Archive for October, 2008

Not many people consider winter camping a great way to spend time off when the weather turns cold.

But there are those that find that winter camping is not only cheaper, but it is invigorating and a wonderful experience.

There are certain precautions one should take while camping when the weather turns beastly so that safety and comfort are ensured.

Dealing with the Weather

Keeping body parts from freezing should be one of the top priorities when you are winter camping.

Be aware of the temperatures and avoid wetness to clothing and body parts. Be careful around cold metals as well so that you can avoid sticking to them.

Things such as frozen eyelashes or corneas, frostbite, windchill, frostnip and in worse case scenarios hypothermia can easily occur if one is not too careful.

Watch the Terrain

When there is snow on the ground, seeing hazards before they become problems can be a challenge. An avalanche may even be a concern if you are camping in a mountainous area.

Check the weather conditions and the instances that avalanches have occurred in the region where you will be camping.

In North America there are literally thousands of campgrounds from which to choose.

If you want to make the most of your camping experience, here are some suggestions for you.

These campgrounds require a bit of effort to get to and they are definitely not for RVs; strictly tenting or rustic cabins here.

Kayak Camping at Catalina Island, California

Just 21 miles from Los Angeles sitting offshore, there are many vacation options on Catalina but none like kayak camping. This enables the visitor to enjoy the breathtaking experience of Catalina like no other way.

Two to four days of camping are recommended and there are nine campsites on the northeast side of Catalina that are boat-in sites. Add to your daily paddle, hiking, fishing and snorkeling and you will have a camping experience to remember.

Step Back in Time on a Covered Wagon Train Adventure in Wyoming

If you love horseback riding then this camping excursion is definitely for you. Recommended camping time is 4 to 5 days where you can join a wagon train that travels through the Targhee National Forest.

Are you an avid camper and want to upgrade from tents or a pop-up to an RV? Are you unsure if you will find buying one worth the expense?

Why not try one out on your next camping trip for a modest rental fee? You can rent a wide range of vehicles when you want to step up your camping experience.

Why Rent an RV?

Renting an RV takes away the expense of maintaining one year round.

Perhaps you only want to take an occasional trek across the nation or want to test out the waters of camping with an RV [RV Camping]. Renting one is the perfect opportunity to see if you and the RV of your choice are a good fit.

When you rent an RV you can go further and have access to all the comforts of home. Whether you choose one of the giant RVs that are like traveling homes or something smaller, you will find you have more room to spread out when it is time to stop driving.

Those that want to experience renting an RV will find that seeing the country the way you want is more than worth the rental price.

Anyone who is familiar with camping knows that it is a vacation that you can take on the cheap. Now it is even cheaper when you access free RV and tent campgrounds.

Though our aim is not to take away from campgrounds that charge visitors for a night or two of camping, it can come in handy to know some free campgrounds where you can spend the night at little or no cost.

Boondocking Sites

These types of camping sites are often managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. These are just two organizations that offer a free night of camping in their administrative region.

Instead of staying the night in a parking lot which can be dangerous as well as fine inducing, look online for some of the free campgrounds available along your travel route.

Every State of the Union

Campers can find a number of free camping spots or those that charge users less than $10 per night. In California alone there are more than 120 places where you can park your RV or tent overnight.

There’s nothing quite like savoring a morning cup of coffee in the great outdoors.

The birds are singing, the sun is fresh and new and the aroma of wood smoke and fresh brewed coffee permeates the air.

For many people, this is a slice of heaven on earth.

Some coffee makers are better than others when you go camping and a lot of the taste lies in the technique you use to make it.

Manual Drip Coffee Makers

Depending upon how much coffee you expect to drink and how many people are going along that will require a nice hot cup of Joe to start their day, coffeemakers for camping come in a variety of sizes.

The most common type of coffeemaker to bring along on a camping trip is a manual drip coffee pot. All you have to do is to pour water that is boiling over coffee grounds in a filter.

Coffee Cooking

Others prefer a more conventional method of preparation and use a coffee pot that sits on a portable stove for cooking or goes directly into the hot ashes of your fire in order for the water to boil.

When it is time to make vacation plans, there are those that know exactly what they are going to do: go camping!

There is something to be said about sleeping in the outdoors with the sky so full of stars above you.

Sitting around the campfire, smelling the aromas so unique to the camping experience is something that many people can’t wait to do.

Strengthening Yourself

Getting in touch with the natural elements is the best way to strengthen ourselves.

The night wraps its velvet black arms around you and you can hear the voices of the wild. Getting away from civilization is restorative to the soul and allows one to reconnect with their true selves.

Vacation on the Cheap

Camping spots are nowhere near as expensive as a hotel room or a vacation cottage. Most of your dining is done around the campfire with supplies you brought from home.

Entertainment usually consists of hanging outdoors and doing camper-like things such as hiking, fishing, swimming and exploring the area around you.

Located in the southeastern portion of the United States, Georgia offers variety of camping experiences. One can find unique and varied opportunities in this beautiful state.

You can explore natural resources and historic beauty from mountains of North Georgia to the beaches on the southern coast.Starting from mountains, a ride from Atlanta, capital city of Georgia, into northeastern Georgia is the Appalachian Trail. The main attraction here is hiking.

You can make reservations along military trails or you can find many camping spots along the lake Chickamauga.You can find several islands like Jekyll, Black Beard, St. Simons and Sapelo if you travel five hours south of Atlanta. You can find undisturbed beach at Black Beard Island.

Your trip would be incomplete to Georgia if you do not visit Okefenokee Swamp. You can find 4 different parks to visit here. Fishing, golfing, hiking and camping are some of the activities you can enjoy at Laura S. Walker Park. As the park is family friendly, campers of all ages can enjoy here.

1. Appalachian Trail

It is a really great place that is very secluded and very rugged. Each year there is a 24 mile mountain bike race there and dozens of people come from all around to ride in this race.

To get there you go to smoke hole and then out smoke hole road about 12 miles. The road will split to the left and to the right. To the left is the main road and to the right you will read a sign that states “Dead End”.

You drive out the “Dead End” road and eventually come to a farm and there is another sign that tells you not to continue if you are in a passenger vehicle.

Four Wheel drive vehicles are recommended. If you continue from that point you will see why the road has very steep drop offs with no guard rail and there are very large rocks in the road that you must navigate around.

The road continues for miles and miles with no houses or inhabitants other than wildlife. As you meander up the mountain you will cross gas line right-of-ways that give you a glimpse of the huge valley below. The views are truly astounding.

Planning to hit the campgrounds? Here is a list of U. S campgrounds to help in planning your trip. Enjoy lots of activities in these campgrounds like fishing, hiking, boating, biking and rock climbing.

These are situated in beautiful destinations in the U.S and many campgrounds have facilities like cabins, running water and bathrooms.

Denali national park

Featuring North America’s tallest mountain, Mount McKinley, Denali National Park in Alaska is one of the most-visited National Parks in the state.You can find countless spectacular mountains and large glaciers surrounding Alaska. You can find large mammals such as wolves, grizzly bears, moose and dall sheep.

Waianapanapa state park

Located three hours east of Kahului Airport in Maui, it encompasses lovely black sand beach, natural stone arch, sea caves and hiking trails. You can have wonderful view of black sand beach, but it is dangerous for swimming due to strong currents and rocky reef.