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RAY'S OUTDOOR LIVING FOR CAMPERS:
Ray gives you interesting places to visit, For those who love the RV camping life,
whether you are a weekend camper or fulltimer.
1. CALICO GHOST TOWN
2. Southern California Camping: Lake Skinner
3. Wine Tasting in Temecula, CA
4. Southern California Beach Camping: San Elijo State Beach
5. SAN DIEGO, Campland on the Bay
6. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
CALICO GHOST TOWN:
If you are taking a trip to Southern Ca, on Interstate I-15 or I-40, You should
plan on stopping at Calico.
Calico Ghost Town
36600 Ghost Town Rd,
Yermo, CA
760-254-2122
I-15 Exit Calico Ghost Town Rd. Go north approx. 2 miles.
I-40, Exit Daggett-Yermo Road. Go north approx. 7 miles.
Southern Californian Camping: Calico Ghost Town
Southern California offers unique camping experiences ranging from mountain and beach camping to camping in the dusty streets of an old mining town. If you want to relive the days of the Wild West, pack up your camping gear and head out to Yermo, California where you’ll find plenty of campsites and an adventure awaiting you at Calico Ghost Town Regional Park.
Yermo is located about ten miles east of Barstow on Interstate 15, making for an easy drive despite its remoteness. This is a desert community known for its pistachio nuts and its ghost town: Calico. In its heyday, 1881 to 1896, Calico featured over 500 silver mines, 22 saloons, and a booming population of about 1200. The Calico Mining District produced over $86 million in silver and another $45 million in borax. Some gold was mined in Calico, but the area was rich with silver. By the early 1900s, the price of silver had plummeted and borax miners flocked to Death Valley, deserting Calico once and for all.
Today, the ghost town lives on thanks to preservation efforts led by Walter Knott. While Calico Ghost Town Regional Park attracts tourists as they are passing through, it is a destination in its own right. In fact, with over 265 campsites as well as camping cabins and a bunk house, Calico is a terrific place to spend a few days exploring its wonders.
The Calico campground features all of the standard amenities such as restrooms with showers, several RV dump stations, grills, fire rings, and picnic tables. Shops and restaurants are also on site. Three group camping areas are available. 46 campsites offer full hookups with an additional 58 partial hookup sites.
Once you’re all settled in at your campsite, put on those hiking boots and enjoy a day exploring the dusty streets of one of the last original old west mining towns. Admission to the ghost town is included with your camping fee, except during special events. Gunfighters and living history characters often wander the streets while other performances and activities are scheduled throughout the day. Self-guided tours and hikes are a terrific way to experience the Wild West. Depending on the season, gold panning activities give you a hands-on opportunity to find gold!
Off road vehicle enthusiasts enjoy riding the open roads of the Calico Mountains. Bring your green stickered ATVs and off road vehicles year round and your red stickered vehicles from October through June. Don’t forget your helmets and make sure to read all rules covering off roading in Calico.
During your stay, you’ll have plenty to do within the park. However, should you want to venture out, don’t miss the Barstow Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum. Not only does this museum house interesting exhibits, the building itself, the Casa del Desierto, is historic and well worth seeing. Barstow is known for its railroad heritage and this building is a fine example of a glorious rail depot.
Whether you’re passing through Yermo or looking for a unique camping experience, don’t miss a visit to Calico. It’s well worth the trip.
Upcoming events at Calico:
Oct. 9-11 Calico Days - Celebrate the history of Calico *
October 23-25 GHOST HAUNT
Oct. 30-Nov. 1 GHOST HAUNT
Nov. 27-29 Heritage Festival
Dec. 26-28 New Years at Calico
* Camping Special for Calico Days. Book a reservation between July 11-September 25 for weekend camping for this event for only $100 for the weekend.
Save up to $38.
Price includes admission for up to 6 persons per site.
Daily Admission
Adult $6
Children (6-15) $3
5 and under FREE
Special Events
SPECIAL PRICING
CAMPING FEES PER NIGHT
Non Hook-up $25
Electric Only $28
Electric & Water $29
Full Hook-up $30
Cabins*-$38
Bunkhouse* (min. 12) $60
Each Additional Guest (max. 20) $5
Mini-Bunkhouse* $80
Sleeps 6
*$25 deposit required on cabins, $50 deposit on the mini-bunk house, $30 deposit on the bunk house.
