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Destination: Lake Tahoe  {Updated November 2017} {November 2017 Update: Brian and I just stayed at one of our top favorite campsites in the Lake Tahoe area.  To find out why, read all about it here.}   If you’re planning an Airstream road trip to Lake Tahoe (about a 3.5-4 hour drive from our San Jose garage) there’s a lot of options when it comes to campsites (usually with no hook-ups) as well as quite a few for RV parks (with full hook-ups).  And that makes sense since Lake Tahoe is a wonderful vacation spot full of nature hikes, mountain bike trails, as well as lake activities (and even gambling opportunities if you’re so inclined).  So far we have only personally been to two campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe region: Logger Campground and Grover Hot Springs State Park.  Read on to learn more. Logger Campground, Truckee (North of Lake Tahoe) Logger Campground is located north of Lake Tahoe in the Truckee area (location shown above in the AllStays App).  The first thing you need to know about this campsite is that there are no hook-ups here and so we only advise experienced or adventurous RV’ers come here (read our dry-camping post here to know all about what it means to be at a camp-site with no hook-ups). The second thing you need to know about this campground is that Google Maps will take you the wrong way.  So instead follow the directions as advised by the website and take HWY 80 to HWY 89 and exit right at Hobart Mills Rd, which merges left onto old HWY 89, and at the fork take a right to stay on Hobart Mills Rd (which is also called E. Pasture Rd) and then left onto Dog Valley Rd until you get to the campground.  But if you choose to stay at this campsite then you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of Stampede Reservoir, which is located right behind the campground. Lake Tahoe is a 45 minute drive from this campsite, but you can boat, water ski, swim, and fish right on the reservoir.  And since it’s in such a secluded spot, you’ll likely have more privacy than on the popular Lake Tahoe.  As for the campsite itself, it comes with a fire ring and picnic tables. Grover Hot Springs State Park, Markleeville (South of Lake Tahoe) Grover Hot Springs State Park is located south of Lake Tahoe and is about 45 minutes away from Stateline in South Lake Tahoe.  You will also be dry-camping at this location, but are rewarded with views of trees from your Airstream and a 5 minute drive to the hot springs the park is named after.  The hot springs are fed into a pool, which can be enjoyed with a $10 entrance fee (good for all day).  There are also hiking trails throughout the park and a trout creek.  This is one of the few campsites that are open year around and thus can be enjoyed during the fall season when there are less crowds.  We found this great campsite after asking some locals in the area.  They say the max trailer length allowed is 24 feet, and we recommend only experienced towers come to this park since there are quite a few tight spots here. Other recommended sites These site are recommended by past customers though we do not have any personal experience at these places: Coachland RV Park (located in Truckee & 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe): This is one of our repeat customers’ favorite RV park spot in the Lake Tahoe Area.  Read all about Jason and Grace’s Airstream road trip here.  If you want full hook-ups (water, electric, sewer and cable) and basic Wifi then this is your best bet. Ice House Campground by Kyburz

Airstream Destination: Costanoa One of the most popular questions to us at GoSilver is “Where should I take my rented Airstream?”  And one of our favorite local Northern California spot (and a favorite spot for Airstream deliveries) is Costanoa.  Costanoa is the perfect place for those who love nature and that country life, but who don’t want to necessarily camp in the boonies.  This is glamping at its finest.  The resort is located on the California coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz (about 25 miles from each on Hwy 1).   The resort does have a lodge (for those who want the full hotel experience) and tent bungalows (with shared dorm style bathrooms), but of course our favorite way to stay at Costanoa is in one of our Airstreams (the comfort of home on wheels).  Plus, it is one of the few ways we can stay at Costanoa with our dogs (no dogs allowed in the lodge or the tent bungalows).   Have a BBQ with friends and family on the premises and play some competitive ladder golf (it’s surprisingly addictive and fun).  Costanoa also has a kids camp, mountain biking trails, and horseback riding for beginners.  And take advantage of Costanoa’s organic gourmet restaurant, Cascade.  All their ingredients come form local farms or their own organic farm, and their menu changes seasonally.  Last spring I had a really excellent kale and seaweed salad (trust me, it tastes way better than it sounds).  Where else in the world can you glamp/camp and have fine dining?   Each RV site allows for up to 6 people with the added wood platform for tent camping.  This is a super family friendly camp site where kids can play safely almost everywhere on the resort grounds.  For the adults, there’s a heavenly spa and even a free sauna at their comfort stations.   While staying at Costanoa, check out some of our favorite places near by: Pie Ranch: for delicious pie and fresh organic produce sold at their farm stand (plus it’s a teaching farm that helps future farmers learn the ins and outs of organic farming) Pigeon Point Lighthouse: the perfect spot for an awesome photo shoot with your DSLR or selfie stick Arcangeli’s: A bakery that’s been family-run since 1929.  