Levels of Camping! Which is for you?

Growing up in Idaho I was surrounded by camping. In fact, for most of my childhood our family vacations consisted of being out in the wilderness for weeks at a time. Not only does camping offer time away from our busy lives, it gives us a chance to bond with one another. No Internet, no phones, no TV, no distractions! Yes, that means you actually have to sit and talk to people face-to-face, usually over a campfire telling stories or taking a hike to discover new things. Have you ever caught and released a fish? It's amazing! Try roasting marshmallows over an open fire while telling stories, it's life changing. I realize some of you have never camped. You may be scared of bugs or bears. I get that, I do. But anyone can enjoy camping and there are different levels for people of all backgrounds. Are you a camper or a glamper? Let's find out.

Camping and "glamping" are different and depending on the situation I am a fan of both. Here are the levels;

1. Backpacking - This is where you only bring what you can carry, hike in to a remote spot and set up a small tent. No campground, no fees, no bathrooms, no power, no running water, etc. I've never done this and don't see it in my future.

2. Boondocking - Finding a wide spot on the side of the road somewhere with no designated campground and no fees, setting up a tent or parking your RV and enjoying yourself!

3. Primitive campground - Most primitive campgrounds have a outhouse style toilet and hand pump water, that's it. Usually you have to drive on a gravel or dirt road to get there and there is no pavement for miles. There are established numbered camping spots and picnic tables at each site. There is a fee, typically around $10-$18 per night. Most of the camping I have done falls into this category. You can reserve these ahead of time online (more on that in another post).

4. Campground with services - These more established campgrounds have various amenities including pavement, hot showers, and electricity - this is bordering on glamping. There are some advantages to these campgrounds especially if you are staying for more than a couple of days and want to take a shower or have an RV and want to take advantage of the hookups. Most state parks fall into this category and typically cost $20-$30 a night. These can also be reserved ahead of time online for a small fee.

5. Resort camping (full-on glamping) - The final level of camping is the big resorts which often have Wi-Fi, cable TV hookups, pools, a schedule of activities, horseshoe pits and are generally closer to a town or city. I have never stayed at a camping resort but we are going to give it a shot this summer. The one we reserved costs $40 per night, but that varies around the country.

We have a big summer planned with camping at all the levels except backpacking. No chance I'm strapping a potty training 2 year old to my back and hiking in to a remote site with no potty. Just not going to happen. Camping is all about knowing your comfort levels!

Oh - and in 30+ years of camping throughout the northwest I have NEVER seen a bear at a campground. Honest. :)