There are only a few more weeks of summer vacation left before it's back-to-school time. I don't know where the summer went. Last week, I asked my oldest daughter if there was something she wanted to do before school starts again. She responded without hesitation -- "Camping!"
Camping is one of our favorite past-times. It is like a mini vacation, only a lot cheaper. Plus, we enjoy being outdoors and learning about nature. And my husband, a typical male, likes to cook on an open fire, getting back to primitive roots.
One of the best places to camp is a state park. The entry fee into a state park is nominal and it is less if your car is registered in that state. A tent site is not very expensive, either -- typically less than $15.00 a night. For that price, you usually get a picnic table, camp fire ring and built in charcoal grill. Plus, there is plenty to offer in the way of entertainment.
Many state parks have hiking trails, beaches, playgrounds, and boat rentals. Some even have, nightly nature talks in which a park ranger speaks to the campers about the plants and wildlife indigenous to the area, interesting geological formations and history of the region. These talks are educational and so interesting that our children sit spellbound through the lectures.
There are some things to keep in mind, however, to avoid unnecessary expenses on a camp out. Stores located in or near state parks are notoriously expensive. The store owners cater to campers who are not prepared and don't want to drive into the nearest town to stock up. They've got you trapped, so they can charge what they want for some basic items. Being prepared can save you a lot of money.
Pack your own bug spray, sun lotion, first aid supplies, matches, marshmallows, film, charcoal and charcoal fluid. Also bring your own firewood to save the expense of buying it at the campground. Fill a cooler or two with plenty of ice to keep your food cold. We usually bring three coolers. One is for cold drinks. Another is for dinner food and the third is for breakfast food. By keeping the dinner and breakfast foods separate, we don't warm up the breakfast food when we are getting dinner ready.
By making sure you have plenty of the basics -- clean, dry clothes, flashlights, blankets, and so on -- you'll have an enjoyable, comfortable time on your camping trip. Our spur-of-the-moment pre-back-to-school camping trip was a
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