Tis the Season for Camping

Believe it or not, I have never been camping growing up (my mother always hated not having a hot shower). But alas, summer has finally arrived and this year, I am determined to try it for the first time. I found this article from the New York Times called The Last Minute Guide to Summer Camping. Jane Margolies mentions some excellent campground choices all over the U.S. I hope you find this article as helpful as I do. Enjoy!

"Although it’s still early in the season, there are already signs that more Americans will be vacationing in campgrounds this summer. Bookings are up at many parks — in some cases by as much as 30 percent. And some campgrounds were filled on weekends even before Memorial Day, the traditional kickoff of the camping season."

"Many in the camping community believe that the bad economy is causing this sudden interest in the great outdoors, with people who are worried about finances forgoing a stay at a fancy resort or a trip overseas in favor of a sojourn in the woods that can cost 10 bucks a night. Gas prices that are significantly lower than last summer’s (albeit rising) may also be affecting decisions to hit the road."


"Although many experienced campers booked five and six months ago, when many national park campsites went on sale, the good news for latecomers is that there is still plenty of room at campgrounds that take reservations, particularly during midweek, when demand is lower."

Camp - not just for the kiddos!

Perhaps you were one of the lucky few who got the chance to go away to summer camp as a child. Or maybe you were like me and you were woken up at the crack of dawn to be shipped off on a school bus every day to summer camp. Either way camp brings up fond memories, new friends, and lots of activities! If you loved camp as much as I... well it's not over - you can STILL go to camp as an adult! I found an article on Travel & Leisure that mentions a few of these camps. Below is part of "The World’s Quirkiest Adult Camps" :

No matter what your fantasy may be—to become an astronaut on a shuttle mission, an elephant trainer, even a ghost hunter—chances are there is a program or camp waiting for you.

"In recent years, the number of specialized camp opportunities for adults has grown significantly," says Peg L. Smith, chief executive officer of The American Camp Association (ACA). "Camp isn’t just for kids anymore," she says. "In a hectic world, it offers an oasis, with opportunities for learning in a fun environment." And more people are opting for unique learning programs over your typical park-yourself-on-a-beach getaway. "Many adults find a camp vacation to be more rewarding than a week at a resort," says Smith.

...sometimes, camps can turn mere aficionados into experts—or even working professionals. Just 90 days after graduating from Atlantic City’s World Poker Tournament Boot Camp in 2007, poker amateur Lee Childs used his training to make it to the finals of the World Series of Poker. The computer engineer advanced over 6,348 people and took seventh place, winning $705,229. And on Stan Newman’s Crossword University cruise to Cozumel, Belize, Guatemala, and Key West in 2004, one participant, Donna Levin, was inspired to create her own puzzles, which she has since sold to The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Newsday, and other publications.

To see all the camps listed, visit Travel & Leisure