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Planning your summer camp out
By Meriah Doty
(CNN) -- It's that time of year again. Time to fill the SUV with tents, sleeping bags, canned food and the kids, and hit the road to connect with the great outdoors. But where will you go this year? How much can you spend? The options seem endless, from beach camping to backpacking to organized camps for kids and teens. The Travel Industry Association of America expects summer travel to pick up as the summer heats up. Lodging is slightly more expensive this year, according to the TIA, and the airlines are still in a bit of a slump -- conditions that make camping a viable option for those planning summer excursions. Taking the economical routeIf you're tightening your money belt like many Americans this year, camping can be an inexpensive alternative to tropical vacations and beach house trips. And you can have just as much fun in the sun. Don Wright, author of "Guide to Free Campgrounds," recommends that campers on a tight budget check out publicly owned campgrounds. These include city parks, county parks, state parks and a whole range of federally owned parks including national forests. "They are all ... quite economical and inexpensive and sometimes free. Most of the national forests have some free camping. In some of the national forests in the West, all the camping is free," Wright says. Some campgrounds provide cabins with all the basic necessities -- a great option for light packers and campers who don't want to spend a lot on gear. Santa Catalina Island, 23 miles off the coast of southern California, has five sites scattered throughout the small island. Select locations there offer cabin tents that sleep from four to six people. They include cots, camp stove, lantern, a picnic table, fire ring and sunshade. To get the most bang for your buck, according to Wright, the national forests of Michigan are a good bet. "They have a wide variety of camping spaces, the prices are quite low and sometimes free and most of Michigan national forest campgrounds are located on excellent lakes for boating and fish." The best campgrounds, Wright says, are offered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "A typical U.S. Corps of Engineers campsite ranges from $7 to $22, depending on the facilities. A private campground ranges from $15 to $50." Camping for the whole family
Campgrounds with developed nature trails that identify trees, nesting birds and animals are a good option for kids because, according to Wright, "You not only enjoy the trip, you're also giving [your kids] a foundation of education that they couldn't get any other way." And families can mix it up by giving their kids a thrill and a camping experience all in one place. "Amusement parks like King's Island, Cedar Point, and Sea World offer campgrounds with ... public facilities," Wright adds. They generally provide low-cost or free transportation to the parks. The organized camp experience -- for the whole family or for kids alone -- offers unique opportunities that are otherwise hard to find, says executive director of the American Camping Association Peg Smith. "We are seeing a continued growth in organized family camp experiences because families are looking for opportunities that are designed to meet the needs of all the members of their family," she says. Parents may also want to seek out camps that cater to their children's interests, such as boating, aviation, caving and canoeing. There are also camps for kids with special needs. Camp Breathe Easy in Rutledge, Georgia, caters to children with asthma. Adventure Learning Center in Hersey, Michigan, is a retreat for boys and girls with emotional and behavioral disorders. RV-ing and adventure campingIf tent camping isn't for you, there are many RV-friendly campgrounds. You can choose from more than 14,000 commercially owned and government-owned park listings in the United States. One RV hot spot is Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort in Foxboro, Massachusetts, according to Woodall's, an RV and camping guide. Normandy Farms has an air-conditioned recreation lodge, a cafe, three outdoor pools, a Jacuzzi, a campground store, softball fields, a Frisbee golf course and an extensive activity schedule. Woodall's also picked Cactus Country RV Resort in Tucson, Arizona, as a recent hot spot. The resort is located central to the Rincon, Santa Catalina and Santa Rita Mountains, which touts beautiful desert sunsets, several nearby museums and other attractions, Sunday afternoon jam sessions, and all the necessary amenities. Bayou Haven RV Resort in Galveston, Texas, was also recognized by the RV and camping guide as a hot spot. Bayou Haven worker Gina Galicia says she believes the resort was chosen for its laid back atmosphere, location near the Bayou, which is great for fishing, clean facilities and a hopping restaurant that hosts live bands and dancing on the weekends. For the adventure camper, Wright says river-rafting trips out West on the Snake and Columbia rivers offer quite a thrill. No matter what suits your fancy, a tailor-made camping experience is within your grasp. So pack the marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, and hit the road!
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