World Of Travel

Taking your child on his very first camping trip can be very exciting for you and your child. It can also be very scary, especially for your child. In order to ease your child's fears, I have put together some suggestions that might help you and your child to prepare for the first time in the Great Outdoors. These activities are a way of helping your child get some experience and comfort with the outdoors without being far away from home for days at a time.

The best way to help your child get acquainted with camping is to have a campout that isn't too far away. In other words, have the campout in your own backyard. This allows the family to have the experience of camping out without leaving the security of the house. Being in your own backyard has the advantage of canceling the campout if the weather turns bad.

You may also decide to ease into camping by having a series of campouts in the backyard. For each additional camping adventure, you can add on a responsibility. For instance, the first trip might include setting up the tent and sleeping out. For smaller children, they will be able to focus on setting up the tent properly. The next trip might include building a fire to cook a snack. Your child will be able to focus on building and maintaining a camp fire safely.

Another trip could focus mainly on planning and preparing food. I know that most children think that camp food consists of hot dogs and s'mores, but they can quickly learn that there are a variety of healthy, tasty meals that are easy to prepare over a fire.

Other camping trips can help children learn how to use different types of camping equipment. Even though each of these outings has a main focus, your child will also be practicing some of the things that are fundamental to camping. For instance, every time, your child will experience a night outdoors in a sleeping bag. This will help him to gain experience and confidence for camping away from your home.

Other activities that you can enjoy with your child on these regular camping trips in your backyard are searching the sky for constellations, listening to the different night sounds, and enjoying special nighttime snacks.

If you are worried that your child isn't ready for camping in the backyard or you would like more activities to prepare your child for a camping trip, here are some additional suggestions to get him familiar with the outdoors to eliminate his fears.

You can take your child (even a group of children) on a small hike in the woods at a local park. While there, you can teach your child about safety and how to respect nature. You may also be able to teach him some outdoor skills and outdoor ethics.

You may decide to take your child to a nature center. This would allow him to experience nature a bit more than just the local park. You could also go fishing at a local pond or stream. Most children love to learn how to fish. Even having a picnic is an excellent way to experience the outdoors.

On days that you don't have the time to plan a full day of activity, you could easily go on an evening walk or a flashlight walk. Your child will be able to experience more of nature in the evenings and at night because the hustle of the day dies down and you will be able to hear nature better.

Don't forget that simply reading a book about camping will also help your child to become familiar with camping which will help to lessen his fear.

Happy Camping!

In Europe, hotel charges bite far deeper into budgets than you would sometimes expect. In Britain there is the inexpensive alternative of bed and breakfast. This does not exist to such an extent in the rest of Europe.

One way of getting around this, particularly for friends planning to travel together around the Continent, is hiring a car and, in summer, staying at camp sites.

Europeans are fond of the outdoors and there are camp sites wherever people holiday. There are, perhaps, three types of camping: luxury, pretty snazzy and bring your own tent. Which you select is up to your budget and style. But note most carefully that if you are taking your own tent you MUST camp in a proper listed camp site. You cannot pull into a field and hope for the best. It is illegal and strongly discouraged.

The three classes

Eurocamp is primarily intended for motoring holidays and is particularly suited to a group travelling around Europe by car. Eurocamp provides a choice of six-berth tents or six-berth caravillas, which appear to be of a very high standard.

Luxury first: Eurocamp, http://www.eurocamp.com, a subsidiary of the Next group of clothing stores, has well over 100 sites in France, West Germany, Spain, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and Austria. Many are away from the population centres in the Swiss Alps, the French Riviera, Tuscany, Innsbruck and the German Black Forest, but Eurocamp also has sites in Florence, Paris and Munich.

The caravillas - 9.5 m long by 2.5 m wide -- and tents -- 5.2 m by 4.9 m - come with cooking facilities, pots, pans, crockery and cutlery. The caravillas have showers and toilets. Both forms of accommodation include a double bed and four single beds.

The campsites come with a variety of amenities -- most have restaurants, bars and either a swimming pool, lake or beach. All campsites have running hot and cold water, modern washing facilities and fresh water taps close to the tents. For some this will be paradise. For others, perhaps, a form of hell.

Many of the sites are in France, in the Loire Valley, Dordogne, Riviera, Provence, Pyrenees, Brittany, Normandy and Picardy. Free child care is provided at about half the camp sites.

Mid-level comfort

Self-Drive motoring holidays in Europe (http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/) for the independent motorist. These are camping and mobile homes in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The minimum stay is three nights. The cost of your camping is included in the package price.

To check out prices I invented a family, parents and two kids, with a saloon car coming from Britain in May and spending five nights camping. The answer came back: The price of your holiday is EUR404 ($US508) including accommodation and crossing, but excluding insurance and maps.

Bring your own tent in true camping style

Interhike, http://www.interhike.com, covers UK, Ireland, Spain including the Canary Islands, Germany, France, Portugal, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg which is pretty well most of Europe.

Note that this is both a listing of camping sites and a booking centre. It does not guarantee the quality of the sites although, from experience, outside of the annual European holiday in August they are generally quite splendid and civilised. In almost every case you have to take your own tent and gear.

