I'm new to pop-up camping (and this forum), so please bear with me.
My friend and I are planning to camp at the Anaheim RV Resort during Memorial week May 2007. We're attending the 30th anniversary of Star Wars (Celebration IV) at the Las Angeles Convention Center. We couldn't afford the hotels so we've decided to pull my Fleetwood Westlake all the way from Denver, CO. Has anyone been to this RV park that could shed some light for us? Their website sure looks great! Any other Star Wars fans going to Celebration camping out? Any other good campgrounds in the Las Angeles area?
Moved from Campground Review forum for greater exposure. Also, the Campground Review forum is to post reviews of cg's you have visited. Welcome to PUT, by the way!
Larry, moderator
CampDirt Welcome to PUT
We stayed at this RV CG a few months ago to enjoy a day at Knotts Berry Farm. The RV park is clean and the showers are free. but they really squeeze you into your site and you get a lot of freeway noise. but it is close to everything.
Hope you enjoy So. CA
I live in Southern CA and have traveled by some campgrounds in the Anaheim area. I am not impressed with them myself. They look like parking lots and crammed together. I can't see myself staying there.
Anaheim to the LA Convention Center is a fairly mean commute. Many folks do it every day but it's still mean.
An alternative is to stay at the Golden Shore RV Park in Long Beach. From there you can take the Blue Line light rail right to the LA Convention Center. http://www.longbeach.gov/park/facilities/parks/golden_shore_rv_park.asp
I've stayed at Shorline RV Park before -- about 15+ years ago. Back then it was ... okay. Unless they've cleaned stuff up in the last couple of years, I'd be hesitant to leave anything there, especially an "unprotected" PUP.
The greater LA area isn't known for its great RV parks. I think you could do better than the Anaheim one, but it all depends on what you'd like to experience besides the Star Wars convention. If you want beach, there are several up Coast Hwy. that wouldn't be bad that time of year. If you want to be as close to the Convention Center as possible, then either the Shoreline park or maybe even Dockweiller would work. Good thing about Dockweiller is that you're right on the beach -- good nighttime noise. Bad thing is that it's basically a parking lot with hook-ups & the planes take off directly overhead.
If you're not opposed to driving a bit & want to see the ocean, I might look at the Malibu RV park. Or, if you you don't care about the ocean & still don't mind driving & want a quiet place to sleep, try Puddingstone/Bonelli Park in San Dimas. You'd be about 45 min. from the Convention Center in either case.
If you've got a membership to AAA, you might want to grab one of their Campground books -- it'll give you a good start on places to check out. Also, don't hesitate to keep asking about places you might be interested in.
Laura
I don't think the Golden Shore RV Park has been there for 15 years. I could be wrong but I think it's newer than that. Dockweiler Beach is not a place I'd leave a trailer all day.
Living nearby, I've never stayed in any.
Shoreline RV Park is a very nice looking park, though I mostly see the "big boys" parked in there. I have a client in the building on the street adjacent and I drive right alongside it several times a month. You get some traffic, but it's at an off ramp that lets off to a specific area, so you won't be getting a lot of the Long Beach traffic via that offramp. You also have access to a very inexpensive shuttle that will take you downtown Long Beach, which has been going through a revitalization the last 10-15 years. There is also the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific within minutes (also accessible via the shuttle) and all the restaurants that have gone in in that area. The whole area has changed so much from it's "Navy" days. It's not the shady area it once was.
For my money, I'd look at staying somewhere north of LA and driving into LA for the convention. If you're going to be at the convention several days in a row, it could take a lot of time on the freeways, but compared to staying at a hotel in downtown LA (yuck and $$$), it might be worth it. Also check out Tom Steinstra's California Camping for camping options.
If All you are doing is going to the convention center, Anaheim is your best choice. I would get nice and deep into the park, it's well maintained by the management and they cruise around. it's a hop skip to the center, and you'll enjoy yourself. Start researching extra ways to secure your trailer while gone, and have a great time! We just might have to take the kids to that! I had no idea! website? :U
According to the original post it's the Los Angeles, not Anaheim Convention Center. Pretty good drive from Anaheim to LA during commute hours (6-10 AM, 3-7 PM). Driving from Long Beach is a bit better but not great, which is why I suggested the Blue Line light rail.
Of course millions do it every day.
:book: oops missed that part, darn I thought it was at Anaheim Convention center!
That's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too far of a drive.
Thank you for all your replies. I think Golden Shore is a great alternative and will suggest it to my friend. I looked into Dockweiller and definitely do not want to be that close to an airport. Malibu resort seemed a little pricey and kinda out of our way for the attractions in the area. If it was just me, yeah, Malibu is the place for me! Lots of celebrity watching in the area ;) .
Pitpop27, you'll have to do a search on StarWars.com. search for "celebration IV". I'm in a thread for the one ending in (TDE) as lynellephi. There's no details on the convention yet, and everybody is getting a little upset that the tickets/hotel package prices haven't come out yet. It's going to be a big one!! So, camp out with us if you're going (since most hotels in the LA convention area is already filled up for the memorial weekend).
Yes, LA convention, not Anaheim convention. And yes traffic will probably be unbearable at times, but that's just southern CA.
Anyway, I'll look into all of your suggestions, and thank you again.
Brainpause (or Larry the moderator), thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction in this forum. :S
Thank you all so much for all the advice. I printed them all out along with some web pages of the choices and showed them to my friend Kathy (I guess I can use her name now). We both scratched off Dockweiler. She didn't want to be that far away in Malibu (although we might come back just for that one in the future). Anaheim was a great choice with a great package. However, her eyes got wide, her cheeks got rosy, and you can just see her almost jumping out of her chair when she saw the pics for Golden Shore! Yep, we're giving up Mickey for the beach and the Metro Blue Line to get to the LA convention center. After all, she said, our main objective is to hang out with the Star Wars crazies!
So Golden Shore RV Resort in Long Beach is it! :#
Again, thanks to all of you for helping us make the right choice.
you are going to love this CG. stayed there one weekend and it was great. Long Beach aquarium and restaurants within walking distance and the Queen Mary just across the bay from you. close to everything and very clean and quit.
Hope you have the time to enjoy So Ca. :-()
I do not know what the RV/Anaheim park is charging but looking in the AAA Tour book you can get a hotel room in Anaheim starting at $38.00 a night at the Crystal Inn 800-999-3545 has refrig and Microwave for $ 3.00 extra and Days Inn for $49.00 800-654-7503 This comes with deluxe Continental Breakfast....Just another idea to think about........At any rate have fun....
Canyon Rv Park in Yorba Linda is a great place....Right off the fwy, but river and great trees near.....
Quote from: CampDirtI'm new to pop-up camping (and this forum), so please bear with me.
My friend and I are planning to camp at the Anaheim RV Resort during Memorial week May 2007. We're attending the 30th anniversary of Star Wars (Celebration IV) at the Las Angeles Convention Center. We couldn't afford the hotels so we've decided to pull my Fleetwood Westlake all the way from Denver, CO. Has anyone been to this RV park that could shed some light for us? Their website sure looks great! Any other Star Wars fans going to Celebration camping out? Any other good campgrounds in the Las Angeles area?