El Capitan Canyon

El Capitan Canyon offers an experience that falls between camping and staying in a country cabin. Located in a scenic canyon, it's great for families, big groups, family reunions and the like. The location 20 miles from downtown Santa Barbara is a little too far to consider as a substitute for a hotel in town and more enjoyable if you plan to stay put.

El Capitan Canyon is one of a new class of lodgings, midway between old-fashioned tent camping and staying in a nice hotel. They often use the term "glamping" (glamorous camping) to describe it and a stay there is a bit like camping in a pretty location - except that you'll have running water, soft beds and a sturdy roof overhead.

One of the best aspects of the place is the natural environment, where you can go to sleep listening to a frog chorus and wake up to a bird solo. It sounds like a good place for a quiet getaway or a romantic escape, but during summer and school vacation times, El Capitan Canyon fills with families. With the cabins and tents close together, all the hub-bub could likely disturb the idyllic romantic getaway you had in mind - but go on a weekday in the off-season and you'll almost have the place to yourself.

Families will find plenty to do and the kids will enjoy visiting the goats, llamas and donkey. Nature-lovers can watch the quail, deer and other wild critters. Active travelers can borrow a bicycle for a ride to El Capitan State Beach, which is just across the highway or go for a hike.

Whether or not you think El Capitan Canyon is a good value for your money depends on too many factors for us to predict, but some general price information may help. The lowest-priced safari tent costs about four times as much as a traditional camping spot at the state beach across the highway (but with a much higher comfort level) and a king-bedded cabin's price is comparable to a nice, mid-range hotel in Santa Barbara.

If you decide to go, reservations for El Capitan Canyon (like most other camping spots in California) need to be made as far in advance as you can. By mid-March, they may be almost filled up for the upcoming summer.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review of El Capitan Canyon. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.