We joined two other families for a weekend of camping over Memorial Day weekend. We reserved two campgrounds next to each other to accommodate 13 people. The campgrounds were clean, although we were there the first weekend it opened for this season. Our campsites were under the redwoods as most were, but there are a few sites that are unprotected. The campgrounds are decent sized, but not overly private. There is a fire pit with grill, food locker and picnic table at each site. The bathrooms were clean. There were no indoor showers, only two outdoor showers to rinse off.

The Eel River is located within walking distance and can be seen from some of the campsites. The current is quick in some places so you need to be careful if you are swimming. Our kids enjoyed swimming in the cool water. We saw some families that had brought inner tubes to float with the current down stream. The looked to be having a great time and if we go again, we will be sure to bring some inner tubes along. Other families were fishing. At one section there is a rope swing which is fun for the older kids and adventurous adults.

There were some hikes from the campgrounds. We did one hike, which took us to the old Mill site. The walk was fairly easy and through the shade of the trees.

Our kids participated in the ranger program that had them picking up trash around the campgrounds. The kids got a sticker for each bag of trash they picked up and brought to the ranger. When they received all six stickers, they received a recycled pencil.

The downside to this campground is its proximity to Highway 101. You could hear the traffic throughout the night. So, bring earplugs if that will help you sleep.

Benbow Lake SRA was first established in 1958. Prior to that, the area was used by settlers, ranchers and loggers until 1922 when the Benbow family purchased much of the land in the valley Some of the land was subdivided and sold for home sites. The Benbow Hotel, as it was originally named, was built in 1925 and opened for business in 1926.
To provide power for the new development in the valley , a concrete dam was constructed across the south fork of the Eel River in 1928. The dam not only provided power but also created Benbow Lake.
The Benbow family, interested in preserving the natural scene around the Hotel and along the river, made efforts to place the land under State protection. In 1956 funds were approved for the Benbow Project and the first 207 acres were purchased in 1958.
Today the park consists of about 1,200 acres with 75 campsites and a large day-use picnic area. The campground is open year round and reservations can be made from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Hiking, swimming, picnicking and camping are popular summer time activities, while salmon and steelhead fishing are popular in the winter.

I've stayed at the Queen Mary Hotel a few times and it just keeps getting more and more run down. Yes, it's cool to think about staying aboard the Queen Mary- a ship with history, but it's not worth the money. The rooms are small (expected) and worn. The restaurant food is terrible. Everything is falling apart- peeling paint and wallpaper, stripped floors, worn out furniture. Save your money, stay someplace close by like the Reniassance Long Beach Hotel and just climb aboard and explore the ship without staying and eating there.

Our family (2 adults & 2 children- 7 & 9) stayed at the Cedar Lodge for two nights this winter. The room had two queen beds and a small sitting area with a couch, table and desk with chair. The room also had a small refrigerator which was nice. The decor was somewhat worn.

We brought our own food to eat a quick breakfast before skiing at Badger Pass. I was also able to make sandwiches to bring with us to the slopes. It is about 45 minutes from Badger Pass and from the Yosemite Valley floor. The kids enjoyed swimming in the indoor pool at the end of the day.

For dinner we drove to Mariposa. There are some nice restaurants in Mariposa, but with kids we opted for the simpler cuisine. The Mexican restaurant was pretty good, as was Happy Burger. Happy Burger is a diner that is decorated with old album covers that are a blast from the past.

We stayed one night at the Sheraton Suites because we had a layover on our way to Puerto Rico. The hotel itself was decent. The room was fairly clean and spacious, especially for one night. The kids (ages 7 & 9) enjoyed a dip in the pool upon arrival. The location is not great if you don't have a car (which we didn't) and you want to go out to eat. The hotel has a restaurant, but it seemed pricey for what you got. Your choice is to take a cab somewhere or walk 15-20 minutes to a chain restaurant.

Our biggest complaint was with management. We had a minor medical emergency during our visit. We called the front desk for advice and it took 30-40 minutes for the manager to come check on us. He promised to get us a butterfly bandage and look into helping us get to an ER and return in just a moment. Forty-five minutes later, a young kid comes to our door with one small butterfly bandage. When we inquired about the manager, we were told that he left for the day. Needless to say, we were quite upset. Without any assistance from the hotel manager, we had to negotiate our way to an emergency room where three sutures were placed. The manager never checked up with us to see if everyone was taken care of and everything was OK. Needless to say, I would not stay here again, nor would I recommend it to anyone else.

We had driven by Fort Ross numerous times, but always on our way to or from somewhere else. This time we decided to trek to the coast just to visit Fort Ross. We were not disappointed. Our girls (7 & 9) had a blast running around and exploring the various buildings of Fort Ross. The buildings are very unique because they were built by Aleutians and Russians. There is a small museum with a short film. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy eating under the Cypress trees on the property. It is a peaceful place along the rugged coastline.