August Cambria/Central Coast Vacation

 We left later than we expected (as usual), and arrived at Avila Hot Springs Campground around 4:00 pm.  The place was packed - not with campers but with people playing in the pool and water slides and such.  We check in, are told where our site is,and that in order for us to use the pools and such it will be $5.00 each. $10.00 isn't really a big deal, but we're already paying $30.00 for the site and we just assumed that we'd be able to use all the facilities under that fee.  The showers are free though and we'd already planned tp go to Sycamore Mineral Springs so we head off to set up camp. 

When we get to the site we find a small space in a row filled with 7-10 other full campsites.  All the sites are like parking stalls but maybe about twice as long and wide.  There's no place near our site to park our car.  There's no table at our site.  We go back and ask if we can be moved.  Our new spot is in a open area with no shade and no level ground.  There some fire "pits" but they aren't at all contained.  There are just some broken gray bricks here and there kinda around it.  We set up our tent on the only semi level patch of ground we can find.  It's really bumping ground - not grass lumps, the bumps are made of earth.  We decided this is SO not worth $30.00.  We call San Simeon Campground to see if we can come early.  We are told that our regular campground is full but we can stay at Washburn.  We talk about it and decide to get our money back and stay the night in Washburn.

Let me make a note that Washburn is considered "primitive" - no showers, pit toilets, no lights.  We're very much into flush toilets and showers when we camp.  The fact that we were willing to stay there (plus drive the extra hour to get there) shows how bad Avila Hot Springs Camp Ground was.  It smelled of sulfer (which we kinda expected), there were two camper bathrooms (and two non-camper bathrooms) and just walking by with the door shut you could smell the mildew from the showers.  Did I mention that the midewy bathrooms were down the hall from the restaurant kitchen?  EW!  And the non-camper bathrooms were dirty and smelled really bad.  Bye Bye Avila Hot Springs!

We decided to first go to Sycamore Springs and unwind in the mineral spring tub.  $30.00 much better spent!  We had our own private tub for an hour.  We had the highest tub on th hill!  Starlight.  The tubs are all out doors and you feel like the only people in the world.  Technically these tubs are filled with the same mineral water as the campground - but there was no smell!  One of the neatest things is as soon as you walk through the gift shop back doors you transported to a stress free, serene place.  There's even signs that say "Smoke Free and Cell Phone Free area" !  It was just wonderful!

We decided to have dinner at Fat Cat Cafe.  Scott had fish and chips and I had a bacon and mushroom omlette.  Quite a bit of food, but pricey.  We spent $30.00  (huh I just notice that the whole day seems to revolve around $30.00 :-)) and the food was not incredible - just okay.  Not as good as we remembered.

I just realized that I didn't mention that we've done Sycamore Springs and Fat Cats before.  The day we got engaged we spent time at Sycamore Springs, using the tub and considering having our wedding there (it's gorgeous!).  And the same weekend we had breakfast at Fat Cat Cafe. 

After dinner we made the hour drive to San Simeon and set up camp at Washburn.  It was $15.00 / night (so we SAVED $15.00 for the night!!) and it wasn't that bad.  I wouldn't want to do it for more than one night, but it was okay.  I think we had a much better night there than we would have at Avilia Hot Springs Campground.