Sorry to take so long between posts. :( My son is on a camping trip with his Boy Scout troop this weekend, so I don't have to share the computer with him. LOL!
For this post, I will discuss camping etiquette. Not only will these make your camping experience more enjoyable, it will make it more enjoyable for the other campers in the campground.
Follow the list of rules that you are given when you pay the campground host your camping fees. These rules vary by campground, depending on the amenities available.
Keep your campsite tidy. When we go camping, we will go for a ride around the other camping areas. Nothing turns me off more than a untidy campsite with stuff all over the place. At home this is fine, since no one is there but you and yours, but at a campground, everyone who passes by can see what you have laying around. When you are done using something, put it away. Stack things neatly on the picnic table.
Wave and say hi to whoever is passing by your campsite. You might make some new friends this way, and ones who enjoy the activity you do, to boot.
Help others who are having difficulties. If you see someone struggling to put up a tent or start a campfire, stop by and offer to help. It's the friendly, neighborly thing to do. Who knows, the person you are helping may be a newbie to camping, and your helpfulness may be what he or she needs to go camping again.
If you fish, don't clean your fish at the campsite! Dead fish = nasty smell. Most campgrounds have a place especially for cleaning fish, so use it.
Don't use foul language! There are usually children at a campground, since camping is a family event. You wouldn't want your children hearing that language and asking you what that person was talking about. Save the cursing for when you're out on the lake and there's no one else around except the fish - and they may not want to hear it either.
Don't walk through other people's campsites on your way to somewhere else. Talk about an invasion of privacy! The Golden Rule applies to camping too.
Observe the quiet time, which is usually after 11 PM. Don't drink and get loud around the campfire all night. We all need our sleep, some more than others. Some people (and I am one) have to have it quiet in order to get to sleep.
If you are an early riser, try not to disturb those who aren't.
After you pack up all your camping gear to leave, check over your campsite one more time to make sure the campsite is clean. We were taught in Girl Scouts to leave the campsite cleaner than when we arrived. That means picking up all the small pieces of trash, etc.
Well, that's all for now. I welcome your comments and any other camping etiquette items I might have missed. Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Arriving at the campsite - what to do
Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long between posts. Is anyone camping this long holiday weekend? We thought the son would be marching in the Labor Day parade, so we didn't reserve a campsite (and we really couldn't afford $30.00 a night for camping). But we are going camping next weekend. Hurray!
So here's what to do when you get to the campsite. Our favorite place to go camping is about 45 minutes from our house, and after that long drive, the first thing I need to do is go to the bathroom! LOL! Your mileage (literally and figuratively) may vary. :)
You will remember from the last post that I had you pack the tent and the optional screenhouse on the top of the gear. Here's why - the first thing you want to do is put up the tent and air up the air mattresses or set up your cots. You're going to be sleeping in there and if you get to the campsite after dark, you can always set up the rest of camp the next day.
After you set up the tent, set up the screenhouse, if you have one. Then put the sleeping bags and your duffle bags in the tent. Don't forget the campfire - the smoke will help keep away the bugs. Set up and light your citronella candles and torches too. Many hands make light work, so make sure you have the kids help out. Our son whines about helping, but we make him help anyway. :p (Blogger, please give us smilies!)
After camp is set up, you can sit around the campfire and relax. Tell some spooky stories, sing some campfire songs, and enjoy each other's company. You deserve it!
Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
So here's what to do when you get to the campsite. Our favorite place to go camping is about 45 minutes from our house, and after that long drive, the first thing I need to do is go to the bathroom! LOL! Your mileage (literally and figuratively) may vary. :)
You will remember from the last post that I had you pack the tent and the optional screenhouse on the top of the gear. Here's why - the first thing you want to do is put up the tent and air up the air mattresses or set up your cots. You're going to be sleeping in there and if you get to the campsite after dark, you can always set up the rest of camp the next day.
After you set up the tent, set up the screenhouse, if you have one. Then put the sleeping bags and your duffle bags in the tent. Don't forget the campfire - the smoke will help keep away the bugs. Set up and light your citronella candles and torches too. Many hands make light work, so make sure you have the kids help out. Our son whines about helping, but we make him help anyway. :p (Blogger, please give us smilies!)
After camp is set up, you can sit around the campfire and relax. Tell some spooky stories, sing some campfire songs, and enjoy each other's company. You deserve it!
Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
Saturday, July 25, 2009
How to pack your car for camping
Sorry to take so long between posts. I've been busy and the son keeps hogging the computer. He is backpack camping with his Boy Scout troop this weekend, so the only person I have to fight over the computer with is my husband! LOL!
In my last post, I said I was going to discuss how to pack your car with all your camping gear. First, get all of the stuff together. The night before we go camping, the couch by the front door has all of our camping stuff on it (except for the tent, the screenhouse & the totes - they are out in the shed). Having everything in one place is important. That way, you don't forget anything. (That sounds like a Yogi Berra quip, doesn't it?)
I drive a Jeep Liberty and the back seat folds down, a 60/40 split. We fold the 60 side down. My husband drives a S10 truck, so the majority of the stuff (tent, screenhouse, totes, grill, coolers) goes with him. We could probably put everything in the Jeep (and on top of the Jeep) if we had to though.
So here's how I'd pack if we only had one vehicle. I would pack the coolers and the totes first. (Take a soda out first if you need one.) This will also give you a level surface to put everything else on. Then, I would put the duffel bags, the cooking gear, and any dry food (in grocery bags, of course) on top of the first layer. On top of all of this, I would then put the tent, the air mattresses (deflated), the screenhouse, the bag with your health and beauty items, the first aid box, and the grill (if you're bringing one). You want to make sure you pack last the stuff you'll need first. Make sure you have enough seats for everyone!
If you don't have a SUV or you have a smaller car, you can put stuff on the roof. If you need to put stuff on the roof, I suggest stuff that won't slide around on the roof. The totes and/or the grill would be best for tying on the roof. Be sure to put fold a tarp and put it on the roof before you add the items so that the roof of the car doesn't get scratched up. Secure the items tightly with bungee cords so they don't slide around.
You could also have your passengers hold on to their duffle bags and the groceries can ride along with the passengers, as well as the dry food, the health and beauty bag and the first aid box. If all else fails, use two vehicles. It will make for a more comfortable ride for all parties.
