Camps. Have you ever noticed how many different meanings one word can have? For example, there is the military training camp, a boot camp and even a training camp. Or perhaps the word reminds you of times where you used to play cowboys in the neighborhood and pretended to sit around a campfire. It may even remind you of some of the great times you and your family had when you went camping at some remote lake.

The purpose for setting up a camp can be for different reasons also. Some may be done strictly for pleasure, like summer camp or camping with the family. There are also some that are for training purposes, much like a military boot camp, and sometimes it is necessary to camp in certain areas to carry on research.

Have your kids expressed an interest in going to camp in the summer? There are many, many different types of summer camps for kids and usually several of them will fit your needs. Studies have indicated that children in the 6 to 10 age group will adjust much quicker to camp, as opposed to an older child.

You may also be under the impression that your child and a friend going at the same time may make it easier for them. However, usually the opposite is true. If it is their first time at camp, then they are likely to stick together and resist the idea of making new friends. Or sometimes one child will be more outgoing, making new friends while the other becomes more shy or withdrawn.

If you have a child with a specific interest or hobby, then many summer camp programs include a specialty camp. If your child enjoys tennis, then a tennis camp may be perfect. There are computer camps for the techie in your family, or perhaps an art camp for your budding Picasso.

Of course, depending on the child’s age there will other options available to you. There are also programs available for children with special needs. These types of programs can really be something special for your child and can give them a great sense of accomplishment.

For the director, The American Camp Association suggests the following minimum requirements: a bachelor’s degree, complete in-service training within the past three years and at least 16 weeks of camp administrative experience before assuming a director’s role. In the end there is only one happy camper to worry about, and that is your own.

by Mike Selvon

As your home away from home, it’s important to choose the tent for camping that will serve the needs of you and your family so that you remain safe, comfortable, and can enjoy your camping vacation. One of the most important things to consider when looking at a tent for camping is where you plan to use it.

• Find flat and high ground to build your camping tent on. High ground will help your tent and sleeping bags stay dry in case of rain, and level ground will make building your tent easier and allow you to get more comfortable rest during the night.

• Use a tarp or ground cloth. This piece of supplementary gear for your camping tent is cheap to purchase, as low as ten dollars, and will help keep your tent dry during wet weather. A tarp or ground cloth under your tent will also protect it from rocks and other ground materials that may tear or damage your camping tent.

• Your tent will most likely come with stacks, and it is a good idea to stack your tent to the ground. Simply hammer in the stacks with a heavy rock or hammer on each side to secure your tent. This will prevent the tent from being blown if you experience winds and will also keep it from moving while you are inside of the tent.

If you plan to do winter camping or even cold altitude camping in warmer climates, then you would want to look for a four season tent. If you are alone, then obviously you won’t need as much space as if you need to fit a family of six into your tent for camping. Or, if you prefer, you can still have some privacy for the people in your group while camping under one ‘roof’ by purchasing a tent that has flaps which act as dividers inside the tent in order to create 2 or more interior ‘rooms.

You should also invest in a good ground sheet to reinforce the tent for camping and protect it from rips, tears and wear, as well as to keep the groundwater away from you

Keeping these simple pointers in mind will have you well on your way to learning how to build a camping tent. Also, remember never to build your camping tent within twenty feet of your grill or campfire.
by Philippe De Tiege

When it comes to children’s summer camp there are two main descriptions of summer camps, but there are several different types. The first one is the day camp, where attendees take part in the camp during day and return home in the afternoon or evening. The other designation is “sleep away summer camp” other wise known as overnight camp. Both type of camp could last from a single day or a week time or even more.

Various entities offer children summer camps you can find girls summer camp and boys summer camp separately as well as co-ed summer camp, from schools and churches to sports programs. There are arrowhead camps, dance camps, summer camps for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and even dedicated camps, including those for people with disabilities or particular needs. Summer camps might be firmly for boys or girls, or they might be co-ed but only for children. There are summer camps accessible for adults too, such as performing arts camps, but adults and children are not generally incorporated in the same camp setting.

