Recently, I received an email from a campground that I follow about how even celebrities like to enjoy camping and eating s’mores around a fire – especially at their New Jersey campground. For at least two weeks every summer, we spent time camping at this campground on the Jersey Shore.
Our family is of Sicilian descent, with more women than men, and we find that we feel most connected to others and the Universe best when we spend time outdoors. In fact, the women in our family can hook up a camper and tow it to any desired location on our own. We also do the planning, camp setup, are the fire starters, and do the cooking. However, the males in our family also take part in these activities and enjoy camping just as much.
According to the experts at Statista, “From the Grand Canyon to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, North America is known for its vast national parks and awe-inspiring landscapes, making it a prime spot for camping enthusiasts. It comes as no surprise that these parks were one of the leading locations for camping in North America in 2023, when national, state, or provincial park campgrounds accounted for over a quarter of all camping nights spent in the region. In that year, as many as 53.7 million North American households participated in camping, showing growth of around 20 million over the past decade,”.
Forbes reports that, “According to a study by campground search and review app The Dyrt, about 20% of Americans went camping last year with more than eight million of them doing it for the first time. Forty percent of those newbies said they tried camping either to be with family and friends or to get outdoors.
Forty percent of new campers identified as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), up by 68% from the previous year. That’s a huge change for an active outdoor sport.
Campers like their comforts while they’re roughing it. Over 40% of campers came with their dog,”.
Camping trends
As children, we camped in travel trailers/campers with our parents and grandparents. When I was seventeen, I started camping with friends in tents. For almost fifteen years, in our twenties and early thirties, my cousins and I went on primitive camping trips in tents. Afterwards, when we started having kids of our own, we continued to do tent camping but in State Parks with amenities like bathrooms, showers, and paved roads. By the time my youngest was born, we had acquired a travel trailer and finally said goodbye to tenting! Unless we could reserve a campsite at a Pure Michigan State Park, we took our sons on a primitive camping trip in National Forest land near Lake Michigan in our camper.
In the early days of camping, my grandparents would drive us down from Michigan to meet up with their friends from Pennsylvania to vacation at the aforementioned New Jersey campground. That campground was so much fun for us, and while I generally prefer state campgrounds when camping in my home state of Michigan, King Nummy Campground, NJ, is privately owned and offers some perks that we especially enjoyed as kids:
- The Camp Store (where we had a tab)
- Swimming pools (where I accidentally pulled my grandmother/Nana’s bathing suit top off in the pool while learning how to swim. Oops, sorry, Nana!)
- Outdoor pavilion (live music and dancing on the weekends and Holidays)
- Billiards/Game Room (also where we spent a lot of time on rainy days)
- Shuffleboard (my Nana was more of a Bocci ball player)
- Our furry family pets are welcome (Lucy gets a vacation, too!)
- Extremely Clean Restroom/Shower Facilities
- Laundry Facilities
- Picnic/BBQ Area
- Playground
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Horseshoes
- Pickleball (okay, so this wasn’t even a thing in the 1970s, but hey, it’s available today!)
From the time I was two months old (or so I have been told), I have experienced camping not just in New Jersey but all over my home state of Michigan, in private campgrounds, State Parks, and National Forest land.
As an adult, I have taken my sons camping since they were a few months old. We camped primarily in State Parks and National Parks across Michigan. Below are some of my favorite State and National Parks in Michigan to visit:
- Huron Manistee forest in Oscoda, on the Au Sable River
- Manistee National Forest, Manistee, footsteps from Lake Michigan
- Ludington State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan
- Lakeport State Park, on the shores of Lake Huron
- Proud Lake State Park, on the Huron River (close to home)
- Seven Lakes State Park, for Halloween camping (close to home)
- Algonac State Park, on the shores of Lake Huron (great pier fishing)
- Burt Lake State Park, on Burt Lake (which connects to the Indian River, connecting to Mullet Lake, which feeds into the Cheboygan River, which leads to Lake Michigan) Great boating and swimming
- Mears State Park, on the shores of Lake Michigan, minutes away from the world-renowned Silver Lake Sand Dunes
Camping with dogs
In addition to camping with our children starting as newborns, our family has always camped with our dogs. Our furry K9s deserve a vacation, too. Just like children, when dogs spend all day outdoors enjoying nature and sunshine, they get tired out. When bedtime rolls around, neither the kids nor the family’s furry members have problems sleeping like logs!
When traveling with dogs, it is important to pack their essentials as well. Furthermore, it is vital that you are aware of the rules regarding pets. For example, in Michigan State Parks, all dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet. We also ensure they are on a safe, long line that does not extend into neighboring campsites or the road while we are at our campsite. We must also ensure that we clean up their poop at the site or while on a walk.
Here are a few things to consider bringing for your furry traveler:
- Water and food bowls
- Food
- Long line
- Leash
- Dog bed
- Dog crate
- Treats
- Frisbee, ball, squeaky toy
What kind of people enjoy camping the most in USA
In conclusion, camping in the USA attracts a diverse range of enthusiasts, from adventure seekers to nature lovers, offering unique experiences that cater to various interests and preferences. It’s a timeless activity that continues to unite people everywhere. By the way, campers are also some of the friendliest and most helpful people!