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.