Their garlic herb artichoke bread is famous and for good reason.  It’s not hype!  It’s delicious!  And if the weather is nice, grab some grub (including the bread of course) and head over to the beach to have a picnic in the sand. Pescadero Country Store: If you don’t feel like going to the beach for lunch and the famous artichoke bread is sold out, then equally wonderful is the Pescadero Country Store.  They have a space outside with picnic tables where you can drink an ice-cold beer and munch on some really wonderful fried artichoke hearts. Swanton Berry Farm: In the summer you can pick your own berries!  Don’t feel like doing the work?  You can still buy some at their farm stand when in season. Harley Farms:  A goat-lover’s paradise.  See the goats outback and buy some goat cheese and goat milk bath & body products at the farm stand.  They also host some fun dinners and tours, but check with their website for availability. Slow Coast Airstream store:  This cool Airstream store is chock full of local unique gifts, and even if you’re not in the mood to shop this store is definitely worth checking out (ok, I might be a little biased because I love all things Airstream). Butano State Park:  Hike amongst the giant Redwood trees Ano Nuevo State Park:  Hike along the ocean and spy on some elephant seals

Getting to know the Airstream: The Convertible Dinette One of the frequently asked questions from people looking to rent an Airstream is “what do you mean by a convertible dinette?”  Well this is Airstream’s clever way of adding more sleeping space in a compact travel trailer.  That’s why each Airstream can sleep at least 4 people.   How To Here’s the step-by-step guide: 1) Remove all seat cushions and place aside.     2) Push down on the black tab on the table leg and then swing leg to fold under the table.  If the table leg does not swing easily, do not force it since this is the #1 way that these table legs break.   3) Hold the edge of the table and raise it up to unlatch the metal tabs from the wall.   4) Then swing the table down so that it rests on the bottom of the seat.  Some Airstreams have tabs for the table to rest on, others will just have the table resting on the seat (but don’t worry it will be an even surface).   5) Move the cushions into place with the back rest cushions placed in the middle on the table.   And there’s your bed!   Our 25′ Flying Cloud Airstream has an extra feature that allows the lounge to pull out to form a full bed.  So now you have two full beds in the front.   The other Airstreams don’t have an extended lounge, but you could still remove the back cushions of the lounge, to essentially make a twin-size bed.

Destination: Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is one of the more popular destinations people take their rented GoSilver Airstreams.  From our shop in San Jose it is about a 3.5 to 4 hour drive, but that’s worth it for the opportunity to be surrounded by completely breath-taking scenery like the photo above.  The scale and majesty of these granite cliffs and waterfalls cannot be captured by photos (though of course we tried).  But you really have to see Yosemite for yourself to appreciate its beauty.   Half Dome at Yosemite First a note on the drive to Yosemite from our San Jose shop: you can follow directions via Google Maps or Apple Maps until you get to CA-120E.  You will be on Hwy 120 for about 60 miles when the maps app will tell you to turn right onto Old Priest Grade.  And this is important: for all those towing trailers DO NOT go on Old Priest Grade.  This route is a shortcut meant for cars only.  Instead all those towing trailers should stay on the CA-120E.  We’ve had a couple of our customers go on Old Priest Grade and even though they made it, it was a white-knuckled experience which we would not recommend to anyone.  Hwy 120 isn’t exactly a walk in the park either but if logging trucks can make their way up and down this road, so can Airstream towers.   Along Hwy 120 from Groveland to Yosemite, there are a handful of RV parks and campgrounds you can stay at.  But to make it easy for you guys, we’ve checked them all out and here are our recommendations (and just to note our top recommendations are Yosemite Lakes RV resort if you want hook-ups and Dimond-O Campground if you can do without hook-ups). RV Parks with full hook-ups Yosemite Lakes RV Resort: We recommend this park for beginner Airstreamers or for those who want the glamping, rather than camping experience (i.e. no “roughing it” required).  This RV resort is a part of the Thousand Trails RV park collective (which requires a membership), but they also have quite a few spots available for non-members as well.  These spots are pretty close together but do come with full hook-ups and the whole RV resort is fairly well maintained.  The biggest bonus is that this is the closest RV park to Yosemite with full hook-ups (it’s only 9 minutes away from the park entrance).  But also be aware that this RV resort is very popular with families and can be quite crowded during peak season.   Yosemite Ridge Resort: This is another great option for those who are looking for an RV park with full hook-ups.  This RV resort is quite a bit smaller than Yosemite Lakes with only 15 spaces.  But that also means there are no large crowds unlike the RV park above.  This RV resort also has a pool, its own gas station, general store and restaurant.  