Reservations may now be booked directly online at:
www.sbcountyparks.com.
You can also visit their website at:http:// www.calicotown.com
ADDITIONAL CAMPGROUNDS:
Barstow / Calico KOA
35250 Outer Highway 15 North
Yermo, CA 92398
Information: (760) 254-2311
Email: parkinfo@san.rr.com
Reserve Online Now!
Or By Phone: (800) 562-0059
KOA offers a free round-trip ride to Calico.
Shady Lane RV Camp
soapmine road
Barstow, Ca
Price: $23 to $24
Phone : 760-256-5322
I-15 North or South take Old Highway 58, go west one mile to Soap Mine Rd, turn left.go south 0.1 miles (left).
NOTE: Older rv park, Don"t let the looks fool you,
Small park 33 spaces, so call ahead for space.
Southern California Camping: Lake Skinner
Tucked just outside of Temecula’s wine country is a jewel of a campground offering boating, fishing, hiking, and general rest and relaxation: Lake Skinner. Though relatively remote, Lake Skinner is easy to get to. This huge park is located about ten miles east of Temecula. Simply take Rancho California Road through the city of Temecula and then wind your way through Temecula’s gorgeous wine country. Within a few minutes, you will have arrived and your camping adventure begins.
Lake Skinner is a manmade reservoir nestled in the foothills. The surrounding chaparral-covered hills are often lush and green in the winter, only to dry out in the summer. Distant snow-capped mountains and crystal clear air make for an expansive, breathtaking view. Surrounding the lake, you’ll find both landscaped park grounds as well as acres of natural land and hiking trails.
Three campground loops offer over 300 campsites for both tents and motor homes. Over 158 of these sites come complete with full hookups. Additional sites with partial hooks such as electricity and water and water only sites are also available. Group campsites and mini-group sites can be reserved for those meeting the group site requirements. Restrooms with showers are available at each loop.
If you visit during the summer and early fall, come prepared for heat. The area is known for high temperatures in August and September. Lake Skinner’s swimming pool is open during the summer months, though it is currently closed until the end of 2010 for renovations.
A camp store and restaurant ensure that should you forget to pack anything or have a hankering for home cooked ribs, you won’t have to make a trip into town. Dry storage is available for locals looking for an inexpensive place to store their RVs and boats.
Large grassy areas bordering the loops are popular with children and families. Bring along your favorite sporting equipment for impromptu games of badminton, bocce ball, Frisbee, and soccer or simply plop your lawn chair on the turf and watch the little ones frolic with their new friends. Kids also enjoy the playground located between Loop A and Loop B. A smaller playground is a short hike away, just past the swimming pool.
Boating on the lake is limited to boats that meet specific requirements. For example, motor boats must have four stroke or direct fuel injection two stroke engines meeting all applicable California Air Resources Control Board and EPA spark ignition marine engine standards. In addition, boats must be at least 12 feet long, 42 inches wide, and have 12 inches of freeboard when idling. Sailing is permitted on the lake, as long as the boat size requirements are met. If the boat has multiple hulls, such as a catamaran, the deck must be solid and fixed. A 10 mile per hour speed limit is strictly enforced on the lake.
Additional boating requirements are in place covering fuel and kayaking.
Each June, Lake Skinner is home to the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. Campsites book well in advance for this exciting three-day festival. Imagine waking up each morning to the sight of hundreds of hot air balloons launching above and then spending the day enjoying music, wine tasting, and other festivities.
Should you want to venture out of the campground, make sure to spend an afternoon touring Temecula’s wine country where you’ll find dozens of charming wineries offering award-winning wines and fine dining. Temecula’s Old Town is another destination that you won’t want to miss, especially if you enjoy good food, people watching, and antique hunting. A side trip to Hemet’s Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology Museum is a must for anyone interested in the giant mammoths that once roamed the area.
Lake Skinner is a remote campground that is surprisingly accessible. You’ll have plenty to do during your stay including fishing, hiking, bike riding, and relaxing.