On a side note, I have added two new links in the links section. The Woodall's link is for a campground directory. You can do a search for campgrounds here. This will be handy if you want to go camping in other states or in Canada. I have also added a link for Reserve America, where you can make reservations for various campsites across America. The Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds are also listed on this site.
Well, that's all for today. Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
In my last post, I said I was going to discuss how to pack your car with all your camping gear. First, get all of the stuff together. The night before we go camping, the couch by the front door has all of our camping stuff on it (except for the tent, the screenhouse & the totes - they are out in the shed). Having everything in one place is important. That way, you don't forget anything. (That sounds like a Yogi Berra quip, doesn't it?)
I drive a Jeep Liberty and the back seat folds down, a 60/40 split. We fold the 60 side down. My husband drives a S10 truck, so the majority of the stuff (tent, screenhouse, totes, grill, coolers) goes with him. We could probably put everything in the Jeep (and on top of the Jeep) if we had to though.
So here's how I'd pack if we only had one vehicle. I would pack the coolers and the totes first. (Take a soda out first if you need one.) This will also give you a level surface to put everything else on. Then, I would put the duffel bags, the cooking gear, and any dry food (in grocery bags, of course) on top of the first layer. On top of all of this, I would then put the tent, the air mattresses (deflated), the screenhouse, the bag with your health and beauty items, the first aid box, and the grill (if you're bringing one). You want to make sure you pack last the stuff you'll need first. Make sure you have enough seats for everyone!
If you don't have a SUV or you have a smaller car, you can put stuff on the roof. If you need to put stuff on the roof, I suggest stuff that won't slide around on the roof. The totes and/or the grill would be best for tying on the roof. Be sure to put fold a tarp and put it on the roof before you add the items so that the roof of the car doesn't get scratched up. Secure the items tightly with bungee cords so they don't slide around.
You could also have your passengers hold on to their duffle bags and the groceries can ride along with the passengers, as well as the dry food, the health and beauty bag and the first aid box. If all else fails, use two vehicles. It will make for a more comfortable ride for all parties.
On a side note, I have added two new links in the links section. The Woodall's link is for a campground directory. You can do a search for campgrounds here. This will be handy if you want to go camping in other states or in Canada. I have also added a link for Reserve America, where you can make reservations for various campsites across America. The Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds are also listed on this site.
Well, that's all for today. Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Meal suggestions for camping trips
Sorry to take so long between posts. It's mighty hot this weekend - hope you're staying cool! My son was at Boy Scout camp this week and we picked him up yesterday evening. It was rather warm at closing ceremonies.
Let's talk about meal suggestions. My personal theory is that you're not going camping to eat - you're going camping to spend time in the great outdoors. Therefore, the simpler the meal, the less time it takes to prepare, and the more time you can spend enjoying the outdoors. So here's some ideas for meals.
Unless you have one of those propane ovens, biscuits or cinnamon rolls are out, unless you buy them ready made. I usually make pancakes, using the pancake mix that you only have to add water to. You can make a lot of pancakes fairly quickly. I usually heat up sausage in a separate skillet to go with the pancakes. The precooked sausages are very good for this.
The next morning, I usually make scrambled eggs. For a side dish, I warm up the precooked bacon you can purchase at the grocery store. It doesn't take long to heat up, and most of the grease has already been cooked off of the bacon.
For lunch, we usually have sandwiches and chips. You can't get easier than this.
You may want to cook something a little more substantial for dinner. If you have a boat and you've been out on the lake all day, or if you've been hiking, you're probably pretty hungry. Cooking in advance can be helpful. Here is a recipe from a friend of mine:
Burritos
Ingredients:
2 lbs. precooked taco meat or Old El Paso (or other brand) precooked taco meat
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese
Flour tortillas
Chopped tomatoes
Cook taco meat in advance. Allow to cool, then place in a freezer bag. Put this bag inside another freezer bag. Or use the Old El Taco precooked taco meat in a tub.
When it's time to eat, warm up the taco meat. Warm up the tortillas one at a time in a small skillet. Combine meat, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes on tortilla and roll up into a burrito.
You could cook some Spanish rice (like the Lipton brand) to go with this.
You could also precook sloppy joes for dinner and serve with Kraft mac & cheese. Barbecuing meat is easy and makes a filling meal. Please use the comment section and advise as to whether you want more dinner recipes.
That's all for now. Next time, I'll talk about how to pack your vehicle with your camping supplies for easy campsite set up. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Let's talk about meal suggestions. My personal theory is that you're not going camping to eat - you're going camping to spend time in the great outdoors. Therefore, the simpler the meal, the less time it takes to prepare, and the more time you can spend enjoying the outdoors. So here's some ideas for meals.
Unless you have one of those propane ovens, biscuits or cinnamon rolls are out, unless you buy them ready made. I usually make pancakes, using the pancake mix that you only have to add water to. You can make a lot of pancakes fairly quickly. I usually heat up sausage in a separate skillet to go with the pancakes. The precooked sausages are very good for this.
The next morning, I usually make scrambled eggs. For a side dish, I warm up the precooked bacon you can purchase at the grocery store. It doesn't take long to heat up, and most of the grease has already been cooked off of the bacon.
For lunch, we usually have sandwiches and chips. You can't get easier than this.
You may want to cook something a little more substantial for dinner. If you have a boat and you've been out on the lake all day, or if you've been hiking, you're probably pretty hungry. Cooking in advance can be helpful. Here is a recipe from a friend of mine:
Burritos
Ingredients:
2 lbs. precooked taco meat or Old El Paso (or other brand) precooked taco meat
Shredded lettuce
Shredded cheese
Flour tortillas
Chopped tomatoes
Cook taco meat in advance. Allow to cool, then place in a freezer bag. Put this bag inside another freezer bag. Or use the Old El Taco precooked taco meat in a tub.
When it's time to eat, warm up the taco meat. Warm up the tortillas one at a time in a small skillet. Combine meat, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes on tortilla and roll up into a burrito.
You could cook some Spanish rice (like the Lipton brand) to go with this.
You could also precook sloppy joes for dinner and serve with Kraft mac & cheese. Barbecuing meat is easy and makes a filling meal. Please use the comment section and advise as to whether you want more dinner recipes.
