One of the fondest childhood memories I have are camping with my dad. My dad and I would grab our tent, sleeping bags and fishing poles and head down to a local lake for a weekend. Camping can be a wonderful activity for the entire family. It can also become a huge calamity if you are not prepared or don't know what to expect.

If you are not experienced at camping then it might be best to start with a commercial campground. These campgrounds are often listed in the yellow pages. The costs of these campgrounds is often nominal and they usually have showers, bathrooms, electrical hookups, running water nearby, fire pits and a camp store for any necessities that you may have forgotten. Established commercial campgrounds also often have activities for the entire family including swimming pools, hiking trails, paddle boats and fishing lakes. Although most of these campgrounds are set up for campers they almost at always have tent sites as well.

Once you have tried camping at an established campground you may decide to want to rough it out in the woods on your own. To find locations for tent camping you might try doing an internet search on camping.

Regardless of where you go camping it is important that you be prepared. The following is a list of items you should consider for ensuring you are prepared for an enjoyable camping trip.

Camping Inventory

1. Tent. You can find a wide selection of tents in various sizes from 2 person tents to family sizes. You might consider getting the children their own tent. They will enjoy having their own space.

2. Sleeping bags and an air mattress if desired.

3. Flash lights and extra batteries.

4. Matches

5. Cookware. Cooking on an open fire will probably not be good for your best cookware so you might want to bring older pots and pans or consider buying a camping cookware set. Think ahead about foods that will be easy to cook on a fire.

6. Firewood. If you are not camping at an established campground you may not have access to firewood.

7. First Aid kit. This should include band aids, peroxide, gauze, burn crème, tape, a tool for removing splinters, and anti bug spray.

8. Water for drinking

9. Trash bags. Whether you go camping at an established campground or in the woods somewhere it is imperative that you leave the area exactly as you found it. If the location does not have trash bins then pick up your trash and take it with you. Don't ruin the experience for the next family.

If you carefully plan your camping trip and expect the unexpected by being prepared for anything you will have a great time camping.

Robert Michael is a writer for Webau Camping which is an excellent place to find camping links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.webaucamping.com

Featured by the campgrounds directory from the lifestyle section of Resources For Attorneys.

It's a fact.

Becoming an "rv" family has now reached record levels. According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) nearly 1 in 12 US vehicle owning households own an RV. That's a staggering 8 million households, in America alone!

The typical RV owner of today is 49 years old and married, though according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan more RVs are now owned by those aged 35-54 than any other age group.

This raises the question...Why do people use and choose RVs?

"RV" family members can look forward to simply coming home and just driving their RV straight into the park.

Rvers can permanently have their RV packed all ready for their next trip...there's no need to repack your holiday essentials every time you plan a quick break away.

It's a great way to travel as a family. In fact, RV owners say that travelling in a RV actually makes their bond even stronger.

"RV" owners don't have to give up the comforts of their home. Rvers can enjoy small towns, beaches, parks, mountains, campgrounds...wherever they want, whenever they want, with all the comforts of home. The new sport utility RVs make it easy to transport outdoor vehicles right on board too.

There's an RV for every budget and taste. They can start at $4,000 and go up to $400,000 for type A motorhomes.

Today's RVs provide travellers with all the amenities of home with fully equipped baths and kitchens, central air and heat, surround sound stereos and even plasma TVs.

According to a vacation cost-comparison study conducted by PKF Consulting, RV vacations are more affordable than travelling by cruise ship, commercial airline and personal car. The study estimated a family of four can spend up to 74 percent less when travelling by RV, factoring in ownership costs and resulting tax benefits.

"Regardless of gas prices, RV owners still get a bigger bang for their buck when compared to other types of vacations," says Richard Coon, president, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). "Affordability is a key reason why RV travel appeals so much to families."

In all cases, RV trips were more economical than other vacations analyzed, regardless of trip duration, distance or region of the country," says Kannan Sankaran, PKF's lead researcher for the study.

"Even when fuel prices rise, our data show that each RV vacation would still be significantly less expensive," Sankaran explained.

RV owners enjoy the flexibility and freedom to go when they want, where they want. They don't have the stress and worry about inflexible schedules, airport lines, luggage restrictions and advance reservations.

RVs are used every weekend for camping and outdoor recreation but they are also being used for other purposes like animal shows, antique shows, and other hobbies - even furniture shopping.

