July 24, 2020 CAMPING IN THE SICILIAN OUTDOORS

Photos and Story by MC2 Josh Coté, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

As restrictions easy in Sicily, it is time to get out and see what Sicily has to offer. If you enjoy the outdoors, one way of doing that is to try camping at a lido around the island.

Many of the lidos give you the option of staying in one of their bungalows, or, if you want the more traditional camping experience, you can reserve a space to set a tent or even park a camper if you have one.

Missing the outdoors myself, I decided to give camping a try. Finding a place to stay is as easy as a quick Google search, followed up by direct message to your pick. If you can speak some Italian, it’s even easier if you call.

I chose Lido Camping Paradise in Letojanni. It is about a five minute drive off of the Taormina exit on the E45. Every campsite sits next to the beach; the water was quick walk away down a path from my campsite. The campground was very clean and well kept. You can bring your own grill and food to cook if you want. There is also an onsite restaurant that opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The same is true for lots of lidos, and some have even more amenities. Most of the lidos are pet friendly, so there is no need to hire a pet sitter. If you don’t like swimming in salt water, in many cases they also have pools and an array of activities to entertain the kids.

Lido Camping Paradise had a very well-kept beach, and you could also get the section with the chairs and the umbrellas. If you want a little bit more privacy but still want a mini vacation, I would recommend the bungalows, which were separate from the actual campsites. The only potential downside of the bungalow was a slightly longer walk to the beach, but still not too far.

If you want enjoy the camping experience but don’t own any of the necessary equipment, don’t worry as it is all available to rent from MWR Outdoor Recreation office on NAS I. If you need an item to camp, chances are that they have it. For example, they have three different size tents from two to six person tents. All the equipment is available at an affordable price as well. The six person tent for the weekend is only ten dollars. If you decide to rent equipment, it would most likely cost less than $50 get enough gear for two people camp for the weekend. Camping isn’t the only outdoor activity they can assist you in.

If you wanted to fish while you are out in nature, MWR Outdoor Recreation also has you covered. You can rent fishing rods and a tackle box for under $20, and if you want to get out in the deeper water, they also rent kayaks and life jackets for $25 for the weekend. Renting everything from them is less than the price of going out and purchasing a new tent that you may only use once.

Even though it rained on my camping excursion, my dog Grizzly and I still enjoyed waking up and walking right down to the beach. If you need help planning your own camping trip, don’t hesitate to contact MWR at DSN 624-4777 or 095-56-4777.