Choosing The Perfect Campsite
Have you ever arrived at a campground and discovered it’s nothing like what you thought it would be. Oftentimes pictures can be deceiving and what you see in a brochure or on a website isn’t quite reliable. Here are some helpful tips to make choosing your campsite easier, whether you’re states away or right up the street.
Do A Pre Visit | If possible stop by the campground before you visit and scout out areas you think would best fit your RV and family’s needs. This also allows you to meet the campground manager and establish a positive rapport early on. Of course, if you’re located far from the campground you might be better off calling the campground and following the next few tips.
Reviews | Check sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp for honest reviews. Many reviewers also post photos of what their campsites looked like, which helps pain a more accurate picture of what you’re getting yourself into. Look at both positive and negative reviews and remember to take each one with a grain of salt. You can’t make everyone happy. If, however, there’s something that really gets your attention, don’t be afraid to give the campground a call to discuss.
Amenities | Think about the amenities your family might enjoy. Do the kids want a playground or pool? Are you look for pre-planned activities? Whatever you need be sure to find a campground that offers this and call ahead to ensure the pool or playground will be in working order on the dates you plan to travel.
Keep a Journal | Keep a journal or spreadsheet that details each campsite you visit. Make notes of what you enjoyed, what you didn’t like and what you’d like to see more of. The more you document the easier it will be in the future to find campgrounds that work for your needs.
Trees | Make sure whatever campsite you’re at is surrounded by healthy trees. It might sounds trivial, but one strong gust of wind or rain storm in the middle of the night could caught limbs to fall and damage your RV or hurt someone. Healthy trees provide shelter from the sun and offer little risk.
Photo Credit: “2013-10-06 15 14 46 Sign for Thomas Canyon Campground” by Famartin – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2013-10-06_15_14_46_Sign_for_Thomas_Canyon_Campground.JPG#mediaviewer/File:2013-10-06_15_14_46_Sign_for_Thomas_Canyon_Campground.JPG