RV family members look forward to simply coming home and just driving their RV to the park...it's that simple. That leaves more time to spend with a cold beer in front of the fire :O)

There are more than 16,000 public and privately owned campgrounds in the U.S. and Rvers, seeking a resort atmosphere, are catered for by the growing number of luxury RV resorts with such facilities as health spas, golf courses and tennis courts.

According to recent studies, people are travelling shorter distances and on shorter breaks. Weekend trips are extremely popular. Travellers also don't want to spend hours planning a trip, they just want to get into their vehicle and go.

The RVIA estimates that there are as many as 30 million RV enthusiasts, including RV renters, in the United States. If the idea of "roughing it" camping is not your dream vacation, then it's time to consider joining the 30 million RV enthusiasts already out there in the U.S., enjoying the kind of vacations you've always dreamed of!

Karin Manning is the author of The 2006 Guide to Dutch Oven Cooking featuring 101 tried and truly delicious camping recipes using a dutch oven ($14.97 value). To grab your free copy $14.97 value go straight to http://www.easy-family-camping-recipes.com now. Happy Camping!

Featured by the Campground Directory from the lifestyle section of RFA.

There is a wide variety of choices to be made when preparing for trail cooking. The type of food, methods of preparation and required equipment play an important role. But there are individual circumstances to consider. Will you be traveling alone or will there be others that can share the weight? Is this going to be a 7-day hike into the wilderness or a weekend trip? Will there be opportunities to forage for food? Are you on foot, in a vehicle or on a horse? What's the altitude or the time of year?

One common link to all of the above is this: keep it simple and efficient.

WHAT TO EAT???

Men or women even on a beautiful day will burn a minimum of 3,500 calories per day when on the trail. Add more strenuous activities and that calorie count can rise to 4,500. Planned meals should take into consideration taste, convenience but most important - caloric value. Allow 50% of calories for carbohydrates, 25% for fats and 25% for proteins. Carbs will provide for quick energy and are easy to digest (helpful at altitudes above 5,000 feet), fats provide a slower energy that will last longer and proteins help produce body heat and maintain muscle tone.

The first thing to do is plan a rough outline of the actual number of meals required. A short 3-day weekend will require seven prepared meals plus snacks. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks carry a heavy emphasis on carbohydrates to help provide quick energy boosts. Plan your meals to use perishable foods first; heavy items second and dry, lightweight mixes last. Give yourself some flexibility. More carbs needed? Try spreading some jam on a flour tortilla. A bit more fat desired? A spoonful of powdered milk does the trick.

TIME OF YEAR

A person driving the boat to a lake in the summertime could get by on 3,500 calories per day while another hiking in the snow would need as many as 5,000 calories per day. The lower the temperature - the higher the consumed calories should become. It is important to remember to keep the carb/fat/protein percentages in balance. In cold weather don't be tempted to increase protein consumption for heat production since you will be short-changing the carbohydrates short energy bursts and the fats sustained endurance levels. Instead, increase your calorie intake by eating more food from each food group at each meal. Consume larger quantities of high-energy snack food while on the move.

Lack of salt dehydrates the body and draws the blood away from the extremities (arms and legs) toward the body's core. In cold weather, additional salt intake keeps blood volume up and flowing to all parts of the body. Equally important is that a cold drink will warm you up. Cold drinks require digestion (which is energy or heat). Warm drinks will help you feel cooler. Try it!

I had asked a question above about the opportunity to forage for food. Foraged food should only be viewed as a bonus to planned meals. Fresh caught fish is a preferable alternative to the freeze-dried packet of beef stew. But what if the fish are not biting? It's better to save the beef stew for another outing than to wish you had brought it and not counted on catching fish. Harvesting edible wild plants should be approached with caution. Some plants taste good and are easy to digest, while others are marginally so. Just because the birds are eating it does not mean that the plant is not poisonous to humans. Several plants have poisonous look-alikes and plants that are inedible and even poisonous grow among the edible ones. Unfortunately, there are no general rules for recognition of poisonous plants but the more field experience you gain identifying plants, the easier you'll sort the edibles from the inedible.

You plan on leaving early Tuesday morning and return home by Thursday evening so the following is a rough outline for a three-day adventure.

Tuesday: trail snacks, lunch, trail snacks and dinner.

Wednesday: breakfast, trail snacks, lunch, trail snacks and dinner.

