Cocopah RV and Golf Resort
Yuma, AZ
February 14, 2026
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| Ocotillo leaves popping out on our last walk at home before we headed west. |
We left home on Feb. 3 with an overnight stop at Sonoran Desert RV Park in Gila Bend before arriving at Cocopah on the 4th. This isn't our first visit to the resort or Yuma. The best part about being at Cocopah is Carol and Ronnie are right next door.
The resort is nestled in the Yuma and Gila Valley along the Colorado River...
and surrounded by farm land on three sides which is a huge plus also. This past week we had the great pleasure to meet up with Jim and Barb for lunch at El Charro Cafe in downtown. No, it's not the same family that has owned El Charro in Tucson for 100+years, but it is just as tasty and also has a long history. It began in 1949 and is still family owned by the third generation of family members. Their famous handmade flour tortillas, salsas, guacamole along with Chili Rellenos and signature Green Saddles are the original recipes passed down from Lola...the wife in the husband and wife team that began the business 77 years ago. |
| Lunch was yummy and if you like mangos, the mango margarita is quite tasty. |
It was so much fun catching up with Barb and Jim and afterwards, they came to our site so we also could visit with the puppies.  |
| Quiet, sweet and so gentle...Dakota |
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| Energetic, playful and so spirited...Zoey |
The Yuma Farmer's Market is on Saturday mornings. Yuma and farmers markets are a perfect fit. Fresh citrus and fruits, veggies, and home-baked bread are always a draw for us and pups are welcome there too. We joined Carol and Ronnie and perused the tents, and chatted with the vendors who were mostly Yumans.
We came home with strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, banana bread and the best of all, fresh Medjool dates. These large, soft, "caramel-sweet" fruits are often called the "king of dates". Originally from Morocco, these heart-friendly delightful treats offer a good source of fiber, potassium, and magnesium. Although I have heard they are quite yummy stuffed with nuts and cheese or blended into a smoothie, I just prefer to eat then raw and savor each bite of the chewy texture.
Another day we went to the Arizona Market. This expansive open-air market is the second largest in Arizona. I didn't get any photos, but take my word for it...it is huge with over 150 vendors. A large section is dedicated to RVers...reupholstery, awning material, flooring, and lots of other supplies one might be in the market for. We did purchase two new folding chairs. Other vendors had fresh produce, straw hats (Carol and I both got a new hat), crafts, and one vendor even had a cloth shop for all kinds of sewing needs. The hot dogs smelled yummy and the lemonade looked refreshing, but we held out for a Dole Whip.
Just around the corner from the market is The Lemon Grove. Changes have been made since we were there last year. The produce market is the same, but the food truck is gone. In its place is a nice built in counter to order sandwiches, chips and yep...a Dole Whip. A new patio with tables and umbrellas are scattered about with rows and rows of citrus trees for a backdrop.
Pineapple was the flavor of the day and we all enjoyed ours with a swirl of vanilla soft cream.
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| Lemon trees for sale. |
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| Lemon trees as far as the eye can see. I couldn't find a number for the acreage there, but Yuma has approximately 6,000 acres of citrus trees in total. |
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| The sweet smell of lemon blossoms filled the air... |
We have walked our 2.5 miles just about everyday with Carol and Ronnie. We have covered all the Yuma West Wetlands and the Yuma East Wetlands that follow the Colorado River and includes all the parks.
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| East Wetlands Interpretive Trail |
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| Bottlebrush blooms along the trail |
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| Located at Gateway Park, the Ocean to Ocean Bridge was built in 1915 and was the first highway crossing the lower Colorado River. |
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| Part of the wetlands trail follows in the footsteps of Juan Bautista de Anza. The actual trail is 1,210 miles from Nogales to San Francisco. |
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| New growth on a very old Cottonwood tree |
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| A monument to the Morman Battalion lead by Lieutenant Colonel Phillip St. George Cook who crossed the Colorado in 1847 when the river was much wider and wilder than it is today. |
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| Lucy enjoyed our walks too! |
And to wrap up our fun times so far, we had the awesomest Happy Valentine's Dinner at the River City Grill with Carol and Ronnie. It was a cozy patio setting with friends, perfect weather, a glass of wine and a delicious dinner and desert.
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| An Arizona Highways article states: It has been said that this hip but tiny restaurant, housed in a 90 year old building and featured in Architectural Digest, puts the yum in Yuma. "Low in fat, rich in flavor" that's the mantra here where locals who prefer breathing room head for one of the two spacious, maturely landscaped patios. |
Located in Historic Downtown Yuma, the Grill has a globally menu inspired representing the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and India using fresh local produce. The owner/chef, Nan Bain, says it's a perfect mix of Southwest-meets-world cuisine.
I ordered the Mustard Crusted Halibut served over spinach ricotta ravioli, Alfredo olive tapenade, feta, and fresh veggies.
I ate every bite and if that wasn't enough, I also ordered a warm flourless chocolate torte with a whiskey caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. And I also ate every bite of that too.
Our winter vaca is off to a great start. And I will close with just a few extra photos I like.
