Long Island Proud: Forever Hither Hills Campers

There is a certain magic to camping at Montauk’s Hither Hills on the Atlantic Ocean. I ventured out to the park and encountered two couples and a dear friend, who have a tradition of parking their luxury campers in close proximity and enjoying all the park has to offer.

Barbara Kernes, who hails from Port Jefferson, loves Hither Hills off-season because “it’s quiet and I have the luxury of working from home so my camper becomes my office on the ocean. In fact someone walked by me today as I sat at the picnic table in the sun and said, 'I love your office.'” Barbara’s camper is 28’ Jayco Travel Trailer that her husband Kevin hauls with a Nissan Titan with a special Cummings Diesel engine.

East Patchogue resident Jill Ferrante who, with husband Richie Tibbetts, have their camper parked directly across from Barbara and Kevin Kernes’ camper has her own Hither Hills story. “I love to come here to read in the sun right off the ocean. The sound of the surf is just so relaxing. Plus we have a lots of laughs with the friends we’ve met out here.” Husband Richie Tibbetts added, “I love the surf casting and the fires and the comaraderie."

They have a 36’ Keystone Passport that they haul with a Dodge 1500.

Then there is Hampton Bays resident Nicky Calamaras, who comes to Hither Hills because, “It’s fun in the sun and even in the rain and the wind.” Richie added, “Nicky loves to listen to his tunes, especially the Grateful Dead.” Nicky has a 31’ Four Winds Class C.

I sat in as they had a royal BBQ with steaks, chicken, zucchini and beverages. It was so special I now feel inspired to save up my money in order to purchase a camper.

These folks really know how enjoy Montauk. They are just a few of the thousands of campers who utilize Hither Hills.