I, fondly, share your memories, watchme. Although...it's been many years since the days that my husband and I camped by a trout stream. We used to rent an upstate NY wilderness camp sight by the year but gave it up when the then owners decided to retire. Soon after they sold the sight, the attitude of the incoming flock of new campers left a lot to be desired under the new ownership and we, unhappily, decided our wilderness days needed to come to an end as well.

I miss those times. I have a lot of wonderful memories but I fear those days are long gone. No cell phones then. People actually talked to one another and willingly shared. My step children learned invaluable life lessons in that atmosphere that they still cherish today. My oldest stepson still talks about the fun we had and wishes he could bring his new grandson into the same realm.

My only solace is that I now live in the country and get to appreciate similar flora and fauna only in a slightly more sophisticated atmosphere. My clothes don't smell of camp fire smoke these days and nothing will ever taste as good as a meal cooked out in the open by that trout stream...but at least the air I breathe is relatively clean and crisp. For that, I'm very thankful.

Yes, watchme; I have wonderful memories of primitive camping in tents and open lean-tos. I wouldn't do it now if you paid me, but enjoyed it from a wee child throughout my thirties. I'm in my 60s now.

Other than an annual drive to California to visit grandparents, just about all of our trips were camping when I was growing up. We had a tent, two burner coleman stove. Some of the time we weren't even in campgrounds, but along whatever pretty river, stream or mountainside my dad took a liking to. We didn't worry about people, theft, problems at all then. No one bothered us and we bothered no one. Of course I wouldn't do it now. But living where I do (WA coast) I do have lots of opportunities to be out in the woods, along rivers, on the ocean, and can come home to a shower, electricity at the end of the day ;0)

We did that quite a bit when we were younger. Now we have the rv which allows us to still enjoy traveling, not possible any other way. We do not like to stay in large noisy rv parks with lots of kids and party people. We enjoyed the quiet, small, more private places. Like the place on the beach we were just at. Besides us there was only one other couple there. Exactly how we like it. We were the only ones set up on the beach with our canopy and chairs. My family members did join us for a few days. I prefer peace and quiet and relaxing. My days of tents are long gone. We have never had a problem with anything disappearing from around the rv. We do have storage bays that lock and we can chain stuff to the rv. That's another good thing about the smaller places. We leave the BBQ pit out and the direct TV dish and our outdoor chairs with no problem.

We camp in the winter with a tent to avoid the heat, loud crowds and bugs! Usually state parks. We too have fond memories of childhood camping trips.

I remember my most recent camping trip very well.

I was talking to a work colleague, one who was a bit older than me and had been stationed on Oahu during his military active duty years, about his suggestions for visiting Hawaii. He told me the best way to easily see all of the Big Island was to rent an RV and stay at state run beach camping parks. Without giving it much thought, we followed his advice and rented an RV for our visit to the Big Island. It was the last 4 days of a 15 day trip, as I recall.

We arrived in Hilo, got our spiffy vehicle, and drove to and got set up at the first park on our itinerary. I realized, there was no beach side/pool side bar. And so, of course, no Happy Hour and no tropical drinks. Too bad. The hot dogs and beans we had for dinner didn't compare to the great Asian and Hawaiian food we'd been eating but dinner was okay. Other campers were noisy until late into the night and the vehicle was hot. We didn't sleep well. In the morning, I realized there was no hot shower to start the day, only the lukewarm one (hot weather, of course) down by the sand. While contemplating what to do for breakfast, I started thinking - "why are we here, why are we doing this?" After a short discussion, we packed up the RV and drove down the road to a nice resort hotel that wasn't too far away and had rooms available. We got a great room and enjoyed our remaining Hawaiian adventure with all the amenities of the nice hotel. The RV remained in the parking lot except for our daytime excursions and a few trips out for dinner.

I was in my early 20s, and this happened in the mid-1970s. I remember it well because the memory has come to me every time since then that an opportunity to go camping has come my way and I've always declined. I didn't grow up going camping and I guess it's not how I like to travel. As I said in the other thread, there are enough people who love to camp that I know this is a reflection of me, not them. It's just not my thing.

That wouldn't be my cup of tea either, Elmer. That would turn any sane person off camping. I would be running for the first hotel with an available room. If I am somewhere to see the sites I want to experience the food and have a nice hot shower at the end of the day.

For me camping and tourism don't really mix. The camping outdoors is the experience. But that outdoor experience as others have agreed has changed. I miss the days when you didn't need a reservation or even a campground. I have camped on the beach, alongside rivers and streams etc. Built our own fire circles and cooked over campfires. Fresh trout on a stick. :-)

I've been on impromptu camping trips by motorcycle. Grab a swimsuit and some clean underwear, strap a couple of sleeping bags on and off we'd go. Sometimes we would buy a cheap skillet on the way along with food for a one pot meal. Eggs.bacon, canned foods are available everywhere.

