Regional Guide

Monterey
It's a town that makes for great ambling and corner peaking, particularly for fans of Steinbeck's Cannery Row. The Monterery Bay Aquarium is an ideal break for kids and outdoor attractions like Los Padres and Big Sur are a short drive away.

Carmel
Once considered an artist colony, Carmel's residents included photographers Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, as well as writers Jack London and Mary Austin. Though now more of a golfer haven, this town which lies just a few miles down the coast from Monterey, and remains a great, though sometimes pricey, locale for outdoor lovers considering journeys to Point Lobos State Reserve or the California Sea Otter Refuge.

Morro Bay
A quaint southern town 12 miles west of San Luis Obispo on the coast, Morro Bay is a great stop for families looking to explore features of the southern region, including Morro Rock—an extinct volcano that towers 576 feet above the entrance to Morro Bay—Ocean Dunes Recreation Area, the northern Sierra Madre Mountains, or Montana de Oro SP.

National Forests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Check out Los Padres National Forest camping info from Fred and Suzi Dow.