My parents are hoping to realize their long-cherished plan of roaming around the West Coast in a RV for a week or so this July. We're looking for a RV for 4 adults. Everyone going on the trip has a great deal of US road trip experience (in cars/minivans) and some camping experience.

We're looking for a reputable RV rental company in the Bay area, preferably on the Peninsula, that rents out CLEAN, well-functioning vehicles and will not try to rip us off. CruiseAmerica and El Monte seem to be the big companies but I've read some bad things about them (e.g. accusing renters of damage; less-than-thorough cleanings). Some of the family-owned places have nice websites and deals but I've not been able to find reviews for them. If you have recent experiences with these or any other companies, good or bad, I'd be grateful for your advice. Also, if you know of a good RV rental company reviews website, that would be awesome too. Thanks!

Here’s a Colorado trip you won’t want to miss:

From the Denver area, head southwest on 285 to Alamosa, then west on 160 to Durango.

While there, visit Mesa Verde and ride the Durango/Silverton train. Be sure to stay in one of the Victorian hotels near the train.

From Durango, head up 550 to Ouray and spend a couple of days off-roading the Alpine Loop and Yankee Boy (you will need an SUV). A visit to a gold mine is fun too. The wildflowers at the end of June into July are amazing.

From Ouray, continue up 550 to Montrose and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a canyon deeper than the Statue of Liberty is tall.

Continue on 50 to Grand Junction and tour the Colorado National Monument and Dinosaur Museum. You can also do a wine-tasting tour if you don’t have the kids along.

To complete the loop, take I-70 back to Denver, stopping for a couple of relaxing days in Glenwood Springs. In addition to the pools, the Fairy Caves are a great experience.

This is a fantastic trip that crosses many different geologic and scenic areas in Colorado, from mountains, to deserts, to mesas. We took two weeks, and even though we’re natives and had seen many places before, it was really special to see them all in one trip and introduce them to the kids. Be prepared to do a lot of hiking!

If you’re not from the Denver area, begin your trip with a couple of days in Denver to see the Colorado History Museum (reopening in 2012), the Capitol, Museum of Nature and Science, and the Zoo.

A great book to guide you on your trip is: The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America – The Southern Rockies. I have all of their books for the entire US as well as the historic guides.