Monday, January 21, 2013

Arizona RV Parks - Quartzsite Arizona Camping


 




What Happens in Quartzite or Quartzsite?:




 


If you pass through Quartzite in summer, the answer to this question is, “Absolutely nothing.” You will see flat desert, some roadside businesses, tumbleweeds and that’s about it.


 


But come winter, the answer is quite different. Each winter the flat desert bustles with activity. RVs by the thousands camp in fairly primitive desert conditions. So what’s the attraction? Well, it's warm in Quartzite during winter, for one. And, second, it's pretty inexpensive camping.


So What’s the Attraction?:


 


What makes Quartzsite special is that it has been a rock-hound's paradise since the 1960's. Each winter Quartzite swells in population due to well over a million visitors, most of whom converge on the small town in a wave of RVs during the months of January and February.


 


The Desert USA website, explains: “Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds, collectors and enthusiasts.”


Where is Quartzite?:


 


Quartzsite, in western Arizona, is just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10. From Phoenix, the trip to Quartzite is about two hours. It is also easily accessible from Los Angeles.


What About Night Life?:


 


Having listened to friends who talked about their experiences in Quartzite, I learned that one of the “must do’s” in Quartzite is to join the Quartzite Yacht Club. No, the desert sun hadn’t fried their brains. There really is a bar and grill named The Quartzite Yacht Club. Indeed, it is a yacht club of sorts, in a sand sea of desert schooners.


What Can I buy in Quartzite?:


 


Here is a Quartzite calendar loaded with events for you to choose from. If you like gems and minerals, hit the sales during the big “rock hound” events. If looking for bargains at flea markets is more your style, they offer a big Peddler’s Faire. Add in a mix of classic car shows, chili cook-offs and RV shows and sales and Crazy Quartzite could keep you mighty busy.


When You Go:


 


 


Traffic: Be prepared for traffic. This is a small town and I-10 traffic can get backed up in January and February. 


 


What to Wear: It’s dusty out there in the desert. Most shopping is in makeshift tents along dusty rows of RVs. The wind can pick up, a rain storm can move in, and you need to be prepared with a jacket and sturdy outdoor clothes. Wear walking shoes.


 


How to Plan: There are two websites that keep up to date information. 


 


Desert USA and the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce. 


 


When you are in town, pick up a copy of The Desert Star newspaper for more up to date news and ads.


Where Can I Stay?:


 


Quartzite doesn’t have many motels. Here's a list of best prices for places to stay in the Quartzsite area. You can book online.


 


Liz's Tips:


 


I like the comforts of the city so I enjoy staying on the west side of Phoenix and venturing to Quartzsite as a day trip. I recommend leaving early (7 or 8 a. m.) to avoid the traffic, packing water and lunch, and double checking the Quartzsite calendars so I can hit the events I am most interested in. 


 


My friend and I both like rocks and minerals and we enjoy bargain hunting. So we chose a day when there were vendors selling a large variety of items. We did find our rocks and minerals, picked up some beautiful agate slices, and then spent hours trudging up one row of “shops” and down the other. I was amazed. We found fine antiques (Roseville pottery and more), a group of vendors from Africa selling ethnic statuary and baskets, and a "desert rat" selling rusty tools out of the back of his car. The variety was mind-boggling.


 


I bought placemats, matching napkins and a silver necklace. When we were pretty tired, the wind kicked up and a rainstorm threatened us. We ducked into McDonalds, had a milkshake, and waited out the storm. (There aren’t many restrooms so that was another great reason for ducking into McDonalds!)


RV Park Quartzsite Arizona: Rose RV Park, 600 E Kuehn St


Quartzsite, Arizona, 405-306-2309, Features: Full Hook-Ups, Vendor Spaces, Commercial Services, Dry Camp. Call today or go to the website to fill out the registration forms 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Arizona RV Parks - Quartzsite Arizona Camping


 




What Happens in Quartzite or Quartzsite?:




If you pass through Quartzite in summer, the answer to this question is, “Absolutely nothing.” You will see flat desert, some roadside businesses, tumbleweeds and that’s about it.



But come winter, the answer is quite different. Each winter the flat desert bustles with activity. RVs by the thousands camp in fairly primitive desert conditions. So what’s the attraction? Well, it's warm in Quartzite during winter, for one. And, second, it's pretty inexpensive camping.




So What’s the Attraction?:



What makes Quartzsite special is that it has been a rock-hound's paradise since the 1960's. Each winter Quartzite swells in population due to well over a million visitors, most of whom converge on the small town in a wave of RVs during the months of January and February.



The Desert USA website, explains: “Eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise peddle their wares to snowbirds, collectors and enthusiasts.”


Where is Quartzite?:



Quartzsite, in western Arizona, is just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10. From Phoenix, the trip to Quartzite is about two hours. It is also easily accessible from Los Angeles.


