Posts Tagged ‘camping’
Camping In PA And NJ Can Be A Wonderful Family Vacation
If you and your family love to sleep under the stars, then you will find that camping in PA and NJ may be just the thing that you are looking for. People have different ideas of what a fun camping trip is.
Some people want to find the most remote spot in the woods pitch a tent and live off the resources of the land for several days. Other people like to find a campground that has all the amenities of a working bathroom and running water. Regardless of which group you belong to, you will find something for either group of campers and for those that fall in between.
If you are fortunate enough to reside in either one of these states, you will have plenty of choices when deciding where to plan your next camping trip to PA or NJ. You can find lush and dense forests in Pennsylvania for you and your family to explore. In New Jersey, you can camp near the ocean and pitch your tent right on a beach.
Pennsylvania is known for offering a rougher terrain and a more rustic type of camping adventure. You can start your adventure somewhere along the Appalachian Trail. During the fall, the backdrop of Pennsylvania’s beauty can be seen throughout the state. Hiking trails and the hunting is plentiful throughout the state.
If you prefer to relax at a campground that offers a play area for the children and showering and laundry facilities, they are located throughout the entire state, as well. There are even campgrounds that you visit during the winter months and you may find yourself skiing to the general store to pick up more supplies. Many families have a favorite campground that they go to every year and have developed small communities with other vacationing families.
You can have the best of both worlds in New Jersey. You can stay in a wonderful wooded area with trees and lakes and then you go and enjoy the beaches and boardwalks of the Jersey shore. There are a few campgrounds that are located near the Great Adventure theme park, so you and the family can stay a few days and play.
It does not matter how you and your family define camping because there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a cheap getaway for you and the kids or you want to totally escape the technologically advanced world of today, know that there is a spot for you to plunk down a tent and just be for a while.
A Swiss Army Knife By Itself Does Not Make It Camping
Certain things are needed when a family goes camping. Items needed at camping are similar to things used in a home. Food, water, clothing, warmth, light and shelter are the basics. A black Swiss Army knife, fishing pole and fearless attitude is also helpful. There are things that go bump in the night, creepy crawly things, and light is scarce.
Shelter is protection from the outside elements. Tents are a basic kind of shelter for a campsite, outside of making dirt a place to sleep. Tents need to be selected based on how much equipment and how many persons will be traveling. The size of tents are based on twos.
A fire is the best friend at camp. It is a good idea to know how to start one, but if not campers should come equipped with proper fire starting materials. This fire will keep the campground warm and allow for foods to be cooked. Fire also provides light, but flashlights and lamps need to be included.
As for clothing, ensure all bases are covered. Long pants, shorts, hats for warmth and hats for sun protection should be brought. Long sleeve shirts and tanks along with hiking boots are needed as well. If there is a lake or creek nearby and people will be swimming, bathing suits should be included as part of the clothing selection.
Bug spray and sunscreen are indispensable. Spray any clothes with bug spray, along with bare skin. While wearing long pants, duct taping the pants inside of hiking boots is recommended to protect against tick bites and the roaming snake or two.
For those that only imagine camping, the food may be thought of in terms of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. This is a fun food, but will do no good without a balanced meal for proper sustenance. With an ice cooler, cold cuts, cold drinks, bread, crackers, dried fruits, and cheese are excellent foods to pack. Canned beans, chili, soups and meats add necessary protein. Freeze dried foods are not a necessary addition to a camping trip, but are handy. Make the food interesting and be creative.
That Swiss Army knife will come in handy for chopping, the scissors are good for opening packages. The Swiss Army knife should also have a can opener, for the canned goods brought with the rest of the food. It can also be used to gut any fish, if caught while on the trip.
Camping can be fun for one person or a whole family. Advanced preparations allow an adventure to start.
How To Pick Ideal Camping Locations
There is no dearth of camping locations across America. The craze for camping out has only grown over the last two years with both fitness and New Age gurus speaking emphatically about the importance of spending time with Nature. Going from your workplace and home air-conditioning to hotel-room air-conditioning can never match the experience of spending your holidays beneath a star-studded sky.
If you are a first-time camper do look for a location near your home. This is more for security reasons as, in case of a problem, help will be more easily accessible. Even otherwise, whether you’re camping out alone, with family or friends, check on the security measures at a campground. This should be your first priority even before you decided on a camping holiday.
When it comes to cost, you will have to juggle some options. Usually, you need to pay an admission fee and a camping fee but the overall price also depends on if outdoor activities will be organized at the campsite or not.
If a campsite has been specially geared up for hosting families there will be options for hobby classes, fun activities with children and more. Some camping locations are near lakes and rivers so there are options for swimming, boating etc. Several camping locations fall on hiking and cycling trails so you can also consider going in for a cycling/hiking vacation while taking a break mid-way for camping out instead of spending.
If you don’t intend to camp out often, you may want to check out camping locations that also lend out camping equipment like tents, flashlights, campfire cooking accessories and other stuff.
In large campgrounds you may be assigned a spot by the management but in some, you are allowed to choose yourself. You can find all this and other related information about most campgrounds on the Internet too.