Does a camper make sense? That was never the question for me. I always wanted one, so as soon as I could manage the payment I bought one. Did it save me money? No! Did I care about that? No! I grew up traveling with my parents in an RV, and I like it. My wife, kids and I started our camping in a tent because it was all we could afford (and barely at that), but I vowed to myself that someday I'd have a trailer or something.
Trailers cost money. Unless one uses the trailer for 2-3 months per year, it probably won't "break even" versus other modes. Ever hear the story that a boat is just a hole in the water that you pour money into? Well, an RV can be like that also. Upkeep is inevitable. Just as a basic aluminum boat requires very little upkeep, the more basic the RV the less the upkeep (usually). A basic (no bathroom, nothing fancy) used popup has plenty of sleeping space, is easy to tow (fairly low gas usage), and should be pretty affordable.
A tent is also a great option. You can get a high quality tent for $300-$500 and it should last a decade or more if you're not rough with it. But you have to decide if you have room to haul all the stuff (tent, sleeping bags, cooking stuff, food, etc etc) in your vehicle with all your family; if you need a cargo trailer to bring everything, you may as well have the popup, or customize the cargo trailer as sleeping quarters. Or maybe you can haul some camping stuff in the boat? The biggest downside to a tent, of course, is having to set up or tear down in rain.
Cabins? I've never gone that route, but some folks do. I prefer my own bed. And who knows whether a previous guest introduced bedbugs or some other pests?
Anyway, start out with something modest that has the minimum amenities you find acceptable. Later on you can always trade up if desired.