This is just a brief sampling. You can explore the Internet until your eyes grow dim. Use a Google search and just type in camping Europe. Then pick and chose.

The United States alone has more to see and do, than one can accomplish in a lifetime, because of this one needs to carefully choose which locations and sites are more important based on their type of interest. By far, camping would be a great way to explore our country in an economical way with the comforts of being at home. So, lets plan a trip around the lower forty-eight States and Canada. One should plan on three to four years to accomplish this journey. Now how does one do this?

First, write down each state and Province of Canada on a piece of paper. A pretty easy task if you can name off all the states, if not a map of our country will aid in this process. Next, one should Google each state's tourism department requesting travel guides and state maps. For the most part, this should be pretty easy. However, getting some information from Canada might take a little more effort, some provinces may even take a phone call, don't worry they have a toll-free number. Some of the states will have the travel information broken down into categories', or have different brochures by location within the state, while other states just have one brochure. After a couple of weeks, the onslaught of mail will start, they will be days the mail person may have to bring it to the front door in a bundle. In about six to eight weeks one will have a stack over two feet high. Now this can be overwhelming.

The next task at hand is, how does one track this in an organized way? Easy enough, Excel spreadsheets. A good idea is to take a map of the United States and with a black marker divide the country into six sections. Southeast, South central, Southwest, Northeast, North central, Northwest and one for all of Canada. In all, seven named spreadsheets. With each spreadsheet, create a tab for each state and province. The next step is a lot of reading, and of course looking at pictures.

Looking at the travel brochures, one can tell some states put forth a great amount of effort with the information regarding their state. As one knows, good pictures are a great attention getter, while some states did this, others didn't. The idea is to complete one state at the time. As you read through the brochures, Google anything of interest to you, if it's something you feel would be enjoyable, put the name of the site, the web link, city, address and any fees associated with it on the states tab.

Once you have all the information on each States tab, it's time to organize the sites by location within the state. Google map is an ideal tool to help with this process. First, divide each state into nine sections ex: Northwest, Center west, Southwest. For the most part, most of the states should be pretty easy to put your places of interest into geographical locations. By far, Texas and California due to the size of each state, may be pretty difficult and very time-consuming. As a note, don't be surprised, all states don't have something to see and do everywhere, especially Canada in the far northern sections.

The idea is to stay at a campground which is centrally located for the places you wish to visit and then move to your next location. For this task, one should join Good Sam and All stays Pro camping clubs, both have campground maps for North America with most campgrounds listed. This should be a great tool from which to select campgrounds. One can open each campgrounds web site and read all about them. Try to target around five to seven campgrounds in each location for future planning. List the campground, prices, how many sites and their ratings on the spreadsheets. Next, one can use Google map to find the distances from the campgrounds to each place you plan to visit. This will give you an idea of which campground is better located for your stay.

The last step is to plan your route, being as efficient as possible. Things to consider are many campgrounds in the north are seasonal, as well as the seasonal temperatures at any given location. The length of stay at each location should be decided by the things you plan on doing, given time for what the locals may suggest and a little down time. Due to campground pricing, your shortest stay should be seven days and the longest thirty-one days.

The last and most important thing one must decide on, is their home and personal belongings. To maintain a home for the length of time you may be gone, can be quite expensive.

When visiting the Galveston/Houston area there are many RV Resorts from which to chooses. The time of year and one's interest when visiting can help determine which campground is best. Staying on Galveston Island has many advantages over staying near Houston. For one, it gets a family away from the everyday life of being in a city with all the traffic and most important, many of the campgrounds are located near the beach. The amities' the campground offers can help with one's decision, for most of the Galveston campgrounds are just like Hotel Resorts. For example, the Jamaica Beach RV Resort, is ten miles from downtown Galveston. The resort has 181 sites with full hookups including cable Tv. There are two swimming pools, one with a swim up bar, a hot tub and a 700-foot lazy river. Other amenities include, shuffle board, basketball court, mini golf, and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. One will fine the forty-five-mile drive to Houston is very easy on Interstate 45.

Galveston island is around 25 miles long and, in some areas, less than a mile wide. At the Southeast end of the island, one has to cross a toll bridge for $2.00 to get back to the mainland, the Northwest end just stops at the mouth of the bay; however, there is a Ferry service which will take one to Bolivar Peninsular. The other entrance to the island is across Interstate 45 which turns into Broadway Avenue, this is like main street through the center of the business section of Galveston.

Downtown Historical Galveston is located along Galveston Bay at the Port of Galveston, where the cruise ships dock. All the buildings here are historical in nature, while some buildings are offices, others are shops for tourist, as well as some have been developed into historical museums. Along the bay, one will find an assortment of Seafood restaurants and museums.

For the person that enjoys historical as well as educational sites, Galveston Island is a great place to visit. Buying the Galveston Island city pass has a big advantage, one has to buy at least four or more attractions and the savings are 40 percent cheaper than individual tickets.