When I was a kid my friends dad loved to stream fish. He would take us to sites where there would be absolutely no one for miles around. We would hike the areas, swim in the rivers, and drink from springs. Pure freedom for a pair of 12/13 year olds. The only caveat was to watch our step for the rattlers in the area.

I never camped in my early years. Staying in a rustic cabin with no TV in the woods of Northern Vermont was my idea of roughing it. My DH grew up camping in a tent since he was a kid. He did yearly two week to a month backpacking trips in his teens and twenties.

We did a couple of 3 day weeked tent camping trips before we were married, which I though was OK. After we were married, we did a 2 week backpacking trip twice as our 2 week vacation trip. After the second one I told him he could do any future backpacking trips without me. Not my idea of fun.

Staying in a condo at a vacation resort is as rough as I want a vacation to be.

I grew up camping with a cousin and her mom and dad. We were both only children, close in age and good friends, so I was invited along to keep her company. I really loved being out in the forest, on a lake or salt water - it was such an adventure. But the best part was my cousin was REALLY spoiled - her parents did everything for her, she never had to lift a finger. So we'd pull into camp, go off exploring, come back to find lunch ready, the tent up, sleeping bags unrolled, air mattresses blown up, etc. I had much more responsibility at home, so tried to help, but was always shooed off to go play. I loved, loved, loved those weeks of leisure.

After I married, we moved from the city to very rural areas where we've always lived in the forest. So I can walk out my back door and have the same feelings I did about camping, but then go inside and walk upstairs to my comfy bed. Now, if there was just someone to do the cooking and clean-up!

Later in life, we started sailing, so we "camped" on our sailboat, which
was perfect. Not as much packing or setting up and much more comfy as
we aged.

Camping to me was always too much work, so I never enjoyed it. I would much rather stay home and still feel that way.

Sue

I'm not even that fond of picnics. So much bother.

We tent camped twice in the Florida Keys 10 years ago, and really enjoyed it. We also camped in Wisconsin, Tennessee and upper Florida. Now we live in the country on a lake with an outdoor fireplace. After a day of paddle boarding my husband and I often BBQ and make a fire outside and relax. That somehow feels like camping to me. I see so many critters, wild animals and HUGE spiders where I live that I no longer want to camp. I don't know if I will ever camp again after seeing snakes, coyote, fox, deer, black widows in my backyard, my ignorance was bliss before we lived in the country.

As A Girl Scout leader, I camped with my troop. We slept in platform tents. I agree on how much work it is. For years I was the community director and ran my community's camporee.

I think it is a great experience for kids. That said, I don't understand why an adult would want to do it. Sleeping on the ground, lugging all the equipment, then if it rains..... I can go on and on.

You can get similar experiences in a rustic cabin in the woods.

We have a couple of tents and a popup camper. Camping is fun if you choose the right spots. Most campers are friendly and decent people and will help each other if needed. The only time we ever heard of anything getting stolen was at Yellowstone. We try not to have a lot of valuables with us either. We've camped in several states and never had a problem.

Our last campout was last Labor Day weekend down near Corpus Christi. The view was beautiful. Too bad about the wind. The mesh on our tent acted as a sifter and we woke up covered in fine sand. We didn't hang around after that. We may go back at a less windy time.

We thought about camping near Enchanted Rock over Spring Break, but the entire state was on spring break. We weren't about to go to the beach that week. Lol!

Way back when we camped all over this country with our 3 children, our usual procedure was to set up a camp for about 3 days and explore the surrounding area. Therefore, there were times when the camp site was unattended. We were concerned with pilferage and developed a protocol of out of sight, out of mind. When we were gone, there would be nothing in sight of value. We did leave our bedding in the tent, but the tent was zipped closed to keep creepy-crawly things out of it. The vents might be left open weather permitting. The Coleman stove, cook kit, and lanterns were stowed in the car along with food. At meal times, we unpacked only the amount of food we would eat for that meal, thus we never had a large amount of food unpacked. This did load the vehicle a bit, but it was nice to have when touring the area. We could stop anywhere and have a lunch. If someone got a scrape, the first aid kit was there. Back then, we did not have cell phones, but did have a good CB. That came in handy a couple of times. The main problem with CB was its limited range.