Thursday: breakfast, trail snacks, lunch, trail snacks

Next it is necessary to fill in the menu more completely by assigning specific food items to the scheduled meals. It is easier to plan specifics when alone but individual tastes come into play when planning for groups of two or more making this portion of the planning very interesting indeed.

SAMPLE RECIPE

BASIC RAISIN COCONUT OATMEAL MIX

3 cups rolled oats ½ cup raisins or copped dates ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut ½ teaspoon cinnamon Mix all together and store in quart jar. MAKES: 1 quart

RAISIN COCONUT OATMEAL CEREAL Serves 4

Boil 4 cups water. Gradually stir in 1 ¾ cups Basic Raisin Coconut Oatmeal Mix. Simmer lightly 5 minutes.

Happy camping on the trail and next time we will explore "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink"???

TRAIL COOKING By Karen Willman aka little sister http://www.moosenosebrothers.com

Wife, mother of 2, grandmother of 3. Retired school administrator, survivalist, former NRA instructor, weapons enthusiast, specialist in trail cooking, world-wide Geo-Cacher, explorer of historical detection.

Featured by the Campgrounds directory from the lifesty section of RFA.

Imagine enjoying a beautiful peaceful sleep in your tent only to be woken up at 5am by a man on a power mower mowing the grass on the adjacent golf course.

This actually happened to 200 campers at a campground in Washington, some of whom have claimed "It was our worse camping experience in the USA so far."

His response was, "this is the only time that there are no golfers around"! (Lucky for them, I'd say!)

This proves one thing. It doesn't matter how beautiful the campground is and how scenic the view is. If you've set up camp in the wrong location your trip could turn into a nightmare.

Planning is critical when camping.

Planning starts at home, before you've even left, and doesn't stop until you make your weary way home again.

Part of your planning involves getting the very best camping site to meet your needs this weekend. That is the best way of ensuring a pleasurable experience is had by every member of your group.

There are a variety of campgrounds, each offering different facilities, and thereby a different kind of holiday. These are private parks, state park campgrounds and state or national forest campgrounds.

Most parks have a designated area for a campsite. Reservations can be made often for a fee which is highly recommended.

Some campgrounds allow you to choose a site before making a commitment. Some even allow you to change your mind so if your chosen site turns out to be a nightmare check with the park managers if there are other sites available.

Here are a few tips for getting the best camping site this weekend:

If you've arrived at an unfamiliar campground ask the campground hosts for a detailed map and have a quick drive or hike around and make a list of some possible campsite locations.

Do not take a site that has camping items but no vehicle as it could belong to RV owners who aren't on site for the day.

Always arrive before dark. You can rest assured that the best campsites will be taken if you arrive late in the afternoon.

Camp at least 200-300 feet away from water.

Make sure there are trees to hang your garbage and food upwind outside of camp.

Set up camp away from other campers and away from any trails.

If you love the idea of waking up in a warm location set up camp under the morning sun. You will also have the advantage of being shielded from hot sun later in the day.

Avoid setting up camp in tall grassy locations as they are a wonderland for insects.

Never camp at the bottom of cliffs with loose rocks.

Become familiar with flora and avoid all areas with poison ivy.

Get the best protection from lightning by camping near a dense grouping of trees, all the same height in a low area away from water.

Make sure the site is large enough to meet all your needs. Think about what would happen to your site in the event of a storm.

Consider the location of bathroom facilities (if applicable).

Water is absolutely critical for camping. You will need it for washing, drinking and cooking so ensure that you have a water source nearby to your camp site.

If rain is expected locate your campsite in a flood free area.

Never modify an area by removing vegetation and rocks to create the perfect campsite. The perfect campsite is never created by man but has already been made by Mother Nature.

Find an area free of tree roots and rocks. If you've found the perfect location but there's a problem with small rocks gently rake them away to create a smooth level for sleeping on.Never camp on a ridge. You are too exposed to severe wind and lightning conditions.

Avoid sharing a site with campers who are not part of your group. There's plenty of land to go around and every camper is entitled to some personal space.

Look for a campsite that has some shelter from the sun. But if rain is expected never set up camp under trees. There's the danger of lightning plus the fact that the trees will continue to rain on your site long after any rainfall has stopped.

Keep insects at a minimum by setting up your campsite in a dry area not too close to water.

