What is the best place? I prefer the mountains, as I would like to have snow. I’m looking for something romantic also as this is for Valentines Day. I’ve found a couple and under $60 which is what I’m looking for, I’m just looking for personal experiences etc.

For more of a chance of snow you might triy Big Bear or Arrowbear in Riverside/San Bernardino County area. Or perhaps Idyllwild.

In San Diego county, little chance of snow but for about $45 a night you can go to the cabins in William Heise County Park near Julian. You’ll have no running water though, have to use campground facilities for that. But you’ll have heat and electricity and it is in San Diego County. You’ll have to bring your own mattress pad and bedding. You must reserve in advance because only about 6 cabins total.

The park is really beautiful with several nice hiking trails and the town of Julian is nearby.

http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/Camping/heise.html

Florida is a big state and what kind of camping are you going to do and what time of the year? I like northern central Florida. No matter where you go…Humid, many bugs, and flat. Osceola N.F. Bring a good bug repellant supply. Some of the many fine State Parks have Primative Areas to hike to, like Oleano SP north of Gainesville. The problem is the nights are hot. Bring baby wipes/ talcum powder or you will have to try to sleep "sticky". Leave that mountain sleeping bag at home! Use a tent with plenty of ventialtion and tight mesh windows. Gator encounters are very rare, not to worry. and snakes are usually not a problem just keep alert where you walk. Natives only camp in the winter months October to April. The Florida Trail Association can tell you more. Have fun!

Looking for some awesome trails in Colorado. Anyone have any suggestions???
Here is what we are looking for:
- 2 nights and 3 days
- base camp
- a day to a high altitude peak
- a hike down a canyon/gorge (lakes,rivers, waterfalls)
- Prefer a trail that loops back into where we started with a good distance for a 2 day hike
- we are planning starting in Mid June
Any suggestions???

Hey Denny, last Oct we took a trip to Estes Park and did some hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park is right outside of the park, it is a cool toursty town but still pretty quiet as far a tourists go. We did some hiking in the park with a nice couple hour hike to Emerald Lake as an easy acclimation day (See the link below, Bear Lake link has info on this hike). There were 3 glacier lakes in a span of 4 miles, very cool hike. We did not bag a 14'er but opted for Flattop Mountain. However, if you are into 14'ers you could bag Longs Peak. Start early in the morning to beat the thunderstorms. I also know there is over 200 miles of trails in RMNP.

Here is a great website fo rthe hikes in RMNP

http://www.mtnds.com/hikes/main.asp

My friends and I want to go camping, but we don't know where. We want some place that you can drive your car onto the ground and pitch a tent next to it. Reservations for a spot would also help. Does anyone know a place?

For information on camping places in the San Diego area go to: http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/San-Diego-camping.htm.

You will find information on different places as well as links for making reservations.

Would like to be able to see lots of stars, and even sleep in the back of my truck
There is no place around Long Beach where you can tent camp. There is a place, Golden Shore RV Park, where you can bring your RV, but I believe that your RV must be self-contained, ie no pickups or tent camping. A lot of RV parks have restrictions like that.

If you want to see lots of stars, go to Oscar night at the Kodak Theater or a Laker game. Other than that, there are only about 12 stars you can see in the LA night sky. You need to drive at least 100 miles away to get away from the city lights.

The closest place where you can camp like that is at Doheny State Beach. You can make reservations at www.reserveamerica.com.

We live up in Seattle and would like to go down to visit our son in Arizona for Christmas. We’re a very outdoorsy family and would like to go camping somewhere in Az/Nm where we can be pretty secluded, do some hiking (5-10 miles), rafting, exploring (mines, ruins etc). Please no traditional/touristy suggestions. Thanks!

grand canyon would be perfect for ya but i know its not traditional

I'm going on a camping trip and would like to know if you have used a good quality air mattress that has lasted you for a long time. I'm tired of buying cheap ones and waking up on the floor. I just don't know wich brand is good quality. Please tell me what brand you have used and how long it lasted. Thank you.

Try a Big Agnes, you can't go wrong. It packs very small and gives you a very comfortable sleep. I have been through the Themo rests, self inflating and this Big Agnes is like sleeping on a bed compared to those others.

