Happy Camper

Trail to the beach at El Capitan 

Luxury cabin

View from the hill behind our campsite!

Luxury Yurt

Market and Coffee shop/cafe

Complimentary bicycles - if you stay in cabin
or yurt...

Usually, campers are put away on dusty campsites while 5-star guests expensively enjoy ocean views, champagne and jacuzzi's.  However, as we traveled through Santa Barbara this weekend looking for an outdoor getaway, we happily stumbled upon a privately owned bastion of egalitarianism, where luxury cabins intermingled with yurts, RV's and tents. Yes my friends, Ocean Mesa at El Capitan is a breath of fresh non-government-owned air where a camper can relax in the jacuzzi and a resorter can go for a long, dusty hike.

It all started with a gorgeous weekend forecast and work off for Thanksgiving - we had to go somewhere! Santa Barbara seemed like the perfect place for a short camping trip, so off we went. Unfortunately a spur of the moment decision for us happened to a be well thought out plan for far too many Californians - all the campgrounds along the coast where we wanted to stay were booked up for the night.

As we dejectedly left the beautiful and full El Capitan State Campground, we aimlessly drove along the frontage road next to the freeway where we noticed signs for camping. We pulled into a driveway and saw tents, so we kept driving into what looked like a really nice campground. The attendants at the charming front office/grocery mart told us that this privately owned campground had plenty of spots for camping. Although tent camping costs $50 a night instead of $35 at state parks, you get hot showers, clean private bathrooms, laundry facilities, wi-fi, a pool, jacuzzi, market and restaurant, as well as horseshoe courts and a playground. It's an easy walk under the bridge to El Capitan and the ocean, and lots of hiking right behind our tent.

Needless to say, we were very excited to have found this little surprise campground. Paying $15 more was worth it to not have to continue driving or sleep in our car - and we got to use the jacuzzi!
We ended up staying for two nights, and although we didn't take full advantage of the luxury camping facilities - such as showers, laundry or wi-fi, we did go in the pool after surfing one day, and we got coffee and breakfast at the cute restaurant on our last morning. But mostly it was nice to have a quiet campground next to the hills when so many campgrounds were too full.
Spending $50 for a campsite might seem like too much, but it's cheaper than a hotel and offers a lot of perks. Although we didn't necessarily need all the amenities, it's ideal for families or groups who are camping for more than just a weekend.
Santa Barbara is an absolutely gorgeous place to camp - either make reservations at state grounds or live it up at Ocean Mesa!

To visit campground website: http://www.oceanmesa.com/
To visit cabin website: http://www.elcapitancanyon.com/

Local Bookstore

Owners Richard and Karen Palmer, with Harry the cat

Over 70,000 books in here to choose from!

Tuesday afternoon

Village Books on Avenida Serra

Harry watching over the Bookstore

   
   
     What do I and the French ambassador to Finland have in common? Well, for starters we both have an exquisite taste in where to buy our books, that being the Village Book Exchange in downtown San Clemente.

     Although Monsieur Ambassador bought his books from Village Book Exchange online (through AbeBooks.com), I'm lucky enough to live just blocks away from this little gem!
     On routine walks to Del Mar, the main street of downtown San Clemente, I've often passed this small bookstore, tucked down a quiet street, with green awnings and a quaint sign as a welcoming invitation to peek inside. Stepping up to the door, a sign reads, "Please do not let the cat out! Thank you." Once through the screen door, you are engulfed in one of life's best little pleasures - a well-stocked, cozy bookshop.

     A few decades ago, the aptly named Paperback Exchange was located on Del Mar with 10,000 used paperback books. Owners Mary and Jim Schroeder retired, selling the shop to a long time costumer, Karen Palmer, and her husband Richard. The store grew to also offer hardback and new books as well as paperbacks, began selling books online, and changed their name to Village Book Exchange. Recently, a combination of factors forced them to move off the main drag to a quieter street two blocks North. Although they don't get all the foot traffic they used to, loyal costumers keep this Mom and Pop shop busy and vibrant.

     The perfect mix of convenience and ambiance make a delightful neighborhood bookshop. One of the best things about Village Book Exchange is their Trading System. All those old books sitting on the shelf you don't need or read can be exchanged for something "new" and exciting. The store also stocks high school literature, popular new novels, and middle school book club reading for the community's convenience. Village Books is cozy and comfy, with chairs and carpets scattered throughout for the peace and comfort of Perusers. I appreciate their thoughtfulness since it can be frustrating to be deeply entrenched in the important business of skimming a book, with no place to sit and flip. Quiet corners in the back and bright sunshine streaming through the windows toward the front create a pleasant atmosphere. Not to mention a big, soft cat named Harry (if you can find him), and delightfully helpful owners and staff.
I asked a lady in the store with her son what she liked about coming to this bookstore. Well, it's local, her son is always needing new books for school or fun, and well, "Why go anywhere else?"

     Why, indeed? Amazon doesn't have well-worn chairs, Borders doesn't have a Trading System, and Kindle doesn't come with a cat. Besides, maybe you'll get lucky and bump into an erudite diplomat! So bring your coffee and find/visit your local bookstore :) 

Painting Pottery

   

Fall is fantastic - cool weather, glassy ocean, pumpkin pies, tourists gone and kids in school. But fall can also be cold and gloomy, the days are shorter with darkness creeping around earlier and earlier, and at our house we're already penny-pinching in preparation for Christmas. (Whoever decided it would be a good idea to give gifts to everyone you know on the same day??)
Longer nights and colder weather mean there are not the myriad of free outdoor activities as during the summer. But with picnic season over, I decided to hunt for other budget friendly ways to spend our evenings. I saw on our refrigerator an old yellowed coupon to paint pottery at a place near downtown San Clemente called Fired Up. I wasn't sure what we would be getting ourselves into, but we decided to try it out on a chilly day this last weekend.
Although I had walked by numerous times, I'd never been into Fired Up, and Jordi had never painted pottery at all. I was pleasantly surprised by the homey nature of the place - in fact the charming Spanish-style bungalow actually used to be a house, which just adds to the warm ambiance. With rooms full of pottery and tables, Fired Up welcomes groups of kids painting away an afternoon, couples with their pumpkin latte's busy picking colors for their new mugs, or groups of ladies with their glasses of wine, creating the perfect soap dish. You can spend $5 - $40, depending on what you choose to paint. But once you have paid that fee, you are free to paint for as long, and however many times  you want. Jordi and I decided to paint a $25 vase, he painted one side, I painted the other. We aren't quite done though, so we'll go back this weekend to continue painting, extending our affordable date into a free one :)
Whether low key or high class, painting in the cute house-turned-studio is relaxing and fun, and a perfect  thing to do on a cold day or night!