You may have already decided to start camping and have your very own reasons for doing so. However, below you'll find many more great reasons to go camping.

1. Camping is inexpensive compared to most types of vacation

Whether you are a lone camper, a couple or a large family, camping is a very inexpensive way to take a vacation. Not only is the per night cost of your stay significantly less than a night in a hotel, once you have purchased a tent and other equipment, all of the major costs have been covered in the initial outlay.

And now that you own your tent and the equipment that goes with it, you can use it again and again, not only every year but as many times as you can get away during a season. Vacation in a hotel or apartment and you are faced with high accommodation costs each and every trip!

Camping vacations are tremendous value for money at any time, and in times of recession when we all have to tighten our belts, they may be the only viable option for a vacation at that time.

Put simply, a camping vacation can save you and your family a fortune in vacation costs.

2. Camping gives you independence and freedom from the herd mentality

A typical package vacation or guided tour often means being herded from start to finish, beginning with the need to arrive at the airport at a specific time (often at an unsociable hour) and continuing during your time at the resort ....a merry-go-round of schedules, activities and the rules and regulations of the hotel and the holiday rep.

Camping gives your much greater choice and freedom to do what you want, when you want...and if your don't like the campsite, move on to another one nearby.

3. Get closer to nature

So many of us live in towns and cities and live our lives at a pace where we rarely get the chance to experience what is going outside our technological world. It is so easy for us to lose touch with the natural wonders that surround us.

Camping lets you get closer to nature and wildlife, to see, smell and hear things that we do not normally experience in our everyday lives.

4. Get closer to each other

Getting away from it all in a tent can bring couples and families closer together. The opportunity to spend quality time together in a relaxing environment, without the distractions of a computer or television, can give you the opportunity to slow down and do things together that you would not have time or the inclination to do back home.

5. Step back in time and experience doing things the simple way

Assuming that you are not planning a camping vacation with a microwave oven, TV, computer, fridge and the other "must haves" of modern living, camping will enable you to experience getting back to basics and the enjoyment of doing things in a more simple and maybe skillful way.

6. Your pets can enjoy a vacation too

I must admit that I have not seen anyone take their cat or rabbit camping yet, but dogs will often be seen on a campsite with their owners. You can not only save on the expense of boarding kennels but also allow your pet to enjoy a vacation with the family too.

7. Take your accommodation with you to a festival

Taking your tent to a music festival gives you the best of both worlds; the enjoyment of camping and living in inexpensive accommodation nearby. And when the days entertainment is over, you are but a short walk away from the comfort of your bed.

8. Recreate memories

Many of us will have experienced camping as a child, maybe as a scout or girl guide, or simply with friends. Others like myself and my wife took camping holidays in the early years of our relationship when money was in relatively short supply.

In adulthood, after many years of expensive and often sophisticated vacations, a camping holiday can be a great way of reliving those simple and happy memories of the past.

9. Build and tailor your accommodation to your specific needs

Hotels and apartments are much the same and you get what you are given. With so many different types of tents and an even greater choice of equipment and accessories, you have the means to put together a tent that is tailor made to the needs and requirements of you and your family.

And every time you arrive at a campsite you get the opportunity to put it all together again (and of course take it all down again when you leave). And each time you go camping you can make it a little different. You might even own a selection of tents for your different camping needs. We own a 6 berth tent for longer camping vacations, a 3 berth tent for weekends away and a compact tent for touring holidays in a MX-5/Miata roadster.

10. You can make new friends

Sitting next to your tent, relaxing or enjoying a meal al fresco, it is easy to strike up a conversation and potential friendship with your neighbors. Likewise you might get to meet some interesting locals when you are out walking or visiting local sites.

You may also join a camping club and get to take part in rallies and other events where you can get to meet fellow campers on a regular basis.

Overall, camping is a great way to meet other people, in wonderful locations and at low cost. But be warned, you could get addicted to it!

By: Alan J James
The Author is a keen Camping Newbie who has a developing blog with the aim of providing other camping newbies with advice and inspiration to go camping. Please visit the Camping Newbie blog at http://campingnewbie.blogspot.com

It is not always that a family or group of friends could get together and enjoy some activities so why not plan your camping trips ahead in order to get the most out of it. In activities wherein many people are involved, it is very important that everything is well planned and the equipment well prepared so that everyone would have fun and ensure the safety of every participant.

The key to succeeding in planning is to start with the venue or the place where the activity will be held. Check on the place, book and secure the location.

