Page 9 - Allisons Newsletter, Lakewood Edge - Jan 2019 Issue

back to nature

Everywhere you
want to camp. Search,
discover & book ranches,
farms, vineyards, nature
preserves & public
sites for camping
across the U.S.
www.hipcamp.com. TRAVEL

CAMP OUT IN A TREE HOUSE OR A GOAT FARM;

HIPCAMP SITE LETS YOU RENT HIDDEN GEM CAMPSITES

ooking to rent a tree grove in Homestead for $45 a walked us down to the water
house with a slide- night, a sailboat in Key West and told us the history of the
Ldown pole and space for $89 and a cabin near the flowers in the area, Native
for nine? A tent site on a private Everglades for $20. American history in the area.
horse farm? A riverfront spot Los Angeles-based traveler It was really simple. It felt like
to park your RV near a half- Thuc Nguyen, 42, used the Airbnb.”
dozen natural springs? Florida site before it hit the That’s just what Alyssa
You can find all these— “official bar” to plan a last- Ravasio had in mind when she
plus 300 other campsites—in minute Fourth of July road founded Hipcamp in 2013. A
Florida thanks to Hipcamp, a trip last summer. A goat farm camper herself, Ravasio was
website that has just launched near Tallahassee caught her frustrated by having to use
in the Sunshine State eye. She and her boyfriend several different websites to
Sites range from $10 per stayed there for one night research and reserve her own
night for a backyard spot on in their own tent for a trips. While other sites list
a blueberry farm to about $20 fee. The site includes formal campgrounds, none
$150 per night (for the tree breakfast,water, Wi-Fi; includes as large a number
house). Florida is Hipcamp’s laundry; hot showers with of private options. Hipcamp
fourth state (after California, soap, shampoo, conditioner lists almost 350,000 sites
Oregon and Washington) to and towels, and two kayaks. nationwide.
officially launch. Travelers “It was above and beyond Ravasio wasn’t alone: number is growing rapidly— been using Hipcamp to rent get away. We’ve made some
can also find properties in what I had hoped for,” she Roughly 18 million U.S. and by 64 percent since 2014. the lot next to his house near really good friends. We had
other states, but Hipcamp said. “For breakfast (the Canadian households camp The arrangement benefits the Santa Fe and Ichetucknee one guy come for four days
doesn’t “officially” launch owner) brought out fresh three times or more each landowners as well, giving rivers—“clear as an and extend his stay to nine
them until they have critical goat cheese and milk, eggs year, according to annual them a platform to make aquarium,” he said—for the days because he liked it so
mass in an area. and berries from the farm. surveys of U.S. and Canadian money without developing past year. He said he’s owned much.”
Near Miami, for example, There was a giant fig tree households by Cairn pristine land. the property since 2008 and After he listed the property,
options include an avocado near our camping site. She Consulting Group. And that Michael Foret, 45, has decided to clear it last year Foret said Hipcamp sent a
to accommodate friends who “field scout” out to take a few
were visiting. Then, the idea pictures, stay the night and
of renting to more visitors write a review. Since then 19
occurred to him and he campers have recommended
found the Hipcamp online his property at 100 percent.
by searching for “camping on He would rate Hipcamp
private land.” about that well, too.
“I’ve hosted tent campers “Their customer service is
all the way up to a semi amazing,” he said. “The few
truck with an RV on the times I’ve needed them they
back and everything in get back to you immediately
between,” said Foret, who and they’re willing to do
charges $50 per night. “Every whatever it takes.” n
different type of person you
can imagine. All of them ©2018 Miami Herald
are really amazing, looking Distributed by Tribune Content
for an adventure, looking to Agency, LLC

WWW.SUPERBROKER.COM

562-882-1581 | ALLISON@SUPERBROKER.COM

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