Charleston SC Camping

Charleston, South Carolina Camping When I was a kid, meant bugs, a leaky tent, and the dreaded hole in the ground with a porta-potti over it along with pesky animals that foraged for food in my Doritos bag at night. Today, camping is a practice (even in Charleston SC campgrounds as pleasant as the Charleston SC KOA Campground) in balance between living amidst the beauty of nature while enjoying all the comforts of home…or as many of the comforts of home you desire; but rest assured those comforts are available should you reach your limits communing with nature.

Traditional camping of course involves a tent, which in my day meant hours of fitting together aluminum pipes upon which to drape the heavy, not so waterproof canvas material, only to curse in frustration as the two person tent first sagged, then collapsed upon entry. Now, tents are palatial by comparison; fully waterproof, equipped with screened windows, attached spikes to secure the lightweight, space-aged material to the ground. And somehow, someone figured out how to have all those pesky pipes magically assemble and lock themselves with the flick of the wrist. Presto! Instant tent.

Now where's the fun in that? I suppose that half a day formerly utilized for tent construction could be spent buying supplies at the on site trading post, taking a swim, collecting wood for the campfire or perhaps showering to prepare for one of the planned social events like the monthly Moonlight Mixer at the Edwin S. Taylor fishing pier and boardwalk.

Of course there are areas in many of the parks that are reserved for RV campers with gravel foundations, water hookups and 20/30/50amp electric. The RV area of each park provides a community atmosphere for participants without sacrificing the privacy many campers seek. One may choose to gather under the awning of the family camper for a meal or to enjoy an evening fire or one may join the other campers around the community fire ring to swap stories of raise a glass while gazing into the hypnotic flames. (For amenities offered by each campground and locations of parks.

The ultimate in camping enjoyment for some people is having all the comforts while still taking pleasure from all the beauty of nature. James Island County Park offer all the bells and whistles for camping across the board from primitive campsites for the Grizzly Adams types to the fully furnished, three-bedroom cottage overlooking the Stono River with a bathroom and full kitchen as well as satellite television and wireless Internet. These cottages sleep up to eight people, have a porch to observe the views of open meadows and the river. Naturally, access to all the park amenities is available to cottage dwellers: paved trails for walking, biking and skating, spray and play fountain for the little ones, a picnic center as well as boat and bike rentals. Visit the website at Charleston County Park and Recreation for more information on James Island County Park and other available parks for camping, RV camping and recreational cottages for the Charleston area or to call individual campgrounds.