Wine Tasting in Temecula, CA
Are you visiting San Diego, Palm Springs, or Los Angeles and a wine lover, to boot? Enjoy a day or weekend of wine tasting in Temecula, California.
Warm, surrounded by mountain peaks, Temecula is a delightful getaway just about an hour away from most everything in Southern California. The only challenge is, there are so many wineries - what's a wine lover to do? First, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions.
Are you interested in a few tastes at really great wineries? or are you interested in eating a great meal as well? Either way, your palette won't be disappointed.
Due to the unique climate, Temecula is most amenable to the Italian reds. A climate that is warm in the day, cool at night, with the ocean breezes and misty mornings, it is the perfect combination for the Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet, and Barbera grape varietals. What does this mean to you? It means that one does not need to drive eight hours up the coast to Napa or Sonoma to taste fine wine or to fill your cellars with pricey "brand names."
A tour of Temecula Wineries is just the thing to get you in the spirits for this holiday season.
The best day to go wine tasting is Monday through Thursday. Come on a weekend, if you must; but wine tasting on a weekday will all but guarantee that you will actually get more out of your tasting experience than arm-wrestling with a limo full of tipsy bachelorettes jockeying for elbowroom at the tasting bars.
PONTE:
For the most relaxing, yet sensory experience, start with an early lunch at Ponte Winery, a favorite outdoor lunchtime spot. Ponte boasts excellent food and wine pairings. From there, you can either enjoy tastes at the lovely tasting room there, or move on to some of the others.
SOUTH COAST:
The nearby South Coast Winery is truly a destination in and of itself. It boasts a fantastic, sweeping landscape - villas where one can enjoy all of the pampering of a 5 star spa - and a heated pool to bask in the sun while sipping Chardonnay. Their dining experience is a must for a night on the town, save for the cheesy player-less piano music - and you can book ahead for private or patio dining. This is a fabulous way to end up your trip if you don't want to drive home.
For day tasting, however, the tasting room is a bit cavernous; though their wine is spectacular. The Cabernet is not to be missed, and the Ruby Cuvee (a sparkling Syrah) is the new “Must Try” of the valley.
WILSON CREEK:
Wilson Creek, at the far end of Rancho California road recently redesigned their tasting room to accommodate the blossoming crowds that flock to this popular stop. Famous for their dessert wines, the Almond Champagne is a favorite local way to toast the incoming new year. Be sure and take a bottle home! The port is also quite lovely, and addictive.
STEWART CELLARS:
Stewart Cellars offers a fantastic Cabernet, among other things, and has the feel of one of the "old" Temecula wineries. The staff is quite knowledgeable and you might learn a thing or two while sipping.
HART:
On your way out, stop by Hart Winery for a taste of OLD Temecula, one of the first wineries, and the owners are usually mulling about. The Hart Barbera is a delightful example of this varietal. Plus, the rustic atmosphere of the tasting room will immerse you in old Temecula!
PLACES TO STAY:
Remember, while you’re tasting wine, you’re also consuming a wide variety of alcohol. By the time you’re done, you more than likely will feel the effects. There are many transportation options locally, as well as wonderful places to stay the night.
Loma Vista Bed and Breakfast is charming, and offers a lovely bottle of Sherry in each room. Other bed and breakfasts dot the valley, from the tiny to the hotel sized Churon Winery.
There are also a plethora of hotels ranging from inexpensive Holiday Inn Express to the Temecula Creek Inn.
GETTING AROUND:
The Grapeline offers stops at wineries throughout - or you can plan a private tour through Destination Temecula Tours.
Remember, always have a designated driver, or look up a ride from one of the many places to stay in town.
CAMPGROUNDS:
CALL CAMPGROUNDS FOR DIRECTIONS.
