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San Mateo County Memorial Park
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
34 reviews for San Mateo County Memorial Park
34 reviews in English
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Review from Dan B.
10/31/2011 2 photos
Don't be fooled by the name - it's not a cemetery. But it is my favorite family, car-camping spot in the Santa Cruz range. Situated in a grove of large coast redwoods, it offers over 150 separate sites, with bathrooms and potable water stations situated strategically throughout the area. Where most campgrounds offer a mix of "good" and "bad" sites, Memorial is well-designed: it's hard to get a bad spot. Campsites are all relatively flat and well-spaced. The fact that you're surrounded by trees a hundred feet high doesn't hurt either.
One of the nicest features of the park is Pescadero Creek, which winds through the park and is easily reached by trail. In warm weather, you'll find roving groups skipping rocks or just cooling off. There is even a swimming hole. (The only thing that's missing is the rope swing).
My recent trip here was a dads and daughters overnighter. Once we set up camp, the girls roamed, explored and got a little soiled (as expected); meanwhile, dads drank beer, snacked on apps, and prepped dinner. Everybody was happy. A win-win.
Other factoids/tips:
- It's less than an hour away from the lower Peninsula
- The on-site camp store may save you from the curse of forgotten items
- Eight miles of hiking trails is enough to stretch the legs
- It contains a beautiful outdoor amphitheater, which can be reserved on line.
- Each site has latch-able metal boxes to keep critters away from your food while you sleep
- Bring extra shoes for water play. Nobody likes putting on wet shoes in the morning -
Review from Mike B.
San Francisco, CA
8/1/2011
We went to this park for one night of car camping this past weekend. Overall, we had a terrific experience.
The park itself is gorgeous. In a southern-Utah-holy-cr*p kind of way? No. But in a this-is-really-90-minutes-from-San-Francisco kind of way? Yes.
We stayed in spot D15, a nice little plot nestled right up next to the creek (admittedly it's about 100 feet up from the creek, so tread carefully). The bathroom facilities were about 50 feet away and were well maintained. There was no shower and the water's cold but it's just what you'd expect in a park.
The people there were very nice and quiet (at least the night we were there). The rangers were terrific - very chatty and deeply passionate about the park system.
For the price and the convenience, I'd definitely recommend it. Bear in mind that, unlike state and national parks, you can reserve spots online up to a year ahead of time and, at $30 per night, it's still quite a bargain (they evidently raised their prices from less than $10 over the past few years to make up for budget shortfalls). -
Review from David R.
Hayward, CA
Updated - 7/10/2011
Things have changed very little from when I last visited almost two years ago. I spent the day at the first come, first serve picnic sites(which is off to the left when you drive into the park) and even though I arrived in the afternoon, there were still sites open. I would avoid the sites that have fire pits with bolted grills since it inhibits having a nice fire. So instead, I would use the sites that have fire pits with hinged grills which allows for a nice fire.
Getting a campsite is still by reservation, thanks to this poor economy. There are some minor improvements like all the bathrooms now have lights with timers so instead of having a orange-ish glow emanating from bathrooms at night(which I kind of miss), they are now clear and bright lights. The switch isn't too hard to find, just look to your left or right to find it. The bathroom I used did not have a stall door on it and the faucets on the sink were tricky to use.
That being said, there are still picnic sites that are unkempt and overgrown with tables falling apart and fire pits falling apart(not all, just some). Fire wood is $8 a bundle from the camp, really cheap. I would still come here to visit, and, if it wasn't too far for others, reserve one of their group campsites.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/5/2009
i've been camping here ever since i was small and each time i've gone it's been awesome. it's only… Read more »
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Review from Mitch I.
San Jose, CA
7/27/2010
Just got back from 3 nights of family camping. Our family had a great time!
The park is about an hour out of San Jose and it is quiet there.
Some kids screaming from time to time, but at night it is quiet. The creek is a fun area. Some deep spots, but you can see them. The water is chilly and clear.
