4 relaxing summer camping trip ideas
If you haven’t started planning your summer vacation yet, it’s not too late. When you decide to do a low-key vacation like camping, you can throw together a last-minute weekend getaway without much forethought or cash. Especially for people who enjoy relaxing on vacation, an excursion into the woods is a great opportunity to find some quiet and commune with Mother Nature. If you’re considering a camping trip this summer, try one of these relaxing ideas.
- Stay close to home.
Whether you’re planning an adventure for this weekend or next month, when you want to decrease the stress of vacation-planning, choose a campsite close to home. This will cut down on your travel time and leave more hours for you to kick back in the great outdoors. It also presents the opportunity to explore a part of your own backyard that you possibly never knew existed!You can start by checking out review websites like TripAdvisor or Yelp for reviews of the best campsites near your zip code. If you come up empty-handed, look up state parks in your neck of the woods. Most of them will offer affordable campsites that are a short drive from home, as well as amenities like bathrooms and showers.
- …or don’t — head to one of Thrillist’s chillest camping spots.
If you’re open to straying a bit farther from home for your outdoor getaway, Thrillist has a few suggestions for camping destinations. Have you always wanted to go to Colorado? Snag a campsite in Snowmass. From June to August, Snowmass plays host to a popular rodeo, complete with artisan cocktails, barbecue, and s’mores. In terms of typical outdoor endeavors, its campgrounds promise everything from fly fishing and mountain biking to rock climbing and whitewater rafting.Meanwhile in Stowe, Vermont, campers balance time outdoors with pampering indoors. The town’s of hiking and horseback riding trails give way to lavish ski resorts that operate year-round as spas. So after relaxing by the lake, treat yourself to an equally relaxing massage.
- Line up laid-back camping activities.
Regardless of where you go for your camping trip, relaxation can quickly turn to boredom if you don’t have some ways to entertain yourself—no matter how low-key these activities may be. So what are some activities that you can enjoy at any campground?Of course, you can’t go wrong with a long hike. Sit back and watch the birds flit from tree to tree. Lay in the grass and gaze up at the clouds or at the stars. Dive into book or spend some time drawing. Take the time to do those things you’d like to on a regular basis, but can’t usually squeeze in.
- Try “car camping.”
If you’re not sure you’re outdoorsy enough to pull off an entire weekend in a tent, but the idea of spending your vacation in nature appeals to you, make a compromise. Instead of traditional camping, try “car camping.” Set up sleeping bags in the back of your SUV or invest in a tent that actually affixes to your truck bed. This way, you’ll be shielded from the elements, but still be able to enjoy the lilting melodies of nature as you fall asleep.
8 tips for stress-free camping [The Art of Simple]
15 Relaxing Things to Do While Camping [50 Campfires]
The Most Relaxing Vacation Spots in the United States [Thrillist]