Beach Camping: Maybe It’s Time for an Adventure

I recently met a new friend who is in her 60s.

She has back pain. She wears compression stockings. She walks with a limp because of the pain.

But she goes CAMPING!

I am so inspired by her zest for life and the fact that she doesn't let physical setbacks keep her from enjoying everything life still has to offer.

And I really hope I get to go camping with her someday!

When she first told me she camps, I pictured a big RV, towing equipment and all the work that goes along with setting up camp.

Nope.

She has the same SUV I have, and she uses a tent that attaches to the back of it.

Well, now she's got me thinking.

What an adventure!

I can already picture waking up near the water, opening up the back of the SUV, making some coffee and realizing that my biggest decision of the morning might be whether I want to sit by the campsite or head toward the beach.

Suddenly, I want to visit every beach campground in the country.

Okay, maybe I should start a little smaller. 😂

There are waterfront campgrounds right here in Florida that I haven't experienced yet. Why couldn't I start there?

Beach Camping Doesn't Have to Mean Owning an RV

I think that's part of what fascinated me about my friend's setup.

Sometimes we decide something isn't for us because of the version of it we've created in our heads.

Camping? I need an RV.

Travel? I need a big budget.

Moving to the beach? I need to be rich.

Starting over? I'm too old.

Maybe not.

Sometimes there is another way to do the thing you want to do.

For camping, that might mean an SUV and a tent. For someone else, it might mean a small camper, a cabin at a campground or a full-size RV with every comfort imaginable.

The point isn't how you camp.

The point is that you're still out there having adventures.

Finding the Right Beach Campground Is the Hard Part

Of course, once you decide you want to camp near the beach, you have to figure out where to go.

And that's where things get a little more complicated.

A campground can call itself "coastal" without being directly on the water. Some are perfect for RVs but aren't right for tent camping. Some allow pets and others don't. Amenities vary tremendously. And popular waterfront campgrounds can book up long before you decide you're ready for a spontaneous beach weekend.

You have to look beyond the pretty pictures and figure out whether a campground actually offers the experience you're imagining.

I know because I've already spent a LOT of time doing exactly that.

I Did Some of the Homework for You

While building A New Life at the Beach, I've been creating tools for people who don't just want to dream about beach life—they want to experience it.

One of those is Coastal Camping Guide.

I researched and curated coastal campgrounds to make it easier to find places where camping and the water actually come together. Instead of opening twenty browser tabs and trying to determine what's really near the beach, you have a place to start.

And maybe that's all some of us need: a place to start.

My friend certainly got me thinking about it.

She reminded me that adventure doesn't have an age limit. It doesn't require a perfect body, perfect circumstances or the perfect equipment.

Sometimes you just need to figure out what works for you—and go.

So maybe I'll start with one of those waterfront campgrounds close to home.

Then another.

And another.

And who knows?

Maybe someday I'll actually make it to beach campgrounds all over the country.

But there's one thing I know already:

If I go, I'm inviting my new camping friend.

Your Beach Bestie,Terri