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The Four Camping Styles
The Four Camping Styles
There's a camping style to fit every group, family, and situation. Depending on what you value most—freedom, comfort, flexibility, independence—you can find the perfect camping style for you. Every style has its benefits, and every one will give you a secure home during your upcoming camping adventure.TENT CAMPING
Tents come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, suitable for one person, two people, or a whole family. Kids usually love tent camping, in part because a tent is such a snug, kid-sized house. Many adults are less thrilled by the hardships of tent camping—sleeping on the ground in a small space without much headroom. But tent camping also offers the ultimate in flexibility, economy, and independence. Tents don't take up much room, they don't require much gear, and they're welcome almost everywhere camping is permitted.
It takes some practice to put up and stow a tent, so it's smart to test your tent out at home before your trip. You'll also want to consider the weather forecast before tent camping. Even with a good rain fly, tent camping can turn into a real challenge if it rains for days on end without giving your tent a chance to dry out. For more tips, see our article on tent camping.
CAMPER, TRAILER, OR POP-UP CAMPING
Campers and pop-ups are generally smaller than RVs, but offer a more substantial camping home than a tent. Trailers come in a range of sizes. Most of these offer special amenities like a gas stove, gas lamps, fold-out beds, collapsible tables, and cupboard storage. Many are roomy enough for whole families to enjoy, with separate sleeping quarters for the parents and the kids.
Because they're more expensive than tents, these are best for people who camp several times a year or who like to go for extended stays of 3 days or more. Unique challenges include hooking up the brake lights and turn-signals, hitching up, and backing up with a trailer. The benefits are many—you get a snug, warm, dry place to stay that's a lot like a small house, right down to the screens on the windows.
RV CAMPING
With an RV, you truly take your home on the road. RVs come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find the perfect one to fit your dreams. Most come with a stove, small refrigerator, an over-the-cab bed, a fold-out bed, a table with seating, and a small bathroom. Because the cab is connected to the rest of the RV, it's easy to move back and forth between the two.
RVs are extremely self-sufficient, letting people camp in places that don't have any facilities. They're also widely available for rent. Challenges include keeping track of gas, water, and other fluid levels, and parking the RV in tight or awkward spaces. When you go RV camping, you may also want to bring along another car for exploring your destination area, or toys like ATVs, bikes, snowmobiles, and small boats.
CABIN CAMPING
The closest thing to a home away from home is cabin camping. This gets you near to nature, with the wilderness just beyond your front door, but gives you all the comforts of a hotel or motel room. Cabins often have regular beds, full kitchens, air conditioning, TVs with other electronic equipment, and full bathrooms. Some cabins are far more rustic, so it's important to find out what your situation will be before you head out. Many require that you bring your own bedding, linens, cooking equipment, and food.
Cabin camping is a great way to camp with small children, people who are new to camping, or anyone who appreciates the comforts of home, but wants an outdoors experience. Cabins are a great choice if you think the weather might be bad, since they offer plenty of room, light, and options for things to do.
- Category: Camp Styles
River Camping
From the mighty Mississippi to small, rippling creeks that scatter past rocks with a spray of white, waterways carry a touch of magic. Rivers have their own pulse – and a life cycle, swelling in the spring and shrinking with the heat of summer. And they're also the source of life. River ecosystems support fish, water birds, insects, and frogs. They draw a range of mammals to their banks, from deer and bears to muskrats and river otters. With all this activity, it's no wonder we're drawn to river camping!
Not only are rivers easy to find – they're on every continent except Antarctica – but they're also tremendously varied. You can camp beside broad rivers like the wide Missouri, by twisting ones like the Snake, or by gurgling mountain streams. Rivers can be deep enough for shipping or shallow enough to wade across. There are white-water rivers that race by and quiet-moving ones with shallow bends where dragonflies like to play.
Part of the draw of river camping is the activity it provides. A river is the ultimate playground. You and your family can spend hours wading through the water or inner tubing downstream on a hot summer's day. Fishing is an eternally popular river sport. Some rivers support white-water rafting with raft guides, while others are quiet enough to kayak or boat on your own. Rivers are also fabulous places to watch for wildlife. Hawks, eagles, and other large raptors perch in trees above rivers. Fish swim and jump through river waters. And the insect population draws groups of birds and bats. If you go river camping this June, be sure to bring your guide books and binoculars!
If you're likely to be playing on your river, you might want to bring a pair of old tennis shoes to wear into the water. Underwater rocks and snags can be painful, especially when your feet are already chilled by river water – shoes can protect your skin. If your hands are prone to drying and cracking, you might wear gloves if you're likely to be getting your hands wet.
