A Lazar Family Adventure
Camp Mauna Lani
Glamping for the non-glampers. A three-day escape along the Santa Barbara coast that skips the crowds, the dirt, and the regret. Built for a pregnant wife, designed for two toddlers, and approved by a husband who values his marriage.
The Manifesto
Mauna Lani in the Dirt
You know the routine. You pack the car for two days, drive two hours, hunt for a patch of dirt wedged between strangers, sleep on a deflating pad, and drive home smelling like smoke and regret. That is not this trip. That is not who you are anymore.
Camp Mauna Lani is an argument against the idea that camping has to be uncomfortable. A 1.5-hour cruise from Sherman Oaks in your own car, your own climate, your own music. When you arrive, everything is ready. Private site. Full hookups. Real beds. Real showers. Organic snacks. Concierge service. The hardest decision you will make all weekend is whether to do the pool or the massage tent first.
The point is not to avoid nature. The point is to enjoy it without the grit. Phoebe can run barefoot on the beach. Simmy can crawl on clean grass. Julie can float in a heated pool at seven months pregnant. Ian can grill without fighting a wind-blown flame. Everyone sleeps well, eats well, and comes home rested. That is the brief. That is the vision.
1.5 hrs
Drive from SO
100%
Private site
Zero
Public bathrooms
Minimal
Toddler meltdowns
Compare Your Options
Two Ways to Camp Mauna Lani
You have two paths to the same destination. One is maximum spatial luxury with zero driving effort. The other is maximum flexibility with an iconic road-trip aesthetic. Both end at Ridge Site #72 or #74 at Ocean Mesa.
Trailer delivery by 101 RV Rentals. A late-model 2025 luxury bunkhouse travel trailer, ~30 feet, parked and leveled at the ridge before you leave Sherman Oaks. You drive the Volvo. They do everything else.
Sleeping
Private master queen bed for Ian and Julie. Separate bunk area for Phoebe and Simmy with their own space. Sleeps up to 6.
Bathroom
Private gated shower and toilet. Zero interaction with public camp facilities.
Kitchen
Full kitchen. Stocked with organic snacks, pour-over coffee, Pura scents, and chilled sparkling water.
Setup
101 RV Rentals delivers, levels, hooks up power/water/sewer, and stocks the trailer. They pack up when you leave. You do nothing.
Cost
~$250-$350/night, delivery and setup included. Plus the Ocean Mesa resort fee.
Rent a modern 2024+ 4x4 Winnebago Revel or Airstream Interstate in Los Angeles. Drives like the family XC90 with a better view. The iconic spaceship aesthetic turns heads on the PCH and delivers the full luxury RV experience under your own power.
Sleeping
Queen bed plus overhead cab bunk. Compact but thoughtfully laid out. Works best if the kids take the lower bunk and Ian and Julie take the queen.
Bathroom
Integrated wet bath with shower, toilet, and sink. Full climate control. No compromises.
Kitchen
Compact but complete. Induction cooktop, fridge, sink. Stocked the same way. Plus you can pull over for lunch anywhere along the coast.
Driving
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. Backup camera, adaptive cruise, lane keep. Ian can handle it. Easy to park. Fits in a standard spot.
Cost
~$300-$450/night, picked up in LA and dropped off. You drive it yourself, so no delivery fee.
Quick take: Option A gives you more space for the money and zero driving responsibility. Option B gives you the full RV experience and the freedom to roam. Neither is the wrong call. Both end up at the same ridge site with the same ocean view.
Ocean Mesa
Ridge Site #72 or #74
Ocean Mesa RV Resort, Santa Barbara Coast
Perched on the bluffs above El Capitan State Beach, the Ridge Sites are Ocean Mesa's premium tier. Elevated, set back from the main row, with native landscaping that gives each pad its own sense of privacy. Unobstructed coastal views from the patio. No dirt roads. No gravel lots. No shared anything.
