Big Basin

In June, we packed up the camp gear for the first camping trip of the year.  The trip was highly anticipated; however, so many things went wrong.  Jenn left Sacramento with a cold and later burned her fingertips on a candle one night.  Randy forgot to bring a sleeping bag so we had to go into town to pick one up before he froze another night.  And then…the rain fell.  Two out of our three tents leaked so we packed up our belongings miraculously in an hour and left before the thunderstorms struck.  Our four night trip was cut in half.  Aside from all of the above, we had a great time. Here’s yet another review of a campground!

Big Basin Redwoods SP (Huckleberry) – June 2011

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Location: 20 miles north of Santa Cruz

Amenities: Flushing toilets, showers, and a general store

Pets: Allowed at no additional charge

Pros:  Big Basin Redwoods SP is the oldest State Park in California and it shows.  As soon as you enter the park, you can visit the convenient/gift store.  You can save a lot of room in the car by buying milk, eggs, etc at the store.  However, like a typical tourist trap, everything is overpriced…even the firewood ($10.25 a bundle). There are a lot of paved trails that dogs are allowed on.  One trail led us to the Sempervirens Falls, which is a small 17 ft waterfall that is worth the quick and easy walk.  Bathrooms were clean and most had running water (sinks) to wash your hands.  Sometimes he antiseptic soap just isn’t enough so it’s nice to have running water!  The campground had a lot of showers so we never had to wait in line.

Cons:  Although the campsites are nestled amongst beautiful redwood trees, the sites were small and did not have a lot of flat areas for tents.  One of our sites didn’t have room for one tent (seriously, we had to put the tent in the driveway).  Granted, our tents are like mansions and can fit two queen air mattresses…but that’s besides the point.  A lot of the sites were small and only had room for small pup tents (hopefully, you don’t mind being on a slant).  The fire rings were placed too closely to the picnic tables so it was hard for us to have our “ring-o-fire”…luckily we had two sites to choose from. The campground is close to Santa Cruz so a 40 minute drive will take you to the Boardwalk; however, to get in and out of the park, you have to drive through the twists and turns on the the tight roads.  Hopefully, you don’t get motion sickness because this was quite a challenge for a few of our backseat passengers. Lastly, the mosquitoes were out in full force.  Poor Lauren got bit on her face and all over her legs.  Load up on the bug spray (skip Off and get something more powerful) because the citronella candles don’t work.  The campgrounds also have hungry raccoons so follow the advice of the rangers and store all the food overnight in your car.

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Serene Lakes

Over Veteran’s Day weekend, the fam packed up their bags for another family trip.  This time we decided to ditch the tents and camping gear for a luxurious cabin nestled off the shores of Serene Lakes, near Truckee.   We had an amazing time playing board games, video games, snow lubin’ down the small hill behind our cabin, and catching up.    I think we each gained a few pounds from all the food we ate!  Seriously, we had enough leftovers for another week long stay!!!

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New England Tour

On September 10th, we packed up our bags and went on a 2.5 week New England Tour.   After visiting Europe last May, this vacation was much more relaxing!!  We began our vacation with a trip to New York City.  New York quickly won a place in our hearts! Every nook and cranny was filled with life and made us feel like we stepped into another world with each block we walked.  From the hustle bustle of Times Square to the quiet solitude of Central Park, New York offers something for everyone! Check out our photo album for a visual on what we did!!

After spending a week in NYC, we boarded the Crown Princess for a cruise north along the eastern coast.  The cruise took us to New London, Boston, Bar Harbor, St John, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, and lastly Quebec City to see the fall colors.  Unfortunately, we were a little early for the fall colors but luckily, the trees in Quebec had already started to turn their vibrant colors of red, orange, yellow, and purple by the time we arrived.  Each port had something unique to explore so we were never bored.  Filled with a rich maritime history and beginnings of a new life for many European immigrants, the New England states and provinces offered visitors a taste of the past!  Interestingly, the Canadian provinces have been able to hold on to roots from Scotland and France.  You feel like you’re in France when you’re in Quebec…mostly because over 95% of the people speak French as their first language!  Check out our photo album for more details on what we did at each port!

