2018 Official Maine Camping Guide - 10

What's Your
Camping Style?

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEAGAN POIRIER - HID'N PINES CAMPGROUND

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) 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 180 MECOA members from all the Maine
tourism regions offer tent camping.

FULL-SERVICE FAMILY CAMPGROUNDS AND 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 OR ON-SITE RV RENTALS
Increasingly popular are cabin, cottage or on-site RV rentals. 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 leadtime 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 or On-site RV Rental camping.
QUESTIONS & CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING THE
RIGHT CAMPSITE
Once you have honed in on your own style of camping,
there are a number of other pertinent questions to be considered. It is here where features like our regional grids and
continued on page 26

MAINE CAMPGROUND OWNERS ASSOCIATION * CAMPMAINE.COM

http://www.CAMPMAINE.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2018 Official Maine Camping Guide