To those who are campers

[manning]

A friend is trying to get me into camping. He claims once I get into it I would never turn back.

What I would like to know is what are the good and bad points in it. What do you like about it?

 

[LaraK]

I enjoy the relaxation. Once you set up camp, you can just sit back and relax. No TV, no phone, no worries.

I take the kids. They spend hours playing in the dirt, catching bugs and finding frogs and such. They each have to help me in camp...pitching the tent, getting water, washing dishes.

We did tent camping a few weeks ago. I had been years since I went tent camping, but it was fine. Even in the rain, we sat and enjoyed the sound of the rain hitting the tent.

Now, if you don't like bugs or dirt, you may not like camping. You kind of have to just get past the bugs. I'm not a bug fan, but I deal with them when camping.

I camp in places with nice bathhouses..but sometimes the bathhouses can be dicey. You also can't be tied to always being clean. You're going to get dirty and stay that way for a while.

You also have to make sure you have all the equipment. Initially, you can get a tent, tarp, sleeping bag, etc...for a couple hundred dollars. Around here, campsites are $30/night. (we get electric, I have to have electricity for my son's health problems)

Give it a shot....especially if you know someone who will loan you the equipment to try it.

 

[McRed]

For us it is the time spent together being outdoors and exposing our daughter to nature. We also enjoy outdoor cooking, especially early morning camp coffee and fresh biscuits out of the Dutch Oven.
Check out the "Camping at Disney" Forum near the top of the page and the "Camping Community" page also. We offer lots of good advice and encouragement...come on over.

 

[shortbun]

How old are you? What kind of camping? Tent, backpacking, RV, popup, primitive or campground with hot showers and toilets? There are a lot of variables. We love camping but have found that's it can be a lot of work to prepare. I'd love to have a pop up and just keep everything packed to be able to go at a moments notice. I love waking up outside, I love listening to the rain on the top of the tent. I love it when my husband reads to us or tells stories at night in the tent. I hate, hate hate having to 'go' in the middle of the night and getting up to walk to the bathroom or find an ivy free spot in the dark by myself.

 

[CowboyCO]

It really depends where you live. I grew up in Wyoming and live in Colorado now. Camping in Wyoming was an opportunity to get completely by yourself. We'd go do a "throw down" campsite. Dig a hole for the porta-potty, set up a table and the camp chairs, build a fire ring and get some firewood. The skies are so clear you see the vastness of the Milky Way and watch for meteors. It's a chance to have it be so quiet, you can hear absolutely NOTHING, other than your own breath and the sound of the breeze.

We'd take turns making meals over the campfire or the Coleman stove. Bonus points for campfire cooking.

In Colorado, there's too many people, but it's still gorgeous, just not so quiet. You have to drive a LONG way to get to where it's quiet and alone -- Wyoming.

Tips for GREAT camping

Food- Bring great food. Food always tastes better camping. Great food tastes even better. One of my favorites is morning breakfast potatoes. Cube up a few potatoes, put in some butter, onions, salt and pepper and wrap them up in a few layers of foil and throw in the coals of the fire. A half hour later, open them up. I also do a companion packet of Little Smokies. Scramble up some eggs over the fire, spoon on some potatoes & sausages -- That's camping! Of course, if you are in bear country, they like great food, too, so hang it in a tree or store it in the vehicle at night and don't sleep in the clothes you cooked in.

Clothes - Pack and dress to stay dry. Nothing worse than being wet, other than being wet and cold. When it gets wet out and you have to spend some time in the tent, It's always better to have some dry clothes to change into.

Proper tent set-up. Again -- learn how to stay dry and keep water out of the tent. Get a good fly and a tarp to help keep things dry. Keep anything you are not using in the vehicle.

Rope. Just like Samwise Gamgee said, you'll always want a bit of rope. Use it to tie up the awning, hang a lantern, or stretch a clotheline to dry stuff out.

Cover your firewood and keep it dry. Nothing sucks like being cold, wet and having damp wood.

Last, but not least - don't worry about how you look. After 2 days without a shower and hanging out by a camfire you will SMELL worse than you look -- and so will everybody else. But you won't know it until you get home and smell what clean smells like...

 

[manning]

For us it is the time spent together being outdoors and exposing our daughter to nature. We also enjoy outdoor cooking, especially early morning camp coffee and fresh biscuits out of the Dutch Oven.
Check out the "Camping at Disney" Forum near the top of the page and the "Camping Community" page also. We offer lots of good advice and encouragement...come on over.

On my way! Sorry I missed it.