Back then, things were different. If you introduced yourself to fellow campers, they tended to watch your site when it was vacant. Among fellow campers, we did not find many "bad campers". Only twice did I feel threatened. One event was a pair of young men who rolled into camp in a pickup truck and one of them was roaring drunk. He was shouting and babbling late at night and awakened people, me included since was his nearest neighbor. His buddy was trying to quiet him down without an effect, I did not know what he might do - I was tense and lost a lot of sleep that night. I slept with an un-sheathed camp axe. The next day, the guy was sober and apologetic. The second event was when we unknowing pitched our tent in a campsite that was infested with camp bears. These were bears that pawed through the town dump that was a little over a 1/4 mile away and at night when the camp was quiet, they came through the campsite. I was awakened by a noise and snuffing sound outside the tent. The person in the adjacent campsite was in a hardside camper. They shouted at the animal and beat on some pans. The animal went away. The next morning, there were bear tracks by the table and a garbage can had been dumped. If I had only known, we would have gone to a motel that night.

I go camping, but it is usually a bunch of us on retreat who take over a small campground for the weekend. I guess the last time we did regular camping, 8 or 10 years ago, we had no problem leaving the site unattended when we left for a day trip.... although I wouldn't leave valuables such as car keys or cameras behind. (Hey, I wanted to use the camera anyway....) The wine was still there when we got back.

(Food, of course, always gets secured in cars.... bears, raccoons...)

I do hate radios and such blasting when I camp. In fact I'd prefer no music at all when camping, unless people bring instruments they play themselves.

When I was a kid, my parents and another family would take us camping. The final trip with this configuration included a hike for 10 miles on the Appalachian Trail. We got back to camp, and overnight an unpredicted deluge of rain beat down mercilessly. My brother had set up his tent in a dry brook bed, which didn't remain so. After that Mom put her foot down on ever doing that again!

Ps, I've never camped in an RV. I do appreciate campsites with good bathroom amenities.

For people my age and especially with physical limitations our RV makes traveling and experiencing new places doable. I have a fabulous big shower with a seat and hand held, a hot water heater that provides as much steaming hot water as needed. Two Ac units! A very comfortable large and roomy bedroom with a big closet and dresser. A kitchen that rivals a home and a very comfortable living room and entertainment center. In our youth we did the tents and motorcycle journeys and loved it, great memories. Now we are making more memories!

My husband and I have tent camped for over 35 years. Living in the Phoenix area it gets pretty darn hot in the summer, so we pack up the SUV and head to the mountains. Just a quick hour and a half later we are in the woods at an elevation of 7800 feet. We have always loved doing this, but now with some health issues we aren't able to go this summer. But will still go up and rent a cabin. I really miss camping. We had a system. Hubby would do all the grocery shopping and packing the car. I would do the set up once we got to the campground. And we both enjoyed sitting in the cooler weather and enjoying nature.

Raven, that RV is spectacular. My sister's SIL has one similar. They have dogs that they travel with and having an RV made trips more doable.

Our little dog travels with us always too. It is our other home lol. Of course during the flood it was our only home.

Raven, that's not camping, it's glamping. I love your RV, I'm jealous. I started camping in my 20s and went the whole route, from tent to Motorhome. I loved it all. Tent camping is a lot of work and in MHO is for the young. I loved it all and don't regret the tent years, in fact, when we were camping in a tent I felt most adventurous.

I have never been camping in my life. No desire to. I much prefer the comforts of a lovely hotel.

My idea of roughing it is no room service.

When my husband and I were dating the only stretching of the truth that I did, and have ever done, was intimating to him that I would do the West Coast trail on the west side of Vancouver Island. It is a one week hike/camping trek.

Camping does not come with electricity. I will not be taking part in this activity.

Although we did do two weekend camping trips really close to the city with the kids. We wound up raising two boys who think nothing of backpacking through the Rockies for a week, or overnight backcountry ski-touring for a week and right now one of our kids is hiking in the Alps for two weeks with his backpack. They don't camp in organized campsites - that is too many people and too much civilization. I have no idea how and where they got the interest or the drive to do this.

I only went camping once....when I was about 8, with my parents and a couple other families...friends of theirs. We had tents....and it was fun for me then, but even tho I love nature, I would rather stay in a motel. When we moved to the bayou, we moved into a barn and that was more rustic than I'd care to repeat.

My best friend from high school wants to go camping and take our horses. I would like to do that. She has a fancy horse trailer that has a living area....kitchen, bathroom, queen sized bed. We plan to go to a big ranch not terribly far from where she lives....and about 100 miles from me. They allow camping and trail riding on the ranch.

I don't know when we will do it now. It is too hot this time of year...maybe this fall. I think that would be ideal and just the two of us and can catch up on old times.