Family Campgrounds in Southern California

Southern California sprawls across high mountain peaks, river canyons, beaches, deserts, lakes and rolling hills – all with opportunity for adventure and connecting with nature. Visitors and city dwelling families find respite and refreshment at hundreds of Southern California campgrounds, from county and state to private parks, from primitive trail camps to RV resorts. The best all-around family campgrounds offer activities and settings that entice nature-loving, and even the most camping-resistant, kids. Introducing children to camping can leave a lifetime impression, and a family-friendly campground can help make it a good one.

Mountains

• Southern California's mountains offer campgrounds amid pine trees and under starry skies. Most with family-friendly conveniences, such as restroom and showers, sit in the San Bernardino Forest, including Serrano Campground on Big Bear Lake at about 7,000 feet elevation. Big Bear Valley has more activities than you can shake a hiking stick at. Marinas rent motorboats, kayaks and canoes. The lake is stocked with trout, and there's a swim beach with floating docks. Rock-climbing, bouldering, mountain biking and hiking opportunities abound. A horse stable caters to beginning buckaroos. Big Bear Discovery Center displays flora and fauna and hosts family and kids' activities, from gold panning and animal tracking to weaving and kayaking. Serrano has campfire rings, restrooms, hot showers and a host. On the opposite shore, supermarkets and sporting good stores are handy, and Big Bear Village entices with specialty shops and eateries.

Desert

• According to PBS, only 20 percent of the world's population have seen the Milky Way, and in the 1990s when a power outage darkened Los Angeles, 911 received calls from residents concerned about a "strange cloud" in the sky. The edge of our galaxy, along with a thick blanket of stars, is seen almost every night in desert areas far enough away from the cities to be free of light pollution. If your family is interested in stargazing, as well as exploring rock formations, head to Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert. Many of its campgrounds are surrounded by rock formations, and the large Skull Rock is sure to impress. Cottonwood and Black Rock campgrounds offer flush toilets, running water and RV dump stations. Bring a solar shower bag and layers of clothing for cool nights around the campfire. Due to high daytime temperatures, the best time to camp in the desert is fall or spring.

Coast

• About a dozen campgrounds dot Southern California's coast. In Malibu, camp under shade trees in an RV or tent at Leo Carillo State Park where rangers provide children's summer programs. Conveniences include showers, restrooms and a small store. Walk down the path to Malibu Lagoon Beach, a classic surf spot with swimming, sea caves, tide pools and a pier. There's also a dog beach for the canine friends welcomed to the campground. Canyon trails lead to view points and shaded glens. At Doheny State Beach Park in Dana Point, RVs and tent campsites include oceanfront sites with campfire rings on the sand. Restrooms, hot showers, a marine education center, volleyball and picnic areas, bicycle paths, a pier and the sandy beach -- a favorite of surfers -- make Doheny a good pick for families. Catch a whale-watching cruise at nearby Dana Point Harbor.

Hills, Lakes and Canyons

• Family campgrounds can be found at many of Southern California's hills and canyons and along lakes. At Yucaipa Regional Park in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, families experience all three. Hillside and canyon multiuse trails invite hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. At the lake, rent pedal boats, zoom down water slides, play at the sandy swim beach or fish. The campground's conveniences include restrooms, hot showers, tent and full hookup sites. At Frank B. Bonelli Regional Park, a 250-acre reservoir provides a lifeguarded swim area away from the boats and anglers. Raging Waters, California's largest water park, has a park adjacent to the lake. Trail rides in the hills above the lake are offered. East Shore RV Park overlooks the lake and has a wilderness tent camping area in addition to 500 RV sites. In addition to restrooms and hot showers, the park has a pool, sports facilities, laundry and store. Puddingstone Hot Tub Resort sits above the campground and lake.

Considerations

• Fishing, unless otherwise stated, requires a California Fishing License. When camping in the mountains or desert, prepare for cool nights, with as much as a 40 degree difference from daytime temperatures. Coastal areas are more temperate. Wherever you camp in Southern California, store food and other scented items in wildlife-proof containers away from the tent. Keep an extra close eye on children near the water and in areas visited by wildlife.

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Snorkeling in Southern California

The oily yellow-brown fronds of giant kelp float in a tangle on the surface while below, brilliant yellow and orange California Garabaldi dart through the stalks, leopard sharks skim across the bottom and Dungeness crab skitter through the sand. Typical of much of Southern California’s rocky shorelines, kelp forests, the sea life they support, and the clear blue water surrounding them make snorkeling in California a unique experience.

Catalina Island

• Some of Southern California's best snorkeling is at Catalina Island, a desert island about 26 miles off the coast from Los Angeles. The island's best snorkeling area, Lover’s Cove, is south of Avalon, Catalina's only town. The area features shallow water with a rocky entry accessible along a walk path from town. Lover’s Cove is an underwater sanctuary, so the abundant fish, including the bright yellow Garibaldi, Calfornia’s state fish, and other denizens swimming through the kelp forests off the rocky points aren’t timid and often eat out of a snorkeler’s hands. Visibility is quite good, sometimes up to 40 feet or more in depths from 10 to about 25 feet. The water can be quite chilly, however, so a wetsuit might be needed. Several charter companies provide both sea and air transportation from the mainland to Avalon on a regular basis.