We were there during the week so the traffic was down. We will be going again. Kids found banana slugs and millipedes. We saw some poison oak so be on the lookout.
Mesquites were also around, so wear your protection.
Our site was semiprivate so not an issue. some areas are more crowded than others, if you don't know ask the rangers. They are nice and helpful.
So if you want to family camp, give it a go. If you want to party, stay away, it's a family place. ;) -
Review from Mary D.
Hayward, CA
9/10/2010
Loved this place! A group of friends came here to camp and we reserved 3 sites next to each other. They were close to the bathrooms, but not too close. The water spigot was right at one of the sites, so that was really convenient.
The bathrooms were pretty clean - I'd say the cleanest I've seen of any campsite I've been to so far. And they have WARM WATER at the sinks! That was a surprise. I only noticed it when I accidentally pulled up the lever close to the middle. I never expected warm water, so I never thought to try it.
Nice short hike inside the campgrounds and water holes for the kids to play in. The water was cold though, so just be prepared. (Weather is also relatively cold.) They also have movies at night at their outdoor theater and a general store in case you forgot something.
Overall, nice campsite and I'd definitely go there again! -
Review from Jaye C.
8/12/2008 ROTD 2/7/2009
My family's favorite place to get away from the rest of the world. We come here at least once a year for 2-4 days, and we go back home feeling refreshed. I personally love how isolated it is but close enough so that you can go to a diner or to the beach just a few miles down the road (drive there, don't walk).
I love coming here every year, great place to really be cut off from the rest of the world - because you get no cell phone reception at all and there are not electrical outlets at the lot - and ladies please leave your make-up you really don't need it out here..
You'll get a real camping experience without having to dig a hole to do your business while having clean running water.
You definitely get feel of fauna here mainly skunks and birds, a few deer here and there, but none are aggressive. They will mind their own business as long as you do too. And please never leave food out or you'll only set yourself up for massive clean up.
Each camp site allows for 8 people at $21/night , two car maximum ($8 extra for that second car), and each lot has enough space between each other for privacy. 8 am to make your noise, 10 pm to be quiet - so don't bring any inconsiderate people with you. You also get a table or two, a fire pit or bbq grill and a make-shift pantry to put your food in so the animals don't get to it.
Each lot is very close to a restroom but so far there is only one designated area where they have showers - from what I remember they are building a new one closer to the entrance. So far there are 3 shower stalls, $0.25 per 2 minutes of water so don't forget to bring change.
There is also a general store located by the park entrance that sells rice, fire wood, hot dog buns, lighter, gas, ice cream, milkshakes, ice, ramen, etc. if you forgot to bring them with you. We always come here at least twice a day, owned by a really sweet Korean couple!
Lots of activities for you to partake in at Pescadero! Hiking, bicycling, guided tours, movie nights at the big outdoor amphitheater (you can also participate in talent shows here), night hike, small museum, etc to name a couple of things!
Their policies have now changed: you need to call ahead to make reservations (650) 879-0238. You could also just come here for a day to have a picnic!Listed in: My RoTDS
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Review from David P.
10/19/2008
Beware of bold raccoons! It was probably in the disclosure forms when we made reservations on-line (a very cool system itself), but these little guys come out in packs from lots of gaps in the fences and hover looking for scraps and crumbs and even our toiletry bags or anything else that might hold something to scam.
Once we got used to our neighbors and their scrounging interests, the place is a great, close by campground to get away to for a night or two in the Bay area. I don't know my way around the regional parks system enough to do much comparing but I liked the size of the sites, distance between sites and the creek complete with watering hole near by. I also like hearing from friends and associates that they have been going here for years. Its nice to feel like you are part of an institution. -
Review from Wes M.
San Francisco, CA
6/1/2008 3 photos
As far as I can tell, Memorial Park is essentially the picnic & campground annex of the adjacent and much larger Pescadero Creek County Park just upstream. Why they don't just make them one park (and throw in Sam McDonald while they're at it (and, in fact, just merge them all with Portola Redwoods to form a truly impressive, 12,000+ acre state park)), I don't know. Thus, most of the visitors are here for the picnicking, and in fact the campground was far busier than I expected for a modest little place with 10 Yelp reviews--it must be the cult following of summer shade-o-philes.
