HOLLAND, Mich. — (FOX 17) The holiday weekend is right around the corner and many families will be hitting the road to go camping. We kicked off the weekend with American RV and Oak Grove Resort and Campground to get an idea of the modern amenities that campers can relax in.
This isn’t your grandfather’s camping of sleeping on a hard, cold ground and the days of struggling for hours to assemble that old tent are a thing of the past. Modern campgrounds are popping up all over West Michigan and they are filling fast.
Rod Vanden Berg and his family have owned Oak Grove for 25 years and have seen the camping industry change with the times. Out are the times of the old pop-up tents and in are the new more modern luxuries of pop-up campers and RV’s. Oak Grove fills up fast over the summer as many are flocking to the beaches of West Michigan. Vanden Berg says even though it is an old family past-time it has a new more modern feel.
Chad Neff, General Manager of American RV agrees. Neff spent his whole life camping with his family and now enjoys it with his own. He says that camping and RV-ing have continued to be so popular because it is so affordable and family friendly.
But both Rod and Chad agree that the earlier you plan the better, as of Friday morning Oak Grove had one rental trailer and one small site available and with campgrounds across the state filling up fast it’s safe to say it’s one popular way to vacation.
Looking for a more modern update to dinner on the camp-fire? Chef Tommy FitzGerald of Kitchen Sage has a few great ideas on modern camp fire cooking. Chef Tommy has perfected aluminum foil cooking, and says when it comes to camp fire cooking the key is to prepare before hand. Chef Tommy recommends marinating your ingredients in plastic baggies, not only does it travel well but it also makes for a quick and easy clean-up.
Even camping accessories have been given the modern upgrade. Thanks to American RV and Oak Grove Resort/Campground you can enter to win the camping accessories FOX 17 used Friday morning during our Around West Michigan series. Prizes include; a grill, chair and cooler. You can enter to win by liking the Facebook pages of American RV, Oak Grove Campground and FOX 17.
For more modern camp fire recipes and ideas or to learn more about Chef Tommy and Kitchen Sage visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KitchenSage
