Take Your Family Camping

With the arrival of National Camping Week on June 21, there’s no better time to plan a family camping trip steeped in old-fashioned fun. The National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds reports that despite the recession, private campgrounds and RV resorts are collectively moving ahead with plans to spend millions of dollars on capital improvement projects in 2009. That means families heading out to the great outdoors will find more entertainment options than ever before.

“Campgrounds and RV resorts are increasingly providing unique activities and entertainment in an effort to encourage their guests to stay longer,” says Jeffrey Crider, spokesperson for the National Association for RV Parks & Campgrounds. Classes, concerts and other forms of entertainment are giving good face to campgrounds looking to host families on vacation.

“Many parks are offering their guests everything from tie-dye t-shirt and jewelry making classes to American Idol-style shows involving campground guests,” Crider says. “Others are investing in waterparks, spraygrounds and other activities.”

What campground experience is right for your family? Check out our list of 10 must-see campgrounds and learn more by researching them at your local library.

Best East Coast Campground for Family, Flora and Fauna

North Pole Resorts, Adirondack Mountains of New York

Located at the base of Whiteface Mountain and on the banks of the Ausable River, North Pole Resorts puts you and your family in the mix with some of New York State’s most prominent flora and fauna. Red and black spruce, balsam firs and mountain ash —as well as white pines and maple — tower over family campsites, creating a fun, learning experience for your family trip.

Some 600 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles are also found in New York, along with another 260 bird species and 210 known species of fish. And for those looking to fish on one of the resort’s lakes, prepare to pull perch, bass, pike and New York’s State fish, trout.

Best View of East Coast Mountain Scenery

Campfire Lodgings, Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina

By offering tent, cabin and RV sites, Campfire Lodgings sits on top of Blue Ridge Mountain and boasts some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on the East Coast.

Located in the central portion of the Blue Ridge range, guests of Campfire Lodgings can drive or RV to the site via Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the East Coast’s most scenic drives.

Wind your way between Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountain National Parks on 469 miles of roads. Catch glimpses of mountain meadows, endless vistas and even old farmsteads for the ultimate scenic getaway.

Best Campground to Run Wild

Camp Taylor Campground, Columbia, New Jersey

Pack in some wild family fun during your stay at Camp Taylor Campground. Located an hour from New York City, Camp Taylor has a wolf preserve on site with 25 arctic and gray wolves, so you can literally hear them howl at night.

Deer and bear sightings are also commonplace. The campground has RV sites as well as remote tent sites along with a modern restroom facility and camp store.

Best Campground with a Vertical View

Tree House Camp, near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

In addition to traditional tent sites, Tree House Camp has “Tree Cottages” and “Tree Houses.” The cabins are perched amid the trees on eight- to 10-foot high stilts.

Families with kids can take their camping adventures to new heights. The campground store provides firewood, charcoal, ice, frozen steaks, salmon steaks, chicken and other foods that are fun to cook on the open fire.

Best Historically Situated Campsite

Big Pine Campground, Custer, South Dakota

This highly rated AAA campground is located six miles from Custer State Park and 22 miles from Mount Rushmore, where kids can catch a glimpse of four past presidents carved into the mountainside.

The area holds added historical significance as it relates to Native American culture and the Lakota tribe, which controlled the area before the Great Sioux War of 1876 and 1877. Kids will have the opportunity to get a double dose of history while camping under the stars.

As for the campsite itself, Big Pine features family amenities including volleyball and horseshoes and is also one of the most impeccably maintained grounds in the country, according to AAA.

Best Campground to Get Wet n’ Wild

Campland on the Bay, San Diego, California

Located near the San Diego Zoo and Sea World, Campland offers a slew of water-related activities, along with a newly opened skateboard park. Its marina on Mission Bay has 124 slips, a boat launch and marine supply store.

Additionally, Campland offers a large selection of pedal boats, kayaks, catamarans, wave runners, aqua cycles, paddle boards, power boats and pontoon boats to keep families splashing all day. Golf carts and beach cruisers are also available for rent.

Best Chances for a Big Foot Sighting

Kamp Klamath, Klamath, California

Explore renowned “Big Foot Country” at Kamp Klamath, which offers bus trips that take families to explore the area and hear about Big Foot sightings. The park is located on the “Quiet Shore” of the Klamath River in California’s Klamath Valley, surrounded by the Redwoods National and State Parks.

With 33 acres of secluded woodlands, meadows and riverfront, the camp offers the splendor of a natural rain forest with hundreds of species of birds, mammals, fish, trees and wild flowers. Kamp Klamath is the closest campground to the mouth of the Klamath River and the Pacific Ocean, offering marine, riparian and forest environments.

Best Place to Camp in a Yurt

South Beach State Park, South Beach, Oregon

Yurts—which are circular tent-like structures with lattice framing, canvass covering and a dome ceiling with an opening at the top to let the light in—are becoming increasingly popular rental accommodations at campgrounds.

Originally developed in Oregon, yurts are often situated on a wooden surface, are efficient to heat and can be placed on virtually any type of terrain. They are easy to build and inexpensive.

In addition to offering yurts, South Beach State Park brings the beauty of the pacific coasts with fun-filled family activities including crabbing, boating and kayaking. And because all yurts at the park are pet-friendly, families can still bring Spot along for outdoor fun.

Best Campground for Arts

Rockahock Campground, near Williamsburg, Virginia

This campground offers an unusual amount of musical and artistic entertainment, including a Celtic festival in May, karaoke entertainment on Thursday nights and weekend concerts. The campground is 10 minutes away from Williamsburg and other historic sites, offering families plenty of ways to enrich themselves while taking in the great outdoors.

Best No-Frills Camping Experience

Longs Peak Campground, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Family adventurists should check out this tent-only camp shaded by Longs Peak. Nestled among boulders and trees, the camp serves as a base for climbers looking to scale mountains or hike.

It is located nine miles from the town of Estes Park and stripped down of all extraneous amenities, allowing families to take in the wilderness in its natural state. Woo your family’s inner explorer by scaling the rocks for some heart-pounding thrills in nature.