BEST FOR KIDS

Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek

What you want in a kid-friendly camping trip is to give kids the chance to be completely wowed by nature, learn a little and have a lot of fun. This venerable Santa Cruz Mountains park — established in 1902, it’s the oldest in the state system — scores on all counts. The wow factor comes from the stands of coast redwoods, Sequoia sempervirens, many of them more than 1,000 years old, that the park was established to protect. Even the easy ½-mile walk on the Redwood Loop Trail amazes, leading you to titans like the towering Father of the Forest (250 feet tall) and the Mother of the Forest (293 feet). Learning happens in the park’s visitor center and its sweet little natural history museum; also on the busy schedule of rangerled hikes. Fun comes from the hikes, exposure to brilliantly ooky banana slugs, and kids being able to ask parents, You mean these trees are even older than you are?

Vitals: 31 tent/RV sites; 69 tent only; 36 tent cabins; 38 walk-in sites; 52 hike-in. Reserve at (800) 4447275 or www.reserveamerica.com

Runner-up: China Camp State Park, San Rafael. Great for kids because it’s not a long drive, it’s right on the shores of San Pablo Bay, and there’s the fascinating remnants of an 19th century Chinese fishing village to explore. 30 walk-in tent sites. Reserve at (800) 444-7275 or www.reserveamerica.com