Below are a few camping organizations within California. Some of geared toward the young adults who like to rough it & others are specific to RV family camping style.
You’ve heard the saying for decades that the “busiest shopping day of the year, is the Friday after Thanksgiving”. This one particular day dubbed “Black Friday” (for all the media to expand upon). This is just another perfect day or weekend to travel in California. Run from the mall parking lot screaming “this is not real” – and head to the nearest trail head, river, or local winery. Imagine how uncrowded the rest of the state will be, away from the urban centers.
Black Friday sales California can be found at every mall in the urban areas and the big cities. Or you might try a different approach to holiday shopping madness and decide to take it easier this year. Visit unique, village shops in the small mountain towns – while vacationing too. Book a local lodge for a few nights and make a whole weekend outta it. These small mom and pop businesses really need your dollars more than ever and they will appreciate your patronage. Plus you might get a small hike or two in during a sunny day.
Black Friday Vacation
Escape the hustle and bustle of the maddening holiday season and head for the hills. Seriously! If you are hard up for road trip ideas, than this site is the perfect spot for you. We only feature local road trips for California – and all outdoor recreation. No airfare, no rental cars, no worries… we have you covered. Hike the local mountains, bike the coastal trails, fish the biggest river, off-road the nearest OHV park, soak in a desert hot springs, or explore the giant redwood grove.
Use the menus to the left here to find something new. Or better yet, check out the Cali A to Z list for an alphabetized list of all destinations.
So, in other words… if you are seeking a secluded weekend, uncrowded tourists destination, or relaxing vacation in California it may be wise to choose an unheardof town from this A-Z list, than the ones listed above. Not that Kennedy Mdws ever has a true crowd, but you could very well pass 3 cars on the way up the Nine Mile Canyon Road.
The best California destination is the one where you find what YOU are looking for. Whether that be a winery or a waterfall, a cavern or a coffee shop, hike or hot springs, recreation or a big river, we will have it listed on Total Escape. Discovering the back roads of California, so you may find this awesome vacation (or weekend away) that you so desperately need… well away from the urban rat race.
Total Escape specializes in California locations & the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains are the backbone to the gorgeous golden state. From the Tehachapi Mountains to the Lassen Volcano, we cover the best back roads for camping, fishing, biking, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, off-roading & hot springing.
Summer is the time to explore the High Sierra. During the fall, winter, and spring, precipitation in the Sierra ranges from 20-80 inches, mostly as snow above 6000′ elevation.
Giant Sequoias are the most massive trees in the world. Sequoia trees can be found in several locations within the Sierras, from the Western Divide Hwy to northern areas of Yosemite Park on Hwy 120. Within Total Escape you can find the hidden groves too.
Eastern Sierra along Hwy 395, is all about the drastic elevations & volcano valleys. The Mono Craters are the youngest mountain range in North America. Located near Mono Lake & Lee Vining CA.
National Forests & Wilderness areas within the Sierra Nevada range:
Vague answer is 1000 feet (305 meters)
Only 1000′ elevation to make it to mountain status
Mountain terrain and hills occupy approximately 36% of the Earth’s land area. In California we have plenty of both. The San Andreas fault does a great job at making that happen along the coast where the Pacific plate is sliding against the North American plate. On the peninsula called Point Reyes in San Francisco, there are rocks on the cliff that match those of Tehachapi, in the Southern Sierra, some 300 miles away.
California is rising from the ocean; the Sierra Nevada mountains prove it, as one of the fastest growing ranges on earth. The lunar landscape of Mono Craters, up near Lee Vining, is the youngest mountain range on the whole continent. They are right next to Mono Lake & also close to Benton Hot Springs CA
If the flat landers are bummin’ you out & you need to head for the hills, use out mega list of small towns for California to find your desired altitude. Urban areas, deserts & the Central Valley are off limits. Experience & explore the unknown. Search hidden California.
The closest redwood trees to the city of San Francisco are those of the Point Reyes Peninsula. Samuel P Taylor State Park, Mount Tamalpais State Park & the Muir Woods National Monument all have coastal redwood groves.
Do you have visions of cabins perched on rugged cliffs, along the Central Coast? Well, sorry to say, there are none for rent. Those are all private homes.
Most vacation cottages are secluded & tucked back, deep inside a redwood forest canyon nearby. Campground cabins in Big Sur span from yurt rentals on the cliffs, to rustic one room rentals in the fern forest.
The Pfieffer Big Sur State Park has cabins available, several other coast resorts offer stream side cottages, plus Ventana has a luxury Campground inside a redwood grove.
If you are seeking dirt roads in California, then congratulations. You have made it to the web site of your dreams, Total Escape. We love the back roads as much as you do, maybe even more. Honest!
This entire 3000 page web site is a decade long dedication to the rural places in California, the trails, the canyons, the caves, the wildflowers, the scenery & even the old abandon mines. We have OHV maps, forest road maps, most regions, every trail map you might want. DanaMite has been researching these routes & documenting for years. And the GPS data is still to come!
Since SoCal is majority desert, you won’t be finding many lush fern meadows, dense forests or huge waterfalls. There are a few Southern California National Forest that may have pine & oak trees, a creek half the year & great camping. SoCal has the desert back roads & there are literally thousands of them. Grab a map, get your rig tuned up & start exploring. Right here right now.
Torrey Pines State Reserve is in San Diego County – just south of Del Mar CA. Easy access from I-5 & perfect for hikers seeking exercise – instead of sitting in traffic on the freeway. The point you see in the distance is La Jolla.
Ocean, cliffs, pines, beaches & sunny San Diego weather.
What could be better for an after work stroll?
There are numerous pine forest groves, with hiking trails leading down the cliffs to tide pools & beautiful beaches. You could easily spend a whole day exploring this coastal park. There is a Visitor Center, guided nature walks & paved parking lots. The lagoon region has a train track running through the valley east of it – and the tracks meet the coast nearby. The rocky beach to the north is very popular with surfers & there is even surfing contest held here annually. Plenty parking along this stretch too. If you wanna avoid the park fees, you can park along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) & walk the beach to the south. The cliffs make for seclusion & many sunbathers love this area.
On occasion, if the conditions are right, the San Diego RED TIDE will appear, which can only be seen at night. The kelp beds glow with sparkles of green & blue light (not red) w/ the phytoplankton …..as the waves come crashing toward the shoreline. More info on red tides on Wikipedia
On the north end of Bishop CA, running parallel to & on the west side of Hwy 6, is a long dirt road called Fish Slough Rd. Indian petroglyphs can be found out here & also on the ridges along Chalk Bluff Rd (to the south). The entire region is called a volcanic tableland & hot springs are very common in this region. The Owens River Gorge & Lake Crowley are to the west. High clearance vehicles are recommended for traveling these back roads, but 4×4 is rarely needed.
How high is a hill?
Big Sur Redwood Cabins & Riverside Cabins Big Sur
