taking my dog with me camping this summer...any good tips,to have stress free time....thanks?
375219
take some vinegar in case your dog gets sprayed by a skunk, and some pliers in case he runs into a porcupine.\n\nalso you should take a leash in case you need to control him, for example if a bear comes close to your campsite you want to put your dog on a leash right away, otherwise he will be aggressive to the bear.\n\nDont forget the flea/tick collars, and you have to check your dog for ticks every day anyway.\n\nDogs love camping, have fun ;)
1145025
We go camping at the national parks with our dog, wheeler gorge offeres a great place for animals and kids, not to mention a great place for walks and to relax with the creek running in frount of your tents. Also its cost effective and a great way to spend a vacation.
361289
get an airhorn: like the type for boats.  whenever they laugh, send a blast their way.  i trained my neighbor's dog (that barked 24/7) that way.  aversion therapy.
116702
I'm going to assume you mean backpacking.  I hike 3-10 miles a day on day hikes, carrying about 6 pounds in winter, as little as possible in summer.  If I am camping overnight and carrying my large pack, I'll look for a base camp so I don't have to carry a lot of weight (water is heavy) long distances.\n\nIf it's winter where you are and you have snow - get on cross country skis.  That will get you in shape better than any exercise I know.  You will be using your entire body and negotiating uneven surfaces without losing balance.  And it's fun.  If you really want to test yourself, put a day pack with about six pounds of weight on your back and test yourself in deep snow, across creeks and past obstacles.\n\nWhen hiking, two things you have to be prepared for are walking on uneven surfaces and climbing up or down at steep angles - rocks, roots, jagged downed branches - all of this means you have to make sure your foot is able to take your weight.  \n\nIf you're hiking in winter, snowshoes take a tiny bit of getting used to and snow can be anything from icy to slushy.\n\nI cannot think of a better way to prepare than to find some place - even a local park, with steep uphills and rocky paths.  Put about 35 pounds of weight in your backpack and start walking.  Test your balance.  If you had to bend down and tie your shoe with your pack on could you?  Or will you have to remove your pack?\n\nWhere are you carrying your water bottle?  How accessible is it?  When I hiked the desert, I had one of those water bladders with a tube, so I could sip when I needed to.\n\nHike in cold weather, if you can stand it.  Also hike in the hottest weather you can stand.  This will help you plan your hike for real.\n\nIn summer, I'm on the trail at first light.  Once the sun is up, I want that pack off my back.  I'll hike at night if it's a full moon and I know the area well.
40026
A nice pair of silk long johns is a good place to start. Other little treats for yourself include down clothing, they even make pants. I have a pair of down booties for use in the sleeping bag. Other little clothing tidbits. Wear a hat at all times, even sleeping. You can also sleep with a warm water bottle. Some cautions with this: make sure you know whether the bottle leaks and Nalgene's are notoriously leaky, if you or your bag gets wet, you may be having a harder time keeping warm. If so you can contain it in a ziplock bag or a roll down velcro closure bag. If the water is too hot, you should put it in a sock or something to keep from burning your skin. My hiking buddy/co worker went to bed with a hot water nalgene between his thighs one night. He thought that was clever because a LOT of blood passes through there and warm blood travels to other parts of the body, warming them. But he woke up with blisters on his thighs...dangerously close to the family jewels. Last word about hot water bottle, if you use a collapsible canteen or bottle, make sure you fill it allllll the way up, because even then your bottle will cave in as the water cools down. At the very least you want to minimize this so you don't ruin your bottle. If the bottle cools this way, it will never hold as much as it used to.\n\nA good camping mat. The closed cell foam ones that roll up are cheap and effective and very lightweight, the next step up is the self inflating ones but they are heavier. And you can buy covers for those inflating mats that convert them into a chair.