If you're having a problem with mosquitoes and bugs, you can drive them off with a smoky fire (if fires are permitted at your campsite), citronella candles, or mosquito repellant. It's important to take pains to keep your campsite dry, especially if you're tent camping. Be sure to use a durable tarp under your tent and a rain fly that's in good working condition. And if you'll be wading in the river, of course you'll want to have several pairs of dry socks.
As always, you'll want to wear sunscreen when you're river camping, and be sure to drink plenty of clean water. With the cool river water below you, it's easy to sweat more than you realize, especially in the sunny month of June. So don't forget to drink those fluids!
Rivers have a poetry all their own. With their constant motion and symphony of sounds, they add their soothing rhythm to your camping experience. This summer, as you camp, take a moment to appreciate your river and its unique, wild magic.
- Category: Camp Styles
Beach Camping
Heading to the beach this summer? Ready for a coastal vacation? The beach is a perfect family destination. Where else can one person relax with a book while another goes fishing, another looks for sand dollars, and yet another wades in the surf? Between the sunshine and water, beaches truly have something for everyone. Whether you'll be camping at the lakeside, along the ocean, or near a rocky coast, certain things are always the same about beach camping.
To ensure an enjoyable beach vacation, you'll want to think through a day of swimming. Do you have swimsuits and sunscreen for everyone, including higher SPF sunscreen for the kids? What about water toys like snorkels and masks, flippers, boogie boards, and other floating toys? Will kids be building sand castles with pails and shovels, or will you want bird watching binoculars, containers for shells, or fishing tackle and nets?
If you'll be headed to a rocky beach or a lake that may have submerged sticks and logs, wading shoes are a great idea. These closed-toed shoes—old tennis shoes or canvas shoes work well—will protect your feet in the water. Wading shoes need to be inexpensive, so you can leave them outside without worrying
After your swimmers come out of the water, they'll need a way to rinse off, either in a public beach shower, an RV park shower, or with a shower bag that's been left to heat up on the top of your RV. Be sure to bring plenty of beach towels. Ideally, you'll have different towels for lying on the sand than the ones you use for drying off after your shower, otherwise you'll cover yourself with sand all over again. At your campsite, a doormat outside your RV or tent is a great way to remove sand at the door.
If you're camping in an established RV park or campground, you don't need to worry about the placement of your camping spot. But if you're tent, car-camping, or RV camping on your own, be sure to avoid headlands and sand dunes that can be disastrous in storms and high winds. Place your tent or RV in a sheltered spot that's away from ant hills and wetlands (that may be filled with mosquitoes).
For many people, beach camping is all about the toys you bring with you. Whether you're avid kayakers, windsurfers, canoers, boogie boarders, sailors, or jet skiers, you'll want to come prepared. Check with the chamber of commerce of the nearest town to learn about equipment rentals and their policies. Be sure to bring enough life jackets and paddles, plus any small coolers or waterproof bags that you might want to carry your lunch and gear in. Brimmed hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses are a must on the water.
Once you arrive at your beach of choice, look for signs and postings notifying you about local events or dangers. Be alert for red tide, Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish, rip tides, and other hazards. Odds are that your beach is safe, but it's always best to keep your eyes open.
If you have a beach umbrella, you'll have plenty of shade from the heat of the day. If you don't, consider putting up an awning or tarp from your RV or bringing a tent that you cover with just the rain fly for a shady area that says cool on sunny days.
- Category: Camp Styles
Green is Beautiful - Greener Camping Ideas
No one appreciates the great outdoors quite like the people who like to live and play in it. Campers – whether they camp in tents, RVs, truck-campers, cabins or cottages – are the original eco-warriors. This month our nation celebrates you and the wilderness spaces you treasure with Keep America Beautiful month. And with Earth Day right around the corner on April 22, this is a prime time to focus on going green and staying green.
No one appreciates the great outdoors quite like the people who like to live and play in it. Campers – whether they camp in tents, RVs, truck-campers, cabins or cottages – are the original eco-warriors. This month our nation celebrates you and the wilderness spaces you treasure with Keep America Beautiful month. And with Earth Day right around the corner on April 22, this is a prime time to focus on going green and staying green.
The next best thing you can do is to practice Leave No Trace camping. This is as basic as it sounds – your goal is to leave the wilderness, or your campsite, exactly the way you found it, untouched by your presence. That means picking up all trash and taking it away with you or putting it in the RV park trash cans. It also means not trampling the underbrush, not creating any new trails, and not dumping food waste in the woods. Clearly the old romantic idea of carving initials into a tree’s bark has no place in the world of Leave No Trace camping! Your goal is to come and go, leaving a pristine wild area behind you. As long as you take away only photographs and memories, you’re doing a terrific job.
