My search for the right RV has been quite a journey thus far.  I have spent a lot of time researching online: reading forums, perusing RV sales websites, and researching technical details.  But I also knew that I needed to see different RVs in person to get a better idea of what I wanted.  With that in mind, I visited multiple local RV shows.  I also visited a large RV dealership near me multiple times.  But, even with these experiences under my belt, I still wasn’t able to see all the models I was looking for.  San Diego ended up being the perfect backdrop for a trip to see a unique RV.

A Potential RV

One day I was looking through postings on RVTrader, one of the biggest RV sales websites.  I had set up various searches to let me know when RVs that met my qualifications came available.  Looking through the results, I saw a motorhome that looked very intriguing.  It was a short class A made by the Newmar brand.  From my research, I knew that Newmar was one of the manufacturers known for high-quality workmanship.  The floorplan was also an intriguing one, which managed to fit both a dinette and couch in 27 feet without losing the dedicated walk-around bed area.  After looking at the pictures online, I was starting to think it could be the right one!  The only problem – it was located in San Diego, CA, several states away from me.

But, I wasn’t dissuaded easily.  Many of the motorhomes I had been looking at were located in other states, so I had always known I might have to travel to another state to purchase my RV.  I started thinking about going to check it out.  After a quick search for flights, I was shocked to see that I could fly to San Diego for the day (on a Saturday, no less) for just $80 roundtrip on Spirit Airlines.  And, I realized that even if I didn’t buy the RV, I could spend a lovely day in the wonderful city of San Diego.  (If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it – such a great place!)

Not Much Time for Planning

I booked my flight to San Diego exactly one week before the trip.  My flight would arrive in San Diego at around 8:30 am and depart at around 8:00 pm, giving me just under 12 hours to check out the motorhome and have some fun in the city.  I chatted with the owners of the RV and made a plan to meet them in the morning after I landed.  They even offered to pick me up from the airport.  But, I decided to rent a car to give myself a bit more flexibility.  With all of that planned out, I was ready to go!

San Diego Adventure Time

It was definitely an early morning, but I was able to find a nice close parking spot.  Knowing that I was only going to be gone for the day meant that I didn’t have to worry as much about airport parking fees.  I also relished the feeling of walking through the airport with just my over-the-shoulder travel bag.  It was very freeing!  The flight was nice and short, and we were on the ground before I knew it.  I picked up my rental car and even ended up with a little extra time before I was scheduled to look at the RV.  I decided to take a quick detour to enjoy donuts from one of the best places in the US – San Diego Donut Bar!  If you like donuts, this place has to go on your list.

Touring the RV

After a delicious breakfast, I was on my way to check out the RV!  It was very exciting to finally see it in person.  The owners gave me a wonderful tour and were very helpful.  I even got to test drive it!  But, I could tell that there were a few things that weren’t exactly what I was looking for.  Plus, it just seemed a bit too big for me.  Later in the day, I let them know that it was outside of my desired price range and that I would unfortunately not be purchasing it.  But that didn’t mean the trip was for nothing!  Not only did touring the RV narrow down my search parameters, but I got to spend the rest of the day in beautiful San Diego.

Beach Time

After I finished at the RV, I decided to drive straight out to Coronado since it is one of my favorite places in San Diego.  I ended up continuing past the main part of Coronado and stopping to explore Silver Strand State Beach Park.  It’s a very nice park with access to the ocean and bay.  There is also an aquatics center nearby with boat rentals and lessons.  And, in keeping with the theme of the day, there are many RV parking spots basically right on the beach!  Almost immediately, I made a mental note to return with my future RV.  I spent the afternoon enjoying the beach, wading in the water, and exploring the park.  It was absolutely lovely.

Exploring the City

By this time, the donuts had worn off and I was starting to get hungry again.  I decided to end the day by going into the city to find a restaurant for dinner.  I parked near the Gaslamp district and walked around.  The weather was absolutely beautiful, as it usually is in San Diego.  I ended up at a cute little restaurant and had a delicious dinner while enjoying the sunshine.  Afterwards, I headed back to the airport.  Even though I ran into a slight snafu with a delayed flight on the way home, it was a wonderful day trip and well worth the time and money.

Even though I didn’t end up purchasing the RV that inspired this trip, seeing it in person was valuable to my search.  I ended up later deciding that a class C RV was more my style.  Check out my post on my Search for the Right RV to learn more about my thoughts on this subject!