McGrath State Park

(Amanda:) We had a little change of scenery and went camping with some friends at the beach! It was nice to camp with friends, too!

This campground is different than most that we've been to because you really feel up in everyone's business. Everyone is camping together and your purpose it to be close to the beach, not to be "away from people." Don't get me wrong, it was great, just different than the weekend before in Blue Ridge!

FYI: The trees around the campground are SPIDER CENTRAL!

Our campsite

One thing I did love is that our campsite was on GRASS, which was great for JW. He got to crawl around everywhere with no worries. He is not loving be confinement of his pack-n-play these days.

Another great thing about this campground is the nature preserve and hike, but unfortunately it's partially closed this time of the year. What we did get to walk was great though. And little JW fell asleep in the backpack which was wonderful because we are trying to get him used to that pack so we can take him on long hikes. Last hike we took him on in the back he cried for a good portion of it... made for a tense hike.

Sleep hiker, LOOK AT THOSE LIPS!

Fresh Water Marsh in the Preserve

One of the loops in the campground around a field.

(Justin:) I speak for myself here but I have never been much of a beach camper. The mountains have always had a louder call I guess. We ended up beach camping because some dear friends of ours invited us, and I am glad they did. McGrath State Beach campground did not disappoint. It's a very large campground, 174 campsites, that are well laid out in six clusters (see map up top). Some very near to the beach, our camp sight was one of the furthest away from the beach. It was perfect for the kids because it was right next to a large grass felid where JW and the kids could play. Some of the sites are tucked in amongst small trees and beautiful bushes covered in purple ball like flowers, others are in open fields with many having a mixture of the two. There are large fields throughout the campground that are big enough for a little baseball game or to let the kids run around. We camped here on a Sunday night in July and the place was about 75% full, during the weekend it's packed. Like most beach camping reservations are recommended. Our friends only had to make the reservations two weeks ahead, but give yourself a little more time if you want to come here on a weekend.

Walking to the beach

The campground is separated from the water by sand dunes so expect a little walk to the water, not too far, about 400 yards or so. The beach is very wide with a large portion closed off for half the year, for the protection of the endangered Western Snowy Plover and Least Terns that nests on the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, even with a leash, because the Snowy Plover will abandon its nest at the site of a dog, even if it's more then 100 yards away, so we left dear little Lucky at home for this trip (she was heart broken). Kites are another no-no here due to the Least Terns mistaking them for a predator and leaving it's nest to attack the kite.

McGrath is popular with surfers when the surf is good, swimmers are advised to use cation due to the strong rip tides in the area. This is another great place to bird watch with 245 recorded bird species spending at least part of the year here. There is a nature trail to the Santa Clara Estuary Natural Preserve leading out of the campground just to it's north and just to it's south lies a small lake. The estuary nature trail is a wood planked boardwalk and is surrounded by tall grass and trees witch make it difficult to see any birds, but other trails in the area lend themselves quite well to bird watching.

We are grateful for the change of scenery and hope to do another beach trip soon! But we hear the mountains calling our name...

McGrath State Beach is about 5 miles south of the town of Ventura, off Harbor Blvd.

Food @ Blue Ridge

I (Amanda) am going to try to post what we eat on our trips every-once-in-a-while. I love to cook but I often struggle with WHAT to bring while camping. I like hot dogs every-once-in-a-while but don't feel like making it a camping ritual.

I can get creative at home in the kitchen, why can't I think of what to cook while camping?! Well, I'm slowly figuring it out. Also, buying special meals for every trip can add up, and really we need to save where we can so for this trip we just brought what we had at home already.

The funny thing about this particular trip was that we forgot our camp stove... So we had to cook everything over the fire which we were not prepared to do, but it worked out! Everything came out great. Here is what we ate while camping at Blue Ridge:

Breakfast: Hashbrowns (grated the potatoes there) and eggs

The hashbrowns and eggs would have been great on their own but we had the stuff to make them into sandwiches, so we did.

Lunch: Tortas -  bread, black beans, tomatoes, avocado and tapatio.

This is our attempt at figuring out how to boil water for pasta over a campfire without a lid for the pot. It worked beautifully - while the water was boiling we cooked in the cast iron on top!

Completely random camping meal. Dinner: Butternut squash ravioli with sauteed grated squash and Parmesan

Blue Ridge :: Angeles National Forest

(Amanda:) This last weekend we did another one-nighter at Blue Ridge campground, near Wrightwood. Last time we tired to camp up there I was about 38 weeks pregnant and was not very excited about the bumpy 3 mile dirt road that lead to the campground (didn't seem right!). I made Justin take me to another near by campground that had easy access (Table Mountain).

