The first thing you notice entering the El Capitan Canyon campground is that there is no actual camping. There used to be, until the family-owned operation got new owners who turned the facilities into a “vacation resort.” Over one winter a few years back, the traditional fire pits, dirt patches and RV hookups were replaced with custom-designed cedar cabins and safari tents. “Luxury camping,” they called it, putting El Capitan out in front of a recreational trend across the country that satisfies travelers who want to rough it with ease. “It’s minimalism without deprivation,” they advertised. “The glories of nature without the overbearing manufactured hand of man.” The thing is, this bit of enthusiastic promotional copy is kind of true. El Capitan forms part of the last publicly accessible stretch of pristine Southern California coastline. And for all the irony behind the “luxury camping” concept, a stay at El Capitan reminds us why we call ours... More >>>