Matt Forster

This is the camping guidebook I have been searching for since I discovered, about 15 years ago, just how amazing camping can be... except when you're pitched next to scores of other folks, mostly in campers and RVs. Best Tent Camping Michigan is the guide I always thought should have been written and would have wanted to write myself, except it's better. Attractively laid out, informative, campsite maps, and useful ratings covering the important stuff like 'beauty' and 'privacy'. Worst thing about the book: everyone else may discover the best tent camping grounds, too. But, hey, tent campers are way cooler than trailer campers any day. :)… (más)

I requested this book because we were moving to Ohio and are mostly unfamiliar with the outdoor fun available in the surrounding areas. Although I generally prefer back country camping to car camping, this is a great guide for camping enthusiasts, whether you're looking for easy, kid-friendly areas or more scenic, lonesome and quiet spots.

The guide is broken down by geographic areas - Southeast Michigan, Southwest Michigan, etc, but it also has a handy index just after the Table of Contents which breaks alternatives down by what they are good for: fishing, scenic beauty, hiking, kids, etc. This extra index is a must for people who, for example, want to avoid crowded, "family-friendly" campgrounds, or for people who are looking for specific outdoors activities (canoeing, hiking, cycling, etc). For each camping area listed in the guide, you're provided with a map of the camp grounds, ratings for beauty, privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security, and cleanliness. You also get a nice summary of the area, what the primary attractions are, and a listing of important facts such as price, registration requirements, what is included in your camp site, and pet permissions. There are also (somewhat general) directions to each campground, but generally Google maps or another online resource is going to be your best bet for that. The one thing I've noticed about the guide that I find a little frustrating is that the author tends to give pretty high ratings for each dimension (privacy, quiet, etc) for just about every campground. The lowest rating I've seen for anything is 3/5, which given the overall high ratings provided I have to interpret as being pretty low on his metric.

Overall, a handy guide for those in Michigan and the surrounding areas who have an interest in doing a good bit of camping in the area.… (más)