Once I saw how close our campsite was to the road I considered requesting a quieter spot, but my daughter was in a hurry to get to the water park. In the shade of oak trees, we unpacked our gear, set up our tent and changed into our swimsuits.
The Casitas Water Adventure is good for children younger than 5. The water around the multilevel jungle gym is no more than 18 inches deep. From the jungle gym, water squirts from water cannons, dumps from overhead buckets and shoots from almost every angle. Beach chairs circle the water park so pale-faced cubicle dwellers can catch rays while watching the kids work off excess energy.
Isabella made a beeline for the Lazy River, ordering me to follow. We each grabbed an inner tube and let the current push us around the river. I would have been happy just to coast for the day, but that was too sedate for Isabella, who wanted to play tag in the river. The Lazy River is no more than 3 feet deep, so I wasn't worried about drowning. Besides, lifeguards are stationed every few hundred feet along the route. The water was cool and clean. A few hours of water horseplay and I was ready to collapse in my tent.
Back at our campsite, we cooked chili and hot dogs on my camp stove, then tried to roast marshmallows over the campfire. I pointed out the stars poking through the branches of the oak trees, but Isabella was already talking about going to sleep. After a long day in the water, we slept soundly, barely noticing the occasional traffic roaring by on 150.
"What time does the water park open?" Isabella asked the next morning. Not until 11 a.m., I told her. That gave us enough time to do some fishing. From the marina, we rented a small motorboat ($50 an hour) and circled the lake. I threw out a spinner lure but got no bites. When we spotted a lone deer grazing on the shore, we turned off the motor to glide closer. We came within about 20 feet of the deer before it bounded into the brush.
After returning the motorboat to the marina, we were back at the Lazy River, drifting on the cool current, playing tag on the inner tubes and wondering if we would ever again have this much fun camping.
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hugo.martin@latimes.com
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Lake Casitas
THE BEST WAY
From Los Angeles, take U.S. 101 north for about 70 miles. Take California 33 east toward Ojai and continue for about 10 miles. Turn left onto California 150 (Baldwin Road), then left again onto Santa Ana Road. The park entrance is on the right.
COSTS
Overnight camping: $25 for a basic site; $30, Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. Higher fees for RV and trailer sites. To make reservations, call (805) 649-1122 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mondays though Fridays.
Water Adventure fees are $12 per day; $5 for entry after 5 p.m.
TO LEARN MORE
Go to www.lakecasitas.info
