National Plan Your Vacation Day

January 30 is National Plan Your Vacation Day and it's the perfect time to book a camp site at Clear Lake Campground. If you like to camp, why not plan a camping vacation each month? Clear Lake Campground is now open all year so if you have a small RV (up to 30 feet) you can even come up in winter.

Clear Lake is a top place for fishing and has been rated as the second best lake in the United States for bass fishing. It's a prime location for birding, kayaking, or just relaxing. Lake County also has live music, special events and activities year round. Monthly events include the Fiddlers Jam at Ely Stage Stop the first Sunday of the month and guided walks at Anderson Marsh most months on the second Saturday morning.

Here's a sampling of top events for each month:

Start the year with a guided walk at Anderson Marsh State Park, across the creek from the campground. Join the First Day Hike on January 1, usually starting at noon.

February is a great month for a wine weekend. Several wineries have special weekend events in February and most tasting rooms are open too. Barrels & Verticals Tasting is usually held the last Saturday of the month.

March is when fishing really starts picking up. The Clear Lake Bass Tournament is held in mid-March.

April is usually a top month for kayaking and boating. Kayak rentals can be arranged right at the campground. Spring break is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground.

In May one of the top events is Heron Days, sponsored by the Lake County Audubon Society. Held right at Clear Lake Campground, activities include pontoon boat tours in Anderson Marsh. The Catfish Derby, held in Clearlake Oaks, is billed as the largest catfish tournament west of the Mississippi. Wine Adventure Weekend is held later in May, with more than 25 wineries participating. Mother's Day is in May so if your mom likes to camp, treat her to a weekend at Clear Lake Campground. There's a special Mother's Day concert at Soper Reese Theater in Lakeport and several restaurants have a special Mother's Day brunch.

June is the month to relive the wild west. Upper Lake Wild West Day is usually held the first Saturday of the month, with a parade, ice cream social, BBQ, live music, and activities for kids. Mid-month is Middletown Days, with a parade, BBQ, horseshoe tournament, chili cook off, hay rides, and even Cowboy Church on Sunday. A camping weekend makes a good Father's Day gift, too.

4th of July is a great time to come to Clear Lake Campground. Fireworks are spread out over several nights at different locations around the lake and there's a street fair in Lakeport. In Clearlake there's a small parade followed by the International Worm Races.  The CDFW usually schedules a free fishing day on the weekend before July 4 and you can fish right at the campground.

August events include free Friday night concerts in Lakeport's Library Park and the Lakeside Car and Boat Show in mid-August with music, vendors, food, and high-performance boats making passes by Library Park.

The first weekend in September is the Lake County Fair held in Lakeport with lots of fun events for the whole family. The Kelseyville Pear Festival, a huge street fair and parade celebrating Lake County's agricultural heritage, is the last weekend of the month.

The first Saturday in October is the Konocti Challenge Cycling Race. Participants can sign up for one of 4 different bicycling routes around Clear Lake, ranging from a 20 mile family fun ride to a century ride. Steele Winery usually holds a Harvest Festival the second weekend of October, with lots of fun activities for the whole family.

In November there are several arts and crafts fairs including the Dickens' Faire, the last Saturday of the month in downtown Lakeport.

Clearlake's Christmas parade is held the first Saturday of December. Anderson Marsh holds Christmas at the Ranch in December also.

For more special events and the live music schedule, see the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Events Calendar.

Book a Site at Clear Lake Campground Now

More about when to visit Clear Lake Campground:

• Spring on Clear Lake
  
• Summer at Clear Lake Campground
  
• Autumn on Clear Lake
  
• Winter at Clear Lake Campground
  
• 5 Top Events in Lake County

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Author

Martha Bakerjian is a travel writer who divides her time between Clearlake and northern Tuscany. She writes about Italy on her site, Martha's Italy.