10 Tips for Outstanding Camping Trips

Do you want to take your camping experience to the next level? Would you like to take it out of the “it was fun” category to “it was a fantastic trip category?” Try these tips which will move your next trip to the place where memories are made.

1. Your tent is the most important purchase. Your home away from home. This is the piece of equipment that saves you the cost of those pricey hotels or spending your money on barely passable motel rooms. Look for a tent with a floor plan! Preferably one you can stand up in. Eureka makes The Condo or the Lodge both 3-season family size tents with separate screen rooms, sky lights in both living areas and plenty of windows that zip open, closed and partially open for maximum ventilation. Look for aluminum poles for best stability and good wind resistance. Check out Wenzel, offering a 10–year unconditional guarantee or Cabala’s with a lifetime unconditional guarantee.


2. Splurge on the best generator you can afford. On a recent trip to Corpus Christi, TX. we were thinking about purchasing a generator, so we asked the camp host if it would be OK to use it there. He said “sure, but do yourselves a favor and skip the home building do it yourself stores and find yourself a Honda dealer.” We took his advice and purchased a generator that purrs rather than roars. Choose from a selection of prices and models to meet your electricity needs. We wanted to run our laptops, a TV, electric lights at night, recharge the cell phone and possibly plug in a small camping refrigerator. The Honda 2000 handles all of this and more. It delivers “clean” electricity without any spiking, perfect for computering. A 10–day camping trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast in December found us using approximately $50 worth of batteries on lights, TV, and radio. Now a gallon of gas provides full electricity for up to 12 hours.


3. Direct TV is not just for the RV set any longer. More and more tent campers are bringing along their dish so that they can watch the evening news, sports, keep up with current events, monitor the weather channel and enjoy a selection of movies for that rainy day in camp. If you already have an account at home just purchase an additional dish so you don't need to take yours off the house. Pay a small fee to activate an additional box and pick up a tripod at your local RV camping store. On a recent trip to Key West, Florida we noticed a common sight. Both tent campers and RV folks with that little saucer pointed towards the Southern sky.


4. A good night's sleep is essential to a happy active day. Sleeping on the ground is great if you are a boy scout or in boot camp. One option to get you of the ground is a collapsible bed frame with an air mattress; the camping department at Wall–Mart is a good place to check your options. These frames fold up flat and the air mattress may be sold separately. Choose from full to king size sets. Milder weather finds us sleeping on our bed with sheets and a lightweight cotton blanket. Sleeping bags are reserved for cooler climes. A more comfortable night's sleep can be had with a camping cot. There are very nice quality cots on the market, which come in varying widths and lengths. A self-inflating thermarest pad on top of the cot will have you feeling like you are sleeping on air.


5. Eating well is part of the experience when you are away from home and this doesn't mean having to spend a lot of money on overpriced food in the local tourist eateries or living on a fast food diet. Invest in one or two cookbooks especially designed for campers. Many feature “one pot meals” that are easy and nutritious. Put together a kit of commonly used spices and keep it with your kitchen camping gear. A great way to tote the essentials is the “kitchen kit” sold at REI stores. A fold over zip up pouch holds a small cutting board along with cooking and eating utensils. You can fill a variety of containers with your favorite spices and label them for convenience. They rest in secure compartments and the whole bag can be hung with its built in hook for easier access at camp.


6. If possible stay at least two nights in each camping spot. Not only will this cut down on the chores involved with setting up and breaking down camp, you will be able to explore and enjoy the area. Many campgrounds are destinations in themselves with lakes for fishing and boating, hiking opportunities, mountain bike trails and informal programs where you can learn more about the area and make new friends.


7. Bring lots of toys. Go beyond the usual fishing gear and volleyball. Throw a blow up boat in with your camping gear so you can get right out on the water with a minimum of fuss. Pack up a croquet set which you can spread out to play in an open area. Or a lawn bowling set which will certainly attract attention and a lot of new friends. An i–pod with portable speakers is great to set up some country music for a little line dancing after dinner.


8. If you are headed to a spot that is a fair distance from your home limit your driving to 400 miles a day. Take the average speed limit on the roads you will be traveling, subtract 10 and divide by the number of miles you plan to travel that day. For example if the speed limit on the interstate is 70, subtract 10 miles per hour for rest stops, road construction etc. so you divide 60 into 400 and end up with an average of 7 hours of travel time. Be sure to stop approximately every 2 hours to stretch your legs, grab a cold drink and perhaps a snack. We keep a lunch box stocked with snacks (fresh fruit, granola bars, nuts, string cheese are good choices) in the vehicle but try to make it a point to actually pull into a rest stop for a few minutes of light activity and stretching rather than eating in the car. Keep a water bottle with you and fill it on the rest stops. You will feel much better than you would with sodas. This is for your physical and mental health!


9. Indulge your senses. Many tent campers bring along an American flag to proudly display on their campsite, particularly appropriate on holiday weekends such as Memorial Day or 4th of July. A hummingbird feeder hung on a tree or pole within your view can be a source of enjoyment as the tiny birds attract to your area to feed. A string of Christmas tree lights outlining the front of your tent is fun and festive at any time of year. A potted plant or a vase of cut flowers brings that elegant touch to your outdoor picnic dining table.


10. Be flexible. Keep in mind the journey itself is an adventure. If something along the way intrigues you stop and explore. Recently, while driving through the Florida Everglades on US 41, a rest stop at the Everglades National Park Visitor Center provided us with an amazing photo opportunity. Dozens of alligators lounged in a wet area just on the other side of the fence. Be open to new adventures. And don't be afraid to get off the beaten path.

Happy Camping!