Camping With Bill

Did You Reserve Your Spot Yet???

March 22, 2009 By Bill Leave a Comment

camping Well, spring has finally arrived, and with it, the hard decisions. Where are we going to go this year?

Every spring, we sit down and discuss the three big weekends – Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. The 3-day weekends. We like to camp these weekends for several reasons. We don’t have to take any vacation days from work to camp for three days. Most campgrounds have the most activities on these weekends. There are lots of people to meet and socialize with at campgrounds on these weekends.

Unfortunately, the trend we’ve seen in the past three or four years is that it’s harder and harder to get sites. Campgrounds are booking up so quick. Part of that is because of the economy. For the past few years, more and more people are getting into camping. It’s a cheap and fun vacation. With it’s increase in popularity comes, of course, and increase in media attention, which just creates the unending loop. Talk to camper dealers – they can’t keep them in stock.

Anyway, so this past week, I called our favorite local site for Memorial Day Weekend. With the kids still in school, it’s easier to stay closer to home. Guess what? BOOKED SOLID. I thought for sure with a two month head’s up we’d get a site, but no such luck. It took THREE tries before I found a campground with room for us. Needless to say, I didn’t waste any time. I booked 4th of July and have some promising leads for Labor Day.

My point? If you haven’t already done so, get on your bookings for the holiday weekends!

Filed Under: Campgrounds Tagged With: campgrounds are booked, reserve a campsite

RV Camping – Ten Ways to Save Money

November 3, 2008 By Bill Leave a Comment

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jaimie_Hall_Bruzenak]Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Here are ten ways to save money on campground expenses:

1. Use a directory. You can minimize driving miles off your route and pick out lower priced places to stay. Call ahead to verify rates and availability.

2. Join a membership park or join a half-price camping club. Both offer lower rates to members. Investigate membership parks before joining. They may or may not save you money. The half-price clubs cost around $50/year so if you stay in three or four parks at half price, you’ll be ahead of the game.

3. Extend your stay. Many parks offer weekly and monthly rates that lower your nightly rate.

4. Try boondocking. When you are traveling and are only stopping for the night and not needing or using campground facilities, find a boondocking spot. Many RVers blacktop boondock at Wal-Mart parking lots or at truck stops. (Be sure to follow proper etiquette.)

5. Choose cheaper sites. If you don’t need to dump your tanks, request a site that has only water and electric for a cheaper rate than a full-hookup site.

6. Set up your rig for boondocking. Add solar panels and a catalytic or ceramic heater to your RV so you can boondock for extended periods of time on public land. There is an initial setup cost but camping is free or low-cost.

7. Look for free camping. Some towns, particularly Midwestern ones, have municipal RV parks where you can stay free for a night or two.

8. Stay in public campgrounds. Many public campgrounds operated by federal and state agencies are less expensive than private facilities. Many will not have hookups but are in beautiful locations.

9. Stay with friends or fellow club members. Several RV clubs have lists of members who welcome club members to stop overnight for one night on their travels. If you stay with a friend or club member, don’t abuse your privilege. Offer some money or take them to dinner.

10. Work or volunteer where you get a free site. Many volunteer or Workcamper jobs come with a free or reduced-rate RV site.

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak is an RV Lifestyle Expert. She has been RVing since 1992. She and her late husband weren’t retired so RVed on a budget and worked on the road. She is the author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider’s Guide to Working on the Road and other RV books. See http://www.RVLifestyleExperts.com for more information about the RV lifestyle.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jaimie_Hall_Bruzenak http://EzineArticles.com/?RV-Camping—Ten-Ways-to-Save-Money&id=1516387

Filed Under: Campgrounds Tagged With: boondocking, membership parks, RV, RV lifestyle, Workamper

Mercer County, PA

September 27, 2008 By Bill Leave a Comment

If you plan to visit Mercer County, PA – just north of Pittsburgh, we recommend this campground.

We take at least one trip every year to Kozy Rest. They have lots of fun activities for families and kids, a great pool, and lots of space. Nice roads for riding bikes, too. It’s close to fishing, hiking, and shopping. It’s family owned and I’ve always received very personalized attention from the staff – calling me back off season, trying to squeeze us in – helping us when we forget things like a LEVEL (yes, we did).

I have a video of us singing karaoke this past 4th of July weekend – I’ll post it as soon as I get it converted. It was a blast!

Filed Under: Campgrounds Tagged With: Kozy Rest Kampground, Mercer County, PA campgrounds

New York State Campgrounds For Leisure

September 20, 2008 By Bill Leave a Comment

By Ian Pennington

Camping is a growing aspect of American culture in terms of spending pastime. It’s not only during summer or fall when people go for camping and fishing. It’s any given season of the year. Overnight staying at parks and campgrounds are common to groups of individual who seek for optimum relaxation. Stargazing and a campfire burning nearby can be enjoyed while drinking a couple of drinks with family and friends. In the United States, New York State campgrounds are a popular scene for campers and vacationing friends.

Venues like Lake George, Oakland Valley Campground, Lake George Escape, Yogi Bear Jelly Stone, Paradise Pines, Adirondack Mountain Range, Seaway Island Resort, Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park are among the well-visited New York State campgrounds. Whether it’s in a recreational vehicle or a tent, camping is naturally the best way for nature lovers to spend the night out. There are campsites that are open to the public, and with the visionary missions of camping associations, the field of camping is advanced and facilities are made adequate enough to suffice the demands of the campers. RV parks are situated around the state of New York to accommodate those who travel with their own recreational or who camp via RV rentals.

True, there won’t be any dull moment in New York. The busy streets and lively amusement areas are assured to give one an eventful visit. Besides the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Ellis Island and Guggenheim Art Museum, New York State campgrounds are also the state’s valued possessions and celebrated venues. The beautiful bays and scenic spots can be captured from an elevated camping ground. When you are seeking for places to go camping, you can refer to the above-mentioned campgrounds or perhaps consult directory listing for a wider array of choices. Well-equipped RV areas, spacious tent spots and convenient cabins are afforded by campground operators for the campers to experience camping momentously. Some campgrounds and parks offer special privileges, exclusive deals and valued reward cards for the campers to take advantage.

If you are creating your itinerary for your next vocational escapade, why not try doing a weekend getaway at New York State campgrounds? You can enjoy the feeling of installing your own tents on the grounds by the lakes and rivers, or perhaps greeting a great morning upon waking up in your comfy recreational vehicle. If you eyeing on camping near the Grand Canyon of the East, you will savor a night camping in the woods and savor breakfast in a cabin a day after. When in New York for camping, you don’t have to worry where to go as there are more than 8,000 campsites to choose from. They are all ready to serve in all seasons of the year.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about New York camping, please visit Camping Info Online for current articles and discussions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Pennington
http://EzineArticles.com/?New-York-State-Campgrounds-For-Leisure&id=1479154