"Glamping" adds luxury to the traditional camping experience.
As the economy continues to struggle, camping has re-emerged as a desirable way to vacation with family and friends on a tight budget. For those who are looking for an affordable and exciting vacation, but are feeling unsure about giving up creature comforts and getting in touch with nature, there is “glamping.”
$50 Camping Weekend
Go Camping for $50
Private campgrounds and RV parks from San Diego to Humbolt County plan to offer two nights of camping for $50 on the first weekend of October.
CA Prop 21 Worth Considering
California Proposition 21 provides for a vehicle tax of $18 (commercial vehicles exempt) that will go into a dedicated trust fund to finance California’s State Park System. In return, each California vehicle entering a State Park will receive waived Day Use fees. Camping, boat launching and other activities such as museum attendance will still have applicable fees.
A recent study by CSU Sacramento demonstrated that tourism revenues generated directly from visitors to our State Parks contributed more to California’s General Fund than the cost to fund the State Park System. In spite of this, services have been curtailed at some state parks. As demonstrated for decades, politicians cannot be relied upon to finance California’s State Park System.
While we do not support Ballot Box budgeting which takes a single minded view of financing a state program without looking at what is best for the entire state, the fact remains that California's State Parks need to be adequately funded. More info from the California State Park Foundation>
How will you vote on Prop 21? Will the concept of “Ballot Box Budgeting” cause you to vote no? Or in spite of our dysfunctional government will you vote to fund our State Park System? The choice is with each Californian.
2011 Camper's Guide Available
THE 2011 CAMP-CALIFORNIA! The Camper’s Guide to California IS BEING SHIPPED THIS WEEK TO CAMPGROUNDS, TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTERS, VISITORS BUREAUS ACROSS THE GOLDEN STATE
The free directory, which can be ordered through Camp-California.com, provides information on more than 700 privately owned campgrounds as well as campgrounds in county, state and national parks.
The directory also includes an RVing Rewards card, which enables the cardholder to obtain a variety of discounts and special offers at participating campgrounds throughout California
AUBURN, Calif., Jan. 13, 2011 – The California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds this week is distributing 225,000 copies of the 2011 Camp-California! The Camper’s Guide to California, a free, four-color glossy magazine that lists more than 700 campgrounds and RV resorts throughout the Golden State.
“This directory is unique because it includes listings of privately owned campgrounds as well as campgrounds in county, state and national parks, which you typically won’t find in the same directory, either in print or online,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Page 3 of the directory also includes a 2011 RVing Rewards card, which enables the cardholder to obtain a variety of discounts and special offers at participating campgrounds throughout California.
The directory is free and can be picked up at most campgrounds that are affiliated with the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds as well as California Welcome Centers, Camping World and Bass Pro Shop stores throughout California. It can also be ordered online through Camp-California.com. However, there is a small fee to cover the cost of postage.
“The only California campgrounds that are not listed in this directory are campgrounds on Forest Service and BLM land, which are too numerous to include in the 104-page directory,” she said. Even with those exceptions, the Camp-California RV Travel & Camping Guide has the greatest diversity of campground listings in the state.
And unlike most campground guides, which merely list facts involving each park, the Camp-California RV Travel & Camping Guide features detailed descriptions of privately owned campgrounds that are written by the park’s owners to better describe the experience campers are likely to have at their park.
The guide also includes locator maps that feature multiple campgrounds on the same page so you can see where the campgrounds are located in relation to places you might like to visit.
Informational grids are also provided that indicate if the campground is big rig friendly or offers pull-through sites, tent sites, rental accommodations, swimming pools, showers, hot tubs or spas, playgrounds, convenience stores and laundry service. The informational grid also indicates if the park charges a fee for Wi-Fi service.
Campground listings also include information on fun things to see and do nearby, such as fishing, kayaking, hiking, wine tasting, etc.
Camp-California.com includes a searchable database of more than 350 private campgrounds and RV resorts throughout California, and new parks are added to the website each month.
To learn more about Camp-California.com or to obtain statistics and other information involving travel trends in California and the West, please contact Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds at (530) 885-1624.
