Love this beach.. has free parking and steps on one side to get down to the beach. Fairly clean. I…read morenoticed alot of the beaches are undergoing bathroom renovation but this one still has it old bathroom and not the port-a-pitty that some other beaches have currently. It's also 10 mins from another favorite beach, pigeon point with the light house.

Pescadero State Beach offers a stunning stretch of coastline with some of the best tide pools in…read morethe area. There's tons of marine life to find, and it's a great place to walk around and explore. There are multiple staircase entry points, though the access isn't very elderly-friendly. Once on the beach, the terrain is uneven, so it's better suited for people who are comfortable walking on rocks and sand. This is a great spot for people looking to gather mussels, rock crabs, and for fishing. The starfish here are massive, and the anemones are everywhere -- really impressive to see up close. There's plenty of parking, and we prefer the north entrance, which tends to be our favorite access point. The main downside is the bathroom situation. They're in pretty rough shape, and the park could really use some maintenance here -- it's clear many people avoid using them, which unfortunately leads to waste showing up in parking areas.

Planned out a day trip including a stop at Pescadero first followed by a hike at Butano State Park…read more The park itself is quite small and cozy and it's easy to see why it's often referred to as one of the least known California State Parks, because you really do have to make an effort to come here. That being said, the road to the park is quite well paved and there should be no trouble accessing it. We unfortunately visited the park during one of the controlled burns. I would not recommend visiting at those times because the smell of smoke lingers for quite some time even though we visited over a week after the burn ended. There was even one area of the park that was still smoking. It's also sad to see the extensive damage from the CZU fire that ripped through this area back in 2020. But overall there are still tons of beautiful redwoods and the trails are well maintained. Also not many people visit this park so you'll have plenty of peace and quiet on the trails!

Butano, as it once was, prior to the summer of 2020, CZU fire, is no more. It's prior lushness is…read moremarked by charred redwoods and lack of undergrowth. But that doesn't mean it's not worth a visit. As of December 2024, all trails in the park are open. I commend the crews that restored the trails-they did an amazing job restoring safe access to the park. While camping remains closed, there are limited facilities (no drinking water and only pit toilets that are in sad shape.) However, if you come with an open mind and an appreciation for how forests regenerate after fires, it's quite an interesting park. I'd hiked an out and back last summer on Jackson flats and then, on NYD 2025, hiked the recently reopened loop of Little Butano Creek, Goat Hill Trail and Olemo Fire road. The creek was still low but there were too many banana slugs and mushrooms to count. Yes, lots of charred trees but also lots of green coming back. The lower trails aren't particularly steep or challenging and it's never crowded. Very peaceful park. It will be interesting to come back, over time, to see how the park regenerates and changes.

While camping nearby we wanted to spend an afternoon at the beach. We chose this particular beach…read moreafter reading reviews. After parking (which can fill up quickly) it was a short easy walk to beach. It was a bit windy yet we found a cove that was somewhat protected. The sand is pretty, almost white in color & soft to walk on. I took a stroll to the tidal pool areas which was fabulous. I discovered quite a bit of tidal life including a few varieties of crabs. I was even treated to watching a crab fight! The color of the water was also beautiful- almost aqua. The beach was clean which is always appreciated.

A smaller beach, but pleasant…read more There's a small parking lot. Plenty of restrooms. I actually prefer going there when there is a storm, to watch the waves crash on the rocks. It's a nice beach and I recommend visiting all the state beaches along the coast.

