Lived four years in SOCAL. Oceanside, CA to be exact... well the Tri-County area anyway. I was driving Amphibious Assault Vehicles for the Marine Corps. Lived near the beach, worked on the beach... pretty much everyday for four years. I miss the ocean.  Gotta head West soon.

Camped at Castaic Lake, CA in Santa Clarita.  Good get together spot, 65 spaces.  2 lakes for fishing, swimming and boating.  Great views.   

Here's the link

http://www.castaiclake.com/camping.html

 

A little known Monterey campground above Monterey High school is the city Veterans Memorial Park in the pine trees overlooking Monterey and the bay. Big green lawn and park with equipment for kids and clean rest rooms.