Over six years of full-time travel, we’ve made several changes to enrich the RV lifestyle for our family. One was eschewing the concrete playgrounds we used to call private RV parks. Another was perfecting our dry camping game, so we could stay off-grid in beautiful areas and save hundreds of dollars every month. Another was down-sizing from a 40-foot RV to a 25-foot RV, so we could be as nimble as a race car (it feels that way after driving a diesel pusher).
But just as much as any of those big changes, getting a Harvest Hosts membership–and using it–has transformed our traveling lives.
We’ve written extensively about whether a Harvest Hosts membership is worth it (spoiler: we think it is). <– Read that article first, if you haven’t yet.
If you already have a Harvest Hosts membership or know you’re going to get one soon, then you may be wondering where to stay next! It’s a tough choice, considering there are well over 1,000 locations to choose from now.
To get you started, here are seven of our favorite Harvest Hosts experiences so far, western United States edition. We also have a list of 10 highlights in the east, if that’s where you’re headed to next!
Note: This article includes our Harvest Hosts affiliate link. If you get excited about what we share here, we’d love it if you’d sign up via our link. This will encourage us to continue investing time in creating useful content!
1/ Licon Dairy, TX
Location: San Elizario, Texas
Date visited: April 2019, December 2019
Licon Dairy was our second Harvest Hosts stop ever and it set the bar high. This dairy farm just outside El Paso is home to one of the best self-guided petting zoos we’ve ever seen, and we couldn’t believe it was in our front yard.
Our favorite fresh items to get at Licon Dairy are cheese and pan de polvo!
2/ Agua Dulce Winery, CA
Location: Santa Clarita, California
Date visited: May 2019
What an amazing location! We stayed overnight for FREE in Santa Clarita, Calif., on our way to visit family in Los Angeles. And I had an awesome wine tasting without needing a designated driver…because my home was parked just up the hill.
Now, here’s the thing. Agua Dulce isn’t part of Harvest Hosts anymore. So why am I including it here? I want to make a point: if a host looks intriguing or you really want to visit a certain area of the country, then you need to jump on it now. Don’t assume the opportunity will be there forever. I’m so glad we stayed at Agua Dulce when we could!
(In case you’re curious, hosts sometimes leave the program as a result of rezoning, family concerns, selling the business, or other reasons.)
Already convinced? Sign up for a Harvest Hosts membership now and receive 15% off for the rest of your account’s life!
3/ Sea Pines Golf Resort, CA
Location: Los Osos, California
Date visited: May 2019
Sea Pines Golf Resort is in an unbelievable location, in an area of the country where free RV camping is extremely limited. We visited at the beginning of our way up California 1 last year, which we took all the way up the state, then continued up the full Oregon coast.
To stay at golf courses through Harvest Hosts, you need the add-on for your membership. But it’s only $40/year, and it opens up something like 400 golf courses to you.
And what if you don’t golf (or don’t have time to golf)? You have options! Golf courses have restaurants, bars, and some even have spas.
4/ Blue Heron French Cheese Company, OR
Location: Tillamook, Oregon
Date visited: June 2019
What a fun Harvest Hosts stay! Tillamook is a charming town just off the gorgeous coast of Oregon. We parked here over the July 4th holiday, taking a day trip to nearby Seaside to celebrate. But you never have to leave Blue Heron if you don’t want to! There’s a wine bar and deli inside, plus bakery items and tons of yummy things to sample. Little ones (and little ones at heart) love the animals that live on the grounds.
Blue Heron allows a two-night stay, which is rare with Harvest Hosts.
5/ Hoodsport Winery, WA
Location: Hoodsport, Washington
Date visited: July 2019
One of the things I most love about Harvest Hosts is the way it gets us off the highway and onto roads we never would’ve seen otherwise. The route to and from Hoodsport Winery was incredible! We drove by these gorgeous Washington lakes and it was all I could do to keep my eyes on the road.
6/ Fargo Air Museum, ND
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Date visited: July 2019
Our first night at a museum through Harvest Hosts, and we all had so much fun! Make sure you scroll for the video of two-year-old Caspian in a helicopter.
7/ Dark Star Cellars, CA
Dark Star Cellars was our last Harvest Hosts stay before the pandemic took hold. I visited without Eric, since he made an urgent trip to Seattle to be with his mom. Caspian and I were traveling by ourselves at the time.
I’ve always appreciated Harvest Hosts for momma time as a full-time RVer, and I really appreciated it this time. It was such a nice break. And something happened that never has: I loved every single wine I tasted. All eight.
My heart goes out to small wineries all over the country that have been impacted by COVID-19. I’m glad we could be there, even if our part was small.
So there you have it! A few of our favorite Harvest Hosts experiences in the western United States. Don’t miss our 10 highlights in the east part of the country. We’d love to know about your personal favorites, so let us know in a comment!
Don’t leave without signing up for your Harvest Hosts membership! RVers who use our link receive 15%, and you’ll be locked in at that rate for the life of your membership.
-B
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