But in exchange for these amenities you’re further from Yosemite park entrance (about 17 minutes), and there are no fire pits at this resort.   Yosemite Pines: Another RV park with full hook-ups on HWY 120 is Yosemite Pines, which is the closest to Groveland (with its restaurants, bars and grocery markets) but it’s the furthest from the Yosemite National Park entrance (about 28 minutes away).  This RV park has about 200 sites with both full and partial hook-ups.  There is also a general store, pool, petting zoo, and other fun activities for families with kids.  Each site comes with a fire pit as well.  We stayed here during our short trip to Yosemite but we weren’t a fan of the really close sites and the fact that there are quite a few people who live long-term at the park. Campgrounds with no hook-ups Dimond-O Campground: For those who are a bit more adventurous or experienced with towing & backing up we highly recommend this campground that is just 15 minutes away from the park entrance.  There are only 38 sites here so reserve as soon as you know your vacation plans (one customer said she had to book as soon as the reservation window opened for the date she wanted, which is 6 months in advance.  And this is particularly true if you’re looking to book during peak season which is April to September).  Also, we advise those with towing and particularly backing up experience with trailers come to this campground because most of these sites are back-in (but of course we’ll send you off with some walkie-talkies if you and your travel partner are feeling up to the challenge).  And last but not least, this is a campground so there’s no hook-ups.  Read what it means to dry-camp here (and we recommend renting a generator for those camping here).  But in exchange for these challenges, you’re rewarded with a secluded and private campground surrounded by trees and it’s quite possibly the most serene and beautiful campsite on HWY 120.  And like I said you’re only 15 minutes from the park entrance.   Sweet Water Campground: This is a good option for those who are willing to rough it but aren’t quite there yet with their Airstream backing skills.  This campsite, which is 13 minutes away from the park entrance has 14 sites, some of which are pull-through.  Again because space is limited you will need to make reservations far in advance. We would advise also bringing a generator to this campground to make the most of your Airstream camping experience.  This campsite is located in a large cleared area so there’s not as much privacy from your neighbors, but some of the campsites have clear and beautiful views of the surrounding forest.   The Pines Campground: This campground is the smallest and furthest from the park entrance (21 minutes), but is located in the Stanislaus National Forest and comes its own hiking trails.  There are only 12 sites but there is also a group camping

Destination: Silver Lake East – El Dorado Campground We are so very lucky in this business that we not only get to take our own Airstream trip once a year, but we also learn about some of the best campground and RV parks from our awesome customers.  And well, we learned of Silver Lake East-Eldorado Campground from a repeat customer who repeatedly comes to this particular campground (and so we knew it must be special).  And it did not disappoint!   Silver Lake campground is a little over 3 hours away from our San Jose garage and is located near Kirkwood in South Lake Tahoe.  The roads getting there are all fairly wide and easy (if you take the CA-88) and isn’t hair-raising like most other mountain roads.   Because this is a campground there are no hook-ups and you are dry-camping.  The campground itself is very well maintained and each campsite comes with a picnic bench, fire ring, and bear bin.  And the campsite hosts were very welcoming and helpful.  The little roads within the campground are quite narrow so we recommend taking the 20′ Flying Cloud or smaller since these are the narrow-bodied Airstreams.  If you are experienced in towing and are extra careful, then you might be able to take one of the larger Airstreams.  If you do choose to take a larger Airstream we recommend taking site number 20 (and reverse into the spot without doing a full loop around the campground) or site number 29.  Like at almost all campgrounds in California, you’re going to want to reserve your campsites way ahead of time unless you’re doing a road trip in the fall or spring.  Also this campground closes after the first week of October.   What makes this campground so amazing is that it is a short hike (about 5 minutes) to Silver Lake, which is a beautiful mountain lake fed by snow melt.  Just carry a cooler and our camping chairs to the lake and have a lakeside picnic.   If you’re looking for a more active vacation, there are some of hikes around the area (or drive out a bit and there are many more hikes available as well).  If you have a fishing permit, you can spend sometime fishing at the lake.  Or go to the Kit Carson lodge (which is within walking distance if you head to the lake first and then follow the shore to the lodge’s boat house) to rent kayaks or canoes.  The Kit Carson lodge also has a restaurant and a small market for last minute supplies.   There is also little to no cell signal at the campground so if you need your internet fix, there is wifi available at the Kit Carson Lodge (pictured below).   Brian and I enjoyed our time at this campsite immensely and look forward to coming back.  If you’re looking for a lake-side retreat with your Airstream then we can’t recommend this campground enough.  We think it’s one of the best ones around the Lake Tahoe area!