\n\nYou need to dress warm. The most effective thing in my opinion, and also more versatile, is to dress in multiple light layers. In the winter, I wear about 8 layers in the coldest weather...long john shirt, tee shirt, maybe a button down shirt, a fleece vest, as many fleece crewneck tops (the fuzzy polartec type, not sweathshirt fleece) as I can pile on, and my rain jacket. The good news is that if I can add or remove pieces at will until I am perfectly comfortable. IF you go the other route of a couple indoor layers and then one big poofy piece you need to understand the principles of loft, which includes your sleeping bag.\n\nLoft is the way insulation in a comforter, parka, or sleeping bag works. They create tiny little air pockets around you and hold YOUR OWN body heat in them. IF you have a lot of clothing between you and the insulating item, you will actually defeat the purpose of the item because you insulate the item FROM your body heat. This is why many things are true: it is better to sleep with fewer clothing items when you want to be warmer in the bag. It is also important not to compromise loft by choosing an item that doesn't fit your body and causes you to squash it from the inside out, or with a bunch of heavy layers on top of it to squash it from the outside in. If you compress your item too much, even in storage, or in your pack or its stuff sack, there are fewer air pockets formed and the item doesn't work as well.\n\nSO choose ONE dressing strategy and know how to apply it.\n\nOther important facts:\n\nAll the things discussed so far are only ways to insulate yourself. They are not generating any heat on their own. To do that, you need to DRINK plenty of water, and you need to EAT, warm foods that are high in sugars and fats are excellent, and you need to MOVE. A bedtime snack can be anything from a candy bar to a stick of butter, NO kidding! A bedtime activity could be a couple minutes jumping up and down, then one last go at the fire. AND YOU MUST DRINK WATER. \n\nEven if you can't stand cold liquids. EVEN IF you don't want to be up all night peeing. Your body needs the water to circulate the blood, and to metabolize food, both of which assist you in staying warm. Another thing you need to know about water is that both dehydration and hypothermia have the early warning sign of disorientation and confusion. The trouble is, if YOU are the one
1073770
You could go for a hike, go camping, add a swing in your backyard, watch a movie with your friends, go swimming, get a pet, make a card for your friend, play with your hair, travel,...the possibilities are endless. But whatever you do, don't get sunburned :-).
1186964
Definitely tent camping, backpacked in whenever possible.\nAlas, my days are over for that, due to physical illness and limitations, so these days it's an RV.  It is still camping in an RV, ok it's not as rustic, or primitive, but when the choice is RV or no camping ... I will take the RV!\n\n(My choice ...No generator, no real extra's ... still lots of time spent outdoors ... just easier cooking and a better bed)
258536
I love camping. We take our kids at least 4 times a year.\nSometimes we use a tent but we also have a camper that we take.
295124
get comfortable, wear loose clothes, have a soothing warm light around, try not having some kind of wokstation near where you sleep..it is pretty important to have a stress free zone with a neat, uncluttered set-up. lie down, read a little if you want to, close your eyes, and try and absorb the calm...appreciate yourself and your qualities, hoping to begin the comin day with all the positivity you can
331466
my soon to be hubby and i are buying a house 1 mile from all of our favorite trails, fishing spots, etc... so we plan to ride our mt. bike through the state land and explore new area's. Plus this house has a huge garden, and green house, so i can have lots of veggies by the end of the summer, while saving money. It's our only option, I think 3.00 is extremely too much for gas. Plus at the end of July a bunch of us are going up north, so we will just car pool. When before we all would have driven separately. What are you going to do? well good luck.
845456
I did that, it was really easy and fun.  Just always try feeding it first, put it in bed with you so you can just grab it up, and do not push the head back!
