Do you love camping? Camping vacations are some of the most popular in the United States. In 2011, Americans spent about 534.9 million days on camping vacations. According to the American Camping Report from 2014, almost all (99%) people who took a camping trip said they were either likely or very likely to do it again. If you are planning to take your family on a camping trip, there are some things you can do to make sure everyone has a great experience.
1. Get your kids ready.
If you are planning to take young children on camping vacations for the first time, you need to prepare them for the experience first. It is a good idea to get kids out for family camping trips because that is how they get interested in this kind of vacation. People who say they like camping trips report that they went on their first camping vacations when they were 15 years old or younger. Getting kids interested in camping if they are older than 15 can be really hard.
A lot of people ease their young children into the camping experience by having a dry run in their backyards. What you can do is put up some tents in your backyard and have a weekend camping trip in those. Make some campground foods like hot dogs and show your kids how great s’mores are. The more used to being outside they are, the more they will enjoy the camping experience. Get your kids to help collect firewood and clean up after you cook your meals. Get a book on the position of the stars and show them the different constellations in the sky. This can help them enjoy their time on camping vacations more.
2. Find the right campgrounds and book in advance.
You have a lot of options when it comes to getting the right campsite. Most people who go camping, do so in public campgrounds. About 70% of all campers say they take their family camping vacations in these public facilities. You should be able to find one that has all of the activities that your family likes and the accommodations you need. Some people opt for camp resorts or look for campgrounds with cabins. This can be good if you have family members who really do not want to sleep in a tent. If you go the cabin route, make sure you know what exactly you will get with the cabin. They range from being very basic to luxurious.
When you find the right campsite, you should book your spot early. Many popular campsites book up early so if you are planning your camping trip for a popular time of the year for camping, you need to book it very early. One thing you can do is call the park or campgrounds and ask what they recommend. Some require campers put down a deposit. Ask them about their cancellation policy. It is always good to know what that is before you reserve your space. You never know when someone is going to become sick or what will happen especially when you book far in advance.
3. Lists are your friends.
When you are planning camping vacations, making lists of what you will need and what you need to do can be a big help. There are a lot of details that go into planning family camping vacations so making these lists will help you not miss any important details. It will also help you make sure you have everything that you need for a successful family camping trip.
4. Plan your meals.
There are some things you can do at home to make your meals easier to prepare on your camping vacations. Prepare some of your meals at home. You can chop your vegetables, packages you meats and precook potatoes (part way) before you head out. Make a plan for all of your meals and snacks so everyone will have the food they will want on your camping trip. Hungry campers are not happy campers. Remember to bring a lot of water. When you are out and about and are active outdoors, you will need to rehydrate often.
Family camping vacations require some planning but can be amazing.
andnbsp;
andnbsp;
andnbsp;
andnbsp;
andnbsp;
andnbsp;
andnbsp;
andnbsp;