Do you love camping? You are not alone. In 2011, American families spent 534.9 million days camping. In 2013, at least 40.1 million people who were over the age of six took camping trips. One reason so many people like it is that there are a lot of different kinds of camping trips. Many people are turning to camp resorts for their family vacations. If you are going to head out for a camping trip, here are some tips to make your vacation great.
- Get the rules from the camp resorts. If you are looking to plan your family vacation at one of the very popular camp resorts, you should find out what their reservation policies are because you may have to book your space a long time in advance. Not all family campground allow you to book up too far in advance. You should also ask about what you would need to do if you have to cancel your family camping trip. Some require a deposit so that is another thing you need to ask about.
- Never stop looking at the weather. The vast majority of people who like to take family camping trips like to do a variety of things. At least 87% of them report that they enjoy participating in multiple outdoor activities. Knowing what the weather is going to be like will help you pack the right clothing. Though when you are camping, it is always a good idea to pack so that everyone can dress in layers.
- Get as much information about your cabin as you can. Camp resorts often have a lot of this information on their websites but if you have any question, you should call and ask. The kinds of amenities that are included in cabins can differ dramatically. You should specifically find out about the heating or cooling systems. Some camp resorts have cabins with heating and air conditioning and some do not. Typically, if it is not mentioned in the online description, it probably is not included.
- Get your cooking arrangements set. Some camp resorts have cabins with full kitchens. Others have partial kitchens. If you are traveling with small children, this is really critical to the success of your trip. You need to know what you will have available to you. It can really be helpful to go to a cabin with a full oven, microwave and refrigerator. You can still have a good trip if you have to cook everything on a fire pit but you need to know that is the situation before you go in.
- Plan your meals. Before you take a family camping trip, you should go through the days you will be away and plan all of your meals. You need to factor in snacks as well. You can do a lot of preparation work before you go. That can include cutting vegetables, partially cooking some potatoes and planning out what you will eat and how you will prepare it. This will cut down on the amount of time you have to spend doing these things while you are on your family camping vacation.
- Talk to the staff. The people who work at camp resorts around the country know their facilities better than anybody. You should see if they have fun family activities that you may want to try during your stay. There may be educational things to do or see that you would not otherwise know about. Some campgrounds run scavenger hunts, have guided nature walks and things similar to that. They also may be able to tell you about things within the park that you are not going to want to miss. It is worth asking them. They can give you more of the history of the park.
- Shut off your electronics. We all could use some time away from our devices. This will give you some real quality time to bond with your family. Facebook, SnapChat and all the rest will be there when your vacation is over.
Many adults have fond memories of camping with their families as children. These trips are great for families to get away and spend time together doing fun and healthy things.