Take note of the weather changes that might occur and be ready for circumstances that may arise. Once the place is set and ready for the trip, plan the activities that everybody may be able to enjoy. Consider the age range of the people involved in the camping and be sure to check on everyone's specific needs to see which may need additional help such as those who are asthmatic, with high blood pressure and others that might need special attention.

The children should also be properly supervised to ensure their safety. Do not just travel without an emergency kit handy. One of the basic things included in the kit should be alcohol, towels, medicines, water and band-aids. All camping trips should have at least one first aid kit.

The camping activities should then be planned carefully so that everyone will have fun. Be sure that both the children and adults will be able to participate in these activities.

Some examples of activities include fishing, cooking, or simple karaoke inside the tents. For more active participants, you can prepare extreme sports such as rock climbing, hiking, biking, and bungee jumping, cliff diving or swimming. Feel free to involve these participants in the planning process too. Ask for their suggestions as to what activities they would like to do during their camping trips and you'll be amazed at how their suggestions would make the planning a whole lot easier.

Be sure to prepare every needful equipment, gear and accessories so that the trip would be worth it. Remember that both proper planning and execution constitutes successful camping trips

By: Tom Houser
Tom is an experienced camper who has been camping all his life. He has taken many family trips and many canoe trips as well. Click here for information on choosing a good sleeping bag sleeping bag
By T. Houser

Safety and Situational Awareness

Safety and situational awareness are one two of the most important elements of any outdoor activity. I'm sure we've all heard the horror stories of what can happen if they aren't given enough consideration. Yet despite those warnings uneducated people still keep falling into the same situations. Even now, after the popular "Survival Guy's" and "Safety Expert" documentaries have appeared on countless travel and educational channels, we still go out unprepared. Now I don't at all claim to be any kind of expert in how to keep yourself safe... I've had my share of injuries... However I can share with you some clear common sense items:

Map out your camp site before you arrive, identify roads, landmarks and Ranger Stations and be aware of fire danger levels if you are in heavily forested areas. In winter time, if you are snowshoeing, be aware of avalanche areas.

Cooking and campfire: Keep your cooking and campfire away from your tent.

Children: Be certain to teach children to respect fire, sharp instruments, wildlife and to stay nearby.

Let friends and family know where you will be camping and when you expect to return.

Never sleep with portable heaters running over night in your tent. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be lethal, or at the very least, seriously uncomfortable. Plus, plastic melts!

Wildlife: Respect their habitat - you are in their home -- and always keep your food out of reach, especially in bear country.

Water: Never drink directly from rivers or mountain streams, trust me this can have baaaad consequences. Use a well-rated water purifier/pump.

Sleeping Bags: This is where I hear the "That's a plug", well give me a little credit, at least there's good info here ;-) Make sure your sleeping bag is rated for a sufficient temperature. i.e. don't go out winter camping with a %2B50 degree rated sleeping bag.

Poison Ivy Relief: If exposed wash the exposed area immediately with soap and cool water. Bring ointments that can help relieve any discomfort. Some people think vodka helps, but Mythbusters shot that down like five episodes ago.

Snake Bite Kits: If you are camping in an area, or during a time of year, in which you could encounter poisonous snakes, be certain to have a snake bite kit, and then don't leave it in your tent when you go out for a hike...doh!

Bee and Wasp Sting Kits: Not everyone is allergic to bee or wasp stings but some people are highly allergic. Be aware if anyone in your group is. Also, don't quote me on this, but I heard somewhere that jumping into a lake helps you escape, however, you could very well be facing a whole new set of issues if you do that so....

Bear Repellant: If you will be in bear country, bring bear repellant. Know what to do ahead of time upon encounter with a bear. I know for a fact, without a shadow of a doubt, kicking the bear if the repellant doesn't work.

Ticks: Be aware if you are in an area where Lyme disease is possible and know the proper way to remove ticks - with tweezers as near to your body as possible and never squeeze the tick as you remove it. See American Lyme Disease Foundation.

Bugs and Insects in general:

Avoid wet and grassy areas.

Avoid scented products, such as perfume or cologne.

Wear colored and long sleeved pants and shirts when possible. The light colored cloth allows you to see any little critters.

In areas with heavy populations of mosquitoes or flies, a head net can be a welcome relief while hiking. It also can be a great fashion idea when you stumble across a random mountain town.

