Can you imagine pitching your tent in the wilderness of Colorado beside a roaring mountain stream with wildflowers in bloom all around you? This is the Colorado camping experience that draws vacationers to the myriad of campgrounds and campsites that this state has to offer.

A camping vacation to Colorado is one of the best ways to intimately see the state. There is no better way to get close to Colorado's wilderness, whether the rolling plains of Eastern Colorado, the Colorado Rockies, or the mesas of the Western Slope than by setting up your tent in one of Colorado's many campgrounds.

You'll find that Colorado's campgrounds and RV parks make great home bases for exploring the state's scenic areas and historical landmarks. Camping in Colorado is easy. Thousands of campsites and campgrounds are to be found within the 20 million acres of public lands that are found in any section of the state.

Colorado camping is some of the best in the world. There are endless possibilities to camping in Colorado when on your vacation to the state. Where you camp while in Colorado is up to you. Here is a list of a few Colorado camping options to help you plan your vacation as you'll need to pick your campsites as reservations in most campgrounds need to be made in advance to insure that you get the camping spot you are wishing for.

The Steamboat Springs Area

Many make the Steamboat Springs area the base camp for their Colorado camping experience. Steamboat springs itself is a popular downhill skiing resort in winter. But in summer, the surrounding area presents vacationers with many Colorado camping adventures.

Dumont Lake Campground is located Southeast of town on Rabbit Ears Pass where mountains and wildflower meadows meet. The campground's 22 campsites take in views of the twin-pinnacled Rabbit Ears Mountain. This is a spectacular area for hiking and mountain biking.

North of Steamboat the Colorado camping experience continues. Steamboat Lake State Park is a wonderful fishing spot where the family can enjoy the camping that they came to Colorado for. Beginner and experienced anglers alike will enjoy the fishing here. Other family members will enjoy the hiking trails and nature exploration.

Nearby is Pearl Lake State Park. Camping at this park is more secluded. You will find 36 campsites nestled in the woods where it's hard to see your neighboring camper's tents. As you rise in the morning from a rested sleep, you will gaze to the lake below your tent and listen to the sand hill cranes that roost in the willows towards the north end of the lake.

Maroon Bells

Along Maroon Creek, just to the south of Aspen, you'll find a few Colorado camping experiences at the Silver Bells and the Silver Queen Campgrounds. Book these in advance because you'll find that there are limited campsites here. But it's well worth it to experience Maroon Lake. And just so you know, only booked campers can drive to the lakes and see the Maroon Bells reflect in the still waters at dusk.

The Colorado camping experience here is the private, leisurely view of the scenery. Since non-campers have to take the crowded shuttles from Aspen, you have the advantage. But, keep in mind that you will still have to do a short hike to experience the view.

Of course, you can also mountain bike or horseback ride to one of the most fabulous sights around Aspen. This spectacular wilderness area is full of trails that will delight any camper to Colorado. It's one of the areas that most Colorado visitors rarely see.

The Colorado camping experience is some of the best in North America. At your campsite you will find that your tent is a room with a fantastic view. While camping in Colorado you should remember that many of the campgrounds are at high altitudes. Be sure to acclimate to your surroundings before venturing out on the many trails that you will find for hiking and fishing.

If camping is on your vacation agenda this summer, make sure you don't pass up the Colorado camping experience. Colorado is truly a camping wonderland that your whole family will enjoy.

By: Jim Bruce
Jim Bruce has a website dedicated to travel in Colorado. If you are thinking about a Colorado camping vacation this summer gain more camping information at: http://www.coloradotravelexperience.com ... ation.html.

Featured by the Camping Directory from the lifestyle section of Resources For Attorneys.

Summer is here, schools are letting out. Time for some family fun and for many Americans, that means camping. Mothers everywhere cringe at all the dirt and grime and germs associated with outdoor living, even if just for one night. I'm one of those mothers and I'll share with you how I've combated the icks and yucks my three sons seem to gravitate to.