Aside from sports and scout camps, there are as well spa camps, work out and training camps, weight loss camps and boot camps, in addition to summer camps are designed mainly for hobbies. These comprise everything from art and music to science. You must have no problem selecting a camp, which actually matches your child’s requirements, interests and personality.

The activities accessible at different summer camps comprise all from learning how to skateboard or ride a horse, to getting ready for higher education and performing society service. Your child could skill everything from diving, fishing and archery, to learning about computers or knowing new forms of worship. From dirt bike racing to snorkeling, and from tennis to dancing, there is impressive for every taste.

Summer camps could be a form of holiday, a learning experience, or a bit of both. Some of the maximum benefits summer camps provide is the chance for children to make new friends, learn new skills or just look up upon current ones, and stay busy and active all through the summer months.
by Ron Victor

Going camping and cleanliness seems to be almost opposite goals. After all, the very act of camping means going out into nature, living with the animals, subjecting yourself to the elements and cooking, eating and sleeping on the ground. Nonetheless, cleanliness throughout your camp out experience is crucial both to the day in, day out life in camp and to your health and mental serenity throughout the time you are “roughing it”.

The actual challenge of camping is finding ways to have a good quality of life without many of he niceties that our modern lifestyle affords us. For the most part, few of us go camping because we have to. We camp for recreation and probably for relatively short periods of time. Nevertheless good hygiene and camp cleanliness is essential for everyone’s well being and to assure that you stay organized and go bed each night knowing you camped well.

As with anything that leads to your success in camping, preparation makes the difference. Part of being prepared for camping and making it possible for you to stay clean over several days in camp comes from knowing what to expect. So check the weather forecast for the area where you will be camping so that if there is rain predicted, you can come prepared to clean up some wet and muddy campers. But even if the forecast is clear and dry, it always pays to be prepared for any sudden change in the weather while camping. So there are some things you should always do for every campout to keep your camp site clean and your campers that way too.

Good camping gear can help you maintain some level of civilized cleanliness during the campout. A well sealed tent can keep water out so even if some dust and dirt gets inside, it won’t turn your tent interior into a mudslide. Also bring plenty of cleaning supplies to ripe down tables, clean up dirty tent floors and to clean up campers as well. Other than that, the best preparation is going to the camp site knowing full well that your camping crew is going to get dirty and being ready to clean them up for meals and bedtime.

During the camp day, your standards of cleanliness can be a bit more relaxed. After all, if the kids come back from the camp playground covered in dust but the next activity is a hike to the lake, just getting them to a basic health level of cleanliness such as clean faces and hands is probably sufficient. You can allow the dirt to become part of their uniforms of a camping family and just relax for a while and let them have fun.

Obviously in the camp site itself, cleanliness means keeping litter and trash picked up and put away in trash sacks. To keep the trash well isolated and secured, tie your trash sack to an elevated object such as a tent upright or a tree limb so everybody can find the current working trash bag and continue to add to it throughout the camping day and evening. But also stage periodic “policing” events to get the litter up from the camp site during the time when everybody is back in base camp. By the time you are ready to bed the crew down, the camp site should be clean and the trash taken away to discourage animals from investigating it in the night.

There is no reason to abandon basic hygiene while camping. Some camp grounds have bathrooms which may even have showers. But even if there are no showers available, each camper can go to the restroom area and take a hand towel, soak it in clean water and give themselves a sponge bath before changing into clean clothes before bed.

Cleaning up in this manner is crucial to the ongoing health and cleanliness of the camping experience. Be sure you pack plenty of clean changes of clothes for each camper. Everybody should sleep after washing off and changing into completely clean clothing. Wearing soiled clothing to bed, even if it is only soiled with sweat and body fluids makes those clothes less able to keep the camper warm in the night, can cause rashes as they sleep and can be a draw for insects or animals who smell those dirty things and know that they can find sleeping humans and where sleeping humans are they can often find food. So make sure everyone changes clothes before bed and that dirty clothes are bagged and stored away from the sleeping campers.

