Mammoth Lakes, California (2013)

It's always helpful to have multiple drivers…



We made it back to Mammoth Lakes in the beautiful High Sierras of California. I have blogged about this area before so I will try not to repeat myself.

Once again, we stayed at the Mammoth RV park. The park offers everything from tents to cabins to full hook up RV camping. In the wooded section you will be on dirt with a little gravel, pine needles and pine cones. Rolling would be easier with fatter tires or a power chair. However, they do offer sites that are on cement and are much more accommodating to someone with mobility limitations.

Mammoth RV Park
www.mammothrv.com

We arrived at night. The RV park was not well lit and the hookups are hard to see. Fortunately, an RV park employee happened to wander by and offer his assistance.

Mammoth Lakes, California has paved trails throughout the town. There are also an abundance of dirt trails. Some are very rugged but many are smoother hard pack. A rugged manual chair, scooter or power wheelchair would be helpful. Remember this is a mountain community. The up and downhill grades vary.

On this trip we toured the lakes in Mammoth. We went to and drove around Lake Crowley, Lake Mary, Convict and June Lake. Outstanding views everywhere.

We also spent time visiting some favorite restaurants…

The Smokeyard BBQ in the village
Giovanni's Pizza
Roberto's Mexican restaurant

All three restaurants are yummy!!!. At Roberto's, if you want to try a margarita I recommend the pomegranate.

Lake Shasta, CA ( Grass Lake Rest Stop )

When in route to your next adventure there will come a point where you just can't drive anymore. When driving from California to Oregon we found a great rest area. It's the Grass Lake Rest Stop. Located just off the 97 in the Shasta area (still in California).

It's clean, quiet, flat and FREE. It has plenty of space to exercise your children or dogs. It is so wheelchair friendly that you will even find a handicap parking spot.

Rincon Beach Parkway

Rincon Beach Parkway is a year-round RV-ers hotspot.  It is located in Ventura, California on Pacific Coast Highway between Hobson and Faria (exit Highway 101 at Seacliff).  You will find beautiful ocean views above the sandy beach.  During high tide the beach will disappear.

This area offers 127 paved spots that separate the beach from PCH.  Each spot is large enough for one RV and one car. It is first come first serve.  During the summer and on a weekend cross your fingers and hope for the best. This piece of prime California real estate comes with no amenities.  No hookups, no electricity, no water and no bathrooms of any kind.  No tent camping either.  It is a self-serve payment of $27 per night.  Cash or check put into a dropbox (Be prepared because the "oops I forgot fine" is huge).   However, what you do get is Priceless!!  This beach on the Southern California coast is beautiful, the sunset is always stunning and after that you can listen to the waves crash all night long.

 

My helpful hints:

  * for the wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility the accessible and safe area would be on the beach side of your campsite.  Because a wall of large rocks protect PCH from the surf, access to the beach is challenging (no matter who you are).  So... For the wheelchair user unless you have someone willing to give you the scary piggyback ride over the rocks don't count on playing in the water. 

  * Avoid spaces 4 thru 19.  There is a tide-wall that will separate campers from the beach (someone in a wheelchair will never see around, over or through it).

  * Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy the breathtaking sunset!

Mammoth Lakes, California (RV Park)

September 2012

I love this area!  The air is clean, the trees are beautiful and there is so much to do.  As an able-bodied person I came to Mammoth often in the winter to ski.  This was my first trip back as a wheelchair user.  At this point I feel the need to apologize.  When I started this RV adventure, I had no idea that I would create a wheelchair accessibility blog from it.  So now I'm playing catch-up by memory of my travels over the last year.  But here goes… 

Mammoth Mountain RV Park
2667 Main St
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 
(760) 934-3822 

Amenities include;

Full and partial Hookups RV site

Cabins and tent areas

Indoor pool and spa

Wi-Fi

The beauty of this park are the trees but that means the sites are full of pine needles and cones. They do offer sites on pavement that are a little more wheelchair friendly but, we chose to go for the full experience.  We stayed in the more natural wooded section.  Although the sites are well groomed I found them a bit challenging in a manual wheelchair.  You may want to use a chair with rugged tires, a power chair or a scooter.  Also a mat or rug for the patio / picnic area.

