THE GREAT OUTDOORS
RV expo sets up camp in Hub this weekend
What's old is new and what's new is just plain awesome. We're talking about camping, once the staple of simple, stress-free vacations. It's back — and in a big way. More and more travel enthusiasts — many young — are turning to camping as their go-to vacation. And it's not just because Matthew McConaughey famously lived in an Airstream for a few years. Travel aficionados are rediscovering what camping brings: outdoor beauty, a laid-back vibe and a more affordable way to see the world, and certainly New England.
Die-hard fans and those dipping their toes in the water will find a mecca of sorts at the Boston RV & Camping Expo, running Friday through Monday at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The show, which draws thousands each year, features three football fields of space filled with RVs of every type, as well as reps from 50 New England campgrounds on site to let you know why they are worth the visit.
The show is peppered with extras too: seminars on everything from RV maintenance to first-time buying, to insurance and financing programs. It's a chance to find out what's new, check out what's used and find incredible deals all weekend long.
“From the very basic amenities to glamping setups, there really is a full level of products to check out, no matter what you are looking for,” said Barbara Pudney, vice president of Paragon Group, owner and producer of the Boston RV & Camping Expo. “There are different floor plans and setups, so you can really get in there and see what is comfortable for you.”
The expo features everything
from “toy haulers” to park model RVs, and everything in between. Best of all, deals abound.
“You really will find the best deals of the year,” Pudney said, pointing out that camping-related companies don't do a lot of business in the winter, “so they are all looking to sell vehicles.”
Pudney said the number of people getting into camping is on the upswing. Travelers, she said, are finding they like the hassle-free way camping allows you to see the country.
“There's no airline reservation and no chance at getting stuck at an airport,” she said. “There are no luggage restrictions, and it's being in the comfort of your own place while you are on the road. Just like tiny houses; camping is about your own tiny house that's movable.”
It's more affordable too, she said, particularly for families. Even just cutting the airline cost alone saves, and when you price out the cost of a campground versus most hotels, you're saving money while staking your spot in a beautiful place.
Many of those destinations will be on hand at the show to talk to you about their amenities, where they are located and, yes, to offer deals as well.
Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine, is a perfect example. Set in the lush woods, Sandy Pines is a destination in itself — although there's plenty to explore around it. Naturally beautiful, with attractive greenery and wooded sites, Sandy Pines Campground offers camping for every type of camper — from simple tent camping to Class A motor home travelers to glampers looking for something a little more upscale and effortless. Their RV and tent sites feature a picnic table, fire pit, electricity, cable, and water and sewer hookups, varying with sites. All sites are within a short walking distance to sparkling clean bathhouses offering restrooms, showers and oversize sinks for dish and clothes washing.
There’s a fabulous heated salt water pool, a kids craft tent to keep the little ones happy when parents might want a moment, a general store, snack bar and a Grand Lodge that serves as a community center and a spot to host special events. There’s more coming this year for kids and adults, too — including movie nights, lobster bakes, a new playground and more.
Sandy Pines is expanding this coming season, particularly their glamping options, with a few more luxe tents being added, as well as 10-20 new glamping stay options.
And even with all the glamping, Sandy Pines is in touch with what makes camping great. It’ll host two vintage camper gatherings, one in June and one in early fall.
Should you ever want to tear yourself away from all that, Maine’s famed Goose Rocks Beach is just a mile away. Learn more at sandypinescamping.com.
For the park model RV enthusiast, a visit with the folks from Seacoast RVs in Saco, Maine, is in order.
Destination camping is a new buzzword in camping, and describes RV enthusiasts who love a particular destination, find a campground where they want to put an RV for the entire season or even year after year and settle in.
RVs that are designed exclusively for this seasonal living are called park model RVs and are built more like a house than an RV, with maintenance-free vinyl siding, shingled roofs, rich flooring, major kitchen appliances and options such as fireplaces and lofts. They come furnished and ready to move in or can easily be customized.
Seacoast RVs has grown to be the largest park model dealer in the country. The premier park model RV destination is Seacoast RV Resort in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Located on 27 acres off Ross Road, the resort is just one mile from Old Orchard Beach and less than a mile from Scarborough Beach. It’s unique in
that it is exclusively for park models, with no transit RVs in and out, no rentals and no guest fees.
The property is quite wooded and borders a marsh at the rear. It is home to a lovely pool, hot tubs and a clubhouse with a breezy wrap-around farmers porch, kitchen, laundry room, game room and more.
You can visit Seacoast RVs’ display at the Boston RV & Camping Expo and tour two park models as well as learn more about securing a seasonal park model site at Seacoast RV Resort. Learn more at seacoastrv.com and seacoastresort.com.
At the show, expect to mingle with enthusiasts of all ages. According to Pudney, those 35- to 54-yearsold own more RVs now (the demographic used to skew older). “It’s getting younger and younger as families and young adults discover just how great camping is,” she said.