That's all for now. Next time, I'll talk about how to pack your vehicle with your camping supplies for easy campsite set up. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Back from camping!
We arrived Friday night at Dam West and checked in with the attendant, then set up camp. Then I went back into Carlyle and picked up some KFC for dinner. I had to wait for biscuits, so the nice lady gave me a free soda while I waited. I could get addicted to that Lipton sweet tea!
After we got all set up, we turned on the radio & listened to the Cardinals play the Orioles (the Cards lost :( ). Three girls (well, they were in their early 20's but I'm old enough to be their mother) stopped by and asked if we could help them start a campfire. I volunteered to help and went back with them to their campsite. I had one of them go back to our campsite and get the lighter fluid; I just couldn't get the wood to light. It's OK to cheat a little bit; we use those firelogs to get our fires going. I told them about this blog, so any of them have stopped by, hi!
The campground was all right, but there wasn't a lot for the 12 year old son to do. They had a movie night, but it was on Thursday, a strange night. How many kids are at a campsite on a Thursday night? There was a playground, but he's getting too old for that. There were a couple of programs at the ampitheater, but the son isn't interested in squirrels or water safety. The next time we go camping, we will pay the extra $4.00 a night and go back to Eldon Hazlet.
There was a showerhouse with individual stalls and each stall had an adjoining shower. These smelled rather musty. I was glad I remembered my flip flops for when I took a shower. No athlete's foot for me! I should have went to the big showerhouse at the entrance to the park. It was nicer and didn't smell. It had a laundry with a fold down ironing board - who irons their clothes when they go camping?
On Saturday, we went into town for supplies. We went back to the campsite and filled up the coolers with fresh ice. We then went for a ride and checked out the other two Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds at Carlyle Lake, Coles Creek and Boulder. They appeared to be nice sites, but they take longer to get to and longer to get somewhere to purchase supplies, so we probably will not be going to either one of those campsites.
The water level of the lake was really high, probably due to all the rain we've been getting in southern Illinois these past few weeks. The weather was really nice, not too hot during the day and not too cool at night.
We left around 10:30 AM this morning and came home. We got all unpacked and I discovered that my bottle of shampoo came open in the bottom of the health & beauty duffle bag. We need a new one anyway, so I just threw away the bag rather than attempt to clean up the shampoo.
After we got all set up, we turned on the radio & listened to the Cardinals play the Orioles (the Cards lost :( ). Three girls (well, they were in their early 20's but I'm old enough to be their mother) stopped by and asked if we could help them start a campfire. I volunteered to help and went back with them to their campsite. I had one of them go back to our campsite and get the lighter fluid; I just couldn't get the wood to light. It's OK to cheat a little bit; we use those firelogs to get our fires going. I told them about this blog, so any of them have stopped by, hi!
The campground was all right, but there wasn't a lot for the 12 year old son to do. They had a movie night, but it was on Thursday, a strange night. How many kids are at a campsite on a Thursday night? There was a playground, but he's getting too old for that. There were a couple of programs at the ampitheater, but the son isn't interested in squirrels or water safety. The next time we go camping, we will pay the extra $4.00 a night and go back to Eldon Hazlet.
There was a showerhouse with individual stalls and each stall had an adjoining shower. These smelled rather musty. I was glad I remembered my flip flops for when I took a shower. No athlete's foot for me! I should have went to the big showerhouse at the entrance to the park. It was nicer and didn't smell. It had a laundry with a fold down ironing board - who irons their clothes when they go camping?
On Saturday, we went into town for supplies. We went back to the campsite and filled up the coolers with fresh ice. We then went for a ride and checked out the other two Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds at Carlyle Lake, Coles Creek and Boulder. They appeared to be nice sites, but they take longer to get to and longer to get somewhere to purchase supplies, so we probably will not be going to either one of those campsites.
The water level of the lake was really high, probably due to all the rain we've been getting in southern Illinois these past few weeks. The weather was really nice, not too hot during the day and not too cool at night.
We left around 10:30 AM this morning and came home. We got all unpacked and I discovered that my bottle of shampoo came open in the bottom of the health & beauty duffle bag. We need a new one anyway, so I just threw away the bag rather than attempt to clean up the shampoo.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Menu planning
Well, we will be camping the weekend of June 12th - hubby had me make reservations at the Dam West campground at Carlyle Lake, which is run by the Army Corps of Engineers. You can make reservations online for any federal campsite here. It allows you to make reservations up until the end of May 2010. You can see a map of the campsite and if you click on or hover over the campsite, it will tell you how much shade is at each campsite, whether it's near the lake, etc. It amazed me that this campground was already completely reserved during Memorial Day weekend 2010.
It's time to talk about menu planning. The first thing to determine is how you're going to cook at your campsite.
If you have an electrical hookup and an electric skillet and a two burner electric stove, you can pretty much cook like you do at home. If you don't have an electrical hookup, figure out if you're going to cook over a fire, cook on a BBQ grill, or on a camp stove.
You should make a menu plan for the days you'll be camping. Once you figure out what you want to cook and write it down, you can then make a shopping list for the grocery store. As an example, here was our menu plan for Memorial Day weekend:
Friday dinner - McDonald's
Saturday breakfast - Pancakes, sausage, milk
Saturday lunch - Sandwiches, chips, soda
Saturday dinner - Bratwurst, macaroni and cheese, soda
Sunday breakfast - Scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, milk
Sunday lunch - Sandwiches, chips, soda
So my shopping list was:
Pancake mix
Precooked sausage (like Banquet or Armour)
Bread
Lunch meat
Potato chips
Bratwurst
Macaroni & cheese mix
Eggs
Bacon (get the precooked variety; you just need to warm it up in the skillet and you won't have all that grease)
Shredded cheese
Margarine or butter
Milk
Soda
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and I will answer. Next time, I'll talk about menu options. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
It's time to talk about menu planning. The first thing to determine is how you're going to cook at your campsite.
If you have an electrical hookup and an electric skillet and a two burner electric stove, you can pretty much cook like you do at home. If you don't have an electrical hookup, figure out if you're going to cook over a fire, cook on a BBQ grill, or on a camp stove.