Accessible things not to miss…

A wide paved path off Lake Mary Rd. in the Twin Lakes area.  You will come across lakes, waterfalls and even a horse stable.

This path along the lakes goes on for miles

Ride the gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain.  The staff was awesome and well prepared to assist you on and off the gondola.  A portable ramp is available to roll you and your chair into the gondola.  They will radio the top so a ramp is waiting when you get there.  When you start off it's a little unnerving and you will feel like you're flying.  The scenery is unbelievable!!  Not much to do at the top except say "WOW... Look what I did". (Have a jacket because it can be cold at the top)

9/11/2001 is a date nobody will ever forgot.  The last time I was in Mammoth was with a very good friend who was lost in the 9/11 tragedies.  On 9/11/2012, even though I am terrified of heights, I wanted to ride the gondola to the top in memory of my lost friend.

I started out scared but the ride and view was amazing.

Go shopping at "The Village at Mammoth".

Dining suggestions...

Giovanni's -  An Italian restaurant in town.  Handicap parking spot in front. One step up into the restaurant but otherwise fully accessible. I recommend the Mammoth pizza.  You will be eating leftovers for days.

Roberto's Cafe  –  A Mexican restaurant in town. Outdoor dining is accessible. Good margaritas!!

Truth be told… I have not found a bad restaurant in Mammoth yet.

Helpful advice – Bring a sweater, because when the sun goes down the temperature drops!!

Mammoth Lakes, California (Whitmore 2012)

September, 2012 we headed to Mammoth Lakes, California so my husband could participate in the High Sierra Fall Classic bike ride.  It's an annual 100 mile ride in the Sierra mountains.

The ride started and finished at the Whitmore baseball field, near Mammoth Airport.  We were fortunate to be able to dry camp in right field for the weekend.  It's a beautiful spot next to Crowley Lake.  The promoters of the bike ride hosted a barbecue with music and games.  After the party the campers were given all of the extra ice cream.  That was a win – win for the rest of our adventure.

There was no electricity, no amenities and no facilities.  We were completely self-contained (with only my glam-ping supplies).   The grass is tall and this site was NOT wheelchair friendly at all.

My husband enjoyed his race,  I caught up on some reading and we both enjoyed a couple of spectacular sunsets!!

I survived my first dry camping experience... Yay!!

Chula Vista, California

July 2012 was our first official camping experience in our new motorhome.  It was at the Chula Vista RV Resort.  Chula Vista is located just east of San Diego, California.

Chula Vista RV Resort
460 Sandpiper Way
Chula Vista, CA 91910
800-770-2878

I found the park extremely wheelchair friendly.  Access throughout the park is paved.  Each site comes with a cement patio, picnic table and some sort of hedge for privacy.  We chose a back-in site which was tight but, they also have pull-throughs.  

Amenities in the park include:
Full hook-ups
Wi-Fi
Pool and Jacuzzi
Fitness room
Small dog runs
Ice cream social
Tiki bar
Etc.

The RV park is attached to the southern side of San Diego Bay, across from Coronado Island.  There is a marina, a few restaurants, and a park.  It is all connected by a paved wheelchair accessible path.  ** The gate is a little bit tricky.  To get out the handle is high and the door opens inward.

Attractions in the area:  
Sea World
The San Diego Zoo
Seaport Village
Coronado Island
Legoland
Etc.

On this trip we did not bring an extra car. I guess that means that next time we will have even more fun things to do.

On the negative side, the freeway system getting to the RV park was a nightmare and we were disrupted by maintenance crews cleaning the park in the middle of the night.  All in all we had a good time.

** Keep in mind summer temperatures in Chula Vista can be very hot.