OT - How did you start camping?

[Laura_Lewis]

Hi!

Just curious about how everyone got into camping. My first experience was when I was a kid and we would go 'tenting'. I hated it because the whole trip was centered around my dad's fishing hobby. We never picked a campground because of the campground, but rather how the fishing was in the area. Then we got to sit and watch my dad fish until late at night. We would basically end up in a parking lot with a few grassy areas where you could pitch a tent.

Then I met my future dh. He talked about going camping with his parents and needless to say, I wasn't too thrilled, but I agreed (reluctantly). Well, my in-laws had a motor home and they went camping to spend time in the campground and with each other. Wow! What a difference - I had a great time. I learned the joys of spending quality time together around a campfire. Well time passed and we bought our first motor home in 2000. We bought it for a couple of reasons 1) because we enjoyed getting out together on the weekends as well as vacations 2) we could go away and take our dogs with us. Initially, I thought the MH made the difference but about 3 years ago we went on a camping trip with friends in tents and we had a marvellous time as well.

As an added bonus, my husband and I get a break from our normally hectic schedules and go out and enjoy each other's company again on weekends, when normally we would end up working at home. No phones (well, just my cell), no email or phone calls from work. In the meantime, my ds and bil bought a 5th wheel. They along with my 3 year old niece join us on the weekends and vacations. I think that my niece will have better memories of camping than I did.

I have noticed that camping has become much more popular recently, we see many more RVs on the road now. So I'm curious, how did you get started.

Thanks!

Laura

 

[wildernessfamily]

Tent camping first...wasn't too bad when you were little. We always went with my cousins so we had fun with 6 kids. We were all in Scouts too, but good thing we had camping as it really brought our family together and it was not expensive so we went often. Then my parents graduated to a pop up no a/c. When my DH was just my boyfriend he started tent camping with us. He fell in love with camping. We actually tent camped after we were married. When my parents no longer used the pop up, DH and I bought it from them. Then in 94 we got a TT. Still have it...but thinking of moving up since it is just my DH and I. Boy that first camping trip without the kids was hard. Actually went today to look. So confusing class C vs. class A. Not sure I am ready for either just a newer TT?

 

[Laura_Lewis]

Tent camping first...wasn't too bad when you were little. We always went with my cousins so we had fun with 6 kids. We were all in Scouts too, but good thing we had camping as it really brought our family together and it was not expensive so we went often. Then my parents graduated to a pop up no a/c. When my DH was just my boyfriend he started tent camping with us. He fell in love with camping. We actually tent camped after we were married. When my parents no longer used the pop up, DH and I bought it from them. Then in 94 we got a TT. Still have it...but thinking of moving up since it is just my DH and I. Boy that first camping trip without the kids was hard. Actually went today to look. So confusing class C vs. class A. Not sure I am ready for either just a newer TT?

Thanks for your response! We have never had kids except for the furry long eared ones and although there is no comparison to your kids moving out, our 'babies' are getting older now and I'm having hard time thinking about being without them. My husband and I use our weekend camping getaways to reconnect if you will. We both have very demand jobs and most evenings are spent at the kitchen table with each of us having a laptop set up and working while eating dinner. Not very good for conversation. My BIL calls us 'duelling laptops'

Any help I can provide with the motor home search, please ask. I'll be happy to help if I can

Laura

 

[elastigirlfan]

Great post! We bought our camper in 99'. Our daughters were only 2 and 4 then. Now they are 8 and 10. We all just love it. Our best memories are from camping, especially at Disney World. It gave us a more "inexpensive" way to vacation and "get away". We've done lots of local camping, been to the beach, VA. FL, western Pa, the Poconos, and to some of the Nascar races. It's been great. We'd like to keep our current camper for a few more years and then maybe upgrade to a new one with a slide out. Our girls said it has to have bunk beds like ours does now. We also really like taking our dog, Suzie with us. Our cats do not enjoy the experience so we keep them at home.

 

[my3princes]

My parents brought me camping as far back as I can remember. First we borrowed their friends pop-up, then they bought a TT. When dh and I began camping together we bought a 10x12 cabin style tent. We even camped at FW on our honeymoon in that tent. We upgraded to a $500 pop up. It was old, but much better than tenting since we had 2 ds by then. We upgraded to a used Toyota MH a couple of years later. We loved the MH, but it was small so when ds #3 came along we needed something a little bigger. We bought a 30 ft TT 2 yrs ago and absolutely love it. We plan to keep it for many years as it works well for us. We typically camp every other weekend during the summer and all of my boys are hooked. The oldest 2 are also scouts, so now we are doing a little tent camping again too. We also bring our dogs with us on most trips. It is very relaxing and a great family activity.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I started camping as a kid in the Boy Scouts. Kind of left it while in college and dental school, but while stationed in California in the Army, we bought a used pop up. As a young family (DW and DD under 2 at the time, with DW pregnant) we couldn't afford vacations. We really had a blast with that trailer camping in the coastal redwoods. As a result, my two kids (now 18 and 20) have camped their whole lives and actually prefer a camping trip to staying at a resort.

