Campgrounds the region over are packed with campers this long weekend, and some site managers think it’s a positive sign for the summer.
Braving the chilly waters of Bass Lake, it's the perfect way to welcome the unofficial start of summer. Sites at Bass Lake and other provincial parks in the region are 60 per cent to 95 per cent booked this weekend. That's a similar number to last year, but campers say this may long weekend is better.
For campers it couldn’t be better and it's not just the weather, some say there aren't any bugs.
"When can you go out in the bush and not be eaten by blackflies, this year has been fabulous because there are none,” says Toronto resident Stefan Grammenz. “You really can enjoy the outdoors without having to swat and put a bug net on."
At the Barrie KOA, the 180 site campground is completely booked and so are most independent campgrounds in the region. Operators say it's a sign of a promising summer.
"Long winter, people are anxious to get out. Phones have been ringing off the hook like crazy; we've been booked up almost a year in advance,” says Aaron Raposo, manager at Barrie KOA.
Reservations for July and August are already up from last year.
“There’s never a dull moment in the camping business, all around Ontario it sounds like we're up, so it's looking good."
