What is a Camping Vacation?

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

We might be familiar with the old-fashioned idea of packing up a camper and heading into the wilderness, especially because the premise offers so many opportunity for laughs in movies like “RV.” But when was the last time you actually thought this might be a good idea for you and your family and really considered trying a camping vacation?

Simply put, a camping vacation is what you make it – there are no set rules that make your camping trek any more or less legitimate than anyone else’s. All you have to do is have a plan of action, a plot of land to set up shop, and come prepared to enjoy the wilderness to the highest extent.

Here are some quick tips to preparing your next camping vacation, as well as how to get started today:

1. First, be a scout.

A good camping vacation starts with the idea of scouting – finding the right destination for your family to enjoy. You’ll want to consider a number of variables during this phase, and come up with as many different potential spots as possible. For example, if you have small children, a place with easy accommodations not too far from the campsite might be ideal. If your kids are older, they might embrace the challenge of a more “rustic” experience (of course, they’ll have to bring their cell phones with them). Know what you’re getting into ahead of time.

2. Decide what to bring with you.

If you’ve never been camping before, it can be a bit difficult to know what to bring with you, and it’s tempting to go a little overboard. Dropping a big chunk of change on an RV that you might not necessarily need isn’t the way to go.

Mentally run yourself through a typical day as you see it, and imagine the type of supplies you’ll need. Soaps that double as shampoos are great because they carry less weight. Tents that set themselves up will also take a lot of the edge of nature off. And don’t be afraid to splurge on a gizmo or two if you think it will really help you enjoy your experience.

3. Have fun.

This is an obvious one, but you don’t want to force anyone into a camping trip if they’re determined to have a bad time. Instead, make sure everyone in your family is okay with a camping trip, and ask them for their input. If they love water sports, make sure to go near a lake. You might even consider renting a cabin in the woods – it’s not quite “camping,” but it can be a lot more comfortable for city slickers.

Photo Credits: oskarlin