Entertainment

Now if you aren't running for the nearest Hyatt, let's move on to the fun stuff. In the outdoors, there should never be a time where there isn't something to do, whether it be hiking, swimming, climbing a tree, or well...climbing a tree higher! However, if you do find yourself without anything to do, and relaxing and reading a book isn't appealing, here are a couple other ideas.

Story-telling: Since the dawn of human kind, campfires and night and story-telling have gone hand-in-hand. With children, let them talk about what they want - the stories will follow. What did they see in nature during the day that most excited or pleased them? If there aren't any children, you can still always make something up and pretend it really happened...lol, but be warned, I think that leaves open the possibility of you being dubbed a liar!

Musical Instruments and songs: Like good story-telling, songs and campfires have always gone hand-in-hand. If you or your children play instruments, bring them if you can. Bring along some songs, as well. Even if you don't know how to play, again, you can always pick one up and make something up; at the very least you'll get some laughs.

Cards: For many, cards are a must to any campsite.

Look up!: For many, the stars overhead are pure wonderment. You might want to bring a star map. I like to give random stars a name, then try to find them the next night. So far, I'm 0-100.

Cooking

For those who love to cook, cooking over a campfire is a great challenge, harking back to where the art of cooking began. The web offers many free recipes for campfire cooking. One thing to keep in mind: Don't go grabbing random plants and throwing them in your stew... now you'd think that would be just flat out logic, but apparently, based on some statistic I recently read... it's not.

Calculate the number of meals you will prepare, measure out the ingredients you'll need and pack them, neatly labeled, in Ziplock bags. These are the times where, as a writer, you wish Ziplock paid for product placement.

For quick "on the go meals," prepare chili, stews and soups before your trip, freeze them, keep them in a cooler to reheat.

Bring heavy duty aluminum foil and your favorite plastic wrap. This could also be categorized under the entertainment section ; )

Bring liquid biodegradable dishwashing soap.

Freeze foods, such as meats and cans of juice, before putting them in your cooler. They will keep longer and serve to cool other foods. Crafty! In the woods, you need to be crafty; otherwise you're just...well, normal!

Cover pots and pans when cooking. Food cooks faster and you use less fuel. Pack everything in a cooler in watertight plastic bags. Wait! I might be repeating myself, well, it's good advice anyhow.

Store food high and out of reach to discourage animals, including bears. Consider hanging it high from a tree branch, this is where the climbing a tree practice we talked about earlier comes in handy... 2 for 1 entertainment and no bears! (You'll need to remember to bring rope.)

While you're eating, place a pan of water over your fire, to help clean up when you've finished eating, or for a warm liquid to wash the taste out of your mouth

Fuel source: Will you be using charcoal or propane to cook? Be sure you bring plenty of what you will need. Surprisingly enough the whole "rubbing two sticks together" is harder than it looks.

Clean up quickly after eating so food doesn't harden. Yes, unfortunately hardening food is a big problem these days. Once I forgot to clean up after making some chicken soup and man oh man, I broke a tooth later that day.

If you'll be cooking over a wood fire, wipe dish soap on the outside of your pots and pans to make soot removal a breeze.

Search the web for great campsite cooking recipes and come prepared to dazzle your family! Or if you're eating alone that night, you can conveniently forget you got the recipe online and say to yourself "I've always been an incredible cook".... definitely comforting.

Campsite and Campsite Etiquette

Picking your campsite is kind of like shopping for a house, minus the realtors, escrow and whatnot:

Find a shaded spot that is large enough for your needs.

Pitch your tent away from low ground, where rain water can gather.

Be certain your campsite will have good drainage, in case it rains.

Be certain restroom and bathing facilities are within easy walking distance.

Be certain drinking water is nearby.

Pack it in- Pack it Out: Leave your campsite as clean (or cleaner) than you found it. We all hate it when we get to a campsite and there's a freeze dried haggis wrapper sitting there.

Keep an orderly campsite: Keep your campsite orderly and safe. Don't leave dangerous or sharp tools exposed. Keep food stored safely out of reach of animals, so you do not draw them in. If you looked hard enough, I bet you could find a maid service online that could help with the orderliness, with the technologies these days who knows!

Make sure your campfire is cold: When you leave be absolutely certain that your campfire is cold. No jokes, this is important!

Treat neighboring campers as you would want to be treated. Don't be loud and bothersome in close camping quarters.

Don't pee near camp, it can attract wild animals and is just flat out a bad idea. *A rule for the guys.

