My Favorite Summertime Hobby: Camping in Missouri

While I never reached the status of a true couch potato, never leaving the comfort of my air conditioned apartment, my summertime activities were limited to infrequent trips to the pool. So, it was quite a shock, to say the least, that I suddenly had the urge to go camping. What began as a lark, soon evolved into my favorite summertime hobby.

As with any hobby, there are initial expenditures and with camping the outlay depends on the number of family members participating. Purchasing tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, cooking and eating utensils have to be considered. Since I am a family of one (sometimes joined by my son), my initial outlay was around $50. A family of four might spend $200, but amortizing the initial cost over a period of years of use it is a bargain of a hobby.



I head for the state parks in the St. Louis area when I think about spending a night under the stars. They offer all the amenities you need and the fees are minimal. A basic campsite fee is only $13 per day during the on-season . A sewer/water/electric campsite will cost only $26. As I grew more involved in my summer hobby, I learned of ways to cut costs like bringing along my own firewood and prepping food at home wrapped in aluminum foil to cook over the campfire.



I have the good fortune of being able to camp at times other than the normally busy weekend. Most campers leave their campsites early Sunday morning allowing me to slip in on a lazy Sunday afternoon with almost carte blanche choice of sites. During the week, I choose my site at will. I expect to camp at least once each week during the summer.



Since I am now semi-retired, this year I plan to take two three day trips with a stop at six different parks. My first journey will be to the Southeast Missouri Region to visit Trail of Tears State Park, Sam A. Baker State Park and Johnson Shut-Ins. During my second trip, I will visit Missouri's Northeast region. This expedition will take in Cuivre River, Mark Twain and Wakonda State Parks. I will enjoy six days and nights without a care: driving along the countryside, sleeping under the summer moon and stars and enjoying nature in all its splendor. Six days will cost less than $300.



Of course, camping goes hand in hand with hiking and an early morning hike prior to departure for the next location is eagerly anticipated.


Sources:
http://mostateparks.com/activity/camping