Technorati: rv camping, littleguy teardrop trailer, tent camping
The joy and convenience of RV camping has taken a hit this summer with outrageous gas fill up costs of $500 to $800. If you feel compelled to let your RV sit at home this year, take the opportunity to try out other forms of camping. Summer won't be summer without a few nights under the stars.

Option 1. Tent Camping - If you own an RV, one of the reasons is likely to be that you don't like the hassle of setting up tents (and breaking it down). But when was the last time you looked at camping tents though? Today's tents are light and weather-proof, and are a snap to set up. The Wenzel Timber Ridge Sport 9-by-7-Foot Four-Person Dome Tent takes only a few minutes to set up, even for beginners. At $39, even if you resume RV camping, it's a spare handy shelter to have for kids to sleep and play in.

If you are willing to invest more, the tent I recommend (double-coated rainfly, and built-in remote-controlled lights) is the Columbia Bugaboo Four to Five-Person Family Dome Tent.

Option 2: Yurt Camping - Check your local state parks and campgrounds if they offer yurts. Yurts are move-in-ready tents. When you check-inn at the campground office you will be given a lock combination code or key that will open the door of your yurt. Did you hear that? A door. Yes, a Yurt has a door. You open that door and you find furniture, simple appliances - some even come with linens and utensils. Read my earlier post about this unique outdoor camping style: yurt camping.

Option 3: Tagalong Trailers - If you've been considering scaling down your outdoor abode, maybe it's time to consider travelling with a small tagalong trailer, instead of a living room on wheels. The Mercedes class of these is the sleek Airstream Basecamp. At $26K list, I will need to trade in my kid's college savings to afford one. Don't think my hubby will go for that.

A more affordable version is the LittleGuy TearDrop Trailer which starts at $5,495. You can see pictures of the manufacturer's web site: http://www.golittleguy.com. It's still not chump change. It's like deciding to buy a scooter to drive to work and leave your Hummer at home. Want to save even more? Build it yourself, just like Mary and Myron did (see video below).

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Technorati tags: camp cooking, campfire recipes, easy camping recipes
One of the highlights of camping is cooking and eating outdoors. The cleaning up part is not as much fun. Here are 5 easy camping recipes in a Ziploc® bag that you can enjoy and not end up with a pile of preparation or cooking dishes.

Recipe #1 - Ziploc® Bag Fudge

What you need:
• 1 lb box of powdered sugar
• 2 packets of a cocoa mix or you can use ½ cup of cocoa
• 2 tbsp of butter
• 3 oz package of cream cheese
• 2 1 gallon Ziploc® storage bags

What to do:
Combine all ingredients into one of the bags and seal it up. Place the filled Ziploc® bag into the other bag. Pass it around to all of your campers so that they can squish the contents until it is all mixed thoroughly then enjoy. Camping Tip: Measure all the dry ingredients Continue reading…

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It’s very important to stay hydrated when you are outdoors. Being aware of the many water bottle options available on the market will help you decide which type of water container would match your needs on your next outing. Every time I shop for a camping gear, I’m taken aback by the myriad of options out there. Camping and camping gear have definitely grown up from the drab, gray old flapping canvas tents that our parents experienced.

Who would have thought a simple concept could evolve into all these different styles and design? (see video below).

Click To Play

Nalgene Water Bottles- This is the classic shatter-proof hard-plastic bottle that has a wide mouth opening that allows easy filling for ice, but the mouth is still narrow enough to drink comfortably. The cap is rubberized to make it easy to open with sweaty hands and has a sturdy carabineer loop for storage outside on the pack. This is a great bottle for short excursions. Note: The traditional Nalgene water bottles (also callsed Lexan water bottles) have been found to leach chemicals that can disrupt hormone levels. Stay away from them. Instead, insist on the non-leaching BPA-Free
version ($9.95).

Aluminum Water Bottles-The aluminum bottle often has a sleek, high-tech look to it, even makes a fashion statement. You may even bump into titanium versions in this class of stainless steel water bottles. The Kids sigg Aluminum water bottles, are a favorite with celebrity moms like Madonna and Cindy Crawford! Looks aside, the aluminum makes it lighter, more durable than its plastic counterparts, and water stays cool in it due to the nature of aluminum.

Insulated Water Bottles - This bottle carrier is an insulated pouch that allows you to place a water bottle in side. The insulation help maintain the temperature of the liquid inside the bottle. It has a strap attached for easy carrying on hikes and jogs. It also has a clip that allows you to clip it to a back pack. Unlike the bulky insulated containers of the past, some look quite handsome like this stylish insulated bottle sleeve by Camelbak. Great for short excursions and carrying cold soda.

Camelbak Hydration Packs – Hydration packs come with backpack straps, or clips that you can easily attach to your back pack. Camelbak is the dominant manufacturer of this style of water carrier. It has a bladder inside that can carry 70 oz to 100 oz of water. Filled with water this pack can weigh 3 to 8 pounds. Recently they started manufacturing kids and womens packs, such as the Camelbak Women Charm Hydration Pack ($35) which carries just 50 oz. A tube long enough to reach from the pack to the wearer’s mouth is attached and used as a straw, allowing you to drink hands-free. The pack is fully insulated and made rugged to prevent wear and tear, and leaks. This back is an excellent choice for long excursions, or situations where you need to stay hydrated hands-free like long distance bicycling.

