11 Reasons to Stick Close to Home

For us, there are two types of vacations—the adventuring, exhilarating kind and the relaxing, recharging kind. The first usually involves exploring new territory. The latter requires less time, stress, money and effort, and can simply be a new appreciation of familiar places—vacations close to home. Even before COVID, we spent at least half our camping trips in beautiful local campgrounds, or those just a little farther afield. We’re lucky, living in the West. We can camp in our own backyard!

If you still need convincing, consider these 11 good reasons for camping close to home:

1. You already live in Vacationland. People travel great distances to come here to camp. Take advantage of what our visitors are already enjoying.

2. In less than 15 minutes you can be in camp, all set up, with a good book and a cold drink. Save your precious vacation time. Don’t spend it driving for hours.

3. As of this printing, gas costs $6.39 and diesel is even more. Save your money.

4. Forgot to feed the cat? Need to pick up that delivery on your doorstep? No problem. Just run home if you have to.

5. Local friends and family can easily join you for a night or two, or just come out for a meal. Enjoy casual entertaining or holiday festivities—camping style.

6. Need a night off from camp food? You know the local restaurants well. So just call for a delivery to the campground.

7. Within a few miles of Estero Bay, you can pick from dozens of beautiful campgrounds. Beaches, oak woodlands, meadows, lakes, creeks, golf, hikes, bikes…enjoy the variety.

8. More camping—more often. If all you have is a weekend, that’s plenty of time for an impromptu campout. Getting to a campground quickly means more time for fun. And maybe you can do it more often!

9. Dry camping? You can easily fill your freshwater tank at home beforehand, without concern for your gas mileage. Load up with firewood. You don’t have far to go.

10. Kids have a soccer game? Bring their uniforms to camp. Go to the game, then back to camp.

11. Get to know your county. No better way than to spend a few days exploring—discovering new plants, critters, and birds, or watching the moon rise over different hills.

Well, if I haven’t convinced you of the joy and wisdom of camping close to home, I guess you prefer the hard-driving, exploring, adventurous, kind of vacation. More power to you! And maybe you’ll enjoy reading in upcoming articles about our RV camping trips to the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest, Big Sur, the backside of the Sierras, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Banff, and more.

But for those whose idea of a vacation is to “get there, and chill,” you’re within a few minutes of the best of the best. See you in camp!