I'm going to be traveling by car from San Francisco to San Diego over the course of a week and a half, camping in a tent along the way. Since I have a week to make this trip, it doesn't matter if I take a roundabout route (for example, going inland all the way to the Sierra Nevadas wouldn't bother me).

What are some good places for me to camp on the trip? I prefer to be as secluded as possible, to get away from it all. Also, the cheaper the better!

Thanks!

As I see it, you have 2 choices: Beach route or inland route. Doing both would take you a lot more than a week.

If you want to head inland, you can always take off from S.F. and head to Lake Tahoe. It is about 5 hours to drive. Then, I'd head south into Yosemite. Your only downfall about these two places is that it is summer and you might be hard-pressed to find a campsite. NO JOKE–in Yosemite Valley you usually have to reserve a campsite 6 months in advance. You might have more luck finding sites that are outside the park. (From Lake Tahoe to Yosemite, take highway 395) After Yosemite you could either stick with the 395 and head to Death Valley, then Interstate 10 to Joshua Tree. You could also leave Yosemite on the 120 and head to Interstate 5, which can take you to places like King's Canyon and Sequoia National Park, and then into the LA area.

If you wanted to go the beach route, skip the 1 (it will take much, much more than a week) and go on the 101. It gives you easy access to Santa Cruz, Monterrey, Big Sur, and San Simeon (Hearst Castle is a must see!), Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, The Santa Monica Mountains (you can hike there to see where the show MASH was filmed), Hollywood, and then to Interstate 5 which will drive down the Southern California coast and into San Diego.

My husband and I have done these trips many times and they are fabulous either way. It just depends on what you want to see. The coastal route offers many beach sites to camp. For a good reference on camping, I would recommend the book "California Camping;" that's our Bible.

Have fun!!!!

We have an off shore 24ft. boat and would like to go camping one weekend and wondered where there was a place you can camp out on the beach in the south east georgia or north east florida area with a floating dock for the boat.

You can camp at Little Tybee Island. It is just across the "back" river from Tybee Island. It is uninhabited by humans, and you are allowed to camp there. Just be aware that it is totally primitive. It is however a beautiful island. We have kayaked over there before and are planning to camp there ourselves soon. It's close to Tybee Island so if you forget anything or want to go get a pizza or something you can just go over to Tybee.

My son is going to Red Rocks over Labor Day weekend for a concert. He camps in a tent. Where should he stay and how much are the camping fees? Has anyone had good/bad experiences at Red Rocks?

It looks like the choices are limeted. And its first come first server so he better get there early. I didn’t find anything on the prices.

Bear Creek Lake Park
SE of Morrison on Morrison Road
(303) 697-6159 (Bear Creek Lake Park does NOT take reservations. It is strictly first-come, first-served.)

Chief Hosa Campground is no longer available for concert camping.

Please contact the following campgrounds ahead of time for reservations,
spots are limited and reservations are required.

Dakota Ridge RV Park
17700 West Colfax
Golden, Colorado
(303) 279-1625

Clear Creek RV Park
1400 10th Street
Golden, Colorado
(303) 278-1437

Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Chatfield Resevoir
Cherry Creek Resevoir
Colorado State Parks Reservation Line-
1-800-678-2267 or (303) 470-1144
www.parks.state.co.us

Golden Gate Canyon State Park
3873 Highway 46,
Golden, CO 80403
(303) 582-3707
golden.gate.park@state.co.us

Golden Scenic Rock RV Park
www.ci.golden.co.us
17700 West Colfax Avenue
(303) 279-1625
I-70 Colfax

Golden Terrace RV Resort
17801 West Colfax
Golden, Colorado
303-279-6279

Reservations can be made for the above locations online at reserveamerica.com, or by calling toll free 1-800-470-1144.

Local U.S. Forest Campground information may be obtained through the Clear Creek Ranger District at 303-567-3000.

Colorado Campground and Lodging Owners Assoc.
970-385-5499
www.campcolorado.com

Colorado State Parks Reservation Line
1-800-678-2267 or (303) 470-1144
www.parks.state.co.us

Summer Hours
April 2-Sept. 30 April 2-Sept. 30, 7a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Winter Hours
Oct. 1- March 31, 8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.