The only real hike Memorial Park has to itself is the Mt Ellen & Pomponio trails, a 4 mile loop up into the hills on the north side of Pescadero road. It's a pleasant, if generic, walk, and on a misty day the views look more like Canada than California, thanks to the abundance of evergreen forest.Listed in: Skyline Blvd & The Pumpkin…
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Review from Marshall A.
San Bruno, CA
7/9/2011
Memorial Park is a great place (both for camping and Picnics/day use). I have stayed there many times and my kids love it. My one gripe is the reservable picnic site at Huckleberry Flat #3 (it's the only reservable picnic area for modest size groups (under 25 people) and it is absolutely deplorable. The picnic tables were ancient and dilapidated (you would not want to eat off of them). The area was somewhat overgrown with ferns and it was a long hike to the creek (not great for a group with kids). We found this site to be unusable but were lucky enough to grab a couple day use (first come-first served) picnic sites for our daughter's birthday.
I think the county parks department has a whole lot of nerve charging 75 (non-refundable) dollars for this incredibly poorly maintained, shambles of a picnic site. Especially when they know many people will reserve it without the benefit of driving to the park and seeing it first hand.
Word to the wise: avoid Huckleberry Flat #3. Better yet, get to the park early on the day of your event and grab a first come-first served site after seeing it for yourself.
Definitely do not assume that because the county takes money for a reservation that the site you are reserving is going to be well maintained. -
Review from Rachel H.
Belmont, CA
6/9/2009
Book this place way in advance!!!! Online reservations available up to one year. We were just introduced to this place on Memorial Day weekend 2009 where we visited our friends for the day. We have since been back to camp overnight and have book two more trips this summer and booked the 3 day Memorial weekend for 2010.
My parents took me camping at least once a summer all my life. My husband had never been camping before our last trip. He didn't think it would be fun and wondered what there was to do. He now thinks he is Mr. Out doorman. I think he wants be on an episode of Survivor Man. Whoa.... slow down buddy. This is his facebook quote at the moment, "$21 for Campsite, $49 for a Tent, $20 for Lantern... being an expert outdoors man on the first try... priceless!
I can't believe how cheap it is to camp. It's so beautiful and my boys love all the banana slug sitings. I'll be back to update my review when I have more time!!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Nikki S.
Campbell, CA
6/29/2010
A girlfriend and I came up camping for the weekend. We made our reservations over the phone (they can also be made at http://eparks.com) the Monday before we went up, and we got the last spot! It was a little chilly at night, it got down to 45 on our first night, so bring a hat! We bought firewood for 8$ a bundle, which was semi-dry. They have an amphitheater where they do skits and play movies on sat nights. The watering hole looked great, water however was snow run-off cold. There were plenty of little ones playing on the water tho. They also have natuarlist lead activities like Hikes, crafts etc. There are also an abundance of trails for the little ones, all the way up to seasoned hiker.
Also The town of Pescadero isn't too far (7 miles) so if it's freezing, drop by arcangelli's and pick up some delish garlic bread!
All in all it was a great trip. The campsite was good sized (8 people 2 cars to our site) neighbors were nice. Overall good time. We'll be back. -
Review from Melissa C.
Newark, CA
9/29/2009
Some friends and I did a last minute camping trip here for my boyfriends birthday (no reservations) but they still had plenty of campsites open. We got a nice mostly secluded area surrounded by our own ring of trees (well the whole area is filled with tons of tall redwood trees).
It was about an hour and a half drive from where I live (well longer since we got lost) but a beautiful one, so I didn't mind too much (=
There's a nice creek (water was EXTREMELY cold though, minus) which led into a swimming hole. The swimming hole even had a rope swing which you could use to jump into the water with! It looked like a lot of fun but there were too many people there for my not-so-sober behind to try and stumble across. Everyone else seemed to really enjoy it though.
