If you are looking for a frugal vacation,
camping is a wonderful solution! Your family can dine amidst tall pines,
identify constellations in clear night skies and wade through crystal clear
waters.
We have put together our best
camping tips to help you get
the most out of your frugal vacation.
Pick a campsite that is near the restrooms and playground
- a short walk with little ones is much easier than a long walk. In
addition, children
are less likely to get lost if they decide to visit the bathroom or playground
without your permission.
If you have an infant or a toddler, take a
portable crib such as a pack
n play
for your child to sleep in. You can also use them during the day as
playpens. Here is an example of a Pack n Play I wish I had
when mine were little:
Graco Theresa™ Pack 'n PlayŽ Playard
This one is incredible - the features it has are amazing!
Booster seats that attach to the picnic table for children
to sit in are very helpful for meal time and provide a great place for little
ones to sit and play with toys at the table.
Give kids
walkie talkies to take with them when exploring.
We get a lot of use out of ours and it always sets my mind at ease knowing I can
contact my children if I need to.
Allow each child to carry their own flashlight.
I would not recommend getting the shakable flashlights for younger children.
We tried them and my children were not able to shake the flashlights long enough
to get decent use out of them. We are very pleased with our flashlight by
Maglite and ours came with a lifetime warranty.
Bring a large Rubbermaid container you can use as a
bathtub if you will need to bathe your infant or toddler while camping.
To get the most out of your trip, make an idea list in
advance of what you can do.
Keep sleeping bags dry by using overnight pull-ups in newly trained
children.
Give each child an emergency scream whistle to blow in case of
an emergency. 3 blows to the whistle is the standard distress call.
The popular
Emergency Scream Whistle pictured
from Walter Drake is so loud, you can hear it over roaring crowds and
raging surf! Originally sold to the Secret Service, 125 decibel blast
draws instant attention; works equally well in wet weather.
Be sure to pack
rain gear - summer months are
known for their thunderstorms.
Baby backpacks and hiking strollers are
wonderful ways to carry your baby around while camping and hiking.
Take along toys and games for the children to play with and
activities for them to do while camping. I found a website that has a
great collection of
outdoor related games and activities.
Potty Chair for younger Children (this is especially
convenient for going potty at night)
Water Wings or other type of "floaties" for non-swimmers
to wear in water
Follow local campfire regulations. If fires are permitted,
build only small ones, never leave them unattended and always put fires dead
out, especially when retiring for the night.
Pack water filters or
purification tablets for purifying lake or stream water, in case you need
more water than you've brought along.
If you are bringing your pets camping with you, be sure to
take their shot records with you. Some campsites will want to see them.
Bring a
stake and long lead for your dog to give him room
to roam, while still staying safe.
Provide plenty of water and shade for your pet at all times.
Clean up after your pets. (An easy way to do this is to
put a Ziploc baggie inside out and put on like a glove. Pick up after your
dog, seal bag and dispose of properly.)
Trim your dog's nails before you go so they don't put a
hole in the bottom of your tent.
Bring a leash. Some campsites have a short leash
law.
Keep your dog quiet. Continuous barking will disrupt
other campers.
Prevent flea and tick bites by bringing medication,
flea and tick collars or sprays. The 2 most effective brands of flea and
tick control are
Advantage and
Frontline.
Checklist of Things to Bring:
(Don't feel as though you need everything on this list - some
items are more important than others. Rather than buying everything at
once, build up your camping supplies over the years.)
Lights on a string (Christmas style lights) to string
around campsite
Folding Table (Many campsites will provide a
picnic table, but it is always nice to have an extra table to put your cook
stove on or for food preparation.)
Canopy to put over picnic table - this gives shade while
you are eating
Jackets (even during summer months, the evenings
can get cool.)
You can either buy a
First Aid Kit,
or put together your own. Some ideas to add to your kit:
tweezers, needle, nail clippers, band aids, antibiotic cream, small scissors,
Ace bandage, gauze, cortisone, feminine products, pain medication, blister pads, first aid
book...
Tissues
Toilet Paper
Bathing Soap & Shampoo
Deodorant
Feminine Products
Medication
Entertainment
Playing Cards (or other games for adults)
Binoculars
Fishing Gear
Rafts
Radio or CD Player
Don't forget to view our packing tips for
Children & Pets!
Pack your camper and experience nature in U.S. forests
across the nation. Here's just a sampling of the adventures that await.
White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire and
Maine. Spectacular foliage is a key fall attraction for visitors. The forest
includes Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast, and a variety
of wildlife, ranging from moose and black bears to peregrine falcons. Visit
www.fs.fed.us/r9/white
or call 603-528-8721.
Superior National Forest, Minnesota. Nearly 2,000
lakes and streams offer unmatched canoeing, boating and fishing in
northeastern Minnesota's north woods. Trails for novice through advanced
hikers meander through 3 million scenic acres and include access to the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Visit
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/ or call 218-626-4300, ext. 2.
Dakota Prairie Grasslands, North Dakota and South
Dakota. Four separate grasslands, including the aah Daah Hey Trail, offer
rare views of wildlife and opportunities for hiking, canoeing, fishing,
hunting and backpacking. These diverse sites range from tallgrass prairie on
rolling hills to stark badlands. Visit
www.fs.fed.us/r1/dakotaprairie or call 701-250-4443.
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National
Forests, Colorado. Located on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies,
these three forests offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the
mountain range. Sites include Bridal Veil, the tallest waterfall in
Colorado; Grand Mesa, the world's largest flattop mountain; and Dry Mesa
Dinosaur Quarry, home of the world's largest dinosaur bone fossils. Visit
www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug
or call 970-874-6600, ext. 6676.
Custer National Forest, Montana, North Dakota and
South Dakota. This ecologically diverse area includes elevation ranges of
less than 1,000 feet up to the 12,799-foot Granite Peak in Montana. Other
highlights include ancient sand dunes covered with grasslands, rugged
badlands and fields of alpine wildflowers. Visit
www.fs.fed.us/r1/custer or call 406-446-2103.
Angeles National Forest, California. Not far from
bustling Los Angeles, Angeles National Forest offers diverse topography,
ranging from 10,000-foot mountain peaks to 1,200-foot canyon bottoms. Forest
trails wind through 800 miles of rugged backcountry, scenic ridges and
tree-lined canyons. Visit
www.r5.fs.fed.us/angeles or call 626-574-5200.
Willamette National Forest, Oregon. This 1.6
million-acre forest stretches 110 miles along the western slopes of the
Cascades. Trails, roads, campgrounds and viewpoints allow visitors to enjoy
the forest's abundant rivers, streams and lakes. Seven major volcanic peaks
are part of the Willamette, along with the forested Cascade Range of
mountains. Visit www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette or call 541-465-6521
To find a National Forest in your area, visit the USDA
Forest Service (http://www.fs.fed.us/) and
use the dropdown menu to locate National Forests in your state.
Have more ideas? We would love to know how you have
taken a frugal vacation.
