There is nothing more fun than camping. One of the most important things to consider when camping is where to set up camp. Not all camping spots are created equal, and the choice you make about your camping spot could make your experience either good or bad. Here is a bit of advice that can help you choose a good camping spot.
When it comes to food, bring only what you need on a camping trip. Extra food out in the wilderness is a calling card for wild animals to come visiting your campground. If you do find that you have additional food, tie it up in cloth and handg it as high as you can in a tree away from your immediate campground. This will help keep you from unwanted animal introductions.
Make sure you plan out your route in advance of your trip. Look to see if there are any special places that you can stop at along the way. It will make the drive much more enjoyable and you may have a lot of fun in the process. Granted, you may need to get to your destination quickly, but if you have time, taking the scenic route is worth it.
Bring a survival kit on the trip and keep it on your person all the time. A survival kit should consist of matches, first aid necessities a flare gun and a knife. This kit can keep you alive! Be sure to bring it with you whenever you leave your campsite.
Be sure and give children a thorough explanation of what camping is all about and entails, before hauling them off on a potentially dangerous adventure. Make sure they understand what poison ivy looks like, to stay away from wild animals and to carry a light if they are walking around at night.
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.
A major mistake that campers make is they will get lost on occasion. Do not let this happen to you. If you are unfamiliar with the area you are camping in or if you are in a wilderness area, do not stray too far from your campsite. A portable GPS is an excellent investment if you are planning any kind of wilderness camping adventure.
Even when you're trying to get away from the luxuries of life, it can help to bring something nice on your camping trip. Try bringing something portable and lightweight, like a candy bar or some cream for your coffee. Small luxuries can make enduring a camping trip easier.
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.
When preparing for a camping trip, people often fail to bring enough clothes. Remember that there will be no washing facilities, and you also need to think about how the weather can call for certain specific attire as well at times. You always want to be prepared, so pack accordingly.
Bugs do not like fire at all, so it is a good idea to keep your fire burning all night while you are sleeping. If you find that there is a huge bug problem during the day, it would help to keep a fire burning at that time as well.
For your first camping trips, try to choose a place that you can drive to. If your car is nearby you can use it as a "fortress" of sorts when you are in the middle of nowhere. Not only can you enter it in case of wildlife attack; it can also protect you from the elements.
Some of the best food options to bring camping with you are things that come in cans. While this may not be the tastiest, it is great for two reasons. It is very convenient and easy to prepare, but more importantly; wildlife will be unable to smell the food inside of the cans.
Leave your camping spot as clean as, or cleaner than you found it. It is important to show respect to the land and to others by cleaning up your camping area. If it was a mess when you got there, you can do a good deed and make it cleaner.
Make a list of the things you need for your camping trip and check each item off once you pack it. Then, make sure you bring each bag to the car. The last thing any camper wants is to reach the sight and find out they forgot something important, like matches tent styles or the food.
Take along a battery operated radio when camping. A radio will keep you up-to-date on any late-breaking news and weather reports. A radio will also give you entertainment during those quiet evenings sitting around the campfire. Or if you prefer, pack a guitar for you and your campers' enjoyment.
If you haven't camped before, then now is not the time to start being a hermit. Ask an experienced friend to go with you and show you the ropes. As you become more advanced in the hobby you can start to take small and then larger trips alone and get your hermitude on.
A great idea when planning your camping trip is to make a list of everything you need before you go. As you pack each item, you can cross it off your list. This is really essential because you do not want to be stuck blowing up your air mattresses because you forgot to pack an air pump.
Be aware of food safety precautions on your trip. Foods should be packed in airtight and waterproof containers. Store food that requires refrigeration in an insulated cooler. Don't keep raw and cooked food together, so there is no contamination. Keep surfaces and hands clean when you're dealing with your food. Use hand sanitizer or soap. Make sure cooked foods reach the correct temperature and make sure perishable foods are kept chilled.
As stated before, camping is a great experience that lets you see all of the beauty of nature. For any future campers, the tips above will certainly come in handy. They will help you enjoy your next outing into the wild and focus on the wonders of nature and its inhabitants.
