Every road trip planner should build a
camping road trip for a memorable “hands on” vacation. They are especially fun when you go as a
family, though I went on 2-3 camping trips annually before I had kids and had
wonderful experiences then as well.
Sure, luxury hotels give you the sense of spoiling yourself, certainly a
desirable feeling, but being outdoors in natural surroundings rejuvenates the
spirit, another sought after vacation objective. Read on for 10 more reasons why a California
Campout should be on your vacation list this summer.
No.
10--You get hands-on experience with California's state symbols. In one campout, you could spot the valley quail perched in a
redwood tree while you hike through a field of golden poppies. You could
also find evidence that a grizzly bear has visited your campsite: There's the
smashed windshield of your car (you left sunflower seeds on the front seat) and
the demolished ice chest (you didn't realize bears weren't deterred by flimsy
storage locks).
An article in the Yosemite
Guide newsletter mentioned that backpackers could protect their food from
black bears by renting a bear-proof food canister instead of hanging their food
from a tree. This canister could hold a
three-day supply of food and yet weighed only two and a half pounds. I told my
husband I couldn't imagine how such a lightweight item could keep bears from getting
at the food. "The canister
probably includes a big roll of cellophane wrap," Bill replied. "You
wrap your food in it, and the bear goes crazy trying to find the edges."
No.
9--You get to wear all your grungy clothes. You know the ones; those faded T-shirts,
torn shorts and baggy jeans that are so comfortable you just can't throw them
out yet…even though your spouse has tried on a number of occasions to bury them
in the bottom of the household rag bin.
No.
8--Your kids don't have to wash up before dinner. What's the point? Between the bathroom
and the campsite are 100 yards of magnetic dirt. Speaking of bathrooms...
No.
7--You appreciate the overlooked luxuries of home. Like having a toilet that flushes. Or taking a shower that
doesn't cost a quarter for every five minutes. Once, during a 10-Day
California to Colorado Road Trip, Bill and I had only two quarters between
us. I finished in time; Bill didn't. He stood there, covered in suds, while I
dressed and ran out to try to find someone with change for a $20 bill. The suds
nearly dried on him.
No.
6--You're prepared for an emergency. If a moderate earthquake should hit California while
you're camping, you won't be inconvenienced because 1) your musty tent is
suddenly a safe haven, 2) you've already got all your food on ice and 3) you
have a portable radio and a lantern, so you won't miss what most people miss
after an earthquake--electricity.
No.
5--You get to have barbecue for every night for dinner. And every morning for breakfast. And
every afternoon for lunch. In fact, you can reach your barbecue quota for the
entire summer in just one campout.
No.
4--You get to see just how many pores you have on your face. This is a good time to play
connect-the-dots or mimic the Orion constellation on your left cheek. It's also
the perfect opportunity to have your palm read by a fortuneteller, since all
the lines in your hands stand out in stark relief.
No.
3--You get to commune with nature. Blue
jays and squirrels enter your campground daily to clean up your crumbs. At
dusk, there are bats flying overhead. Do
you really
trust their sonar? Are you sure they won't get tangled in your hair? At Cherry
Lake campground, there are the two-inch bomber pine beetles; these, I can
tell you from personal experience, do
get tangled in your hair.
No.
2--You get to exercise.
This can range from trying to reach that mosquito bite in the middle of your
back to chasing the raccoon that's absconded with your favorite bag of chips to
consenting to a hike because the sign says it's only two miles long (but
neglects to tell you that it's two miles straight uphill).
And the No. 1 reason why
you should go camping?
It's cheaper than staying in a hotel.
The great thing
about camping in California is that there are always more campgrounds to
be explored. I’ve camped for nearly 5
decades and yet, my latest Road Trip
Planner is being filled with a destination I’ve never been to before; Hope
Valley.
Ingrid McCleary (portions of this article
appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun and the Cupertino Courier).
I love camping western Cali... the woods are such a dramatic difference from here in the South (SC) so it's exciting to visit that side and camp it out for real appreciation.
Posted by: motorcycle helmets | May 28, 2009 at 04:55 AM
Hey number 9 is my favorite reason...oh wait. I do that anyway! :) Plus I always take my roll top. http://thecampingtable.com
Posted by: Camping Table | August 20, 2009 at 08:13 PM
well i usually go to Texas Campgrounds for camping, and my feeling and experiences are same..but after reading your article, i can now be able to explain my ideology towards camping experiences more easily
Posted by: Texas Campgrounds | November 03, 2009 at 05:54 AM