Does Home Depot sell camping equipment?
Camping is a great way for everyone to get away from the stresses they experience in life. Unfortunately, if your preparations are not complete, you can have obstacles during the trip. Prepare in advance to avoid this and keep your "must have" list handy when preparing for your trip.
Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.
If you are going on a camping adventure, make sure you have enough time to set up camp before dark. It can be extremely difficult to set up camp in the dark and possibly unsafe. You need to be able to scout the terrain, prepare bedding, and possibly build some temporary shelter prior to the sun going down.
Look at the weather forecast prior to leaving for your trip. Lots of websites offer detailed information about average temperatures and rainfall. When you know what the weather is going to be like ahead of time, you can pack the appropriate clothing and equipment.
Make sure you plan out your route in advance of your trip. Look to see if there are any special places that you can stop at along the way. It will make the drive much more enjoyable and you may have a lot of fun in the process. Granted, you may need to get to your destination quickly, but if you have time, taking the scenic route is worth it.
A big concern with many people who go camping is the bugs. Do not get stuck in the middle of nowhere without having some sort of bug repellant. Check your surroundings before setting up camp for any wasp nests or ant hills that could cause you problems. Wear long pants and long-sleeved whenever possible and inspect yourself for ticks occasionally.
Never park your vehicle under a single tree when you are at a campsite. If there is a storm, it will attract lightning. This also means that you should avoid sleeping under any trees that are in a particular area by themselves. Try to be in an area that is free of trees or one that has many.
Be certain your camp fire is completely out before you leave a campsite. To your eye it may seem like the fire is gone, but stir the ashes with a stick and you may find burning embers. Pour enough water and keep stirring until you see no more embers in the fire pit.
If you are camping in uncharted territory, make sure that you understand potential dangers lurking there. Figure out if there are any poisonous insects, what the land looks like and how the weather will be. Each area can pose different dangers, so familiarize yourself whenever you venture somewhere new.
Take along a fire extinguisher! You never know when a fire can spread. Being prepared to put it out quickly could save your life, your gear and the woods around you. Find one that is capable of putting out fires of all kinds to be sure you are prepared to extinguish them all.
Make sure to have a picture of your children when camping with them. If you lose them during your trip, that picture can help you immensely. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.
An indispensable item to pack for your camping trip is Ziploc bags. You can separate items in your gear like sunscreen and bug spray so if they puncture they do not get all over your gear. You can also use them to keep items like matches and cellphones dry if it rains.
Just because your tent is labeled waterproof, do not count on it to keep you dry when it rains. Pack a couple extra-large tarps to take along with you. Use one to set on the ground under your tent and keep one dry to use to cover your tent if it looks like it is going to rain hard.
Make sure you secure all sources of food at night when you go to sleep. There are many animals that can frequent campgrounds at night and rent glamping tent scavenge your food, especially when left open and unattended for hours. You don't want to wake up to your food scattered everywhere, and you left with a shortage.
When you're finished camping and ready to go home, you should pick up after yourself. Keeping nature clean and preserved can allow future campers to enjoy it too. Before you leave, clean up any messes, you've made at your site and try your best to leave nature as you originally found it.
Some of the best food options to bring camping with you are things that come in cans. While this may not be the tastiest, it is great for two reasons. It is very convenient and easy to prepare, but more importantly; wildlife will be unable to smell the food inside of the cans.
While it may seem silly, make sure that you pack some toilet paper before you go camping. You may be camping in an area that doesn't offer toilets, so you will need to find other places to go to the bathroom. To keep from having to use potentially dangerous leaves, you need to have toilet paper on hand.
Bring a few Frisbees with you next time you go camping. Not only will they give you something to do, but they are helpful, too. Use a Frisbee to help you hold your paper plate. It will give it the structure that it needs, and it will be a lot stronger.
Make sure the sleeping bag you choose is the correct one. For example, if you are going camping during the summer months, you will probably want a lightweight sleeping bag, so that your body does not overheat during the night. This is a good piece of knowledge to follow because you don't want to feel uncomfortable sleeping.
Camping is a special time for anyone, regardless of how many times they have done it. You can really do some soul-searching and reflection at the same time you are having fun! So make sure you use the tips laid out here to give yourself a special experience and a pleasant time.