If you love camping, but can't bear to leave your beloved pet at home, why not bring your pet along? You can find many pet-friendly camp and RV sites. There are also many trails and parks that welcome pets. With just a little research about pet-friendly places in the area, you can plan a vacation that you and your pet will love.
When you're preparing for a trip with your pet, you need to find an appropriately pet-friendly area. You'll need to plan your accommodations in advance. If you are RVing or camping, first find a campground that welcomes pets and then use Camping.com's reservation system to book your site. Many hotels and motels are not pet-friendly, so you may find that you're best off staying exclusively at campgrounds and RV parks.
Another important aspect of pet camping is making sure your pet is physically and medically capable of travel. Before you leave on your trip, make sure your pet has fully up-to-date vaccinations. If your pet has any special needs, such as medications or extra steps for getting in and out of the RV, make sure you are fully prepared before you leave. You also need to be sure your pet is comfortable with travel. Young animals can learn to enjoy travel if you take them on short road trips fairly often.
When you travel with a pet, you need to be as prepared for them as you are for yourself. Bring plenty of food and water, especially when you go hiking. You will also need your pet's lead and harness, if you use one, and anything you need to comfortably secure your pet while driving. Air travel with pets takes even more preparation, since airlines have specific rules regarding the transportation of animals.
The most essential aspect of camping with your pet is to have fun together. In order to do this, you will need to plan plenty of fun activities, so that both of you will enjoy the entire trip. You also need to engage in proper pet etiquette: Clean up after your pet and restrain your pet unless you are in an off-leash area. Proper pet etiquette will make your trip more enjoyable as well as making all those around you more comfortable.
The next time you get the urge to go camping, bring your pet along! You can all have fun camping together. Gather your and your pet's camping gear and be off on your next vacation with your best friend.
Camping in Search of Color
Every place you visit will have some secret spot of beauty and color. Deep in the woods you will find delicate flowers or maybe colorful fungi. Even the dry desert breaks out in color after the rains when the cactus blooms in surprising color. The delicate flowers of the cactus stand in stark contrast to their harsh spines. When you next go camping, find a spot full of color and beauty that you can treasure forever in your memory.
The seasons each have their own brilliance. Spring and autumn stand out for their impressive vibrancy. In the spring you can watch the blooming of the wildflowers and trees. In the fall you can watch the completion of the yearly cycle as the leaves change into their shocking oranges and reds and eventually fall to the ground. As winter wraps up you can find color when the crocuses break through the white of the snow as tiny specs of green, bringing with them the hope of the renewal of spring.
When you camp, spend a little time searching for the colors in the area. Find a meadow full of wildflowers or a grove of trees dropping their leaves. Nature will allow you to experience the most vivid and subtle colors. When you visit a new area and plan to take photographs, it is a good idea to have your photos developed in that area. Especially in places like Hawaii, if you have your film developed there, the colors will turn out more accurately than they would if you had the photos developed elsewhere.
People celebrate the colors of nature every year. There are wildflower celebrations held all over the United States. If you are camping in search of color, you could plan a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here in the spring you can take in the many wildflowers and participate in the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage.
The Northeastern United States has always been a destination to view the changing fall colors. If you don't live close to the northeast or you just want to take in a new sight, there are many places throughout the country where you can revel in the beauty of the fall. In the northeast, the Catskills in New York are said to have a fabulous array of trees that change color from September to October. The Great Smoky Mountains have amazing fall colors as well as spring colors. You will also find breathtaking beauty in Colorado and in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon.
On your next camping trip, take the time to search out some of nature’s colors. You can take in the splendor anywhere and anytime. Nature's beauty is as powerful in winter as it is in spring. Bring your camera, so you can take home a keepsake from your colorful camping trip. One of the greatest pleasures of camping is immersing yourself in the vibrant colors of nature.
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Base Camping
If you want to combine your love of camping with your need for relaxation, try base camping. Base or car camping is a great way to enjoy some of the joys of camping without having to carry all your equipment with you. All you have to do is pack up your camping gear, find a scenic campsite, and enjoy the comforts of a home-away-from-home.
Base camping is a more relaxing form of camping than survival type camping or backpacking. However, it is more rustic than RV camping. All you need to take on your base camping trip are your basic camping essentials. You can choose the degree of comfort you wish to enjoy during your trip.