If you’d like to do something extra to pitch in on Earth Day, check out the activities in your local community. Many cities and towns host Earth Day fairs, where you can learn more about alternative energy, native plants, conservation, and wildlife. These fairs are a lot of fun and they’re a great place to learn new things. Are you ready to have the first solar-powered RV? Want to learn about bio fuels? An eco fair is the perfect place to do it.
You might also be able to join in hands-on Keep America Green activities like trash pick-ups, tree plantings, weeding out invasive species, or joining in a bird count. Your family could take the Earth Day challenge – see if you can be electricity-free for a full day. Unplug all your electronics and spend your time going out for hikes, playing board games, and reading by candlelight. It’s more fun than you’d expect!
This month is a perfect time for RV campers to think about ways to cut down on energy and gas use in their RVs. It isn’t just good for the planet; it’s also good for your pocketbook. You can replace your regular light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, check the weather-stripping on your doors and windows, and plan your drives to conserve gas, running your errands all in one trip instead of heading out on individual trips to the store, gas station, and shopping mall.
Did you know you can save gas by accelerating more slowly? A few minutes of browsing on the Internet will give you more fuel efficiency tips that’ll add up to money in your pocket.
Campers know the value of nature better than anyone. This month, wear that badge with pride as you lead the charge toward making America greener than ever. The planet will be more beautiful because of it!
- Category: Camp Styles
Glamping - Extreme Luxury Camping
A soft bed, a gourmet dinner, comfortable seating – sound like a great way to camp? Welcome to the modern world of glamping, or glamour camping. Whether you have a young family that isn’t ready for sleeping bags and campfires or you’re looking for a kinder, friendlier camping experience, glamping just might be perfect for you.
For many people, the hardships of camping are such a turnoff that their first camping trip is also their last. But have no fear -- many RV parks and campgrounds today offer more luxurious amenities. This isn’t your grandpa’s kind of camping! You can ditch the tent and dehydrated food in favor of a bright, clean cabin or cottage, one with a real bed and mattress. Enjoy a real pillow, and blankets or comforters instead of sleeping bags. Tents come in new bright colors and can be hooked up to electrical power, so you can run a reading light, appliances, and a heater or small air conditioner.
Of course, the idea of comfortable camping is nothing new to RVers. These clever folks long ago traded in their tents and thin foam pads for the comfort of a real bed, a bathroom, a small kitchen, and a real dining table with cushy seating. But even RV campers can go upscale by camping at a resort campground with full amenities. You might find a hot tub, spa, and exercise room in addition to the usual swimming pool. Some parks have their own restaurant, snack bar, and cantina, and many come equipped with wide-screen TVs in the park lounge and arcade games for the kids. Many also make it easy to take an outing into the great outdoors, with rental boats and sail boards or camp-organized horseback riding trips. A few even organize wine-tasting trips or shuttles to nearby quaint towns for shopping, dining, and day hikes.
You can create your own glamping experience with just a little careful planning. There’s no reason you can’t bring the makings for a gourmet meal on your next RV trip, along with fresh herbs, sauces, real glasses, and a bottle of wine. If you’re tent camping, why not bring your pillow, a blow-up air mattress, and blankets from home? You can carry a cooler with fresh fruit, sparkling water, or gourmet chocolate bars. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be comfortable while you camp! So take a tip from the glampers and make your next camping vacation be the one you remember for the scenery, the wildlife, and the amazing hikes instead of for the uncomfortable sleeping experience.
- Category: Camp Styles
Will Camp for Fish!
There are as many different fishing styles as there are people who fish—or fish in the sea. And in every case, the type of fishing they prefer determines everything from their destination to the schedule of the day. Whether you go angling in the lake, fly fishing on the river, or deep sea fishing in the ocean, you have something in common. You’re drawn to the idea of catching the water’s bounty with a rod and reel. As any fisher known, fishing isn’t always easy, but it’s always a challenge!
Every type of fishing comes with its specialized equipment. Fly fishers have their hip waders and flies that mimic the bugs fish naturally seek out. Anglers have their line weights, special hooks, and bait. Deep sea fishers seek out their catch by consulting fishing guides and charter companies. Many people were drawn to the art of fishing as children, when they examined the contents of their father’s tackle box and went on their first fishing trip. As adults, they may be fascinated by the gadgets of the sport, the depth-finders, chargers, maps, and cords.