Some of the attractions included are, Moody Mansion which was built in 1895 portrays one of the richest entrepreneurs in 20th century America with all the original furnishings. I have to say the furnishings for the living areas is quite impressive, yet the bedroom furnishings lack in comfort and style. At the Navel Museum, one can tour the inside of the Famous USS Cavalla Submarine which sank the Japanese Navy Carrier Shokaku, that attacked Pearl Harbor. I'm not for sure how people could live in such close quarters, one thing for sure, no-one had any secrets. The USS Stewart is the only Edsall-Class Destroyer preserved in the United States. These are the only two vessels located at the museum. Ocean Star, a retired off shore drilling oil rig turned to Museum explains the process for drilling, extracting oil, safety and environmental impacts the oil industry faces. The living quarters has been turned into the museum while the drilling rig and equipment for the drill is still intact. Being on this rig can give one the sense of what it's like to be miles off shore and working twelve-hour shifts. For the person that likes trains, The Railroad Museum is a must. Here one will find many cars that were built in the early 1900's to the mid 1940's, all restored to their original dates. There are several engines from different eras; however, only one can be boarded. Although Galveston Island is small, with the many historical sites, beaches, and the family attractions available, Galveston can keep a family pretty busy for days.

Battleship Texas located in LaPorte about forty miles Northwest of Galveston is well worth the drive. The Texas was scheduled to be used as a bombing target, but after a successful drive by the people of Texas, she was awarded to the people of the state of Texas in 1948. When the Texas was commissioned in 1914, she was the most powerful battleship in the world., In 1925 she underwent major modifications and for the next twelve years she steamed the Atlantic and Pacific, representing American Naval power. Battleship Texas is a large and complicated artifact and getting around her can be very confusing. To our surprise, one can not only walk around all the deck levels, but the engine rooms as well.

Buying the Houston city pass is the best way to see the top five attractions at an affordable price. With Houston being the fourth largest city in the country, one can see how the city is really spread out. Three of the destinations are downtown, while the other two are on the outer sections of the city.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science was very educational as well as informative. The museum displayed the dinosaur era, as well as the evolution of mankind. Here one can learn about the minerals the earth provides us and how they are transformed to create today's technology. In addition, the museum displays many species of animals in their natural habitat and their means of survival. The Houston Zoo is small, but very nice for adults and children alike. For a small zoo the variety of animal's was quite impressive. My favorite part was feeding the Giraffes, large but very gentle creatures, just don't turn your back on them. The Houston Aquarium is quite small, but well worth the visit. Here one will find many species of smaller fish from the Gulf of Mexico, some quite colorful, but not eatable. Included with the pass is an assortment of rides for the smaller children. Kemah Boardwalk which sits right on the water about twenty miles East of downtown Houston, is a popular destination for all ages. The boardwalk hosts a large variety of shops as well as restaurants. In addition, there are many rides for all ages to enjoy. This is a popular destination for weekends and evening time. Space Center Houston, located in the Southeastern part of Houston. The space center displays past, present, and future space exploration. With the space center being very educational. Our favorite part was the Independence Space Shuttle sitting atop the Boeing 747. The shuttle is a replica from the original, yet it was interesting to see how the inside of a shuttle looks.

By far, the history and attractions in and around Galveston and Houston will keep a family entertained for several weeks.

Anyone who has ever been camping will have a few camping tips to share, and so here are just a few that I've acquired over time. I do not claim to have invented these ideas but they are things that have stuck in my head. Some you may have heard of and will be familiar with, some may not be helpful, but hopefully (maybe) you'll like the sound of just one - or it may even give you a spark of an idea - and you'll find a way of using it on your next camping trip.

Firstly, it is always a good idea to have a Practice Camp - if not in your garden, then in someone else's, or at a quiet spot somewhere where you won't be disturbed. Basically it is much better to get used to your canvas tent and basic gear first, before you pack the car up, drive a good few miles and then discover that you underestimated the time required for pitching and setting up camp. Or worse, that you don't thoroughly understand how to erect the tent in the first place. If you have a bell tent it is one of the easiest tents around to erect - but having said that I have still seen some rather basic mistakes, which have resulted in the tent being unstable, wonky and something that would not resist much of a breeze.

Once properly erected for the first time, and especially if it's in your own garden, a good idea is to furnish it with stuff that you think you'd either (a) need or (b) like to have with you on a camping trip. Take time to work out what you need around you to (a) function and (b) feel comfortable.

So then you can build a check-list of essentials that you 'need' to take on either a short or more basic camp, or alternatively things that you 'would like' to take on a longer, more comfortable camping trip.  Categorise things such as bedding, cooking, wet wear, dry wear, hot/cold weather gear, kids stuff, games, relaxation (wine!), basic kit, glamping items, whatever suits you.

Another 'pre-camp' tip is, split the tent poles, pegs and canvas. Bell tents should come with a main carry bag for the tent and groundsheet, a separate bag for the poles, and another bag for the pegs, mallet, spare ropes etc. This means that you are basically splitting the weight. Even if you use a trolley this makes it much easier to handle the basic tent components.