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McBurnsMuir

Over Labor Day weekend, we packed up the camp gear and joined the family on another camping trip!  This time, we decided to drive north to the armpit of CA…Burney!  The weekend was filled with lots of waterfalls in the area, which made all the hikes in the hot sun worthy.  Here’s yet another review of a campground!

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial SP – September 2010

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Location: Northeast of Redding, six miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89 near Burney.

Amenities: Flushing toilets, showers (tokens), and a general store (amazing)

Pets: Allowed at no additional charge but you have to sneak them into the cabins. Shhhhh.

Pros:  In 2007, 24 cabins were added to the campground.  The cabins come equipped with bunk beds, propane heat, and are on sites big enough to hold additional tents!  This was the first time we reserved a cabin and probably won’t be the last time!  The two-room cabins were very roomy and the insulated walls kept us warm at night without having to use the propane heater.  The weather in Burney tends to be on the warm side so the cabin also doubled as a place to escape the heat.  There is currently no electricity but it appears there will be in the future.  The cabins are separated from the tent campers and are spread fairly far apart from each other.  Our favorite site was #71 and apparently, it’s the camp host’s as well!  Right next to the site is a parking lot, which made it convenient for our visitors!!  The campground’s centerpiece is the 129-foot Burney Falls.  You can easily walk to the top of the falls but the walk to the base of the falls was moderate.  No dogs are allowed on the trails.  🙁  Teddy Roosevelt once described Burney Falls as the “eighth wonder of the world”.  We’re not sure if we would describe it as such, but they definitely were neat to see!  The campground also has direct access to Lake Britton.  According to signs on the beach, dogs are not allowed; however, we saw a lot of rule-breakers!  Access to the lake is a long walk, so we recommend driving to the beach.  At Lake Britton, you can rent canoes, paddle boats, etc. The campground is close to McCloud and Dunsmuir, so make sure you check out waterfalls at these locations.  Check out our photo album for pics of all the amazing waterfalls we visited!!

Cons:  The HEAT! If you can’t stand the heat…get out of the kitchen!!  The weather in Burney can get quite warm so make sure you find a cabin/site in the shade!  The temperature drops a few degrees in the shade and is quite noticeable!  The highway traffic can be quite loud for a few cabins along the outer ring (sites 63 and 65). The bathrooms weren’t as nice as we would have liked (can we pick one water pressure and keep it there), but once the warm water hit the dirty skin…there was nothing better!  Meat bees are also in the area so save some extra meat for them!

PS: The camp host, Dave, might recommend checking out the Burney cemetery and hiking to the white “beach”.  If you don’t mind walking in the heat to see NADA…be our guest!  Otherwise…save yourself an hour in the heat and go to Lake Britton!  The white “beach” was non-existent and the lake looked like a swamp!  The walk back to camp was not a happy one!!

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Daycation to the Bay

On August 21, 2010, we decided to go on a daycation and head east towards San Francisco.  Our love for trees lead us to Muir Woods.

In 1908, Muir Woods was designated the 10th National Monument for the US.   This marked the first time in history that a private individual, William and Elizabeth Kent, donated land to the federal government to create a National Monument.   William Kent requested that the monument be named after John Muir, a noted conservationist.

Throughout the area are many trails that meander throughout the monument.   We decided to walk the loop along Redwood Creek, which takes you on a 2 mile trip through the Cathedral and Bohemian Groves.   Within the groves, we marveled at the beauty of the redwoods.  Their shear size simply takes your breathe away.  The 2 mile walk was perfect for kids and even the mature kids of all sizes!  We even saw parents with strollers!!  Muir Woods was definitely worth the $5/person entrance fee…we highly recommend a visit!!  We rate this a 5 out of 5!

After spending a few hours at Muir Woods (this included the 1 mile trek back to our car because the parking lots were full), we headed down Highway 1 to Muir Beach.

