May 30th, 2008 by john 
in Categories: 
Taking a camping trip is a great way to do some family bonding and get in touch with nature. It is very relaxing and can be a lot of fun. There are all kinds of activities that can be enjoyed or you can simply do nothing at all. It’s totally up to you.
We take at least two annual camping trips a year. One on Memorial Day weekend and the other on Labor Day weekend. We submerge ourselves in the wilderness and try to disconnect from the outside world for a few days. It is very relaxing and we always have a blast! This year we had a large crowd of friends and family encompassing three campsites.
If you are new to camping, you are probably thinking “Why do I want to go sit in the woods and stare at trees?” I know, I used to think the same thing. Until I was bitten by the camping bug! That happened in my late teens and I have loved camping ever since. Trust me, if you give it a try, you will probably get hooked!
One of our favorite activities is the camp fire. We roast marshmallows, make Smores, make camp pizza, tell stories and just have a good old time! We also enjoy riding bikes, hiking and playing in the water.
Make Some Smores
You will need:
- 1 Box of Graham Crackers
- 1 6 pack of Hersey Chocolate Bars
- 1 Bag of Marshmallows
Directions:
- Roast a marshmallow over the fire
- Break off 2 Graham Crackers, 1-2 pieces of chocolate
- Sandwich marshmallow & chocolate between 2 Graham crackers
- Eat & enjoy!
One of our favorite campgrounds is John H Kerr Dam And Reservoir campground. This 50,000-acre lake is on the Virginia – North Carolina border and is one of the largest man-made lakes in the southeast. It is noted for its record striped bass catches and excellent camping facilities. The scenery is beautiful!
Some Camping Tips
- Book your camping reservations well in advance for best sites.
- Pack all of your camping gear into plastic crates. When it’s time to go, simply load the crates and run!
- Try to find camp grounds with water, preferably a small lake. This increases available activities.
- Get a bicycle rack for your vehicle and take your bikes along.
- Buy camping accessories at the end of season to save some $$$
Things You Will Need For Basic Camping
- A tent
- Tarps
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows
- Air Mattress (much more comfortable than the ground)
- Cooking utensils
- Cooler w/ ice
- Fire wood (can usually be purchased at camp store)
There are many different camping options:
- You can go primitive with no electricity and water
- You can “tent camp”
- You can take an RV, with all the amenities
- You can take a “Popup Tent”
- You can take advantage of State run camp grounds
- You can go the more commercial route, like KOA or Holiday Trav-l-Park
These are good for people with children. They offer live bands, pools, game rooms, mini-golf, hay rides, etc.
Some Things To Do
- Go hiking
- Go biking
- Go fishing
- Go swimming
- Play horse shoes
- Build a camp fire
- Cook marshmallows
- Make Smores
- Tell ghost stories
- Enjoy the stars
So, I hope this gives you some ideas. Give it try! Anyone out there have a camping experience you would like to share? Please do, we would love to hear it!
Pictures from Our Memorial Day Trip:
Cooking marshmallows around the fire.
Life on the beach.
Me, caught by surprise by my daughter.
Our little girl Missy with her life jacket on.
My daughter (on right) and her friend.
My brother-in-law cooking dinner.
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My name is John.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow great information, I am an RV camper personally-I know really adventurous there, but even that has some family members complaining. I just love gettin away, we usually do it with big toys, like boats, quads, and the like. Camp fires, family time, eating all day-good times.
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Hi John, Thanks for sharing the camping tips with us. Another excellent post! I really enjoyed your pictures. I like the life on the beach one, the best. I have never been on a beach. Looks like you were all living it up! That’s what life is all about. I’m glad you all had a great time.
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Great article. Camping is one of those things everyone used to do that seems to be going the way of many old traditions. I love how detailed you made this for the newbie. Enjoyed the pics too.
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Boy, you sure make camping look and sound like a blast. Being a hotel sorta girl myself, you’ve brought me one step closer to the outdoors. Thanks!
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Camping is a great family activity. Many of my favorite memories of my family involve us going to Yosemite. Glad you had such a great time with the family John.
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Hi John,
I never went camping growing up, I’m the youngest and by the time my Mom had me she vowed off camping. But my husband loves camping and has been doing it all his life. So when we met we did a lot of camping with other couples. Then when we had kids we waited till they got a little older but now we go camping all the time. When I first met my husband he had an old pop-up we used for awhile but it was on its last leg. Then for years we used a tent. But last year we invested in a another used pop-up and its great! I never slept good in the tent esp. with four people cramped up in it but now with the camper I sleep great!
Sorry for the long story, but we love camping too! Looks like you had a great time Memorial Day, we have a trip planned for 4th of July that’s always one of our big camping trips. Well talk to you later.
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I can say that some of my fondest memories of my childhood involved camping. Once or twice a year, depending on if it was a fishing trip or hunting, My Dad would pack up the family and take us up into the Idaho mountains for some rest and relaxation. My father and my uncles had camping down to a fine science. Your post was great and brought back a lot of memories.
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I did a lot of camping when I was younger and then in college. I have to say the canoe trips and camping in the Colorado mountains were themost fun. I am not much of a camper now but want to go soon for the girls. Thanks for the tips!
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Lovely post accompanied by great photos. Mind if I add on to your list of basic camping equipment? A first aid kit and torchlights (just in case). I would organize a “solo walk” too – individuals taking a short walk through the woods in the night . This event is fun (if carried out under proper adult supervision) and aims to boost the confidence and courage of teenagers.
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John reply on June 13th, 2008 12:31 am:
Thank you for pointing that out, an oversight on my part! Yes a first aide kit and flashlights are very important. The “solo walk” sounds like a great idea. Thanks for the input!
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There are some good tips here. I hope you really enjoyed your camping trip. If you are looking for more tips, check out my site:
http://www.goingtentcamping.com
Best,
Jeff Marshall
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Hey! Thanks for the great post – I am sure to be back in the future. This weekend Im going on a big trip and I was looking for some solid info when I ran into your site on google…thanks! I appreciate it!
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