For our annual family camping trip, we switched up our usual favorites (Russian Gulch,…read moreMacKerricher) to try Memorial County Park, a spot a close friend has raved about for 30 years. We are so happy with our decision!The Pros:Amazing Staff: Tyler greeted us warmly and gave great information.Clean & Maintained: Campsites were pristine, bathrooms were clean, and the hot water in the showers was a huge plus (just bring your own towel).Kid-Friendly Nature: Surrounded by stunning redwoods, the kids loved spotting banana slugs, filling out nature activity guides, and wading in the clean creek.Great Atmosphere: It was wonderful seeing so many kids on bikes and scooters. There is no WiFi/cell service, which was a fantastic excuse to unplug (though you can get a signal at the learning center if needed). Since there were no weekday camp programs, we made our own fun playing charades at the amphitheater.The Cons:No Fire Ring: Our site in the Azalea loop didn't have one, which disappointed the grandkids. Luckily, the neighboring site was empty so we "borrowed" theirs.Departure Encounter: We had a brief interaction with a rude employee on our way out, which was a bummer after such a great trip.Overall, it was an excellent experience and we will definitely return!

One of the most well maintained campsite amidst redwood trees. Bathrooms are clean, very cool, well…read morestocked with soap and toilet paper. Love the summer programming of movie in the amphitheatre with free marshmallows and the wildflower hike. Wish the park can provide a place for their interns to stay the night instead of commuting three days a week esp with the high gas cost. Juliet and Jenny were really informative and passionate. Would highly recommend staying here esp for families.

driving from Union Square in San Francisco through Highway 1 to Big Sur, this was our first stop…read more The light house itself was under restoration. The lodging area and whalers cove is worth a stop along Highway 1 Perched dramatically on a cliffside on Highway 1 , the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is home to one of the tallest lighthouses in America. Tied as the tallest on the West Coast at 115 feet, it has been guiding mariners along the rugged Pacific coast since 1872. The site gets its unique name from the Carrier Pigeon, a Gold Rush-era clipper ship that famously ran aground on the foggy, jagged rocks just 500 feet from shore on its maiden voyage in 1853. While the historic white masonry tower itself is currently closed to the public for a major structural restoration project, the park grounds remain completely open and offer plenty to explore. Be sure to check out Whalers Cove which is a scenic, secluded beach nestled directly below the south side of the Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. Piece of history: In the mid-1800s, it served as a bustling hub for shore whaling operations, where Portuguese whalers would spot migrating whales from the bluffs, row out in small boats to hunt them, and bring them back to the cove to process the blubber. Today, the cove is a protected, peaceful sanctuary where nature has reclaimed the shoreline. Lodgings at the Cove: HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel If you are looking to stay overnight right on the edge of the cove, the primary lodging option is the HI Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel. The accommodation is unique because it sits directly on the state park grounds, offering an incredible, budget-friendly coastal experience that feels like your own private estate. The Accommodations: The hostel is comprised of four historic, white-picket-fenced houses that originally served as the homes for the lighthouse keepers and their families. Guests can book affordable, straightforward shared dorm beds, or opt for private rooms within the houses. below. Note: Because of its unparalleled location right on the Highway 1 coastline and its highly affordable rates, rooms and beds at the hostel tend to book out many months in advance, especially for weekend stays.

This is a very nice location to stop and stretch your legs, not to mention an awesome place for…read morephoto opportunities!! There is some construction going on near the light house but you can still walk around it and enjoy all the wonderful views. There are walking paths that you can go on and walk down to the beach area when the tide is low as well there are also paths that you can take along the cliff area. Don't worry about parking as there is plenty and there is no parking fee to park your car. Overall this is a must stop to just walk around, take some pictures and take in Gods coastal creation, soooooo beautiful and peaceful.

