More than 40 million Americans went on a camping trip in 2013. Were you one of them? If not, consider taking your family on a camping vacation this year! Camping is a great way to spend quality time with your family, get a healthy dose of fresh air, and give your children a lifelong love of the outdoors. Camping is also a versatile activity that?s accessible to everybody. Whether you?d rather stay in a comfortable cabin or explore wooded campgrounds and nature trails, there?s a style of camping to suit everyone. Here are five reasons to take a camping trip with your family soon.
Spending time in nature is healthy for adults and kids.
No matter how old or young you are, spending time outside in nature is one of the healthiest things you can do. Soaking in the natural beauty of the great outdoors is good for the body and the mind alike. A camping trip can cut down on your stress, mental fatigue, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression, but that?s not all. Regularly getting outside also strengthens your immune system, improves your focus and memory, and could even decrease your risk of cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Getting outside has great benefits for kids, too. Playing outside can give kids? creativity and imagination a boost, and spending time in nature can improve a child?s attention span and promote awareness of the world around them. The mental health benefits of getting outside apply to kids, too: children who regularly spend time in nature are more likely to be emotionally healthy than kids who stay inside all day.
Camping is an inexpensive way to relax and unwind.
Camping is a great way to escape the day-to-day grind without breaking the bank. Unlike vacations that involve fancy hotels and expensive tourist attractions, a camping trip might require as little as a tent, some supplies, and the willingness to get out and explore. Whether you prefer roughing it in the mountains or staying in charming wooded campgrounds with camping amenities nearby, it?s easy to find a camping spot you love without paying top dollar for your vacation.
Going camping will instill a love of the outdoors in your kids.
Kids who spend lots of time outside when they?re growing up are more likely to continue enjoying nature and participating in outdoor activities as adults. A survey found that 85% of adults who regularly go on camping trips were first introduced to camping when they were 15 years old or younger, and 57% of regular campers frequently spent time playing outside as children. Camping also becomes a lifelong hobby for many people. A full 99% of the campers surveyed said they were also likely to go on at least one camping trip next year. By going on family camping trips, you?ll give your children the gift of appreciating nature — a gift they can keep enjoying all their lives.
It?s easy to find a camping experience that suits you.
Camping is customizable. Whether you prefer staying in your own RV, roughing it out in the wilderness, or something in between, there?s a type of camping that suits your comfort level. If you have young children, consider looking for cabin campgrounds or wooded campgrounds with tent camping spaces — these sites might be an ideal way for your family to get a healthy dose of nature without going too far from civilization. If you have older children with an adventurous streak, consider going on a backpacking trip. Love swimming? Lakeside campgrounds or campgrounds with a pool might be perfect for you.
Camping is a great way to spend quality time with your family.
When you go camping, you escape from work distractions, electronic gadgets that eat up your time, and everyday stressors that divert your attention away from what matters most. Family camping vacations free your mind to focus on the important, rewarding parts of life: the people around you and the beauty of nature. Hiking beautiful nature trails, swimming, and sitting around campfires at cozy wooded campgrounds are all great ways to reconnect with your loved ones and build lifelong memories — and isn?t that what the best vacations are all about?
