The end of daylight-saving time does not mean the end of camping season. Outdoor fun continues into the fall in this area, and some campgrounds are open all year.

Despite, or perhaps because of, today's economy, family camping has become a $15 billion annual industry, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. National campground chains, including KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, mom-and-pop and government-managed properties are adding interesting activities and themed weekends to lure you into campgrounds.

Close to home

Evan L. Balkan, of Lutherville, is the author of two books, "The Best in Tent Camping Maryland" and "60 Hikes Within 60 miles: Baltimore." For a local outing, Balkan says one of his favorite trails (among 170 miles of trails) is the yellow-blazed Buzzards Rock Trial in Patapsco Valley State Park. He acknowledges it's a hefty climb that leads to the rock for which the trail is named. "Buzzards used to congregate here because the site commands a view of the valley -- and the prey lurking in the woods."

He suggests bikers try the paved Grist Mill Trail, which "follows the river past Lost Lake, a fishing lake reserved for those over 61, under 16 or with a disability. The park is set along 32 miles of the Patapsco River that encompasses 14,000 acres.

Walk it off

Steve Silberberg organizes one- and two-week "Fitpacking" hikes where people go backpacking to lose weight and get in shape, although he admits participants put on muscle weight while they're losing fat weight. The hikes average 6 to 8 miles a day, and you carry your own food and equipment. Each trip consists of a half-dozen participants or less, with a ratio of four guests to each guide. This year he had trips to Big Bend, Four Peaks Wilderness, Redwood National Park and a fall foliage trip to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. They do supply the larger equipment.

Exotic America

In St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Stanley Selengut offers two eco-resorts, Maho Bay Camps and Estate Concordia Preserve. He says, "We have found that we have a wide variety of 'green' travelers since USVI doesn't require a passport and is a safe place to travel, yet it's a great adventurous destination.

"Many guests love staying in a Swiss family Robinson-type treehouse and escaping the high-tech world for a week or two," says Selengut. "From their screened-in tent cottage, visitors can see iguanas climbing through the trees, listen to tree frogs, and watch bananaquit birds feeding from the flowering trees." A short stroll along wooden walkways ends at the white-sand beach surrounded by lush tropical foliage overlooking aqua blue water.

Woods working

Becky Blanton, a full-time camper based in central Virginia, lives in a converted van. She says, "Most campers today are boomers and they're combining work with camping. They're writers, Internet marketers and crafters who don't need a home base with a concrete foundation." Living in confined quarters made her an expert in storage and she's created a PDF booklet, "Biners & Bags," that can be downloaded from her Web site.

The 21st century hasn't completely taken over the campground. Hershey Highmeadow still offers s'mores kits at its camp store.

Making a splash

"Spraygrounds," splashpads, floating trampolines, water slides, and water balloon war games are just a few of the new generation of campground-based activities. The Jellystone Park in Williamsport, Md., recently added two 400-foot water slides. Cabins and yurts (portable, felt-covered, wood lattice-framed dwelling structures), skate parks and miniature golf courses are becoming more common.

"Private park operators are investing in water-related attractions because they know these will appeal to families with children, and encourage people to stay at their parks for longer periods of time," says Linda Profaizer, president and chief executive of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, which represents the nation's 8,000 private parks.

Quality vs. quantity

Mike Gast, communications director for Kampgrounds of America says the KOA properties have changed considerably since the company opened its first property in 1962. KOA campgrounds may have log cabins, lodges, fireplaces, TV and heated swimming pools. At the same time, KOA is scaling back the number of properties it maintains. Instead of the 900 or so KOA campgrounds of a few years ago, the company has whittled its roster down to about 450 as it transitions its remaining parks to "destination locations."

Nature tech

Campgrounds, perhaps decades ahead of others in the "green" world, are investing in such operations as saline purification systems for swimming pools, installing solar panels and replacing propane heating systems with wood-burning furnaces fueled by lawn and tree clippings gathered on the campground.

Safety is always an important concern, whether at home or in the wild. Davom Products Inc. has introduced the Prolock propane safety cap that helps eliminate child tampering and theft.

Motorola has updated the walkie-talkie with its Talkabout MJ270, which has a range of 27 miles, receives National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather alerts, emergency alerts, and operates in a hands-free mode. It operates where many cell phones don't have service.

Sylvia Alarid, managing editor of Camping Life magazine, says, "Today's outdoor gear is much more intuitive and easier to use. Tents are lightweight and come with poles that almost snap into place by themselves. Some people prefer fall camping for the fall foliage and birding. Just as some people are drawn to the desert during the peak of summer, others love being in the winter snow. They can also cross-country ski, snowshoe or sled, so winter presents different activities to enjoy."

