The moral date is nearly here. It's time to start planning the summer vacations. San Diego's natural team makes it a perfect spot for camping close to home. Clair Trageser reports, she is also an avid camper and wrote a camping guide for San Diego magazine. She spoke with our producer Michael. >> What you like so much about camping in San Diego? >> There is just a big variety, you can count by the beach, in the mountains, in the desert at the right time of the year, there's a lot of different options. The more populated and crowded spots that are more like a fun social gathering or there's more isolated places where you can go. Coming from the East Coast, there's only a few options. So I love that there are so many different places you can go here. >> So camping can mean a lot of different things to different people. If you're looking for something without formal campgrounds like what would you recommend. >> There is the BLM that you can basically camp on any of that land. They have a website where you can go and look up. A place I've stayed around her was Joshua tree. That's a nice way to avoid the more populated campgrounds there that get really full. So you can camp next to the park go in, and see what is there you can hike around. >> In the San Diego magazine story if you're going backpacking in Mount Laguna you can camp along the trails there. One drawback is you usually cannot build a campfire if you are not staying in an official campground. >> So on the exact opposite end of the spectrum there are some campgrounds that seem more like resorts. What amenities can you find? >> I have a swimming pool, a petting zoo. Horseback riding lessons, and each cabin is individually decorated. And I've actually never stayed there but I talked to them about it. It seems like if you're going to that level you may as well stay in a hotel because it's like camping in name only. You get to be more in the outdoors and you have all of these outdoor activities so I can see the appeal to that. And another one mentioned was in Mexico a place called Cuatro Cuatros, they have King beds and air-conditioning, a minibar, a patio, and an on-site restaurant pixie Mac you mentioned Joshua tree, is summer too hot for dessert camping? >> Yes, when I first moved here I had the idea to go camping in August in Palm Desert, not really knowing anything. I called up the campground and asked you need reservations, this woman laughed at me and said nope. You can pretty much come down if you want to I did a story about people who do the bighorn sheep count. So you can but I wouldn't. Because it's really hot pixie Mac recommendations for first-time campers? >> May be someplace close so that you can leave if things don't go well. Another story that shows my inexperience, when I first moved here. My boyfriend at the time, he thought it would be a good idea to go camping in February in Mount Laguna. It started snowing at about 7 PM so we packed up and came back and stopped at Starbucks on the way got hot chocolate because it's not that far of a dive. Check the weather. Just because it's perfectly nice in San Diego when he got to hire elevation, it may be a little bit colder. And another option is to camp along the ocean at that sent Alejo Brown. You don't have to worry about dinner and such because there are restaurants and shops. It's one thing you need to think about. >> Do you have tips for camping with children? >> I think my tip is that, I don't do it. We just spent the weekend in a cabin in Idlewild. The level of military operation planning that it took to pack just for 3 nights in a cabin with running water, was extensive. So I really respect anybody who brings a small child. We have friends who do it, but again, I think if you're going to do it, you want to call ahead and preprepared. I have friends who bring an extra tent for the kids to play and so the kids can crawl around and you don't have to worry about them scraping themselves. I think we are going to wait until our baby can at least walk. >> You are a dog owner any friendly campgrounds in mind? >> Almost every campground is dog friendly you just have to keep them on a leash. So a lot of these campgrounds are great places to bring dogs. >> Summer is here already, is it too late to get a spot at some of the places we talked about? >> Along the ocean it is. You need to book those 6 months in advance. I checked days ago to be prepared and I saw that they are completely booked. There are changes to the reservation system this year that have made it even more complicated. People are having trouble getting reservations, but at some of the last popular places, you definitely still can't like Mount Laguna, there are still options in there and other campgrounds where you don't even need to make reservations you just show up at the time they open. So there are still options, but probably not at the beach. >> You can reserve a spot at state parks by visiting reserve.com. Or visit Este parks.org.
San Diego’s natural beauty makes it a perfect spot for camping close to home. Fortunately, there are dozens of places nearby to sleep out under the stars.
KPBS reporter Claire Trageser is an avid camper and distilled that expertise into a recent camping guide for San Diego Magazine.
"There’s just a big variety. You can go camping by the beach, you can go camping in the moutains, you can go camping in the desert at the right time of year,” she said. “There’s the more populated, crowded spots that are a fun social gathering or more isolated places.”
For a no-frills vacation, Trageser recommends camping alongside the backpacking trails on Mount Laguna. But for a more pampered experience with no tent necessary, there are places like The Ranch at Bandy Canyon in Escondido or Cuatro Cuatros in Ensenada.
The most popular campgrounds, especially those on a beach, are already booked through the summer, according to Trageser. But there are still plenty of spots at places like Dos Picos and Lake Morena. There are separate websites for reservations at state and county parks.
Trageser joins KPBS Midday Edition on Friday with more advice for a San Diego camping adventure.