 

[allisophie]

I come from a Military family so we have always traveled. My grandma called me the lil' gypsy
When Dh and I married he caught the travel bug from me.
He convinced me into getting a Eureka tent in 86. In the fall of 91 WE took our 6 month old dd and headed up north into Canada via Mo.( MY dad the Military man swore he would never sleep in tent again told us we were NUTS! My father in law thought we were crazy too and felt sorry for Alli having to sleep in a tent
By 93 my FIL had a pop up and DH grudgling used it on a trip to the Smoky Mtns.Sadly he passed in 95 and we were given the popup..thus the "moving on part"
We had gone coast to coast in it.Taking both grandma's with us since sadly both dads had passed away with in years of each other.
Traded it in on a 30ft TT in 99 opted not to get bunks since we had only one child... Surprise.. DD 2 in 2000...There are times we wish we had bunks and a slide out , but decided to stay with this one for now.
We have camped 3 times at the Fort and many trips around the midwest.

some day we will move onto a driving one.. as we have the "gypsy" in us. Alot of our friends ask us.. "how can you afford to go with gasoline so high" we just budget and cook our meals. It's hard to convince them camping is a wonderful thing to do, go and see places and relax.. sure the Dh has his Dish, palm and cell but we are away..
I think with our dads passing away so early gives us more reasons why we should enjoy life now.. instead of waiting to retire.. we are both mid 40's and we live each day to the fullest..Sure DD Alli at 14 grumbles at first but once we are in our "spot" and the awning's out.. it's a fun time..Our 5 yr old DD is content with a pile of sticks and dirt I am hoping to pass the "gypsy bug" onto them too....

we campers know that staying at the Fort is one of the best things at Disney and we can not wait until October... DD and I are working on some halloween decorations.. of course DH grumbles " how much stuff do you need" but he gets into the "disney mood" pretty quick after all we are at Disney..

happy camping everyone.. see ya at the Fort º0º

 

[clkelley]

I started in Girl Scouts and my brothers were in Boy Scouts, so we did lots of camping growing up. As a matter of fact, since the Boy Scout Leader, and Girl Scout Leader were married to each other, (they had 6 kids, 3 girls and 3 boys), our troops did a lot of joint excursions. I also did lots of backpacking, and long river trips growing up.

I don't do those types of trips anymore, since once I set up, I like to stay set up for at least a couple of days

I picked up camping again once my boys joined Cub Scouts, and really got into it once they moved on up into Boy Scouts. I think I enjoy it more than they do

I havn't graduated to any type of camper yet. Probably never will. Still do the tent camping thing. However, I can stand up in my tent. I have air mattresses, cots, fans, etc.

I do have plans in my head to build some type of camping utility trailer with drawers, bins, hanging rod for clothes, a built in microfridge, propane stove, sink, etc. That way I can just back it in, set up my tent, and bed, and have all my "living" stuff stay in the trailer. Even thinking about doing some long-term/cross-country camping that way.

Carol

 

[cabowser]

When we were little my mom would pack us up with tents and take us camping - I think primarily to get away from my dad, who was a heavy drinker. So we camped a lot. Once we went to WDW in a winnebago for two weeks, that was fun, actually we only went to WDW for one day, the rest of the time was spent in Jacksonville, my mom had family there.

I got into the Explorer's (Boy Scouts - even for girls) and organized campouts for our post. Then started taking my kids when I had them and they were old enough to go. I have always loved to go, except when I was pregnant, then the smell of smoke just made me sick.

We go every year now with all of the kids, including the baby. But you can't really call the cabins at Ft. W camping, can you??

Jan

 

[wildernessfamily]

I think camping is a state of mind, a slower more relaxing pace..that is why FW is so great because you can have the hustle and bustle of the parks all day long, but go back and relax. You have some space between you and your "neighbors", you can cook for yourself if you want. Camping is a different idea for everyone but one thing is clear, it's nature and you can relax a bit more I think than hotels at the park.

 

[loriandmatt]

much like the OP, my camping memories as a child were not good. Dad had a cabin in the woods and the only reason to go there was for him to fish. As a kid that place was a huge bummer. (even more so when you factored in the outhouse and lack of electricity) It was positively nightmarish as a teen girl.

DH convinced me to go tent camping a few years into our relationship. Not bad as we spent lots of time together, the campground had nice activities and KEY - nice bath house facilites. this was so much better than camping as a kid. the only drag was the tent. not my cup of tea.

A few years later we bought our pop up and now camping is like a sickness for us. We have weekend trips all the time and we get all giddy over taking the camper our for a while. (Fathers Day weekend will be our first trip in quite a while and our first trip ever with our 11 month old. wish us luck!) Our son (1) loves it to. We just seem to get along so much better when we are in that van heading someplace or hanging out by that camp fire.

- lori