Classic Maine Summer Camping Trip, with 21st Century Updates

When was the last time YOU went camping?

Camping Wilderness Overnight Indian Pond MaineCamping in the wilderness is the universal best โ€œback-to-natureโ€ antidote to our harried modern lives. You canโ€™t help but rest in the โ€œpresentโ€ while camping. You canโ€™t avoid slowing down, at least a little bit, and thus realize the riches of nature unfolding before your eyes, ears, and senses.

Summer time in Maine is perfect for camping. Maine enjoys a rich diversity of campgrounds and campsites throughout the state. DIY Camping or Camping Vacation Packages: Itโ€™s Your Choice. Northern Outdoors has two beautiful campgrounds for guests starting at $10pp per night. The weather is absolutely perfect in Maine now, with an extended multi-week forecast promising more of the same.

 

The rewards of the summer camping trip are still the same, while the amenities have certainly come a long way!
Maine camping: Indian Pond SunsetThe Rewards:
(that we’ve discovered so far)

  1. Heightened senses: sight, sounds, smell, touch, and taste.
  2. You hear so much more wildlife and nature sounds; birds, leaves rustling in the trees, animals talking, crickets chirping, bullfrogs bellowing, waves lapping the shore of a lake, water bubbling down a stream.
  3. Seeing an infinite number of stars at night (when was the last time you REALLY looked at the night sky? Can you even see it thru all your street/city lights?)
  4. The chance to SLOW DOWN, for real, for a precious moment in time. Peacefulness shows up as you match natureโ€™s pace.
  5. Food always tastes better in the outdoors, after a day of refreshing activity, like hiking, rafting, swimming, fishing, and more.
  6. Sโ€™mores, campfires, smiles, and laughter
  7. The aroma of morning coffee in the wilderness simply canโ€™t be beat (and hot cocoa for the kids)

(To add your favorite โ€œrewardsโ€ to this list, just click on the โ€œcommentโ€ link at the bottom of this post.)

Maine Camping Vacations

The New/Better Amenities: (say goodbye toย scratchy wool, wimpy sleeping bags, leaky tents, and burnt meals)

  1. Sleeping pads that are actually thick enough to call a real โ€œPadโ€ and offer a great nightโ€™s sleep (hello Paco Pads!!)
  2. Affordable, lightweight, easy to put up tents that donโ€™t leak. They come with handy pockets, secret flaps, convenient vestibules, and even hooks for an internal clothesline from the tent roof.
  3. Sleeping bags come in every flavor of warmth now: for summer, fall, winter, and spring conditions so you donโ€™t have to worry about getting too cold or too hot.
  4. Not only that, but bags now come in short, long, wide, narrow, womenโ€™s and kids sizes, really! (And, they can zip together with your mateโ€™s bag.)
  5. Stoves are lightweight, easy to light, non-temperamental and come in the 2- burner-plus-grill variety which is great for river trips and basecamp-style trips.
  6. Outdoor apparel these days really is lightweight, bug and UV resistant,ย warm, quick-drying, and incredibly versatile. (Youโ€™ll have fun in jeans and cotton, but only till it rainsโ€ฆ.)
  7. You can make a great latte in camp! The portable expresso machines do indeed work, and a portable battery-powered milk frother (the size of a fat pencil) makes it all worthwhile.
  8. If you HAVE to bring electronics along on your camping trip, you can recharge them with a discreet solar pocket charger. Works for small portables like cell phones, PDAs, ipods, gameboys, etc. (It really works – shh, donโ€™t tell your kids!)
  9. Last one, you donโ€™t really have to backpack miles with 50+ lbs on your back to get to a campsite. You can drive up to amazing campsites and areas for hiking, playing, river trips, and more, and do day-trips from camp. This is our favorite version of basecamp-style trips: Park and Play.

 

The Forks Resort Center Main LodgeBest of Both Worlds: Wilderness Camping Next to a Classic Adventure Lodge

  • At our main resort campus, The Forks Resort Center, our Kennebec River campground has hot showers, quiet riverside campsites and cabin tents complete with wooden floors, cots and electric lighting – just drive up and unroll your sleeping bag.
  • The campground is a short walk from our Kennebec River Pub and Brewery, swimming pool, hot tub, game room, classic New England main lodge with fireplace, restaurant, and wireless internet.
  • Enjoy Maineโ€™s brilliant nightly star show, the sound of the river lulling you to sleep, hearty meals and fresh microbrews at our main lodge. What could be easier?
  • Our Penobscot Outdoor Center has a restaurant, campsites and cabin tents along spectacular Pockwockamus Pond near the Class IV+ thrilling Penobscot River. Listen to our May Outdoor Journal Radio Reports for camping info and things to do in the Penobscot region.

 

Donโ€™t have the time, experience, or gear to pull off a family or friends camping trip on your own? Look into our cabin tents, located riverside in our Kennebec River Campground. Just bring a sleeping bag and pillow! Cabin tents are pre-set tents on wooden platforms, located at our adventure resort in The Forks with easy access to resort amenities, and of course our infamous Kennebec River whitewater rafting for ages 8 and up.

Fun, active, classic New England Vacation โ€“ Check.
Affordable Maine Family Vacation โ€“ Check.

We look forward to seeing you in the North Woods soon.

   

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