Campers prepare to head outdoors
"Having poked into campgrounds across the country, I am assured that Missouri has become a favorite state for campers because it has an abundance of those things campers want, from wilderness camping to togetherness in a crowded park. It seems all America is camping in Missouri," said Fred Pearson, Warrensburg as he gets set to start off the camping season.
The unofficial start of the camping season is in less than two weeks with the big Memorial Day Weekend as RVers and tent campers get ready for another camping adventure.
The Tom Nelson family, Blue Springs, have spent the Memorial Day Weekend for the past 26 years camping at Pomme de Terre, Stockton, Lake of the Ozarks or Truman They make the first big holiday weekend the first camping trip of the year and this year will be no different according to Tom.
It's interesting that as Missourian's leisure time decreases, their camping time is increasing. Outdoors is a cherished part of our lives and although many families have been camping several times already this year, the Memorial Day Weekend jump starts the season for many campers. You never know what the weather will be lile in late may or early June, so be prepared.
Nelson said, "It usually rains sometime during the weekend so we have learned to live with it and use the eather to our advantage." As camping has grown over the past few years, Missouri's campgrounds have increased also, but not by comparison. The number of private campgrounds is helping solve the problems of the growing clan of family campers in the state.
Today's new breed of campers demands more than just a place to camp. They want hook-ups, a pool,washer-dryers and other services. However, Missouri campers are aware of the problems and are working on the solution.
Missouri is well suited for the family campers, the many state parks and Historic Site campgrounds offer a look at a wide range of the state's many attractions. Although camping is the big feature in the parks, trout fishing, water sports and natural beauty are also featured in the various parks.
Largest of the state parks is the Lake of the Ozarks Park with its more than 16,000 acres and a modern airport available. This is the place Pearson and family first started tent camping many years ago. "It's still one of our favorite camping spots," Pearson said.
Facilities and activities offered in some of the areas include streams, springs, warm water and trout fishing, swimming, marinas, boating, stores, cabins, nature trails, dinning lodges, saddle horses, group camps, lakes, tent and trailer camping and complete RV hook-ups.
During the past few years, more than 14 million persons visited the parks each year and with camping still on the upswing, this year will bring even more visitors to the state's more than 75, acre state park system. Nearly all of the larger lakes in the state have campgrounds nearby. The Corps of Engineers lakes all have numerous campsites as well as good fishing, boating and swimming.
The campgrounds in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in the southeast section of the state offer clear cool flowing streams plus the natural beauty of the Ozarks.
Missouri's two national Forests offer beautiful scenery in a rustic setting which makes it a great spot for the wilderness camper. From the hills of the Ozarks in the south to the rolling farmland in the north, nature provides Missouri's campgrounds with memorial scenic settings.
Pearson and family have enjoyed camping from the first day at the Lake of the Ozarks in a tent to last years camping at Bennett Spring in a new RV. "We have come a long way from our earlier camping trips, but its all been good. Our children learned a lot about the state and all the beauty within. Although we now have grandchildren, family camping during the summer months is a big thing for us. We still enjoy it as much or more than we did years ago. There have been a lot of changes, but its still camping," he said.