As California sizzles with summer heat, its scenic 1,000-mile coastline offers scores of “cool escapes,” some of which are so chilly in June, July, and August you’ll want to warm up by a campfire or bundle up in a cozy cabin, states a press release from Camp-California.com.
“People think California is sunny and hot every day. But along the coast, it’s often cloudy and cool, and that’s a good thing when you want to escape the summer heat and enjoy a change of scenery,” said Dyana Kelley, president and CEO of Camp-California.com, the statewide travel planning website hosted by CampCalNOW.
She added that some areas along the Central and Northern California coasts are so chilly in summer that several campgrounds complement their RV and tent sites with cozy heated cabins, glamping tents with down comforters, and other rental accommodations.
“These ‘cool escapes’ range includes campgrounds and RV parks that not only offer everything from rentable beach cottages and cabins to tastefully furnished glamping tents with cozy down comforters and cotton linens,” Kelly said.
Of course, campgrounds and RV resorts along the California coast offer more than cool escapes. They also can serve as base camps for visits everything from relaxing visits to botanical gardens and museums to healthy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and kayaking.
In the release, Camp-California.com named some examples of things to see and do along the entire California coast, from the temperate shores of San Diego, Orange, and Los Angeles counties to the chillier and rugged coastlines of Central and Northern California.
In San Diego County numerous enticements in addition to simply cooling off at the beach include a visit to Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium, and Legoland. There is also Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park that features The Plunge, the largest indoor swimming pool in Southern California, as well as bumper cars and roller coasters.
The historic Balboa Park, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve are other parks to visit.
Campgrounds in San Diego include Campland on the Bay, Mission Bay RV Resort, and San Diego Metro KOA Resort.
Another campground in this part of California is Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay. The new resort has spacious RV sites with patios, picnic tables, and beautiful landscaping. It also features furnished cottage rentals, an on-site restaurant, a pool with cabanas and a splash pad, a poolside movie screen, a jacuzzi spa, a poolside lounge and grill, and an indoor/outdoor fitness center.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, attractions close to the coast include the historic Spanish Mission at San Juan Capistrano, the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, and the 18-acre Niguel Botanical Preserve in Laguna Niguel, which features over 2,000 plants and four miles of hiking trails.
Those wishing to venture further inland can visit the J. Paul Getty Museum in the Santa Monica Mountains which features one of the finest collections of artwork in the United States.
While in these areas, a must-visit campground is Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina in Newport Beach. This resort’s RV sites include beachfront RV sites along Newport Bay. The resort also has furnished cottages. Onsite amenities include hydrotherapy pools, an inflatable water park with floating climbing structures; watercraft rentals, including pedal boats, standup paddleboards, kayaks, and Duffy boats; and summer movies on the beach.
Although right next to the flight path of Los Angeles International Airport, Dockweiler RV Park is also right next to Dockweiler Beach and one of the most popular beach bike paths in Southern California, which traces the Pacific Coast southward to Redondo Beach and northward to Santa Monica.
Also featured is the Malibu RV Park. This park is situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and features 142 RV sites and 35 tent sites. Amenities include a children’s play area, a recreation room, and an outdoor game room with a pool table and table tennis.
Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties are also great for tourism. The Santa Barbara-Ventura County region is the jumping-off point for family-friendly ocean kayaking tours of the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and National Park. The park has some of the clearest waters in California as well as more than 2,000 plant and animal species, 145 of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
Several companies offer guided kayaking tours into the caves and grottos of the Channel Islands, including Channel Island Kayak Center, Island Packers, and the Santa Barbara Adventure Company.
Campgrounds that are cool escapes in these counties are El Capitan Canyon, a glamping resort west of Santa Barbara; Evergreen RV Park in Oxnard; and Santa Barbara Sunrise RV Park, a small, but big-rig friendly RV park next to State Route 1010.
Near the Central Coast, adventurers can find the Danish-themed town of Solvang, Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve, and more.
Travelers who explore State Route One between Pismo Beach and Monterey are treated to some of the most awe-inspiring coastal views in the country. The narrow, winding road climbs along rugged cliffs reaching viewpoints that are several hundred feet above the ocean, with dense concentrations of redwood trees lining the roadway in and around Big Sur, where travelers often stop to see McWay Falls, an 80-foot waterfall in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park which plummets over a cliff onto the beach below.
When in the area, Flying Flags Avila Beach in Port San Luis is a must-try campground. This new campground overlooks San Luis Obispo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Virtually every campsite has an ocean view.
Second is the Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton (near Solvang) featuring RV sites as well as luxurious African-style safari tents, park model RV, and vintage Airstream trailer rentals.
Other properties are Morro Dunes RV Park in Morro Bay as well as Big Sur Campground & Cabins, Fernwood Resort, and Riverside Campground & Cabins in Big Sur. In Carmel, Carmel by the River RV Park features larger than normal RV sites with attractive landscaping and privacy barriers between campsites while in Marina, pet lovers can stay at the Marina Dunes RV Park, which is next to the Marina Dunes Preserve.
Northern California is also part of the places in the state with cool escapes like Point Reyes National Seashore, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, and more. From Bodega Bay to Mendocino and Fort Bragg, explorers can find comfortable stays at Bodega Bay RV Park, Dillon Beach Resort, Albion River Campground & Marina, Caspar Beach RV Park & Campground, Mendocino Grove, and Westport Beach RV Park.
Those who venture into extreme northwest California from Klamath northward to the Oregon border will encounter some of the Golden State’s most beautiful redwood forests.
This area of the state, which is considered to be California’s Bigfoot country, includes the Stout Grove at Jedediah Smith State Park and Redwood National Park, home of the world’s tallest redwood tree.
This area of California is also home to the Klamath River, which is popular with salmon and trout fishing enthusiasts. After a long day of venturing, explorers can stay at Kamp Klamath RV Park and Campground in Klamath, Ramblin’ Redwoods Campground and Village Camper Inn in Crescent City, and River Walk RV Park in Fortuna.
About Camp-California.com
Camp-California.com is hosted by the California Travel Parks Association, the Auburn-based trade group that represents campgrounds, Glampgrounds, RV parks and RV resorts in California. For more information and to obtain a free digital or printed copy of The Camper’s Guide to California, please visit www.Camp-California.com.
Featured image courtesy of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina.
I’ve gotta share this with you! Coastal campgrounds in California are a hidden gem for cooling off in summer. Picture this: stunning ocean views, whale watching, and beachfront walks at sunset. It’s a dreamy escape with a touch of magic. Trust me, you’d love it!