The campers were nice, and it was a pretty quiet place overnight (Minus the kid screaming "MIDNIGHT BROWNIES" at the top of his lungs).
It was pretty darn hot that day, but luckily there were a lot of shaded areas so it didn't feel too bad. It was reallly cold in the morning though so I suggest that people bring extra blankies.
Overall it was a good place to camp and I plan on coming here again..except maybe on a weekday when it's not as crowded. -
Review from cindy M.
Fremont, CA
7/8/2011
We were there last weekend. Every one in our trip loves it. The site we got is wonderful. It is high and have partial sun, and it is private. A baby dear were wondering the site when we arrived, and we saw another dear the next day.
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Review from Nicole L.
7/29/2008
Last weekend my friends took me here for my first camping experience and I had a jolly good time. They were able to reserve a campsite through it's online site and chose the most isolated site they could. The site was full and it was nice to be away from people and to just spend time in nature. The surroundings were enjoyable - it helped that it was a beautiful sunny day. It was pretty hot so the canopying trees created a perfect environment for hanging in the hammock, boardgames with friends, and some reading time. Unfortunately we didn't get to hike around the Pescadero Creek much, but I hear it's suppose to be nice.
Being it my first time camping the thing I was worried about most was, if I was "going have to pee in a hole." Luckily the sites had bathrooms, not the cleanest bathroom but usable. Strange though was that the toilets did not have seats so you were required to 'hover' over the bowl to do your business. Awkward... yes. The boys however found that after our cheese fondue dinner that their stomachs didn't feel so well and were able to find a toilet with seat, but it was quite a walk away. Showers were also available but for the 2mins for 50cents price I choose to stay dirty till I could bathe at home.
Most of the site accommodate up to 8 people, we had 7. There was just the right amount of room for our 5 tents and space for a makeshift living room. Fire pits are stationed at each site and wood could we purchased from the Memorial County Park store located at the park entrance. I think my favorite park about camping was sitting around the fire at night - my friends showed me their roasted peeps creation which is roasting the little pink,yellow, etc colored bunny/chick marshmallows over the fire. It burns the sugar giving it a cremebrule kind of taste - yummy! =)
Overall if I were to camp again I'd choose Memorial Park - it's close to home and is 'I'm not really the camping type" friendly. -
Review from Ellen D.
Santa Clara, CA
10/16/2007
I spent an afternoon doing some easy hiking here and can't wait to come back to car camp. We found the Mt. Ellen trail was fun and fairly easy for a group of mixed fitness levels. The redwoods here are shockingly beautiful, maybe because it's so easy to be surrounded by them. It's the first place where I have observed them growing in obvious rings of 7-8 trees, as I had heard they are supposed to do.
The atmosphere at the campgrounds was very family-oriented, lots of young kids having some good ol' fashioned fun. If you're going to make the beautiful drive from the east side, budget a little extra time for the mega-twisty road (i.e. some hairpin turns with a 15 mph limit) and beautiful scenery. -
Review from Erica G.
Menlo Park, CA
8/30/2008
A fun place to camp, not far from civilization or the beach. It's great. We drove into Pescadero for the "amazing bread" that is sold at the local store, which really was amazing.
I'm convinced we got the best campsite in the park and really enjoyed our restful time spent here. Many families and children running around - which is the way it should be at a camping park! Late into the night you could hear giggles of little ones and once they all fell asleep all you could hear were the crickets and frogs. Only draw back is that the Park is not large and hiking is limited. Showers are available and bathrooms weren't too bad. -
Review from Jessica C.
Cupertino, CA
9/29/2009
I had never been camping before.. But this last weekend that's what I did. Camping is definitely a fun thing to do. This park is big, lots of trails, and over all a nice place to camp (keep in mind, I never been, so I have nothing to compare it to,lol). I wanna make it, an every end of summer, thing to do:)
The only flaw is that the bathrooms and showers are disgusting, but what do you except?? High end, five star hotel bathroom, lmfao!! Hell no, glad there's even bathrooms and showers there.