Indian Oaks Trailer Ranch
38120 East Benton Road
Temecula, CA 92592
951-302-5399
RATES FULL HOOK-UP $35.00
Lake Skinner Recreation Area
37701 Warren Road
Winchester CA 92596
951-926-1541
Pechanga RV Resort & Casino
45000 Pechanga Parkway
Temecula, CA 92592
951-587-0484
SAN ELIJO:
Southern California Beach Camping: San Elijo State Beach
San Diego, with its warm climate, gorgeous mountains and valleys, sparkling beaches, and attractions galore, beckons campers from near and far. Locals and travelers alike enjoy camping in the county’s mountains and beaches. However, only a handful of beaches in San Diego County allow overnight camping. One of the best beachfront campgrounds in the county is San Elijo State Beach where you’ll find both primitive and full hookup sites on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The campground at San Elijo State Beach is located in the community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a funky beach town known for its surfing culture and excellent restaurants. Nearby communities, such as Encinitas and Carlsbad to the north, offer interesting attractions such as the Self-Realization Fellowship Garden and Legoland. To the south, Del Mar, with its famous racetrack, and La Jolla entice those with more upscale tastes.
While campground is centrally located, why would you want to venture out? After all, the campground occupies a vast stretch of prime beachfront real estate. Camping at San Elijo isn’t so much about exploring San Diego, but rather about enjoying this fine beach. Bring your beach chairs, surf boards, boogie boards, pails and shovels, diving gear, and plenty of sunscreen.
Because the campground is located on a bluff, beach access requires descending one of several stairways. While the beach is open to the public, it is uncrowded because access is relatively difficult unless you are a camper.
The southernmost campsites are on more level ground with the bluff rising as you move north. If you don’t want to go up and down stairs to enjoy the beach, opt for one of the southern sites near Tower 16. Unfortunately, if you need full hookups, you’ll have to compromise because the few sites offering hookups are located on the bluff.
The campground is laid out in several rows, with the best campsites being those overlooking the beach. Inland sites are clustered under trees, with the easternmost sites being the least desirable thanks to their proximity to Highway 101 and the train tracks. RVs are welcome, though both campers and trailer lengths are limited to a maximum of 35 feet with some sites having smaller limits.
Restrooms with token-operated showers are conveniently located. Outdoor showers are also stationed at the top of each of the campground’s stairways – perfect for rinsing off the sand. One central RV dump station features two separate dumping areas.
Nearby dining ranges from casual to upscale. The campground store complex has a small snack shop that serves up Hawaiian shave ice. Try the Potato Shack in Encinitas for a hearty breakfast. Want a delicious Mexican? Head down the road about a half mile to Las Olas and order a plate of rolled tacos to go. In the mood for fresh seafood? The Chart House is a fine dining establishment located right on the beach about a half mile south of the campground.
Campsites at San Elijo State Beach put you steps away from a sandy beach know for its reef break. This campground is extremely popular and fills up months in advance. Make your reservations early.
SAN DIEGO:
Campland on the Bay:
Southern California Beach Camping: Campland on the Bay
Though technically not on the beach, San Diego’s Campland on the Bay, is one of San Diego’s few beachfront campgrounds. Located along the shoreline of Mission Bay, this campground offers something for everyone. Love sailing? Rent a sailboat at Campland’s marina. Love birdwatching? A nearby wildlife preservation delivers! Looking for a place to soak up the sun while the kids build sandcastles? Step outside your tent or motor home and enjoy beachfront camping on a private beach. Want an inexpensive home base while exploring San Diego’s tourist attractions?
Here it is – and Campland on the Bay is centrally located.
Campland on the Bay is a massive complex in the heart of Mission Bay Park. Among the many amenities are: a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, restaurant, market, laundry room, restrooms with showers, bike and watercraft rentals, marina, game room, and Wi-Fi. Campsites range from primitive tent sites to RV sites offering full hookups. For those who want the best-of-the-best, reserve a “Super Site.” These Super Sites overlook the bird sanctuary and feature private patios with lawn furniture, Jacuzzis, grills, and even a full sized washer and dryer.
While you’ll have plenty to do enjoying the amenities offered at this unique campground, Campland on the Bay hosts a variety of recreational activities such as: sand building contests, beach volleyball, arts and crafts, flag football, dart tournaments, scavenger hunts, movie nights, bingo games, and karaoke.
Nearby attractions include SeaWorld and Mission Beach. In fact, you can enjoy SeaWorld’s nightly fireworks show right from your own campsite! Mission Beach is home to Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park featuring one of the last remaining wooden oceanfront roller coasters from the early 1900s. Don’t miss this gloriously restored roller coaster! While you’re enjoying Belmont Park’s amusements, be sure to stop by the WaveHouse with its simulated surfing waves and spectacular location.
