Top camps with a twist

WITH summer camping season come superlatives-loaded lists of best sites that are part methodology, part mystery.

For example, one-tenth of the country’s “Top 100 Family Campgrounds” are in California -- but only two of the 10 most popular destinations in the state parks system make the cut.

Huh?

Camp reservation company ReserveAmerica created the list, available at www.reserveamerica.com. The company asked park rangers for their top family campgrounds, then whittled their suggestions to 100 -- all of which the company books -- based on extensive customer input.

This put Emerald Bay State Park and Lake Oroville State Recreation Area on the list but not Bolsa Chica and Doheny state beaches, also among the 10 most visited state parks. Few national parks were included in the survey.

Availability was a key criterion. “We didn’t want to put out a list where 100% of the parks you couldn’t get in,” said spokesman John McDonald.

Writer Diane Bair says the list generally reflects smaller, government-owned campgrounds with kid-friendly activities.

Her list is found in “Frommer’s Best RV & Tent Campgrounds in the U.S.A.”

-- Ashley Powers