Well, the time is here! I’m tasked with searching for a truly awesome, life-changing camping experience for 30 people in June of 2012. No Pressure 🙂
1. Start early to get the good locations
- We’ve usually camped in Forest Service campgrounds in WA, and since Recreation.Gov Reservation System opens up a 6-month advance window
The time is nigh to pick one this week.
2. Pick a general region
- In Washington state, there are some pretty awesome areas. We’ve been camping in the Central Cascades for the last 3 years. The buzz from fellow-campers is that they’d like to go someplace a little different. This is good since we’re getting older and the sites are starting to run together!
So in a small break from tradition, I’m going to start searching the northern-WA region, somewhere around Mt. Baker
3. Use an atlas
- Until the internet campground search gets robust enough (we’re working on it!) start offline and use a trusty Recreational Atlas*
My Atlas of choice is the Benchmark Washington Atlas. Benchmark offers Western-States atlases so far, but I think that’s good. They’re out of Oregon and know their core strength
The Benchmark WA Atlas - Yellow circle on back cover is the sweet-spot region I'm looking at
*NO Atlas has ALL National Forest, National Park, BLM and Municipal campgrounds compiled together. So, this is where a little cross-referencing between the Internet and the Atlas is usually needed.
4. Maneuvering inside the Atlas
- Check out the State-View on the Atlas (pictured above) to get a birds-eye-view of your search region.
I’m searching the Northern region of the state so, I turn to those specific pages for some campground names
Like most maps, this atlas represents campgrounds with a cute tent symbol!
5. Take the names online!
Okay, I have some good campground names. I’m moving online to see if they can accommodate my group and to search for any images/reviews
Check out Post #2 for the Online part of the search! (coming tomorrow!)
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