Go clean. My sons are required to shower or bathe within 12 hours of departure. This may seem like common sense, but I was surprised at how many kiddos hit the campground filthy. If your kids are clean when you go, they'll be less dirty when they come back.

Cook clean. Bar-be-que sauce is a one of the top violators of cleanliness. Leave sauces off food, use dry rubs on meat and season veggies with some salt mixed with cumin, black pepper and dry oregano. Make skewered food, prepared ahead of time. The fewer plates and utensils you need, the fewer ways to get dirty.

Wash and wash again. If you bring gallons upon gallons of water with you, wash hands often. If you don't bring much more than drinking water, pack along some Wet Ones. They are similar to baby wipes but also contain an anti-bacterial solution, to kill those pesky germs.

Zip it up. Tents should always be kept closed to keep out bugs and dirt. Most tents are equipped with screens that can be left closed while you air out the tent by unzipping the door or window. Keeping dirt out will remind your family what clean feels like when you and your kids climb into sleeping bags at night.

Air it out. Remove all foods and clothing from campers and tents. Then, for at least 1 hour before packing up camp, let your camper and/or tent air out by opening all windows and doors (keep those screens closed, though).

Bag it. Make sure you bring plenty of trash bags with you. In addition to waste, you can pack all of those stinky clothes and dishes in them before you head home. Deliver the bags to their destination (trash can, laundry room, kitchen) as soon as you get home. Otherwise, you'll make your vehicle into a huge Petri dish.

Shower straight away. Everyone should take turns showering and changing into clean clothes as soon as you get home. In addition to cleaning off the surface dirt, the camping germs will go down the drain and take funky smells with them.

By: Mary Smith
Mary Smith is a freelance writer. To read more about camping and other types of vacations, visit this buy travel guide books and get all the knowledge you need.

Featured by the Camping Directory from the lifestyles section at Resources For Attorneys.

A camping trip might seem like just a trip to the outdoors with a tent, but it can be a terrible experience if you don't adequetly plan it out. Finding the right location is the easy part. The right information and gear is a safety issue unless you are an experienced hiker or camper. When you have found a site that you wish to travel to, find out all of the information that they can provide for you in advance. Most parks have a tourist center that is happy to help you out and provide information. Reservations are always a good idea and there are some differences in campsites that are available. Parks with waterfront sites fill up quickly. You can always cancel a reservation, but you can't make one when it's too late. The park service can also let you know if campfires are permitted or not. Other good questions to ask about are the weather conditions, so you can plan your clothing and gear needs. Planning a list of the gear you would like to bring is very important. Less is better, but don't skimp on something you really want. Electric items should be kept to a minimum because they are not usually very portable or weather proof. Battery operated radios and lanterns are great and don't take up much space. Televisions and refrigerators are cumbersome items that will cause a lot of work. There are great coolers available that can take ice or be plugged into a 12 volt outlet to cool or even heat. Portable stoves are usually allowed anywhere and they will offer an easy alternative to cooking over a fire. Open fire cooking can be hard with out some direction. Simple cooking utensils are great, remember that you don't have a kitchen for clean up. Plastic place settings is also great because they can be washed or thrown away. This also brings up another important item, bring trash bags. They are useful beyond trash, so they are always good to have. Even hikers swear by having some on them at all times. A large tent can also be a little too much for camping. I recommend a adequet sized tent and a picnic shelter. This way there is a great covered area for activities and meals away from the clutter of sleeping bags. Most shelters are portable, easy to set up and even offer optional screens to keep the bugs out. Other than these main items, pack comfortable clothing and throw in a deck of cards. This is the smallest form of entertainment that I have found anywhere, and it can save you when anyone gets bored. Happy trails!

By: Dave Westin
Dave is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys sharing his knowledge about camping and hiking. Find more information at http://www.best-camping-resources.info.

Featured by the Campgrounds Directory from the lifestyle dection of Resources For Attorneys, a legal and lifestyle resources directory.

