San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Making vacation a real family affair
All some people need to be happy on vacation is the idea that an ice cream cone is in their future.
That is why Camp Richardson near South Lake Tahoe often works for youngsters and families on vacation. They have the best ice cream parlor in the Sierra. You can’t buy happiness, the saying goes, but you can buy ice cream.
The official start of summer arrived this past week. For many youngsters and their families, that means the time for a vacation is now. A vacation can be the tie that binds, or the disaster that breaks you apart.
Family camping, with unique demands for today’s youth, requires special choices, attractions and appeals. Recent visits to youth camps and private discussions with counselors have shown me that parents cannot simply load up their car, take off on a road trip and expect spouses and children to be exhilarated by the experience. What works for some husbands, for instance, does not work for their wives. What works for some couples does not work for their children. To get all on the same page requires a careful choice of destination and meeting of the minds on activities.
The accompanying lists show what works and what does not work, along with the 10 Commandments of camping with kids. By region, here are the best destinations for families and children:
BAY AREA
Angel Island State Park, San
Francisco Bay: The boat ride to Ayala Cove, with the wind in your face and landmarks in every direction, is exhilarating. Extend your visit with a hike-to or walk-to campsite, and once the last ferry has departed, you get a sense that the island is all yours. Bike rentals (including tandems with kid seats) make the Perimeter Road a must-do. Contact: Angel Island State Park, 415-435-5390, www. parks.ca.gov; reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Big Basin Redwoods State
Park, Boulder Creek: Match your camp to your comfort level: tent cabins and drive-in, walk-in and hike-in sites. That done, short trails near park headquarters — the Redwood Loop, along Opal Creek and to Sempervirens Falls — provide quick payoffs. The meadow near the parking has a lot of butterflies. The campgrounds often have squirrels by day, raccoons by night. Contact: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 831-338-8860, www.parks.ca.gov; reserve campsites and tent cabins at www.reservecalifornia.com
LAKE TAHOE
Historic Camp Richardson Resort, South Lake Tahoe: Camp Richardson has Tahoe’s best ice cream parlor, a fantasy-like destination that comes alive in the back of every kid’s mind (and that of many parents). Cabins and campsites are located in pines within walking range of bike rentals and the bike trail, a marina with boating, and a cafe. This is a go-to site for family vacations. Contact: Historic Camp Richardson Resort, 530-541-1801, www.camprichardson.com
CENTRAL
SIERRA NEVADA
Lake Alpine, Stanislaus National Forest: A resort with cabin rentals and nearby Forest Service campsites along this pretty lake makes this destination a winner. A small boat ramp, rentals, plus a trail around the lake, with a spur to little Duck Lake, provide recreation choices. Contact: Lake Alpine Resort, 209-753-6350, http://lakealpineresort.com; Stanislaus National Forest, Calaveras Ranger District, 209-795-1381, www.fs.usda.gov/ stanislaus
SONOMA-MENDOCINO COAST
MacKerricher State Park, Fort Bragg: The variety of recreation makes this one of the best state parks for families. A short walk leads to a seal viewing deck (with the spouts of whales sighted offshore), a pretty cove provides a small beach, little Lake Cleone is within walking distance, and you get access to a great bike trail that starts at the park. Contact: MacKerricher State Park, 707-964-9112, www.parks.ca.gov; reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com
REDWOOD EMPIRE
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Orick: From Elk Prairie Campground, in the meadow right across the road, Roosevelt elk are a common sight. Near the visitor center, the James Irvine Trail provides quick access to a series of 300foot trees. A short drive on Davison Road leads to a wilderness beach and Fern Canyon, stellar. Contact: Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, 707-4882039 or Visitors Center, 707465-7335, www.parks.ca.gov; reserve campsites at www.reservecalifornia.com
SHASTA-CASCADE
Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort, Mount Shasta: The best swimming beach for kids in the north state, with tons of giant inflatable structures and slides, protected by a buoy line, brings in families from long distances. A bike trail rings the lake. Campsites and cabins, most in wooded sites, plus a camp store and cafe are available. Contact: Lake Siskiyou Resort Camp, 530-926-2610, www.lakesiskiyouresort.com
LASSEN
Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park: Park-model cabins and a campground are located within short walking distance of Manzanita Lake and a rental site for sit-on-top kayaks. A camper store is nearby. It’s located near Old Station entrance station at 5,890 feet. Contact: Lassen Volcanic National Park, 530-595-4444, www.nps.gov/lavo; reserve campgrounds, cabins at www.recreation.gov
SOUTHERN SIERRA
Dorst Creek, Sequoia National Park: This is the best place in California to see a bear, either one trolling through the campground in the evening, or along the adjacent Generals Highway. Nearby are the mammoth Sequoia redwoods at the Grant Grove, Tall Trees Grove, and the hike to the top of Moro Rock, which is always a hit. Contact: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, 559565-3341; Lodgepole Visitor Center, 559-565-4436, www.nps.gov/seki; reserve at www.recreation.gov
EASTERN SIERRA
Convict Lake, Mono County: This gorgeous lake is set in a stark basin edged to the east by towering 10,000-foot ridges. Cabins and campsites provide a launch point to a small marina, boat rentals and trout fishing, and a trailhead for hiking and horseback riding. Contact: Convict Lake Resort and Cabins, 800-992-2260, www.convictlake.com. Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center, 760-924-5500, www.fs.usda.gov/inyo