Carrizo Plain National Monument / California's Serengeti!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thanks for stopping by! We are now full-time in our Grand Design Imagine XLS 17MKE and have traveled through over 35 states! For something a bit newer, check out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXa1e36LrdCZhKM

[@HealthyTrailswithKay]

Looks like a great place to go look for native plants and animals and area history! Bigger than Badwater? WOW! I can't imagine! Thanks for sharing this one with us! Always great to watch your videos!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

It was a really cool place! What I read was "alkali lake", so maybe Badwater isn't considered that..? Badwater seems to be more of a giant drain. Who knows... it was cool though! Thank you for watching ~ we talked about you the other night :)

[@adventuringoutdoorswitheric]

Thanks for the drive though, campground and visitors Center tour of this unique area. That's so awesome that they made that boardwalk out of old milk bottles.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thanks for watching! It is definitely unique! I would love to go walk that boardwalk after a really good rain... and yeah the use of recycled materials is awesome! :) Heather

[@TheBaconlover64]

Great video, thank you for sharing your experience with us!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Such a cool place! We went to White Sands in NM yesterday - kind of a similar feel. So open & wild!

[@AmericasParks]

Wow, I didn't know this much information on the place existed! :) I learned much more from your excellent video than I did on my own visit! Great job, Heather!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

I made it all up! Ha ha ~ actually found a great little magazine type thing at the info center ~ loads of info & articles written by people who love this area. And with staying there 3 nights, I had plenty of time to read it. Thanks for watching! You might see yourself on Friday morning :)

[@AmericasParks]

Can't wait (said with a big gulp, lol)!

[@rachelarmela]

Nice share 👍🏼 🆙 ☺️ The sky is stunning... My dogs would love it there,,, lol

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thanks for watching! I kept our dog right next to me as there are snakes...! The sky was amazing - great clouds and great lighting! If you didn't see my KCL Campground video, there is more nice lighting and video of the clouds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6GVm2uAi8RoqK8

[@winnieheart]

I didn't know about this place so I'm glad you showed me it! When you were driving through the grasslands, I was in awe 😍 It looks super nice especially from a higher view! :)

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Most people in California don't know about it! Glad you enjoyed ~ it is a peaceful, uncrowded place!

[@fr3atlast448]

The last shot is beautiful!🌷🚍

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you! We had gorgeous lighting - there is more of this lighting in our KCL Campground video if you missed that one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6GVm2uAi8RoqK8 also some nice cloud shots!

[@TouringTastebuds]

We have never heard of this, but it looks great! We will have to remember this if we pass by that way! Would be awesome if we cross paths! Really cool with the white sand, makes us think of White Sands which we just left! Glad you are great!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Most people in CA have never heard of it! Ha ha! The white sand was pretty crunchy ~ probably nicer sand in White Sands. Let me know if you will be near the Ventura area ~ if you are nearby on a Friday or Saturday I might be able to park you in the boat yard (not the weekend after 4th of July though). Enjoy your travels!

[@SkinnyGPanda]

Such pretty views and scenic valleys. Some placed I have never heard of so I will be sure to check them out. It was nice to hear how sweet you are to your pets and ensure their safety. Not many do that. Thank you for sharing.

[@EllaMcKendrick]

Wow, this place is gorgeous! I have never head of it before so thanks for sharing. It does almost look like something straight out of Africa, especially with the salt lake - reminds me of Namibia. Great video!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

No one has heard of it! Even people who live 50-90 miles away ~ quite funny really. But there is not much there. Hoping to go back and see elk & antelope! Thanks for watching ~ will take a look at your Namibia travels :) Heather

[@Delta68Geo]

We weren't too far from there last year on our road trip in the US, we travelled down the 101, so many amazing places to come back and visit. A giant kangaroo rat 😲 wouldn't want to see one of those!!! Yay Lexi, so cute 😍 Those condors are enormous! Thanks for sharing this interesting video 👍😊

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

It is inland from the 101 by a bit, but not too far! Where all did you go? We live in CA along the coast. Yeah, we really enjoyed our time here and learned a lot. There is a condor sanctuary area in the mountains south of the plain - there are pullouts along the road and if you sit for awhile you may see condors! We want to go back and do that. Thanks for watching!

[@anitahamlin2411]

Good info. I appreciate it!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Such a cool place! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@DestinationEarth]

Hahaha "one of the animals here are the kangaroo rat, and we were pretty happy not to see that" Amazing. And that snake was looking at you, lol. Super cool

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Yeah, no rats please. Even with the word "kangaroo" in front of the word rat, no rats. And the snake? YIKES. I kept Lexie right next to me when out walking and kept her away from all of the holes in the ground...

[@markreynolds3850]

Thanks for sharing your video, nice video on the plains., very informative video.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you! I am so ready to go back here ~ would love to have a week or so to explore more!

[@WithinHikingDistance]

I had never heard of it! It seems it is not easy to get there 😉 We saw a kangaroo rat in Death Valley - our tent in the campground was on his home! Congrats on seeing just 1 snake 😃 Very interesting human history. The boardwalk made with bottle is a great idea! Hot hot hot for Lexie! Thank you for sharing!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Well I have lived in CA off and on for many years (more than I will put in writing) and I had never heard of it until several years ago! No rats = good. One snake = better than more (especially as we have a dog). It was a little brutal getting there, but we have done far worse (Trona Pinnacles & Balch Park in Mountain Home near Sequoia National Park)!

