Last Wednesday, I bought a truck. Friday morning, I loaded it up with camping gear, my dog, and a girl, and drove to Baja. By lunchtime, we had a beach all to ourselves. Baja isn’t scary or difficult.

Want to set up camp on a beach that’s all your own, dip your toes in clear blue, bathtub-temperature water, and catch a fish and turn it into tacos? It may sound like a dream, but I’m hoping this ...