Collapsible Water Pouches- I’m not really sure why anyone would choose this over plain old Poland Springs water bottles. Friends who use them do so because they packs easily in a backpack full of stuff. Frozen at home, they also keep the camping cooler cool longer and turn into drinkable water. For me personally, they remind me too much of hospital IV dispensers.

Built-in Purifier Bottle - The Katadyn purifyer water bottle
features an internal EPA-registered Virustrat cartridge and carbon filter to remove microorganisms and all viruses from any water source. The bottle is designed to fit in most bicycle water bottle cages or cup holders, but has a carry loop as well. This 26-oz. bottle weighs less than the smallest backcountry microfilters and no pumping is required, making it perfect for extended backpacking or mountain biking around questionable water sources.

Disposable Water Bottles - Don't forget the boring, unsexy but convenient disposable water bottles. Get a 24-pack from Walmart and grab and go in an instant. This is my family's choice of water bottles, if only because my kids keep losing their water bottles. Would I rather they leave behind a 25 cents Poland Spring water bottle, or a $19.99 aluminum Sigg water bottle?

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Many people love wearing their sandals into the outdoors, but are you aware that not all sandals can handle the abuse camping entails? This is one camping gear that doesn't get enough attention, but you'll find that selecting the right footwear can go a long way towards making sure that your camping experience is a pleasant one. Take some time to think about what you need to get out of your sandals and you'll be well-prepared the next time you are thinking of wandering out into the woods. Good outdoor sandals or sports sandals all have a few basic properties that you should lookout for. Continue reading…

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Family camping is not just about remembering how to tie a half hitch knot or light a campfire. It’s about remembering how to tell a ghost story, or teaching your kids the forgotten art of hand shadows.

It’s remembering how great it is just to hang out together and stare at the blinking stars. If you've not gone camping before, try backyard-camping. Every year, at the end of June, the National Wildlife Federation organizes a nation-wide Backyard Camping event. This year, it's on June 28th. You can learn more about it at the official Great American Backyard Campout site.
Get outside and experience the joy of being outdoors.

Afraid you'll be bored to death sitting in a dark tent? Check out these camping activities:

• How to tell a Ghost Story
• How to make delicious Campfire Desserts
• Learn how to tie 2 Essential Camping Knots.
• Take a Cloud Walk.
• 10 Reasons to take your kids camping

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Ok, we go camping to get away, to unplug, to reconnect with nature, and now I talk about geocaching?

Well, please bear with me. Geocaching is different. While it involved electronics, it's not a couch potato activity and you are unlikely to be reaching into a bag of potato chips while geocaching. Geocache is the latest outdoor craze to hit treasure hunting enthusiasts across the world. It's a natural camping activity because you are out there already.

To enjoy the sport, you need to be familiar with using a global positioning unit (GPS).

You see, in thousands of locations worldwide(!), people have hidden small containers in which they’ve put a logbook or notepad, plus a few trinkets such as small toys, fridge magnets, key rings, bumper stickers etc. The co-ordinates of these locations are then recorded online so that geocachers anywhere on the globe can Continue reading…

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Hiking and backpacking in the wilderness means leaving the safety and predictability of civilization behind. That is part of the adventure, and part of the danger. Here are six hiking and backpacking tips you can use to make it much safer, without taking away from the adventure.

1. Carry a compass, a map, and the knowledge of how to use them. Even if you don't have a good map. any map is better than nothing. People lost in the wilderness have often hiked farther into it because they had no idea in which direction was the nearest road. Practice with the compass near home, and use it before you need it, just to keep in practice.

2. Bring the necessary safety items and knowledge. On Mount Whitney I saw hikers eight miles from the nearest road, at nightfall, Continue reading…

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Is your first ever camping adventure on the horizon? If so, you undoubtedly have questions about what to bring, and you are not alone. Although a camping trip is a great way to get away and relax, the planning phase can be stressful. Keep on reading. We have some great ideas to help ease the pain of planning your first camping quest.

Camping is an activity that requires planning and bringing lots of stuff. This "stuff" is often divided into two categories: camping gear and camping supplies. Generally, camping gear refers to the actual equipment you need for camping. Camping supplies usually means your food, clothes, personal care items and other miscellaneous things.

Deciding what camping supplies to bring with you is a matter of personal preference. Many people already know what clothes and food items they have to bring along. The thing many first-time campers struggle with, however, is what camping equipment is really necessary for their trip. There are many different pieces of camping gear, and you will find an outline of some of them below.

First let's talk about one of the most common pieces of camping equipment, the tent. Depending on the size of your camping group, Continue reading…

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Will your camping plans change now that it costs over $400 to fill up your camper? I stumbled on this gas receipt this morning and was amazed at what gas cost not so long ago. As I am writing this, gas is now at $3.969 a gallon.

Don't scratch Camping off your list yet.

Here are some helpful tips and ideas: Continue reading…

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Technorati tags: yurt camping, camping tents, beginner camping
One of the biggest fears for prospective campers is shelter. If you forget your matches, or burn the beans, or left the lantern behind, you’ll still survive, especially if there’s a camp store. But where you rest your head at night - will it be too cold, too hot, or will the ground be too rocky? Will the tent protect them from rains, will it keep the wildlife out? Fears like that – real or imagined – can easily keep prospective campers from leaving their homes.

Well, it’s the 21st century, folks. Leave the camping tent at home. Many campgrounds come with move-in-ready tents. They are called yurts. You may feel like you are cheating a little but Continue reading…

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