Airstream Destination: Petaluma/ San Francisco North KOA Though taking your rented Airstream to an ancient Redwood forest at Santa Cruz or near Big Sur is an experience that shouldn’t be missed, some folks prefer less hiking and more gourmet food and beverage type of experiences.  Then Petaluma/San Francisco North KOA is the RV park for you.  Situated about 40 miles north of the city, Petaluma KOA is the perfect place to stay if you want to visit Sonoma and Napa wineries, tour several breweries (including the famous Lagunitas Brewery), grab fresh oysters from local oyster farms, or eat your way through Northern California’s Cheese Trail.  This is the place for Airstream’in foodies.   But first a note about this amazing KOA, which sits on 70 acres of prime Marin County land.  One of the best things about this RV park is the multitude of pull-through sites.  In fact, the majority of them are pull-through so if you’re a novice to towing, you don’t have to stress about reversing into a tight spot.  Also, if you opt for the end sites, they come with wood swings and loungers (see picture above).  And each campsite comes with your own firepit.  The majority of the sites also come with full hook-ups so there’s no need to dry-camp here (though if you like the challenge of no hook-ups, they have some of those sites as well). This RV park also has a variety of tiny homes you could comfortably stay in as well as tent camping sites.  There’s something for everyone here.   This KOA also has more activities for the whole family than most other RV parks.  There’s a petting zoo with some adorable goats (along with lamb and chickens).  There is a large pool with yellow cabanas, a 30-foot rockwall, a large bounce-pillow and a play ground for the kids, an expansive picnic area complete with charcoal grills, and a large dog park with obstacles.  You could easily spend several days at the park just enjoying their amenities.   But of course, part of the charm of staying at this KOA is to experience all the best that Marin County has to offer.  Here are some things you don’t want to miss when you’re here: – Downtown Petaluma, which is just minutes from the RV park, has a plethora of small boutiques and restaurants.  If you’re big on antiques, there’s a lot of that here.  Otherwise check out Acre Coffee for your caffeine fix and Central Market for some of the freshest farm-to-table cuisine out there (they even have their own organic farm in Petaluma).   – A short 30-minute drive west will take you to the California coastline.  Dillon Beach is a popular spot with some picnic benches and grills.  It’s also dog-friendly, so your well-behaved pooch can come with you to enjoy some surf and sand.  A little further north along the coastline is the town of Bodega Bay, which is also famous for their beach Bodega Head.   source   source – Also in that neck of the woods are several oyster farms where you can purchase oysters straight from the sea (you can also take some to go and enjoy them at Dillon Beach).  Hog Island Oyster Farm is about 32 minutes from the RV park and Tomales Bay Oyster Company is about 38 minutes away.  If you like your oysters cooked for you (BBQ’d) then Nick’s Cove is even closer. – If you want some wine to go with your oysters, then 30-minutes east of the KOA will take you to the famous wineries of Sonoma Valley.  There are just way too many to list here, but take a look at some of the top-ranked ones on tripadvisor.  If these aren’t enough for you, then Napa is just another 15 minutes away (Napa Valley Wineries on tripadvisor here). – And if beer is more your style, then Lagunitas Brewing Company is a 5 minute drive.  Also clustered in that area are 101 North Brewing Company and Petaluma Hills Brewing Company.  And 15 minutes north of the KOA is the Russian River Brewing Company. – If you’re a fan of cheese, then you will be in cheese heaven when you stay at the Petaluma KOA.  It is perfectly located so that you can enjoy a day of cheese-eating on the California Cheese Trail.  Plan out your cheese-trip using their handy trail map and you get to see these dairy farms and their cows up-close. – And lastly, for adults there is the Graton Casino and for kids of all ages there is the Charles M. Schultz Museum.   Whatever your interest, there’s something for everyone when you stay at the Petaluma/North San Francisco KOA!

