Camping is one of America's favorite past times but it's not for everybody.

I personally love to go camping. I don't like to backpack, that's a little much. But car camping? Sign me up every time. I don't pretend that I'm roughing it at all. I have 2 coolers in the car, filled with food and drinks. There's at least an air mattress in the tent, if not a cot to keep me off the ground. And if bugs will be a problem, I'll make sure the screened-in tent is ready to pop over the picnic table.

The bathrooms can still be a little sketchy, but as a guy that never really bothers me. If I plan it right, I'll never have to use a "real" bathroom over the one or two nights I'm at the campsite.

Even this camping can be a little too much for some. Luckily, for those people glamping was invented.

Glamping is a portmanteau of "Glamour" and "Camping," and it's pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

Glamping is a form of camping that usually takes place in a permanent or semi-permanent structure. Electricity is provided. You have running water and actual toilets. Sometimes these places even have WIFI so you can still stream Netflix at night.

There are plenty of places right here in Illinois where you can try your hand at glamping. Most properties don't cost anymore than a typical night at a standard hotel. The main difference between glamping and staying at a hotel is when you walk out your door, you're greeted by nature instead of an ice machine. An upgrade in my opinion.

Want to give it a try? Check out some of these glamping opportunities right here in Illinois.

10 Glamping Sites In Illinois That Will Make You Rethink Camping

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

 

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