San Diego’s Old Town, Presidio, and Mission San Diego are all nearby as are Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. After spending time exploring these nearby attractions, if you’re still hungering for more, head south to Coronado or north to La Jolla. However, with Mission Bay just steps away and dozens of amenities within the Campland on the Bay complex, you won’t be bored.
Rates vary depending on the season with winter rates being dramatically less than summer rates. The summer season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. During the summer, weekend stays require a two night minimum. San Diego’s climate is mild year-round, so if you want to save money, consider a spring or fall stay and enjoy the amenities at a fraction of the cost of a summer visit. Beachfront and bay view sites command a higher rate than those located further from shore.
Campland on the Bay is a unique campground with one of the best locations in San Diego County. Centrally located and packed with amenities, this campground fills up quickly. Reservations are highly recommended.
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While you are visiting San Diego, Sea World, San Diego Zoo, might as well
venture downtown and see some of sights San Diego has to offer.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
Pioneers
Reflect California’s Historic Diversity
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park [SAN DIEGO county; phone
(619) 220-5422] represents life in the Mexican and early American periods of
1821 to 1872.
The park, which includes original and reconstructed buildings,
shops, restaurants and interpretive features (including museums, exhibits and
interpretive programs), is located on San Diego Avenue and Twiggs Street in
San Diego.
California has always been – and continues to be – a diverse place. The
people who lived in this historic section of San Diego reflect the state’s diverse
history. These historic residents include Native Americans, Hispanic Americans,
African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and people from all over the United
States – and all over the world. They made Old Town their home and contributed
to its fascinating mix of history and legend.
José María Echeandia was the only governor of California who
maintained his home in San Diego while in office. Pio Pico, the last Governor of
Mexican California, operated a store in Old Town. His mother and sister lived
nearby. Don Miguel de Pedrorena was a native of Spain and one of the
founders of new San Diego. His widow owned one of Old Town’s – and
California’s - first prefabricated homes. The building still exits in the park as the
San Diego Union Museum. The house was assembled from pre-cut lumber sent
to California by ship around Cape Horn.
Allen B. Light and his partner Richard Freeman, African Americans,
were proprietors of a combination dry goods store and saloon in Old Town San
Diego in the 1850s. Visitors can find his store site in the park’s reconstructed San
Diego House. Light, an otter-hunter, was known as “Black Steward,” legend has
it, because of an encounter with a grizzy bear. He had been appointed by the
Mexican government as an agent to prevent illegal otter hunting before he
become an entrepreneur. Richard Freeman served as the community’s sheriff at
one time.
William Heath Davis, whose grandmother was a Hawaiian princess, was
one of the founders of “New Town” San Diego in 1850. He believed that close
proximity to the waterfront would attract business. To that end, he purchased 160
acres of land and, with four partners, laid out the city and built a large wharf and
warehouse. An economic depression put an end to that early venture.
The William Heath Davis House is the oldest surviving structure in the downtown
area. It was one of the first houses built in the “New Town.” Davis wrote a book,
“Sixty Years in California,” which gives a unique look at early California and San
Diego.
Juana Machado de Alipás Wrightington, a Mestizo, known as “Mrs.
Wrightington,” was a well-known character in Old Town. A folk-healer and
surrogate mother to the less fortunate people in the area, she spoke Spanish,
English and the local Native American dialect, Kumeyaay.
She was well respected among Hispanic Californios, Native Americans, and European
immigrants who settled in San Diego in the 19th century. She was one of the few
residents who lived in San Diego under the rule of Spain, Mexico, and the United
States. At one time she created the “Machado Quilt,” which features a traditional
Hawaiian design and reflects the cultural exchange brought by the trading ships
to San Diego. Mrs. Wrightington and her children resided in the Casa de
Wrightington for more than forty years after her husband’s death in 1853.
Jewish merchant Louis Rose was an enterprising businessman who once
served as postmaster of Old Town. He developed the townsite of Roseville. After
he came to San Diego from Texas, Rose became a member of the town’s first
grand jury and later became city trustee. He was also treasurer of the San Diego
& Gila Railroad. The Robinson-Rose building is reconstructed in the park.
For more information about Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, call
the park at (619) 220-5422.
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