The basic supplies you will need are; a tent large enough to comfortably fit the entire family, sleeping bags, camp stove, food and cooking equipment, wood for the campfire, and a lantern. For a more comfortable base camp you can bring along sleeping pads, an air mattress or even cots. If you have room in your car you can also pack lawn chairs, utensils, plates, cups, a bin to do dishes, and some dish soap. You can bring as much or as little as you choose, just as long as you make sure you bring what you need to be safe during your trip.
Base camping gives you a chance to set up a camp that acts as a home, while taking day trips and hikes. This type of camping allows you to leave your tent set up at your campsite each day. When you are backpacking, you have to pack all of your supplies with you throughout your trip. Base camping allows you to take a much more leisurely trip.
When getting ready for a base camping trip you need to select an appropriate campsite in the area you are planning to visit. If you are visiting a national park you can make a reservation for a campsite for the duration of your stay. Private RV parks and campgrounds provide all kinds of amenities, from swimming pools and fishing ponds to exercise rooms, restaurants, and group areas.
Base camping allows you to leave many of your camping essentials at your site when you leave for your day of adventure, but you need to make sure that your belongings remain safe. Make sure you don't leave any valuables behind when you leave. It is best not to bring any valuables that you don't plan on carrying with you at all times. Many parks warn not to leave valuables in your car for the day either. It is always prudent to plan ahead and save yourself potential headaches. Leave extra credit cards at home, and don't bring any equipment you aren't willing to either lose or store somewhere safe.
Next time you plan a camping trip, try out base camping. You will have a wonderful time having new adventures with the knowledge that you have a comfy tent and campfire waiting for you at the end of the day. Base camping can be as relaxing or as difficult as you would like. Enjoy exploring the wilds of America from the comfort of your home-away-from-home when you next go camping.
Tailgating
Are you ready to throw the ultimate pavement party? Whether you're in a campground, a stadium, or are holding an impromptu family reunion, tail gating is a great way to go. While it's generally associated with football games, a tailgate party is something you can put together just about anywhere. All you need is great food, drinks, and a group of fun people and you're ready to go.
Plan Your Menu
Whether you're planning a sporting event tailgating party or just want to stop for a group meal while you caravan with family and friends, it's important to think through your menu. You may want to have a theme, or to ask each person to bring a particular dish. For football and baseball fans you might pick a theme that has to do with their favorite team, such as cheese steaks for the Pittsburgh Steelers or dirty beans and rice for the New Orleans Saints. For a NASCAR race you might do southern favorites like chicken wings, beer can chicken and BBQ ribs. Let your imagination run wild or opt for the classic burgers, hot dogs and assorted bags of chips and dip.
What to Bring
Don't forget the non-food supplies you'll need: plates, utensils, napkins, paper towels, a trash bag, a cooler with ice, and water. If you want your guests to take leftovers home with them, consider packing a box of Ziplock bags or some plastic wrap and spare paper plates and bowls. A small first aid kit is always smart, as is sunscreen and insect repellent.
It's also smart to pack your car with a few just-in-case items. Toilet paper, jumper cables, and spare plastic bags almost always come in handy. Rain gear will help you stay dry even if the weather doesn't cooperate. Lawn chairs will make it easier to sit back and relax. And extra ice will help you keep your drinks cold even on a hot day. Wear a hat, bring sunscreen and sunglasses, dress in layers, and wear comfortable shoes.
Cooking Methods
Some tailgaters prefer to bring pre-cooked or ready-to-eat foods like sandwiches, salads, and chips. Another option is to invest in a small hibachi grill, briquettes, and lighter fluid. If you decide to grill, don't forget spatulas and other grilling equipment, plus a cooler for storing your burgers and dogs before cooking.
Sporting Event Tailgating
If you're planning a traditional sporting event tailgating party, be sure to arrive early. It's critical that you find a good parking spot, ideally near a grassy area so you have more space for lawn chairs and relaxing. If friends are joining you, get a flag, balloon, or other object that you can fly on a high pole, so they can spot your vehicle. Be sure to wear your team colors and have a good time! Tailgating is a great way to get to know new people, so don't be shy--chat with other tailgaters. Don't forget to swap recipes and menu ideas.
Get your grill going early, if you're using one. You'll want to have the food ready about an hour before the game, so you have time to clean up and put out the fire long before it's time to enter the stadium. It's important that you leave your area clean, and you certainly won't want to do any picking up after the game is finished. Try to have everything packed up before you head in.
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