Which Camping Style Do You Prefer?
By Kenneth Elliott
What a great question... If it was me I would have to say that I would prefer a camper and a chance to connect to the outdoors. At one time this was not a option. Mainly a hundred years ago camping had primarily two options, a tent or open air and the tent option was a slim option at that. You would have been fortunate to have a canvas tent. Fast forward to now, camping as a vacation option has really taken off. Especially with the advent of luxery RV's and campers.
Today, there are a half-dozen options for building a home away from home.
Tents are still enormously popular and they have evolved to a high art. Internal frame tents are easy to assemble (you have to do little more than just pop them open). They're made from tough nylon and many are in the form of domes, making them ultra strong. External frame tents are still popular and they have the advantages of being larger, rectangular (so space is optimized) and super sturdy against wind.
But tents are no longer the only viable option.
Some SUV models are so large now that sleeping two adults in the rear with the seats laid flat is a definite possibility. They provide excellent protection against infiltration from wildlife and with an air mattress, are as comfortable as a tent. Some styles are even as easy to wash out with a hose as a tent. Fold down or easy-remove seats with plastic flooring make for easy clean up.
Positives with the SUV option is:
1. A heated interior - Even though gas prices are very high at this present time a heated interior in the middle of no where could be a welcome benefit.
2. Music/TV Entertainment - The TV could still be a stone through away. But this could be a negative also.
One very important negative with a SUV is no bathroom. Yes, sleeping quarters are included with no bath or restroom could hamper any plans.
RVs have been around for 20 years, growing out of the 'truck with camper shell' idea. RVs now have running water, propane, electricity, movable awnings, air conditioning and space, space, space. Some are so large they may well be used as a semi-permanent home.
They can cost as much, too, with the largest models selling for $200,000 or more. But they have every luxury you could wish for and they are powerful enough to easily tow an SUV for trips away from the campsite.
I can't think of any negatives with a RV. Connection with nature is still possible and their are plenty of RV parks around the country to park and explore.
Motels have been around forever, but these days you're much more likely to enjoy a low-cost, clean and pleasant room from a major chain. In the past, many motels were... shall we say, an adventure all their own. But big business has made a cheap motel room cheap only in the dollars and cents.
Of course, in many areas - and at many times of the year - it's still possible to truly duplicate the outdoor experience of a hundred years ago. You can lay your blanket or sleeping bag out on the ground under the stars and imagine what it must have been like.
Fortunately, the sleeping bag you are likely to employ is considerably better than one from that era. Modern materials provide both the exterior and the interior with top flight endurance and comfort. Primaloft insulation, 900 fill down and tough nylon shells make sleeping bags warm, cozy and waterproof.
The geometry has been much improved, too. Mummy bags with room for a pillow or protection for your head, as well as widened waist and foot areas are much more ergonomic. They are shaped as the human body is, making them retain heat better, while allowing easy turning but preventing shifting.
If you really want to get the feeling of what life was like a hundred years ago, you can always go with just a blanket. But you'll find that the experience that looks so romantic in the movies has a lot more realism than most people would want.
Kenneth Elliott is the owner of Beach Camping Park,. His website features some of the best beach camping parks around the US. Also visit: California Beach Parks and A Guide to Recreational Vehicles
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