You should make a menu plan for the days you'll be camping. Once you figure out what you want to cook and write it down, you can then make a shopping list for the grocery store. As an example, here was our menu plan for Memorial Day weekend:
Friday dinner - McDonald's
Saturday breakfast - Pancakes, sausage, milk
Saturday lunch - Sandwiches, chips, soda
Saturday dinner - Bratwurst, macaroni and cheese, soda
Sunday breakfast - Scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, milk
Sunday lunch - Sandwiches, chips, soda
So my shopping list was:
Pancake mix
Precooked sausage (like Banquet or Armour)
Bread
Lunch meat
Potato chips
Bratwurst
Macaroni & cheese mix
Eggs
Bacon (get the precooked variety; you just need to warm it up in the skillet and you won't have all that grease)
Shredded cheese
Margarine or butter
Milk
Soda
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and I will answer. Next time, I'll talk about menu options. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Photos from our camping trip - Part 2
A pretty wooded area near our campsite.
Another wooded area near our campsite. You can see the lake (sort of) in the background.
"Is this burning an eternal flame?" Only until the citronella oil runs out! LOL! This is one of the little containers we burn citronella oil in to keep the mosquitoes away.
We had a great time - the weather was nice, a little warm even. The pool at the campsite was not open, however, and the son was very unhappy. I chalk it up to the cuts in funding that occurred under Gov. Blagojevich. :/
Hope you enjoyed the photos! Next time, I'll talk about menu planning. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Photos from our camping trip - Part 1
Here is our screen house with the lights on it. We didn't buy enough to go all the way around. That's my husband in the red shirt, next to his truck.
Here is the front of the screen house.
Here is our tent.
Here is the fire pit. When you look at the grill, now you see why I recommend you use aluminum foil on it.
Here is the whole campsite.
More photos on the next post.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Camping tomorrow night!
As I type this, it's 9:54 p.m Central Standard Time. Tomorrow night at this time, I'll be sitting in front of the campfire, probably drinking a beer. After all, I won't have to drive! LOL! I'll be looking at more beautiful stars than I would ever see in the city. Saturday morning, after our morning grocery store run and gas station run (for the local newspapers), I'll walk down and take a look at the lake. I just have to get through tomorrow at work!
I've been busy all evening packing stuff to take. Hubby went to the store today to get groceries for the trip. He went to the shed to get out the camping stuff that is stored there. I had to keep nagging the 12 year old son to pack his clothes - he was too busy listening to music on the computer. :rolleyes (P.S.: Blogger, we need smilies!)
Hubby will pack up my Jeep Liberty while I'm getting dressed for work. So as not to have breakfast dishes sitting all weekend, he'll run to the store & buy donuts for breakfast. We have foam cups for milk.
We may come back home late Sunday afternoon - son is in marching band and is marching in a Memorial Day parade Monday morning. He has to be at the school at 8 a.m., and our favorite campground is 45 minutes away from home.
Once I get home, I'll post about our trip. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
I've been busy all evening packing stuff to take. Hubby went to the store today to get groceries for the trip. He went to the shed to get out the camping stuff that is stored there. I had to keep nagging the 12 year old son to pack his clothes - he was too busy listening to music on the computer. :rolleyes (P.S.: Blogger, we need smilies!)
Hubby will pack up my Jeep Liberty while I'm getting dressed for work. So as not to have breakfast dishes sitting all weekend, he'll run to the store & buy donuts for breakfast. We have foam cups for milk.
We may come back home late Sunday afternoon - son is in marching band and is marching in a Memorial Day parade Monday morning. He has to be at the school at 8 a.m., and our favorite campground is 45 minutes away from home.
Once I get home, I'll post about our trip. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Monday, May 18, 2009
Food preparation
A big hello to my followers! Thanks for reading!
Unless you're planning on going to fast food restaurants during your camping trip (not very cheap and not very good for you), someone is going to have to cook. That is, unless you weren't going to eat, which is not likely since the fresh air and all the outdoor activity will increase appetites. In this post, I will discuss how to cook in the great outdoors.
Camp sites without electrical hookups (primitive campsites):
This will be a little more challenging than cooking at a campsite with an electrical hookup, but it can be done. There are several ways to cook at a campsite without electricity.
You can cook over a campfire. Most state campgrounds will have fire pits with a grill over them at each campsite. If you plan to cook on this, I would put aluminum foil over the grill (before cooking, please) if you are going to cook meat on these grills - these grills don't get cleaned very often. If you're heating up something in a pot, you can put that on the grill. If you don't have a fire pit with a grill, you can purchase a foldable grill that you can put over the fire. You can cook on the grill with pots and pans. There are also special holders that let you cook grilled cheese sandwiches over the fire.
Another option is a barbecue grill, either a charcoal grill or a gas grill. You can also buy grills that run on a propane canister. Barbecue grills are usually used to cook meat.
You can also cook on a camp stove. These are usually fueled by a propane canister. They come in different varieties. If you're comfortable cooking over an open flame, you can get a one or two burner stove. You would use the stove just like you would a stove at home. There are also camp stove with grills that can be used to cook meat, or you can use a pot or pan on them.
There are a few other ways of cooking without electricity, which you can find here. A couple of these are things I learned in Girl Scouts many moons ago. They cook food slower than my husband and son would like, however.
Camp sites with electrical hookups:
This is as easy as cooking at home. You can use the techniques above, or you can purchase a two burner electric stove. Be careful after you turn off the burners - they'll still be hot for a while. Don't forget the extension cords! We camp at a campsite that has an electrical hook up. I plug in a heavy duty orange three prong extension cord, plug an surge protection strip into the extension cord, and plug the stove into that. I also use an electric skillet to make pancakes and eggs.
One of the coolers I mentioned in earlier posts should be used for keeping food cold. We put meat in gallon size freezer bags and put them in the ice. Anything in a cardboard box that is to be put in the cooler (such as precooked sausage or bacon) should be taken out of the box and put in a freezer bag. The melting ice will make the cardboard soggy.
Next time, we'll talk about menu planning. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Unless you're planning on going to fast food restaurants during your camping trip (not very cheap and not very good for you), someone is going to have to cook. That is, unless you weren't going to eat, which is not likely since the fresh air and all the outdoor activity will increase appetites. In this post, I will discuss how to cook in the great outdoors.