1083937
There are entire books devoted to tips for hiking/ backpacking (Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book is a favorite) so I will just focus an the 3 items you listed, food, shoes and dangers.  \n      \nFor food you don't want anything heavy (canned, ect.) or anything that takes to much fuel/time to cook.  Ramen and Lipton dinners are popular "boil and serve" options that dont cost much.  $0.10 for the ramen and less than a buck for the Lipton dinners.  You can try the link below if you want to spent a little more and buy prepackaged dehydrated meals.  Most are pricey but supprisingly good.  You want to make sure you filter and/or boil all of your water you drink AND use for cooking.  As far as eating things in the wilderness I dont recomend it.  That falls into the "If you have to ask you shouldn't put it into your mouth" catagory.  You can be a long way from a hospital in the woods.\n     \nThe terrain you  are covering and the amount your pack weigh are the 2 biggest things to consider when choosing footware.  The more your carying the more support your feet need.  Also if your hiking off trail in the wilderness you need more ankle support.  If you plan on hiking a well established trail, like the Appalachian Trail, you should be able to wear a light hiking boot made of canvas or leather and canvas.  Boots with Gore-tex have pluses and minuses.  On the plus side they are water proof but that means they dont breath as well.  Save your money if your hiking in a place that water doesn't matter.  For example, If your only crossing 1 to 2 streams a day your feet will be dryer over all by breathing without Gore-tex than if your feet were sweating all day.  Get fitted by a pro at a hiking shop and make sure to break them in before you go.  Make sure you have god socks too.  Cotton white athletic socks dont cut it.  If you are prone to blisters use a spray antiperspireant or ankle length nylons to help prevent them.  If you feel a "hot spot" on your foot while your hiking stop right away and fix it with mole skin or duct tape.  I also like to take flip flops or crocs as "camp shoes" to give my feet a break from my boots at night.\n     \nDanger depends on where you are hiking.  Wild animals want your food, not you, so you can reduce your unwanted interactions with them by not cooking by your tent, by hanging your food away from where your sleeping and by properly disposing of your scraps.  Another danger is lightining.  Stay away from ridge tops and tall trees during storms.  Speaking of tall trees you need to check for dead ones or even dead branches before you make camp.  If they come down in the night you might wake up dead.\n     \nIf you are backpacking you really want to go as light weight as you safely can.  You will be able to see more with less effort and pain.  I also highly recomend treking poles to help take the strain off of your knees and feet.\n     \nI swear I hike better than I spell.  The dag gum spell check is not working right now.  sorry.
574054
My favorite thing about summer is camping at the ocean.  I love it.  I dislike the bugs.  :)
67211
Typically, "Water and Electrical Hookups" are referring to convenient places an RV or trailer can plug in to for power and running water.  Chances are, you should be able to plug an extension cord with a power strip for running some electrical items.\n\nI say plan your trip as if the electrical won't be available, but bring a few things that will be helpful in case it is.\n\nA few helpful camping tips:  \nIf there's a firepit, bring a couple Duraflame logs.  They last a couple hours, don't take any special gymnastics to ignite, and you can always throw regular wood on after the duraflame is burning.  Remember to smother your campfire before you go to bed (Shovel dirt on it, etc).\n\nBring a stiff rake.  Rake out the spot where you're putting your tent(s). This way, you don't end up rolling over onto a rock or acorn.\n\nPlease, please, PLEASE, clean up when you're gone.  Have your kids walk all over your campsite and pick up every little bit of trash possible.  (Also, bring trashbags!  Not all campsites have convenient trash receptacles).\n\nCheck the temperature ranges in advance, and pack accordingly.  It's a very long night when it's freezing cold and you didn't bring the winter sleeping bags.  Remember that tents catch fire VERY easily, so don't put the tent next to the campfire, and don't bring electrical or gas heaters into the tent.\n\nBring fresh drinking water.  (Those 2.5 gallon jugs with the convenient spigot are good...)\n\nBring a medical kit w/ all the usual refinements.  Kids will always find a way to get boo-boo's.\n\nI can almost guarantee that you will certainly overpack for your first trip.  You'll find that over time you'll be able to whittle it down to the stuff you *really* need, as opposed to the stuff you think you'll need.\n\nIf you're with someone who is not a morning person, they will be much worse in the morning.  Trust me.\n\nGood luck!
69058
My mom used to pack us off to the park (I was the oldest and in charge) and spend time sleeping or cleaning up the house in peace. Possibly, you could stage a weekend sleep over at their cousin's house or someone you trust. Best of luck.\nK.
821044
throw all your frequent flyer points together and get him a plane ticket to sunny Queensland. He can stay in my place while I'm over visiting the US.. It's so effin hot all he needs is a pair of speedos & pair of thongs (flip flops.. not the undies kind) He can drink in the park with the aboriginals, learn how to say mate or brudda & get himself a third degree sunburn.
346222
i ride at camps during the summer. it is a lot of fun. i really like loping.{i ride western}.