The essentials of changes of clothes and of shoes will make all the difference in maintaining a happy camp site over several days. Campers should know never to bring dirty or wet boots or shoes into their tents. Bring two or more changes of shoes so if they find the shoes they were wearing during the day are unacceptably filthy, they can have fresh shoes for the morning while their old shoes are cleaned and dried.

An ample supply of large trash bags will be your best defense in isolating and securing dirty items to be returned home for cleaning. Each camper should be supplied with a trash bag to dump their dirty clothes into. Then after camp is over, all bags of dirty items can be tied off and taken home to be cleaned properly in the laundry.

These basic cleanliness steps that you can think through before you ever pull out to go camping will make keeping a clean camp site organized and moving forward each day so much easier. It is a strategy that does not try to deny that camping brings people in contact with dirt. But it recognizes that getting dirty is part of the fun of camping and puts routines and resources in place that everyone can return to a base level of cleanliness each day at least sufficient to stay healthy and happy for the next day’s camping fun.
by Gray Rollins

When it comes to children’s summer camp there are two main descriptions of summer camps, but there are several different types. The first one is the day camp, where attendees take part in the camp during day and return home in the afternoon or evening. The other designation is “sleep away summer camp” other wise known as overnight camp. Both type of camp could last from a single day or a week time or even more.

Various entities offer children summer camps you can find girls summer camp and boys summer camp separately as well as co-ed summer camp, from schools and churches to sports programs. There are arrowhead camps, dance camps, summer camps for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and even dedicated camps, including those for people with disabilities or particular needs. Summer camps might be firmly for boys or girls, or they might be co-ed but only for children. There are summer camps accessible for adults too, such as performing arts camps, but adults and children are not generally incorporated in the same camp setting.

Aside from sports and scout camps, there are as well spa camps, work out and training camps, weight loss camps and boot camps, in addition to summer camps are designed mainly for hobbies. These comprise everything from art and music to science. You must have no problem selecting a camp, which actually matches your child’s requirements, interests and personality.

The activities accessible at different summer camps comprise all from learning how to skateboard or ride a horse, to getting ready for higher education and performing society service. Your child could skill everything from diving, fishing and archery, to learning about computers or knowing new forms of worship. From dirt bike racing to snorkeling, and from tennis to dancing, there is impressive for every taste.

Summer camps could be a form of holiday, a learning experience, or a bit of both. Some of the maximum benefits summer camps provide is the chance for children to make new friends, learn new skills or just look up upon current ones, and stay busy and active all through the summer months.

by Ron Victor

The fifth wheel hitch

A fifth wheel is easier to drive due to the nature of the goose neck hitch. This also produces smoother, safer, and more stable turns. You can pull heavier weights with this hitch. That is important with a large fifth wheel trailer. The hitch takes up a lot of space in the truck bed, and requires removal of the tailgate on the truck.

The fifth wheel trailer

Fifth wheel trailers are among the largest, most luxurious, and expensive RVs. They can sleep up to eight people, and have multiple slide outs – some as many as five. This, of course adds tremendously to the weight, which in turn affects gas mileage.

They often sport full-sized kitchen appliances, and lavish comforts by way of furnishings. Some include a king-sized bed in the master bedroom. They are roomy inside, which makes this a great place to hang out if it is raining out of doors.

The fifth wheel can be detached from your tow vehicle while you are camping, and used as transportation on local expeditions.

What about the towing vehicle?

If you already have a large truck, or SUV, you are better off with a fifth wheel than a motor home where you would be buying another engine. It is easier to hitch a fifth wheel to a tow vehicle than it is a travel trailer. The size of the fifth wheel camper requires a heavy-duty towing vehicle because the rear suspension of your truck will support the trailer’s weight. Be sure to match your pickup’s pulling capacity with the weight of the fifth wheel.