Topaz Jetty

• About 13 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles is the Topaz Jetty in Redondo Beach. When the ocean swells are running from the south, conditions on the north side of the granite boulder, man-made jetty are ideal for snorkeling. The area has a sandy beach entry. Depths range from about 12 feet to nearly 40 at the tip of the jetty. On calm days, visibility can be quite good, and the rocks abound with sea anemones and sea stars. A whole variety of different crabs cluster near the rocks on the bottom along with an occasional Pacific lobster or octopus. About 100 yards northwest of the jetty are the remnants of Redondo Beach Pier number three. The remaining pilings are about 40 feet down. Street parking is plentiful on the Esplanade above Topaz Street Beach.

Malaga Cove

• On the southern tip of the Santa Monica Bay between Torrance Beach and Palos Verdes Estates is Malaga Cove. Although the beach entry into the water is over loose rocks that can be treacherous, the area has clear water with visibility up to 40 feet. Kelp forests and mermaid’s-hair sea grass line rocky bottoms that occasionally break into sandy patches in depths of 15 to 25 feet. Garibaldi abound in this area, as do leopard sharks, sea stars, sand bass, calico bass, decorator crabs and bat rays. There are a lot of small schooling fish to swim through, and loads of octopi hiding in the rocky crevasses. Free parking is in a lot on Palos Verdes Drive South, and a sloping foot path leads down to the beach.

La Jolla Cove

• La Jolla Cove is a small beach between two sandstone cliffs a short walk from downtown La Jolla in San Diego County. Due to the clarity of the water, ease of entry and its inclusion as part of the 6,000 acre La Jolla Underwater Park, the cove is extremely popular with snorkeling enthusiasts. Since the clear, shallow waters and kelp forests the area contains are under the constraints of an ecological preserve, the abundant sea life isn’t shy. Garibaldi, half moon, yellow tail, rockfish and schools of sardine are common. From June to November, the shallow bottom entertains large numbers of leopard sharks that come to La Jolla Cove to spawn. Fascinating to watch, leopard sharks are not dangerous to snorkelers. Parking is plentiful in town, and the beach is just a short walk away.

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Best Places to Ride a Beach Cruiser in Southern California

They don’t go fast or stop on a dime. They have balloon tires, coaster brakes, a single-speed drive train and even a chain guard. Their wide seats are padded for comfort since, as bicycles go, these aren’t so much for performance as they are for style. They’re called beach cruisers for very good reasons, since some of the best places to ride them are along the paths that meander through the sand of the beaches that stretch from Santa Monica all the way down to San Diego.

Marvin Braude Bicycle Trail

• The longest and perhaps most diverse of Southern California’s beach bicycle paths is the Marvin Braude Bicycle Trail, known colloquially as the Strand or simply the bike path. The 22-mile-long trail begins at Will Rogers State Beach just north of Santa Monica and ends at Torrance Beach. The path takes riders on a cruise past the Pacific Park roller coaster on the Santa Monica Pier, the Gold’s Gym bodybuilders on the beach at Venice, hang gliders on the dunes at Dockweiler Beach, the surfers of El Porto, the vibrant activity along the Strand at Hermosa Beach and through King Harbor and the Redondo Beach Pier. Part two-way beach bike path and part Strand promenade, the path is shared among bikers, skaters and pedestrians for part of the ride.

Long Beach Bike Path

• Beach cruisers will find a hidden treasure in Long Beach. The Long Beach Bike Path cuts a swath through the sand from Shoreline Village to Alamitos Bay, passing beachfront housing and offering riders spectacular views of Long Beach Harbor and the majestic, permanently moored Queen Mary. This concrete path, built on the sand, is 17 feet wide and intended for bicycle traffic only. The Long Beach Bike Path is 3.5 miles long. Parking is abundant at Shoreline Village and several spots along the route.

Huntington Beach Bike Path

• Nowhere is the beach cruiser more at home than on a ride past some of Orange County’s most popular beaches along the 8.5-mile-long Huntington Beach Bike path. Running parallel but west of Pacific Coast Highway, the path begins at Sunset Beach and trails south to Newport Bay. The trail passes some pretty spectacular geography, including the beaches of the self-proclaimed “Surf City,” Huntington Beach, the hive of activity at the Huntington Beach Pier, Bolsa Chica Beach and the 300-acre Bolsa Chica Ecological preserve. More of a promenade or boardwalk, the concrete Huntington Beach bike path is shared by in-line skaters, skateboarders and pedestrians and can get quite congested, particularly near the pier area.

San Diego Bay Bike Route

• For spectacular viewing of San Diego Bay, downtown San Diego and the historic Coronado Hotel from the padded seat of a beach cruiser, there is the San Diego Bay Bike Route. The 24-mile path around San Diego Bay includes a combination of existing street, traffic-sharing bike lanes and separated concrete bike paths. The route begins at Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego and follows a circular path around the bay, ending at the Old Ferry Landing near the Coronado Hotel. Although the end of the bike path is at the tip of a peninsula, a passenger and bicycle ferry carries riders across the bay to the starting point. The ferry departs every 30 minutes, and tickets for the 15-minute voyage can be purchased upon boarding.