Camp sites without electrical hookups (primitive campsites):
This will be a little more challenging than cooking at a campsite with an electrical hookup, but it can be done. There are several ways to cook at a campsite without electricity.
You can cook over a campfire. Most state campgrounds will have fire pits with a grill over them at each campsite. If you plan to cook on this, I would put aluminum foil over the grill (before cooking, please) if you are going to cook meat on these grills - these grills don't get cleaned very often. If you're heating up something in a pot, you can put that on the grill. If you don't have a fire pit with a grill, you can purchase a foldable grill that you can put over the fire. You can cook on the grill with pots and pans. There are also special holders that let you cook grilled cheese sandwiches over the fire.
Another option is a barbecue grill, either a charcoal grill or a gas grill. You can also buy grills that run on a propane canister. Barbecue grills are usually used to cook meat.
You can also cook on a camp stove. These are usually fueled by a propane canister. They come in different varieties. If you're comfortable cooking over an open flame, you can get a one or two burner stove. You would use the stove just like you would a stove at home. There are also camp stove with grills that can be used to cook meat, or you can use a pot or pan on them.
There are a few other ways of cooking without electricity, which you can find here. A couple of these are things I learned in Girl Scouts many moons ago. They cook food slower than my husband and son would like, however.
Camp sites with electrical hookups:
This is as easy as cooking at home. You can use the techniques above, or you can purchase a two burner electric stove. Be careful after you turn off the burners - they'll still be hot for a while. Don't forget the extension cords! We camp at a campsite that has an electrical hook up. I plug in a heavy duty orange three prong extension cord, plug an surge protection strip into the extension cord, and plug the stove into that. I also use an electric skillet to make pancakes and eggs.
One of the coolers I mentioned in earlier posts should be used for keeping food cold. We put meat in gallon size freezer bags and put them in the ice. Anything in a cardboard box that is to be put in the cooler (such as precooked sausage or bacon) should be taken out of the box and put in a freezer bag. The melting ice will make the cardboard soggy.
Next time, we'll talk about menu planning. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Places to get camping supplies on the cheap
Now that you have a list of the items you need for a successful and enjoyable camping experience, I'll discuss places you can purchase cheap camping supplies, and what you can get where.
For tents, air mattresses, sleeping bags, cooler, and screen house/canopies:
Craigslist.org: Go to this website and find the city closest to you. If you're looking for free stuff, look under the free listings. If you're willing to spend a few bucks, look under the Sporting Goods listing. You could also post under the Wanted listing.
Freecycle.org - Find your local chapter at the web site. It's free to join and once you do, you can place a post seeking camping supplies. There's no guarantee you will get them, but it never hurts to try.
Classified ads - Check the classfied in your local newspaper. You will want to search for the $100.00 or less" and/or the "Sporting Goods" headings.
Clearance sales - Towards the end of summer, stores will sometimes clear out their camping supplies to put in back to school or fall merchandise. In the spring, new models of tents will come out, so last year's models will be put on clearance.
Words of warning: If you buy or receive used tents and/or screen houses/canopies, be sure you receive the assembly instructions! A cheap tent or screen house isn't any good if you don't know how to put it together.
For food preparation supplies:
Discount stores such as Dollar General or Family Dollar - A good place to find cheap pots and pans and cooking utensils.
Yard sales or garage sales - A good sourch of used pots and pans and cooking utensils. You don't need brand new stuff if you're going camping. You're not trying to impress anyone - you just need stuff that will work.
For the large plastic storage totes, try Garden Ridge or Old Time Pottery. If you have neither one of those stores near you, go to Wal-Mart or Kmart. You may also be able to find them and the yard/garage sales mentioned above.
Miscellaneous supplies:
Dollar stores - A great place to buy aluminum foil, paper plates, matches, etc. Take a little time and explore at the dollar store - you can find some great stuff there.
Super cheap ways to get camping supplies:
Borrow supplies from friends. If they aren't going camping when you are, that means that they're not using their equipment. If you tell them that you're trying camping for the first time and you want to see what it's like, they may let you borrow their equipment.
You can also bring things from home, i.e., substitute blankets for sleeping bags, and your own pots and pans and cooking utensils.
Next week at this time, my family will be camping! I can't wait! If you're going camping next weekend, leave a comment and tell us where you'll be camping. Next time, I'll discuss food preparation and planning. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
For tents, air mattresses, sleeping bags, cooler, and screen house/canopies:
Craigslist.org: Go to this website and find the city closest to you. If you're looking for free stuff, look under the free listings. If you're willing to spend a few bucks, look under the Sporting Goods listing. You could also post under the Wanted listing.
Freecycle.org - Find your local chapter at the web site. It's free to join and once you do, you can place a post seeking camping supplies. There's no guarantee you will get them, but it never hurts to try.
Classified ads - Check the classfied in your local newspaper. You will want to search for the $100.00 or less" and/or the "Sporting Goods" headings.
Clearance sales - Towards the end of summer, stores will sometimes clear out their camping supplies to put in back to school or fall merchandise. In the spring, new models of tents will come out, so last year's models will be put on clearance.
Words of warning: If you buy or receive used tents and/or screen houses/canopies, be sure you receive the assembly instructions! A cheap tent or screen house isn't any good if you don't know how to put it together.
For food preparation supplies:
Discount stores such as Dollar General or Family Dollar - A good place to find cheap pots and pans and cooking utensils.
Yard sales or garage sales - A good sourch of used pots and pans and cooking utensils. You don't need brand new stuff if you're going camping. You're not trying to impress anyone - you just need stuff that will work.
For the large plastic storage totes, try Garden Ridge or Old Time Pottery. If you have neither one of those stores near you, go to Wal-Mart or Kmart. You may also be able to find them and the yard/garage sales mentioned above.
Miscellaneous supplies:
Dollar stores - A great place to buy aluminum foil, paper plates, matches, etc. Take a little time and explore at the dollar store - you can find some great stuff there.
Super cheap ways to get camping supplies:
Borrow supplies from friends. If they aren't going camping when you are, that means that they're not using their equipment. If you tell them that you're trying camping for the first time and you want to see what it's like, they may let you borrow their equipment.
