Camping ... A Weekend Escape
Written By: Dianna Armand
You hear the phrase all around you, "Back to Normal". We want to challenge you to take this opportunity to create your NEW normal. A normal that includes adventures with your partner, family memories, time in nature and taking deep relaxing breaths around a campfire.
At SEED Peoples Market one of our favorite activities is camping. Campsites are available on beaches, in mountains and in deserts. Some are less than an hour away, while others you can only get to with a bit longer drive. Week end trips or week long trips, it doesn't matter, memories are just waiting to be made.
There are a few easy to access, family friendly weekend campsites we want to share with you. The first is O’Neill Regional Park located in Trabuco Canyon just outside the city of Rancho Santa Margarita. It is 4500 acres spanning Trabucco and Live Oaks Canyons and has day use and overnight campsites. The campground is surrounded by sagebrush, chaparral and other natural flora and fauna. Spaces are available for hiking, biking and BBQ’s, as well as firepits. Both tent and RV camping is an option. We suggest that you check out OCParks.com for reservations additional information, including current hours, and updates due to weather.
What if your happy place is within view of the Ocean? No problem, check out San Elijo State Beach located along the San Diego Coast.
This beautiful beach offers overnight camping, swimming and surfing. There is also a nearby reef that is very popular with snorkelers and divers. Online reservations are available through the Reserve California website.
Up for more of an adventure, maybe a little drive to the Northern part of California. Approximately 4 hours from Orange County is Sequoia National Park located in the Southern Sierras and known for its majestic Sequoias.
Two hours south of Orange County is the Joshua Tree National Park. The Park sits where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet and covers 800,000 acres. Much of this acreage is not accessible, the parts that are accessible provide a diverse collection of plants and animals for visitors to enjoy.
Campsites are available at Joshua Tree, and are generally considered the best way to experience the natural area. A wonderful reference for the area is James Kaisers Guide to Camping in Joshua Tree. Being in the desert at night provides the most magnificent view of the stars in the pitch black skies.
Every year a National Dark Sky Festival is held at Joshua Tree. To enjoy this festival make sure to have a red flashlight, warm clothing and a chair. Above all have patience and be flexible.
Always remember to plan ahead, check out the local land State Park websites for all information you may need, including any restrictions due to the current environment. Whatever your new normal is make sure to include nature, outside activities, and of course camping!
As always we love it when you share your adventures with us, #SEEDinthewild
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