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Things to See Near Mojave, California

A snowflake hasn’t been seen in the southern California town of Mojave for more than 50 years, making it an ideal place to escape a cold winter. The small town is easy to pass by unnoticed in the the vast desert its named for, but it's a worthwhile stop with a variety of sights geared to outdoor adventurers, history buffs and techno geeks alike.

Out of This World

• The town’s welcome sign informs you that you’ve reached the gateway to space. The town is known for experimental air and spacecraft endeavors, which you can learn about at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The first privately piloted spacecraft, Space Ship One, launched from the site in 2004, and plans are in the works for an updated version that will propel tourists 62 miles into space on short commercial tours. See both historic and experimental aircraft on site and enjoy aeronautically-inspired fare at the Voyager Airport Restaurant in the historic terminal building. Similar points of interest include Edwards Air Force Airport 20 miles east of town and Dryden Flight Research Center 30 miles south.

Everything’s Coming Up Poppies

• See stunning floral displays of springtime wildflowers at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, 35 miles southwest of Mojave. Blooms pop as early as mid-February and linger until mid-May. Blossoms proliferate after a wet winter, appearing as a brilliant golden blanket of flowers on the park’s rolling hills. Eight miles of trails winding through the park include a paved, wheelchair-accessible nature trail. Keep an eye open for rattlesnakes, which emerge from winter dens about the same time wildflowers begin to bloom.
• A 360-Degree View

• Get an unparalleled view from one of the mountain peaks outside of town. Tehachapi Mountain Park lies just 25 miles west, with a 7,980-foot summit towering over a mountain range of the same name. The peak’s name means “hard to climb” in the Kawaiisu language, an apt description for the steep trail that gains 2,000 feet in elevation over 3 miles. Camp at the trailhead campground to enjoy the view for days at a time. If you prefer looking up to see the view, colorful cliffs surround Red Rock Canyon State Park 30 miles north of Mojave. Hiking trails and campsites provide views of wind-swept rock wrinkles and folds in hues of mauve, white, red, pink and brown.

Beware of Ghosts

• Old West enthusiasts won’t want to miss the ghost towns of Johannesburg, Red Mountain and Randsburg, all of which lie about 35 miles northeast of Mojave. Randsburg has shops, a restaurant and an old-fashioned soda fountain. Two miles east, Johannesburg sits near the historic King Solomon mine of the late 1890s. The family-oriented town had banks, churches and even one of the area’s first golf courses. Another mile west leads to Red Mountain, where a rickety grocery store and church from over 100 years ago preside over the mostly tumbledown remains of the once prosperous town.

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Places to Jet Ski in Southern California

Jet skiing first broke onto the water recreation scene with the 1972 introduction of the Kawasaki Jet Ski, and the sport has exploded in popularity since. Commonly known as personal watercraft, the jet ski models in distribution since the late 1970s allow riders to sit down and use motorcycle-style handles to propel the craft through the water at speeds previously impossible on a one- or two-person boat. Southern California offers a temperate climate ideal for such watersports, and there is no shortage of rentals or places to ride in the area.

Big Bear Lake

• Though it's just under 100 miles east of Los Angeles, Big Bear Lake is surrounded by untouched woodland, including San Bernardino National Forest to the south and mountains that welcome skiers in the winter. Take in views of Sugarloaf Mountain to the southeast and Butler Peak to the west as you cruise the 7-mile length of Big Bear Lake on your jet ski, which you can rent from either Big Bear Parasail and Watersports or Big Bear Marina.

Lake Elsinore

• Lake Elsinore -- the only natural freshwater lake in the Southern California region -- may be small, but it offers a variety of on-site activities. The lake and community of the same name are 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles and sit on the northeastern border of the Ortega Mountains. In addition to jet skiing with rentals and accommodations by All Day Jet Ski, you can stay at a campsite within walking distance of the lake, go fishing or take a dip in Lake Elsinore's clear waters.
• Around Los Angeles

• There are at least six jet ski rental businesses within 60 miles of the nation's second-largest city. Head north along the coast for Goin' Places and Southern California Jet Skis in Oxnard; Watercraft Adventures in Westlake Village; and 805 Waverunner Rentals in Camarillo. These three cities are clustered just north of Malibu, so your jet ski adventures will afford views of the famed beach and nearby Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. South of Los Angeles, you'll find Catalina Passenger SVC in Newport Beach, with views of Santa Catalina Island, and Offshore Water Sports in Long Beach, which offers the protection of Queensway Bay.

The Deep South

• San Diego, the southernmost major city in California, is a haven for jet skiers with its welcoming climate and relatively warm beaches. Mission Bay Sportcenter has two locations in the city and is open year-round. You'll enjoy the open horizon from the safety of San Diego's Mission Bay. And if you're itching to get out of the city, head up the coast to Carlsbad Lagoon Jet Ski in Carlsbad, where you can avoid the crowds and take advantage of the tranquil area waters.

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