PLANNING A CAMPING ADVENTURE
Types of camping Best places to camp during the year Gathering all supplies and equipment RV or tent rental Making Reservations Additional travel expenses Mapping out your destination Try to plan as much as you can in advance. This will make the trip much nicer for everyone involved. Depending on the type of camping you will be participating in, saving up enough money in advance will allow you to purchase everything you will need from sleeping bags to canned goods and other food. The best way to prepare for a camping trip is to research where you will be staying. Many campsites now offer virtual tours that will give you an idea of what to expect. Web sites will also list amenities that are included. You can also ask other people where they camp and what they brought on the trip. TYPES OF CAMPING There are many different types of camping that are available these days. Traditional camping in a tent, camping in a cabin, or camping in an RV will offer you a different experience even if you are camping in an area that allows for all three. Since people have different comfort levels when camping, you should find out what your friends or family would prefer and make a choice from there. Tent Camping Even though portable heaters can be used in some tents, this is still the most basic way to camp besides sleeping in a sleeping bag next to a fire. Tents come in a variety of sizes and are also available with additional screened in porches. People no longer have to sleep close together as they did in the tents from the past. Today’s tents allow for more comfort. When camping in a tent, you will be very close to nature. You will be able to hear birds, squirrels, and other animals that are close by. When looking for a tent, you should find one that is water proof, has a tarp like floor, and one that can be set up easily. If you will be bringing air mattresses, you should buy a tent that will be large enough to accommodate mattresses, bags, and people comfortably. Camping tents can be purchased in any wild life camping store or online. If you want to experience nature close up, and cook your food by the fire or outdoor grill, then you will enjoy camping traditionally using a tent. Depending on how large your group is, you may need to buy several tents to accommodate everyone. Cabin Camping Camping in a cabin is different from camping in a tent for several reasons. Cabins are sturdier and will protect people from rain and thunder storms better than a tent. Cabins usually have indoor plumbing, and kitchens. Cabins usually have more room for larger groups of people. If this is your type of camping vacation, there are camp sites that rent cabins by the day or by the week. While they may still have sites for tents and RVs, the cabins are usually in a section of their own. Cabins are a great way to get away from the pressures of work, cities, and other annoyances. They include everything you would have at home, but also the tranquility of nature. Some cabins are near lakes, hiking trails, and mountains that offer the peace and calm that people are looking for. If you do not want to have to work too hard during your vacation by having to set up a tent, build fires, or prepare food by the fire or outdoor grill, you will enjoy renting a cabin. RV Camping For the ultimate comfort and mobility, you can choose to camp in an RV. Whether you own or rent, an RV is a wonderful way to camp. There are many camping areas that will allow people to use their RV’s. Complete with kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living areas, RV’s are becoming the most practical way to take the family on a camping trip. Even though you will have to modify what you will be cooking as the kitchen will be much smaller in scale than what you are used to, if you do not want to cook your meals outside, this is easy to overcome. RV’s come in a variety of styles and sizes. You will be able to rent an RV for a week or more and you will be able to drive it wherever you want to go. This is a great way to see the country side while driving to your vacation destination. You will also be able to bring your car if you choose. When planning your next camping vacation, you will have to weigh all your possibilities in order to choose the best one for yourself and your family. Many families prefer the RV because it is more economical and the children have more room for themselves. Don’t forget to include the price of gas, food, and camping site fees into your budget before your trip. This will make paying for it much easier. BEST PLACES TO CAMP DURING THE YEAR After you have decided on the type of camping trip, you should begin researching where you would like to go. Depending on where you are located, there may be plenty of options not too far from home. When deciding on a camping destination, you should consider the following: Cost of the trip Type of camping the site has available Distance from home Number of people that will be going Amenities needed Activities available for kids Time of year you will want to go Weather Supplies you will need These items are very important and should never be overlooked. If you are planning a trip that is a considerable distance from home and you do not want to rent an RV, you will either have to drive a car, or rely on other forms of transportation. This could make transporting equipment and supplies difficult. You should choose a cabin or rent an RV that is onsite for long distance camping trips. This way, you will only have to buy food and smaller camping equipment when you arrive. Deciding on a location will help get your camping trip off to a good start. Do not burden yourself by choosing a place that is too far away. Unless you have relatives in the area that you can stay with while gathering up supplies, it is not worth it. Instead, find a location that is no more than a day or two away. This is considered a drivable distance for most families. Even if you are renting an RV, you will not want to be driving for your entire vacation. Before booking a reservation, which you may have to do up to a year in advance depending on the what is available and the time of year you want to travel, ask questions about the camp sites, the amenities available, and about campground activities. If they have a web site, use it to find out more information. The web site may also tell you the best time to visit, attractions that are close by, and other information. Do not book a site without asking questions. You may not be happy once you arrive. When making reservations, you should ask when the busy times of year are. The busiest times are usually during the summer months, but you should ask anyway. If your children are teenagers, they may want to meet other teenagers while on the trip. The summer months are the best time to go if you have children. If you don’t have children and you want to be away from people, you may want to choose to camp in the early spring or fall months. Since you can never predict the weather a year or so in advance, you should research past seasons to see what the weather will most likely bring. This will help when you are packing clothing and supplies and will also help in choosing the right time to go. Many campgrounds offer amenities such as cable, showers, laundry room, midnight movies, pool, summer camp activities for younger children, game rooms, guided hiking tours, and more. Find out which places offer what you and your family are interested in seeing. This will help you narrow your search. Once you have chosen the ideal campsite, research the area to see the types of tourist attractions and other sight seeing that is available. Even though camping trips should be relaxing, they should not be boring. Picking up some brochures ahead of time will allow you to plan some activities. GATHERING ALL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT The next step to planning a camping adventure is to make a list of all supplies you will need. This can