Adventuring Through Paradise Campground

Procrastination FINALLY came of use in my life ladies and gentlemen! I should have been writing a 10 page research paper for my English class. Alas, 4 hours later, deep into the far corners of the internet, past my “sister’s-cousin’s-husband’s” strange obsession with European car parts, I stumbled upon an article highlighting the top 10 swimming holes in Southern California. Naturally, I embarked upon a mission that many friends of mine thought was impossible:

I planned a sober camping trip!

I decided my destination would be Red Rock – a swimming hole popular to locals nestled in the mountains of Santa Ynez, with a beautiful campsite (fittingly named “Paradise Campground”) , cliff jumps and hiking trails.

Now, let me preface this with the fact that I’m really not an outdoors-y kind of girl. I’m the type of girl that gets my nails done every week and loses my cool when I see any kind of insect. I don’t really own hiking shoes, and my idea of “camping” is a cozy cabin on the outskirts of town with free WiFi. WHY I decided upon camping is a question I’ll probably never have the answer to.
Regardless, after mentioning the trip to a few friends, my solo soul-searching mission turned into a group of three sober women and one (we believe) sober dog, headed to Paradise Campground.

I’m taking this moment to marvel in the fact that my best friend, Paige, and I set up this tent on our own, in less than 20 minutes. Go ahead, be impressed by our independence and strength.

The trip was originally just an idea to get out of town, and explore something I wouldn’t normally dream of doing. The adventure definitely did accomplish that – with a 4 hour hike sometimes through grass taller than my head, rock jumping through creek beds, a brief and petrifying encounter with a rattlesnake, and moss in between my toes as I waded into a beautiful swimming hole.

However, overall the trip meant much more than a weekend escape. I often found myself in silent meditation, marveling at just how small I am in comparison to the extravagant and powerful world around me.

The reality is that there is too much world to explore, too many experiences to be had, and too many dreams to chase for me to ever consider the lifestyle I was living while drunk and high.

Don’t take my word for it though. Even though writing is my passion, there will never be words on this planet to adequately describe this feeling. Explore the world around you and find your own proof that life is indeed for the living!

If I’ve done my job correctly, you should be inspired, so click here to find more info on Paradise Campground and surrounding trail heads!