What is your favorite type of camping?

[Cuffs]

Survey says?

Do you do most of your camping at campgrounds? (Think state parks)
Maybe your thing is a short hike (less than 5 miles) to a good campsite down a trail?

When hiking and camping, do you enjoy base camping and then exploring side trails as a day hike?
Or do you like to to move camps daily?

[Nalgene Ninja]

Since our kids are so small we're mostly doing car camping at campgrounds and doing dayhikes nearby. I think as the kids get bigger and are more able to carry their own gear we'll start doing more backpacking.

[PastorLarryT]

I like all of them, depends on the mood, time, crowd, etc.  Guess my preferred type would be hike in and set up base camp to explore side trails in area.

[freshface]

We enjoy trail camping. Nothing like a good hike and then finding that superb camping spot to relax your aching legs and feet. We often camp next to water so we can swim (weather permitting... or not!) and chilax the evening away. We pack ultralight and enjoy setting up the 'home' for the night.

[Cuffs]

I envy your ultralight-ness!  Im light, but I have not quite got down to Ultra yet... 

[Graceless]

I suppose for all of us its car camping near trails for me and the oldest n youngest and bike trails for dad and middle then swimming for all.  I think the fav thus far has been backpacking at the barrier islands
http://www.nps.gov/archiv.../mis/MActivty/IslCamp.htm
  Idealy ,personally , I would just love to hike to find the perfect spot to camp then do the same over and over...Always insearch of the perfect or most attractive spot yk but I have to say and trail with caves and falls or nice deep active creeks are always the* favorite of us all!
 

[Nalgene Ninja]

I suppose for all of us its car camping near trails for me and the oldest n youngest and bike trails for dad and middle then swimming for all.  I think the fav thus far has been backpacking at the barrier islands
http://www.nps.gov/archiv.../mis/MActivty/IslCamp.htm
 

Questions about the MS Barrier Islands: Which one(s) do you hike on / camp on? How much is transportation? What's the water situation there? 

[cwhiker]

For us its normally hike in pick a base camp and do day hikes to explore. there are times we will move camp.

[Graceless]

Questions about the MS Barrier Islands:
Which one(s) do you hike on / camp on? Horn (my brother recomended it) we want to do
 How much is transportation?  my brother again and his boat owning friend
http://www.nps.gov/archiv.../mis/MActivty/IslCamp.htm ( this gives a link to the site for transport )

What's the water situation there?  brackish and needs the super filter and bring tons and learn to make a solar purifier before you go or learn the boil under a plastic sheet  method. but otherwise an awsome trip and if you know someone who has a boat not much more than fuel and time  .
 some good places to hang to!

I suppose for all of us its car camping near trails for me and the oldest n youngest and bike trails for dad and middle then swimming for all.  I think the fav thus far has been backpacking at the barrier islands
http://www.nps.gov/archiv.../mis/MActivty/IslCamp.htm


 

[bpitt]

The wife and I did a lot of tent camping, pre-children. Now, we do a lot of travel trailer camping (don't throw rocks at me). That's when we have the kids. Now, we're getting back into tent camping, with the oldest daughter anyways, she's gotta earn the Brownie badge, ya know?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Now, we do a lot of travel trailer camping (don't throw rocks at me).

Hey, you gotta offer me a bushwhack in some jungle somewhere with orchids AND waterfalls WITH swimming holes, and attractive natives, before I'll camp somewhere as warm as Alabama without a shower.

/Yankee

[Lesley]

Since I haven't mastered the art of backpack cuisine I'd have to say I prefer the hike-in sites with less than 5 miles walk to the site, but enough room so you think you're all alone. From base camp I love to hike all around and find good swimming holes/vistas.  North Georgia State Parks have almost perfected this way of camping. At the end of the trail I can go without the shower, but grill me a steak and give me a beer or coco depending on the weather and you'll see one happy camper.

[auwesman]

I'm a hike all day, set up camp, get up hike all day, repeat until loop is done or destination reached
I love how far out into the wilderness you can get in a 2 or 3 day hike out.

However, there is a lot to be said for car camping and base camping.  I'd take any one I can get, but normally I find a long loop or drive two cars and hike from one to the other.

[MississippiRob]

With kids, mostly car camp.
With just wife, hike out as far and long as I can.
This year son wants his first bp trip, less than 3 miles.

[astepatatime]

Right now, with a 7 year old cub scout, we're doing car camping and day hikes.  I think we're a few years away from backpack camping and don't know if he'll catch that fever.

My most memorable camping memories from growing up were as a boy scout in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.   One was a backpacking hike (seemed like forever but was probably 5 miles) that led to a pristine forested area on the bank of a fast moving river.  Felt like we were the only people in the world.  Second was a winter campout.  Amazing you can sleep so warm and comforable when there's 3 feet of snow on the ground and temperatures below freezing.

By the way, you ever want to have a great laugh, have a 100 yard dash event on snowshoes in deep powder.  Fun stuff!

[Mountain Dog]

I backpack and camping is just part of the trip.  I try to schedule stops near shelters just in case I need to take cover.  I've been in some mighty nasty weather (trees falling and such) and a shelter just seems to give me some security.

[Woody]

I prefer backpacking, i.e. hiking and finding a new spot each night, but all are fun. If time doesn't allow I like car camping and base camping too. I really like to travel from place to place though and am not a big fan of out and back hikes but will if that is the only option at the time. I like loops but like section hiking the most. It gives me a since of accomplishment making it from one place to another the old fashioned way.

[Rob]

I enjoy all forms of camping, but I must say that my favorite is backpacking. Take all you need put it on your back and start the adventure. Probably hiking and camping in GSMNP offers me most of what I enjoy because so many of the trails "link-up" with eachother that it offers many options for length and variety of hiking. Alabama trails do offer some really great day hikes and long weekend hikes and the best thing is they are without alot of restrictions like in GSMNP, you can pretty much camp where you want and they are so close there is more time for the trail instead of the road.