You can also bring things from home, i.e., substitute blankets for sleeping bags, and your own pots and pans and cooking utensils.
Next week at this time, my family will be camping! I can't wait! If you're going camping next weekend, leave a comment and tell us where you'll be camping. Next time, I'll discuss food preparation and planning. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Shopping and Packing List
As promised in the last post, below is the shopping/packing list I promised. You can copy and paste it in a Word document or a WordPad document so you can print it off.
Outdoor Living
Tent
Screen house or canopy
Camping chairs
Radio or CD player
Air mattresses
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Duffle bags (for clothes)
Towels
Large plastic totes with lids for storage
Folding table
Flashlights
Lawn games like horseshoes or badminton (optional)
Food Preparation - Electrical
Extension cords - heavy duty with grounded plug (3 prong)
Electric skillet
Two burner electric stove
Surge protector strip
Food Preparation - Non-electrical
Camp stove or Coleman stove (powered by a propane cylinder)
Grill to go over campfire
Barbecue grill
Food Preparation - Miscellaneous Items
Skillet(s)
Dutch oven
Pots and pans
Mixing and serving bowls
Cooking utensils - mixing spoons, spatulas, meat forks, tongs
Serving platter
Measuring cup set
Colander
Paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware
Paper towels
Trash bags
Freezer bags
Dishwashing detergent
Dishtowels
Plastic tubs for dishwashing
Plastic tablecloth (with flannel backing)
Miscellaneous
Extension cords
Clothesline
Claw hammer
Lighter fluid
Matches (or lighter with long barrel)
Citronella candles or outdoor Tiki torches that use citronella oil
Insect repellent
Firewood
2 coolers
String lights
Pocket knife
Paper towels
Health & Beauty Items
Happy camping!
Diane
Outdoor Living
Tent
Screen house or canopy
Camping chairs
Radio or CD player
Air mattresses
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Duffle bags (for clothes)
Towels
Large plastic totes with lids for storage
Folding table
Flashlights
Lawn games like horseshoes or badminton (optional)
Food Preparation - Electrical
Extension cords - heavy duty with grounded plug (3 prong)
Electric skillet
Two burner electric stove
Surge protector strip
Food Preparation - Non-electrical
Camp stove or Coleman stove (powered by a propane cylinder)
Grill to go over campfire
Barbecue grill
Food Preparation - Miscellaneous Items
Skillet(s)
Dutch oven
Pots and pans
Mixing and serving bowls
Cooking utensils - mixing spoons, spatulas, meat forks, tongs
Serving platter
Measuring cup set
Colander
Paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware
Paper towels
Trash bags
Freezer bags
Dishwashing detergent
Dishtowels
Plastic tubs for dishwashing
Plastic tablecloth (with flannel backing)
Miscellaneous
Extension cords
Clothesline
Claw hammer
Lighter fluid
Matches (or lighter with long barrel)
Citronella candles or outdoor Tiki torches that use citronella oil
Insect repellent
Firewood
2 coolers
String lights
Pocket knife
Paper towels
First Aid Kit
Plastic shoe box
Band-Aids
Neosporin ointment
Small bottle of hydrogen peroxide
Aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol
Tums or Rolaids
Sinus medicine (if you have allergies)
Benadryl stick (for insect bites)
Q-Tips (small package)
Tweezers (for splinters)
Nail clippers
Prescription medications
Ace bandage
Hand sanitizer
Day-of-the-week containers for prescriptionsHealth & Beauty Items
Deodorant or antiperspirant
Shampoo and conditioner
Body wash or soap
Washcloths
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Dental floss
Blow dryer (if you are at a campsite with a shower house)
Box of Kleenex
Happy camping!
Diane
Monday, May 11, 2009
Camping Equipment List - First Aid Kit and Health & Beauty Supplies
First Aid Kit In camping as well as at home, it is always good to be prepared in case someone has an injury, or someone gets a headache or a tummy ache. You never know (especially with kids) what might happen. To that end, here is a list of necessities to put in a first aid kit. Plastic shoe box Band-Aids Neosporin ointment Small bottle of hydrogen peroxide Aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol Tums or Rolaids Sinus medicine (if you have allergies) Benadryl stick (for insect bites) Q-Tips (small package) Tweezers (for splinters) Nail clippers Prescription medications Ace bandage Hand sanitizer Day-of-the-week containers for prescriptions Once you stock your first aid kit, you shouldn't need to restock it, unless you run low on supplies or the medication has expired. If you have an injury that requires a larger covering than a Band-Aid, contact your campsite host or a park ranger. They will have access to gauze bandages and first aid tape. If more than one person has prescription medication, purchase one day-of-the-week container for each person and label them, or get the containers in different colors (i.e., yellow for Mom, red for Dad, blue for Junior). Health & Beauty Items Unless you are only going to be camping for a couple days, or you are really roughing it and there are no shower facilities, you will need to bring your normal health and beauty supplies. Even if you don't take a shower, take your toothbrush and toothbrush; bad breath makes for a very unenjoyable camping trip. Don't forget your deodorant either; body odor also makes for an unenjoyable camping trip. Here's a list of health and beauty items for your convenience: Deodorant or antiperspirant Shampoo and conditioner Body wash or soap Washcloths Toothbrushes and toothpaste Dental floss Blow dryer (if you are at a campsite with a shower house) Box of Kleenex
Do not pack hair spray, cologne, perfume or body spray! Hair spray will get very tacky and sticky in warm weather, and the container will blow up if the temperature gets too warm. The smell of cologne and body spray will draw insects that will bite you. As far as the cologne, perfume, and/or body spray are concerned, a camping trip is not a date (I sure hope not!), so you won't need that stuff to smell good to that special someone. Now that we've discussed all the items you need for a successful, enjoyable camping trip, I will make a list of everything (without all the comments) for you to print as a list to purchase items and a packing list to make sure you don't forget anything. Until next time – Happy camping! |
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Camping equipment list - Miscellaneous
I'm going back to our regularly scheduled postings on camping equipment. What's on this list is stuff that doesn't necessarily fit on the other lists.