Destination: Jalama Beach, Santa Barbara County Park If you’re looking for a hidden RV campground next to a beautiful California beach, then we’ll let you in on a little secret. Jalama Beach County Park is part of Santa Barbara County and is about a 4.5 hour drive south from our Airstream garage in San Jose.  Thus, you’d probably want to make this stop a part of your itinerary if you’re doing an Airstream trip for 4 days or more.  And believe me, once you get here you’re going to want to stay longer!   This county park is very secluded and tucked away along the coast.  To get there, you will need to drive about 30 minutes on some narrow and winding roads.  But the trek out to the coast is worth it!  Once you get there, there is everything you need to make your rental Airstream your own beach cabin, mainly a large unpopulated beach.  For the most part, the only other beach goers here are your fellow campers.   Here’s a quick look at the sites available at Jalama.  Most of the sites (indicated in navy) are reservable sites.  The walk-ins are indicated in teal.  Because this beach park can get quite crowded in the summer, we recommend reserving sites ahead of time.  We advise calling in for your reservation since even though their website has a site for online reservations, it requires Flash.  After a quick chat with the rangers there, we learned that the “best” sites are 117 and 80-87.  We were able to snag site 108 (a walk-in site) since we were there in October.  And I have to say those sites at the top have some of the best views!  Also all the sites at the top have electrical hook-ups (indicated by the yellow dot).  If you’re okay to “rough it” a bit, then the sites at the bottom, 53-64 are right on the beach and the sand is pretty much at your doorstep.   The picture below is of sites 10-14, which is also quite close to the beach (though not on the sand).  There is also a dumping station conveniently located near the entrance to the park.  So you can dump and refill your Airstream before and/or after your stay or even during your stay if need be.  So even though there are no water and sewer connection at each site, at least you can take care of your dumping needs within the park.   Another great thing about this beach park is the Jalama Beach Store, where you can pick up anything you might have forgotten (thus saving you the trek out and back to grab your missing item).  The store has everything from personal care products to fishing supplies, and even beer and wine.  They also have a famous Jalama burger, which is quite good (but to be honest tastes like any other burger).   This campground is open year around and even in December the temperatures hover around the 70s.  Though I wouldn’t recommend swimming during the winter and spring months.  In the summer they do have a lifeguard but the water will still be chilly and there are rip currents and high surf to be wary of.  But if you’re looking for a beautiful beach getaway, it would be tough to find something better than Jalama.   The only drawback to this RV campground is that there is little to no cell reception or data service.  But the park does provide a slow wifi connection that can allow you to check email if need be.   We were lucky to find out about this place from one of our Airstream renters, who even extended their trip because they loved this beach park so much.  They were told by their fellow campers to keep this a secret (as were we).  But this secret is just too good not to share!

