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No reservations for Memorial Day Weekend? No problem.
Impromptu getaways over a holiday weekend can totally work out if you get busy stalking your preferred destination, waiting for those inevitable last minute cancellations to start rolling in and make your move. We snatched up a glamping style safari tent at El Capitan Canyon off Highway 101 for Memorial Day weekend that had become available just days before summer’s official kick off and rushed into packing light for our first road trip with the new addition to our family, a brand spanking new URAL Gear Up motorcycle and sidecar rig.
After a flurry of online orders for a few totally necessary comfort upgrades we took our new baby in for her very first 1000 km service and installed not one but two windshields and a custom built DayLong saddle all in the final minutes leading up to hitting the open road.
Lena and I had simply been dying to take the new rig out for a weekend trip so really any SoCal close destination would have worked for the inaugural ride but in our haste we learned quite a few things about motorcycle packing and spontaneous holiday travel, namely Glamping is also for kids!
Remember those magazine covers? Those carefully staged photos are nothing more than the devil’s trickery!
So if you haven’t heard, Glamping is this super chill, lazy but luxurious version of easy camping that you see on the covers of Sunset magazine wooing you into a false notion of peaceful tranquility. Amenities like firewood, ice and complete BBQ dinner kits delivered directly to your tent flap can quickly seal the deal and before you know it you’ve slapped down a credit card and made a last minute irrevocable reservation for leisurely fun with the least amount of work.
With a promising arrival on a quiet Thursday afternoon and an early start Friday morning these two unsuspecting child-free types returned from our day’s adventures to find that our peaceful glamp-ground had been overrun with hordes of energy packed children with barely an adult in sight.
Remember those magazine covers? Those carefully staged photos are nothing more than the devil’s trickery!
What they never show you are the throngs of children running wild and free through your campground armed with bullhorns, flashing headlamps and any type of sports equipment imaginable. Yes folks. It’s true, headlamps aren’t just for the outdoorsy adults you see in recreation ads; the kids have caught on to these genius hands-free strobe lights and skillfully use them for all sorts of evil menacing escapades once darkness falls.
PSA: Childless Traveler Alert- Memorial Day Weekend Camping = Children EVERYWHERE.
Tiny biker gangs of pimped out tricycles and resort-loaned beach cruisers commenced a tireless parade past our tent all evening long churning up the dusty road in this “car-free” canyon. Groups of pre-teen girls were learning how to use their outside voices by loudly communicating their whereabouts to every passing troupe of boys.
Our one saving grace seemed to be that the free range kiddies had worn themselves out so thoroughly the night before that they slept in late each morning, just long enough for us to grab a stress free shower and get out of dodge.
PSA: Childless Traveler Alert- Memorial Day Weekend Camping = Children EVERYWHERE.
Was it possible that a summer camp had over taken this luxury camping resort?
Nope. As travelers who typically avoid major holidays we learned that this mass invasion was in fact, completely normal. Serves us right for thinking we could go from meticulous planning to flying by the seat of our motorcycle pants.
But to be entirely truthful, we had an amazing time sitting around the fire bitching about those noisy kids and plotting our revenge by one day bringing our own niece out for a rollicking good time camping along with a jam packed arsenal of Jiffy Pop, noise makers, kazoos, disco light lanterns and 2-way radios to annoy the sh*t outta the neighbors right up until quiet time, maybe 15 minutes after if I’m feeling real sassy.
Recap: Glamping, we totally recommend it.
Bring a kid if you can find one, makes it more fun when you can fight fire with fire!
El Capitan Canyon
11560 Calle Real SB 93117
Check In : Thursday 5/21 (4pm)
3 nights (3 min over holiday)
Check out : Sunday 5/24 (11am)
Safari Tent- 2 Dbl Beds
495$ plus tax
ITINERARY
I always make a list of fun shit to do with a few alternatives, always depends on how we’re feeling, we get lazy so no pressure.
We did the stuff in bold. Times are approximations from El Capitan Canyon.
