Camping Escapes For The City Dweller
Camp in a tree- or on an island!- and forget about LA for a few days.
Peace and quiet in Los Angeles can sometimes be more difficult to find than a Pokémon on the freeway. You may not believe it to be true, especially if you were looking on the 5, but with a little effort, it can be found. But we get it- it’s the dog days of summer. Who wants to put in effort? Well, we here at Hommily have your back- so we went the extra mile, leaving you with the task of only having to read this article to find four unique camping spots around the Los Angeles area that will satisfy your peace and quiet needs. You’re welcome.
Camping is about so much more than s’mores and sleeping bags. Sure, they are certainly a requirement for most camping trips, and anyone who doesn’t eat s’mores probably shouldn’t be allowed to join. However, the location you choose can provide an entirely different experience. The ratio of chocolate to marshmallow certainly matters, but even more important is the environment which surrounds you as you are dropping them all over your sweatshirt. So whether it’s the forest or the desert, on an island or in a tree house, camping is good for the soul- and a perfectly affordable option when you need to get away for a few days.
Joshua Tree National Park
Not too far outside the traffic, smog, and Hollywood weirdness is endless, untouched dessert- and the most perfect camping spot to unwind and detox from the burdens of life. The dessert holds more than just sand and dry heat- it’s rich with Native American history, has unique desert wildlife, and gives you a perfect, unobscured view of the darkest skies in Southern California, as well as those things that populate it. Stars, we think they are called- and lots of them. Two desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree, and its signature tree with zigzagging branches and dagger-like leaves looks like a prop from a Tim Burton film. At nearly 800,000 acres, at times you’ll feel like the only one in world while being only 100 miles from home.
San Catalina Island
Many Angelenos don’t realize how close and accessible this picturesque island is, which is a short ferry ride from Long Beach to your choice of either Avalon or Two Harbors- and at a fraction of a cost of a typical island getaway. Numerous camping spots are available depending on what you are looking for, from tent camping on the beach to primitive camping on the tallest peaks of Catalina Island. The 22-mile long island even offers boat camping! This island escape is perfect for those who don’t have the time to travel too far- and yet offers the peace and serenity that is an integral part of any camping trip. Catalina is home to over 50 endemic species of plant life that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, making it a prime spot for exploring.
Sequoia National Park
Trade the open skies of the desert and island for the awe inspiring canopy of sequoia trees in this 400,000 acre park in the Southern Sierra Nevadas. This national park offers some of the largest trees in the world- and the perfect spot for a weekend camping trip. Hiking trails also populate this area and feature granite peaks as well as creeks and rivers. Preserved in this park is a landscape that to this day still resembles what the park looked like prior to the Euro-American settlement, and it’s also home to Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Make sure to check out the cabin that is constructed out of a fallen sequoia and the marble caves with fascinating rock formations. Summer provides warm days and cool nights, winter will bring cold temperatures and ample snow, and sore necks from looking up so often are found year round.
Tree House Camping in Santa Cruz
This unique experience may be a bit of a trek from Los Angeles, but, if time allows, will be one you won’t soon forget. It’s also perfect for those who may lack some of the everyday camping supplies. A perfect fusion of camping with modern amenities- better known now as ‘glamping’- this tree house is a bit different from the one you attempted to build in your backyard as a kid. For instance, yours probably didn’t have a hot tub. Or a kitchen. Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains near Monterey Bay, you can choose between both relaxing and rugged. Meditation, bird watching, and previously mentioned hot tub under the trees offer a much needed break from the world, and hiking, biking, and zip-lining are also accessible for the adventure seekers. Did we mention it comes with a cat? Yup. Grey is an outdoor companion who will stop by to say hello. She’s employed to catch mice, but don’t worry- she’ll probably leave Pikachu alone.
