Camping is Good for You: Here are 7 Reasons Why
“What’s happening this weekend, Honey?” “Not much, kids stuff mostly. The garage needs cleaning; maybe we can make it a weekend project.” “I’m tired; it’s been a tough week at the office and the last thing I want to do is spend the weekend cleaning the garage.” “Tough week, was it? Let me tell you about my week with the kids! I just want to get away and have a break from everything before we start another week.”
How many have lived this conversation? Now raise your hand if that conversation just happened last weekend. You are in great company.
Life happens, and more often than not life can become a boring repeat of fillers to help get us through gaps in our work or school schedule. Finding something truly different for the family to do which can fit your schedule and budget is getting more difficult in our demanding world.
Enter, camping. That’s right, camping! Camping is trending as the new fun thing to do for all ages. There are several reasons why this new trend is proving to be good for your mind, body, soul, (and pocketbook!) and we wanted to share a few of our favorites with you!
An Affordable Alternative
This is not exactly a health tip, but it does make the top of our list! You don’t have to go too far to get a really amazing camping experience! More than 50% of campers stay within 100 miles from home. If you think about it, that’s typically less than a two-hour drive. Staycation anyone?! Additionally, tent camping can be a much more affordable way to take a trip than the alternative option of hotels and dining out every night.
A camping trip for four people over one weekend might cost in the neighborhood of $800 for the first trip, equating to $200 a person. That price tag is assuming that you have NO gear. Like, starting completely from scratch without even a good pair of shoes for hiking. No tent. No tools. Nada.
Once the gear is purchased, the following trips become even more cost-effective. Not to mention camping gives you the freedom to prepare your own meals. Sure, cooking over an open fire might take some getting used to, but there is a treasure trove of recipes online for camp cooking that are easy to prepare and easy on your wallet.
Kampgrounds of America Inc. Photograph
Clear your Mind
Having a change in scenery, even if you’re not far from home, can really give you a fresh perspective. You might be only half an hour away from home, but spending some time away from the confines of your daily routine can make you feel like you’re in a different state altogether.
You’ll be surprised to see how quickly there is a shift in your mood and calmness in your spirit just from getting away from the monotony of day to day life. And, let’s face it, there’s more to see! Most campgrounds are often nestled in a comfortable grove of trees or nearby a lake, with more active wildlife and better scenery.
Nothing beats a nice cup of coffee in the morning out by a lakeshore or a cozy cup of hot cocoa by a fire in the evenings.
Less Screen Time
You’re on your phone too much. And if you’re not on your phone, you’re on your laptop. And if you’re not on your laptop, you’re watching the TV. See a theme here? Maybe it’s time to take a step away from the screen and get a little bit of dirt under your nails.
Camping is just one way you can take a break from the screen, but we can guarantee that you’ll see improvements in your ability to sleep and an increase in your focus, accompanied by fewer headaches from eye strain. Going somewhere that has a limited amount of signal and access to wifi is a good way to make sure you’re getting the break you need.
Don’t Forget the Vitamin D
We don’t get enough sun in our lives. The average American spends 90% of their lives indoors. 90%! By doing so, we’re missing out on some pretty amazing health benefits that we can gain just by some mild sun exposure.
Spending more time outdoors and in the sunlight can lead to increased activity, higher levels of Vitamin D, and heightened feelings of happiness and concentration. The old saying, I need to take a walk to clear my head, really does carry some weight.
Reconnect with Family
With the stresses of our day to day routine accompanied by chores around the house or extracurricular activities, we often find the relationships among our family members take a back seat to our schedules. Everything becomes measured in time and energy and, unfortunately for our families, they usually wind up at the end of the list for both.
Getting away from everything can make even simple things fun again. Cooking over a campfire just became a learning experience for everyone. You can play catch outside without worrying about the time or that you might break a window. You can explore a cavern or take a hike and share a new experience together. Your options to connect with your loved ones while camping is endless!
You now have time to spend with your family and talk about something other than How was school? or How was work? Now you have more freedom to ask questions like What do you want to be when you grow up? And What is the best way to invest in our family’s future? Or the kid’s personal favorite…Would you rather ___ (you really get to know a person during that game!). Green surroundings tend to promote personal growth.
Get Active!
Camping can also provide you with fun activities that you don’t typically have the luxury of taking part in. If you’re camping near a lake, there are usually a multitude of options that you can do with the family such as kayaking, swimming, canoeing, tubing, or even renting some heavier equipment like wakeboards or jet skis! Here at Silver Spur Resort, our guests love renting paddle boats and fishing in one of our two ponds.
If you’re in more of a hilly situation, a nice hike to a stream or waterfall where you can take a swim in a watering hole can prove to be very exciting, or maybe a day trip where you can backpack to a more remote location.
An added bonus? These activities are some serious calorie burners! One hour of hiking can burn over 400 calories! A perfect way to justify that extra s’more at the end of the day. At Silver Spur Resort, we have tons of local recommendations for those with an active and adventurous spirit.
Glamorous Camping
If you’re new to the idea of camping and still not sure if it’s right for you, allow me to introduce you to our good friend, Glamping. Yes, Glamping. It’s like camping had a baby with a hotel. Glamping offers the wonderful getaway of camping with more comfortable amenities, similar to the ones that make it difficult to leave home in the first place.
You can go out and play all day and come home to a nice, comfortable bed and a temperature-controlled environment. At the Silver Spur Resort, we offer camping options in a variety of forms ranging from tent spots to an RV park for our more dedicated campers.
But we definitely pride ourselves in our Glamping options in the form of comfortable cabins and Conestoga “Covered” Wagons. Our Covered Conestoga Wagons are the perfect, cozy little environment for your Glamping getaway! Each of our Conestoga wagons offers a king-sized bed and either one or two sets of bunk beds accompanied by a small table and chairs.
The Silver Spur Resort has tucked our Conestoga Wagons away in the trees to give our guests that remote feeling that is so sought after while camping. But, the best thing about Glamping? Your adventures are independent of the season! Our Conestoga Wagons are climate controlled, offering you the flexibility of camping all year round!
Now, Let’s Get Camping!
Whether camping is something you’ve done once or twice or something you do more frequently, we highly recommend setting aside a weekend in the near future where you can take a break and spend some time grounding yourself. You’ll be surprised just how refreshed your soul feels after a wonderful weekend spent in nature.
Be sure to check out the Silver Spur Resort for your next camping adventure. With our wide range of options and amenities, the Silver Spur Resort can meet all of your camping needs! There’s a getaway calling you, make sure you answer!
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