Everyone Would Enjoy Camping If They Only Knew How

Does touching a tent make it leak?

Is camping in your future? Do you think that you are prepared for a few of the problems that you may encounter during such a trip? Although many parts of camping are easy to understand, it's wise to learn all you can in advance. Keep reading for some great advice.

Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.

Have everyone give their opinion on where you should camp. Openly talk about the various options available to you. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. Make a list of your favorites and allow the family to vote.

Anytime you buy a tent, be sure to practice setting it up and taking it down in your backyard prior to actually camping. This helps you learn to put up your tent and make sure there aren't missing pieces. A little practice can eliminate the frustration of setting up a new piece of camping equipment.

If you'd like to prevent mosquito bites, but want to avoid using harsh chemicals, use an orange peel instead. Rub the orange peel over exposed areas of the skin, such as the neck, arms, face and legs to naturally repel mosquitoes. Not only will the orange peels feel better on your skin than traditional repelling chemicals, but they will smell better, too!

As a courtesy to other campers, don't leave your lighting on overnight, if you are close to others. Pack a timer that you can attach to your lights that will automatically shut them off after a certain time. Leaving lights on overnight is a popular complaint among most American campers!

When you go camping, be sure to have a few activities in mind other than just... "camping". The camping experience is enriched by hiking, swimming, exploring and things like that. Be sure to engage in some of these other activities so that you have the fullest camping experience you've ever had.

Kids might enjoy a camping activity called the "jungle breakfast." Take little juice boxes, mini cereal boxes, and fruit into the woods and be sure to tie them to a nearby tree. When the children awake, tell them that they have to "hunt" to get breakfast. It adds some fun to camping.

Make sure you observe the campground rules and regulations. One of the biggest concerns is trash and also noisiness within a campsite. People often think that people can't hear them, but noise travels far in a campsite. It is extremely difficult to have any privacy, especially when people are supposed to be observing quiet hours.

If you have never been camping before, then be sure to bring extra of everything. This is most important for things like food and drinks. Since you are inexperienced you may underestimate how much food you actually need. Remember, you will probably be very active, and therefore need more food than normal.

If you're bringing your dog along for the camping trip, make sure it's wearing its tags. Losing track of a pet can be heartbreaking. Make sure your dog is wearing its dog license and an ID with contact information before you leave on your trip. Neglecting to do so can have tragic consequences.

If you're having trouble keeping warm at night, wear a hat. It can get cold out in nature. As yurk tent cold as it gets, however, it can be quite stifling to keep your head tucked inside your sleeping bag at all times. Pack a warm woolen hat to wear while you sleep.

When camping, many people wake up in the morning, only to find out they they have left items out that are now wet. This is because of the morning dew, which can hardly be avoided. If the weather conditions are right, dew is inevitable, so make sure you put things away.

A great tip for anyone that is going camping is to take plenty of water. In this case, there is absolutely no such thing as too much water. Plan out how much water you will need and then try and at least double the amount just to be on the safe side.

When you go camping, try to pitch a tent in an area that is directly in a spot where the morning sun will beam. This is a great idea since it can get very cold in the forest. It will make your tent a little warmer so you can sleep a bit more comfortably.

Know how to use a compass and map before you head into the woods. You need to do this even if you've been to the campsite before. You may get lost even in a familiar site because so many areas look alike. Also, this will help to avoid tragedy with friends or family.

Wrap up your fishing gear, like line and lures, in plain old aluminum foil! This will keep everything from tangling up and if you do it properly, water proofed as well. Foil will also prevent rust from ruining your valuable fishing gear, so make it part of your camping trip every time.

Novice campers often set up their tent near bathrooms, but this is an error. They do this in the belief that it will be very convenient, but quickly learn the truth. Campground bathrooms attract high foot traffic and create bright light during the night. Therefore, camping is not as comfortable and convenient as expected.

If you are camping in the mountains or higher elevation, be prepared for cold temperatures. Even in the summer, people just assume that mountains are as warm as it is on flat land; this is simply not true. Have ample blankets with you and be sure to bring proper clothing.

As you can see, camping isn't as easy as just setting up a tent and falling asleep. There are plenty of other things to think about as well. Now that you're more knowledgeable about camping, you should have no trouble coming up with a plan to make your camping trip go well.