What About Night Life?:



Having listened to friends who talked about their experiences in Quartzite, I learned that one of the “must do’s” in Quartzite is to join the Quartzite Yacht Club. No, the desert sun hadn’t fried their brains. There really is a bar and grill named The Quartzite Yacht Club. Indeed, it is a yacht club of sorts, in a sand sea of desert schooners.


What Can I buy in Quartzite?:



Here is a Quartzite calendar loaded with events for you to choose from. If you like gems and minerals, hit the sales during the big “rock hound” events. If looking for bargains at flea markets is more your style, they offer a big Peddler’s Faire. Add in a mix of classic car shows, chili cook-offs andRV shows and sales and Crazy Quartzite could keep you mighty busy.


When You Go:





Traffic: Be prepared for traffic. This is a small town and I-10 traffic can get backed up in January and February. 



What to Wear: It’s dusty out there in the desert. Most shopping is in makeshift tents along dusty rows of RVs. The wind can pick up, a rain storm can move in, and you need to be prepared with a jacket and sturdy outdoor clothes. Wear walking shoes.



How to Plan: There are two websites that keep up to date information. 



Desert USA and the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce



When you are in town, pick up a copy of The Desert Star newspaper for more up to date news and ads.


Where Can I Stay?:



Quartzite doesn’t have many motels. Here's a list of best prices for places to stay in the Quartzsite area. You can book online.

 


Liz's Tips:



I like the comforts of the city so I enjoy staying on the west side of Phoenix and venturing to Quartzsite as a day trip. I recommend leaving early (7 or 8 a. m.) to avoid the traffic, packing water and lunch, and double checking the Quartzsite calendars so I can hit the events I am most interested in. 



My friend and I both like rocks and minerals and we enjoy bargain hunting. So we chose a day when there were vendors selling a large variety of items. We did find our rocks and minerals, picked up some beautiful agate slices, and then spent hours trudging up one row of “shops” and down the other. I was amazed. We found fine antiques (Roseville pottery and more), a group of vendors from Africa selling ethnic statuary and baskets, and a "desert rat" selling rusty tools out of the back of his car. The variety was mind-boggling.



I bought placemats, matching napkins and a silver necklace. When we were pretty tired, the wind kicked up and a rainstorm threatened us. We ducked into McDonalds, had a milkshake, and waited out the storm. (There aren’t many restrooms so that was another great reason for ducking into McDonalds!)



This may sound crazy, but I am going back to Crazy Quartzsite again this year!



Saturday, January 5, 2013

Arizona RV Parks - Quartzsite Arizona


Arizona RV Parks - Quartzsite Arizona



 



 



 RV Parks: Amenities To Look For In A RV Resort



 



 



RV parks offer recreational vehicle owners the chance to explore the vast uniqueness of our country while doing so relatively inexpensively. However, not all RV parks are created equal as some certainly offer more amenities for your dollar. The gap between your truly comfortable parks and those that simple offer the bare-bones is growing and you should be aware of what options are available before you choose a park. Everything from location to community organization and basic hookups (such as electric and water) needs to be taken into account before you commit to a park. With a little insider knowledge of the RV resort world, you can become somewhat of an expert and choose only the best parks out there.



Obviously, one of the most important factors to consider is location. An RV park must, above all, be convenient to get to which requires easy access to main roads and, possibly, an interstate. This being said, however, no one wants to park their recreational vehicle right next to a busy highway and consequently a good park is tucked away a little bit to offer you some peace and quiet. The surrounding area, likewise, should offer convenient and fun recreational opportunities some of which might include biking, museums, and other attractions. To this regard it’s really important to value the tranquility of the park itself rather than, say, opting for the cheapest option which tends to be located in less than ideal areas.



One should additionally consider the amenities their potential RV resort has to offer. Some parks charge extra fees to use restrooms or showers whereas some others actually do not have restrooms. Ideally, the park you consider offers free restrooms and immaculate showers. Additionally, a good modern RV park would offer free wi-fi internet access so that you don’t have to rely on coffee houses or other undependable options. Also consider whether or not the park has laundry facilities and other basic amenities.



Take a good look at the community as well. A RV resort’s landscaping actually implicitly shows the quality of the park and whether or not the owners continually reinvest for the sake of their tenants. Community clubhouses are additionally fantastic features that should give you an area to socialize, enjoy a communal meal, and participate and other activities. These features become increasingly important depending upon the length of your stay.



Furthermore, what would a RV park be without proper electrical and water hook-ups. It’s important to understand whether there’s additional fees for electric and water. As it pertains to electricity, ask the appropriate questions of the park managers to make sure that the electrical outlets the park provides is compatible with your RV rig.



With these factors considered, you will be much better equipped to select a RV park that meets your needs and provides the amenities of the 21st century. Not all RV resorts are created equal, but with a little knowledge you should be able to discern the first-class parks from the lesser ones.





RV Park Quartzsite Arizona: Rose RV Park, 600 E Kuehn St




Quartzsite, Arizona, 405-306-2309, Features: Full Hook-Ups, Vendor Spaces, Commercial Services, Dry Camp. Call today or go to the website to fill out the registration forms http://www.quartzsiteroservpark.com