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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…
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Camping for Newbies: Camping Basics
If you are new to camping, it might feel super overwhelming (and expensive!) to start thinking about everything you need for a successful camping trip. You might have no idea where to start. Fret not. I’ve compiled a list of must-haves and a few nice-to-haves for newbies to camping so that you can get started. Please note, technically you don’t NEED anything to camp–just pull up, sleep in the vehicle and rough it. But these items will make for a more family-friendly camping experience. And, if you need ideas for some easy camping meals, I have you covered. Check out these easy dishes for camping and these fun camping desserts…
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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…
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Ultimate Guide to Beach Camping in SoCal
SoCal beach camping is such a novelty. There’s really nothing like it. That’s why there’s a ton of competition to get beach campsites, especially during the summer months. It’s definitely one of the best places for a family camping trip. And if you’ve been wanting to try beach camping, but have no idea where to begin, you’ve stumbled across the right place. How to Book Beach Campgrounds Most California beach campgrounds can be reserved online six months in advance. The sites are released on a rolling basis, meaning if you want to camp on July 4, you need to make the reservation on Jan. 4. If you want July 5,…
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Best Beach Games for Families
Every year, for my entire life, we have done a week of beach camping in July with a large group of family and friends. Each year, we set up camp, and pretty much park ourselves in the sand for long beach days filled with the best beach games for families. We’ve gone through the progression of activities with the kids–from simply digging holes and building sand castles, to boogie boarding and surfing. One thing doesn’t change though–they love a good competition. When they see the adults get the beach games out, they come out of the water, they stop digging their holes, and they are right there ready to get…
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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…
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Tips For Beach Camping On a Budget
Beach camping is probably one of the least expensive ways to have an overnight stay right on the coast, however, when compared to other campgrounds and types of camping, it comes in with a bit heftier of a price tag. Then when you add in the cost of extra vehicles on your site, it adds up even more. That’s why I’ve compiled these money-saving tips for beach camping. There are some ways that you can cut the price down a bit and even avoid paying some of the extra fees. While spending the past week beach camping at San Elijo State Beach Campground, I compiled a list of some of…
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Big Pine Lakes: A Must-Do Hike in California
I first stumbled upon pictures of the Big Pine Lakes hike right after returning from hiking in Glacier National Park last summer. I have lived in California for my entire life and still had no idea that beautiful glacier lakes like this existed here. I knew I needed to hike this trail, and 11 months later, I made it happen. If you’re looking for a hike that will make you feel like you’ve stepped straight into a screensaver, the Big Pine Lakes Trail in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas is one for the bucket list. This is not your average forest loop or hillside stroll — this trail takes you through…
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Things to Bring Tent Camping: 10 Must-Haves
As we’re gearing up to go beach camping in a few days, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from some friends who are going camping with us for the first time. They need to know the most essential things to bring tent camping. Not only is it their first time beach camping, but it’s their first time camping at all. This morning, I got a text from them asking me for the top 10 most important things to bring camping, so I decided to compile a list here. 10 Things to Bring Tent Camping My biggest recommendation for those who are just starting out is to buy the things…
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Motorhome Essentials: What You Need
Things you need for a motorhome that you might not have thought of We just recently bought our Thor Ace 30.2 motorhome. Before we had that, we had tent camped for many years, so we already had all of the camping basics. We had cooking utensils, pots and pans, plates and silverware, which we just moved from our camping bins into our motorhome. We also purchased sheets, pillows, towels and toothbrushes that would live permanently in the motorhome. But there were a lot of motorhome essentials that we didn’t think of until our first outing in the RV. Here’s a list of motorhome essentials we ended up purchasing after our…
