You’ve got a problem: It’s summer and you want to throw the most epic barbecue of all time. You want to host the seasonal bash that only comes once a decade — something your friends will never be able to eclipse with any of their lame backyard parties. Well, you’re in luck! We’ve got your list of the freshest places to host your summer barbecue.
The Freshest Places to Host Your Summer BBQ
Leo Carrillo State Beach
There are a lot of beaches on the California coast and — in terms of places to throw a barbecue with all of your buddies — Leo Carillo is as good as any. Nestled in between Malibu and Santa Barbara, Leo Carillo has a campground, barbecue pits, a general store and a space big enough to play all of the drunken beach games that your heart desires.
Vail, Colorado
Ah, the great outdoors. The mountains, the trees, the sounds of babbling brooks and gorgeous waterfalls — Vale’s got it all in spades. It also has great campgrounds for hiking, mountain biking, and — best of all — throwing the ultimate barbecue. What are you waiting for? Go get your flame on and cook some meat!
Ensenada, Mexico
This beautiful little ocean side town is one of the best vacation spots ever. Not only can the amazing beaches play a great setting to any sort of barbecue bash that you can dream up, you’ll also be able to partake in some tasty margaritas and delicious salsa!
Yosemite
Yosemite has everything that you and your pals need for some action packed camping and hiking. And if you do end up making a barbecue trip out the gorgeous mountains of Yosemite, make sure to check out Half Dome!
China Basin, San Francisco
There’s one simple catch if you want to take advantage of this super-sweet barbecue location: You need to have a boat. China Basin houses a little waterway that sits right next to AT&T Park — the home of the San Francisco Giants. And what’s better than coasting on the water, listening to the roar of the crowd and getting a tan in the California sun? Doing all that while grilling up some hotdogs.
Yellowstone National Park
Who doesn’t want to head to a place where you can hike through a grand canyon, check out a petrified forest, and see Old Faithful? Camping out in this awesome locale can only be improved by bringing some friends and your barbecue. But be careful! There’s a lot of bears hanging out in that park who are definitely willing to steal your picnic basket… Or your freshly cooked meat.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
This place has a beach, some rollercoasters, a stage for live music, and lots of crazy-looking carnies. You can walk around and play games, sample homemade taffy, or test your skill against some of the oldest arcade machines known to man. So grab your grill, some buddies, and plenty of petty cash for beer!