In case you’ve ever been to an RV present, you’ve probably heard of Harvest Host. In case you haven’t been to an RV present, however you or a few of your mates go tenting, there’s a excessive probability that you understand somebody that makes use of Harvest Host. So, what’s it? Is is value it? Must you use it? In our expertise, the reply to all of these questions is a powerful YES! I’m going to let you know why we really feel this manner, however first, for those who aren’t acquainted…
Harvest Host is an organization that has reached out to quite a few farms, wineries, distilleries, museums, breweries, and even golf programs to allow tenting at their locations of enterprise. There are just a few restrictions. It is advisable be self contained, so it is advisable have your personal rest room, water, and electrical. You may solely keep one night time (until particular preparations have been made with a single Host.) No tents are allowed. And, it’s solely accessible to their members.
Anybody who meets the camper requirement can be a part of Harvest Host. The price of a fundamental membership (which doesn’t embody the golf programs) is $99.00 for a 12 month interval. So no matter month you be a part of, is the month your yearly membership begins. Why would a farm or vineyard need you and your camper on their property once you aren’t paying them for a web site? Nicely, a part of the Code of Conduct that you simply agree too when becoming a member of Harvest Host is that you simply spend at the very least $20 at every of the Host’s as a Thank You for permitting you to be there. The $20 will be for a product that they promote, a donation, a tip, or a service that they supply. These locations of enterprise acquire you as a buyer for the day in return for permitting you to camp there for the night time.
Alright, because the camper…. You’ve simply paid $99.00 to affix, and now you need to pay at the very least $20 for every of the Hosts that you simply keep at? Sure. Let’s be sincere, why do you assume a number of Walmart’s help you keep the night time of their parking zone. As a result of they know there’s a very excessive probability that you can be coming inside and shopping for one thing. Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless value each single penny in the event you ask us. And right here is why…
First, waking up among the many grapes in a winery is much more picturesque than a Walmart parking zone. I’m grateful for Walmart permitting this, however we favor to make the most of that in an emergency state of affairs, like, we will’t maintain our eyes open anymore and aren’t near the place we deliberate on being but.
Second, the price of tenting has elevated astronomically. We have now had great problem staying at any campground for lower than $20 an evening… And guess what, that $20 was at a Nationwide Forest. Now, there are utterly free dispersed tenting websites, I do know. And sure, that’s really free. But when you’re going to spend $20 to remain in a Nationwide Forest the place you don’t have any hook-up’s, why not keep at a Harvest Host the place your tenting expertise shall be completely different than everybody else’s. When you begin paying campground price’s at State Parks, RV Parks, and Resorts, you’re looking at anyplace from $40 per night time to upwards of $150 per night time at among the resorts. This can be a yearly price of $100, and also you get to remain at numerous unbelievable locations.
Third, the cash that we’ve been in a position to save on websites, has offered us with a possibility for experiences. Experiences like… Wine tasting’s at a winery. Picture shoots at an out of doors studio. Museum excursions. Airboat rides to see the alligators. Moonshine tastings. The locations you’ll be able to go, and the issues you’ll be able to see, are really infinite.
In case you had a $500 tenting finances for a 4 day weekend for two folks… You spend $100 in your Harvest Host membership. With the remaining $400, you’ll be able to spend 1 night time at a vineyard. Go inside, do a tasting, perhaps even purchase a bottle of wine for dwelling. You spent about $50. On the 2nd night time, you head over to the native museum and spend $15 per individual to go inside. The third night time you go to a neighborhood farm the place they promote greens and their native honey. $20 for farm contemporary greens on the dinner desk all the time makes it style higher. You’re already 3 nights into your 4 day weekend, and also you’ve solely spent a complete of $200 of your finances and that features the price of the membership! Perhaps on the 4th night time you discover a Gator Ranch the place for $10 per individual you’ll be able to stroll the alligator boardwalk. However as a substitute, since you’ve saved a lot in your different nights, you resolve to spend the $35 per individual to take the airboat trip the place you see wild alligators of their pure habitat AND you get the boardwalk. Plus now you’ll be able to head out to dinner in your final night time of trip as a substitute of getting to cook dinner within the camper.
In your 4 day weekend, you’ve performed a wine tasting, visited a neighborhood museum, purchased native farm contemporary vegetable, and gone on an airboat trip to see the alligators. Feels like a way more attention-grabbing 4 day weekend than simply going to the native campground.
On the Harvest Host web site, it’s $99 for the yearly membership. They generally run specials providing 15% off. Or if you’re considering becoming a member of and there’s no low cost accessible at the moment, you’ll be able to ship us an electronic mail at [email protected] and we will give you a private invitation to Harvest Host and a 15% off low cost.