Most people like to be comfortable while they’re fishing, whether that means dressing appropriately or bringing the right snacks and beverages in the boat. You may like to take an ice chest with you, stocked with cold drinks and goodies. Or a thermos of coffee might be the perfect way to warm things up on a chilly morning. And you’ll certainly want to take along sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a windbreaker or several warm layers. Temperatures change quickly on the water, so you’ll want to be prepared.
And of course you’ll be prepared for the fish you’ll catch. Whether you practice catch-and-release or are hoping to take your trout home for dinner, you’ll need to be ready to handle the fish you pull in. Maybe they’ll hang outside the boat in a basket, waiting for the end of the day—or maybe they’ll swim out of your hands, back into the wild.
The popularity of fishing has never waned. In 2001, 16% of American adults spent an average of 16 days fishing. That’s 34 million anglers! Freshwater fishing is the most popular type. Anglers are busy fishing in America’s lakes and streams. Every year, more than 28 million anglers spend a total of 467 million days fishing.
Fishing has a magical, zen quality about it. Many people extol the meditative qualities of fishing and the power of being out in the early morning quiet. You may have some magical fishing memories of your own, times when you saw the fog lift right around you, or saw a group of loons swim by. You might have seen otters on the coast or been overcome by swarms of bugs on the lake. Maybe you’ve even pushed your fishing habits to the extreme. Have you ever toted your rod and tackle up a mountain trail to do some fishing in an alpine lake? Ever fished from a pier in the coast or waded directly into the surf? Maybe you’ve spent your time searching after that elusive type of fish, the salmon, rainbow trout, or tuna of your dreams. Whatever your fishing style, fishing is a part of your life that deserves to be celebrated. Why not try a new lake or river this weekend?
- Category: Camp Styles
Catch The Aloha Spirit
It doesn’t matter where you are—everyone can use a dose of island culture from time to time! With its laid-back and relaxed attitude, the essence of Hawaii is worth capturing during any time of year.
The Aloha spirit is all about friendliness, and many Hawaiian customs exist to reinforce a strong sense of community. The quintessential Hawaiian party is the luau, a communal feast that’s often a potluck, with guests bringing their own specialty desserts and dishes. Wherever you are this month, why not plan a Hawaiian-themed potluck of your own? These work well in RV parks and campgrounds, where all the guests can meet in the camp picnic area. Your guests could bring pork and pineapple dishes, banana cream pies with coconut, burgers with mango toppings, and flavored drinks like mai tais and piña coladas. You might even try making poi, the historic staple of Hawaii. Made from pounded taro root, poi is traditionally eaten with your hands, using a few fingers as a spoon.
At Hawaiian potlucks, it’s considered good manners to take a plate of food home with you at the end of the evening. This not only helps your hosts clean up, it lets them feed good about spreading the party’s festivities onward. It’s also customary for guests in Hawaii to bring a small gift for their host. This gift is called “makana,” and it reflects the generous culture of the islands.
The slow pace of Hawaiian culture is known fondly as “island time.” People who live by island time aren’t precise about their schedules, and it’s common for them to run a little late all day long. By the same token, drivers on the road aren’t usually in a hurry. Even in the traffic of Oahu, drivers tend to follow the speed limit whether they’re in the fast lane or not. Things in Hawaii aren’t too spread out, so there’s no need to rush from one location to another. Think of all the stress we could prevent if mainlanders adopted this frame of mind.
This happy Hawaiian attitude flows over into the style of dress. Instead of struggling into a suit and tie—let alone high heels—people in Hawaii wear sandals and shorts, flowered Aloha shirts, and pretty print dresses. Women may wear a flower tucked behind one ear (the right ear for single women; left ear for married or attached women).
Leis are an iconic part of Hawaiian culture, but in reality they’re reserved for special occasions like weddings, graduations, birthdays, and promotions. The next time you’re celebrating, why not go Hawaiian-style with leis, a luau, and frosty fresh-fruit cocktails? You could dance the hula, eat luau-style at a long banquet, or even go for a big group canoe ride. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have surfing waves nearby or tropical palms waving overhead. The point is to capture the warm, graceful spirit of the islands and bring some of that relaxation into your own life.
Christmas is a particularly fun time to go Hawaiian. Winter is a traditional time of celebration in Hawaii, when native peoples gave thanks for the bounty of the earth. Originally, this was a four-month period called Makahiki when no one was allowed to fight or go to war. In Hawaii, a few local treats are usually served alongside traditional Christmas foods like turkey and fruitcake. You might enjoy lumpia, coconut pudding, tamales, poke, and sushi. Manapua is a popular kind of steamed roll that’s filled with chicken or pork. Some families have a complete luau for Christmas with a pig roasted in an underground pit. They’ll also eat chicken long rice, lomilomi salmon, and poi. Christmas usually begins with Santa arriving in a magic outrigger canoe and ends with singing carols such as Mele Kalikimaka.