Muir Beach is a small beach about 1,000 feet wide.  This beach is perfect for a family campfire on the beach because there are ready-made grills throughout the small beach.  There’s also an area for DOGS!!  We found a log that became our bench, where we enjoyed our picnic lunch from home.  It’s a shame to think there are people who have never placed their toes in the sand on a beach looking out to the ocean!  We sat in quiet awe as we chomped on sub sandwiches and chips (of course).   After ten years of being together, we still enjoy exploring the world and enjoying the quiet, simple moments in life.  What a wonderful daycation!!  Check out our album for more pics from our daycation!

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Camping @ Plasse’s Resort

For our annual camping trip with the Youngin’s, we went to Plasse’s Resort at Silver Lake.  After spending 30-45 minutes at the wrong campsites, we drove to Kirkwood to get cell service.  We made a few calls to find out the correct location and finally made our way to Plasse’s Resort.  Plasse’s was founded in 1853 by a French immigrant, Ramon Pierre Plasse.   It is known as one of the oldest campgrounds in the United States by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

Plasse’s Resort – July 2010

Rating: 4 out of 5

Location:  In the heart of the High Sierras approximately 50 miles east of Jackson.

Amenities:  Portable toilets, showers, general store, restaurant, propane station, laundry facilities, canoe and kayak rentals, arcade, and outdoor playgrounds.

Pets:  Allowed at no additional charge

Pros:  The campground is very pet friendly and family oriented.  It offers a one-stop shop of entertainment and fun.  Campsites are spread fairly far apart and the evenings are quiet.  The resort has it’s own lake access; however, we recommend visiting Sandy Cove Beach, which is a few minute drive from the resort.  Sandy Cove Beach offers easy access to the lake and is also a great spot for fishing.  Picnic tables are located near the beach so it’s a great area to spend the day. There are lots of activities to do at Plasse’s, which will offer hours of fun without having to leave the campgrounds.  There’s even a restaurant within the resort if you get tired of cooking your own meals!  A laundry facility is available so if you’re staying for a week or more, you won’t need to overpack!  A creek running through the resort offers great opportunities for fishing and is quite easy to get to.

Cons: In order for you to get to the campsites from the main entrance, you have to cross a creek that is about a foot to two feet deep.  If you’re driving a low profile car, you may end up having trouble passing.   Signs within the campground designating individual sites are hard to read so plan accordingly.  It is recommended that you come during the day to set up shop.  Mosquitoes are relentless so bring the powerful bug spray.  “Off” didn’t keep the bugs away so make sure you bring something with a high content of Deet!   Lake access at Plasse’s is not the greatest.  Instead of a beach, you will find a marshland of soggy, muddy grass.  We highly recommend going to Sandy Cove for beach access.   While there are showers available at Plasse’s, they are not within short walking distance.  Plan on driving your car if you want to take a shower (don’t forget about crossing the creek).   Due to the altitude, the weather will range about 30 degrees during the evening to day.  Plan on bringing lots of layers because you will feel the heat during the day and the icy chill during the evenings.

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Camping @ Henry Cowell

For our annual camping trip with family, we decided to head to the coast and visit Henry Cowell State Park.   The park was amazing…see below for our review!

Henry Cowell State Park – June 2010

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location: Near Felton on Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Amenities: Flushing toilets and showers

Pets: Allowed at no additional charge

Sites: 3, 5, 10 and 12

Pros: The campground has some awesome sites located under a canopy of trees.  The canopy provides protection from the sun and gives off wonderful shades of green when the sun’s rays peak through.   Pictures can’t convey how beautiful the greenery is!!  The campsites and amenities were very clean and the trails within the campground were nice to explore!  Aside from a few small gnats, the campground is essentially bug-free.  The campground is a short 15 minute drive to the coast. During our stay, we visited Natural Bridges State Beach (no dogs are allowed but it was too windy and cold to stay long), Mitchell’s Cove (same vicinity as NBSB)–a dog friendly beach, and a beach in Davenport (no dogs allowed at the beach we walked to but there is one nearby).  The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was also within 15 minutes; however, no dogs are allowed at the Boardwalk so we did not include this stop in our itinerary.

