Cheap Northern California coastal vacation

Getting there: As far in advance as possible book round trip airfare to San Francisco to secure the cheapest fare. If you have many days to spend, or already live in California or a bordering state, you can travel by train or bus, of course, especially if you enjoy out-the-window sight seeing.

In Advance: Outfit yourself for backpacking. Break from typical luggage and fit a good ultralight-weight easy-to-fold-up-small tent, sleeping bag, pad, and some changes and layers of all-weather mix-and-match clothing into a decent backpacking knapsack on a comfortable sturdy frame. These items can be used over and over and if you shop around the total cost can stay in the range of a few hundred dollars. Pack your digital camera and laptop instead of dried food packets and pack only the most essential toiletries, if any.

Book a rental car for your stay: All the major car rental companies have great deals so do as much research as you can without going crazy. The trick is matching the best deal you can find to your vacation period and vehicle preferences. Often you can book car rentals way ahead and pay only if you show up, so why not get this detail out of the way? You can make changes later if you find a better deal. Book a comfortable fuel efficient compact or medium sized car to pick-up at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Don't worry, you're not going backpacking...but you are going camping! Book your days and nights ahead at Olema Ranch Campground near Pt. Reyes Station in Marin County. This will be your home hub and it is the key to the cheapness of this vacationing (or conference attending) strategy.

I'm not kidding! When I discovered recently that even a so-so hotel in this Tourist Country, California was going to cost almost twice my roundtrip airfare per night I jogged my memory back to the fun childhood vacations I enjoyed camping at Olema Ranch for days (for just more than a song) and driving to a different beach or winery every day. Olema Ranch is still going strong and it is just a little bit more expensive than it was 40 years ago - a tent site is now $180.00 per week! There are other more scenic and more rustic places to camp in Marin and Sonoma Counties that you may research and choose instead, but Olema ranch has more amenities - ATM, laundromat, store, showers, even free WIFI. So far, I like it the best.

Enjoy! When you arrive at SFO, take the shuttle train to pick up your rental car, then head north on HWY 101. (Your only piece of luggage is your carry-on or gate checked backpack, remember?) Follow the HWY 101 and Golden Gate signs through the rolling streets of San Francisco and drive across the Golden Gate. Continue on HWY 101 to Greenbrae, then take the San Anselmo exit onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and drive through San Anselmo and Fairfax until you reach HWY 1 in Olema. Or, you can exit HWY 101 right away at HWY 1 after crossing the Golden Gate and drive that quieter, calmer, most scenic, winding route north. Purchase whatever toiletries, snacks, and other comfort items you need and want in any store along the way in sizes you will use up during your stay.

What a relief! Now I know I can afford to spend a week in Northern California and visit my favorite power places in Marin and Sonoma Counties much oftener, beach strolling or wine tasting or just resting and recharging. Camping out (with some of the comforts of hotels at a fraction of the price) helps me reconnect with nature and feel I have really gotten away for a while.