One final canvas bell tent tip - always use a footprint. A footprint is basically any old (cheap) tarp that you place underneath the actual tent groundsheet. You can buy expensive ones but it really is not necessary. Ensure that the footprint is around 5cm/2inches smaller than the actual outermost edges of the groundsheet. Using a cheap builders tarp found in any DIY store will do. Then simply cut to size. The idea behind the footprint is that it helps to keep the bulk of the dirt off the underneath of your groundsheet, making pack-up much easier. And it needs to be slightly smaller than your groundsheet to stop rain from running in between the two and 'pooling' under your tent.

Kids usually love camping and being outdoors. They love the freedom, and the resulting dirt! So kids' clothes may need to be frequently changed. A suggestion is to pack kids' clothes in individually rolled bundles. For example, pants, socks, shorts, T-shirts - all rolled into individual bundles and then those bundles packed into some sort of storage case or box. This makes things a lot easier - simply pull out a bundle and hey presto! Clothes for the new day!

Speaking of storage boxes - plastic storage boxes can be easily found these days in a huge mix of sizes and styles. So to use these for packing camping essentials makes sense, as the containers themselves are lightweight, and also stackable. This means they're easily packed into car, and once in your tent, they can be positioned around the tent in strategic positions with a simple cover/throw over the top. They then instantly become transformed into attractive, stable, usable, table-like surfaces.

Yet another reason to take (at least one) plastic storage box with you if you have very young children, is that it can be filled with warm water to create a convenient bath-tub for a youngster. And they'll probably love it!

Speaking of water, if you are camping on a lake, or with a boat or canoe, a brilliant suggestion I once saw was to attach your key(s) to a champagne-type of cork. If the keys are not too heavy, or if you only attach the most important one (or else attach each key to a cork) it will float if dropped into the water! Brilliant!

Another idea for storage is to buy one of those soft plastic or canvas hanging-style shoe-caddy type things. They have multiple 'pockets' into which, unless you really want to store your shoes, you can store kitchen utensils, cloths, candles, corkscrews or other little bits 'n bobs. Simply hang the caddy up in your kitchen tent, or on one of the poles inside your tent.

Camping mixed with outdoor activity is a great way to get ourselves involved with nature. National Parks can provide an excellent backdrop for some of your outdoor activities. Activities such as hiking, fishing, cycling, horseback riding, white water rafting and kayaking, skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering are just a few of the sports you might want to include on your camping adventure

It's important when traveling to bring along the proper clothing. Always include some rain and windwear, a fleece jacket is also a good idea. A first aid kit and plenty of drinking water should always be available. Of course if you are planning on doing any outdoor activities in the winter you will need more clothing etc. Bring along your bicycles and hiking boots if you have them. Usually equipment rentals will be available for activities you don't generally do

Whatever outdoor activity you decide on pursuing, it's always a great idea to do a little research. Most of the National Parks you will be visiting have excellent web sites that you can look into and see what sort of hiking trails and activities are available. Information such as popular points of interest in the parks will also be available in travel books and park brochures. Depending on where you will be staying you can also research the area you will be visiting for information on bicycle rentals, kayak rentals and lessons, and boating. There will be different outfitters available in the area that may offer excursions and rentals through the park you are visiting.

One of the most convenient and popular camping activities is hiking trails. For some people a hike can consist of a simple walk around the park, while others prefer a much lengthier hike. Regardless of what sort of hike you will be taking, a little preparation will go a long way in ensuring a comfortable journey. Hiking trails offer highly scenic and incredible views of nature. Hiking is a wonderful way to view nature at its finest, as the parks really are preserving special pieces of our wilderness. Depending on what park you will be hiking, the trails will offer different ranges of difficulty levels. Many trails will lead to scenic vistas as easy hikes, while other hikes may be significantly more challenging and too steep for some.

Always be prepared for the weather when hiking. Carry a daypack with some water, a rain/wind jacket, a fleece/wool jacket or sweater, a first aid kit and some food. Good hiking boots are essential. On some of your hikes it is quite likely you will come across wildlife such as moose, black bears and grizzly bears, big horn sheep and deer. It is a good idea to know what you should and should not do when coming across animals. Parks often will have signs up if animals have been sighted in the campground.

Fishing is a wonderful way to enjoy the sport and see beautiful streams, ocean, lakes and rivers all over the United States. National Parks offer both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Check with the state fishing regulations for exact dates and detailed fishing information, including proper license requirements. Some fishing opportunities will require overnight backcountry use permits. It is always important to respect the park you are fishing in, in order to maintain the quality waters that protect the natural fish populations and food sources for bald eagles, ospreys and otters among others.

Cycling is an excellent and convenient way to explore the national park or area where you are staying. Bringing along bicycles allows you to just get up and go wherever you are. It is important to check beforehand as to where cycling is allowed. Most National Parks only allow biking on the paved and backcountry dirt roads throughout the parks. Most hiking trails do not allow bicycles. Most of your cycling through the parks will be done on the same roads used for cars. For this reason special caution should be used; stay alert and be visible using both head and tail lights along with reflective clothing. Look into the area where you will be camping. There may be trails available specifically for cycling.

