Sure, it may look easy to set up. “The box claims set-up only takes 5 minutes,” you say. Well, not everyone is a camping pro, and when you’re out in the woods with just a few minutes of sunlight left, you are not going to want to be testing out your camping skills. Instead, set up the tent in your living room or back yard a couple of times before heading out.

Just because you’re camping and don’t have access to a big kitchen doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have good food. If you’re not feeling excited about a can of baked beans and some hot dogs for dinner while camping, then plan ahead and make some meals that are easy to cook over the campfire.

No, camping in a tent does not have to be uncomfortable. There is great gear out there that was made to help you get a good night’s sleep while in your tent. Key to a restful night is a sleeping pad of some sort, or maybe even an inflatable mattress. Whatever your extra padding is, be sure not to forget it. We promise your camping trip will be much more enjoyable if you are well rested.

You will likely go hiking while camping, and possibly swimming if near water, but one thing people seem to forget is that there is quite a bit of down time while camping. We certainly think it is. And down time is a great opportunity to pull out some card or board games and have some good old fashioned fun.

While some love the traditional cowboy coffee while camping, there are those of us coffee “snobs” who just cannot bring themselves to accept chugging down coffee grounds. And just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you can’t have coffee that tastes just as good as the cup from your favorite cafe. You can bring a French press, a pour-over setup, or buy yourself some instant coffee that is more on the fancy side. It will be worth it to you to have that good fuel first thing in the morning.

While beautiful, Mother Nature is also full of surprises — you can never be too sure what the weather is going to do. It could be sunny and 75 degrees one minute, and pouring rain the next. And this is something you’ve got to be prepared for while camping. In order to keep yourself and your gear dry, it’s a good idea to waterproof your tent before heading out on your trip.

This is a very important rule to follow not only out of respect for those that come after you, but also to protect our beautiful outdoors. Bring out any trash you brought in, and make sure your fire is completely out. Also, be sure you’ve packed up all your own gear and haven’t left anything behind.