Where do you put a tent on a backpack?
Have you been thinking about going camping for a long time now? What has been holding you back? Is it the lack of knowledge? Well go ahead and read this article so that you know what it takes to enjoy yourself on a nice weekend camping trip with the whole family.
Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.
Purchase a quality tent. It can be tempting to score a good deal on a tent, but you want to find something that can hold both you, your family members and your belongings. Try visiting a store that specializes in outdoor gear. They tend to have well-made products that will last for a while.
Ask a park ranger or a tour guide to let you know about all the places to check out while you are camping. This is a good idea so that you know you are getting the most out of your camping experience, you don't want to take a camping trip and miss out on a fun experience.
Look up grocery stores near your campsite. Make sure you know how to get to them. Particularly, if your trip is spanning more than three or four days, the food you bring with you probably isn't going to last the length of your trip. Not only, that, but your family is going to get tired of eating the same things day after day. Variety is the key.
Bring enough food and snack items to last you throughout the whole trip. You don't want to spend your time going to get food every meal, enjoy yourself while you are camping. Bring cereal, hot dogs, and all of your other favorite food items that will fuel you throughout your trip.
When you are heading out for that long awaited camping trip, don't forget to take along your cell phone. You may be tempted to leave all the texting and calls behind, but your cell phone can be one of your most important safety lifelines in the event of an emergency. Make sure it is fully charged and keep it protected from the elements in a plastic bag or waterproof case.
Practice makes perfect when pitching a tent. Take the time to put the tent up before leaving for your trip. This allows you to build your proficiency at erecting the tent, and will also help locate any issues with the tent in case you need to exchange it for a better option.
Bring some plastic totes or canisters with you when you go camping so you can store any food products you have opened. This will keep any critters from swarming around your campsite and it will also keep various wildlife from being attracted to whatever it is you have in there.
One tip that is very useful to anyone who is planning to go camping is to practice finding as well as purifying water prior to your camping trip. You don't want to start this process when you are already thirsty as it could lead to a very dangerous situation.
If you are camping outdoors instead of in a travel trailer or RV, it is important to dress in (or carry with you) layers of clothing. While on a camping trip, temperatures can fluctuate widely. The easiest and most effective method to control your body temperature is through adding and removing layers of clothing. Having layers of clothing also protects you from bug bites.
If you are a camping novice, you should initially stay near home. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don't like camping. Maybe you'll run low on food or not have enough tent platform kit clothing with you. There are many unexpected problems you may encounter the first time you go camping, so stay close to home.
Take some things to entertain yourself while in the wild. Scavenger hunts, card games and fishing poles all add up to wonderful diversions to do in the wild. If you have kids going with you, you may want to go a little overboard with the things you take for entertainment.
Zip-lock bags can be very handy in a camper's tool chest. Don't worry about hauling mixing bowls in your gear. A gallon size zip-lock bag is great for mixing foods together and is much easier to carry in your pack. Just secure the top of the bag very carefully, then squeeze, knead or shake the ingredients together. Then discard for super-easy cleanup too!
If you don't like to drink water, you will be in real trouble on a long camping trip. Water is essential to staying hydrated, so if you really hate the taste, purchase some one-use lemonade and add it to bottles of water. This will keep you hydrated throughout your adventure.
If you have never been camping before, then be sure to bring extra of everything. This is most important for things like food and drinks. Since you are inexperienced you may underestimate how much food you actually need. Remember, you will probably be very active, and therefore need more food than normal.
When building a fire at your campground, do not have one so close to your tent. Many fires at campgrounds could have been prevented has campers thought about this simple tip. It is typically recommended that you build your fire at least 15 feet away from your tent and other equipment.
When you go camping, take along a lot of of lint from your dryer. Lint can be great kindling, even though it sounds funny. The lint is quite flammable and works better than wood chips, twigs or other such starters. Just a spark on the lint will do the trick!
When you arrive at an campsite where you have never camped before, explore your surroundings before the sun sets. Located the nearest restrooms and potable water. You also need to find the location of the nearest garbage receptacles. Also look for obstacles, such as raised tree roots that may trip you as you make a night time visit to the nearest restroom.
The next time you decide to go on a camping trip, don't be fooled by all of the ads and sales jargon by stores and companies. Don't be suckered into breaking the bank in order to buy camping equipment. Use this article to get the reliable and affordable camping equipment you need and have fun.