Kamping

The American institution that has largely supported our trip is Kampgrounds of America, or KOA. This picture is from the first (and in our experience best) KOA in Billings, Montana.

Typically, when we roll into a campsite, we have a time-saving system that ensures that our nights are relaxing and refreshing. We start by unloading our camp chairs. Then, I take one of these, open a cold beer, put my feet up, and undertake the arduous duty of overseeing Nicole, as she sets up the tent, builds a fire, and cooks dinner. In all, it usually takes about 20 minutes from parking to hors d' oeuvres.

For some reason, KOAs have a reputation for being glorified trailer parks. And some do look remarkably like them. The bigger ones always have a number of rough-looking trailers that seem to be permanent habitations. (The chief evidence is that they don't have tires).

But with rare exceptions (Grand Island, Nebraska, for example), KOAs are remarkably nice. Typically, you get a plot of grassy ground, a fire ring, a picnic table, water, electric, and WiFi. If you're one of those people who bathes regularly, they have showers. Their convenience stores are also reasonably priced, and the bathrooms are clean.

The first one was founded in 1962 by a Billings businessman named Dave Drum. By 1969, there were almost 300. The peaked at 900 in the early 1980s, but now number only 450, with some of those in Japan. Even so, trends point upward. With baby boomers increasingly buying RVs, KOA added 13 new campgrounds last year.