Does everyone just go camping now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in a family that had never/would never go camping. Now I see everyone and their mother owns an rv and kayaks. When and why did this become so popular?

I grew up camping, and camp now, and I'm friends with people who camp - and it's definitely a small subset of the people I know. None of my coworkers or neighbors camp, for example. Getting parents to camp with my scout troop is like pulling teeth.

[Anonymous]

People camp for different reasons. The draw for me is the peacefulness and beauty for a reasonable cost.

Lots of campgrounds are pretty unremarkable. But there are dozens or even 100+ within a day's drive of DC that are truly stunning, with large, quiet campsites on bodies of water. You can have 8 people and a dog at one of these for $20, using gear that you use over and over again. These are settings that would cost hundreds and hundreds for a house.

[Anonymous]

I haven't looked at this book but I've used others in the series and they're excellent. Very detailed. https://a.co/d/irzpyQ0

[Anonymous]

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Tent-Camping-Car-Camping-Civilization/dp/0897324951/ref=asc_df_0897324951?mcid=208470a9d6163335a3364bdd0d885b52&hvocijid=16209124335096618555-0897324951-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16209124335096618555&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003041&hvtargid=pla-2281435176698&psc=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In America, I think camping is popular among white people. I don’t see it much with other ethnic groups, aside from the tent encampments set up by the unhoused.

I just went camping last weekend. Maybe 3/4 of the campers were AA. I guess it’s because we were in MD close to DC? When we’ve camped in PA or central VA there weren’t many but those were in more rural places with lower AA populations? They all had tons of camping equipment so it was clearly something they’d done before too.

[Anonymous]

I love climbing in the Alps, but would be OK overnighting at the treeline there, in a tent. The hiker's cabins are spartan and communal and I would never go there, so one tent night is all I can do before I need real toilets and a shower.
Since I don't want to buy tents and things just for rare nights outside, I rent a nice chalet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love climbing in the Alps, but would be OK overnighting at the treeline there, in a tent. The hiker's cabins are spartan and communal and I would never go there, so one tent night is all I can do before I need real toilets and a shower.
Since I don't want to buy tents and things just for rare nights outside, I rent a nice chalet.

Me again. I don't quite know how to camp in the US. Isn't the entire country overrun with ticks? I'm used to Europe, which has fewer ticks, especially at high altitude in the Alps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am too old for camping.

I felt that way too. I did tent camp with my son was he was 5 or 6 and my body was really pissed off at me for the few days following. No thanks. So I sent him to sleepaway camp so he could have more tent camping experiences.

[Anonymous]

Camping is wonderful for family bonding. A chance to escape all technology and overcome challenges together like setting up a tent or building a fire. But I’ll admit it’s not the most restful night sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love climbing in the Alps, but would be OK overnighting at the treeline there, in a tent. The hiker's cabins are spartan and communal and I would never go there, so one tent night is all I can do before I need real toilets and a shower.
Since I don't want to buy tents and things just for rare nights outside, I rent a nice chalet.

Me again. I don't quite know how to camp in the US. Isn't the entire country overrun with ticks? I'm used to Europe, which has fewer ticks, especially at high altitude in the Alps.

Most of the eastern US has lots of ticks. You check nightly. You check ALL OVER.

You take antibiotics if you get bitten for long enough, or if you don’t feel well after possible Lyme exposure.

For me and many others, it’s worth the risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People camp for different reasons. The draw for me is the peacefulness and beauty for a reasonable cost.

Lots of campgrounds are pretty unremarkable. But there are dozens or even 100+ within a day's drive of DC that are truly stunning, with large, quiet campsites on bodies of water. You can have 8 people and a dog at one of these for $20, using gear that you use over and over again. These are settings that would cost hundreds and hundreds for a house.

Would you mind to share your favorite?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, RVing is not the same as camping. An RV can be just as comfortable as a hotel room, just more compact. There’s running water and electricity, sometimes a bathroom/shower, no sleeping on the ground. That is nothing like camping.

Being in a compact space is not my idea of comfortable.

So you don't use cars, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love kayaking and hiking but hate camping.

There are different versions of outdoorsy. Personally, I love indoor plumbing and a proper bed, but otherwise love being outside in nature.

This is me minus the kayaking. My legs are long and when I capsize it's tough to get them out! I would maybe try glamping if I were younger, but nothing like a real bed and proper plumbing. i do love nature and the outdoors and hiking calms me and make me so happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love climbing in the Alps, but would be OK overnighting at the treeline there, in a tent. The hiker's cabins are spartan and communal and I would never go there, so one tent night is all I can do before I need real toilets and a shower.
Since I don't want to buy tents and things just for rare nights outside, I rent a nice chalet.

Me again. I don't quite know how to camp in the US. Isn't the entire country overrun with ticks? I'm used to Europe, which has fewer ticks, especially at high altitude in the Alps.

Most of the eastern US has lots of ticks. You check nightly. You check ALL OVER.

You take antibiotics if you get bitten for long enough, or if you don’t feel well after possible Lyme exposure.

For me and many others, it’s worth the risk.

PP you replied to. Seriously? OMG, I would never do that. It would take away all the peacefulness of nature to have such little trust in my environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People camp for different reasons. The draw for me is the peacefulness and beauty for a reasonable cost.

Lots of campgrounds are pretty unremarkable. But there are dozens or even 100+ within a day's drive of DC that are truly stunning, with large, quiet campsites on bodies of water. You can have 8 people and a dog at one of these for $20, using gear that you use over and over again. These are settings that would cost hundreds and hundreds for a house.

Would you mind to share your favorite?

Check out the book series I shared yesterday. I've only used 2 of the books but they're very well organized and easy to use.