Extension cords
Clothesline
Claw hammer
Lighter fluid
Matches (or lighter with long barrel)
Citronella candles or outdoor Tiki torches that use citronella oil
Insect repellent
Firewood
2 coolers
String lights
Pocket knife
I mentioned extension cords in the food preparation list, but you'll need other electrical cords to plug other stuff in, such as an electrical pump for the air mattresses, radio, etc.
The clothesline is for hanging up wet clothes and/or wet towels. Cut the clothesline with the pocket knife and tie each end of the clothesline around a tree (2 separate trees).
The claw hammer is for hammering the tent stakes into the ground. You use the claw end to remove the stakes from the ground when it's time to pack up camp.
The lighter fluid is for when you're having trouble getting the fire started. You can also use the wax Firelogs for this purpose as well. Matches are great, but they can get damp and not work, so we usually use the lighters with the long barrels, the kind you light candles with. They're also childproof.
If you're in the great outdoors, you will always have bugs, especially mosquitoes. They are worse at dusk and at night. The citronella candles and the citronella torches not only light up your campsite, they keep the bugs away. Keep children away from flames, campfire and citronella.
You will need two coolers - one for food and one for drinks. In the morning, pull the plug, drain the water, and add new ice.
If you have a campsite with an electric hook up, the string lights make your campsite feel like home, and also help you find your campsite in the middle of the night after you've visited the latrine. You can get the string lights that look like fireflies, lanterns, etc. You can hang them around your screen house or canopy, or string them from tree to tree. Each set usually only has 10 lights, so I suggest buying two sets to string together.
The next camping list will be for personal items and a first aid kit. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Extension cords
Clothesline
Claw hammer
Lighter fluid
Matches (or lighter with long barrel)
Citronella candles or outdoor Tiki torches that use citronella oil
Insect repellent
Firewood
2 coolers
String lights
Pocket knife
I mentioned extension cords in the food preparation list, but you'll need other electrical cords to plug other stuff in, such as an electrical pump for the air mattresses, radio, etc.
The clothesline is for hanging up wet clothes and/or wet towels. Cut the clothesline with the pocket knife and tie each end of the clothesline around a tree (2 separate trees).
The claw hammer is for hammering the tent stakes into the ground. You use the claw end to remove the stakes from the ground when it's time to pack up camp.
The lighter fluid is for when you're having trouble getting the fire started. You can also use the wax Firelogs for this purpose as well. Matches are great, but they can get damp and not work, so we usually use the lighters with the long barrels, the kind you light candles with. They're also childproof.
If you're in the great outdoors, you will always have bugs, especially mosquitoes. They are worse at dusk and at night. The citronella candles and the citronella torches not only light up your campsite, they keep the bugs away. Keep children away from flames, campfire and citronella.
You will need two coolers - one for food and one for drinks. In the morning, pull the plug, drain the water, and add new ice.
If you have a campsite with an electric hook up, the string lights make your campsite feel like home, and also help you find your campsite in the middle of the night after you've visited the latrine. You can get the string lights that look like fireflies, lanterns, etc. You can hang them around your screen house or canopy, or string them from tree to tree. Each set usually only has 10 lights, so I suggest buying two sets to string together.
The next camping list will be for personal items and a first aid kit. Until then -
Happy camping!
Diane
Friday, May 8, 2009
2 weeks until our camping trip!
I'm interrupting the order of posting, but I'm so excited! Two weeks from today, we'll be headed to our favorite campground, the Illini campground at Eldon Hazlet State Park in Carlyle, IL at Carlyle Lake for a Memorial Day weekend camping trip. This campground has electrical hook ups at each site, shower houses with bathrooms, a pool and three playgrounds. Each site has a designated place for campfires. Click here: http://dnr.state.il.us/LANDS/LANDMGT/parks/r4/eldon.htm for more information on the park.
We send our reservations to the campground in early January. Normally, we go camping on Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. We only made reservations for Memorial Day, because the State of Illinois has jacked up the rates for holiday weekends to $25.00 a night. I think we will try to go camping another weekend, maybe in June, before the weather gets too warm. We tried going camping July 4th week one year, and it was so hot. We were miserable.
My husband will go to the storage shed this weekend, pull out the camping tote boxes, and see if we need to replenish any items in the boxes or purchase new items. I know we need to purchase more string lights and we will probably need new batteries for the flashlights and the battery powered lantern.
It will be so nice to be in the great outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather. As I write this, it is a cool, gloomy, rainy day in the metro St. Louis area. I checked accuweather.com and the high for Friday the 24th will be 74 degrees, and it will be sunny. I pray the weather for the rest of Memorial Day weekend will be nice as well. I don't think it will be warm enough to swim, though. (Whew!)
The next post will be the list for miscellaneous items needed for a successful camping trip. Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Camping equipment list - Food Preparation
Tonight's post is on the supplies you will need for food preparation. You were going to eat, weren't you?
The method of cooking will vary by the type of campsite you have. For example, if you have a campsite with an electric hookup (a box with electrical outlets), you can bring an electric skillet and a two burner electric stove to cook on. If you have a campsite without an electric hookup, you will either be cooking over a campfire or will need a camp stove or a barbecue grill. I will split the list into two parts - items needed for cooking with electricity and items needed for cooking without electricity. At the end of the first two lists will be a list of items that are applicable to both types of cooking.
Food Preparation - Electrical
Extension cords - heavy duty with grounded plug (3 prong)
Electric skillet
Two burner electric stove
Surge protector strip
Plug the extension cord into the electrical box. Plug the surge protector strip into the outlet at the end of the extension cord. You can plug the electric skillet and the two burner electric stove into the surge protector. You can then cook like you would at home.
Food Preparation - Non-electrical
Camp stove or Coleman stove (powered by a propane cylinder)
Grill to go over campfire
Barbecue grill
You can use the barbecue grill to cook meat, just like at home. You can put pots and pans on a camp stove. If you don't have the barbecue grill or the camp stove, you can buy a grate that goes over the campfire and cook on it.
Food Preparation - Miscellaneous Items
Skillet(s)
Dutch oven
Pots and pans
Mixing and serving bowls
Cooking utensils - mixing spoons, spatulas, meat forks, tongs
Serving platter
Measuring cup set
Colander
Paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware
Paper towels
Trash bags
Freezer bags
Dishwashing detergent
Dishtowels
Plastic tubs for dishwashing
Plastic tablecloth (with flannel backing)
Most of this stuff is pretty self-explanatory. I use the freezer bags to store food in in the cooler. I use the Dutch oven to heat water to do dishes. (What, did you think they were going to wash themselves?) One plastic tub is for washing, the other is for rinsing. Put the clean dishes on the dishtowels to dry.
