Expert: Steve Summers - 8/20/2009

Question
Hi Steve!
My name is Meghan and I am engaged. My fiance and i would like to rent out a camp site in spring/summer of 2010 to get married at. We would like to make it a weekend event. Friday through Sunday. We have large families and a low budget. We live in Ventura County and are looking for camp sites within 100 miles or so. We need space for about 200 people. Mostly tent camping, but some RV options. We would like to be near water (beach or lake) if possible. Restrooms and running water are a must! Maybe even somewhere with a hotel or motel nearby for some elder relatives.

Any information you could share with us would be very appreciated. We think this is a great and fun idea, but we aren't sure where to start.

Thank you so much!!
I look forward to hearing from you,
Meghan

Answer
Hi Meghan,

Congratulations on your engagement.

For such a campsite, your best bet would be to book the group campsites at El Capitan State Beach. It has everything you asked for: Space for about 200 people, with places for RV's as well, with bathrooms and showers. The group sites overlook the ocean, which can be accessed via a trail. There are also hotels nearby in the Isla Vista section of Santa Barbara. You can book it 6 months in advance, on the first of each month. So December 1 will be able to book for all of June, January 2 (closed January 1) for July, etc. You should also take a drive over there to look it over.

Carpinteria State Beach has some group campsites as well (and is my personal favorite beach), but nothing that large. Even at El Cap, you'll need to book all 3 group campsites to get everyone in.

So take a drive up the coast, talk to the rangers to get a feel for the place, and go online to www.reserveamerica.com to make your reservations on the designated day, 8 AM sharp.

You might also check out Lake Cachuma, but I'm not sure they have the group facilities available. I know they have lots of campsites, and are on the lake as well.
Congratulations again and have fun!