Let’s Go Camping – in a Cabin
Looking for an affordable alternative for your next vacation?
Some years ago I wanted to take the kids to Ocean City, MD. It wasn’t a well thought out plan, as most of my plans are not well thought out, I must admit. Needless to say, heading to OC in August was a bit of a challenge. Hotels were booked or too expensive, but I needed to find something large enough for a family of five. I used to be an avid camper. I love the outdoors, sleeping under the stars, breathing in the fresh air, swatting away mosquitoes and horse flies, making my way into the woods to be at one with nature as nature called. You know, that manly man stuff you read about in magazines. So I started looking at Camp Grounds around Ocean City. The only issue was the rest of the family was not feeling it, having to sleep in a tent in August. Actually, pretty sure they had no desire then and no desire now to ever sleep in a tent.
As I looked through campgrounds around the Eastern Shore of Maryland, I discovered Fort Whaley http://campground.fortwhaley.com and Frontier Town http://campground.frontiertown.com/were both a short drive to the Ocean and both offered Barebones Cabins, or as some call them, Camping Cabins. The description on their website describes them as: Barebones Cabins sleep up to 6 people and come fitted with a covered porch, full-size bed, 2 sets of twin-size bunk beds, dresser, dining bar, mini-fridge/freezer, microwave, color TV with cable, and AC/heat. There is access to water at a common camp sink.
The main issues when renting a Barebones Cabin are no bed linens and no bathroom or running water inside. You do have to use a bathhouse as if you were in a tent.
Here is the breakdown: $295 for a Barebones vs $585 for a regular cabin for a week. If you’re on a tight budget and have some camping experience, it could make the difference between a family vacation or no family vacation. Or maybe you want to ease into the Wild World of Camping and you’re not ready to commit to buying that tent or dealing with the hassles of setting up tents. Not worrying about the weather is something you will surely welcome.
Let’s see if I can simplify things so your family has fun on this new adventure, but to ensure that you do too without the too much stress.
DECIDE WHAT EXPERIENCE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
Are you looking for a cabin camping experience that will have your days action-packed with activities where you’ll really only be staying indoors to sleep? That’s what you’ll get at a place like Fort Whaley, with access to water parks, mini golf, and the Ocean City Boardwalk and Beach.
Or are you looking for a cabin camping experience where you’ll be spending the majority of your time inside, taking it easy and enjoying the perks of being indoors? This may be something more for a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains or your local state or National park.
https://www.riverplantationrv.com/cabins-with-heat-ac-and-tv/
Choosing the experience you want to have is where you want to start your cabin vacation planning.
RESEARCH THE AMENITIES
The amenities offered with a cabin can vary massively, so you definitely want to put in some leg work ahead of time to determine what amenities you’ll need for the type of experience you want to have.
Here are the things included with a standard Camping Cabin:
Electricity
Room for 4-6 people
Beds and bunks
Patio or porch
Fire pit
Pet-friendly
KNOW WHAT TO BRING
Though you will be staying indoors, packing for a cabin vacation is not that much different than packing for a regular camping trip, minus the tent and weather-proof gear.
There are some basics that you will need to pack for nearly any cabin you find yourself staying in.
Here are a few things:
Bedding, as I mentioned above, since most cabins will only come with a basic plastic-wrapped mattress. No Ritz here, not even Motel 6 to be honest. But you get A/C and or heat, so no complaining! Think of the $ you’re saving and you can tell the kids you’re camping! Even better, you can still stream Netflix on your TV. LOL.
However, each cabin may be different, so be sure that you call the specific campground ahead of time to see whether they will supply your bedding. If not, you can either opt to bring full bedding with sheets and comforters or blankets, or you can take the easy route and roll up some sleeping bags that make for great hassle-free bedding.
Towels /Bathrobes and Toiletries
Hopefully this isn’t a deal-breaker for you. I purposefully saved this for towards the end. In these rustic retreats, you don’t get a bathroom or even running water. Pack toiletries, towels, and bathrobes for camping in a cabin just as you would if you were camping in a tent. My Tip – get a cabin as close to the bathhouse as possible. That way the trip to the loo at midnight with a 3-year-old won’t be as tough.
Coolers
A cooler is a must to keep your food nice and chilled. Some Barebones Cabins have a mini-fridge, so call ahead of time to see what your refrigerator situation is, and plan accordingly. But a rule of thumb is to plan everything around having a cooler.
As with any camping trip, make sure you bring the following:
Sunscreen
Bug repellent
Soap
Shampoo
First Aid kit
Kitchen – None
Yay!, back to the Great Outdoors method of cooking. Dust off that Coleman stove in the basement or be ready to go all out, Survivor style. Most, if not all, Barebones Cabins have a fire pit, and some of them even provide barbecues. However, you’ll need to bring your own utensils, pots, pans, mixing bowls, plates, and cutlery.
This can be a fun time for the family to plan basic, easy to cook meals. Let the kids make kabobs for the fire or premade foil pack meals. The kids will have so much fun making them themselves. Keep it simple so you don’t have to fuss with packing extra gear or spend your camping time stuck fooling around with food in the dark.
Fun & Games
One of the best things about camping in a cabin is that regardless of the weather, you can still have fun. Rather than being stuck out in the cold, or hiding in your tent during a downpour, you can enjoy the comforts of home while staying warm and dry in your cabin.
If the weather does make a turn for the worse and you’re left to hang out indoors, or if you’re looking for a relaxing way to enjoy your vacation, you will want to bring along some games. Pack some cards and board games for the family.
Have Fun!
Regardless of how you end up spending your cabin camping vacation, your number one goal should be to make sure that everyone has fun.
BENEFITS OF CABIN CAMPING
Just in case you’re on the fence about whether you should give this Camping in a Cabin thing a go, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Longer Camping Season
Because the weather is not a concern while cabin camping the same as it is when you are tent camping, the opportunity to enjoy a longer camping season is there. Some campgrounds will be seasonal and they close down the Camping Cabins when they shut the rest of the park down.
Wet and Cold – Not a Problem
You’re always taking a risk when tent camping that you’ll get stuck in the rain, and sometimes the cold, depending on the time of year. When you’ve opted to stay in a cabin, however, that is not an issue. You can stay warm and dry within the walls of your cabin, and still have tons of fun.
Less Expensive – And who doesn’t love to save a dime?!
You’ll be saving money in many cases by booking a Barebones cabin. You’ll need only bare minimum gear to make things comfortable for a good night’s rest. Plus, compared to a hotel, you’ll be saving big – and having an unbeatable outdoor experience too!
Try Something New
Sometimes vacations can start to feel as if you’re doing the same old, same old. Why not try something new? Life’s an adventure! What’s the worst that can happen? Maybe the 3-year-old heading to the loo at midnight, but I can think of worse things. Your family will surely appreciate the excitement of something new, and we bet they’ll want to make this vacation the new family tradition.