By: D. Sturgeon

For those interested in an exciting outdoor adventure in the cooler weather, winter camping may be the choice for you. Winter camping brings an entirely new element to the activity of camping. Not only do you see the great outdoors in a totally different light, it also offers different challenges from summer camping.

Winter Camping Supplies

It is important to have the correct supplies for winter camping, as this is can, at times, have a level of danger not present at other times of the year. Things to bear in mind include rapid changes in the weather the weather may be fine and sunny, although cool, when you leave to hike to your destination and within minutes a winter storm can blow up. Dress appropriately in layers for winter camping. Avoid wearing cotton. Cotton does not dry quickly and retains the water against your skin causing you to become even colder with the added risk of hypothermia developing.

For winter camping trips always wear nylon or wool clothing ... wool should be used for socks. Dress in layers starting with a thin layer of clothing against your skin. There are some sportwool fabrics that are used in long johns, next a warm layer of clothing that may be a fleece type material and finally a quick-drying outer layer from a material like nylon or goretex. Always wear woolen socks to keep the feet dry and comfortable.

Make sure you have appropriate boots for winter camping. Boots must be water repellant or have a protective coating to keep them from absorbing water. Always wear a hat or a woolen beanie and bring an extra one just in case. A great deal of body heat can be lost through an uncovered head.

Wear or carry gloves and have them attached to your jacket to prevent losing them. Light weight glove liners can be added for extra warmth.

Winter-weight camping tents can be purchased, although sometimes they can be heavier to carry. Depending on where you are going and how far you are hiking, you may be quite comfortable in a three-season tent. A four-season or winter tent will stand up to strong winds, will repel all forms of precipitation and be able to withstand a heavy fall of snow.

If you do not have a tent you may be able to build a snow shelter for protection, however, you'll want to practice building a snow shelter before you actually need to spend a night in one during a winter hike.

Make sure to bring a sleeping bag that is made to withstand the deep freeze of winter. There are many mummy-type bags that are extremely warm and designed to withstand temperatures of 10 degrees and below. A foam underlay may also be a useful addition to keep the sleeping bag off the ground and away from moisture. The pad can also be used to sit on during the day.

When winter camping make sure to bring food that may be eaten without heating up. Although there are water proof matches, sometimes it can be difficult to find tinder when winter camping. Have a supply of food that you carry with you when winter camping, in case you loose your original supply.

Winter camping is an exciting outdoor activity; however, it is imperative that the camper has the appropriate equipment for this venture.

By: Alison Stevens
Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains The Hiking And Camping Website to assist hikers, campers and backpackers to choose the right equipment and enjoy their outdoor adventure.

There is nothing like the allure of camping if you yearn to get away from civilization and the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. If you want to get closer to nature, then very little can compare with spending one or more nights at a campsite.

Camping is a big thrill whether you use a tent, a travel trailer, a recreational vehicle or no shelter at all. One thing to bear in mind, though, is that there are laws that cover camping, particularly in designating campsites for the protection of the environment.

For some, camping always brings a feeling of nostalgia or romanticism for simpler times and past camping trips with their fathers and uncles. It brings to mind a feeling of ‘being one with nature’ as well as that other feeling of ‘man against nature.’ After a few hours, it’s easy to see why they refer to camping as ‘roughing it.’

If you want to enjoy your camping trip, you should be prepared. There’s nothing that can ruin a camping trip faster than finding out that you have a short supply of water or no matches or flashlight.

Among the basic camping equipment are a tent, a sleeping bag, an air mattress which is placed under the sleeping bag, a flashlight or lantern, a portable stove so you can have hot meals or drinks when campfires are impractical, a hatchet, axe or saw and lots of rope. Other equipment you need can easily be picked up from home, such as pots, pans, eating utensils, dishes and glasses. Bring these items in plastic as much as possible to make the things you have to carry weigh less.

Once out in the rough, some campers prefer backpacking or hiking across land and camping at remote spots. Others prefer canoe camping, which is similar to backpacking except that travel is done via a canoe or kayak. This is a common practice especially in eastern North America. Another possibility is bicycle touring, which combines cycling with camping. Everything is carried in the bicycle and the big advantage here is that, unlike backpacking, bicycle touring lets campers travel to far greater distances.

If there’s anything else you may need while roughing it, you can also rely on the local camping supplies store for practically everything.

By: Philip Culver
Camping, recreation and travel information available at: http://www.myrecreationweb.com.