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The Tent-less Outdoor Sleeping Guide
For some people, the definition of “rustic” means simply heading out into the woods – even if you bring a camper with a bathroom, a sink, and a microwave. For others, “rustic” means an experience that at least has some amenities like tents to keep your dry and covered from rain. But for the die-hard campers, there’s only one definition of rustic: tent-less camping, including true under-the-stars sleeping. If you’ve always wanted to do this, here’s your guide.
What to bring: Even if you’re not bringing a tent, you’ll need to bring something in order to keep you warm and separate your back from the hard, rocky ground. Many people bring a simple sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and possibly a camping cot, in order to sleep outdoors.
The good thing about sleeping without a tent is that you can stay warm near – but not too near – a fire. Even so, you’ll want to stay warm for the entire night, including after the fire dies down on its own. Make sure you bring enough to keep you warm and relatively comfortable when you sleep on the ground.
As for your pillow, what you do will be up to you. You can’t exactly lay your pillow down on the ground, so try to bring some sort of tarp or bag that can separate your pillow from the dirt.Watch the weather: When you’re thinking about camping in a tent, knowing it’s going to rain is less important knowledge than when you’re sleeping outdoors. You’ll want to be sure that a high-pressure system is moving through the area you intend on sleeping in; these systems keep things clear – and usually provide for better views of the stars anyway. If there’s going to be rain, you probably won’t be able to have a good night’s sleep, so you might want to consider throwing in the towel and simply sleeping under a tarp or simply a tent.
All in all, sleeping outdoors can be a pleasant experience, but it’s not without its risks. You’ll want to be aware of local insects and wildlife before you sleeping without shelter. When in doubt, simply sleep in your tent so that you can stay dry and not worry about everything that comes from sleeping outdoors. You might just be glad you did.
Photo Credits: anoldent
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Killing Time On a Camping Trip
It’s an ideal scenario: you’ve finally gotten the family away from the distractions of daily life back in the city, you’ve cleared enough time to have a great vacation, and you’ve brought all of the amenities you need to enjoy a comfortable camping trip. Then, your first morning, you wake up, fire up breakfast, lounge around on a chair, and the thought hits you:
What now?
It’s a perfectly normal situation to encounter, and it simply means that even while you’ve put aside some time for fun, you haven’t decided what to do with that time yet. Here are some ways for you to enjoy a camping trip and “kill time” the most fun and relaxing way possible.
First, make sure before your camping trip that you know what kind of activities are available in your camping area. If you’ve decided to “rough it” and head out into some deep, desolate woods, that’s fine, but you’ll need to define some activities ahead of time for that trip as well. Is there a body of water nearby? Are there boats to rent, jet skis available, good hiking trails, bikes to rent? Just asking yourself a few of these questions ahead of time will help you get started on the right foot.
Second, don’t waste time making decisions. It’s all too common for people to turn into “decisions, decisions” mode instead of simply taking action early and often. If you face a choice of fishing, hiking, or biking your day away, and family members are undecided on which to do, try this: make a decision for yourself and invite others to come along. Get your feet moving and get the activities under your belt. You’ll find that this kind of active momentum will probably carry you through the rest of your day.Third, know when it’s time to relax. If you’ve been active all day, you can still live a “full day” without staying active – it might be time to kick up your feet, light a campfire, and listen to some ghost stories. It’s one thing to relax when you’re stressed, but it’s another thing completely to relax after an exhausting day of fun, exercise, and activity. You’ll feel like you’re relaxing deeper then ever before and you’ll get a better night’s sleep.
If these sound like good ways to spend your next vacation, look into having your own camping trip, and then customize the trip to suit your tastes. Adventurers can find plenty of adventure in the outdoors, while relaxers will enjoy campfires and quiet nights under the stars. It’s up to you to decide how you’ll “kill your own time.”
Photo Credits: .:[CT]:.|.:[CB]:. |…
