Get Outdoors and Go Camping

Well, we made it through another winter filled with snow, ice and rain! Spring is upon all of us and summer is just around the corner. There is no better time than this month to get up off the couch and get outdoors, either alone or with family and friends. Getting outdoors is as simple as putting on sneakers and heading out to walk around the block. Getting outdoors can also be as restful as going to a local park and laying under a shade tree. Walk that dog. Walk those kids. Walk yourself!

For those that want a little more activity involving the Great Outdoors! try simple camping, again by yourself, with family and/or with friends. There is something very memorable about a group of friends and families going tent camping together. This can be done without a lot of camping equipment, in fact, a tent, blankets, pillows, an electric skillet and an ice chest (oh, flashlights are a must, it gets real dark out there at night!) are all you need to make a trip that all will talk about for years. Food is basic, gotta have hot dogs and marshmallows of course, bacon and eggs for that outdoor breakfast, drinks, and lots of snacks.

Most campgrounds have sites with electric (a must for the skillet camper like me), as well as fire rings for campfires at night. (Gotta toast those marshmallows) There is always an abundance of free wood on the ground in surrounding tree areas and kids love to go find pieces for kindling. Campgrounds usually have stacked wood at a central location, most of the time free, for the nightly fires.

Shower facilities are readily available at state campgrounds and are maintained daily. For those of us that don't like daddy-long-legger spiders on the walls in the showers we just have to not look up while bathing!

Another possibility for the first time camper, or even the skilled camper that doesn't want to fool with campground set up is the cabin camping that is offered at a lot of campgrounds throughout the United States. These cabins are usually one or two bedroom with kitchens and sometimes fireplaces. You may need to bring your own bedding and towels, kitchen utensils are sometimes provided, just check with the management when you make your reservations. There is still, and always will be, the dreaded daddy-long-legger issue, but you just have to toughen up and try to ignore them! Some of these cabins even have bathrooms, but if not, the campground will have convenient facilities within comfortable walking distance.

Nothing gets kids outdoors more than camping, whether tent camping or cabin camping. Campgrounds sometimes have in-ground pools, hiking trails, volleyball areas, horseshoes, fishing, or even lake areas with roped off swimming areas.

If this is a first time experience just jump right in and get out into the great outdoors and make memories for you, your family and friends! There is no right or wrong way to enjoy this experience, and practice always makes you better, so get out often and enjoy the Great Outdoors!