Top Camping Tips That Will Help You Have the Best Weekend EVER!

By Kristy Limon

Camping can be just the thing you need to relax and rewind. It’s the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, traffic, and the annoying ‘bing’ of your cell phone every 5 minutes. Unless of course you go unprepared!! There is nothing worse than being stuck out in the woods and not having the property equipment or getting eaten alive by bugs.

Let me help you make sure you have a great weekend! Follow these tried and true tips, and you’ll be a camping addict, just like the rest of us!

First, let’s talk about BUGS 🐜The struggle is real! There is no better way to have a weekend ruined then being eaten alive! Keeping them away should be a priority for both your comfort and your health! Here are some great ways to keep them far far away:

Add Sage or Rosemary to Your Campfire to Help Keep Mosquitoes & Other Bugs Away!

– Wrap the herb in aluminum Foil, wet it, poke some holes in the foil, and it will smoke all night! It will smell wonderful to you…. Bugs… not so much!

Keep Ticks Away with this Home Make Repellant

– This is so easy to make, and totally worth it! Safe to use on kids and pets, be sure to use this anytime you are in a wooded area prone to ticks! Mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar with 1 cup of water (you can even add your favorite essential oil to mask the vinegar smell!). Put it into a spray bottle and spray onto your clothes and exposed skin before heading out for the day. It’s always a good idea to check yourself for ticks at the end of the day!

Next let’s touch on the MOST IMPORTANT Things that You CAN’T Forget! Many of these areas are far from the local store, so forgetting things is a problem. Make sure to have these few essentials and you’ll be fine!

DUCT TAPE – this is your best friend. There is a reason MacGyver always had plenty of it around 🙂 You can patch holes in tents, shoes, inflatable mattresses, and just about anything else.
WATER – Most campsites are largely rural as campers enjoy a natural setting. Therefore, the water may be sourced from nearby rivers, lagoons, or mountain streams and may not be safe to drink. Save yourself the trouble of boiling water every time you use it by bringing along some of your own drinking water from home. You can use this for drinking, cooking, and brushing your teeth.
ENTERTAINMENT – For Kids and Adults! Mother Nature is unpredictable, so make sure you have something to do in case the weather doesn’t play along with your plans. Pack a bag with board games, cards, books, note pads, and pens to keep the little ones busy when it’s raining outside or they’ve simply run out of things to do.
TOOTHPASTE – This is a big one! But… if you do forget here’s a tip…. Simply gather some ash from your fireplace (make sure it’s not still burning) and rub it on your teeth. Wood ash contains potassium hydroxide, also known as lye, which reacts with the oils and plaque in your mouth to create a soapy substance. Problem solved!
TOILET PAPER – This is for obvious reasons! Always a good idea to pack a roll… just in case!

Another important part of camping is the 🔥 Campfire!! What’s a weekend of camping without a cookout and roasting some marshmallows? It’s surprising how many people go camping without knowing how to start a fire. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!Step 1: Start by selecting a suitable site for your fire, making sure it’s far enough away from anything flammable. Remember Smokey Bear? ONLY YOU can prevent a Forest Fire!!!Step 2: Make a U-shaped perimeter using rocks, make sure the back of the fire pit faces the wind.Step 3: Lay down two parallel split logs and fill the space loosely with kindling like dry twigs, newspaper, and firelighters (if you don’t have firelighters, candles work really well).Step 4: Lay another two perpendicular logs on top of the first two and a 3rd set on top of that.Step 5: Light the kindling from above and babysit your fire by adding kindling until the logs catch alight and are roaring safely.And there you go! You’ll have a fire that will last all night so you can cook dinner and have heat left for S’mores after that!

I hope you have many fabulous adventures camping with family and friends. Follow these simple tips and you’ll be an expert in no time! Have any other tips or want to purchase a property to camp on? Contact us and we can help you find the perfect location!