I miss the old Lake Cachuma
Lake Cachuma North of Santa Barbara used to be first come. With nearly 400 sites it was generally not a problem. We have gone every year since 2007 in the summer for a weekend. Show up early aftern...
Forum Discussion
The problems began happening when the reservations system emerged, all over the country in any areas that are easily accessible for a weekend.
Most often, sites are booked longer than used, and the computer system cannot overlap from one open site to another if you're willing to move in the middle of a two week stay, or willing to vary the site location in some way.
I'll never figure out why the NP, SP, COE services don't mak the reservations, just like a vendor does it ... I've been in plenty of walk-in CGs and seen two or three employees sitting around waiting to check people in, and could be taking reservations easily enough. It's not like each park is taking reservations for 'all parks' only for the park they work in, and know that park better than a clown sitting at a PC somewhere.
And, the worst part is the ratio of walk-in to reserve sites - that percent should be at least 50/50 ...
I've never heard one good thing about a reserve system - and plenty of complaints. I agree with above - we never make reservations, we plan our time to get first-come sites as best we can, and we figure out an alternative if we can't that specific day. We've almost never been without a site when and where we need it.
I do agree with a vacation/family reservations - but that isn't always true, and if it means that same family reserving every weekend thru a summer, it's not a good thing for anyone.
Most often, sites are booked longer than used, and the computer system cannot overlap from one open site to another if you're willing to move in the middle of a two week stay, or willing to vary the site location in some way.
I'll never figure out why the NP, SP, COE services don't mak the reservations, just like a vendor does it ... I've been in plenty of walk-in CGs and seen two or three employees sitting around waiting to check people in, and could be taking reservations easily enough. It's not like each park is taking reservations for 'all parks' only for the park they work in, and know that park better than a clown sitting at a PC somewhere.
And, the worst part is the ratio of walk-in to reserve sites - that percent should be at least 50/50 ...
I've never heard one good thing about a reserve system - and plenty of complaints. I agree with above - we never make reservations, we plan our time to get first-come sites as best we can, and we figure out an alternative if we can't that specific day. We've almost never been without a site when and where we need it.
I do agree with a vacation/family reservations - but that isn't always true, and if it means that same family reserving every weekend thru a summer, it's not a good thing for anyone.