Fall Camping Activities
CALIFORNIA CAMPGROUNDS GEAR UP FOR HALLOWEEN COSTUME AND RV SITE DECORATING CONTESTS, FALL FOLIAGE TOURS, WINE TASTING SOCIALS AND ASTRONOMY TALKS
Some of California's best beach camping weather is just around the corner as offshore breezes bring the clearest skies and warmest weather of the year. The deserts are cooling off, too, particularly at night, and the first hints of fall color are starting to touch the highest elevations of the Sierra.
And if you're looking to take part in fun activities while you camp, you're in luck. Campgrounds, RV parks and resorts throughout California offer a wide range of activities and entertainment, from family oriented Halloween costume and campsite decorating contests to adult oriented wine tasting socials, gourmet dinners and nighttime astronomy talks. Some parks even offer classes in kayaking and painting.
"Privately owned campgrounds, RV parks and resorts are no longer simply places to park your RV. Many of them are also becoming places people visit to have fun and to take part in organized activities with other campers," said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Here's a sampling of some of the activities taking place at privately owned and operated campgrounds, RV parks and resorts in California this fall:
Campland on the Bay in San Diego: This park has numerous scheduled activities throughout the fall, including games of capture the flag, dodgeball and pickleball. The park also has arts and crafts classes, tie dye T-shirt classes, kayaking classes and adult dart tournaments. www.campland.com
Emerald Desert RV Resort in Palm Desert: This park has several special events planned throughout the fall, including U.S.S. Emerald of the Seas Cruise Night on Nov. 10th with a dinner, live music and entertainment, and a Veteran's Day event on Nov. 11th beginning with a bugle and flags presentation, which is followed by a brunch for resort guests. A full course, candlelight Italian-themed dinner will also be served at the resort's pool area on Nov. 17th. http://emeralddesert.com
Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton: This park, which has RV sites as well as park model cottage rentals, has several activities, including Friday night Tri-Tip barbecues, Saturday night ice cream socials and movies under the stars and Sunday breakfast in bed delivery service. The park is also hosting a vintage RV show Sept. 23rd and 24th. www.flyingflags.com
Far Horizons 49er Village RV Resort in Plymouth, Calif.: This park's Halloween themed events include a "best scream" contest. Families also create haunted campsites. The campground also invites drama students from neighboring Amador High School to come over and read scary stories to the younger campers. Halloween activities are scheduled for Oct. 20th to 23rd and from Oct. 27th to 30th. www.49ervillage.com.
Golden Village Palms RV Resort in Hemet: This park's fall activities include low-impact water exercise, water volleyball as well as groups that regularly gather for arts and crafts and Mexican dominoes. Several different bands are scheduled to perform at the resort in October. www.goldenvillagepalms.com
Lake Minden RV Resort in Nicolaus: This Sacramento Valley park's fall activities include a puzzle themed weekend Sept. 30 to Oct. 2nd, with a puzzle race to see which team can assemble a 500-piece puzzle the fastest. Hydroplane boat races are scheduled to take place on the weekend of Oct. 14th to 16th. The park is also planning a Monster Mash Bash on the weekend of Oct. 28th to 30th with a "Scarier by the Hour" movie marathon, a pumpkin decorating contest and Halloween campsite decorating. www.rvonthego.com
Lake of the Springs RV Resort in Oregon House: This park's fall activities include a Fall Line Dance Festival Oct. 17th to 21st. The park will also celebrate Halloween on Oct. 29th with campsite decorating, pumpkin carving and costume contests and a kids' fishing derby, plus a tailgate trick or treating event. www.rvonthego.com
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina in Newport Beach: This park will feature 14,000-square feet of haunted house fun from Oct. 26th to 31st as well as a Halloween party Oct. 29th and 30th with a costume contest, music, games and dancing for people of all ages. The resort also offers bicycle, golf cart, kayak and sailboat rentals in addition to guided kayak nature tours and kayak and sailboat lessons. Resort accommodations include 24 park model cottages and 382 RV sites. www.newportdunes.com