Horseback riding might be a fun and exciting option while visiting a national park. Several parks offer gravel roads for horseback riding, certain parks also have horse rentals and guided excursions available. A list of stables and outfitters can be obtained at visitor centers, or checked through travel guides and brochures.

Whitewater rafting is one of the most unique and invigorating ways to visit a parks backcountry. Some of the most incredible National Parks may have river rafting excursions that travel through the park, the river rafting is usually offered by various companies and outfitters. If whitewater rafting sounds a bit too dangerous, perhaps a kayaking excursion through one of the splendid rivers would seem wiser. Imagine kayaking through one of the popular National Parks past geysers, hot spring and mud pots. Kayaking is a wonderful way to explore areas that are untouched by vehicle or foot traffic.

Cross country skiing is another popular way for the entire family to visit and see beautiful winter landscapes. Many parks have several excellent trails available for cross country skiing. Several National Parks will offer novice, intermediate and advanced trails for skiing. Cross country skiing is a wonderful way to experience the parks wilderness during the winter season. Snowshoeing trails may also be available in parks.

The U.S. National Parks offer some of the most incredible rock climbing and mountaineering pursuits in the world. Rock climbing and mountaineering are usually sports reserved for people with a bit of experience. Rock climbing and mountaineering can offer wonderful and different perspectives of the landscapes. Both sports demand having the proper equipment and knowledge for safety reasons. Many National Parks offer established climbing routes that will have a wide range of difficulty levels; usually no permits are needed, unless an overnight stay in backcountry is involved. It is important to check weather conditions beforehand and use caution, never climb alone.

What better way to experience some of the most beautiful scenery in the world than with some fun outdoor activities. The options for outdoor activities are endless. Whether you decide to visit any of the amazing National Parks or choose to go camping in a favorite spot the list is limitless. Many of the activities you might be interested in will be available in the towns near the parks. Various outfitters and companies outside some of the popular National Parks will offer excursions that go into the parks. Whatever activity you decide to enjoy, it is always wise to do a little research to know ahead of time what to expect, always check what the weather conditions will be to avoid any dangerous situations.

Camping is a delightful and adventurous way to spend your vacations. Camping basically means living in tents that are pitched on specific grounds. The biggest advantage of camping is the cost saving. You can have a good vacation within your budget. For you will have to spend least on accommodation. While if you go for stay in hotels, a large chunk of your money is gone in paying for per day rent of your room. On the top of it camping is not associated with troubles like what type and class of room to take, how much will be too much for this etc. Camping also takes you away from all such hurly-burly of the big hotels and lends you the opportunity to follow your style.

If you are willing to go for camping then don't think twice. For the fares to camp on grounds are as low as around ten to twenty five dollar per night. All you have to do is select the place or ground you want to camp. This information can be collected through the internet.The 'nps' stands for the National Park Service. Most of the camping grounds are under it. The site will inform you fully about the fees, the locations, the rules and regulations, which slightly vary from ground to ground. There can be several parameters to decide which camping ground you want to go for. These can be the activities involved like some might prefer fishing grounds to rafting, horse riding, boating, hiking or even a serene and romantic ground. Others may give preference to the amenities. For instance the ground that provides the best facilities in terms of water, toilets, parking etc. might be their top priority. A class of people might also just look at the costs involved. So at the end of the day it is entirely at you and your family's discretion where to pitch the tent.

The moment you decide the grounds, make a list of the things that you need to pack. This should be cross checked with the services that will be provided to you at the camp site. For instance, if the camp site facilitates you with hygienic drinking water all round the clock then you need not carry too many water bottles with you. However, there are certain things that are too important to be ignored by you. Some of which are sleeping bag for every member of your family, toiletries, cookware, plates, silverware, towels, trash bags to keep yourself clean, pair of sneakers and last but not the least a warm pullover or gown for it is often chilly at night.

Though the packing is a little cumbersome but it cannot undermine the benefits. You get to save ample of many that you can invest in many ways like either in eating at a five star or shopping for yourself and the like. Moreover camping teaches you and makes you self-dependent. Even those men who do not do any household work at all are seen cleaning plates while camping. Is that great for their wives!

Some of the well known camping grounds in America are-Yellowstone National Park,
Isle Royal National Park (known for its aura of tranquility), Great Basin National Park
(Beautiful caves and fishing), Dry Tortugas National Park (snorkeling, scuba diving,
Tropical fish and wildlife), Point Reyes National Park (horse riding, kayaking, biking),
Greta Canyon National Park, Joshua Tree National Park (mystifying mountain ranges), Denali National Park (skiing and snow shoeing) and so forth.

So Is Not Camping Feeling and Exploring the Nature in its True Form... Think About It!

Sleep under the stars, on a mountain, near a stream or in the forest,-you can camp just about anywhere you take your truck bed tent. No matter what campground or open area you choose, the outdoors is right outside your tent door. Camping lets you spend the night in remote places and take a break from these luxurious comforts of home. And, as great as it feels to be outdoors, it's much harder to enjoy yourself without a good night's sleep.

