Back packing in SouthWest Montana when I was very young was fun and exciting. Then my folks got a TT and we camped alot in National Forest Campgrounds like Georgetown Lake.
I got the camping bug in 2001 and would take my 3 kids (EX didn't like camping)and loaded minivan to local Forest campgrounds. Setting up the tent always was a sense of relief. It felt like a huge weight off my shoulders.
Now I have an amazing husband and 6 bonus kids. We did our first summer 2014 camping in 3 separate tents. 1 for boys, 1 for girls and 1 for Dh & I. My back isn't what it was so DH & I bought our first TT in 2015 and absolutely love it. When we first started camping in our new TT, it was at Farragut state park Northern Idaho. This campground is beautiful. It is a local (Spokane & Coeur d'Alene) favorite. Lots of pull through spots, electric, water and 2 dump stations. Trails for mountain biking, great spots to swim. But with 3 loud grouchy dogs, we knew we needed a more private camping spot.
Driving around the National Forest in Feb. & March is beautiful. But hard to find good dispersed spots in the snow. But we found several in ORV access Forest areas. 2 TV's and dirt bikes, 4wheelers, a chain saw, generator, our TT loaded with fresh water and lots of food and clothes for all 8 of us and then of course the 3 dogs.
I think it will be a long time before we go back to a paved, complete service campground. But when we tell people we camp in dispersed areas, the looks we get. I am glad my husband showed me dispersed.
What do you think of dispersed vs established sites? Have you ever camped both? What do you look for in a camping spot?
Oh and yes, I make sure we are out of cell service range and No we do not have a TV in the trailer. But we play Janga, softball if we're not out on the bikes & 4wheelers.