Rangers are nice and patrol the area pretty frequently. -
Review from Amanda B.
San Carlos, CA
10/5/2009
Very beautiful out there. Went camping for the weekend and its close to home which is nice. The camp site is fun, we brought our bikes, rode around, and took a hike by this little river.
Down side: NO DOGS! What the heck? So we had to leave our dog with a friend for the weekend.
Also the raccoons are vicious. While we were still awake and up they came within 3 feet of us to try and get our food! Then after we went to bed they got into our locked cooler and ate 6 new york steaks of ours! And... ripped apart one of my uggs!
If you don't have a dog and you want to lock your food back up in your car even when your still awake, then this is the place for you! It really is beautiful, just has a few downfalls. -
Review from Lizzie B.
Los Altos, CA
7/15/2008
I've been going camping with my family my entire life and we've been to Mt. Madonna, we've been to Big Basin, we've been to Portola, and nothing has been as good as Memorial County Park camping!!!! There are soooo many good camp sites and it's just a beautiful location! And if you need to get to the store, no problem! The town of Pescadero is only a 10-15 minute drive away! :] This is the ideal place to take your family camping :D quiet and beautiful and amazing!
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Review from Missie R.
Hayward, CA
8/17/2010
This place is great. It's only roughly an hour away from our house and the drive isn't too bad from the 1. The drive has a beautiful sight seeing the beach. Another good thing is they have bathrooms, showers, and a cubby to lock your food in. The hiking trails are easy the big old dead trees are fun to carve into.
This place is really a nice get away for my Fiancee and I. It's so close to home so it makes it easy for big groups to come once the drive isn't too far. Each campsite is really open and spacious!! Love it!! It's really a great place to bring a beginner camper. It's not roughing it so they'll be able to slowly adjust before making them backpack into the wildness. Haha!!
I suggest going during the weekday and the park isn't as busy so you won't get in trouble with the noise as much (quiet time is at 10 p.m.)
I will however highlight some of the annoying things about the place which made me take out one star.
-Reserving a camp site is crazy hard because doing it online is weird and confusing as shit.
-Their showers are WACK. For .25 cents it gives you two minutes but you have to put in an extra quarter or two til the water warms up if you're the first to shower. Also depending on what stall you're in, if another person hops in another stall to shower, your shower head will go limp due to poor water pressure. Then you're just stuck sticking your arm to the old crusty rusty shower head trying to waterfall the water to your arm onto your head. Be careful not to touch the gross grimy wall.
-The toilets leak.
-The boys bathroom is NASTY near campsite B-4. It's so bad you can smell the odor from outside. So bad so many boys ended up using the women's restroom. They say they clean the bathroom daily (they stick up the cleaning times on the door) but I swear, they don't do shit in there. That place is nasty!!
-You have to pay for parking every day. Seriously?? For what?? You already made money off of us for the site itself. Whatevers. -
Review from Sara K.
San Jose, CA
6/14/2007
Memorial is my absolute favorite place to go for family camping.
During the summer months, the park has so many kid friendly amenities including ranger led activities, hikes & the swimming hole. Sometimes they'll have musical entertainment at the amphitheater too.
The park store carries most all camping needs & even sells ice cream. What could be a more decadent treat while camping than a hand scoped ice cream cone?
Take note that dogs are NOT allowed at Memorial but be prepared for all of the resident critters to come out, especially after dark!
Many of the camp sites are in nicely wooded (meaning private!) spots too. I love the cool, coastal climate which means lots of time spent handing around the camp fire & treasuring the majesty of the redwoods, they make you feel humble.
Unlike Omid T., my experience has been that during the summer months, it can be tricky to get a campsite if you aren't there early on Friday (before 5:00) since they are first come/first served, not a reservation camp ground.
Another plus? You're only 20 minutes from the lovely town of Pescadero if you feel the need for civilization. Make sure you stop into Norm's Market for a loaf of their fabulous garlic herb bread, it's almost always fresh from the oven warm & tastes really good w/ your camp site dinner! -
Review from Sandy C.
