We have enjoyed a week of 80-degree weather, here in San Jose, and it has got me thinking about what kind of camping trips I want to plan, this summer. It’s a lot of fun to try different things and camping is no different. If you are just starting out, it makes sense to plan your first few trips close to home, just in case you forget something, or the weather takes a turn for the worse. As you gain experience and confidence, though, you are going to want to venture out and explore some new areas. Here are three ways to camp this summer that will keep your family excited about the outdoors and the camping experience.
Springtime Family Camping, are you ready?
Backyard tent-check (BenSheldon on Flickr)
With most of the country beginning to thaw out, now is a great time to start planning for your first family camping trip, this spring. For many families, this will be the first camping trip since Labor Day. That means camping gear that has been in storage for months needs to be checked before hitting the backcountry. Also, springtime weather is unpredictable, so it makes sense to prepare for the worst, regardless of the weekend forecast.
Weber Q-220 Camping Grill
A camping grill, in addition to a camping stove, can be a real benefit if you like to cook more complex camping meals for your family. A separate grill frees-up burner space on the camping stove for side dishes, like baked beans, corn or potatoes. The Weber® Q® 220 is a portable gas grill that meets our family cooking needs nicely, without taking up too much room in the car. It’s not a lightweight piece – the Q-220 tips the scales at 45 lbs. and measures nearly three feet long.
Small Sleeping Bag, Smaller Price
It’s always been my contention that when it comes to camping gear, you have to pay a premium for the lightweight backpacking variety. That logic got stood on its head when Eureka!® sent me one of their Kotey 35-degree bags, which weighs just a shade over two pounds and retails for less than $100.
Family Camping is the Mother of Invention for Steve Cheslock
East Harbor SP (basile12 on Flickr)
Every year, Steve Cheslock takes his family camping at East Harbor State Park, on Lake Erie in Ohio. Like most of us who camp, Steve had seen his share of people struggle with tent stake removal over the years, but last year he got to experience it for himself when it came time for him to tear down his tent. This got Steve to thinking about a better way to remove stubborn tent stakes from the ground and, in January of this year, the STAKE BUDDYâ„¢ was born.