California camping creates the perfect vacation. No matter what your interest - surfing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, museums and amusement parks, these are all available to the traveler with camping close by in California. The weather is most inviting also, even in the winter months in much of the state. Here are a few state highlights.
Camp along the coast and you'll find that most California campgrounds boast beautiful sunsets and warm days of water play. For example, San Diego is a special treat for the whole family. It is home to the famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, San Diego Wild Animal Park and Legoland California.
Not too far north of San Diego, in Orange County is Anaheim, the home of the Disneyland theme park. Imagine the lasting memories a trip to meet Minnie Mouse or ride Space Mountain would make for your kids or grandchildren.
Just a small drive into the city of Los Angeles is the world-famous Page Museum La Brea Tar Pits, where you can learn about Los Angeles as it was during the last Ice Age. See one of the most famous collections of fossils in the world and watch while scientists continue the work of cleaning and repairing bones of long extinct animals. Camping in or around Los Angeles, the area provides an abundance of day trips to some amazing places from your home base at a California campground.
Just a couple hours up the coast from Los Angeles is the relaxing Central Coast. Spend a quiet day sightseeing the beauty of Santa Barbara. Relaxing at camp in the hills or basking in the sun on the beaches around Santa Barbara, and you’ll see that the Central Coast offers everything from horseback riding, hiking and swimming to strolling through quaint shops, magnificent museums and eating gourmet food.
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Five Tips & Hints to RV California
- Book your California campsite online.
- Great weather makes California camping a year-round fun activity! Moderate snow in elevated areas are just a short drive from warm weather at your California campground.
- If you enjoy wine tasting, California wineries spread throughout northern and central California make for a fantastic time.
- Check current highway conditions at California's official Cal-Trans website.
- Did you know that California's state animal is the grizzly bear? That's right! So be careful at camp to secure all your food and brush up on what to do if you see one of those cute little fuzzies.
Another hour north is the little city of Lompoc, home of the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park founded in 1787 by Franciscan Padre Presidente Fermin Fracisco Lasuen. This Mission is the most completely reconstructed of the 21 Spanish Missions in what became California. Practically next door to the Mission is the La Purisima Golf Course which is rated one of the best in the state of California.
Also in central California you’ll find that camping in beautiful Pismo Beach, between October and February you are in the midst of the largest aggregation of Monarch butterflies in the US. The count of Monarchs has averaged 25,000 over the last five years.
Continuing up the Historic Coast Highway, you drive through some of the most enchanting scenery on the planet. About half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco you find Hearst Castle, a truly extravagant estate, built in the 1940’s for William Randolph Hearst which is breath taking. (Reservations are recommended.)
Next take a trip to historic San Francisco. Ride on one of the famous trolley cars, visit Alcatraz, eat on the wharf, and tour Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge. The northern section of California offers camping in and near Mt. Shasta, the second highest volcano in the US and Lassen Volcanic National Park and of course the famous Giant Redwoods, home of Hyperion, a Giant Redwood 379.1 feet tall.
California camping is not complete without experiencing the late night sky of Lake Tahoe in the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. No matter which side of the lake you camp on, there is so much to do and see that the whole family will treasure the memories forever. While in the gold country below Lake Tahoe, enjoy touring a real gold mine. Feeling adventurous? Go whitewater rafting down the American River. RVers and Campers never had it so good.
While staying at a Northern
California Campgrounds, be sure to see the waterfalls in and around the Yosemite Valley - waterfalls so exquisite that they draw people from around the globe.
Of course, a California camping tour must include the deserts. The California deserts are home to magnificent Joshua tree forests, enormous boulders, volcanic lava tubes, huge caverns and historic train stations. In the spring, the desert wildflowers are absolutely breathtaking and in the autumn the warm winds are quite nice.
RV camping or tent camping California is the only way to genuinely experience all California has to offer.