San Jose, CA
8/2/2009
Just took our son for his first camping trip here and had a great time. The park itself is wonderful and the facilities good. My only complaint is that on a busy weekend the campgrounds were filled with a bunch of families who didn't care about peace and quiet! Seriously people, staying up til 1-2 AM drinking and laughing is not considerate! Our campsite was wonderful, on a ravine with a firepit and 2 picnic tables. Our neighbors were not, 2-3 families with 8+ kids total and NO supervision except to scream and yell at the kids when they finally do pay attention. Losers. This would have been a perfect first camping experience were it not for the guests that don't quite understand that voices travel outdoors!
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Review from Liz J.
Sunnyvale, CA
7/5/2009
Beautiful place! I love the redwoods, creeks, and all the lush plants. We rolled in the park and I fell in love. we had a picnic on 4th of July, and had no problem finding a picnic spot. My daughter and I walked around and took pics and went to the park store. The store owners were really friendly! I cant wait to go camping in a couple months. Looks like a great place to camp. I think you have to book in advance and it's like 21$ a night. The rangers at the park entrance were very helpful.
Listed in: Parks, camping, hiking
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Review from Lisa T.
7/30/2007
We took our 2-year-old here last week for his very first camping experience, and I highly recommend this beautiful campground.
The best thing about it is that it's first-come-first-served, so if you live in the Bay Area and can get there early in the day you can really snag a sweet campsite.
This park has a stream running through it (though all the streamside campsites are on a high bank and none is right next to the stream), and there is a watering hole-cum-swimming area and even a sand beach. Some of the other posts say the water's not too great, but it reached chest height on me and it wasn't toooooo cold.
Coin showers and a tiny convenience store onsite make it even more easy to deal with.
This was our first time camping with our toddler and we are so glad we came to this park.
You're in the redwoods but it's never too dark and gloomy (like I remember Big Basin being), and the park seems to attract a nicer crowd than Big Basin, less rowdy. -
Review from Kiwi L.
San Jose, CA
6/7/2009 2 photos
My whole body is sore from running the creek trail early yesterday morning, lol. No pain, no gain!
My father-in-law invited me to join the camping fun. I've never been to Memorial Park but my husbands family have been here many times.
The ride up was nice; trees everywhere & winding roads.
Also there's no cell phone reception up here! Err.
Camping itself...
NO dogs allowed. I was mad about that. The pup had to stay home.
Remember to drive slowly through out the park, especially at the camp sites. Campers and cars share the tiny road.
The creek trail is great. My hubbys little brothers were playing Indiana Jones while walking to the water hole. The trail really does remind me of an Indiana Jones film. The water hole areas are cool. Just a shallow creek (they call one area a "pool", haha).
The bathroom toilets freak me out. It's basically a toilet without a lid to sit on. Showers are at a cost. So bring quarters.
The little shop near the front entrance is pricey (but I guess that's what you get if you forget something). 1 ice cream scoop for almost $3.00. Imagine 10 kids wanting ice cream.
The funny thing about the people who run this store is that the asian women will wave at each car that passes by. lmao. She's very nice but it's so funny.
And the raccoons! haha
They are like New York City rats. My husband and his dad put food all around the older girls tent. The evening before, raccoons were spotted. So the jokesters knew the raccoons will come again.
Overall, the scenery and quietness of the woods was relaxing. A great option when you need to get away from the city. -
Review from Don O.
San Francisco, CA
9/1/2006
This is the best kept secret in the bay area for camping. Its not a state park so people searching for places to camp on the San Mateo County coast always miss this place. The camping is great, cheap, and for being an hour's drive from SF you truly feel like you're away from it all. Lots of great hiking and bike trails and still close to the ocean at Pescadero.
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Review from Mark L.
