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As seasoned campers we know the important items that have to be taken with us to help insure we have an enjoyable camping experience. The great thing about camping is as long as you have your essentials camping is not much different than being at home except you are outdoors.
When packing, keep it simple, shelter, warmth, food, and maybe some entertainment are the main concerns. The basic needs for life are dry shelter, a warm bed, and good food; this applies at home or away from home.
A good tent is required for shelter. There are three types of tents. The A frame tents that has been around the longest and sleeps one or two people comfortably; however, this tent is the least popular with campers. The cabin style tent which can be the largest of tents are great for families wanting that extra space or private rooms. Some of these tents come with outdoor screen room or an outdoor canopy. The most popular tent is the dome tent. Easy to put up and take down some even have color coded poles. These tents are excellent at shedding water and can withstand heavy winds. The only downfall with this tent is the dome shape gives less height room along the sides.
A good sleeping bag is necessary for night time warmth. However, they are not cushioned enough to sleep directly on the ground. This is where a good sleeping pad will come in handy. The sleeping pad will also keep the ground from draining body heat from you while you sleep. The best sleeping pads are the foam-filled, self-inflating pads, or many campers prefer the air mattress.
Aw dinner time, the last essential for comfort and one of the most important, for this is one element we just cannot do without. Outdoor cooking can be a disaster or it can be a very rewarding experience. For the most part one can make this very simple on a one or two day camping trip. Sandwiches are about the easiest thing to prepare, not much can go wrong with this. However, sandwiches can get pretty old quickly. A good idea is to always include the kids in the planning of the meals.
A good camping stove or camping grill will be needed to prepare the food with. A two burner stove or a stove with burner and grill would be ideal. Maybe some paper plates and plastic utensils will be best to eat with. Most campgrounds have a grill or fire pit grill combination that will work great for most cooking. However, charcoal can be more expensive than other fuels.
Some entertainment will be needed to help keep the kids and adults alike busy. The choices for entertainment are pretty much unlimited. The type of entertainment will vary from camper to camper; however, keep it simple, easy to pack, and takes up little room.
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