What Type of Camping Do You Enjoy?

[mlsa3]

Several members of my church belong to an RV club which has been around for many years. Since most of the members are older retired folks they have lost several members in the past couple of years.

When one of them found out we had a new camper he invited us to come visit their club and if we liked it we could join. He brought me a calendar yesterday with their year long camping trips. They go once a month for about 4 days. They have a blast playing games, the women shopping, and going out to eat.

I checked out the campsites on the web and even though they looked like first rate rv sites I'm not sure if that's our style of camping.

We've been camping (tent) for over 30 years and we love to take our bikes and kayaks when we can. We love to see the wildlife and we love the solitude before everybody starts coming in for the weekend.

The campgrounds our friends camp at or like KOA (not bad mouthing KOA) campgrounds where it's just camper after camper after camper....I can understand staying at a place like that overnight on a long trip but just not sure how much fun it would be for us.

My wife doesn't want to go camping and shop...and we don't want to go camping and eat out.

Like I said, I'll probably try it once to show them I tried but not getting overly excited about it.

I was curious. What type of camping do you folks like to do?

[ependydad]

For me and for us, there is a distinct difference in "camping" vs. "traveling".

When we "camp", a majority of our time is spent outside, cooking on a charcoal grill or fire, just relaxing and my goal is to not get into my truck for re duration of the trip.

When we "travel" or go "RVing", our camper is much more like a hotel room on wheels. We'll be inside more, not worry about a fire all the time and often go shopping or sight-seeing.

I posted a thread a while back, "Who else doesn't 'camp'?" I wasn't alone.

[SaskCampers]

We are the same as ependydad. We only camp maybe once a year for 4 days, when we go on vacation we go to sight see and the trailer is just a place to drop our weary butts after a day out enjoying everything North America has to offer so in those situations we prefer places like KOA or nice private CG's.

[Wiscampsin]

You stated, "he invited us to come visit their club and if we liked it we could join." So give it a try and go camping with the club a couple times and see if you like it.

[mlsa3]

Thanks for the quick responses.

Maybe that's where I'm a bit confused. We camp. When we went on vacation, not having a camper, we always stayed in a motel. I suppose when we go on our next vacation we'll take the camper and use it like a motel....so we will probably stay at KOA type campgrounds.

Most of our friends are older than us and not quite as active as we are so they do enjoy the shopping and eating out.

At least now I'm not totally clueless. It all makes sense now.

Thanks again.

[bobcrowder]

"When we "camp", a majority of our time is spent outside, cooking on a charcoal grill or fire, just relaxing and my goal is to not get into my truck for re duration of the trip.

When we "travel" or go "RVing", our camper is much more like a hotel room on wheels. We'll be inside more, not worry about a fire all the time and often go shopping or sight-seeing."



This is us exactly.

[thehamguy1]

We've done both kinds of camper living--traveling for ten weeks and 10,000 miles on our vacation to Alaska and Canada, and lots and lots of camping. I have to say we prefer camping. For me, camping is a time when we march to the beat of our own drummer. Having to go along with whatever activities a group wants to do, no matter how enjoyable, quickly gets tiresome for us. We camp to get away from the mundane world. Group camping makes solitude impossible.

[Campster]

We are like the others above...we basically use our trailer as a hotel on wheels. We bought it with all the comforts inside we thought we might need. While camping we spend most of our time outdoors relaxing, cooking, hiking, biking, playing cards, etc.. When forced inside by weather we can enjoy all the amenities it has to offer. On top of that it is always nice to enter it at night and have a nice place to lay your head on...love our trailer.

[OldCoot]

From tent camping on our honeymoon to the 5ver 53+ yrs later, we prefer full hook ups and a level concrete pad and patio like we have @ Fawn Ridge/Deer Creek in Davenport, FL.

[Wojo]

We're campers far more than travelers. Even when using our camper for a place to crash while sight seeing we prefer a state park campground. We belong to a camping club and camp with them whenever possible. Fortunately we found a club that more closely mirrors our camping preferences. How cool is it that folks with varying tastes have options available that make using an RV enjoyable for all.

[OKI Marine]

We have a combination of both. We use the camper like our vacaion stay and to just hang out and camp. We travel to where we want to go and see. We spend time sight seeing and time just hanging out at the camp site wherever it may be. It is all about hanging out with the family. We like to camp with others and camp alone. Nothing wrong with either. You don't have to commit to every camp date that is on their schedule. My opinion, campgrounds are like RV shows. Everyone checking out what everyone else has. Campers are great, friendly people and it is nice to meet, and talk to other people and sometimes build a friendly relationship out of it.