How to decide what you need

These trailers are among the most expensive RVs. They offer extravagance that you will not find in any other RV such as bi-level living space. For those who do not want or need that much space, you’ll be happy to learn that manufacturers are coming out with some smaller, lightweight fifth wheel trailers.

by Julie Jacobsmatch,

Camping is one activity the whole family can truly enjoy. That is, when it is prepared for properly. Otherwise, parents will have to listen to the perennial “are we there yets,” and “can we go home nows.”

When camping with kids, certain considerations must be made. This is to ensure a safe trip going to, and while at camp. Certain considerations are also needed to make sure that everyone gets his or her share of a good time.

Consult Kids

When planning for a camping trip, consulting kids and teenagers on activities they would want during camping will truly boost their morale. Asking them for activities they want to do will psychologically tell them that they are personally considered in the trip and it matters to you that they enjoy it. Also, involving your kids in the planning of activities is also one way of telling them non-verbally that they are responsible enough to be consulted in the planning and therefore, they also must act responsibly and accordingly during the whole trip.

Try to accommodate your kids’ suggestions on activities they want during the whole camping trip. Make sure each midget gets his or her share at being boss of an activity. If they enjoy their first few camp outs with you, parents, there is no reason why they would avoid or give you a hard time the next time you go camping.

Safety

Safety measures are one of the most important things to consider especially when camping out with kids. It is inevitable that when camping out, certain mishaps are likely to occur especially in the wild outdoors.

For families who have had a great time with their first few camp outs and are planning to make it a yearly activity, it never hurts to enroll in a first-aid seminar. A few sessions on first-aid will definitely go a long way. Not only will you learn about what to do when an accident or a mishap occur, you will also learn about how to prevent these accidents and mishaps.

Educate your kids on the basics of first-aids. Your kids are never too young to learn how to save lives. Point out to them the possible hazards of the camping trip, how to avoid these, or what to do when these hazards occur. Study your campsite. Point out to your children which routes to take when lost. Educate them on reading the signs and directions provided by the wild outdoors.

Pack medicines for kids with special health needs such as those with asthma, allergies or diabetes. Make sure you have extra doses worth three more days. Include medicine for rashes, fever, diarrhea and some aspirin. A parent can never be too careful when it comes to your kids and the wild outdoors where you can be at the mercy of unpredictable weather conditions, among others.

Food

Pack enough food that can last for three more days’ extension of your planned camping trip. An allowance is food supply is a boon, rather than a bane. As mentioned, when camping, you will be subject to nature’s whims. You never know when you need a few extra canned goods.

When packing food for a camp out with kids, make sure that you do not bring along any food which your children are allergic to, even if you have brought along an anti-allergy medicine for them. Prevention is always better than cure. It would be too tragic to waste a well-planned camp out simply because you have allowed an allergen into your camping circle!

Camping can become an exciting annual tradition for you and your family especially with the kids. But unless you plan it carefully so that everyone gets his or her share of both safety and good time, your camping will be nothing more than a tragic solo barbeque in your backyard!

y JB Anthony

The technology in camping clothes is very sophisticated compared to many years ago. There are many aspects to camping clothes that really do help when you are outside for a large portion of the day, and are made specifically for that type of environment. The materials themselves are advanced now, with most allowing water from natural elements, as well as sweat, to escape without entering the fabric. This is a great help for the inevitable rain that comes during some of your camping adventures.

Moisture is generally one of the biggest problems campers face, making them uncomfortable and cold at night. The newer material – such as laminates and coatings made of micro porous fabrics – keeps this moisture out to keep you warm and dry. Monolithic membranes also help the water escape while preventing any additional moisture from entering the clothing. It uses body heat that you naturally generate to get rid of water vapor. So even as you are hard at work, the sweat you have will dissipate because of your natural heat.

