Many people like to camp to get away from the stress of their everyday lives. But remember, proper preparation is the key to making sure your trip goes as planned. Prepare in advance to avoid this and keep your “must have” list handy when preparing for your trip.
Choose a sleeping bag that is seasonally appropriate. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. You might even contract hypothermia.
Have everyone give their opinion on where you should camp. Discuss which state you wish to visit. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. To make it easy, pick a few that you really like and then have a family vote.
If you’re bringing kids on your camping trip, over-pack for them. Going camping can get really dirty. Almost every child will want to play in the dirt or mud, constantly. Because of this, your children will likely be filthy by the end of the day. It is almost impossible to prevent, but luckily, you will not need to worry if you have extra clothes on hand. It’s best to be prepared.
Take along a bandanna or a small towel. A bandana is very versatile and can be used as a blotter, potholder, mini-bag and more. As you can see, a handkerchief can serve many different purposes on a camping trip.
Make sure that your bags include oranges, since these double up as both a handy and healthy snack but also serve as an organic and natural repellant of mosquitoes. Save the peels when you’re done eating and gently rub them on your face, arms, legs or any other exposed areas, and you keep the pesky bugs away with no harsh chemicals and for a great price!
Look into pillows made specifically for camping. Standard bed pillows tend to get sticky in humid weather. These types of pillows are prone to taking in the moisture in the air and can even mold if left in wet conditions for too long. Pillows made especially for camping have a protective outer layer that prohibits moisture absorption.
Be certain you have everything you will need before embarking on your adventure. It would be a shame to arrive at your campsite only to realize you have forgotten some important items, like food and water. Look over the items you plan to bring and create a checklist before leaving to ensure that all of your essential gear comes with you.
Before you camp in a new location, you should familiarize yourself with the local dangers and risks. Figure out if there are any poisonous insects, what the land looks like and how the weather will be. Every camping area has different dangers that you should be aware of.
Most of the time, camping is fun. If you do not take the time to plan ahead, it can be disastrous. Make your next camping experience a success with no foreseen problems by applying your newly found camping knowledge. And remember, have fun!