Alarid notes that Little Bennett Campground in Clarksburg, Md., offers "camper-ready camping," where campers pay a fee and the campground provides the basic gear. The campground provides and pitches the tent and sets up chairs, a lantern and a two-burner stove with propane fuel for cooking.

Many campgrounds (and campers) seem to have taken camping and wilderness from the sublime to "I want that." Some campgrounds offer a wi-fi connection and other amenities that can come with or create new headaches. The Sharper Image stores carry a laptop travel kit that contains a USB number keypad, USB mini light, retractable mini USB cable, earbuds and some other gizmos. They're all wrapped in a slim leather case. To help you find your way at night, Sharper Image has a night-vision scope.

When you have a toss-up between camping and a day at the spa, settle the discussion with the portable two-seater SpaBerry hot tub with massage jets, waterfall and molded drink holders, all powered by a standard 110-volt outlet. The spa has an eco-friendly biodegradable water-cleaning system.

When you don't want to schlep everything and the kitchen sink, the Blue Ridge camping hammock is part tent and part hammock and designed for backpackers. It's lightweight, weather-resistant and flying-insect-free.

Another need that was crying for a solution is how to carry your off-road vehicle, snowmobile, waverunner, bikes and even your SmartCar so you don't have to tow a car for you to use once you're settled into your campsite.

The 37-foot Damon Outlaw is your answer. By raising the back of the RV a little bit, the back six or seven feet of the trailer is converted to a loft bedroom on top and a garage built into the bottom. It also comes with TV, DVD, VCR, automatic leveling system, sleeper sofa, alloy wheels, exterior entertainment center and a fuel pump station.

Campgrounds

National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds

www.GoCampingAmerica.com

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts

27 W. Chocolate Ave.

P.O. Box 860

Hershey, Pa. 17033

717-508.5987

www.hersheypa.com

Stanley Selengut

Maho Bay

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

www.Maho.org

Patapsco Valley State Park

8020 Baltimore National Pike

Ellicott City, MD 21043

410 461-5005

http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/central/patapscovalley.html

Yogi Bear Jellystone Park

16519 Lappans Road

Williamsport, MD 21795

800-421-7116 or 301-223-7117

reservations@jellystonemaryland.com

www.jellystonemaryland.com

Books

The Best in Tent Camping Maryland

Evan L. Balkan

Menasha Ridge Press

978-0897329774 $14.95

Biners & Bags

Becky Blanton

Storage tips for the RVer and mobile traveler

http://beckyblanton.com/store/biners-bags

$4.95

60 Hikes Within 60 miles: Baltimore

Evan L. Balkan

Menasha Ridge Press

978-0897326926 $17.95

Other resources

The Chesapeake, VA, Conventions & Tourism bureau

(888) 889-5551

www.visitchesapeake.com/whattodo/birding

Steve Silberberg

www.fitpacking.com

www.lawsonhammock.com/

Davom Products, Inc.

www.prolock.us

www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Two-way-Radios-and-Accessories/MJ270R+Talkabout+Two-Way+Radio_US_EN

www.thespaberry.com

Pedata RV Center

4933 South Outlet Center Drive

Tucson, AZ 85706

(888) 545-8314

www.pedatarvcenter.com

Campgrounds open all year

Bar Harbor RV Park and Marina

Elyse Wilkinson

4228 Birch Ave.

Abingdon, MD 21009

410-679-0880, 800-351-CAMP

www.barharborrvpark.com

Cherry Hill Park

9800 Cherry Hill Road

College Park, MD 20740-1210

301-937-7116

http://cherryhillpark.com/index.cfm

Duncan's Family Campground

Laurie Duncan

5381 Sands Road

Lothian, MD 20711

410-741-9558 or 800-222-2086

www.duncansfamilycampground.com

Hershey Highmeadow Campground

1200 Matlack Road

Hummelstown, Pa. 17036

717-534-8999 or 800 HERSHEY

www.hersheycamping.com/index.php

Morris Meadows Recreation Farm

Clyde & Virginia Morris

1523 Freeland Road

Freeland, MD 21053

410-329-6636, 800-643-7056

www.morrismeadows.us

Ramblin Pines Campground

801 Hoods Mill Road

Woodbine, MD 21797

410-795-5161 or 800-550-8733

www.ramblinpines.com

Resources

Maryland Association of Campgrounds

12806 Mink Farm Road

Thurmont, MD 21788

301-271-7012

http://mdcamping.com

Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association

P.O. Box 5

New Tripoli, Pa. 18066

610-767-4026 or 888-660-7262

http://pacamping.com

Virginia Campground Association

P.O. Box 9928

McLean, Va. 22102

www.virginiacampgrounds.org

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user comments (1)

user vandweller says...

Becky Blanton's website is http://beckyblanton.com.

Posted 12:55 PM, 11.19.09 | Permalink