We have a new champion for Going Mobile’s coveted title of Favorite All-Time Campsites Ever (FACE). Drumroll, please: That would be good old No. 32 at Half Moon Bay State Beach in California.

We can already hear the skeptics questioning this bold claim.

Skeptic: Really? What about the Oregon Coast, Mount Rainier? Sure, it’s a tough call. We’ve stayed in many worthy contenders over the years.

There was No. 63 at Beachside State Recreation Site near Yachats, Ore., in 2019 -- the one with a full hookup right next to the sandy shoreline. And in 2021, there was D19, with its incredible views, at White River Campground in Mount Rainier National Park.

What elevates  No. 32 at Half Moon Bay is that it features amazing views of the bay and of the famed Mavericks surf break in the distance -- and is just  a 15-second walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in California, so close you can always hear the crashing waves and smell the salty air.

You know you’re in a special place when doing the dishes isn’t a chore -- it’s a privilege.

Skeptic: You can’t be serious. Yes, we are. Dishwashing at this site was pure joy -- allow us to explain.

Site No. 32’s slight downside  is that it only offers an electrical hookup, no water or sewer. This means you must dump and refill water for an extended stay ,,, or participate in what we started calling the Great Water Challenge.

We decided that for five days, we would use our tank water sparingly so we wouldn’t need to dump. No showers or dish-cleaning in the rig. Instead, we took our showers in the state’s bathrooms and we did our dishes in a tub outside at our picnic table.

So our resident dishwasher -- John -- happily embraced this chore because it offered  the chance to go outside and scrub the dirty pots and pans with a million-dollar view.

Skeptic: Everybody claims they had “a million-dollar view” while camping. I don’t believe it. Believe it. According to Redfin, the median home price in Half Moon Bay is $2.25 million. And nobody in Half Moon Bay had a better view or beach access than we did from our site at the state park.

Skeptic: I just checked and your so-called amazing site is completely booked up. That’s not fair. Sure it’s fair. For highly coveted sites in California State Parks, you need to be thinking six months ahead when the reservation window opens. Back in September, we booked it as soon as it was available on the Reserve California website.

Skeptic: What if somebody beats me to that site? I’ll be out of luck. Stop whining and do what true RVing pros do -- be ready at 8 a.m. six months in advance, sign in to Reserve California and try to get your site. If you can’t score No. 32, there are several others at Half Moon Bay with excellent ocean views, such as Numbers 48, 26, 24, 22, 19, 17, and 16.

Skeptic: OK, I’ll try, but I hate how expensive California State Parks are.  It’s true that beach sites at California State Parks are more expensive than state parks in Oregon or Washington. But can you really complain about $48 a night when the camping is so spectacular?

Skeptic: I complain about anything!  Obviously, but we hope you’ll give Half Moon Bay State Beach a try anyway.

Active Living Expo

The Spokesman-Review’s Going Mobile Travel team is looking forward to this year’s Active Living Expo on April 20 at Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center. We’ll be there with our Thor Gemini along with our globetrotting pal, Dan Webster. We hope to see you there!

 

---

---