Back to Nature:
Camping cannot make world peace and it cannot solve the mysteries of cancer. But what camping can do for you, probably no other activity can. It brings you back to nature, and lets you experience peace in your very present moment. That is camping . If you choose a state park or state forest as your camping location, you will see nature like you have never seen it before. You might see raccoons, all sorts of birds and little animals, chipmunks, rabbits and more. If you are not careful you might have your first bear experience and hopefully, you will come out of it okay. But you will, without a doubt be as close to nature as you ever will be.
My Favorite--Eureka Tents:
First, I have to say, my happiest and best camping days have been while using a Eureka tent. They are just made with the camper in mind. Does your tent have a nice screen window with a plastic flap --for rain? If you choose your tent correctly, you will have an awesome camping experience. A large part of joy in camping is having fun setting up the tent. If you do not enjoy setting your tent up--you simply have the wrong kind of tent. You may have spent just a few dollars for your tent, you might have gotten a bargain but you will know your value as you take it out and set it up. I say this from experience, and from having put up all sorts of tents from solo tents, backpacking tents, individual tents, even family tents. Yes, I have put up a family-size tent, myself--with no assistance, and had fun doing it. And just one company makes this possible. Eureka! I absolutely love the Tetragon series of Eureka tents. You cannot go wrong with this tent. The Tetragon 9 is a beautiful tent that has side windows that are net. And the fly of the tent has plastic inserts that cover the side windows in case of rain. The beauty of a tent is being able to look outdoors from the inside and still be able to be dry in a downpour. Ahh, that special beauty of seeing the forest or the park through your tent windows as the rain is pouring down outside. That is Eureka! It is just a convenient, joyful, easy-to-assemble tent.
Weather Decides Which Tent You Need:
When trying to decide which tent to purchase, the camper needs to first know where he will camp out, the time he will camp out, and the weather circumstances, and a few other things. For beginners, if you do not want to spend a few extra dollars buying a Eureka tent, you can opt for the cheaper versions of small tents just to see how you like camping. Try any tent. But I guarantee you, if you want an awesome experience, even as a beginner, you might do better with a Eureka. Here is an idea, instead of spending big bucks on an expensive tent of some other name, check out eBay or some other used-items stores and purchase your tent used instead of new. This way you can afford Eureka for your first tent and then you can upgrade later if you really insist on having a brand new tent.
Beginners' Tents:
During my experimentation with many different kinds of tents, I've found that the best beginners' tent is a very inexpensive one that is usually available, in season, at Target stores.The tent is called the Expedition Trail Authority tent. If you purchase this tent 'off- season" you can pick it up for under nineteen dollars.The tent area on the floor is seven feet by seven feet, so that's plenty space for one or two people.This tent is easily set up. You don't need two people to set it up because the tent center height is at a reasonable height. All you do is assemble the shock-corded poles and install them. Stake your tent down. Add the tent fly, and you are ready to go.
When using this tent, I use an inexpensive waterproof tarp under the tent, and another inexpensive waterproof tarp over the tent. Now , I'm set for all kinds of weather camping.
Leave Large Family Tents Home:
I've found that if you want to have a pleasant, non-working camping experience, you'll need to leave the large tents and the family tents back at the house or in the garage. Those larger tents, though they afford more room and more center height, are not fun to put together. And, on a windy day, they are almost impossible for one person to put them together. So, the smaller you go, the better you'll feel and the best and most carefree camping experience you'll have. Use two or three smaller tents for the family and you will all have more fun and much nicer trip.
RAIN? Keep Your Camping Reservation:
Here is another camping tip. Never cancel a camping trip just because you hear that it will rain. The weather will probably be fine for at least some of your trip days. So keep your planned trip. Camp in all kinds of weather if you are physically able to do so. You will love the experience. The rain will always stop, and even if it does not, you will learn what camping is really all about. Camping is about bringing yourself out into nature and living there for a short while. You live there with what nature provides, and you take it all, sunshine, rain, storms and whatever other kind of weather happens. You go camping!
The great thing about camping is that this is probably the one place that you can safely "do nothing" , and really enjoy doing that. Just sit outside the tent and take in all the birds, trees and nature all around you. Check out Hither Hills State Park if you like camping at the ocean. This is the most awesome place for going to sleep and waking up with the tide rushing. And this comes from one who does not know how to swim. I loved staying there for the night.
Just a note, if you do camp at Hither Hills, bring ziplocs with you. Put all your money or fragile items, like Ipods etc, inside plastic bags and then put the plastic bags inside a beach bucket. This way everything will be dry in the morning. Just one last note, you need to register at least nine months in advance if you want to camp out at Hither Hills during a weekend or holiday time.
What is your own camping experience? Leave a note
I updated this article on July 20, 2008.