My daughter had a horrible experience at the YMCA summer camp at Loma Mar. When I dropped her off,…read moreshe was excited to spend her first time at sleep away camp doing fun activities and making new friends. When I picked her up, she was in tears and as we drove home, she told me details about the verbal abuse, threatening behavior, and dismissive attitude from her camp counselor. My daughter and her friend who attended camp with her shared that their camp counselor yelled at them, unreasonably limited their time for using the restroom and showering, threatened to write all cabin members up without just cause, permitted physical and verbal abuse from another camper in their cabin, dismissed their concerns for their own safety in the presence of this misbehaving cabin mate, told all the girls they were "the worst cabin ever", denied the girls snacks while eating her own in front of them, and did not permit the girls to fully explore the grounds as other campers were allowed to do. They expressed that the negative treatment from the counselor was unwarranted and not a result of misbehavior on their part. In addition, this mistreatment was across the board; everyone in the cabin was denied the same opportunities. Based on their observations, it appeared that campers from other cabins might have had better experiences. We contacted YMCA leadership and expressed our concerns. Their response lacked empathy, accountability, and any real sense of urgency in making sure other campers were not exposed to the inappropriate behavior of this counselor. If you're considering sleep away camp, I strongly suggest you AVOID the YMCA. Whether it's poor vetting, ineffective training, inexperienced leadership, or something else, it's not worth the risk of the potential harm to your child.

My son just came back from a week long stay and he absolutely loved it! He had so much fun and said…read morethe staff was super nice and made him feel safe and comfortable Eve though he was far from his family. I will definitely send him back next summer! Shout out to 99.7 for making it possible

We went there for a group camping trip and it was enjoyable. Set up tents in the campground (with…read morecabins around that we didn't use), with a common central building with small toilets and sink. No showers. There are many walking trails short and long, and some of them lead to a creek. Beware there is a ton of poison oak on many of the trails just off the path. The parking is a short walk from the tent area. Overall this is a nice spot in nature, surrounded by trees. It was a beautiful experience to wake up to the birdsong. Having showers and slightly better toilets would improve the camping experience even more.

Joe is amazing, he is the manager of this event center and was easy to work with. I was a local…read morevendor for this event this evening for Julian and Brenda. I seen Joe help set up everything. He set me up for success, in a position where I was able to serve the guest and leave with no hassle. Thank you Joe !!!!

This was a very peaceful place to have a retreat at ! The church group I was with booked the rooms…read moreand conference areas of the Siden Conference building, which had hotel-style rooms. The room my husband and I stayed in was very warm, but some other rooms seemed to have heating issues. There's not really much of an open space there to see scenery, but you are pretty much in the middle of the redwoods so that is pretty cool. The meals they served were also quite filling, as they were always buffet style. One day, many of us went to walk around the hiking trails during the afternoon. I wish the hiking trails were more marked, as many of us got lost among them during the day since a fire road would often run through the trails. Something I have to give a huge shout out to the staff there thought was really helping our group out during an emergency situation. All that to say, I give a 4 star rating to this campground site. I don't live far from the area and so was pleasantly surprised to discover that this campground was deep in nature not too far from me. I can't say much on the value as I was not the one who booked this conference (I booked it through my church for the retreat), but even following our registration costs, it felt nice to be pay the amount we did for a weekend in the Siden building. I write and share more photos about my time at Redwood Glen Camp here: https://theheartasitis.com/2024/11/10/city-church-sf-november-2024-retreat/

had some of the best food here I loved it. Went on a church retreat and i made some of the best…read morememories there. The cabins were a little outdated and gave prison but in general i love the atmosphere and the general location

I stayed here on a couple of occassions as part of a weekend Unitarian family retreat. The…read morefacilities were rustic, but comfortable and welcoming. And with Butano State Park and the ocean nearby, there were many options for our group.

This Girl Scout sleep away camp has been a big part of my daughter's summer time fun for the past…read morefew years. She loves it and has gained so much confidence in herself through this worthwhile program. They have recently made many improvements to the facilities, without losing that camp feeling.

I love Jam Camp West with all of my heart, it's my highlight of the year. The teachers are really…read morenice and its such a warm and welcoming vibe.

Jam Camp West is a perfect opportunity for children ages 8-13 to be themselves and experiment with…read moredance and music. From turn table class, jazz and funk band, percussion and Hip Hop Fusion Dance there is something for every child. If you are a complete beginner or experienced ripper you will find something extra cool to get into. This camp happens once a year and is at the centerpiece of camp experiences.