THURSDAY
Breakfast Stop in Ventura
Biscuits & gravy and shrimp & grits at The Cajun Kitchen
Cajun Kitchen
301 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
* 7 am
Pete’s Breakfast House
2055 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
* 7 am
Too much rad stuff at Iron & Resin
Iron & Resin Garage
324 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001
* Fashion haven for the adventurous types
* BONUS: Ural spotting
Take the long way home! Iron & Resin
2nd Stop in Santa Barbara: Sightseeing & Brews
I see…ocean views at the Santa Barbara Cemetery
Santa Barbara Cemetery
901 Channel Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
* Ocean views & pyramid mausoleum
Figueroa Mountain Brewing
137 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
* 11 am
* Also one in Buellton
Municipal Winemakers
22 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
* 11 am
* Wine tasting
* File cabinet wall display
Cutler’s Artisan Spirits
137 Anacapa St, Ste D, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
* 1 pm
* Santa Barbara’s only distillery
* Tasting only = No bottle sales
Late Lunch in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
* 11 am
* Pick your victim/lunch
Corks & Crowns
418 N Salsipuedes St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
* 11 am
* Can’t decide? Both wine & beer tasting
Norton’s Pastrami & Deli
18 W Figueroa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
* 10:30 am-4 pm
* Dinner back at camp
Antique Alley – State Street
706 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
* 11 am-6 pm
FRIDAY
Breakfast
Feelin’ lazy?
Canyon Market at El Capitan Canyon
Feelin Adventurous?
French bread & butter that’ll make you cry in that good way at Bob’s Well Bread
Bob’s Well Bread (7a-6p)
550 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
* Artisan bakery
* Approximately 37 miles
Lunch & Stuff
Beer break at Firestone Walker Brewery
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
620 McMurray Rd, Buellton, CA 93427
* 26 miles
* 11 am
* Barrellworks Tasting Room
Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery
1529 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463
* Get anything with almond paste!
Solvang Brewing Company
1547 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463
* Touristy but good beers
Ostrichland USA
610 E Hwy 246, Solvang, CA 93463
* $4 per person entry fee
* Feed these huge birds for a buck
Mmmm…fingers!
Quicksilver Ranch – Mini Horses
1555 Alamo Pintado Rd, Solvang, CA 93463
* 10 am-3 pm
* Free
Beware these dangerously cute mini horses at Quicksilver Ranch
We need all the help we can get
Old Mission Saint Ines
1760 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93464
If you missed the one in SB:
Figueroa Mountain Brewing
45 Industrial Way, Buellton, CA 93427
* 11 am
Industrial Eats
181 B Industrial Way, Buellton, CA 93427
* 10 am
Bell Street Farm
406 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
* Near Bob’s Well Bread Bakery
* 11 am-6 pm
* 37 miles
Early Dinner (or Supper for Southerners)
The road to Jalama Beach is part of the awesomeness!
Jalama beach
Jalama Beach Park, 9991 Jalama Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436
* 43 miles from El Capitan Canyon
* Jalama Burger & Raw Apple Cake (the BOMB!!!!)
* Free 1 hour entry w/burger shack validation
Love us a mossy barn!
SATURDAY
Lunch & Stuff
Anxiously waiting for Cold Springs Tavern’s tasty tri-tip sandwhiches
Cold Spring Tavern
5995 Stagecoach Road SB 93105
* 35 minutes
* Lake Cachuma area Hwy 154
* 1860’s stage coach stop
* Lunch (11-3) Live bands
* Tri-Tip on Saturday & Sunday only
Tri-tip!!!
The Trouble Maker’s at home at Maverick Saloon
Maverick Saloon
3687 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA
* 12 pm
* Ceiling covered with dollar bills
Walk. Bike. Pet.
* From El Capitan: Selma Rubin’s Trail / Docent led Llama farm hike
* Beach trail
* Borrow bikes from El Capitan Canyon (2 hours free)
SUNDAY
Ride Home via Hwy 101 & PCH
Come for the bikes…
…stay for the food at Neptune’s Net
Neptune’s Net
42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
* 10 am
* Biker bar
* Fresh seafood
* Good beer selection
* Ocean views
* Ummm…port-o-potties
Cheers from Highway 101!
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About time you guys finally got around to posting another podcast! With your new playtoy,I love that you guys can now take turns on your trips being the pilot and co-pilot! 2 things I found extremely funny: Kristy’s comments on kids and animals. I know 2 little girls that have a blast whenever they see the two of you and as for animals, I have one word for Kristy………MISTY! Lol. Looking forward to the next podcast!
Hey Susan! I have to personally thank you for all the fun adventures you took Kristina on as a kid! That has obviously had a huge and awesome impact on her life…and mine! Wanderlusters united!