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Selecting a Camping Location
Regardless of which tiny little piece of land you choose for your camping location, the one that you should know is that the options are endless. What do you prefer to do during your next big trip? Go fishing, hiking, or boating? Many camping locations offer that and then more. But, just because there are many spots available for camping, you shouldn’t just pack you’re camping accessories to run off to the first camping spot you come across. Lots of thought goes into choosing a camping location.
One of the first things that you will need to know is the accessibility to the camping spot. This is even truer if you camp with an RV. Consider how you intend to get to the camping spot. Will you be parking and then walking or will you be able to drive right up, these are very important considerations. If you have to park and then walk, you might want to find out how far you are going to have to walk considering that you likely brought a lot of gear with you.
The view can also be taken into consideration as there is no use going camping in a spot where there is no view when there are many beautiful camping spots around you! After all, you didn’t go camping and put forth all of this effort to not have the best view possible. Remember to check if there is access to clean water for you to use during your camping trip. If there is no water, you will have to pack all the water for your needs and to put out the campfire that you make.To make a fire you are going to need firewood. Inquire about firewood when you either make reservations or when you check in. You will want to make sure that there is ample access to firewood at all times and one where you don’t actually intend to carry all the wood to the camping spot! Look for a camping site that has plenty of dead wood around to make it easier to build a fire.
Most important, avoid the ‘uncharted areas’ when choosing a camping location. It can be both difficult and dangerous to camp in spots which are not established. There are many reasons for this but the most important reason is bears. If you do decide that you are the adventurous type then you should certainly make sure that the area around you is level and free of rocks. Check while it is light out to see if there are any drop off points and such. These things are already taken care of at an established camping ground. This is to make sure that you are safe and when you walk around at night that you don’t tumble down a hill or something worse.
The best places to look to choose a camping location would be in the local state parks, national forests, conferring with friends who have gone camping, and of course through the Internet.
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Five Important Things to Remember When You’re Camping With Your Kids
If you’re the parent of kids you might consider to be city-slickers, a jaunt into the woods for a good amount of time spent camping might exactly be what the doctor ordered. Not only does it help them realize the relative comforts of civilization, but you should be able to teach them some basic skills they can use all of their life. It’s also important to make sure that they stay safe and don’t take unnecessary risks. Here are five things to remember when you bring your kids on a camping trip.
1: Don’t try to drag them along.
Any input your children can give you into the camping trip itself should help them feel like they’re part of the caravan; try to avoid dragging along to somewhere only you want to go. Try to pick out three camping spots and ask them which one looks the most exciting to them, and get their input while purchasing some camping supplies. It could also help to put them in charge of on area of the camping trip, especially something small like s’mores.
2: Bring plenty of food, and avoid sugar.
If you have smaller children, it should probably go without saying that sugary foods come with an up-and-down effect: your children will be running wild and expending energy so much that they’ll practically collapse of exhaustion later. Feel free to bring a treat or two – if you must get something unhealthy, a salty snack might work better. If they need sugar, let them get that from fruit, which has a much more stable effect on mood.
3: Bring a first aid kit.
Kids are going to be more prone to bruises and scrapes around the camp, not to mention more serious things like burns. Be sure to be prepared with a first-aid kit in tow, and be ready to call in help if there’s an emergency. Clean out your kid’s scrapes and cuts to prevent infection, particularly if you’re on an extended camping trip.
4: Dole out fun duties to keep them occupied.
I don’t have to tell you that kids bore easily, so make sure that every kid who’s capable has a small task when it’s time to prepare a campfire dinner or get to bed. For example, if one child has been in charge of the s’mores, tell them to bring them out, and then help them find sticks for roasting marshmallows.
5: Have fun.
Remember that not everything has to be a mission when you’re having fun with your kids in the outdoors. Enjoy these times, particularly before your children grow up, because time will continue to fly by.
Photo Credits: gussifer | thecolorawesome.com
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The Top Five Hiking Trails Reviewed
Hikers of the world, unite! Don’t just unite, find the best place to do unite, then hike it. We live in an amazing world that’s brimming with ideal hiking spots and camping spots, but there are a number of hiking spots that attract people from all over.
If you plan on taking a vacation to some of the best hiking spots in the United States, you might want to consult this list first. Finding the best hiking spots isn’t just about knowing where the most people go – it’s about choosing an experience that is best suited for you and your family. With that in mind, here are the top five hiking spots in America:
5. The Tahoe Rim Trail – Nevada and California
Lake Tahoe has long been a top destination for wilderness lovers, but how many people are aware of the Tahoe Rim Trail? Well, now you are. This versatile trail blazes its way through two states, a state park, three national forests, and six counties. Thanks to trails like the Tahoe Rim, there’s always enough adventure out there for the both of us.
4. Avenue of the Giants – California
It’s scary-sounding, but actually quite serene and beautiful: the Avenue of the Giants in Northern California takes you through giant Redwood trees and near the North Coast. Littered with campgrounds, nearby towns and villages, restaraunts and other attractions, this also represents an ideal vacation spot that just happens to include some breathtaking hiking trails.
3. Yellowstone – Wyoming
One of the world’s most famous parks is also home to some of the world’s best trails, a true reserve of wildlife that sees the Earth kept in almost perfect, serene order. It’s also a versatile destination, with attractions that range from geysers to rolling hills and steep, challenging hiking trails.
2. Glacier Gorge (Estes Park) – Colorado
You’ll think you’ve stepped of the hiking trail and into a travel magazine when you check out glacier gorge, a destination in Colorado that includes scenery like waterfalls and wild flowers. You’ll also want to be sure to bring your camera for this trip: there will be too many opportunities for beautiful pictures to pass up.
1. The Bright Angel Trail (Grand Canyon) – Arizona
The ancient, astounding wonders Grand Canyon also just so happen to make for great hiking trails, and perhaps none are better than the Bright Angel Trail. The Bright Angel Trail is located on the south rim of the canyon and descends 4,380 feet into the canyon itself, providing breathtaking scenery along the way.
With any trail on the Grand Canyon, however, you can’t go wrong: Bright Angel Point Trail is located on the north rim, the River Trail, and the Plateau Point Trail are just some of the trails exploring the Grand Canyon.
Photo Credit: Globe Travelers