Here are a few tips to help you when you are camping with a truck bed tent.

When choosing tent camping sites, decide which amenities are most important. Do you prefer primitive sites with minimal resources or are you looking for easy access to showers and restrooms? Either way take the time to choose wisely.

Get the right bedding and consider what you plan to sleep on. In a truck bed tent you should have a good quality air mattress that fits the bed of your truck. Most people are used to sleeping indoors with total quiet, a mountain of pillows and a huge, fluffy mattress. To get things as close to your normal sleeping habits is a must when camping. You want to be rested for the next days activities. Custom-shaped for your truck, the AirBedz Lite Truck Bed Air Mattress features their patented wheel well cutouts. The optional wheel well inserts convert your air mattress for in-home use.

Be sure to wear yourself out. Sleeping in a tent is a lot better after a full day of hiking, fishing, paddling or swimming than if you just sit around the campfire eating hot dogs all day. Plan on crashing early, since there's less to do outdoors when the sun goes down, and go to bed exhausted. This will help with getting a good night's rest.

Even while roughing it, keep yourself as fresh as possible. Nobody likes sleeping in a tent with someone who smells like the trails and has dirty feet. We all know how hard it is to keep a tent clean. With a truck bed tent it is even harder. My advice is to have screen tent with a rug set up with your truck tent to help keep you feet clean. Use a cloth to sponge bathe in a creek or use a water jug, or baby wipes. Remember you'll sleep much better when you're more refreshed.

Sleeping in a tent is the worst when you're half in a puddle of water or on unlevel ground. You don't have to risk it or bring a waterproof tarp when camping if you are camping with a truck bed tent.

These tips are just a few ideas to help make your truck bed tent camping a great outdoor experience for you and your family.

At this day and age, camping has become more convenient. Most campsites offer electricity and other types of convenience. While this is ideal for families or for beginners, plenty of people still want to experience the old-school style - camping with no electricity. If you're planning for this kind of trip alone or with some buddies, there are certain things that you need to know and some useful tips to follow to avoid hassle.

Follow these useful tips for a surefire awesome camping trip without electricity:

Learn how to start a campfire

A campfire is one of the most important things to have when camping without electricity. It will be your biggest source of light and will also be your source of warmth during cold nights. That's why it is crucial to learn how to start one from scratch if you don't already. If you don't know how to start one, make sure one of your buddies going on the trip with you knows how. Starting a campfire is one thing, keeping it ablaze is another so make sure you bring the right tools with you to keep that campfire alive for as long as you need it.

Do some research about your campsite

Camping with no source of power indeed is a challenge, especially for first timers. Make sure you are familiar with the area where you will be staying. Do some research and find out where the nearest road is, the nearest area with electric power and the nearest hospital is. This is important in case of emergency. You will also know where to go if you run out of supplies.

Let someone know where you're going

Even if you have extra batteries for your mobile phone, the signal in the woods might be weak and it might become hard to communicate with anybody. It's important to let a friend or a family member know where exactly you're going and when you will come back for safety purposes.

Pack some good quality flashlights

Aside from basic camp essentials, bring a good quality flashlight which will be very useful as a source of light in the darkness of the woods. Bring a spare or two and some extra batteries.

Bring entertainment

Without electricity, what you can do in the woods is a bit limited especially during the night. Don't forget to bring a source of entertainment whether for you or for your friends. It could be some playing cards, a guitar or anything simple that will be fun!

Follow these simple tips for camping without electricity and you'll be ready!

Some people say that camping is not for infants. But truth be told, the outdoors are for all ages - you just have to be truly prepared for any kind of situation. As a parent, your child's safety and well-being is your responsibility in or out of your home. The outdoors is an unpredictable place, so be sure to come prepared and ready to handle the challenges. With the correct approach, you will have an enjoyable camping trip!

Follow these essential tips when camping with a baby:

Choose a nearby location

For your first outdoor trip with a baby, it's ideal to choose a site that's close to your home. This way, if you forget or run out of baby essentials and other important things, you can easily go home or turn back. If things get too overwhelming for you or your baby (hopefully they don't!), you don't have to spend too long on the road or spend hours travelling back. As your child gets familiarized with camping, you can venture out to farther locations in the future.

Pack extras

Even if you know the average number of diapers or milk bottles your child uses per day, always pack more. You don't want to take an extra unnecessary trip back home or to the store if you run out of baby supplies. The goal, though, is to pack as light as possible so just bring the essentials. You may know what kind of weather to expect, but bring clothes that are for all kinds anyway. Don't forget baby's first aid kit!

Bring a comfort toy or blankie

Packing her favourite toy, her favourite snack or a comfort blankie will make your baby more at ease with the new surroundings. It lets her feel the comfort of home while she adapts to the new environment.

Give your neighbors a heads up

If you find that you have other campers staying in the campsite, let them know that you have an infant with you so that they won't get surprised if they hear your child cry. Offering them earplugs would be ideal, too! More often than not, neighboring campers actually get more excited when they hear that a baby is at the site!