Honoring the earth is important to Hawaiians. In Hawaii there are many taboos against taking things away from natural places. For instance, curses have been known to fall on people who take black sand from the beach or rocks from volcanic sites.
To lend an authentic touch to your Hawaiian festivities, try using a few common Hawaiian phrases. We all know that “aloha” is both hello and goodbye, but did you also know how to say thank you (mahalo) or thumbs up (shaka). You can ask for a plate of “pupus” or appetizers (as in a pupu platter), wear a puku shell necklace, or ask a band for an encore by shouting “hana hou” (do it again).
No matter where you live, it’s time to spice up your life with a little island flavor! From its tasty foods to casual dress, Hawaiian is a good way to be.
- Category: Camp Styles
Potlucks
Are you ready to learn something new—or show the world your hidden talent? Then it’s potluck time! This great American tradition is alive and well at campgrounds and RV parks around the country. Potlucks are a great way to meet people and make new friends, and they provide their own conversational material because you can always talk about who made what dish. In fact, if you’re short of small talk at a potluck, try praising a dish you enjoy. Someone there is sure to leave with a happy smile.
Many RV parks hold regular potlucks. These events serve a dual purpose—they provide a great meal for all the attendees, and they help park guests get to know each other better. If you’re headed to a potluck, be sure to ask your host two questions: How many servings should you bring? And what type of food should you bring? Many potluck organizers have a system for dividing the dishes, so they get a roughly even number of salads, main courses, and desserts.
A quick note about potluck etiquette. It’s customary to bring all of your own serving dishes, from bowls or platters to serving spoons and forks. The host provides the rest of the equipment (dishes, flatware, napkins, cups, etc.). Be sure to pick up your dish when you leave, and if you like, you can offer to leave any leftovers with your host. Sometimes potlucks end with a leftover exchange, so be prepared to take home extra rolls, cookies, and other goodies!
Many people have supposed that the word potluck comes from the Native American term Potlatch, which describes a large social get-together with an exchange of gifts. The term is actually English and was first used in the 1500s as “pot lucke,” probably describing a feast where the guests were lucky to get whatever was in the cooking pot.
Large families and groups of friends that like to have get-togethers are pros at potlucks. This is a great way for groups that don’t see each other often to come together without any one person having to bear the stress of putting on a huge meal. Everyone brings something, and that lightens the load. Too, this is a way for everyone to get to enjoy old favorites like Aunt Sally’s crescent rolls or Uncle Jim’s Caesar salad. If you have a superb dish that you like to make, don’t keep it from the world. Be sure to sign yourself up for the potluck at your next RV park destination and share your skills with everyone. You’ll make plenty of friends, especially those who want your recipe!
A fun variation on the potluck dinner that would work well in an RV park setting is the Progressive Dinner or Safari Supper. Every RV or campsite is assigned one dish or course of the meal (hors d’oeuvres, salad, bread, main course, and so on). The diners all gather together and visit the first house for their first course, then progress on to the second and third until they reach the dessert house. It’s a festive way to enjoy a meal.
If you’re not a confident cook but would like to attend a potluck, here are a few no-fail dishes you can make and bring. And if you’re really timid in the kitchen, just ask your host if there are beverages you can bring. These are always needed and welcome at a large group get-together, and buying them doesn’t take anything more than a trip to the grocery store.
EASY JELLO SALAD
Serves 12 to 15.
1 sm. instant vanilla pudding
1 (16 oz.) can fruit cocktail
1 (16 oz.) can pineapple chunks
1 med. size container Cool Whip™
1 c. miniature marshmallows
1 c. chopped walnuts
Place pudding mix in large bowl. Add fruit cocktail and pineapple chunks (along with juice from both). Blend in Cool Whip. Add marshmallows and nuts. Chill for 3 hours.
THREE BEAN SALAD
Serves 12 to 15.
1 can (16 oz.) green beans, drained
1 can (16 oz.) waxed beans, drained
1 can (16 oz.) kidney beans, drained
1 med. red or sweet white onion, sliced thin
3 tbsp. sugar or sweeten to taste
1/4 c. vinegar
Mix first three ingredients, then layer onion in. Mix sugar and vinegar together and pour over salad. Refrigerate overnight.
- Category: Camp Styles
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