Vacationers Turn To Camping, RVs Seeking Solitude, Distance

Charlene Nibert planned to celebrate her retirement from teaching on an Alaskan cruise. But it was canceled because of the coronavirus.

So Nibert, of New Port Richey, Florida, used the money she’d set aside for the cruise to buy a recreational vehicle. She and a friend are traveling along the East Coast, and on Aug. 6, they were at Roanoke County’s Explore Park.

“This is like the best vacation,” Nibert said, as she relaxed in a folding chair, noting the state’s beauty and cooler temperatures, at least compared to Florida. She’d already been hiking and biking and was contemplating kayaking next.

Nibert, 63, ended up in the Roanoke Valley because her traveling companion has a daughter in the area.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced summer vacationers to alter their plans. But rather than give up a vacation altogether, many travelers are seeking more remote options where they can enjoy nature but continue social distancing. It’s translated to a boom in business for RV dealers, campgrounds and Smith Mountain Lake home rentals.

When restrictions were lifted on campgrounds, visitors flocked to the cabins and yurts at Roanoke County’s Explore Park managed by Don’s Cab-Inns.

“It was like somebody flipped a switch and everybody was running outside,” Don Harrison said.

Camping, hiking, biking and tubing — all of which are available at Explore Park — offer people an opportunity to get out of the houses they’ve been cooped up in for months but still keep their distance from strangers, he said.

Check out the full article from The Roanoke Times here.