Rancho Oso RV Resort in Santa Barbara: Guests at this park can watch stock dogs herding sheep and cattle every Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. The park also offers a bucking bull demo with "baby" bulls that are being prepared for future work in rodeos. The resort's accommodations include five rental cabins, plus several covered wagons, which are arranged in a circle around a campfire pit. www.rvonthego.com
Santa Cruz KOA in La Selva Beach: This park plans to host "Howlin' Halloween" events on Oct. 21st to 23rd and Oct. 28th to 30th with a pumpkin carving contest, a pet costume contest, a campsite decorating contest, a haunted house and trick or treating. www.santacruzkoa.com
Smithwoods RV Park in Felton: This park plans to host a Halloween spaghetti dinner with Halloween related activities on Oct. 29th. www.smithwoodsrvpark.com
Sorensen's Resort in Hope Valley (near Lake Tahoe): This High Sierra resort offers several special activities, including a five-day watercolor workshop with Jill Mueller from Sept. 19th to 23rd, and a fall color hike botanist Karen Wiese on Oct. 7th. Sorensen's Resort has 35 cabin rentals and 25 campsites for tent or RV camping as well as a vintage 1947 trailer and a three bedroom, two-bath house for rent. www.sorensenresort.com
Springs at Borrego RV Resort in Borrego Springs, Calif.: This park's fall activities include Thursday or Friday night wine tastings and a social hour beginning at 6 p.m. as well as water aerobics classes on Saturday mornings. The resort is also planning a Halloween party. Future events will also include star parties with world-renowned astronomer and sky photographer Dennis Mammana. "At these parties, we start out with a light dinner and beverages. Then sit back while Mr. Mammana presents a photo show on the big screen with star talk about what to look for that night," said Daniel Wright, general manager of the Springs at Borrego RV Resort. www.springsatborrego.com.
Stockton KOA in Stockton: This park is planning a military vehicle collectors weekend on Sept. 23rd to 25th that will include a swap meet with hard to find military collectables. The park is also planning a "Halloween Hoopla" weekend Oct. 28th to 31st with a pumpkin carving contest and a haunted house, and a "battle of the businesses" pie-eating contest on Nov. 18th to raise money for the Toys for Tots charity program. www.stocktonkoa.com
Of course, these are just a sampling of some the activities and special events taking place at campgrounds and RV parks across California in the coming weeks. Consumers can find private campgrounds in their area by checking www.Camp-California.com, the travel planning website of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds in Auburn, Calif. The site includes links to RV parks and campgrounds, which provide their own "activities" or event calendars, which can help you figure out which parks have activities your family will enjoy.
For additional commentary, statistics and sources on the latest camping trends in campgrounds and RV resorts or for leads on parks in your news coverage area, please contact Debbie Sipe at the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds at (530) 885-1624.
Big Sur Survives Mudslides & Road Closures
Big Sur Survives Mudslides & Road Closures
We all know it’s been a wet winter here in California with record rain and snowfalls. No one knows that more than the campgrounds in Big Sur. Hwy 1, north and south, of Big Sur has had 3 different mudslides. However, you can still make plans to camp in Big Sur this year.
Current conditions:
Accessing Big Sur from the north on Hwy 1 – travel is open 24 hours a day with alternating one-way traffic about 5 miles south of Carmel. There are no weight restrictions.
Accessing Big Sur from the south on Hwy 1 – The closure at Nacimiento-Fergusson Road was reopened shortly after the slide but closed back down in mid-April due to another slide. The current closure is located 3.2 miles south of Gorda. It is expected to reopen in mid-June. The alternative route to Big Sur from the south: Highway 101 to Bradley, take County Road G18. Follow to Nacimiento-Fergusson Road to Highway 1. Then head north to Big Sur.
Updated information can be found at various websites:
CalTrans: http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. Enter Hwy 1 and click search.
Google Maps: http://www.maps.google.com Search Hwy 1 closures, Big Sur.
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce: http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/
Here’s a couple of YouTube videos related to the mudslides in Big Sur:
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