Yuma, Encore Desert Paradise

14 02 2025

With the purchase of the new Montana, our dealer, Lazydays RV gave us a 1 year membership in the Thousands Trails program.  This membership allows free stays up to 14 days at many Thousand Trails/Encore parks.  In Yuma, we’re trying out our membership at Encore Desert Paradise park just east of Yuma on the north side of I-8.

Encore Desert Paradise, Yuma, AZ

Encore Desert Paradise, Yuma, AZ

If Pirates Den was tight, Desert Paradise is perhaps the noisiest park we’ve ever stayed in.  Our site #79  is very near the corner of Avenue 9E and 28th street.  9E is a very popular cut-off from highway 94 to I-8 and has fairly heavy traffic all day and much of the night.  With an elementary and a middle school further east on 28th St, the constant school traffic starts about 7AM and runs until around 5PM.  And, not to be outdone, train tracks run about a quarter mile away and carry heavy traffic along the I-8 corridor between San Diego and Tucson and points further east.  Whew…!!!  If returning to this area, the Encore Cactus Gardens might be a better option, especially with sites in the far south west corner of that park.

Encore Cactus Gardens, Yuma, AZ

A regular stop for us in Yuma is the Imperial Date Garden in Winterhaven, CA for our annual “fix” of wonderful Medjool Dates.  Last year, 11lbs for $22, this year $20 – maybe the only thing that hasn’t been hit by inflation!

Another favorite trip is across the border to Los Algodones, MX.  On Wednesday we joined friends to walk across the border for some shopping and lunch. On their recommendation, we had lunch at Mi Casa Es Su Casa.  What a great find! We enjoyed a table on the 2nd story balcony with good views, great food and plenty of tasty margaritas.

Mi Casa Es Su Casa, Los Algodones, MX

Mi Casa Es Su Casa, Los Algodones, MX

For those interested in jewelry, especially silver – make sure to visit The Mine.  Jesse Ramos and his family produce some of the most beautiful and finest quality items in Algodones.  Using silver from the mines of Taxco, Mexico, these craftsmen are amazing.  The shop is small, and a bit difficult to find down one of the alleyways.  However, you won’t be disappointed!

The Mine, Fine Jewelry in Los Algondones, MX

From Yuma, we’re headed to the Phoenix area and spring baseball!  More from there…


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2025

Back to Harlingen

28 04 2020

We’ve moved back into Tropic Winds RV Resort our stop-over for at least a few days when departing South Padre and before continuing the trip north.  Arriving on Saturday, we know the office won’t be open on the weekend.  However, first thing on Monday we call to pay our bill for 7 nights.  The response is surprising… “you can’t stay here”! For some unknown reason, after allowing us to stay 25 days earlier, and as Texas and Cameron County begin to relax stay-at-home and isolation guidelines, Encore Resorts has shut down all of their parks to new reservations and arrivals.

Encore owns the RV Resort market in much of the Rio Grande Valley, however we had no problem finding several smaller, private parks that were open and welcoming new guests.  By late on Monday we’ve moved across town to Sundance RV Village, a small park of 80 sites, a spotlessly clean (and open) laundry room and free & fast WiFi.  We’re parked in site #44, a mid-park site with a large shade tree directly overhead.  The rate at Sundance is $20/night for weekly visits ($46/night at Encore Resorts), there are no resort fees and the WiFi which runs along at about 20Mb is free (compared to daily Tango Internet fees at Encore Resorts)  We like it here – and may be back next year!

Sundance RV Village, Site #44

Sundance RV Village, Harlingen, TX


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020