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Harvest Host Have You Been There
Keep seeing this on different RV related sites. Anyone a member, what has been your experience if any? Not sure how open these sites are due to covid.
Understand it is a place to go without crowding but question is how open are the host to accept strangers?
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4 Replies
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We have stayed at a few. We call ahead, confirm availability, and learn exactly where to park.
Get settled, walk in, say hello, and buy a bottle of wine/block of cheese/whatever it is that they produce. Everyone one else camping does the same; and it is typically a good time.
We did not sign up or use the app; just learned about specific locations from friends and called directly. The hosts did not care if we used the app or not.
I recall a wonderful location in Tillamook, Oregon. They made brie and had a petting zoo. We stayed there with 3 or 4 other rigs.
This is all pre-pandemic.
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Harvest Host is a good concept, but it’s a niche market.
Most locations are WAY off the beaten path and a defiant destination location, not something on the way. The other issue, it’s usually not convenient to arrive before the Host closing time or stay later in the morning till they open to visit and purchase something from them, which proper etiquette while using their program would suggest.
The other challenge was most Harvest Host locations can only accommodate one or two units. This goes full circle back to you better get there way early to get the one and only spot. If you can’t reach the Host on the phone and drive there anyway, then the one and only spot is taken and you are WAY off the beaten path…
Chuck
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They are very handy in parts of the west where safe/fun places to stay can be far apart. As others have said, be sure to call ahead and ask the host if the access roads are bus friendly and can accommodate your length. No hookups and parking is usually in a parking lot. Most hosts will ask for your membership ID.
One great place is a golf course in a nice housing area on the north side of Bakersfield. It is a public course but as nice as most private ones. Well treed, level parking beside a service road overlooking the practice area and gated at night with city police patrols.
Good overnighting spots in Bakersfield are few.
jerry
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I wonder if the Harvest Host concept will prompt some of the farms, wineries, distilleries, and cheese factories to put in a 50amp shore power pedestals as they get more action and visits. Kinda like the casinos are doing in some areas. Limit the number of nights, etc.
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