Make sure that you set up camp where water naturally flows away from your site.

Respect wildlife. Campers are venturing into the natural habitat of many animals. Don't set up camp close to wildlife food sources or any animal trails. We are their guests. Treat your hosts with respect.

Avoid parking too close to RVs and noisy neighbours.

If you have a large group consider a group campsite.

In Autumn and Summer look for sheltered spots along shorelines and protected in bays.

Trips located on islands and points in summer will offer calming cool breezes.

Some sites have flat, cleared spots all ready for your tent so look out for these or ask your friends of great campsites they'd recommend.

If you're canoeing a good spot for loading and unloading your canoe is critical.

Avoid camping where trees are leaning over your campsite.

Avoid camping near big pine trees as they act like lightning rods when lightning strikes.

Avoid sites around marshes etc as they are a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes.

Find a flat camp site to ensure no slipping and sliding downhill.

Make sure there's a convenient location for relaxing in your kitchen.

Make sure there's good drainage.

Having a reasonable source of firewood in the vicinity is not a necessity but recommended.

Finding the best campsite possible is a crucial part of your camping experience. It is not the time to be impatient, tired, or hurried. A poor campsite will cause unlimited problems on your trip. With a little planning, patience and preparation your perfect campsite is waiting at a campground near you this weekend.

NOTE: This is just one of the many super tips that Karin Manning has included in her latest book, "The Ultimate Campfire Kitchen and Camping Guide". (Her amateur weather forecasting tips will have you predicting the weather before you even leave home. They're cool! Check them out at http://www.easy-family-camping-recipes.com

Featured by the Campgrounds Directory from the Lifestyle section of RFA.

Cape Cod offers many great campgrounds for those that seek this less expensive and outdoorsy way of vacationing. Our family camped on the Cape at Peters Pond Park in Sandwich most summers, and I can truly say that camping there was one of the highlights of my childhood. To this day, Cape Cod is my favorite place on earth for a vacation.

There are over 20 campgrounds on the Cape, some with over 450 campsites, some with less than 80. And believe me - this is not your father's camping! Campgrounds now have many more options than just tent or "pop-up" sites. Many can accommodate RVs and trailers of up to 32 feet, and most have cabins or cottages, modern restrooms and even cable television hook-ups. Some even have RVs or trailers up to 40 feet on site for rent. Playgrounds and children's programs abound, as do baseball fields, rec halls, on site markets, and other amenities. Most campgrounds are also situated close to, or near the water - a great convenience for swimming and boating activities. From tennis courts to musical entertainment to bicycle rentals to internet cyber booths - Cape Cod campgrounds offer activities that were rare years ago.

Some campgrounds even cater to the different desires of today's campers by offering separate sections for couples seeking a quieter setting, group campers such as scouts or churches, RVs/trailers-only, as well as traditional family camping sites. Most sites for RVs and large "pull-through" trailers are in separate sections from tents, small trailers or cabins. Often cabins and cottages are grouped together as well. A few campgrounds allow pets, but some restrict this to off-season periods, and most allow only 1 pet per site. Make sure to bring your pet's rabies certificate, as most campgrounds require them now. We highly recommend that you check the rules and limitations thoroughly when you make reservations.

The cost for camping on Cape Cod, although not as expensive as hotels, can still add up. Most rates include only 2 adults. Even your own children often add to the daily cost - and - pets, extra vehicles, boats and visitors almost always require extra daily fees. Our research showed in-season rates varying from $33 to $46 per night for a standard tent site with water and electric service - and again - almost always this was for 2 adults only. Off-season rates varied from $18 to $34 a night for the same tent site with water and electric for 2 adults. Rate charts on the websites can be a little confusing, so be sure you get a clear explanation of your exact rates before you make your reservations.

A lot has changed about camping since my childhood days on Cape Cod, but a lot of it is still the same. You will still find s'mores around a camp fire, pick-up baseball games, trips to the camp store for a treat, hikes and long walks, kids climbing trees, the best tasting breakfast ever around a picnic table, and loads of memories that will last a lifetime.

Linda Behrle has spent a lot of time vacationing on Cape Cod beginning in childhood. It is still her favorite place on earth to vacation. For more information about Cape Cod camping, visit her website www.everythingcapecod.net for all your vacation planning needs.

Featured bt the Campground Directory from the lifestyle section of Resources For Attorneys.