Running on the Ragged Edge of the Western World
Iconic coastline, foot race from Big Sur to Carmel. Run along scenic Highway One, the nation’s first nationally designated Scenic Highway
Annual event; April
11 years running, this huge reggae concert festival is 4 days long and held at the coastal bay of Monterey. Featuring the largest amount of top reggae artists in one single event in California.
California Roots Music and Arts Festival has always been rooted in a genuine enthusiasm for an experience that stimulates all senses through a release of creativity that can be heard, felt, seen, and embodied. Camping options.
What started in the early years as an opportunity for painters to create art on stage during the music performances has evolved into interactive art experiences for fans and artists alike scattered throughout the venue via the Art Retreat, Interactive Art Stations, Paint Workshops and a Festival Fashion Zone. Plus yoga sessions every morning!
Monterey County Fairgrounds
2004 Fairground Rd
Monterey, CA 93940
Annual event: May
4 Day event
44+ years running!
A platform for the regional wine industry and community of wine lovers. Locations, attractions, tours and shuttles vary each year. Mouth watering experience from both the wineries and purveyors of food. Along with these two ingredients live music, a winning combination. Wine, Food, Music!
annual event: June
360-693-6023
Where the traditions and lifestyles of the vaqueros blend with traditions and lifestyles of cowboys who worked there way west from Texas, Arizona and Nevada. Live music, concerts, great food, wine and beer.
Annual event: November
Monterey, CA
831-649-5080
Celebrating 50+ years of traditional Scottish games, music & dancing. Highland dancers, Irish step dancers, pipe band competitions, British food & crafts, Scottish athletic competitions. This Monterey event is held on the beautiful grounds of the Hyatt Regency Monterey.
Celtic Concerts; Monterey County Celtic Week; Monterey Bay School of Piping & Drumming.
Annual event; July
Over 80 years of this coastal event in California. Carnival rides, livestock show, food, live music, arts & crafts, horse races & wine tasting. This is by far the largest summer fair event in the whole region. Campgrounds and hotels in the area fill up fast in warmer months, so make reservations if you want to visit the Monterey Bay Area.
Annual event; September
831-372-5863
Life Time Sea Otter Classic
Mountain Bike Festival in the Monterey Bay area.
International racing, beginner to pro. XC, downhill, dual slalom, mountain cross, short track, trials and jump contest.
Annual event: April
800-218-8411
Monterey, CA
Santa Cruz Mountains & Santa Cruz Redwood Parks
Camping out in the Santa Cruz mountains can be a magical experience. It is here where some city dweller first get a glimpse of the coastal giant trees. Towering above in several Redwood Parks, the hiking & camping are endless. Backpacking, day hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are all popular activities in this region.
NOTE: There is no off-roading, 4×4, OHV trails in these coastal mountains, so it will be more peaceful. Peace and quiet, remember that?
Since this mountain range is in between the Santa Cruz coastline and THE CITY, San Francisco, and situated right next to the mega-city “Bay Area”, you can always expect a few tourists about and lots of locals out enjoying their backyard (at all times of the year).
Make campground or cabin reservations as far in advance as possible. Summers are the busiest months!
Tent Cabins: Big Basin Cabins can be arranged at Big Basin State Park. Campgrounds can be found at all State Parks and some county parks. Private vacation homes are found nearby; a few small towns on Hwy 9 offer hotel accommodations. On the coastal side of this ‘mountain’ is the small community of Pescadero w/ Butano SP.
Small towns nearby offer lodging & dining:
The Monterey Bay of California is located south of the San Francisco peninsula, and north of the rugged Big Sur Central Coast. This is a popular region for tourism, coastal villages w/ shops and restaurants, parks and beaches, farms and farm stands. With Santa Cruz mountains and redwoods as the backdrop, this coastline is also highly residential.
Camping along this coast is limited mostly to State Parks and few private RV park campgrounds. No primitive beach camping is allowed on State Beaches, no hike-in camp sites, no hidden cove tent sites, nor secret dirt roads with views over the Pacific. This is a very developed beach and bay, with the 4-lane freeway, main artery US Highway 101, bordering the entire shore.
If you are looking for free and a more rugged, scenic camp – head south to the Big Sur Coast, to find a dirt road camp on the ridge. The sweetest ocean view hike-in camp sites can be found to the north, in the Marin Headlands of Point Reyes, which can be found under Marin Camping.
blue links lead to State Park pages w/ camp reservations.
(listed from south to north)
Monterey Pines RV Campground (Navy)
Monterey County Fairgrounds RV Park
Sunset State Beach
South Campground
Manresa State Beach
Uplands Campground
Seacliff State Beach Campground
Santa Vida RV Park, Santa Cruz, California
Costanoa Coastal Lodge & Campground, Pescadero
Pelican Point RV Park, Half Moon Bay
Half Moon State Beach
Francis Beach Campground
(listed from south to north)