Glamping Camping Questions and Tips from LA and beyond (2-6 wks)
 

If you wanted beautiful scenery, no crowds, good cell/internet service, good bathroom facilities, outdoor stops for entertainment, sites, nature, how would you design this trip from LA?

It's been a very long time since I've gone camping and now I just want to get on the road, maybe stay for a week somewhere, then road again...stay for a week or two.

It's not so much a driving adventure as it is being/working outdoors in nature for a week at a time and maybe explore surrounding area, go hiking, etc. I'm most concerned about the bathroom portion because of Covid so any advice is appreciated!!

Do you recommend a favorite gear, equipment? If you also have thoughts on vegetable meals, options that camp well? I'm thinking heading North or East but open to anywhere new and beautiful!

Thanks!

I'll start you off with my thoughts on a trip through northern California and western Oregon including the coast. Are you planning on renting a small motor home or towing a teardrop type trailer?
Starting from LA I would head for someplace east of Merced on 140. I like the "BUG" hostel but there are other good places too. Spend several days seeing Yosemite.
Leaving Yosemite, head north on I-5 to the region of Ashland, Medford, and Crater Lake. Ashland has open air plays (including Shakespeare) in the summer (check schedule). Be sure to visit Crater Lake even if you don't camp there.
Leaving southern Oregon you might want to stay in a yurt at Champoeg (sham-POO-ee) State Park. While in that area, visit the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville. From there head for the Oregon Coast. If you liked your yurt experience, there are many in Oregon State Parks. The parks with yurts do have nice bathrooms that also have hot showers. My favorite coastal Oregon State Parks with yurts are William Tugman (near Oregon Dunes) and Sunset Beach (SW of Coos Bay).
Coming back into California, be sure to visit the "Trees of Mystery" on your way south on US 101.

This was the first place that came to mind for what seems your desire for upscale camping. Costanoa has a wide range of possibilities as you'll see on their website, including cabins & tent cabins along with restaurants serving local produce, including their own. They're located on a stunning part of the N. CA coast not too far from Santa Cruz & even closer to Pescadero or Half Moon Bay a bit farther north. I haven't stayed there but my family lives nearby & goes for special occasion dinners.

https://costanoa.com/

https://www.california.com/epic-glam...rn-california/

https://www.california.com/guide-gla...rn-california/

It's a total blank state. We have an electric car, (2 humans 3 plushies) and plan on sleeping in it. I need to buy a good sturdy tent, and that thing that goes over like a large umbrella so you can work and not get too burnt. And an electric stove.

How about the desert?? Haven't been to Oregon so that's sounding really appealing. I also like the idea of a yurt and a cottage, no shared vents. Rustic and rugged, deep nature. Solage in Calistoga but maybe somewhere new.

And to cleanse:

Avid camper friend told me about this technique and I think it's pretty genius!! Is there another way??

:toj: I'm not even kidding!

All EV? You'll have to investigate charging stations vis-a-vis range also.

Yes all EV, climate control so it's perfect 73 degrees every night. I'm a little worried about the animals -- bears, snakes, mountain lions do you have any tips on that? Good spray brands?

"And an electric stove". Electric resistance heating drains batteries very fast. Try for a small stove that uses small propane bottles. I would invest in a 12 volt small refrigerator. Yurts have the advantage of not having to take down a wet tent in the morning if it rains during the night.

This^^^ particularly in the mountains.

Great points about the rain and hopefully with summer coming up it wouldn't be too much of an issue. I was trying to avoid lugging a propane bottle but you're right. In that case I'll bring my new blow torch too! I'm excited to torch stuff!

I also just saw Solage is $1359/night which is triple the rate we paid years ago so for sure not going to stay there.

Now if it's the Crillon in Paris different story!!


Me and the Crillon