Camping is one of the many activities people enjoy in Spring. The weather is nice, aside from the rainy days that sadly aren’t uncommon here in western Tennessee. Many people visit national parks around this time of year, enjoying the nature around them as the world wakes from a cold, harsh Winter. Some people are content to simply enjoy an afternoon in their backyard, listening to the many creatures also waking. Whichever group you fall into, a lot of people find themselves at a loss without their technology and the comfort of their home. So I’ve thrown together a few things to keep you from going entirely insane in this environment unnatural to most of us. You may even find that you enjoy it!
Like everything else in this world, there are always going to be a few requirements for camping. First-time campers may get caught of guard when it comes to preparing for the trip. Whether it be across the country, or in you backyard, preparation comes first. And for us, that was buying our tent!
I think it goes without saying that, when camping, you should always bring a tent. There are many different types of tents, some better than others. Depending on whether you plan on bringing a crowd or not, your tent requirements will vary. Personally, my favorite brand is Coleman. They make some of the best tents on the market! Now, one thing you’re going to want to consider when looking at tents it price. It’s surprising how much a little house made of fabric can cost. Tents are probably the most expensive aspect of camping. Below are a few tents that find that magic balance between price and quality.
1. Coleman Sundome Tent
Like I said, I’ve always thought of Coleman as one of the best brands on out there for tents. I was a little reluctant to feature the Coleman Sundome at first, after checking out the relatively small price tag. But I was pleasantly surprised with the great reviews of this tent. This is a great tent for first time campers, or for a small group of campers.
2. Coleman Red Canyon 8 Person Tent
If you’ve got a larger family, this is definitely the tent you need. Now, you may be a little intimated by the price of this tent, but it’s actually a great deal compared to other tents on the market, especially for this quality tent. Tents are, like I said above, almost always the most expensive aspect of camping. But your only alternative is to sleep on the ground!
Now although the necessities of camping are important, you shouldn’t get bogged down in the details. Even without a tent, you can still have a great day at a local national park, or even in your backyard! Here are some of the many thing we’ve done over the years of our camping trips.
Hiking has always been a fun and interesting activity around here. Whether it’s in our local neighborhood, in our backyard, or even in another state! About ten years ago, we took a hike at Rock City, and since then have made at least three more trips to the mountain. Each time is always better than the last! On one occasion, we paid a trip to Grandfather Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range. At some points, there bridges over a mile above the ground between peaks!
On the days when we don’t happen to be on vacation at the highest mountain within several hundred miles, we simple enjoy a hike in the woods behind our house, or even in the backyard. It’s surprising how much is actually in your backyard that you miss, until you look for it. Sometimes we spend hours outside, just checking out the area, seeing what’s new.
On many occasions, we’ve gone around the corner to the Wolf River Boardwalk, a trail that winds around a lake in the woods for about a mile. We’ve even taken the dog with us once or twice. Though we’ve never actually camped there, it’s a popular stop for the locals, many of which are campers themselves. There’s a lot of wildlife in these types of areas, some welcome and others not. We’ve seen many deer in nearby pastures, but plenty of snakes laying across the trail too! Not to mention the mosquitoes, which are always common at this time of year.
If you’re the type of person who goes “all in” when you go camping, then you’ll be glad to hear there’s even a way to cook outside! I’m not talking about your everyday grilled burgers, or a hot dog roasted by the campfire. I’m talking real, quality dishes, cooked over a campfire! Now you might be skeptical at first, but believe it or not pretty much anything you cook inside can be cooked outside as well. Just a warning, it’s easy to burn dishes over an open fire. You might want to attempt this while it’s still daylight outside.
Scout’s Outdoor Cookbook
When cooking over a fire, you’re going to most likely be using cast iron cookware, like what you see in the picture above. Cast iron is basically just what it sounds like. Iron cookware, which retains heat extremely well, will heat up quickly so watch out! We’ve burnt more than one dish in the past few years using cast iron cookware.
There are a ton of things you can do while the suns still shining on you, but no camping trip would be complete without nighttime activities! As a matter of fact, there are so many that I’m dedicating my entire next article to it. If you enjoyed this article you should keep your eyes open for my next one! I’ll go ahead and give you a bit of a sneak-peak. I’m a huge fan of night hide-and-seek!
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