A photography diary of camping in Malibu at Surf Outpost. Chasing the ultimate California dream, golden light, and classic summer vibes.

One of the longest-standing items on my bucket list was to camp along the California coast near Malibu. Like many of you, my internal image of California wasn't built on geography textbooks; it was built on 80s movies, music videos, and that global nostalgia for American surf culture. I grew up thinking the entire state was permanently bathed in golden light and slow-motion running.

So, for Thanksgiving week, I decided to stop dreaming and start driving. I took a few days off, got a van, and convinced my family that living in a vehicle together for several days would be "bonding."

To preserve everyone’s sanity and break up the drive, we turned it into a coastal hop. We stopped first at Pescadero Beach, then Pismo, before finally aiming for Malibu.

Here is the thing about the California coast that the movies don't tell you: it gets cold. We froze in Pescadero. We shivered in Pismo. But when we hit Malibu, the universe decided to apologize. It was 70-80°F, a stunning summer day in the middle of late November.

We parked our home-on-wheels at the Surf Outpost (formerly the Malibu RV Park). There is a great urban legend that Matthew McConaughey used to park one of his Airstreams here. Naturally, I spent a good portion of the trip scanning the horizon, hoping to spot his spot there with no success, but standing there, looking out at the Pacific, I definitely felt a lot cooler than I actually am.

To cut the story short: the place is incredible. From a photography standpoint, the light is just different there.

I spent the trip trying to capture those iconic sunrises and sunsets. But honestly? My best creative time came during the most unglamorous part of camping: the night walk to the bathroom. While other photographers trek up mountains for the perfect shot, I found my inspiration wandering around the campsite in the dark, trying not to trip, admiring how the moonlight hit the palm trees and the vans.

If you have the chance, go. It really is the ultimate California experience, even if your main hike is just to the facilities.

Photography