San Diego County Parks website -- cool!

[Camping Coxes]

I was checking out the San Diego County Parks website planning my April Fool's campout.  I hadn't been to the site in quite some time.  It was so cool!  You can see what's available using a CG map that's color coded and click on the site you want and see an actual picture of the site.  :#
Unfortunately, someone beat me to the "click" and got the site I was in theprocess of reserving, but I got a site nearby and any site will be great as long as I'm camping!  So when my husband called home from out of the country, longing for his own bed, I informed him we were going camping the one free weekend we have coming up!
 
Anyway, check it out if you haven't done so recently.

[GeorgeHR]

I like the website too.  I especially like how you can view pictures of the campsites.  We have recently camped at Guajome camp ground this past Presidents weekend, and really enjoyed it.  In January we camped at Agua Caliente and had a great time too.

[pismosurfers]

What a great website!  We have never camped in San Diego vicinity, much less anything south of Pismo Beach (where we live).  Now we can't wait to check out available CG's for future trips.  Way to go San Diego for making the task less daunting for out-of-towners!  Now if only the rest of the state could be so inventive!

[Dee4j]

excellent website , I like the ability to see a picture of the actual site

Thanks Trina

[PopUpMomma]

Just don't hesitate to post your picks.  Sites go really fast.  We tried a couple of times, stopped to check the calender and went back and the sites were gone.  We sat down day after newyears and picked our sites for the entire year.  It was great!

[Russinator]

Like you, we just recently discovered the San Diego County Campgrounds. We've only been to two of them [Dos Picos and Guajome] - loved them both. We went for our second PU camping trip this weekend. Like last weekend's trip at Dos Picos [Ramona], this weekend's trip to Guajome [Oceanside] was a short trip. We had a great time, we're getting better at putting the PU up. Everything worked perfectly, the weather was sunny and warm. It was my birthday and my kids [grown men now] knew where we were camping so they got there before us and decorated the campsite with balloons and what not. If you're interested I put together a photo album at this web site. If you'd like to see a few of our pictures from those two parks - check the two web pages below.

http://www.therussinator.com/Guajome/

http://www.therussinator.com/DosPicos/

[Camping Coxes]

Like you, we just recently discovered the San Diego County Campgrounds.

Oh, we discovered them at least five years ago, but I hadn't checked the site in years, so the changes were a big surprise.  I haven't been to Guajome, but it looks like a nice place.  We've been to William Heise and loved it.  Lake Jennings we'll never go back to.  I understand Sweetwater was pretty bad when our church group went.  Like anywhere, you win some, you lose some.

[Dee4j]

Lake Jennings we'll never go back to.

This place looked nice and had full hook-ups.. I was thinking about going there Labor Day..I'm glad we're not.(we're going to the river with friends) what was the problem?

[gekko65]

I may disagree just a bit....  :swear:

I live one mile from the Sweetwater CG and though it lacks alot to do, (it is a very clean and well kept CG). I would say this is not a great place for the little ones, as it is was set-up for equestrian and hiking, but is now one very popular location for Mt. Biking. The location is ideal for all outdoorsman that love hilly trails, wonderful views and riding trails that lead you to Bonita, Jamul, Rancho San Diego and Chula Vista.

As far as Lake Jennings, our family loved it, playground for the kids, horseshoes, bike riding and fishing at a great little lake. Nice spaces with firering, picnic tables and BBQ's.... The park again was well kept and clean.... I guess "to each his/her own"!!!!

Just my two cents!!!    :!

Matt in San Diego :!

[Dee4j]

I may disagree just a bit....  :swear:

I live one mile from the Sweetwater CG and though it lacks alot to do, (it is a very clean and well kept CG). I would say this is not a great place for the little ones, as it is was set-up for equestrian and hiking, but is now one very popular location for Mt. Biking. The location is ideal for all outdoorsman that love hilly trails, wonderful views and riding trails that lead you to Bonita, Jamul, Rancho San Diego and Chula Vista.

As far as Lake Jennings, our family loved it, playground for the kids, horseshoes, bike riding and fishing at a great little lake. Nice spaces with firering, picnic tables and BBQ's.... The park again was well kept and clean.... I guess "to each his/her own"!!!!

Just my two cents!!!    :!

Matt in San Diego :!

This is why I ask...maybe trina had a different experience and it's nice to hear the many opinions

[Camping Coxes]

This is why I ask...maybe trina had a different experience and it's nice to hear the many opinions

I've not personally been to Sweetwater, but our church group went over Labor Day weekend two years ago.  They said there was little to no shade, lots of dust, the flies and bugs were very bad (being a horse camp, I can understand that) and there wasn't much to do.  Now, if you're bringing your horses or you are going for a mountain biking trip, I guess it would be a great location, but as far as just hanging out, it wasn't so great.  I didn't hear one positive thing about the CG.
 
However, last year the group went to Lake Jennings and enjoyed it, except it was very hot, which I had warned them about.  When we went (twice), the kids just got bored very quickly and the playground at that time was the big beams, like railroad ties, and they kept getting splinters, so it wasn't really kid friendly.  They did have a great ranger program and there were hook-ups.  There are groceries nearby.  But as far as the CG, it's a hang-out and do nothing kind of place.  Oh, you can fish, so that's there.  I didn't hate Lake Jennings, there's just other places I'd much rather go to.  
 
I wasn't trying to offend any San Diegans, Matt, just giving a brief review.  I love going to the San Diego area in general.  I'd rather go south than north to camp.  I know some people have raved about certain campgrounds that we didn't like so much, and vice versa.  Different strokes for different folks.  A lot depends on whether you are active or laid back, insist on full hook-ups or are willing to dry camp, want the big city nearby or want a little solitude.  
 
Bar none, my favorite places to camp in San Diego are William Heise and Woods Valley.  If there are any other hidden jewels, let us know!

[Dee4j]

Thanks Trina...Lake Jennings sounds like a nice place, But not sure I'd want to go unless several families went and we can get the kids to get together so they have things to do. From the pictures it looks really nice. maybe a good place for a future rally maybe.

[PopUpMomma]

We went to Lake Jennings right after the fires here.  It was pretty sad.  And, yes, lake jennings is for relaxing and watching.  We are going again at the end of the month.  Should be nice for sitting back and just relaxing.  There is fishing but you need to drive over to the fishing area.  Can't fish from your site.  We went to sweetwater recently.  It is a horse camp but when you make reservations, ask if there are "horse" groups there.  There wasn't when we went.  We reserved a spot in the middle circle along the grass area.  Our only complaint was that the site behind us was a little close.  Would be ok if we knew the other campers however.  There isn't much to do but a great group camping area.  would be fun for a rally.  The center grass area is great for games or a play area for the kids.  There was a lot of noise from construction and the camp is right in the middle of the flight path so we did do a lot of airplane watching.  The park was very clean but no William Heise.  But, William Heise is at the top of my list too.  

Another great place to go is Santee Lakes....You have to reserve a lake front spot about 6 months in advance.  Wow, talk about a great place to camp with a ton of stuff to do.  A little expensive however.  But we go as often as we can.  Fishing out your front door is the best.  We always have a good time and lots of visitors.....everyone wants to visit when we are at Santee Lakes.  They also have a huge area for camping but its "parking lot" type camping.  We haven't tried that area yet.