How do you camp in luxury?
Camping is a fantastic way to get out there and forget about your troubles. Every day life can be full of anxiety and stress, so it's good to step away from it every once in a while. Before you go camping, however, it's useful to keep what you're about to read here in mind at all times.
Navigation is the key when it comes to camping. It is important to know where you are, and how to get back to civilization if you become lost. Always bring a map of the area, and a compass to help you. You can also use an outdoor GPS that will give you navigation information, as well as additional information such as altitude.
Keep the needs of your family in mind before selecting a destination. For example, if you have a baby or toddler, it may be best to stick close to home in case things don't go as planned. If you have teenagers, however, you may enjoy traveling to a different state. Choose what is best for you!
Before you bring your dog along for a camping trip, get him used to the idea with a little practice run in the back yard. Pitch the tent in an already familiar area, and let him sleep or play in it for a while. Bringing a dog can really add to the fun of camping, so long as the animal has been adequately prepared for the event.
When collecting wood for a campfire, focus on three different sizes: the finger-size wood, that will catch fire right away, the arm-size wood that will keep it going, and the leg-size wood that will allow you to keep the fire going for a long time. Getting different sizes of wood helps you to start the fire and keep it going.
Keep the needs of your family in mind before selecting a destination. For example, if you have a baby or toddler, it may be best to stick close to home in case things don't go as planned. If you have teenagers, however, you may enjoy traveling to a different state. Choose what is best for you!
While camping, cook easy dinners like "hobo stew". Simply bring potatoes, ground meat, and veggies. Cut the veggies and potatoes at your campsite. Using tinfoil like a bowl, put the ingredients inside and fold the foil over until the food is covered. Place foil on hot rocks or the coals of the campfire, and eventually you will have a tasty "stew".
When you go camping for the first few times, be sure that your camp is close to where you live. You could experience a number of problems, such as equipment failure, and wish to cut the trip short. You might not pack enough food, used canvas tents for sale or you may run short on clothing. People that are camping for the first time may have a lot of problems, so being close to home is recommended.
Unless you are going to be spending a significant amount of time camping, buying expensive sleeping bags is really unnecessary. Even if your old and musty sleeping bag is rated for below freezing temperatures, it is excellent padding for the ground even when it is hot outside and you will feel comfortable sleeping on it.
Camping often sounds like a great deal of fun, and it is; however it does require some special preparation. Before going camping for the first time, make sure you have done some research on tents, food and wildlife survival. It can make the difference between a great trip and a dangerous one.
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.
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.
Do not forget your cooking supplies. You will need pots, pans, utensils and dishes to cook on and eat with. Make sure that you double-check to be sure that you have packed these supplies before you leave the house. You do not want to get all set up and ready to cook your first meal and find that you have left your pot at home.
If you camp in an area known to have dangerous wildlife, be sure to incorporate extra precautions to stow away food securely. So, you will need to keep things wrapped well, keep them far removed from the tent, and you may need to steer clear of certain foods entirely. Doing this means you cut down on your possibilities of an animal attack.
When you go camping, dress in layers. Even if you check the weather ahead of time, weather can change with very little notice. It can be chilly in the early morning, only to be followed up with a sweltering, humid afternoon. The evenings may turn cold again very quickly. Wearing clothes in layers allows you to adjust to rapidly changing weather and temperatures throughout the day.
One simple tip that many people overlook is creating your shelter before dark. Pitching a tent can be difficult enough in the daylight, let alone in the dark of night. If it's already dark, you'll need to create fire while using a flashlight. It is much simpler to set up your campsite before sunset.
A Frisbee is a great toy to take for entertainment when camping. It is easy to pack and fun. But in addition to its use as a game, it is also a great way to strengthen a paper plate. Just place the plate into the middle of the Frisbee at meal times and the plate will not collapse no matter how big your hamburger.
One thing that many people forget to pack for their camping trips is the Sun-block. Even if you tan very well, there is no excuse not to protect you from the sun. In the short term, you will end up with a horrible burn, but in the long run it can give you serious problems with cancer.
As you can see, camping isn't as easy as just setting up a tent and falling asleep. There are plenty of other things to think about as well. Now that you're more knowledgeable about camping, you should have no trouble coming up with a plan to make your camping trip go well.