Camping: yay or nay?

[TimeforMe]

I love, love, love the *idea* of camping: sitting around a campfire, the smell of bacon and fresh coffee in the morning, no tv/phones/computers, sleeping under the stars.......

Actually, while I love the way "sleeping under the stars" rolls off my tongue, I absolutely, positively cannot sleep on the ground anymore no matter how many sleeping bags, comforters, inflatable mattresses I use. Just can't do it. So I'll spend the day, enjoy the great outdoors but come lights out .... I need a nice comfy bed in a nice comfy hotel room with a real shower. How 'bout you?

 

[georgina]

The only family vacations we had in my family were tent camping trips to local state parks. I enjoy camping but now we have a pop-up camper so there is a place to sit when it rains! We have taken it to Disney, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, the ocean, and are heading to Maine in a few weeks. It may not be for everyone, but I have always enjoyed camping and "roughing it" at least a little.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

No camping for me , thank you very much!

My DS has been camping with the Scouts and at the time he said it was lots of fun but if given the choice , DH, the kids and myself all pick a hotel.

 

[JR6ooo4]

We camped with the family as kids. Seven people in one tent. then we did a few years on the ground in our own tent after we got married. Until we bought a house in 2004. Patio fire pits realy was a lot easier.

Now we are off the ground with a popup and it is a lot better. No more spending three hours hauling stuff from the basement to the pickup. then another three hours setting up. then all that again at the end of the trip.

Now we just hitch up the pup, check the lights, pack some clothes and food and thats it!

well, a bit of driving....

Mikeeee

 

[Pakey]

We started out tent camping, then moved up to a pop up trailer, then a travel trailer and finally up to a large 5th wheel with slideout rooms. I have a queen sized pillow top mattress, my TV, flat iron, shower, etc.

Sleeping on the ground didn't bother me as bad as having to get up for that potty break, having to put on shoes, walk 10 miles to a bathroom, etc.

 

[HunnyPots]

OP I am with you 100%! I love the outdoors but I can't sleep in it to save my life. Love hiking and sitting around a fire, cooking out, etc. but then I need to go home!

 

[horseshowmom]

When I was a kid, we went tent camping for a few days (had cold, wet weather), and my dad decided to buy a pickup camper. We kept that a little while (pulled a ski boat) and then got a travel trailer. That was inconvenient with the boat (required two vehicles), so after having that a little while, my parents bought a motorhome. Sooo, my idea of camping is indoor plumbing, A/C, TV, and comfortable beds!

Honestly, even as an adult, I've never been the tent camping type. We looked at a horse trailer with living quarters (again, indoor plumbing, A/C, TV, and comfortable beds ) but decided to stick with the hotels.

 

[luvmy3]

I love tent camping but I could definitely do without the storms we got this past weekend. Although I really don't mind the tent for a few nights I'm hoping we will be upgrading to a pop-up for next year so we can spend more than 2 nights away.

 

[Kycha]

My Dad loved roughing it when we were kids. He had this horrid old army tent(canvas) that smelled horrible. You couldn't touch the sides when it rained or it would leak. Imagine a family of 6 all crammed into the middle of a 10 person tent, trying to avoid touching the sides. My brothers and I would fight to see who got to sleep in the car every vacation.

For DH's and my first vacation it was very, very budget. So, we went the camping route. We came to the conclusion that after buying all the necessary equipment(tent, sleeping bags, air mattresses, lanterns, etc) and paying for the camp site we could have spent the same on a cheap hotel room.

 

[Sorsha]

OP, I am with you. I love everything about camping, except I CANNOT sleep in a tent.

I love the campfire, the smells of the woods, cooking over the fire pit, the stars, the quiet, etc. Adore all those things and look forward to them. BUT when it is time to sleep, I might as will give up before I begin. I can't can't CAN'T sleep no matter what I do... we have tried extra sleeping bags, pads, cots, air beds... forget it. I either resign myself to sitting up, all night, keeping a fire going and trying to snooze in the camp chair; or I give up, go home, get a good night's sleep, and drive back out for breakfast.

We don't yet own a camper or an RV, but that is one of our goals for the near future; maybe then I can enjoy camping again...

 

[mrs_hower726]

Camping only works for me if I can go inside somewhere that has a bed and running water.

 

[FireDancer]

I love camping. Tent, cabin. lodge, whatever. I only do a couple of days at a time though, sleeping in a tent for a week would get pretty old.

OP, you might want to look into parks with onsite lodges. Here in Ohio we have a couple of state parks that have standard camping areas and lodges. If you are with a group you could all be at a campsite during the day and when night comes those that want to camp stay while the others walk or drive to the lodge or to a cabin. While most won't be the 4 seasons some of the lodges I have seen have been just as nice as a standard hotel. Some of my best memories with friends have been around a camp fire. Just a thought.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Going camping tommorrow. My sister has a sweet setup with an air mattress on a bedframe.

My air mattress will be on the ground.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Hate, hate, hate camping!
The whole birds tweeting at 5 a.m., smell of campfire and everything feeling damp all the time----yuck!
We don't tent, we have a beautiful camper with its own washroom, bedroom,etc. but I just can't bring myself to pack up everything (slight exaggeration ) in the house to go sit in the woods----so far the camper has made it to our driveway and the kids have sleepovers in it.
I'm going to have to at some point and pretend I enjoy it but deep inside I'm not gonna like it

 

[bumbershoot]

We actually quite like it. Tent, sleeping bags, etc. However, we've started to budget more food money so we have one meal at a restaurant...we did get the air mattress (but I don't know, I think maybe a really good sleeping pad would be better for me)...

the one problem with it, for me (not hubby or son), is all the spiders. Can't deal with them, very phobic...once walked to the bathrooms hunched over at waist level b/c of all the critters up in the eaves of the bathroom building, it was BAD.

 

[disykat]

I enjoy camping, but prefer to camp in places with bathrooms and showers. We tent camp, but I do camp with an inflatable mattress now though. I camped quite a bit in my single days. Once I had a family we waited until the boys were school age. Now we camp try to go once a year very late in the summer. We would camp more if it weren't for my allergies. Camping is a lot of work, but it's fun!

 

[Robinrs]

Uh...NAY!

I decided YEARS ago if I cannot do it wearing heels... I don't do it!

 

[Darcy03231]

My idea of camping is a 2* hotel.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

In a fit of lunacy, my wife and I stopped at an RV sales lot on a trip from Tampa to Orlando over the weekend. A cute little trailer camper had caught our eye. (We've both grown up camping). After looking at several trailer campers, popups, and self contained RV styles we came to our senses and decided that our money is best spent on hotels with maid service. It was a nice little deviation from sanity while it lasted though.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yea, I can't wait for the dirt.

Best part of camping for us will be when we float the Huzzah River on Sat.