Advice of which State for a tent camping trip Dec/Jan

[zydeco joe]

As I am from the UK and fairly new to camping I am looking for any advice on a tent camping trip we that is my wife and myself are looking to make in mid December into mid January for about a month in total using rental car.
What would be the best place in the US at this time of year.Would Southern California be ok ?.Would like to avoid cold heavy snow falls etc with a start and finish at LA airport.
Other States would be ok.We are photographers.
Would have to purchase the gear like we did last August when we did a trip into Utah and up to Yellowstone (greatest place on earth).The gear was purchased from Walmart/KMart using a Ozark Trail tent and it worked out well and did not cost much,gave all away at end of trip to charity store. We dont have much money to spend on gear as we would not be able to bring much apart from a few small things or get them back home on the plane.
Have hired a old 1980's VW Campervan's from San Francisco in the past and loved the NP and State park type of campsites with a fire.Went to Yosemite and Sierras and Mono Lake etc in the spring and Fall times of the year, not camped in winter and we are not spring chickens any more and in fact this will be my wife's 60th birthday special trip.
What sites will be open in December ?.
Many thanks.
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"Laisser les bon temps rouler !!"( let the good times roll ).

[Dawn Patrol]

Hi Zydeco Joe
I feel I should mention that January is one of our colder months (cold being a relative term of course), so you might want to look at camp sites that offer cabins/cottages too.
And after some nights spent sleeping on the ground, the wife might like a nice soft bed for a few nights - just for her birthday.

Some parks you might want to take a look at
Crystal Cove NP http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=644
Beautiful however the camp site is a 3-4mile hike from parking lot and you have to pack in, drinking water, self contained BBQ etc -and pack out your trash. If that sounds like “fun” this may be for you.
Casper’s Wilderness PK http://www.ocparks.com/caspers/
Casper’s Wilderness PK- there is a second campsite for people & horses and you know what that means -walk carefully on some of the trails
Also this is a wilderness area, so you have to stay alert for mountain lions and rattlesnakes, not that I’ve ever seen any, but then I never camped there and never stayed overnight either.

Gotta go, will post more later.
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A sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life--W.A. Ward

[nsldelaney]

Around the Phoenix area, out of the mountains, you'll be warm and toasty with any luck! The whole Arizona, New Mexico region is very mild for the most part, even in January. And the scenery is beaut!

[zydeco joe]

Hi, will campsites be open in New Mexico and Arizona at this time of year ?. Would love to go to the Santa Fa area plus the Bisti Wilderness.
Whats Phoenix like , we normaly dont go for big citys.
Any other good areas ?.
_________________
"Laisser les bon temps rouler !!"( let the good times roll ).