Site #72 and #74 sit at the southwest edge of the ridge, catching the afternoon sun and the evening marine layer roll-in. Concrete pads, full hookups (power, water, sewer), a fire ring, and a private picnic table. This is the kind of campsite where the term camping feels almost wrong - which is exactly the point.
Heated pool & spa
Open year-round. Towels provided. Phoebe's favorite spot. Julie can float and read.
Ridge massage tent
Private on-site massage services with canyon views. Julie's pregnancy recovery session.
Canyon trails
Private hiking trails through the canyon. Stroller-friendly. Ocean overlooks at every turn.
Gourmet market
Local wine, California cheese, charcuterie, artisanal provisions. Open daily.
Beach underpass
Private tunnel to El Capitan State Beach. No roads to cross. Steps from the site.
Pro tip: Request Site #72 for the widest ocean sightline. #74 sits slightly deeper but has more shade in the afternoon. Either one is a win.
3 Days, Toddler & Pregnancy Safe
The Plan
A relaxed pace designed around naps, snacks, and zero stress. Every day balances outdoor time with real downtime. No rushed mornings. No overbooked afternoons. No cranky kids.
Day 1
Arrival & Ridge Sunset
Depart Sherman Oaks. 1.5-hour cruise up the 101. Phoebe watches Moana. Simmy naps. Julie reclines with sparkling water and a book.
Arrive at Ocean Mesa Ridge. Both options work: either your trailer is already delivered, leveled, and hooked up at #72, or you pull in with the Sprinter.
Lunch on the patio. Gourmet provisions from the market. Ocean view from your picnic table.
Pool session. Heated pool. Phoebe practices her kicks. Julie floats. Ian supervises with a cold brew.
Sunset ridge walk. The bluff trail runs right past the site. Blankets provided. Phoebe collects pine cones.
Private gourmet camp dinner. Curated meal at your site or prepared in the kitchen. Local wine for Ian. Mocktails for Julie.
Day 2
Tide Pools, Canyon Massage & Stars
Coffee on the patio. Ocean air. Quiet. The kids wake up on their own schedule.
Tide-pooling at El Capitan State Beach via the underpass. Phoebe hunts for hermit crabs and sea stars. Simmy plays in the sand at the shoreline.
Back to the ridge for lunch and naps. Ian grills. Julie reads on the lounger with the ocean behind her.
Private canyon massage for Julie at the on-site wellness tent. Ian takes the kids back to the pool.
Quiet time. Market run for wine and cheese. Afternoon snack board on the patio.
Stargazing with a luxury s'mores kit. Fire pit at the site. Kids in bed by 8:30. Parents on the patio with the last of the wine.
Day 3
Montecito Brunch & Departure
Morning pack-up. Option A: 101 RV handles the teardown. Option B: Quick Sprinter reset. Kids eat breakfast in their seats.
Scenic 45-minute drive south to Montecito along the coast. Stop at Carpinteria for photos.
Brunch at the Rosewood Miramar Beach. Oceanfront dining. Caruso's or the Miramar Beach Bar. Truffle scrambled eggs for the adults. Pancakes for Phoebe.
Stroll the Rosewood grounds. Beach access. Gardens. One last ocean view before heading home.
Head back to Sherman Oaks. 1.5 hours. Kids sleep the whole way. Home by 2:00. Laundry by 3:00. Rest by 4:00.
Approve & Book
This trip is fully planned and costed. Two paths, one destination, zero friction. Authorize a Poke human to handle every reservation, rental, and delivery detail. You pack the kids. We handle the rest.
Option A: Bunkhouse
101 RV Rentals 2025 luxury bunkhouse, delivered and set up
3 nights, ~$250-$350/night
Option B: Sprinter
Winnebago Revel or Airstream Interstate, self-drive from LA
3 nights, ~$300-$450/night
Ridge Site + Brunch
Ocean Mesa Ridge Site #72 or #74 + Rosewood Miramar
Site ~$150-$220/night, brunch reserved