Winter camping can be invigorating. It is a whole different camping ballgame than camping in warmer months.

There are special considerations when one exposes themselves to harsh elements and the best protection against injury and illness are the personal supplies you bring along.

It’s Not the Clothes You Wear but How You Wear Them

In order to stay warm, you not only need the proper clothing, but you need to wear it properly.

Heat loss is one of the biggest dangers when you are out in the cold outdoors. Your body functions as a furnace to keep you warm.

You lose heat through a variety of means such as respiration, evaporation and convection.

If you are physically active, heat production increases and when you decrease your level of activity, heat begins to abate as well. The way to stay warm is to insulate the body.

Insulation can be done by layering your clothing. When material is dense, it quickly transfers heat using the conduction principle.

Dead space between your skin and clothing layers is where heat is produced and to thermally insulate yourself is to keep that space between your skin and an article of clothing where it is needed; next to your body.

Camping is a fun, family friendly affair. But the kids can get restless at times, especially when the weather is not cooperating.

Here are some great activities that will keep the kids busy and engaged whether it is raining or a bright sunny day.

Traditional Camp Activities

Playing shadow puppets on a dark tent wall using a flashlight is fun not just for kids, but for the grown-ups too.

Each night you and your kids can stage a puppet show using your hands and the treasures you have gathered during the day. The kids will remember this fondly act for years to come and will make bedtime an occasion for which to look forward.

Outside around the campfire, roasting marshmallows, hotdogs and preparing S’mores is another favorite. While sitting beneath the wide open sky, be sure you bring along a book explaining the constellations so that the kids can learn something about the natural world while they are munching on delicious treats and having fun at the same time.

In the afternoon, you can lay in the cool grass or soft sand and gaze at the clouds as they float by and find familiar and odd shapes.

If you and your fellow campers are looking for a premier camping spot on the ocean, head to Maine next summer.

There is a little known gem of a camping spot called Hermit Island Campground.

No big rigs, only small pop-ups, trucks with slide on campers, vans and tents are allowed.

The scenery, the area, they are more than any camper could hope for when it comes to premier outdoor living.

Campsite Descriptions

There are 275 sites that dot the sandy beach, the tidal harbour, perched upon rocky cliffs and inside the forestland.

Each of the sites allows for 1 car to be parked, a rock fire ring for campfires and a picnic table.

There are 4 types of campsites such as direct access to the beach, a view of the water and the proximity to the ocean.

For those that leave their tent or camping van/truck at home, there are three cabins of modest size called the Sou’wester, Log Cabin and the Hermit Island Cottage available for rent.

Campers Facilities

The Store is on site and sells sundries such as bait, grocery items, wine, beer, fresh caught lobster and other camping necessities. The Kelp Shed is open daily from 9AM until 10PM.

Have you been itching to camp in one of America’s beautiful National Parks but not able to decide which one to go to? We have compiled a list of the top 10 National Parks and why they are the best. Read on to choose which one is right for you!

Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite boasts the distinction of being one of the United States’ first wilderness parks. It is made up of almost 1200 square miles with ancient sequoias, magnificent meadows, valleys that run deep and cascading waterfalls.

There are thirteen campgrounds in the park. Seven of them need reservations from April until September and the rest are on a first come, first serve basis.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia is one of the most beautiful of the U.S.’s National Parks. It was the first National Park to be established east of the mighty Mississippi. Campers can combine the beauty of evergreen forest with the rugged, majestic coast of Maine known as Down East.

There are carriage roads to bike, hiking paths along the shore and forest land or just relaxing at your campsite listening to the waves pound the rocks. Campers can set up their tents from December to March for free while in other months a modest fee must be paid.

Camping is a great way to spend a vacation and it is tough to find a more frugal way to spend your holidays.

Here are some tips to make your camping experience a real money saving event as well as learning to be kinder to the environment.

Reusing and recycling has never been more important as it is today with the concerns about climate change and global warming.

1. No Pillows? No Problems- Simply bring along some zip lock backs and fill them with air. Though it may not seem to be the most comfortable idea, you will certainly be surprised at how well it works.
2. Recycle Old Shower Curtains: Instead of throwing away old shower curtains why not clean them up and use them as ground tarps for your tent[camping tent]. It will serve as a nice piece of insulation and is much less wieldy than a traditional tarp when you are packing.
3. Lighting Up: Spending money on waterproof matches? No need to anymore. Using nail polish or melted paraffin will waterproof even the flimsiest matches. Take advantage of the free matches often seen at venues where cigarettes are sold and dip them in.

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.