By Bob Holzhei
Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the 2022 camping season!
Camping allows travelers to spend time outdoors in the fresh air and has become more popular than ever during the post-pandemic era. Some recreational vehicle dealers are having difficulty keeping RVs on their lots.
Camping is very budget-friendly too! It has allowed our family of six to afford more time vacationing than if we were to stay in motels. Our current RV is a self-contained 30-foot motor-home with a kitchen, dining area, bath, shower, living room, televisions, and a sleeping area that accommodates eight.
Choosing where to camp involves deciding on a site. Choices include state and national parks and even luxury full-service RV resorts offering various amenities. Some resorts provide a clubhouse for social gatherings, a swimming pool, hot tub, bocce ball, golf cart rentals, horseshoes, and shuffleboard.
Our experiences took us to a new RV Resort at Arcadia, FL. It just opened three years ago and is expanding with additional RV sites. An elegant clubhouse is scheduled to be finished by next winter. The clubhouse will have exercise equipment, a pool table and weekly activities such as dances, poker nights, bingo, and pool exercises. While we were on site, there was one weekend where seven campsites hosted complimentary snacks and drinks as a meet and greet social event. It was fun.
The spacious RV sites are 20 by 70 feet and paved with a brick base. The bulletin board in the on-site laundry had a sign-up sheet for additional activities, including golf, pickleball and Mexican train dominos.
During our first winter camping trip to Florida, my wife and I were surprised to discover food trailers arriving at the RV resort each week. Our initial week stay quickly turned into a one-month reservation, then led to reserving a spot for a longer time next winter.
“It looks like we’re eating out tonight,” stated Becky, a fellow camper with whom my wife Shirley made friends.
An assortment of food trailers arrived weekly, offering pizza, burritos, chicken wings, fries, filet mignon, porterhouse steaks, salmon and other fish dishes. Add other amenities, including poker nights, bingo, pool exercises, and social meeting opportunities.
Across the United States, travelers can request state campground directories. Many are free and list the locations and amenities offered. Reading through the literature during winter is a great way to prepare for the upcoming camping season. Visit https://www.rv-camping.org/campground-directory/.
As RV parks offer new amenities across the United States, roughing it has taken on a brand-new meaning!