Another option for clothing material is between nylon and polyester. Both are very popular with campers, with newer polyester material usage growing rapidly along with other standard camping apparel. Both provide durability and are very “breathable” material, but polyester keeps you warmer. It really depends which time of the year you decide to go camping as to which one you would likely prefer.

Down filled materials that seem to be very popular with campers are not as efficient an option as the newer materials. Although they keep you very warm, wetness that seeps in will remain for a very long time. You are best served by synthetic clothes that provide just as much warmth and are capable of drying more quickly than down.

When you head out for a camping trip, it is important for the enjoyment of your trip to be comfortable. There is little worse than spending a few miserable days outside. So, the next time you plan your camping trip, take time to look for clothes that are specifically geared to camping so that you are able to remain comfortable, warm, and dry.

by Arthur Fletcher

Here are some of the top places that other people who love wilderness camping recommend:

Andrew Molera Park, is found near Big Sur in California and is still one of those places that are fairly primitive for wilderness campers. There are over twenty sites to camp in, and interested campers should find out what kind of regulations are in place that should be complied with. This park offers wilderness camping trails for various outdoor activities that include several different types of landscape to choose from.

Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness in North Dakota is the home of this wilderness camping area, with nearly 30,000 acres to explore. Wilderness campers can spot many different types of animals and birds, including deer and bison, hawks and Bald Eagles. This wilderness camping area has around eighty-four miles of trails that give hiking access to the more inaccessible areas of the park. Wilderness campers must get a permit.

Ahjumawi Lava Springs Park gets its name from the Native American word, “ahjumawi” which means “where the waters come together.” This wilderness camping area is at one of the biggest fresh water spring systems in the nation. The camping areas are unique in that they can only be accessed by water, making sure you have the privacy you are craving. Visitors can enjoy the rustic beauty of the area that includes pristine water shores, places to view lava rock and scenery that includes Mt. Shasta.

Haleakala Park is a gorgeous spot in Hawaii which gives visitors a rare chance to do some wilderness camping in an area that is both primitive and breathtaking. There are two campsites that can only be reached by foot. These two campsites each offer a different experience for wilderness camping. Campers can get free permits to camp at either site, and there are various rules for camping in this park.

These are a few suggestions of places to go for wilderness camping. Needless to say, if you really yearn to escape from it all, you can blaze your own path into the wilder parts of America. Partake of nature’s gifts with wilderness

by Gregg Hall

Many people are turning to camping as an inexpensive vacation this year. But to ensure you have a fun and enjoyable time, remember these do’s and don’ts.

Do’s

1) Have Fun – Enjoy being with your family and friends spent quality time together. Remember the important things in life and make memories with those you love.

2) Plan your Meals and Snacks Ahead of Time – Planning what you and your campers will eat for each meal and which night will ensure you have enough food for your camping trip. Always pack some canned goods and some peanut butter in case you need some extra food.

3) Use a Checklist – When packing for your camping trip, do use a checklist to make sure you bring all the items you will need. You don’t want to get out camping and find out you forgot the tent, sleeping bags, shoes, warm clothes, or pillows.

Don’ts

1) Don’t forget the bug spray – Nothing will ruin a good time camping faster than getting eaten alive by bugs.

2) Don’t leave your campfire when still hot – It is extremely important to extinguish your campfire properly before you go to bed for the night or leave your campsite.

3) Don’t Litter – Remember to pack you trash out with you. Mom always told you to leave a place better than when you found it. Apply this to your campsite and don’t leave trash, cans, or bottles in the forest. So, remember to follow these do’s and don’ts to make your next camping trip a fun and enjoyable one.

by Rhonda Percell

Instead of asking more questions, read the entire article and by the time you are finished you will have all the answers.

Before you go anywhere, decide what kind of camping experience you want. Are you looking for real rugged, outdoors along with bears? Then choose most of the Pennsylvania State Parks. Looking for more civilized camping, try the New York State Parks.