Don't stress about it too much

Babies are more resilient than you think. They easily adapt to new environments just as long as they find comfort. Don't stress too much and try to enjoy the moment.

Enjoy your child's first outdoor trip even more with these tips for camping with a baby!

When you're listing down activities to do for a day or two of camping, especially when you plan to bring some kids along, don't forget to include fun games that everyone can play. Remember that for first-timers, it may seem that there's not a lot to do out in the woods so a few enjoyable activities will help them get warmed up. Try these super fun camping games that children and adults alike would surely enjoy:

Alphabet Game

This activity is challenging both to kids and adults and a great one to play whether you're at camp or out hiking and exploring.

How to Play:

Give participants a pen and a piece of paper. While walking or camping, they need to find and write down objects starting with the letters of the alphabet, going from A through Z. You can opt to use phone cameras (especially for adults) for proof. This game can last for a day or the entire trip. The one with the most finds or the first one to Z wins!

Scavenger Hunt

This game is a classic camping game that just doesn't get old. It can easily be modified for kids or for adults. It's a good activity that promotes exploring and discovering cool things while at the great outdoors!

How to Play:

Make list of items that participants must find and bring back or take a picture of. The number of items depends on who's playing or how long you want the hunt to last. You can do this with individuals, with pairs or up to a team of 4. Provide each participant or team with the list and let them know how much time they have for the hunt. It's always fun to start with "Ready, Set, Hunt!"

Camping Storytime

A great activity to play during down time where everyone can join. It's ideal to do this activity around the campfire with hot chocolate and some roasted marshmallows. It promotes creativity and of course, bonding, fun and laughter!

How to Play:

Participants will take turns telling any kind of campfire story. It could be a story from experience, something you heard or something completely made up. It could be funny, scary or wherever where the imagination takes you. After all participants have told their stories, everyone will vote which story they liked best. The storyteller with the most votes wins!

These super fun camping games for all ages will definitely make any camping trip super memorable!

Sometimes, when you just love camping so much, you want everyone special to you to experience it as well. This includes your furry friends. It may seem overwhelming at first, but when done right, it could turn out to be one of the most memorable outdoor trips ever. Dogs love the outdoors so it's a given that they will enjoy this kind of trip.

Here are some very useful tips to try when camping with a dog:

Find a Dog-Friendly Campsite

It's common sense to do research on the campsite that you're planning to visit. Check out their rules and regulations, especially regarding bringing of pets. Better yet, call ahead to make sure! Plenty of campsites allow pets, you don't want to go to one that isn't so it's most ideal to check and make sure before making plans.

Prepare Your Dog's Documents

While many campsites are now pet-friendly, some do require to check pet's documentation so be sure you have these to save yourself the trouble. Bring their ID tags, license (make sure it's up to date!) and vaccination papers. Organize it in one folder so it's easy to pull out of your bag. These papers may also come in handy in case an emergency situation happens during your trip.

Pack a First Aid Kit For Your Dog

Bringing a first-aid kit for your pet is equally important to bringing your own. Being out in the woods, your dog's curiosity might peak and he may eat or encounter things that he shouldn't so there is a higher risk of choking, getting sick, poisoning and the like. Having a pet-specific kit and guide book will be extremely handy in case of emergency situations.

Pack the Basic Dog Essentials

Aside from the basics (enough food, water, blanket, toys, poop bags, etc), bring a strong leash, tether and stake. Some campsites have leash-required zones and there may be times that your pet may need to be secured even if he's used to not wearing one. Also, it's ideal to bring collapsible food and water bowls for your dog to carry easily, especially if you're going to do a lot of hiking.

Book a Visit to the Vet

As humans, we need to make sure that we are healthy enough to go on a trip. The same things goes with our furry friends. At the visit to the vet, make sure that their flea and tick prevention/medication is updated.

Remember, you are responsible for your dog's actions as well as his well-being in an out of your home. Keep these dog camping tips the next time you visit the outdoors!

If you are looking for a great way of spending time with your family outdoors, we suggest that you consider camping. But for a successful trip, you need to have a solid plan. First of all, make sure you know about the right campsite. After all, you want to be comfortable. For this, you need to have the right tools, such as kitchen utensils. Let's find out how to buy the best camping utensils. Read on to know more.

Types of Utensils

During your outdoor trip, you don't have to eat with your hands. You need quality camping utensils. Let's know about different types:

Plastic

Plastic is very durable and cheap. Dishes and plates made of plastic can be used for dinning out, parties and camping out. However, the downside is that plastic is not eco-friendly.

Stainless steel

This type of utensils can be found in almost every home. They are the choice of every household for their durability and sturdiness. You can use them same for your trip. Since you already own them, they won't cost you anything. However, the problem is that they are heavier compared to other types.

Aluminum

This type is made from aluminium, which is a lighter metal. The advantage is that they offer the same degree of durability. But they cost more.

The things that you will need for your trip include spoons, forks, knives, bottle openers, and can openers, just to name a few.

