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Summer Vacation Budget-Friendly Ideas

By Teresa Plowright, About.com

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Idea #2: Camping Resorts

For some families, simply having a tent, firepit, and the Great Outdoors is heaven. But for others, fortunuately, a nice level of amenities can be found at "camping resorts."

Europeans have been flocking to deluxe campgrounds for years, with cottages, swimming pools, pizzerias, kids programs, even spas: a glance at Eurocamp shows what N. Americans are missing.

Still, we do have some options.

Camping Resort: typical features

"Camping resorts" can range from rustic-opulent to rustic-for-real, but in general look for:

  • swimming pools and playgrounds
  • activities such as canoeing, horse-riding, etc.
  • kids programs in summer
  • canvas tents with cots, and/or
  • tent-bungalows with cooking facilities and amenities, and/or
  • cabins and bungalows
Find a Camping Resort

Note: carefully explore online any places called "RV Resorts": this may mean places with minimal amenities where RV's are lined up cheek by jowl. Fortunately, web sites have photos so you can get a preview of the place.

  • Jellystone Park Camp Resorts - a Yogi-bear-themed chain with many locations; cabins, waterslides, splash parks, minigolf, outdoor movies, theme weekends, more (-varies at different spots)
  • Check out "camping resorts" at the Woodall's site
  • KOA is a giant chain, and many places offer much more than a place to pitch your tent: with cabins, and kid-friendly features such as pools.
  • the comprehensive Camping.about.com site has extensive Reviews, and many of the top-quality places are camping resorts.
If all else fails: head to Google.com and search for "[state of your choice] camping resort", and see what turns up.

See also Family Camps: like summer-camp for kids, but for the whole family; simple lodgings, low-budget, meals included, many outdoor activities.

* Garfield's words of wisdom come from Life In The Rough, Buena Vista Records, United Feature Syndicate, 1985.

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