FIRST, TOTAL ESSENTIALS for comfortable camping (in state parks):

• Know that camping inside a state park is no safer than camping or living anywhere else in the country.
• So, security, health and safety should be on your mind before you begin your trip.
• As a beginner, you will do well by first calling the state parks office and asking for a map of the place and any or all brochures of the campsites. You can find this information online also at the park’s websites.
• IF this is your first time camping out, take a buddy, and also choose a campsite that is closest to the park office (if there is one) and closest to the bathrooms, showers or soda machines. (Some sites have those).
• Look at the map and note whether there are bathrooms or outhouses (Yes, there are some that still have outhouses, i.e. in Pennsylvania and in Ohio). Choose what you like and then select your park or campsite.
• Research the temperature of the climate that you will be visiting; check for upcoming storms and bad weather . PLAN your trip.
• INQUIRE about the park’s regulations on animals. (You can find out if you can bring a pet or not).
• Do not bring any pets, even if allowed into certain country campsites (where there might be wildlife). You risk your pet getting diseases and you risk your pet getting eaten, maimed or killed. You also attract bears by bringing pets into the campsites. (Some campsites have bears because they are in the middle of game lands or in the middle of vast state parks).
• IF you must bring a pet, bring a kennel, minimal wet food, and bring gear to dispose of the food and waste. (Leave no trace)!
• If you want a campsite that has it’s own library (in camp season), visit Wildwood State Park in New Jersey.
• If you want a real wilderness experience, visit most of the Pennsylvania state parks.
• If you want “civilized” camping, (with real showers, restrooms, electricity to charge your phones, water spigots at campsites) try Hecksher State Park in Long Island, New York.
• If you want to feel like you have been to HEAVEN-on earth- make your reservation nine months in advance and reserve your spot at Hither Hills State Park in the Hamptons, New York. This place is every bit worth the wait and the preparation. (Bring zip lock bags and waterproof bags because this is the wettest campsite around – just a few feet from our ocean). We woke up in the morning and found EVERYTHING damp – money soaked, etc, even though we camped 30 feet from the ocean and the ocean never touched out campsite. The moisture in this place is unbelievable. (If you bring electronics here – your phone, etc, bring a water bucket and store your electronics in there to keep them dry.

Those, listed above, are just the basics.

Other things to prepare for. What if it rains? You can buy a small tarp at the dollar store or at any hardware store. Place this tarp over your tent if it rains. Most tents are not waterproof and even the ones that advertise that can be a little wet in a bad storm.

THINGS TO KEEP YOU DRY:

1. Old, clean shower curtains.
2. Tarps.
3. Old, clean plastic table cloths.
4. Rain ponchos (as opposed to rain coats). Ponchos , large ones can double as tent cover.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Keep food OUT of the tent at all times. This gives you good camping background training. Even if you are camping out in a place where there is no wildlife, get into the habit of eating OUTSIDE and far from your tent. Then when you do camp out where there are bears, you already have good camping habits. Besides, keeping food out is the same as keeping uncovered food out of your bedroom. You do not want to attract bugs or other creatures that might be hiding anywhere in the building or anywhere outdoors.
• At Hecksher State Park, you might find unwelcome visitors (little people) trying to come in your tent when you are gone (to the pool, etc), so bring along “cable ties” and use them to lock your tent up while you are away . Cut the ties with a manicure scissor or small wire cutter when you return. You can purchase cable ties anywhere in most cities. This cable tie lets you know if anyone has “visited” your campsite while you were away. If the cable tie is broken when you get back, fully inspect your tent for rips, bugs and other creatures that might have entered while your tent was being visited. It is important to check for spiders in this campsite. Spiders are rampant all over Hecksher. You see them when you take the fly off of your tent before leaving. You will view unbelievable collections of spiders under and near your tent.
• When camping with kids or camping and using ‘gear” – baseballs etc. Set up a tiny ‘gear tent”. You can buy a child’s tent for under twelve dollars. By storing gear in this separate tent, you save wear and tear on your regular tent’s zipper and also keep the tent CLOSED to all the insects and other things around the campsite. You will sleep better at night knowing that your main tent zipper was only opened a few times as opposed to having the door opened continuously all day to get “gear” out. This saves the floor of your tent also.
• If you are determined to have a dry tent in a very rainy season or wet campsite. Put a large TARP on the floor of your tent. This will keep most of the floor dry and will make you happy.
• Many people use TARPS on the outside of the tent, under the tent, so they have no messy mud on the bottom of the tent when they are ready to pack up. (YOU can have mud on the floor bottom, underneath, even if it is not raining outside; so use the tarps). IF You use the outdoors tarp under your tent, the tarp must be SMALLER than the bottom of the tent. You do not want any of the tarp sticking outside the tent on the floor. If that happens, all the rain will pool in the small bits of tarp that show and the rain will seep underneath your entire tent.

