Family camping is more popular than ever as families simplify vacation plans in order to stretch hard-earned vacation dollars. But a family camping trip should not be thought of as something less than a real vacation. North America features some of the most interesting and varied landscapes in the world, and wherever you live there are interesting destinations that satisfy all of the prerequisites for a great summer vacation. Best of all, camping is a great way to unplug and spend some quality time with your family.
How to Choose a Destination
To get the most value out of your vacation dollar, limit the amount of time you waste driving and maximize your actual camping time. One of the quickest and easiest ways to find camping destinations near you is with ReserveAmerica (www.reserveamerica.com), a reservation site for private campgrounds, state parks and federal campgrounds. In essence, it is a one-stop shop that offers online reservations for campsites at thousands of campgrounds across America.
The ReserveAmerica interface is very straightforward. Simply enter your zip code (1) and arrival date (2) in the search form and click the search button (3). You will be presented with a list of campgrounds, sorted by distance from the zip code entered on the search form. Additional information about the campground is provided by graphical symbols that tell you, for instance, if the campground allows pets or has hookups for RVs.
The listing of amenities helps you easily refine your search to campgrounds that suit your vacation plans. If your plans include swimming or boating, it is easy to scan through the campground list and choose the ones that display the water activities symbol. For other outdoor activities, such as hiking, the description provided on the details page will tell you about the trail system in the park.