Friday, April 13, 2012

Camping in an RV

By Theodore Pierce


Camping is quite an ancient pastime. But, in the early days of this activity, it was done not for fun, but for survival. Camping was simply the way people lived, and they lived simply. Some cultures still live a nomadic lifestyle, and for them, camping is not something that would be an attractive hobby at all. For example, the Bedouin people of north Africa still live in tents, and their lives revolve around the family unit.

Contrast this with modern, western culture. Many people live in cities, and deal with a hectic schedule on a day-to-day basis. While things like food, clothing and shelter are easy to come by and require not much time to acquire, there are so many other activities planned that simply kicking back and relaxing becomes something one has to fit into the schedule. While it's possible to exist this way for a while, and even thrive, downtime is a need too.

Camping, for people who don't live like they are camping all the time, can be relaxing. The most arduous obligations involve heating up or cooking food and setting up shelter. While these activities can be a little more difficult than in civilization, modern camping equipment renders them relatively straightforward.

But even when getting away from it all, camping can become work. This is doubly true if wind or rain is added to the equation. A tent might seem comfortable enough especially when you add a thick air mattress, but camping equipment has a way of failing at the least convenient moment. Even a sealed tent can leak if water pools outside, especially if pressure is put on the inside of the seams. Air mattresses sometimes deflate. High end equipment means that these sorts of emergencies are few and far between, but experienced campers know that even the best gear has its limits.

For people who want to have a relaxing weekend in the woods, with all the comforts of home, and RV is often the most practical option. Instead of a camp stove balanced on rocks, RV campers have a small kitchen, much like the one at home. Instead of a mostly flat bed made of foam inside a mostly sealed tent made of thin nylon, RV campers get a real mattress inside a bedroom with solid walls.

Some of the most popular locations for RV camping include the southwestern United States. This is because there are many beautiful places to see and explore, but which are separated by vast distances. Arizona is one such place. From the Grand Canyon in the north, to the White Mountains in the east to the high desert around Tucson to the south, Arizona is full of starkly beautiful vistas and stunning landscapes. Camping in Arizona is possible year-round. Only a few hours separates differences of up to thirty degrees, meaning that perfect weather is always just a short drive away.

Arizona RV camping takes two main forms. One of these is using an RV in a traditional campground. Instead of a tent, one might pull an RV into a spot. This strategy affords more space and seclusion, but amenities are often lacking. Also, because such things are designed for a short term approach, it might be a bit more expensive per day.

A second option is an Arizona RV park. This is a lot nearer to a city, designed for many RVs to be parked in closer proximity to each other than a campground. Since it is designed for RVs, there are often hookups for power and water, and few restrictions on when generators can be run. A flipside is less privacy, more traffic and a more urban feel.




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