Camping Destinations
Jumbo Rocks Campground: A Joshua Tree Gem
It wasn’t until AFTER we bought a motorhome, that I realized between all three kids’ various sports, we would likely never be able to use it. Bound and determined to prove myself wrong, I picked a weekend in March and start scouring various campgrounds to get in a quick weekend getaway. When I scored a cancellation at Jumbo Rocks campground, I was stoked! We had never been to Joshua Tree before, and this campground was listed as one of the best campgrounds in Joshua Tree. With all the boulders, this particular campground stood out to me as one the kids would have a blast at. I was right. As soon…
Dos Picos Campground in Ramona, CA
This past weekend, we attended the Ramona Rodeo in Ramona, CA. Having never been to a rodeo, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to try it out. And to add even more fun, we added in a quick weekend camping trip at the nearby Ramona campground at Dos Picos County Park. The Dos Picos County Park Campground has 75 campsites, most of which are partial hookup sites (no sewer), some that are tent only, and a couple that are handicap accessible. There are also six cabins in the campground, which are 200 sq. ft. and sleep up to five people. The partial hookup sites allow one RV and one…
Newport Dunes Waterfront: Camping, Fun, and Relaxation in Newport Beach
We just returned from our first stay at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in Newport Beach, California, and I have a lot to unpack from our trip. Both literally and figuratively speaking. The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort has been on my radar for years, but I could never pull the trigger on booking it. Mostly because it’s not cheap. Not by a long shot. Here’s my takeaway from the resort, along with my honest thoughts about whether it’s worth the cost or not. Tucked along the scenic Back Bay of Newport Beach, this unique destination is part waterfront campground, part family resort, and part outdoor playground—which means there’s truly something for…
Oceanside RV Park
We have had so many soccer tournaments up at the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside, CA. The drive from our house to Oceanside is about 45 minutes when there’s no traffic, and sometimes we have early games and need to be there by 7am. It’s nice when we can book a hotel and make a little weekend getaway out of it. However, during the summer months, hotel prices can be crazy high in that beach town, so staying at an Oceanside RV park is a nice option to have. For this past weekend’s tournament, I decided to look into bringing the RV up and staying at the Oceanside RV Resort.…
Camping Near Lake Vs Beach
I had someone ask me yesterday if I prefer camping near lake or beach more. That’s a super tough one–I love them both! And I grew up beach camping every year, so for most of my life, that was all I knew. There are pros and cons to both, but mostly pros in my opinion. If I had to choose only one to do for the rest of my existence, I think I would have to choose camping near lakes. However I know my husband would choose beach camping without hesitation. Here’s what I feel are the biggest pros and cons to both. Beach Camping Pros Relaxing – I’ll start…
Spring Cove Campground, Bass Lake
Doing a mountain/ lake camping trip is one of our favorite traditions, and this summer we discovered a hidden gem of a campground: Spring Cove Campground at Bass Lake. If you’re looking for a California lake to camp at, this might be just the spot for you. We love camping in Yosemite, but those campsites are so hard to get, especially when coordinating with a group. So for the past several years, we’ve been trying out other campgrounds on lakes. We spent a week camping at Pinecrest Lake (and we loved it!) over the last two summers, but this year we decided to venture out again and explore the campgrounds…
Nevada Beach Campground: One of Lake Tahoe’s Best Spots
We just returned from a beautiful week of camping in Lake Tahoe. I love trying new campgrounds each time we visit, and this time I was lucky enough to score a campsite at the popular Nevada Beach campground. It’s one of the few Lake Tahoe campgrounds that allow dogs, plus it’s located right on the beach. When looking at a map of the area, I was a little worried that it would feel very much in the middle of a city. There are casinos nearby and plenty of options for nightlife. And while that’s a lot of fun, that’s not what I was looking for during this mountain escape. Lucky…
San Elijo State Beach Campground, San Diego
Having grown up in San Diego, I don’t think I’ve ever missed a summer of beach camping in my life. And it’s a tradition I have continued with my kids. Every summer we go camping at the San Elijo State Beach campground. It’s one of our most favorite summer traditions. And I know I’m not alone because beach camping in Southern California is extremely popular and downright difficult to get campsites. But I do have tips on how to improve your chances at booking a beach campsite. If you haven’t ever gone beach camping, I highly suggest you give it a try. There’s not much better than relaxing at the…
Lake Jennings Campground, San Diego
I’ve lived in San Diego all my life and somehow had never been to the Lake Jennings campground prior to this previous weekend. Ideally when we go camping, we love to explore new territory and venture a little bit further from home. However, there is definitely something to be said about the ease of camping 20 mins from home, especially when trying to coordinate with a large group of campers, which we were. We decided about two months ago to try to go camping with a bunch of families from our youth sports team. As you can imagine, many popular campgrounds are full two months out, especially when you need…
Yucaipa Water Park & Campground
When I first heard about the Yucaipa water park at the Yucaipa County Park & Campground, I knew I needed to plan a trip. I’m always down for a campground with waterslides! I tried looking for campsites right away, but soon learned that this is one of the most popular campgrounds in SoCal. So it books up far in advance. And we wanted to camp with a big group of friends, so looking for cancellations probably wouldn’t have worked well. We decided to book for the following summer, and it was worth the wait. The Yucaipa Regional Park is located in the middle of a city with houses and grocery…
