Archive for June, 2006

>Now that summer is officially here, the Leeches are ready for whatever campers toss their way at the Jordan Pines campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon. As campground hosts, they’ve dealt with everything from overflowing latrines to rowdy card games since they quit their jobs two years ago and traded their four-bedroom house for a fifth-wheel trailer.

They downsized from a living space of 2,300 square feet to one that fills up less than 250, but now that they’ve sampled the simple life, they don’t want to go back.
Instead of an alarm clock, the Leeches are awakened by the sound of birds singing and the tantalizing aroma of campfire bacon. There are no lawns to mow, no roofs to repair and no electric bills to pay. Their only big expense is filling their gas tank.

“Since we stay parked most of the summer, even that’s not such a big deal,” says Don, 56, a former software instructor at Hill Air Force Base. “This is the best lifestyle in the world. To be out in nature, to be able to see the stars and watch the wildlife. What’s not to like about that?” Full Story…

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>On July 6, enjoy old time country music at Valley of the Rogue State Park near Gold Hill, Oregon. The BBQ takes place from 5-8pm, music by the Old Time Fiddlers from 7-8:30pm. Cost of the BBQ is $10/meal. Music is free (donations appreciated). Public is welcome to attend the music portion of the program whether or not they attend the BBQ. Bring a blanket and a shade umbrella for your personal comfort. This is the first event in a summer series of five Chuck Wagon Nights at the Park.

A pleasant green oasis awaits you in southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley. Valley of the Rogue Park has both a day-use picnic area and an overnight campground along three miles of shoreline on the Rogue River. A meeting hall is available for groups. An easy, self-guided interpretive walking trail provides a relaxing 1.25 mile stroll along the river’s edge.

Camp and play along the river made famous by novelist and avid fisherman Zane Grey. Full Story…

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>Roughing it outdoors definitely isn’t what it used to be, not with souped-up RVs, organized campsite activities and hotel-style amenities allowing families to do more than pitch a tent or sit around the fire with bags of marshmallows.

“I’m not sure if nature hikes are cutting it anymore,” said Kari Geno of Lake of the Woods Campground in Wautoma. “I think kids are pressing their parents for something more. They’re used to being entertained around the clock, so giving them more opportunities to be entertained is the route some families are taking at campgrounds.”

Having watched an “evolution of camping” take hold in the last three to five years, Lake of the Woods is one of numerous Wisconsin locations adapting to recreational demographic shifts. While the campground’s goal isn’t to fully replicate home life for a younger generation of travelers, there is a new school of thought when it comes to enjoying the outdoors. Full Story…

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