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Introduction
After a while, we started coming out of hibernation and return to exploring more. Trying to find a safe and accommodating location for enjoying nature as a family, we found a spot that worked great and catered to all levels of camping comfortably on one property. It’s called Costanoa Lodge (https://costanoa.com/), and is located about 1 hour south of San Francisco off of the scenic Highway 1 along the California Coast.
We’ve now gone a few times, most recently planning a Halloween weekend trip with four other families, some of which were camping outdoors for the first time. We were very pleased with how easy and fun the place turned out to be. Read on to learn more about our time there and hopefully get some ideas for your next family outing.
Getting There
Costanoa is located right outside of Pescadero, CA, and getting there is quite easy from any point in the Bay. Our trip included families coming from both the SF area and the South Bay. Since it is located off of Highway 1, it was pretty accessible from major freeways from any direction. The roads are not too windy, which made it good for traveling with a little one in the back. And the final stretch of the road trip was along the coast which made for some picturesque views, especially at sunset. However, once the sun is down, the drive could get a little dark to drive on which could take some getting used to. Plus, once the sun is down, there isn’t much to look at anymore.
For more details, please refer to their site for directions: https://costanoa.com/location/
Rooms
Here is where Costanoa shined for our trip. They have plenty of options for all levels of campers, from a fully-furnished Lodge (think of your typical nice hotel) down to campsites where you can pitch your own tent and sleep under the stars. In between, they also have great options with family cabins and bungalows that give you a little bit more of the outdoor feel mixed with some good amenities. These were the two options that most of our party picked, which we also thought were pretty unique to this resort, so will get into more details about them below.
Cabins
The cabins offer a great experience for families or groups of up to 6 people. You get a single dwelling to hang out in, along with a small kitchen. The only thing is that you’ll have to go to a shared bathroom for showers and restrooms. But other than that, these offer great warmth, privacy, and amenities like a mini-fridge and outlets.
Bungalows
The bungalows are great for those wanting to experience a tent-camping experience for the first time. They are small one-room dwellings made out of canvas, and despite that, still offer great protection from the outdoors. They also come with a fire pit and picnic table out front to let you start and enjoy a campfire. A campfire, in our honest opinion, is key to making it a true camping trip. While not as fully furnished or roomy as a cabin, this is a great place for a couple or a family with one small kid to share. All bungalows offer real beds and mattresses, and heated blankets to keep you cozy and warm. Some of these also offer space heaters (ask for the Cyprus Village) for a group of 3 slightly roomier bungalows. As an added benefit, these 3 bungalows are all grouped closer together so it makes a great site for larger parties that want to hang out together. But be warned, there are no picnic tables or fire pits for this group of tents, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for that (see amenities below for more details).
Amenities
The most convenient thing about Costanoa for a trip with a little one is having reliable food options nearby. The property has two with a sit-down restaurant and outdoor tent. Both have good menus with family-friendly food such as baked-to-order pizza, rotisserie chicken, or sandwiches. They have both a breakfast menu and a lunch/dinner one to keep things fresh. We highly recommend the breakfast burrito to start off your day.
Having these options available made it easy to figure out food on a limited schedule, such as the evening we got in. We didn’t have time to unpack, set up camp, and make food to get our little one fed and to bed in time. So we just went to the restaurant, ordered some take out, and ate at our tent.
Additionally, there is a general store for picking up last-minute camping supplies, toiletries, or snacks. This is also where you can order firewood and have them delivered to your campsite. Between the two restaurant options and the general store, it made packing and planning for the weekend a lot easier.
Finally, there are plenty of lawns and picnic tables sprinkled throughout the property for you to gather larger groups if you either stay in the lodge or cabins, or are at a bungalow without these amenities. We loved having the giant lawn for our little one to run around in, and for those warmer summer days, it makes a great place to sit and watch the sunset or look up at the stars. Also sprinkled throughout the property are public bathrooms and showers, and each has a fireplace with chairs to lounge in front of if you want to avoid starting a fire yourself. These are also a great place for the adults to hang out, share some drinks, and relax after the kids go to bed.
Things To Do Nearby
There are a number of parks nearby that offer hikes for hikers of all levels. Right across the Highway from the property is the Año Nuevo Coast Natural Preserve (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523) with easy trails that overlook the coast, and some that lead down to the beach below. Just ask the front-desk for tips on how to find these trails as they’re all within walking distance of the property.
Our favorite hiking activity nearby is a short drive up the Highway to Butano State Park (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=536). This park offers wonderful views of redwoods and has a number of trails that take you deep into the forest for that extra special outdoor feel. We’ve hiked this park with and without a little one, and can say it was easy to find loops that accommodate either situation. And unlike busier nearby parks such as Portola or Big Basin, there are not as many crowds so you can have a quieter hiking experience.
Finally, if you are up for a little bit of a drive, Half Moon Bay is about 30 mins north on the Highway. And 30 mins south on the Highway is Santa Cruz. Both offer plenty of restaurants, shopping, and activities for the family.
Conclusion
Emerging from a pandemic and having a new baby, we were a little hesitant on how to best reconnect with our previous adventuring. But with Costanoa, we found a great way to still experience nature and be able to bring some friends along for the fun. We recommend you check them out and the entire area of Pescadero next time you get in the mood to immerse yourself in some nature.
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