Camping has been an American tradition for as long as there has been an America. Lewis and Clark headed west and pitched their tents along the entire way to the Pacific Ocean. Since then, Americans have made their way to the mountains, the valleys, the oceans, and the canyons all across this great land of ours. Camping has become an American tradition.
There are so many things to see and do while camping. It’s a great way to spend time together as a family. In 2011, American families spent 534.9 million days camping, making it one of the most popular types of vacation outings. Over 42.5 million people went camping in 2011, staying in tents, rustic cabins, RV parks or even campgrounds on the beach.
Seasonal camping most often takes place during the summer, and perhaps the most sought after destination when camping with kids is a location that either has on site or is very close to a water park. As you can imagine, a water park is going to be the most crowded during the hottest summer days, but if you take a little time to do some research, you can find the weeks where even the best water park is the least busy and also the most affordable. Late spring and late summer are the best times for a good water park on the east coast, for instance. Early September when the local kids are back to school, for example, is a great time to go.
Living the camping life is such a great way to see the country. It’s an inexpensive way to see one location for several days at a time, or to see many places at different times during the year, no matter when you want to go. Surveys have shown that the typical camper goes on five different trips a year and travels about 191 miles from home to find camping sites they’ve either never seen before or want to enjoy again. Public campgrounds account for about 70% of the camping locations, but RV parks also do a good deal of business every year, as they cater to a very particular type of camper.
If you haven’t been camping in a while, or if you have never been, maybe it’s time to head to the great outdoors for your next vacation. With so many different locations and activities to choose from, all you really need to decide on is where you want to go. Would you like to see the ocean, or maybe the mountains? Chances are there are campgrounds or secluded cabins wherever you want to be.