Factors to consider Buying Camping Utensils

If you are looking for the best camping utensils to meet your needs, we suggest that you consider the following points:

Trip length

If you are going on a one-day trip, we suggest that you take only those utensils with you that you need. All you need is simple plastic things. But if the trip is going to be longer, it's a good idea to go for utensils that will be used over and over again. It's even better to opt for metal stuff.

Camping site

What is your camping site? Do you have a specific site on mind or you do you want to hike up a good mountainside? The thing is that if you are going to just one site, the weight of the stuff that you need won't matter. Since you won't need to move things around, you can take heavier things with you. For a hiking trip, on the other hand, the weight matters a lot. So, we suggest that you go for something lighter. However, it's not a good idea to compromise on quality.

Material

The cost of the utensils is based on the type of material used. For instance, plastic is cheaper, lighter and durable. On the other hand, aluminum is costlier but more durable.

Long story short, if you are planning to go on a camping trip, we suggest that you make arrangements for things that you may need. Hopefully, these tips will help you go for the right type of utensils to meet your needs.

Are you afraid to hit the woods or the caravan park, because it is summer? If yes, kiss the fear goodbye, because right here, you will encounter some breathtaking tips that will aid your camping in summer, and if you are unsure leaving out yourself is not an option, for the tips will be good for you, in augmenting your summer camping preparations.

Anyway, my point is, you will stop at nothing in your quest of engaging nature with the following tips for camping in summer.

Tips for camping in the summer

Get a suitable summer tent: A one, two or three season tent is highly suitable for summer however; they cannot withstand heavy rainfall which anyway, rarely occurs during this period. These tents are light in weight and relatively cheap. You can bring tent fans, it provides refreshing to your camping trip.

Bring along enough water: It is imperative you stay hydrated, so bringing along large volume of water will do the magic to prevent dehydration.

Dehydration occurs when you lose or use up some fluids in the body thus, lead to severe health issues such as urinary and kidney problems, heat stroke and even shock- which can lead to death.

Dehydration tends to increase in the summer compare to other seasons. Therefore taking enough water in the summer period is highly essential. Apart from drinking, you can as well make provision for water that will take care of your cooking and bathing.

Mind the camp fire: The temperature during the summer can make the camp fire go wild, and that is the main reason camp fires are restricted in some parks and forest reserves during the summer. So be precautious when lighten the camp fire, provided it is allowed in your camp site.

Bring along insect repellant: The flies and mosquitoes are never your good neighbors especially in the outdoor, the summer season inclusive. So bringing along your insect repellant is important to curb the menace of these insects. You might as well consider taking along net to limit the nuisances of the bugs.

Bring along first aid kit: Camping in respective of season demands bringing along first aid kit. Your first aid kit should contain materials such as antibiotic spray, bug spray, ointment for bee bites, flexible gauze, bandages, clean towel, scissors and Benadryl.

Sun screen: You need to go along with sun screen for protection against sunburn, melanoma and skin cancer, and it persistent use, will also prevent wrinkles and moles.

Sunglasses: Sunglasses is your top most companions under the sun as well as nice summer hat.

Keep your food cold and drink: Food gets spoilt easily during the summer and you wouldn't want to be drinking a hot drink under the sun as well, it does not go well.

So keeping your foods and drinks cold should be one of your concerns when camping in the summer.

Keep your environment clean: It is imperative you keep your environment clean always and utilizing the dust bin will go a long way in making the environment clean.

Take along plenty of drinking water. You always need to stay hydrated. You will need the water to prepare your food and for cleaning up after yourself. You may also need water to wash your hands and feet. It is better to bring along more than you need than not enough.

Keep a close eye on your dog while you are camping and always keep him on a leash. Many camping areas have rules about pets. Be sure to keep your pet away from others belongings. There are those who fear dogs.

A flashlight is also a must have item when you camp, but make sure the batteries are fully charged or new. Also be sure and have extra batteries in case they are needed. One way to be sure the batteries don't accidentally die on the trip is to put them into the flashlight backwards when not is use. That way if the switch is accidentally left on, they stay charged. This also ensures you never misplace the batteries.

Be sure and back bedding and sleeping clothes. If you are going to be camping a long time be sure and purchase an expensive sleeping bag. It needs to be rated for below freezing temperatures if needed. Extra blankets are a good idea for warmth or for extra padding. Many people like to sleep in warm clothing to help with cold temperatures, so don't forget your PJ's.

Food is another staple, like water, that is needed when camping. If you have the place to cook that is the best, but you can always take dried meals and snacks. If bringing fresh food, be sure that all items are kept cool in a cooler or refrigerator. There are many one dish meals that can be used for camping to make food preparation a lot easier.

When you are cleaning up you should always have soap. Don't forget to pack soap, shampoo and other cleaning items. The most important toilette item to pack is toilet paper.

There isn't a lot to say about a first aid kit, except that every camper needs one in case of an emergency. You can never be too safe.

With fond memories of camping people will tell you that being prepared is a must. The information provided here should help make it so that you have a memorable trip as well. Please keep this information in mind and you and your family will have a great camping trip