Salmon Harbor RV Resort
Smith River, California

The view! The view! The view! Salmon Harbor Resorts sits right at the mouth of the Smith River as it empties into the Pacific Ocean. Canadian geese, seals and all sorts of wildlife as well as great fishing all come together in a picturesque setting in front of the Resort.

We had met Ned & Mary Burgess, our hosts, at the California Travel Parks Association, Unit 12 meeting the week before. They greeted us on arrival and proudly showed off the breathtaking view from the resort. Ned wanted to take Mike out for a view of the property from the ocean side, but Mike's stomach told him he better not. So, as I chatted with Mary, Ned and Mike toured the park taking photos.

This park has everything - full hookups, hot showers, laundry, cable TV, modem connection in the office, a large meeting area/recreation room with pool table and bar, boat launch and 2 complete fish cleaning sinks with water at the shoreline. Each site has a level, gravel parking area and a concrete pad for the picnic table. And, we were introduced to a luxury we have not yet seen in our travels....most sites have their own storage shed!

Ned explained that a lot of his guests stay the entire summer, as this is definitely a destination park, and need a place to store their gear. When not in use, the picnic tables for each site are also stored in the shed to prevent damage from the damp weather. Now that's what we call "taking care of your customers"! This philosophy was evident all through the park. The grass was neatly trimmed, there were flowers blooming everywhere and everyone was very friendly. The park's motto is "you are only a stranger once...". The great thing is that they mean it!

In addition to the local recreational opportunites and attractions, the park offers potluck dinners on holidays and bingo in the summer. The office/recreation building serves a meeting place for guests to enjoy their morning coffee, watch the shoreline for whales and talk over their plans for the day. The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly and we felt most comfortable and right at home.

This is a great campground and if you find yourself traveling along California's north coast, check out Salmon Harbor RV Resort and let them know we highly recommended their resort!