VITALLY IMPORTANT:

If you are camping at a NEW place for the first time and you have children or babies that you are bringing on this camping trip – PLAN a trip BEFORE your regular camping trip and go there without the children or babies. Camp there alone first.

We did this once, just as a precaution. We didn’t know anything about Hecksher and we went camping there first before we planned to take children there. Good Plan!!

What we discovered is that this particular state park is the QUEEN of Mosquito Heaven! Within less then 20 minutes that we were there, we had mosquito bites all over our body. (This doesn’t happen at all parks. Hecksher is notorious for mosquitoes and spiders.

So, on the regular trip with the kids, we took lots of repellent and we knew what to do .

So, when camping ANYWHERE with children, visit the site yourself first–without bringing the kids, just in case there is something that you should know about that particular camping site.

Wherever you camp, these things are essential:

• water-tight bags, water proof bags
• flashlights, batteries, or solar flashlights
• plastic bucket or pail
• soap and disinfectant
• bug spray
• tarps/ tent /tarp
• and other camping basics (Read our other articles about camping)
• Water and or the ability to find or locate water (pack iodine water-purifying pills if you can)
• by Linda Lin

My wife and I currently live in the great North West, Portland area, to be exact. It is a beautiful area for sure! When I get all tied up with the hustle and bustle of the big city life, I need to unwind. My two favorite things to do is get out  camping and fishing.

I have three favorite places to do that here that are close and affordable, Promontory Park, Milo McIver Park, and now, Metzler Park. All three of these are less than an hour away. The furthest one is only 40 miles from our house!

Since we like camping and fishing,The first Favorite is Promontory and it is definitely the most convenient. I hook up our 12 foot aluminum boat behind our 23 foot motor home, it’s a 1983 Mini Winnie  and head out of town. The reservoir is stocked on a regular basis so trout fishing is good. There is a nice dock there and it is easy to put the boat in. The campsites are all rustic, so the convenience of the motor home is nice, but they have hot showers and a few strategically placed electric hot plate cookers, so tent camping is real good too! The first time we went there it was in a two room cabin tent.

The second favorite spot is Metzler, it is also the furthest. The campsites are more private and the majority have water and electric hook ups. If you want to fish there don’t bother with a boat, there’s no launch site and the stream is small. What they do have there is a lot of banks to fish from and several trails to walk.

And finally the Third favorite is Milo McIver Park. They have electric and water hook ups, the campsites are spacious, and the park is well maintained. There is also a stream and trails. All of these are with in traveling distance from each other, so you could take your boat and head over to Promontory from the other two.

As far as your daily chores being better, did you ever notice how bacon, even though it’s cooked on a camp stove tastes better when your camping? Sooo Cooking is more fun! and the cleaning and so forth have to be done when you’re stuck in the city anyway so what the hey!

I hope you get the opportunity to check these out if you haven’t all ready, and remember have fun and enjoy life!

Randy Falkowski