Airstream Destination and Delivery: Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort Hands down, one of the best places to take an Airstream in the SF Bay Area is Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.  There’s nothing quite like living among some ancient giant trees to make you forget about city life.  These breathtaking redwoods emanate a special energy that you really can’t feel anywhere else.  Yet, you don’t have to drive hours into the forest to get away.  This park is a quick 35 minute drive from the GoSilver shop (and thus also a perfect place for those who want to get their Airstream rental delivered to a camp site).   The park is owned and operated by the nicest people, and their staff are super friendly.  When we got there, they saw that our site was partially flooded so they immediately moved us to a dry primo spot (we didn’t even have to ask!).  Here’s a map of their camp sites.   We stayed at campsite 20 and loved it.  I think campsites 1-22 are some of the best since the back of your RV faces the river, so there’s some views and some privacy.  This is one RV resort that definitely doesn’t feel like just another parking lot.  You can rent a fire pit for $5 (you can also bring your own as long as there’s no cut-outs on the sides) and buy a bundle of wood for $7 to get the complete camping experience. If you’re going to be there with a big group, you can rent out the clubhouse for a large dinner, and it comes complete with full kitchen and recreation room.  And coming this summer the park plans to do some wine tasting events and breakfasts on the weekends.   One of the best things about this park is that it’s right next door to Henry Cowell State Park, with its 30 miles of hiking trails.  Check out that link for a comprehensive list of hikes categorized by difficulty and how much time you have.   Some other awesome places to check out while you’re there: Mount Hermon Adventures: a jungle gym up in the trees (but definitely not for those who are afraid of heights). The Mystery Spot: A little touristy perhaps, but also just a fun place to see at least once for yourself.  And get one of those bumper stickers that seem to be on every other car in Northern California. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: a family fun institution since 1907, but now with modern rides for thrill seekers.  And for the laid back types, there’s always the beach. Roaring Camp Railroads: for kids of all ages who love trains (but just come prepared with water and some of your own snacks since refreshments seem to be lacking here). Santa Cruz Wharf: A great place to dine on some local seafood and shop for souvenirs.  Also if you walk to the end of the pier and look down, you might see some sunbathing sea lions hanging around. Natural Bridges State Park: Named after the limestone natural bridge, this state park is a beautiful place to take some breathtaking photos on the beach.  There is also a Monarch Grove, where 100,000 butterflies roost in the eucalyptus trees from fall to early winter. If you only have a weekend to spare for some much needed R&R then I highly recommend Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort.  Even though it’s less than an hour away, it feels like another world.  And if you happen to have more than a weekend, then a splendid Airstream trip itinerary would be several days at Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort and then hitching up and towing to Costanoa for several days near the California coastline.  This way, you can enjoy both the redwood forests of California along with its beaches.  You get the best of what Northern California has to offer with minimal driving time!

Destination: Carpinteria State Beach Campground Hi guys, so this is a bit of an unusual Airstream Destination review because I’m not only recommending one particular campground at Carpinteria State Beach Park, but I’m also recommending one particular RV spot.  Speaking from personal experience, if you’re in the Santa Barbara area and want to experience your Airstream like your own personal beach house, then you need to go to the Santa Cruz campground, spot 210. It is the best spot in the park by general consensus (that would be Brian and I, as well as the park ranger who was helping us).  And this is why:   Yep, that’s your own private access walk-way to a sprawling California beach right behind your Airstream.  Spot 210 is also surrounded by greenery, with the fire pit behind your parked trailer.  So it’s the most private and secluded spot in the park.  Also the bathroom is located conveniently directly in front of the spot (the bathroom has flushing toilets and hot water showers).  The rest of the spots in this campground, as you can see is a bit more like a parking lot.  If you unfortunately aren’t able to snag spot 210 in the Santa Cruz campground, then the Santa Rosa and San Miguel campgrounds (also part of Carpinteria State Beach Park) are also fronting the beach.  These campgrounds also have clean and spacious dumping stations, which will make maneuvering your trailer easy, as well as a water source to fill up your fresh water tank.   Now a little bit about Carpinteria.  It’s 12 miles south of Santa Barbara and is a small sleepy surf/beach town.  There’s only one street of restaurant and shops that span about two blocks and it’s conveniently located about 4 blocks from the campground, which is walkable if you’re up for a bit of exercise (or it’s a 3-minute drive).  But as tiny as the town is, there is a lot of options for dining.  The Thai restaurant, Siam Elephant there comes highly recommended, but we opted for the tacos at Casa Don Roge and it was delicious!  And in the morning, you have to hit up Ernie’s café for an all-American diner breakfast.  For a list of restaurants in Carpinteria, go here.   But what you’re really there at Carpinteria for is the beach!  In addition to some pretty amazing wildlife viewing (whale watching, seals, sea lions and shore birds to name a few), visitors can enjoy surfing, swimming, beach-combing, fishing, hiking, and biking.  Or just relax under an umbrella with a good book.   So if you’re looking to turn your Airstream rental into your own personal beach cabin, then spot 210 at Carpinteria State Beach Park is the one for you!

