If your dream vacation is set in a forest, there are many options for making it a vacation you won’t forget. Whether you want to hike or canoe in to fish and tent camp, drive your RV for a “plug and play” vacation, or if you want to relax in a mountain resort and feel pampered, there is a forest, mountain, campground or resort just waiting for you to visit. There is even an option for making it a vacation you can enjoy again and again!
National Forests Are Just Around the Corner
With 174 national forests and grasslands in the United States, there is a pretty good chance that there is one near you. The U.S. National Forest Campground Guide can give you everything you want to know about car camping, RV camping or tent camping at any one of the 2,383 developed campgrounds they have visited and reviewed. You can also visit the USDA U.S. Forest Service website for all of the latest information on campground openings or closings, as well as weather, fire, flood or other concerns.
Don’t Forget to Pack…
Looking for a comprehensive list for car or tent camping? Start making your own for all your personal stuff, and check out outdoor supply stores for other ideas. Bigger stores are usually happy to supply you with a list, either online or in-store. You might not need everything they recommend, but you’ll get a good idea of what you need. You’ll also realize you need things you didn’t even think of, like a hammer to secure your tent stakes.
New to camping? Some camping vendors organize guided backpacking trips for beginners and experienced backpackers who might learn some new skills or refresh the basics. Whether you want to hike, climb, cycle or paddle, you can find an adventure that works for you.
If Your Idea of Roughing It is …
… having to get up and change the TV channel yourself, you might want to check out, and check in to, one of Travel and Leisure’s America’s Best Mountain Resorts that were picked by their readers. Resorts in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Tennessee, New York State, North Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Alaska, California, and Washington State were picked, and the readers left no stone unturned when picking their favorites.
Want Something More?
There are volunteer opportunities with the National Forest Foundation and the US Forest Service where you can help plant trees or clear trails; cooking classes like those offered by Georgia Pellegrini Adventure Getaway; music festivals featuring bluegrass and folk music; arts and crafts classes and shows such as the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts Campus in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountain Arts and Crafts Community.
When You Really Don’t Want to Go Home, Build a Second One!
The vacation is over and you already have those Monday morning blues, dreading the amount of work that you know has piled up on your desk, and all the emails you will have to weed through. You know you will want to come back again, but just don’t know when you will have enough vacation time built up? What if you could get away every weekend, every holiday, or every holiday weekend? You are in luck because there are many different options out there for you!
With today’s world being full of travel and adventure, you can look into fulfilling your own journeys by taking charge of where as well as how you want to travel. For instance, modify your next adventure by looking into building your very own log cabin by using unique log cabin and home kits. You can also look into have an assembly crew help you build it from the ground up. Be the one in charge of your floor plan, or share your dream with a designer and watch it come true.
No matter what your forest or mountain vacation looks like, whether it is family friendly or adults only, there are campgrounds and resorts that are sure to give you a vacation to remember. You can find activities suitable for everyone, from fishing or hunting, to white-water rafting or rock-climbing. Your 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands are just that, yours to explore thanks to Congress’s decision in 1891 to begin conserving them.
So lace up your boots, put on your sunscreen, load up your pack with water and some food and get out there. What are you waiting for?
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About the Author: Kacey Mya is a lifestyle blogger for "The Drifter Collective." Throughout her life, she has found excitement in the world around her. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations, cultures, and styles, while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. Kacey can also be found on Twitter,Instagram, and Pinterest.