Cons:

The canopy of trees, while lovely to see during the day, is also the home to many species of birds.  Like clockwork, these birds will “talk” to each other during the early hours of the morning.  If you’re not a sound sleeper, you won’t be able to sleep in past 6.  During our walks within the campgrounds, we noticed that there were quite a few individual sites that were not ideal. Be careful with your selection!  If you like the shade, we suggest reserving a site located on the side of the loop where our sites are.  If the campground is full, you won’t be able to cut through nearby sites to shorten your journey to the bathroom.  If you have a small bladder, try to find a site closer to the bathroom to avoid any accidents.   While we didn’t have to worry about bugs, there are lots of birds and squirrels that would love to eat the food you bring!  If you leave the site, make sure you put all your food in bins or in a secured place.  Don’t leave anything out!  During our stay, we lost bread, watermelon, fiber bars, and banana bread to the squirrels.  It was out fault for leaving the items out…so learn from our mistake!  Also, zip up your tents completely because a squirrel slipped through a four inch gap in the Walden’s tent to get to the bread and ended up getting caught in their tent!!  The critters are hungry!!!  The campground is alcohol free…but nothing classy red cups can’t disguise!! *wink* 🙂  As with most pet-friendly campgrounds, there are trails that dogs are not allowed.   We weren’t the only dog owners who broke the “rules.”  Just make sure you clean up after your dogs so we can continue bringing our furry family members on future trips!

PS: The water in the park is cloudy white!  Don’t be alarmed when you’re filling up your bins to do dishes…the cloudy white water is just due to air bubbles.  If you let the water sit for a few minutes, the cloudiness will diminish! 🙂

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Campaholics

Surprisingly, we have fallen in love with camping!  Last year was the first year that we began our love affair with the outdoors.  I guess it’s the smell of the fresh air mixed with the smoke from the fire pits, the sound of the crackling sticks and leaves underfoot, and the feeling of being one with the land that keeps us going back for more.  Who am I kidding…it’s the food!!!  There’s nothing like enjoying the outdoor scenery and eating a meal cooked on our propane stove or lil’ smokey while throwing back a few beers and diet pepsis!  Don’t forget about the s’mores with Nutella…yes…Nutella!  Once you go Nutella…you will never go back to Hersheys!!  We can guarantee the food will be good….BUT…picking a campground is always a gamble.  To ensure that we don’t make the same mistake twice…we’ve decided to start blogging about our camping adventures.  We have to catch up from 2009 so here goes…

PS: As the saying goes…a picture speaks a thousand words…so check out pics from our camping trips by clicking on the Trips and Vacations link to access our photo albums

Read more »

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Blog

We’ve always used this site as a means to share photos with friends and family and never as a blog.  So, here goes…we’re going to try this blog thing out.

Today has been a long day of posting pics and catching up with our site.  We like the fact that we can store photos remotely via our website so if anything happens to our Windows-based desktop computer…we will at least have a back-up of our photos! We finally are caught up EXCEPT for the pics from our Europe trip in May 2009.  We spent three weeks traveling around Europe and Jenn took over 2,000 pictures.  She’s Asian…what can you say!

Anyway…have fun downloading pics from 2009 and 2010 and watch out for those pics from our Europe trip.  We promise to post them soon!!

Love,

J and J

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New Site

Welcome to our new site!!!  It’s been a long time since we’ve updated it and we hope you like it.  Believe me, it would have been nice if we could have stuck with the old…BUT…I had to have the big “Japanese Tourist” camera with all the bells and whistles.  Our old site had photo upload limitations…so we had to make the change because of our photo gallery!!  After many hours, Jeff was finally able to post the new and improved site!!!

You can still download pictures at their full resolution and we promise we won’t add a watermark!  Have fun remembering our fun times together and cheers to more fun times in the future!!!

Love,

Jenn

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