The dirt road to the campground

But I am no longer pregnant and am ready for the road! We showed up on a Saturday morning hoping to get a spot (they don't take reservations and there are only 7 spots). Much to our surprise the campground was only half full! A couple of day hikers parked in the campsites (annoying!) but they weren't staying for the night, so it seemed like there weren't many open spots, but there were!

This is the campground, it's pretty level so you can see everyone, but it's so quiet and peaceful!

The campground was "you-could-hear-a-pin-drop" quiet. The loudest noise was coming from little JW. Such a different story then the last two campgrounds we went to, and so refreshing.

The only non-refreshing part of this trip was the fact that JW was having such a hard time. He missed a nap on Saturday and was thrown off for the rest of the trip. He was up a lot that night, and because I didn't want him crying in the oh-so-quiet campground I quickly nursed him each time he woke to get him to fall back asleep, and once I start that little JW ends up waking every 30 mins, so painful! I am going to try not to let this one bad night scare me from camping, you win some, you lose some. We've had plenty of good nights to make up for it!

The pack-n-play is a must for camping! I don't know what else JW would do beside crawl around and eat dirt all day. I let him do that for a little bit (and ohmygod does he get filthy!) but not all day.

One great thing about this trip was we were able to do a little bit of hiking. The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) runs right through the campground and we hiked it in both directions. Justin was enjoying the bird watching, JW enjoyed napping in the ergo, I enjoyed the exercise and beauty of it all, it was a win-win-win. Oh, and then there's Lucky - she doesn't seem to be cut out for this camping/hiking thing... on our hikes she often gives up and she ends up spending most of the time camping in the car or tent ! While hiking she will plop on the ground, in a shady spot, and not move. Poor Lucky. But we drag her along anyway...

The Pacific Crest Trail

View of Mt Baden Powel on our hike.

I have no idea how to make panoramic photos! Here is my attempt. From left to right you can see Mt Baldy, Iron Mountain, and just out of view on the right is Mt Baden Powel

(Justin:) 'Blue Ridge' is by far one of our favorite campgrounds in the Angles National Forest. This gem sits atop Blue Ridge, just out of bounds of the Mountain High ski resort near Wrightwood at an elevation of 8,000 feet . One of the great perks of this camp is that it's free, although vehicles must display a Angles national forest adventure pass. There are vault toilets and fire rings and tables are provided at each sight. The small campground, only eight sites, (although we could only find seven) lies in a pine grove in a flat area atop the ridge with the ski resort to one side and a deep canyon to the other.

Blue Ridge slops down into the West Fork of the San Gabriel river, same canyon that Inspiration point over looks, making it a great place for specular views of the Angles Crest high range. Old Baldy, rugged Iron Mountain and Mount Baden Powell lie with in view of the campground. At night the bustling San Gabriel valley can be seen in the distance on the other side of the range glittering with all its lights.

Bird Watching is amazing at and around this campground. One of the great things about having a baby in camp is all the extra time we spend in camp, making it great for bird watching. I have recently found great joy in bird watching camping while sitting with JW for a day or two's time, we have been able to see up close what goes on and it's been a real treat. At Blue Ridge we saw Mountain Chickadee in camp and just outside the camp lies a large open chaparral covered area where the violet-green swallows fly by day and as dusk falls the bats take flight. Both very awe inspiring to watch. On our hike along the PCT we spotted some Hairy woodpeckers also really fun to watch. One bird that I really want to see is the Mountain quail and i believe I might have seen one on my morning hike with JW. I saw the bird for a split second but it was about the same size as a Mountain Quail and what looked like a blue chest and head over a white striped brown and gray body. Next time I'll walk with lighter steps and keep my eyes peeled!

The campground was very quite compared with others we have visited in the Angles National Forest. The people in the camp all seemed to want to enjoy the peaceful setting and tried their best to keep it that way, maybe it had to do with the 3 miles of dirt road that it takes to get there. With all the peace, great views, hiking and birdwatching we really enjoyed ourselves at this camp and will defiantly be back again.

View of the valley at night from our campsite

Directions:
Travel Interstate 15, take Highway 138 west. Turn left (west) on Angeles Crest Highway and drive 5 miles to Wrightwood. Continue for 3 miles to Big Pines. Bear left and continue on Angeles Crest Highway for 1. 5 miles. Turn left (opposite Inspiration Point) on Blue Ridge Road and drive 3 miles to the campground.