What's the difference between Camping and Glamping? Wikipedia actually has an entire article devoted to the question, but I'd like to address it here because of reactions we often get from our non-RV friends.
When you camp in a motorhome, especially a larger one, you'll often hear "THAT'S not camping!". When hearing friends or acquaintances say this, I've learned to resist the urge to argue and simply agree with them. "You're right. It's not camping." When people think of camping, they think of tents, campfires, mosquitoes, bears, a rushing stream, and sleeping bags. To a large extent, I agree. That's camping. To me, camping is also spending the night away from the city. Surrounded by trees and nature. Sitting outside reading and enjoying the smells of the forest, the sounds of the insects in the trees, and the peace and quiet.
When a person decides that they want to travel around the country, they may choose to stay in hotels or stay in a motorhome. When I stay in a KOA near Disney World, I'm there to see the sights and have the benefit of sleeping in my own traveling house every night. It's not camping in the traditional sense, it's simply "seeing the country and staying in a motorhome".
Since we choose to take our home with us as we travel, we'd like to take along many of the conveniences we enjoyed in our regular "sticks and bricks" house: a microwave, a dishwasher, air conditioning, a washer and dryer, and even satellite TV. We had these at home, why not come "home" to them every night as we travel? After all, you'd have these amenities at a hotel, wouldn't you?
So we travel and see a lot of things AND we stay in our home on wheels every night, enjoying all of the things we'd have in a stationary home. You may be in your house enjoying the same things as we are one mile away from you at a KOA. The only difference is that tomorrow we can go somewhere else.
On our travels, we may stay in a National, State, County or City park. We're close to "real" campers who are without all of the amenities, like those with tents. We are all enjoying the same woods, the same crickets, the same mosquitoes, the same stars in the sky and the same smells of steak on the grill and damp wood in the forest. But at the end of the day, the campers go into their tent and "rough it" while we disappear into our home on wheels. They may read a book by the light of a lantern; I will look at the Internet, watch a football game, and do whatever I would do at my S&B home.
So yes, I glamp. I am able to travel the country and go home every night to a place that has all of the things that I had in my previous house. I'm comfortable and have many experiences that I wouldn't have otherwise.
Glamping isn't a dirty word. It's a lifestyle, and glampers are no more "spoiled" than most people living in a typical house in a typical city. Except our house is constant while the city may change.
Gotta' love it.
You are absolutely right in every aspect. When we were younger, we tent camped; however, now that we're senior citizens, the comforts of a nice bed, toilet, and shower are a true luxury. Thanks for clarifying the difference! Stephanie
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteAs an Airline Pilot...I have spent more nights in a hotel room than anyone should have to in one lifetime. So, it's very fair to say I've burned out on hotels. If I ever see another one (and I will...many, many times) it is too soon. What I've never lost is a desire to travel, esp. with loved ones.
The RV lifestyle fulfills my needs completely. It's like a 5 star hotel...only better. It's my bed, my stuff...packaged and ready to go....has amenities that aren't normally found in even the best hotels. It is there for the adventures in life...without having to go to yet another hotel room.
The other thing that I've noticed is...how little I have in common with the other residents when I'm in a hotel. On the other hand...when I pull into a Campground, RV Resort, or a Beautiful COE campground or State Park...I feel an immediate kinship with the others there.
Every now and again...we have to step away from the revolving door, phone ringing, horn honking rat race...and touch nature. Unwind, decompress, relax, breathe in the nature...it is good for the soul.
You're so right, Charlie. The point about your relationship with other people in a hotel vs. a campground is a good one; wish I would have said that in the article!
DeleteWe used to camp, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, etc, and we used to be in our 20's & 30's...when we bought our cabover campers in 1973 wow, we thought we had hit the big time. Our son was a child and we logged many miles, it took us to Glacier, Calgary Stampede, Banff, Yellowstone, all over the Sierra's, Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, BC etc, all over the country. We lived in CA and had family in East & Midwest to visit, we drove the camper. 'Nuf about the past, several Motor homes later and in our 70's , retired for awhile, now in our 2nd DP, it' s the only way we travel. We are blessed to live in Mayberry on our own 1 1/2 acre lot, woods, peaceful bliss we have right at home, etc. I feel sorry for folks who live in big city condo's, etc. But all aside, camping is long gone, in our rear view mirror. Loving comfort and amenities, why would I camp. We detest flying, although sometimes just gotta do it, Traveling in our coach is how we roll the past 20 years. Because we live in winter, 4 seasons, we snowbird south, taking our house on wheels along. No desire to camp,nor even hear about it. We are past that in a different stage of life. Hadn't thought about glamping, just traveling and living the dream because we are blessed to be able to do so and still have a lovely peaceful home left behind when on the road. You posed an interesting thought and consideration of words.
ReplyDeleteYes, we have a 38'5th wheel. We cook & eat outside as we did with our tent. I'm scratching from mosquito bites same as when we had a pop up. We sit around a campfire just the same. But when it rains we don't have to worry about touching'the sides' & we don't have to put down the poo up in a bad wind storm, just bring in the awning. We still go on hikes & go too the beach. But the bed is definitely more comfortable & the food healthier than in a restaurant. For sure, a life style choice we've made & never looked back!
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