa (KMPI)...
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That's exactly what I am talking about...
 
woywoyboy said:
I can't answer the last questions, but the ranch and the rentals are about an easy mile or so walk from the airport tiedowns, maybe slightly more (and the park's visitor center is a lot closer to the airport, on the way to the ranch). You really, really, really do not want to do that walk in the summer when it gets above 50C (speaking from experience). You used to be able to get the ranch to send out a golf cart to the tiedowns if you were an incoming guest, but I don't know if that's still true; there was also once a shuttle, but I don't know how that worked. And note: the tiedowns don't actually have anything like ropes to tie your plane down with. Or didn't, anyway. And there's no fuel. But you can definitely do a lot once you get to the ranch... and you get to land at a strip that's well below sea level.
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This is the kind of real information that we all need... Thank you very much!!!
 
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