A year ago I camped in the Boundary Waters area for four days and didn't miss my phone or Internet connect one bit. I didn't even think about it! However, this year the a new debate has sprung up about how 'connected' one should be on their vacation - and the resorts Minnesotans love are trying to decide.
A few boulders are among the most popular sports at the YMCA's Camp du Nord on the southern edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It's not because of the views. The added elevation gets better cell-phone reception. A few miles north at the Lodge of Whispering Pines, the sauna is the only place that gets a signal, making for a lot of hot conversations.
All of us long to escape the weekly grind, but because of job pressures or a need to stay connected, many of us just can't seem to turn our cell phones off. Then, if we do make an escape, we want a lifeline, a place where we can tap into the world we left behind, even if it means hopping into a car and heading to the nearest town.
This need to stay connected has generated debate among resort and campground operators in Minnesota: How can you balance making visitors feel like they're escaping when they're really not? For the most part, resort owners are accommodating their guest's needs because they realize that vacations aren't what they used to be. And it's becoming evident that vacationers who do want that lifeline don't want to have to go to the lodge to wait in line for a common computer.
Today, jobs are more demanding and some employees 'feel bad' taking vacation time, especially since some worry they may not have a job to come back to if they don't try staying on top of their work while they're gone. Others just like the choice to 'check-in' or not. Regardless, I think we'll see some changes in this area. It will be interesting to see if one campground or resort jumps in offering phone and WiFi service first, and see how they do compared to the rest!
