Making Your Camping Trip A Vacation Rather Than Work

W hen planning a camping         Pack a survival kit with enough    trip, there are some          supplies for everyone on the trip  things that you can pack      and a few extra. Include           or do before you leave for your       band-aids, wet wipes and power     trip that will help you to spend      bars. Sun screen and bug spray     your vacation relaxing and having     are essential for outdoor          fun rather than cleaning your         activities as well as citronella   site, making trips to the local       candles to help keep bugs away at  store to buy accessories or           night. Take along plastic bags to  having to deal with something         put wet things in or things you    that your forgot because there        need to discard. It is also good   isn't a store around.                 to pack anything that you don't                                          want to get wet into plastic       The first thing you should do is      bags.                              to make a check list of what you                                         want to take with you on the          Pack a sweatshirt and pants even   trip. Aside from clothing and the     if it is the middle of summer. At  basics there are some other           night you will probably be glad    things that can help to make your     that you have them and it will     trip a success. Be sure to            keep you from being miserable,     include waterproof matches            shivering by the fire. Lay out     because you never know when rain      your own clothing and clothing     or some other type of liquid          for everyone in the family to      might get your supplies wet. Wet      make sure that you have something  matches equal no fire and no fire     for every day and pack it in your  can be a real problem. You can        suitcase by outfit so that you     buy waterproof matches or you can     can just grab your outfit and get  waterproof your own by dipping        dressed without having to dig      them in paraffin wax.                 through your suitcase. Take along                                        a pop-up mesh container for your   dirty clothes to keep them                                               separate from the clean stuff.        A battery free radio is good to                                          check up on news or impending      Get to your campsite early so         inclement weather. You should      that you can set up your tent or      also have some sort of hand held   camper and still have plenty of       radio to use in case of            time to explore the area and know     emergencies. Bring flashlights     your surroundings before night        with extra batteries. Pack maps    time arrives. Keep food locked in     and travel brochures in your car   a cooler or in the car to avoid       and your suitcase or camper. If    animals and bugs getting into it.     you lose or misplace one, you      Remove dirty shoes and clothing       will have a backup waiting for     before entering your tent or          you.                               camper so that you don't have to                                         constantly sweep the floor. You       Set up your campsite and tent or   will find this particularly           camper so that you can get to      helpful if you are camping at the     things easily but you still have   beach. Take a small broom with        room to move around. Keep other    you just in case your tent or         things away from your sleeping     camper floor does get dirty.          bags and a clear path to the door                                        to avoid bumping into things in    Bring along cards, other games        the middle of the night on your    and reading materials in case you     way to the bathroom.               encounter some rainy weather.                                            There is nothing worse then           Experience is the best source for  sitting in your campsite in the       ideas of what can make your        rain with nothing to do. Some of      camping trip fun and worry free.   your best camping memories might      Talk to others who camp to see if  just be playing these games or        they have any ideas. If you go on  relaxing with a book.                 a trip and think about something   that you could really use, write      make your camping vacation fun     it down, buy it as soon as you        and carefree. With a little        get home and pack it with your        pre-planning and some              camping supplies so you will be       organization once you get to your  ready to go on your next camping      site, you can avoid many mishaps   trip.                                 or emergencies that could spoil                                          your vacation.                     It doesn't take a lot to help          About the Author: Steve is a vacation lover and webmaster of This Cruise and This Vacation Websites Read more articles by: Steve Miers This article is distributed by: www.iSnare.com