Image credit: Veronica Leon
Arizona is one of the most popular year round RV destinations in the United States. It has a lot of incredible places to visit and is known for its deserts, golf courses and so many cactus to see all around. Arizona has two ski mountains, three national parks and four national monuments. Not to mention the city life and attractions!
So, its no wonder that RV trips in this state are especially popular. RVShare provided the wonderful way to see this beautiful state. From Sedona, to Williams and everything in between, nothing compares to an RV for getting in touch with the great outdoors and have the perfect family fun.
A Memorable start in Sedona, AZ
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Sedona, Arizona desert town is near Flagstaff and is surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. It’s noted for its mild climate and vibrant arts community. Uptown Sedona is filled with shops, spas and art galleries. On the town’s outskirts, numerous trail heads access Red Rock State Park, which offers bird-watching, hiking and picnicking.
We enjoyed Sedona, Williams and drove through the Grand Canyon among everything in between but most importantly we enjoyed the RVShare indoors and family fun. We enjoyed a stay at Rancho Sedona RV Park, Nestled in the heart of Sedona. A fully shaded RV park filled with Sycamore and Cottonwood trees and is in the heart of town, next to beautiful Oak Creek. The park is within walking distance to galleries, shops and restaurants. You can enjoy mountain biking, hiking and trout fishing all year long right from the park. We truly experienced Oak Creek, walking distance from our RV where we enjoyed and watched the heavy stream from all the rain we received. Rancho Sedona RV Park was impeccably clean, peaceful and beautiful, a much needed R&R to add to the trip.
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Heading to Williams, AZ
The drive to Williams from Sedona is stunning, and the excitement we felt nearing Bearizona, we couldn't wait! Bearizona is approximately 160 acres where you drive through more than three miles of Ponderosa Pine Forest viewing North American animals in natural habitats when you visit. More animals are exhibited in Fort Bearizona, a beautiful 20 acre walk-thru area, along winding paths which is more of a "zoo" type setting.
In our RV, we drove through the park and experienced seeing a variety of animals such as wolves and bears. We drive through right after feeding time, so the bears were all around the road. We were just a few feet away from the animals! We also saw buffalo, bison, and reindeer, among others.
I’d highly recommend a trip to Williams, Arizona to visit Bearizona. There likely no other place where you can see wild animals in such an up close way.
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Visiting the Grand Canyon
The next day our drive took us to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is like that. You might feel as if once you’ve seen the canyon, you’ve seen or know enough. But the layers that exist in the canyon walls aren’t meant to be seen just from the rim. There are numerous trails to bring you into the depths of the canyon or around the rim for a fascinating look at the tangible history of our world’s early creation. Visiting with my young children was a must-do at least once in their lives …but I am sure we will be back for more visits.
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RVShare
RVShare is the world’s first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, serving more than 60,000 RV owners across the US. With thousands of satisfied customers and a broad inventory ranging from travel trailers to luxury motorhomes, we have the perfect RV for your vacation, tailgate, or temporary lodging needs. RVShare is like airbnb on wheels. Rent RVShare direct from local owners. RVShare provided an enjoyable experience for my family. We skipped the hotel rooms and experienced family fun adventures and experienced life under the stars in the comfort of our very own motorhome.
The motorhomes we researched on RVShare ranged from $100 a day to $300 depending on the size, amenities and coverage. We started with planning a budget, campground locations, fees, gas, mileage among other expenses to consider Overall, this was still the most affordable way of taking a family trip.
Using the system at RVShare was super easy!
How RVShare Works
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1. Find an RV - RVShare provides a detailed search database. This allows you to find the best to meet your needs. You can search location, features, type of RV and choose from three main classes for self-drive motorhomes:
- Class A are the extra-large tour bus style models
- Towing RVs or travel trailers; this requires you rent or own a vehicle strong enough to tow
- Class B are Sleeper or camper vans
- Class C models come in a variety of sizes between the other Class options
We decided that Class C RV would fit our needs and planned our road trip to start and end in Arizona.
2. Once you find the motorhome of your choice to arrange your trip. RVShare provides useful forms to take with you when you pick up RV from owner and give you a tour, example like renting a car; view it before taking it.
3. Drop off the RV based on owners expectations; gas tanks, waste tanks before release.
I can’t say enough good things about our experience with RVShare and found the value and services provided to be the best choice for us. Renting an RV provided a unique opportunity to spend quality time together as a family. We hope to rent another RV sometime soon.
Tips for Traveling Safely in an RV in a COVID-19 World
As states begin lifting lockdowns, people are already planning camping trips and hitting the road in their RVs. Campgrounds are opening back up and gas prices are the lowest we have seen in ages. An RV is hands down the safest way to travel. But as you get back out there, you’ll still want to take a few precautions to keep you and others safe and healthy, and avoid potential hiccups that could spoil your trip.
Here are some tips for traveling in an RV safely, with less stress, in a COVID-19 world.
- Get your RV road ready to avoid incidents
- Do your research and mange expectations
- Check campground COVID-19 policies
- Make your camping reservations now
- Stay at unique campground locations
- Look for hidden gems and less crowded places
- Bring enough supplies, food and essentials
- Be mindful and respectful of others
When heading out choose a scenic route even if it takes longer to get there. Relax, enjoy and appreciate the drive itself, the scenery and everything you see along the way. Stop for meal breaks at scenic spots, or just go with the flow and pull over when a place calls you. The road may end up leading you somewhere you least expected, and it could be the highlight of your trip. Safe travels
Disclaimer: The publisher received complimentary and discounted accommodations to facilitate this article. However, all opinions are her own.
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