What I love most about traveling is experiencing the newness of it. Vacations are powerful parts of life because we get out of our everyday stresses and routines and open ourselves up to experiencing life a little differently.
Tag: California State Park
Beach vs Mountains: Carpinteria State Beach Campground Review, California
Carpinteria State Beach, California
Playing at the beach is the perfect way to spend a summer day. But since I live in the mountains, I don’t get to as often as I’d like. On our recent trip to Carpinteria State Beach in Southern California, we camped at the coveted Carpiteria State Beach Campground. Reservations for this campground sell out six months in advance, but luckily the tot’s aunt had an extra space and invited us to use it.
The beach at Carpinteria is known to be family friendly. I was pleased to see a gentle surf and plenty of sand and seashells to hunt. I was less thrilled with the oil rigs out in the ocean, obscuring an otherwise perfect view of the unending horizon.
The campground has private bathrooms, outdoor showers and kitchen sinks, plus warm private showers at a quarter a piece. The walk from camp to the ocean is less than thirty seconds, and was the closest I have ever been to living at the ocean.
When they weren’t playing at the beach, the tots spent time playing at the Carpinteria State Beach’s playground, which was a quick walk or bike down the campground trail. We also enjoyed quick trips to the nearby Foster’s Freeze, as well as a longer drive to visit Old Mission Santa Barbara. There we enjoyed perusing scenes from the recent chalk art festival, while little g napped in the car.
If you have a chance to visit Carpinteria State Beach, do it. My only complaint was the sand accompanying me everywhere, including into my sleeping bag and tent. Next time, I might try an RV.
Carpinteria State Beach, California
Big E and little g examining anemones. |
Not only is this giant starfish doing some amazing acrobatics, it’s in the process of eating a mussel. |
Watch those toes! |
The starfish were plentiful, and beautiful. |
I’m not sure what this was, but it looked cool. |
I love that Mountain Dad is wearing a flannel shirt and fleece vest at the beach. |