I am camped in asphalt parking lot full of RVs, there are people and noise everywhere. I need to be careful about poking my elbow out the window of your mobile home for fear of bumping into the campers next to you. I wonder what the heck I am doing here until the first morning, when I wake up early, strap on my running shoes, and head down the beach and begin to run into the silent misty morning, enveloped by the gentle crash of waves.

My mind cleared, and my body awakened from the effort of running on the soft sand; I head back to my camp site and begin my week at the beach. I have spent several portions of my life living in apartments on the boardwalk in San Diego, and Orange County, and I am keenly aware of the privilege of walking out the front door onto the edge of the vast Pacific. For those who have not had the privilege of living at the beach there exists the opportunity to camp at the beach. There are several beach campgrounds available, including the Silver Strand State Beach, where I recently spent some time.

Silver Strand is located on the Coronado Peninsula, just minutes, and a bridge crossing away from Downtown San Diego. The campground is directly adjacent to a natural beach which, unlike most beaches in Southern California, is not groomed. The campground requires you to have a self contained vehicle (unfortunately no tent camping). Reservations for the spots go very quickly in the summer, but it seems to be the best campground in San Diego to find a last minute open reservation. The beach has lots of day parking, and is one of the least crowded beaches in the city.

Like all of State Parks, Silver Strand is in danger of being closed down due to the unfortunate incompetent actions of our State Government. Please go to Save Our State Parks to see how you can help keep Silver Stand and so many of our other parks open.