The next post will be a list of miscellaneous items needed for a successful camping trip. Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
The method of cooking will vary by the type of campsite you have. For example, if you have a campsite with an electric hookup (a box with electrical outlets), you can bring an electric skillet and a two burner electric stove to cook on. If you have a campsite without an electric hookup, you will either be cooking over a campfire or will need a camp stove or a barbecue grill. I will split the list into two parts - items needed for cooking with electricity and items needed for cooking without electricity. At the end of the first two lists will be a list of items that are applicable to both types of cooking.
Food Preparation - Electrical
Extension cords - heavy duty with grounded plug (3 prong)
Electric skillet
Two burner electric stove
Surge protector strip
Plug the extension cord into the electrical box. Plug the surge protector strip into the outlet at the end of the extension cord. You can plug the electric skillet and the two burner electric stove into the surge protector. You can then cook like you would at home.
Food Preparation - Non-electrical
Camp stove or Coleman stove (powered by a propane cylinder)
Grill to go over campfire
Barbecue grill
You can use the barbecue grill to cook meat, just like at home. You can put pots and pans on a camp stove. If you don't have the barbecue grill or the camp stove, you can buy a grate that goes over the campfire and cook on it.
Food Preparation - Miscellaneous Items
Skillet(s)
Dutch oven
Pots and pans
Mixing and serving bowls
Cooking utensils - mixing spoons, spatulas, meat forks, tongs
Serving platter
Measuring cup set
Colander
Paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware
Paper towels
Trash bags
Freezer bags
Dishwashing detergent
Dishtowels
Plastic tubs for dishwashing
Plastic tablecloth (with flannel backing)
Most of this stuff is pretty self-explanatory. I use the freezer bags to store food in in the cooler. I use the Dutch oven to heat water to do dishes. (What, did you think they were going to wash themselves?) One plastic tub is for washing, the other is for rinsing. Put the clean dishes on the dishtowels to dry.
The next post will be a list of miscellaneous items needed for a successful camping trip. Until next time -
Happy camping!
Diane
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Camping equipment list - Outdoor Living
The next 3 posts will contain lists of vital things you will need for a fun and successful camping trip. The lists are outdoor living, food preparation, and miscellaneous. Each list will be covered in a separate post. The first list is Outdoor Living.
Outdoor Living
Tent
Screen house or canopy
Camping chairs
Radio or CD player
Air mattresses
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Duffle bags (for clothes)
Towels
Large plastic totes with lids for storage
Folding table
Flashlights
Lawn games like horseshoes or badminton (optional)
===============================================
Tent - Before you purchase a tent, you will need to know how many people are going. When you look at tents in the store, you will notice on the box how many people will fit in the tent. That doesn't leave much room for clothes, so you may want to get the next size up.
Screen house or canopy - A screen house will keep your supplies dry and the animals out of them. They will also provide shade if your campsite has no trees.
Camping chairs - You really don't want to sit on the ground, do you?
Radio or CD player - Self-explanatory.
Air mattresses - Unless you want or prefer to sleep on the ground (not me - I have hips), these are essential.
Sleeping bags - Check the temperature rating. If you're going to sleep outside in the winter, you will need a bag with a temperature rating of 0 degrees. Any other time of the year, a 32 degree temperature rating will be fine.
Pillows - just grab yours from home.
Duffle bags - You have to have somewhere to keep your clothes. Luggage is too much and grocery bags are not enough.
Large plastic totes with lids - These will keep your food and food preparation safe and dry.
Folding table - If you are at a campsite without a picnic table, you will need something to eat on.
Flashlights - You need to find your way around in the dark, especially after going to the showerhouse or the latrine.
Lawn games like horseshoes or badminton - Not absolutely necessary, but fun to play with the family.
The next post will be on food preparation items. Until then, happy camping!
Diane
Outdoor Living
Tent
Screen house or canopy
Camping chairs
Radio or CD player
Air mattresses
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Duffle bags (for clothes)
Towels
Large plastic totes with lids for storage
Folding table
Flashlights
Lawn games like horseshoes or badminton (optional)
===============================================
Tent - Before you purchase a tent, you will need to know how many people are going. When you look at tents in the store, you will notice on the box how many people will fit in the tent. That doesn't leave much room for clothes, so you may want to get the next size up.
Screen house or canopy - A screen house will keep your supplies dry and the animals out of them. They will also provide shade if your campsite has no trees.
Camping chairs - You really don't want to sit on the ground, do you?
Radio or CD player - Self-explanatory.
Air mattresses - Unless you want or prefer to sleep on the ground (not me - I have hips), these are essential.
Sleeping bags - Check the temperature rating. If you're going to sleep outside in the winter, you will need a bag with a temperature rating of 0 degrees. Any other time of the year, a 32 degree temperature rating will be fine.
Pillows - just grab yours from home.
Duffle bags - You have to have somewhere to keep your clothes. Luggage is too much and grocery bags are not enough.
Large plastic totes with lids - These will keep your food and food preparation safe and dry.
Folding table - If you are at a campsite without a picnic table, you will need something to eat on.
Flashlights - You need to find your way around in the dark, especially after going to the showerhouse or the latrine.
Lawn games like horseshoes or badminton - Not absolutely necessary, but fun to play with the family.
The next post will be on food preparation items. Until then, happy camping!
Diane
Monday, April 27, 2009
The joy of camping
Camping is a great way to spend time in the great outdoors. Breathing in the fresh air, hiking, and fishing (if you're at a campground that has a lake) is so relaxing and refreshes body and soul. Looking up at night and seeing moe stars than you ever imagined and sitting around a campfire swapping stories is magical. But like every kind of trip or vacation, there are always expenses involved. This blog will hopefully help you maximize the fun while minimizing the expenses. The emphasis of this blog will be on tent camping and not on trailer camping. My next few posts will help those who are new to camping and don't know what equipment is required for a successful camping trip. Stay tuned!
Diane
Diane
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