[bikendan]

mlsa3, we are like you. we prefer what most consider is "camping". meaning in a natural setting, such as a state/national park campground.
we do this to get away from stores, crowds, commercialization, playgrounds, traffic, and so on.
we avoid private campgrounds/parks for the same reason you do unless they are the only place available.
we are experienced dry campers and are used to not needing hookups or clubhouses.

but that may be changing for us, as we'll be retiring this summer and our style may be moving to more of a RV'ing lifestyle, as snowbirds.

but however you choose to "Recreate" is your business and not necessarily better or worse than a different way to do it. that's what makes this way of life great, it comes in a variety of ways to enjoy it.

as has been said before, there are people that think that backpacking is real camping and some that feel that tent camping is real camping and some that think that popups are real camping and so on and so on.

[Oakman]

When we go camping it’s always at a public campground, CEO park, state park, etc. When we travel I look for commercial RV parks at our destination. Commercial parks usually offer much better amenities, Wifi, laundry, etc. For overnight stops on our travels we’ll take public or commercial preferring something close to the highway. I don’t like to add any more miles than I have to on a long trip.

[1A Camper]

Until this post never though about what kind of camping we were doing. We come from a boat camping background. Staying in a marina was not our thing, we liked anchoring out. Commercial RV parks our not our thing either but have used them, we like National park, National forest and State camp grounds. Our camping is more like road trips and you got to see as much as possible. It is rare that we spend more then 2 day in a camp site. We got the A-Frame in August with the plan to see how many of the National Parks we could see, so far we have had the camper to 7 of them. The camper is a place to sleep at night and have all our stuff.
I have been working on the DW to take an afternoon off and just sit and read and enjoy the quiet but she say she can do that at home. We like home, so camping is not getting away from anything. Camping is getting out there to see new and fun places for us.
So as other have said do what is right for you but try new things, they may be thing you like. It just opens up a new world and new idea from the people you meet.

[kerrlakelover]

Our camping over the years has primarily been weeks at the lake with other boating friends. We ususually camp at the lake with 2-5 families. We're out on the lake all day, grilling out for dinner, and then everyone ends up at one campsite for homemade ice cream after dinner. We also go to the beach or places like Disney and set up for a week at a time. Our trip out west in July will be our "traveling" camping. Will be a new experience for us moving a lot rather than being set up for long periods of time. Headed out west with one other couple. They have a MH and we have the FW.

[SimchaSabre]

We consider Camping to be any night we sleep in our camper. In a typical year we will set up camp in State/ County/ City Parks, and Private RV camps/resorts...not to mention Fair grounds for county fair week and F.R.O.G rallies.

We will also dry camp for a night or 2 at casinos while taking in a show. Some times we'll do a night on the road at a Flying J.

But for us ..we count it all and keep a log. We have ~600 nights logged over that last 11 years. We even count the nights that we camp in relatives driveways!

[Terier]

mlsa3,
You could always take a day trip and visit the group for the afternoon or something without committing yourself to the full trip. Another idea would be to reduce the time with the group by linking it to a trip of your own. After all traveling is a great excuse not to stay all 4 days.

[dcheatwood]

Agree with ependydad. Sometimes camped for the outdoor activities. Sometimes enroute to a destination. Sometimes with a group of friends. But, I'm not a big "joiner". Maybe go once to see how it is and be gracious for the invite. Then decide. The good thing is, when you camp with a group of church friends, you basically are like minded on what you like and what's acceptable. Just enjoy that new camper.

[Kaadk]

Given my choice, I'd be in a State/Provincial Park and avoid the KOAs and other ripoff campgrounds. But the wife and kids overruled that so that's where we spend the majority of our time. They're not bad campgrounds, and the people are usually friendly, but it's not really camping to me. Then again, just being in an RV isn't really camping to me.

I posted this over in the 5 Minute Shower discussion

I could see a whole scale between 1 and 2. At the 2 end, I see the people that pull their camper to their inlaws house so they don't have to stay in the house, and have never been anywhere they're not in somebodies driveway.

For me, camping for the sake of camping (the 1 end) means being out in tents in the middle of winter, cooking everything over whatever deadwood you could pull from the brush. Then again, I grew up in a scouting household.

My view is that camping in a trailer is cheating at camping. But as long as I got tired bones and whiny kids, I'm gonna cheat. I'd put us down as a 1.7 for camping, but in a trailer with full hookups, AC, etc...

Well, that's still my view. My style of camping is different than the family's style of camping. But if I want to actually have a relaxing weekend, I better do their style of camping. This means going places that are a destination, with things to do for the kids.

If we're going to someplace to see something outside the park, like an amusement park, sea world, etc.. and we're only using the campground to sleep/eat breakfast sometimes I can get them to do the state park. It helps to point out that we can do the whole weekend in the state park for less then a single night at most of those private campgrounds (to offset the cost of whatever attraction we're going to see) and I get to enjoy something I feel is closer to 'camping' for me and sometimes knocks that 1.7 down to a 1.5 or 1.4.

[Camping Buddys]

For us is anywhere outside the house, even the driveway!
Setup the camper once a month and off we go. did the same with boating and now camping. As long as we are out the house! (one weekend a month, we still working full time and with kids)