Destination: Big Sur Campground and Cabins If you want to camp in California’s Redwood forests you could go to Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort or go to Big Sur Campground and Cabins, which has the added benefit of being near Monterey, Carmel, and some of the most beautiful beaches California has to offer.  In all transparency, we haven’t camped there yet ourselves, but have had several of our Airstream rentals towed there by guests and we’ve also delivered Airstreams there.   Big Sur Campground and Cabins is located 2 hours south of our Airstream garage, about 30 miles south of Monterey.  The drive there is absolutely beautiful, though if you are towing a trailer you probably won’t be able to enjoy the scenery as much.  Here are some things we learned about the actual campground: – The most important thing to know about Big Sur Campground and Cabins is that it does not have a sewer connection.  That means all the water that is used onboard the Airstream will need to be stored in holding tanks during your trip.  They do have one dumping station which looks like a big well of filthy water, which can be used in case you really need to clear the tanks.  But most Airstream renters probably won’t want to deal with the hassle of dumping (and as Elite RV guests you won’t need to since we do all the dumping and sanitation for you).  But this does mean that when you’re staying at this campground you will need to be very conscious of your water usage, especially your gray water usage (this is all water from sinks and showers).  Once your gray water tank is full, you will see dirty water start pooling in the shower.  The 19′ International and 20′ Flying Cloud can hold 21 gallons of gray water, while the 25′ Flying Cloud and 25′ International can hold 35 gallons and the 27′ International can hold 37 gallons.  You will also need to be aware of your black water usage (that’s all things flushed down the toilet), but that won’t be as much of an issue normally since the black tank can hold as much as the gray tank, but each flush is minimal.  So what does it really mean to not have a sewer connection?  No long showers.  But the campground also provides bathrooms with free hot showers, and their bathrooms are clean and well-maintained. – Also the spaces at this campground are very close together and the path/road to get to sites are very narrow with some really tight corners.  In fact, the first incidence of major damage to one of our Airstreams occurred at this campsite.  So we recommend that only experienced towers come to this site or have an Airstream delivered here.  Also, some RV parks will have staff help you back up an RV (especially since the staff usually know the easiest ways to maneuver into sites), however this RV campground doesn’t offer that service.  So you’re on your own, and for brand new towers this campsite can prove to be quite a challenge.  And definitely do not try to go there after dark.  I imagine trying to reverse a trailer in those narrow spots without light would be beyond impossible. – There is no cell reception here for AT&T and Verizon, and they don’t offer wifi.  So if you’re planning to do a working vacation, you will need to head to a bar that offers wifi (there’s one 3 miles away and one 1/4 mile away).   That was all the bad news, but if you’re ready to take on the challenge of partial dry-camping, this campground and Big Sur has plenty to offer! – This is a super family-friendly campground and they provide a lot of activities for the whole family.  They have basketball and volleyball courts as well as playgrounds for the younger kids. – There’s a mix of RV and tent camping, many times right next to each other.  So if you’re going with a big group and the rest of the group wants to experience tent camping, then its possible to do that with adjoining sites. – There’s a swimming hole on site and you can rent inner tubes for the day. – And from some research, the best RV sites are near the river.  So those are sites #99, #100, #11 and #13.  This particular site in the pictures is site #72.   The best part about Big Sur Campground and Cabins?  Location, location, location!  It’s close to some of the most beautiful beaches and state parks California has to offer. – Pfeiffer State Park (1.5 miles south): this beautiful picture below was taken here (enough said, right?).  The park can be a bit hard to find so here’s some tips. source – Andrew Molera State Park (2.5 miles north) is great for hiking and horseback riding on the beach. – Do some treasure hunting at Jade Cove, where you might find some actual pieces of jade. – Jade can also be found at Sand Dollar Beach, along with the beach’s namesake, sand dollars. (For more info on all of Big Sur’s beaches, find it here and here). – Bixby Bridge (pictured below), is on the way to Big Sur. – Carmel, which is about 25 miles north of the campground is one of the quaintest towns in California.  A bit upscale, but a fun place to browse.  More info here. – Monterey, home to one of the best aquariums in the country and the Monterey Bay is a great place to kayak (we’ve done it before and it’s the best way to see sea otters fairly close and in their natural environment).   And if you’re looking to eat in the Big Sur area these places have come highly recommended: Big Sur Bakery, Big Sur Roadhouse, Nepenthe, and the Restaurant at River Inn (right next door to the campground).