2020 Official Maine Camping Guide - 10

What's Your
Camping Style?

t is with unabashed pride that for 80 years Maine - with
its celebrated coastline and a ginormous (yes, it's a
word) interior dotted and striped with lakes and rivers
- has been able to call itself "Vacationland." A quick look
will show that the best of the outdoors is offered here, and
no matter the reason or the season, there will never be a
shortage of outdoors to enjoy in Maine.
This reputation and unfettered access to the outdoors allow our collection of Maine campgrounds to offer every
style of camping available today. And there are several. It
simply depends on one thing: you and what you are looking to get out of your Maine camping experience. When
beginning your search, it may be smart to start with a quick
review of camping styles to see which suits your specific
needs (or that of the group you are traveling with).

TENT CAMPING
It is rare to find a person who's camping experience does
not include at least one or more nights in a tent. As a style
of camping, it's all in the name: tent - a portable shelter made of cloth, supported by one or more poles and
stretched tight by cords attached to pegs driven into the
ground. Beyond the definition, the experience is up to the
camper - from the simple functionality of tarp and rope
setup to "glamping" (glamorous camping on page 48) with
four-star amenities. Available options here range somewhere in the middle from wilderness camping (which we
discuss on page 72) to the more common and highly popular car camping where you stuff everything you need for
the trip into or onto your vehicle. Tent camping is an affordable, fun and uncomplicated way to enjoy all that camping has to offer. Nearly 170 MECOA members from all the
Maine tourism regions offer tent camping.

FULL-SERVICE FAMILY CAMPGROUNDS & RV RESORTS
Looking for a campground that offers more options and
amenities? This may be the style you are seeking. With
more focus on the facilities and amenities of a camping
trip, a full-service family campground or RV resort appeals
to the camper who is interested in roughing-it, but with
style. Here you'll find campers who bring their tent, popup campers, or hardtops. Resorts like this are quite popular
with owners of larger recreational vehicles (RVs) and fifth
wheels. This is a superb option for those who like to bring
lots of gear or a fishing boat along on the trip. Full-service
campgrounds are a great option for families because they
often offer extra amenities such as a pool, game room,
nighttime entertainment and other fee-based services. It
is this kind of camping experience that is the primary focus
of all our members.
CABIN, COTTAGE, ON-SITE RV RENTALS OR GLAMPING
Increasingly popular are cabin, cottage, on-site RV rentals,
or glamping. This solution is ideal for the camper who has
outgrown a tent, does not own an RV but still loves the
great fun and camaraderie and sense of adventure that
comes with camping and being outdoors. As a camper all
you need to do is show up and unpack in your own personal vacation home. Typically, these accommodations require a little more lead-time when planning. Reservations
are highly recommended. If you are interested in renting, it
may even be wise to check out next year's offerings while
camping this year. Over half of MECOA members from all
the Maine tourism regions offer Cabin, Cottage, On-site RV
Rental camping, or glamping. Campgrounds in Maine are no
stranger to the Glamping experience. The word glamping is
new along with the trend. We have long embraced rental
units that do not involve sleeping in a tent on the ground
or owning an RV. For more information on Glamping, turn
to page 48.
continued on page 26

MAINE CAMPGROUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION * CAMPMAINE.COM

http://www.CAMPMAINE.COM

2020 Official Maine Camping Guide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2020 Official Maine Camping Guide