When using a public campground, a tuba placed on your picnic table will keep the campsites on either side vacant.

The guitar of the noisy teenager at the next campsite makes excellent kindling.

Check the washing instructions before purchasing any apparel to be worn camping. Buy only those that read "Beat on a rock in stream."

Old socks can be made into high fiber beef jerky by smoking them over an open fire.

Bear bells provide an element of safety for hikers in grizzly country. The tricky part is getting them on the bears.

Modern rain suits made of fabrics that "breathe" enable campers to stay dry in a downpour. Rain suits that sneeze, cough, and belch, however, have been proven to add absolutely nothing to the wilderness experience.

A hot rock placed in your sleeping bag will keep your feet warm. A hot enchilada works almost as well, but the cheese sticks between your toes.

You'll never be awakened by the call of a loon if you have an unlisted number.

The best backpacks are named for national parks or mountain ranges. Steer clear of those named for landfills.

Acupuncture was invented by a camper who found a porcupine in his sleeping bag.

Lint from your navel makes a handy fire starter. Warning: Remove lint from navel before applying the match.

You'll never be lost if you remember that moss always grows on the north side of your compass.

You can duplicate the warmth of a down-filled bedroll by climbing into a plastic garbage bag with several geese.

When camping, always wear a long-sleeved shirt. It gives you something to wipe your nose on.

You can compress the diameter of your rolled up sleeping bag by running over it with your car.

Take this simple test to see if you qualify for solo camping. Shine a flashlight into one ear. If the beam shines out the other ear, do not go into the woods alone.

A great deal of hostility can be released by using newspaper photos of politicians for toilet paper.

It's entirely possible to spend your whole vacation on a winding mountain road behind a large motor home.

A two-man pup tent does not include two men or a pup.

Always carry a deck of cards when you take a hike in unfamiliar territory. If you find yourself lost and alone, simply sit down, begin to play a game of solitaire and someone will soon come along to reach in and place the red nine on the black ten. Happens every time.

Featured by theCampground Directory from the Lifestyle section at Resources For Attorneys.

So you've decided to go camping. You've check out the camp sites that are accredited by the ACA or American Camping Association and KOA or Kampgrounds of America. Now you need to decide how much you want to "rough it". Are you staying in an RV, or a pop up camper? Perhaps you're pulling a travel trailer. Much too "luxe" for you, you say. You're a real man and all you need is a sleeping bag and a tent.

Choosing a tent for camping is the first task for any camping trip. What type of weather conditions are you expecting? Always be prepared for the worst, rain, wind, and cold. There are three season and four season tents available. Four season tents are heavier than three season tents. They tend to have more poles than three season tents to help them withstand wind and snow fall. Of course, most of us are fair weather campers. A three season tent will be fine for us. So, now, what style of tent do you want?

What style of tent you want may depend on how much backpacking you're going to do. If you're a pack backer you'll want to keep your load as light as possible. A tarp tent may be the one for you, or if you're camping in summer a lightweight warm weather tent may work.

If you're the type of camper who likes to "rough it" at a drive up base camp area then the weight of a tent will not be an issue for you. You will probably be more concerned with how many people will be sharing your tent. A two man tent will most likely be uncomfortable for two large adults and all their gear. Those with camping experience say that you'll want to look for at least 30 square feet of floor space per person. They say that you should divide the number of people a tent says is it's capacity by 2. If you're traveling with young children you definitely want to look into a larger model of tent. You'll want a large area inside your tent, especially as you may experience some inclement weather and have the children inside the tent for long periods of time. It would be nice if they had an area to play their board games.

Before you spend your hard earned money on a tent go to your neighborhood camping store where you can actually see the tents set up. Walk around in it. Lie in it. Stand up straight in it. Make sure that the tent you choose will meet all your camping requirements before you get to your campsite.

By: Kelly Gillis
To learn more about tents please visit http://www.tentsusa.info.

Featured by the campground directory at the lifestyle section of Resources For Attorneys.