Newark, CA
10/26/2007
This place is tiiiight. We got here early on a Thursday to make sure we got a spot, and good thing we did because this place fills up fast during the summer. We ended up getting one of the best spots in the place. The area is beautiful though, they have a little lagoon down the way with a rope attached to a tree that you can swing on and jump into the water. The rangers are a bit uptight though. It feels like your out in the cutties but your still in the bay and not too far from a store...if you need to make a beer run. Only thing is the bathrooms are nasty, but i guess what do you expect if your camping. Good place to bbq, drink and talk stories with your buddies
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Review from Johnny B.
Santa Cruz, CA
1/12/2009
Good family park to camp. Can be a bit loud with Valleys and city folks behaving like there still in the heart of San Jose. Its an old park that needs to be loved and cleaned up. Hike and get away from the crowds in camp. The place has around 200 camping spots -- Butano has around twenty and is much cleaner and quieter.
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Review from milo a.
Berkeley, CA
10/2/2009
I'm not sure hidden gem is the right term but this place is great. Old growth redwood and canopy, fog, a little sun, brazen raccoons, Pescadero Creek running through plus old-timey Depression era WPA history (people lived here during the Great Depression). What's not to like? There's something about this place, quite beautiful yet close by but still far away.
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Review from Jean S.
Albany, CA
6/14/2009
We just came back from a great camping trip at Memorial Park. It is an easy getaway from the East Bay that seems much farther away than it is. I love that there is an easily accessible creek that my toddler could walk to, and the beach and tide pools are also only 20 minutes away. The sites are a bit close together, but most have some screening from the trees. My husband couldn't stop going on about the how fantastic the old school barbecues are for cooking on (as opposed to the fire pits).
The park loses one star because the showers are seriously funky. They look like they were built in 1952 and haven't been upgraded since. Bring your shower shoes! Several of the toilets were also leaking what I hope was water on the floor. Overall, though, we had a very positive experience. -
Review from D G.
Richmond, CA
9/13/2010
other than sneaky raccoons and that it must be under an SFO flight path, it's pretty nice. very family-friendly, lots of redwoods all around, bubbly brook. it's camping and 'all, but since I'm drivin' by silicon valley mansions to get there, how 'bout soap in the restrooms?
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Review from Christina O.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2009
I've came here twice for camping and each time I had a great time. I love this park because it's not too far to drive to and still close to home. Only about 15 minutes away from Half Moon Bay and once you're there you feel so refreshed like you're in a whole new place. They have tons of camp sites to camp out at and it's so easy to reserve online, they even will show what's being occupied and what is available, which is really helpful. I would recommend staying as far away from the road as possible because it gives you more of a nature feeling because the last time I camped there only Azalea was open and that camp site was near the road and you could hear the cars passing. Otherwise any other camp site would be great. The trails are very nice to go hiking there's many routes to end your hike early or go further. Overall this is a great place to camp at, but you got to beware of the raccoons and birds they are some scavengers! Haha other than that some tips I would say are buy anything you need at the Safeway in Half Moon Bay, stop at the beach on your way to Memorial Park or on your way home it's so beautiful, and if you need firewood there is a little store about 5 minutes from the park you get a box and fill it up as much as you can for $8.
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Review from tim b.
San Mateo, CA
8/10/2009
"No Dogs or Cats allowed in park / campground, not even on a leash." Well, what a pity for pet-owning tax payers!
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Review from Ruby E.
Tracy, CA
5/29/2007
This is a great Family Park. If you have kids this is the place to take them, there are trails to walk through, a ranger's station where your kids can make crafts, a creek that is deep in some places so swimming is always an option during the summer and when the weather is HOT in the bay area just drive up for a nice cool break in the mountains. There is a little store which can provide you with essentials that you run out of and bring fire wood because you have a choice of either a campsite which features a firering pit or one of the stone made fire places, which were handcrafted in the 1930's. Most importantly if you have kids..there are coin-op showers and clean bathrooms. You'll find kids riding their bikes up and down the campground but leave the pets at home this is a people only park..well except for the night time critters that live there, that will come to raid your food if youre not careful.