[@HBMaverick]

Nice video! Hey that looks like me on the motorcycle! Love the place, been there twice once on a street bike and once in the Jeep.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you! That is our friend, Stan. We had camped at his girlfriend's house the night before and he was showing us the way ~ was fun to have him along, but he said he froze on the way back home. It would be a fun place to explore on bike or Jeep! Thanks for watching :) Heather

[@SenjaAldee]

Am not here yet... now I am... nice vlog, nice information.. like this video

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you ~ it is a little known area. Most people in California have never heard of it!

[@timdoreck3208]

How lucky is this. Just found your channel as I makes some decisions about other camping sites besides the BLM at Alabama Hills. I have wanted to do some more along 395 and BINGO ...your site shows up. Yes I subscribed.A yearly run to Lone Pine for the last 5 years in late spring for Milky Way photography... when the moon cooperates is what I look forward to. with the discovery of your channel I Now I have some more exploring along the way.. Going to review some of your camping sites on 395 and hopefully make a night or 2 nights in a few of them before or after my Milky Way efforts. I love the silhouettes of the glorious rock formations and spires of Alabama Hills in the fore ground and the MW high above.. We say "when you live in Monterey, where do you go for vacation? "Where it is warmer and the Milky Way is so bright you can taste the caramel.. that's where.. The east Sierras are my personal trip to the stars.Look for me..White Single cab GMC truck, camper shell with redwood sun deck (actually for the tripod and camera), camo painted pod, situated sideways at the back of the deck and a small camo painted Toyota truck bed trailer with a Tepui Roof Top tent. Stop by and say hi. There will always be Tequila and freshly squeezed Lime juice. Is there any other way?

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Hi Tim! Thanks! I think you could get some amazing night photos here too. Carrizo is pretty wide open, but did have some ambient light from somewhere - maybe Taft area and Santa Maria. Still a cool place though! We stayed at KCL Campground (free!) ~ kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6GVm2uAi8RoqK8 Have you been to Trona Pinnacles? You would probably love getting your camera out there! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJ3dpausZrWMjrc Thanks for watching & I will keep an eye out for you! I can do a decent sipping tequila - husband can too! Thank you :) -Heather

[@timdoreck3208]

Yes I am sure they will be some of those sites that are "other than Alabama Hills" .Mounting hard fixed Gopro mounts on the truck and trailer today for my next venture away from Monterey. I have never done the recording of these trips with video or time lapse but my first trip with my 8 year old granddaughter will be including them so she has something that she can be assigned to maintain. Charging and security and have something for her class mates when she starts 3rd grade in August.Thank you again for your focus on the specific topic of camping sites along 395.

[@Campbase1]

Nice job on the video

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you Campbase! It's a cool place and I had fun putting this one together. -Heather

[@DesmondsDonders]

Lovely.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you! :)

[@DayTripAdventure]

Thank you for the video! Great info. I just uploaded a video of a drive by the south entrance to Lockwood Valley in the Los Padres National Forest. Thanks again!!

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

It is such a cool area ~ definitely lots to see and do! We loved camping at KCL ~ amazing lighting. I just checked out your video. Makes me miss that area. We will be up that way over the 4th of July ~ YAY!

[@voltron415]

Great informative video. Would a large RV make it here on these roads?

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Thank you! How big are you talking? We saw a 30= trailer or 5th wheel in the campground and he fit, but had to do some leveling. The roads are bumpy and a bit washboardy, but it was totally doable. Just nee to figure out where to park for the night!

[@earthcomedy]

what month did you visit Carrizo? Would it be more green in other seasons?

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Sadly I don’t have that travel journal with me on this trip. I’m thinking April or early May. It would probably be greener January or February (if California ever gets rain again…)!

[@earthcomedy]

@@TravelSmallLiveBig ok thxs. i'll factor that in to my planning. though i guess if it rains, the roads might be muddy.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

@@earthcomedy we’ll take any rain we can get!

[@earthcomedy]

@@TravelSmallLiveBig things will get worse before they get better from where I sit...at least from an overall drying out this decade+. Look for a documentary called - The Beetles Are Coming...if you want a clue. Things aren't what they seem...in terms of explanations for weather woes globally.

[@tjk4tom]

Any cell coverage?

[@justletmetravel]

Good Question maybe only one not answered LOL

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Excellent question! We have T-Mobile and we did have cell here - not great, but had it at the campground and were actually quite surprised to have it as we read "no cell anywhere". It was enough to text, check weather & that kind of thing. Thanks for asking (and watching!). -Heather

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Ha Ha ~ this is such a great question that I need to get in the habit of mentioning when I narrate. I know we ALL want service. Thanks for watching :) Heather

[@yormosi-6251]

“I didn’t want to see anyway!” So basically you never left the visitor center.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

My thing I didn’t really want to see was a snake. We went all over the plain, which we showed in this video. Did you just fast forward through and randomly stop and hear one sentence? Have a good day, Chad!

[@justletmetravel]

Great video....like that comment...if California had any rain LOL

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Oh yeah... we need rain. Then when we get it, it is all in one night and causes insane landslides. Glad you enjoyed the video! I had a lot of fun videoing and putting this one together :) Heather

[@yormosi-6251]

Wallace creek, creepy? When Karen’s visit planet Earth.

[@TravelSmallLiveBig]

Creepy to know how much that fault line can move the earth. I’ve been in and have seen my share of earthquake damage. Tsunamis too. When Chads comment.