How Many Camping Trips Do You Have Planned This Summer?

The girls are very excited. When they were younger they were able to spend one weekend a summer camping and boating with their older cousins and their aunt and uncle. Camping near a lake gave the youngest cousins in the family a chance to wake up, have breakfast, and head straight to the boat. Afternoons were spend skiing, tubing, and laughing. After a lunch back at the camper, an afternoon nap reenergized everyone for more fun. Horse shoe games, card games, and often even more water time. The whole group literally collapsed into bed in the evening, after a few sticky s’mores, of course!
The last two summers, however, the schedules did not work out and the camping trip did not happen.
Fast forward to Summer 2016 and the youngest cousins were not old enough to plan the weekend themselves. They found the perfect weekend when everyone was available and they have almost all of the plans in place. The next weekend of camping near a lake was just two weeks away and the camp resort space has been reserved.
Camping Continues to Grow in Popularity
The 2014 American Camper Report indicates that more than 40 million Americans over the age of six went camping in 2013. This number actually represents 14% of the U.S. population. Family camping vacation spots, in fact, are often booked as long as one year out. Additionally, the first come first served sites are also snatched up as soon as the sunrises.
One of the reasons that camping continues to increase in popularity is that these sites offer a variety of outdoor experiences including:

• boating
• fishing
• horseback riding
• golfing
• ropes courses
• horseback riding
• hiking
• rock climbing
• horseback riding
• kayaking
• swimming
• star gazing

With this full menu of activities, it should come as no surprise that 87% of campers participated in several outdoor activities. And even though campgrounds across America offer a wide variety of activities, most campers indicate that 13% of adult indicate that they go camping because they want to spend more time with their family members. Time to spend away from technology, away from the busy schedules of athletic practices and jobs, and quiet times in lakeside or wooded campgrounds.
Another reason that camping grows in popularity is that the world is a complicated place that is full of hectic schedules and stressful deadlines. Families that decide to spend time in the great outdoors commit to following a different kind of schedule. Campers wake with the sunrise, and retire with the sunset. Meals are enjoyed around the campfire, and days are filled laughing over the antics of water skiing and tubing.
Camping near a lake, climbing in the mountains, rafting in the rapids, and hiking in the hills are perfect ways to spend summer vacations. While some families spend large amounts of money traveling to exotic places around the world, families that camp can reach their destination in just a few hours or a single day.
Campgrounds Have a Wide Variety of Offerings and Amenities
Families who want to enjoy many of the luxuries of home can select campground cabins that include air conditioning, bathrooms, and full scale kitchens. On the other hand, families who want to get back to nature can select campgrounds that are simply tent sites in the middle of the wilderness. Bathrooms and shower houses are available, but are often located a ways from the camping locations. These types of campers really enjoy the opportunity to completely unwind and remove themselves from the busyness of life.
Summer camping trips are opportunities to spend time with family members and enjoy the grandeur of nature. Camping near a lake provides families an opportunity to boat and fish. Boats allow families to travel to places that cannot be accessed by car or by foot. Older siblings can climb int he water and teach their younger brothers and sisters how to water ski and wakeboard. Older parents and even grand parents can enjoy quiet evening meals on a quiet pontoon ride. Everyone can go to sleep under the stars, away from the glare of city lights.
Whether your family chooses tent camping or the comforts of cabin camping, time in the outdoors is refreshing, relaxing, and rejuvenating. Camping vacations create memories that will be talked about for years to come. Family memories will last even longer.