include everything you will need: bedding cooking supplies food, clothing hiking shoes lighting, and portable heaters You should ask the campground what kinds of electrical outlets will be available at the site. If you are roughing it, you may only need one outlet. You should add battery packs and flashlights to your list. You should also include a first aid kit in case someone is injured on the trip. Camping supplies can be found online, camping stores, or your local grocery store. While you do not have to buy top of the line equipment, you should do your research to find out exactly what you will need. This will help you create a budget. If you will be staying in a cabin that has a functional kitchen or an RV, then you will not have to worry about cooking equipment. You will still have to brining pots, pans, plates, and utensils, but you will probably be able to use the ones you already have at home. If you will be hiking of rock climbing during your vacation, do not forget to pack this gear as well. When people are planning a trip, they will sometimes forget to bring stuff they will need to enjoy activities while on vacation. Staying organized and preparing a list are the best ways to avoid under or over packing for your camping trip. RV/TENT RENTAL If you need to rent an RV or specialized tent, you should shop around in order to find the best deal. Rentals will vary for several reasons including: time of year make and model or RV age of RV length of rental size of tent By shopping around, you will find rentals that offer better warranties, gas/mileage options, and other amenities. If you have friends and family who camp often, you should ask them where they rent their RV from or where they purchased their tent. You may even get lucky and find someone nice enough to let you borrow their tent when they are not using it. If renting an RV, you should make your reservation as early as possible especially if taking a summer vacation. In order to get the RV that will fit your entire family and their belongings, you should reserve the RV as soon as you find it. You will be able to view photos online which will make your decision much easier. When you pick up the RV, you will probably have to conduct a check of the outside and inside of the vehicle with an agent of the company. Take note of any large dents on the outside and make sure they are written down. If something on the inside such as an outlet or light does not work, try to see if it can be fixed immediately, or make sure it is written down so that you are not charged for it when you return the vehicle. MAKING RESERVATIONS When making reservations for a camp site, travel equipment, or an RV, you should always ask questions about: cancellations warranties insurance early or late return refunds due to bad weather Protecting yourself against late fees, insurance claims, and other issues that may come up during your vacation is a good idea. If possible, get everything you can in writing. This will help you make a claim with your insurance company or with the campground or RV rental agency easier. Finding out more about these policies will make choosing a campground or an RV easier also. If you do not agree with some of their policies, then find another place. It is your money and you will need to protect it from policies that are unfair or costly. Unfortunately, things happen in life that you do not expect. Children get sick, people lose their jobs, and so on. You cannot possibly know what will happen in a year when you make reservations to stay in a campground. But you will feel better about making those reservations if you know more about the policies that govern them. ADDITIONAL TRAVEL EXPENSES You should plan additional travel expenses into your budget when planning your trip. Expenses include: gas snacks air travel flat tires illness injury hotel stay admission fees to tourist attractions food costs You will be surprised at how much an extra meal in a diner will cost your family when you are on a budget. While you should have fun and spend a little extra money, try not to go overboard. Carry an emergency credit card or traveler’s checks in case you need it. This will protect you and your family and allow you to return home safely. If you are planning to camp in a place that is more than three days from your home, you may want to fly there or drive. You will have to stay a night or two in a hotel if driving, and you will have to pay for airfare when flying. These expenses can add up quickly when planning a vacation. If possible, find a campground closer to home or leave more time to save up enough money to go on vacation. Traveling by any mode of transportation can be expensive if you do not plan in advance. Finding discount hotel rooms and airplane tickets for your trip is easy online. By planning a few months in advance, you could save hundreds of dollars in traveling expenses alone. As it gets closer to the time for your vacation, you should go over your budget to make sure you did not forget anything. Saving up some extra money and keeping it for emergency use only is a good idea. You will have peace of mind and you will be able to concentrate on having a good time during your camping adventure. Cooking your own food for the majority of the trip will also save money as will keeping the number of days traveling to the campground to a minimum. MAPPING OUT YOUR DESTINATION One of the final steps to planning your camping adventure will be to map out your destination. You have several options including: buying a road map using the internet using GPS equipment Any of these methods are effective and will help you get to your destination quickly and easily. If you have never traveled to the campground before, this can be an exciting part of your trip. Even if you are relying on the internet for directions or a GPS navigational system, you should still buy a paper map and keep it with you. Road names change over time and updates may not have been made. A standard map will give you an overview of the area and allow you to make changes in your direction. It is recommended that those who will be traveling long distances invest in a GPS navigational device. Not only will they give you directions, they will also tell you where the nearest hotels, hospitals, and restaurants are located so you will be able to stop and rest, or help a member of your family that needs emergency medical care. ADDITIONAL NOTES ON PLANNING YOUR CAMPING TRIP As with any vacation you plan, be sure to have a reliable vehicle, equipment, and bring a cell phone with you that is charged and ready to be used when traveling. These are not only great for emergencies; they are also useful for other issues that may occur while you are away from home. If you have pets, you may want to find a friend to take care of them while you are gone. You can also board pets at your vet or boarding establishment. This is a good idea if you are planning on being away for more than a week. Your pets will be fed, and will be given exercise each day. Small children do not typically travel well when on vacation. If your child is under the age of three, you may want to wait another year or so before taking them on a longer road trip or camping. There are plenty of other options that are available. Children over the age of five will enjoy being in the outdoors much more than children younger than five. Be careful about where you choose to camp when taking young children. Make sure there is a hospital close by in case of an emergency. If you want to spend more money on a GPS tracking device, you can invest in a tracking device that will tell you where local restaurants, gas stations, and tourist attractions are located. You will be able to plot the places you will want to go and you will be able to find new places that are worth exploring. Protecting your family is just as important as making sure they have a good time while on vacation. |
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