surfside camping? Monterey to Half Moon Bay

I spent much of my mis-spent youth surfing pretty much everything around there (and beyond), so I used to know it pretty well, but I haven't been in the water or around the CA coast for quite a few years. I'd like to take my 2 year old son out of the heat here in Sonora next week and show him the sunset over the water. We are visiting his grandma in San Jose, too, hence the geographic limitations. We've got a pop-up cabover camper, so we can pretty much go anywhere and camp anywhere. I'd love to have a fire on the beach and camp close w/o a ton of monkeys around. You guys have any suggestions? Are places like Davenport still cool to camp? Feel free to pm if you'd like to keep it on the downlow.

Just south of Pigeon Point. On the bluff. Short drive to Gazos Creek.

Used to be able to camp across from Big Lumber south of Waddell. Have not seen much there this season. Walk right out to the surf.

Sunset and Manresa State beaches. If we have some NW windswell in the water. Might pick up some SW.

Not so legal, but great camping: 4 Mile Beach, Laguna Beach, Davenport Landing, Scotts Creek Beach, Greyhound Rock. Surf gets progressively less consistent on the list. None are the better breaks in the area.

Hike down to Tanitas Creek, north of San Gregorio. Variable beach break. Can be great when there is little to no swell. Picks up a lot of NW.

unfortunately, I'm not going to spend any time in the water, since I have no gear and my 2 year old kid with me

spent a lot of time at 4mile, Davenport, Waddell, Scott's Creek, Ano Neuvo....camping was never exactly legal, but you could get away with it here and there if you were mellow about it

like I said, it's been a looong time - thanks for the beta - mebbe I'll rent a sponge and take the munchkin in the water somewhere mellow

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Originally Posted by telemike

unfortunately, I'm not going to spend any time in the water

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In that case, you can also look at camping on the down low at Zudmowski State Park (just north of Moss Landing).

And that bluff just south of Pigeon Point is a killer spot. Usually a few other van type campers there, but super mellow and a beautiful spot. Good luck.

thanks again

If you want a more formal option, there's a cool place called Costanoa http://www.costanoa.com/site.php

They have a hotel, tent cabins (really nice ones), and camp sites. Technically I think its in Pescadero, but its down near Waddell/Ano Nuevo.

isn't there a campground just south of Capitola, too ? maybe it was mentioned already. I'm goin' back like 15 years. There was a drive in theater just outside santa cruz, too. Is it still there, sinecure ?

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Originally Posted by Sinecure

If you want a more formal option, there's a cool place called Costanoa http://www.costanoa.com/site.php

They have a hotel, tent cabins (really nice ones), and camp sites. Technically I think its in Pescadero, but its down near Waddell/Ano Nuevo.

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We call that place Cost-a-lot-a. It is quite nice, but expensive camping.

WillyWhit - Brighton State Park is just south of Capitola and has a campground. And Sky View Drive In closed around 2003.

I don't know of any legal on the beach camping between Big Sur and Monterey, but there is an interesting little campground right in the middle of Monterey up on a hill at the Veteran's Memorial Park:
http://www.monterey.org/rec/vetspark.html

It's first-come-first serve, some of the spots have decent shade, there are bathrooms and clean showers on site, and I think there is a 24-hour caretaker, so it's fairly secure.

You can't really see the ocean from the campsite, but you get the coastal weather and the barking sea lions down near Cannery Row lull you to sleep at night.

It's not exactly what you are looking for, but it's nice to be able to camp so close (1 to 1 1/2 miles) to the all of the stuff in downtown Monterey.

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Originally Posted by Ottime

WillyWhit - Brighton State Park is just south of Capitola and has a campground. And Sky View Drive In closed around 2003.

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that sucks ! that place was classic :nonono2:
Piratas ;)
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/catskyv039.jpg

spent a couple night near Davenport and a couple nights at Bolinas - Bolinas is a cool little town

met up with my wife and some friends and got some time in the water - 1st time in over 10 years - talk about humbling...

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Originally Posted by telemike

spent a couple night near Davenport and a couple nights at Bolinas - Bolinas is a cool little town

met up with my wife and some friends and got some time in the water - 1st time in over 10 years - talk about humbling...

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Even after a single winter of no surf in 3 months it is a humbling experience to return to the water. Still - it is always good to get out there.

And Bolinas is a very cool little town. It is a like a homesteading literary hamlet

North side of Pigeon Point Lighthouse. I've slept on the beach without a permit with a fire on several occations, with no hassles and no one else around. Doesn't get much better than that IMO. The only shitty part is lots of other people know about it and tend to leave their garbage behind.