 

[JR6ooo4]

so if you like everything listed above...

you need to find the right campground. Some people like jsut a field of grass and two trees. Others like not being able to see the neighbors. You can always hear them so good neighbors make a nice trip. our favorite CG has a quiet rule at 11pm and everyone follows it. you can still talk and have fires etc..but no loud radios or chainsaws hehehehee

if you are in a tent, and air mattress is a must. get one with the battery pump. often as the night air cools, the air in the mattress will contract making the mattress mushy. it is real nice to just hit the switch and pump it up in 20 seconds, then back to sleep. I need a thick blanket between me and the plastic though. cold plastic on my kidneys does not a good night sleep make! It feels like I have to P.

our favorite CG has 36 bat houses! each bat will eat hundreds to thousands of flying pests each night! you can see them at dusk circling the campsite. you can also go watch at the houses as hundreds stream out, a few at a time.

going with friends who know what they are doing is a good way to start.

after tent camping as a kid and again after finding DW, we bought this from a cousin:

have fun!

oh, and two nights is good, to start, maybe three.
mikeeee

 

[Pomlover2586]

Sorry a bit OT but MIKE- your dogs are ADORABLE!!!!

 

[manning]

so if you like everything listed above...

you need to find the right campground. Some people like jsut a field of grass and two trees. Others like not being able to see the neighbors. You can always hear them so good neighbors make a nice trip. our favorite CG has a quiet rule at 11pm and everyone follows it. you can still talk and have fires etc..but no loud radios or chainsaws hehehehee

if you are in a tent, and air mattress is a must. get one with the battery pump. often as the night air cools, the air in the mattress will contract making the mattress mushy. it is real nice to just hit the switch and pump it up in 20 seconds, then back to sleep. I need a thick blanket between me and the plastic though. cold plastic on my kidneys does not a good night sleep make!

our favorite CG has 36 bat houses! each bat will eat hundreds to thousands of flying pests each night! you can see them at dusk circling the campsite. you can also go watch at the houses as hundreds stream out, a few at a time.

going with friends who know what they are doing is a good way to start.

after tent camping as a kid and again after finding DW, we bought this from a cousin:

have fun!

oh, andtwo nights is good to start, maybe three.
mikeeee

Nice setup. What is that tent, a shower? also nice looking dogs.

 

[LisaR]

Advantages of camping.......hmmmm.....

If you have any pointy teeth, they will be filed nice and smooth by the end of the trip because everything you eat has sand in it.

If you have pain in your arms or legs, you won't even notice it when you are camping because the pain in your back from sleeping on the airless air mattress will supersede all other pain.

If you like rain, you're in luck because it is guaranteed to pour when you camp.

You can spend your time developing personal relationships with spiders and snakes.

Were you the one kid in school that actually liked showering in the gym locker room? You get to relive that when you camp!

Can you tell I am not a camper?

I am one of the least materialistic people in the world but I NEED a nice hotel on vacation or mommy isn't happy.

And when mommy isn't happy.........

Tons of people love it though so give it a try. You never know.

 

[manning]

:

.

And when mommy isn't happy.........

.

Oh Oh, bet hubby is well behaved

 

[JR6ooo4]

Nice setup. What is that tent, a shower? also nice looking dogs.

well at that CG since it is used every weekend, there is a "no grey water dumping" rule. grey water is just the soapy water. not the BLACK water! No dumping that either. back to the point... we bought it as a shower. turned into the potty.

the dogs loved it! it was their first camping trip. Freddy,the furry one, just knew there was a bunny in that tall grass just waiting to run out towards him.

we have a reso for late august. We are finding we need to book a year in advance to get an electric site.

Mikeeee

 

[mickilee]

i am not a camper. repeat i am not a camper. But to keep the dh happy.. I would only go if i could pick out the camping gear.

2 people.. 3 room tent.
I huge blow up bed. + satin sheets,blankets, with beauty n beast pillow.
dvd player
stereo
ds and psp
i did sneak in my hair straightener and makeup , but if u read further. I was too loaded to use it.

the third room was my martini bar.. with propane blender, 1 hockey bag filled with mixes and assorted booze and premix cocktails. Incase i couldnt decide which weapon to drink at the moment.

gets better. I refuse to eat hotdogs .. so we had steak, lobster, shrimp one nite
another nite. greek menu.. skibobs with salads.

I have no idea why my friends call me princess?

 

[manning]

i am not a camper. repeat i am not a camper. But to keep the dh happy.. I would only go if i could pick out the camping gear.

2 people.. 3 room tent.
I huge blow up bed. + satin sheets,blankets, with beauty n beast pillow.
dvd player
stereo
ds and psp
i did sneak in my hair straightener and makeup , but if u read further. I was too loaded to use it.

the third room was my martini bar.. with propane blender, 1 hockey bag filled with mixes and assorted booze and premix cocktails. Incase i couldnt decide which weapon to drink at the moment.

gets better. I refuse to eat hotdogs .. so we had steak, lobster, shrimp one nite
another nite. greek menu.. skibobs with salads.

I have no idea why my friends call me princess?

A propane blender ???? You gotta be kidding.

 

[mickilee]

oops sorry.. meant to say battery operated. Its the room heater that was propane operated.

 

[PlainJane]

I just got back from camping over the weekend. Here's my list of things I need to enjoy camping......

Mountains
A large body of water
Showers
Well maintained campsite

I am the last person someone would expect to like camping. There's just something about being able to look up at a perfectly clear sky, and the only light around is coming from the stars. I'm a city girl, and it's nice to leave the city behind every once in a while.