Often times, camping is seen as a serene and peaceful type of getaway. You escape from civilization and decide to fend for yourself out in the wilderness. To some, this sounds great, and others camping might as well be synonymous with prison.
I recently went camping with my soon-to-be a Marine boyfriend. Not only did we realize we had two very different ideas of what “camping” was (his being more of the "Naked and Afraid" idea while mine was more along the lines of I’ve always rented a cabin), we were in for a wonderful surprise when we were faced with “severe thunderstorms” (as the Weather Channel app put it) for every day and night of our little vacation. As it were, I found out the hard way some of the upsides and downfalls to not just camping, but tent camping, specifically.
1. Don’t tent camp.
I say this with the utmost respect for those who love to tent camp, but after a very long three days, I don’t recommend it. It’s definitely not for everyone. Some people do very well in this type of situation, while others do not. And that’s okay. Just know whether you’re a camper or a glamper.
2. Plan for rain regardless of the weather forecast.
Nothing is worse than being cold and wet. This being said, I cannot stress enough how important it is to plan ahead. This may simply be packing the appropriate clothing, or the placement of your tent uphill. You don’t want to wake up to find yourself and your belongings floating around your tent.
3. Bring an air mattress.
Not only will you be happy to be off the ground farther away from many little critters, you will be happy to be dry and bruise free. Rocks are not your friends and they don’t like to be slept on.
4. The car is your best friend.
Without any other real shelter, your car will be the best place for your food, clothing, and possibly yourself in worst-case scenario weather.
5. Bring a pie iron.
I mean, this isn’t mandatory, but it sure made for a good time and easy meals.
6. Plan your meals.
Without the luxuries of the modern kitchen, or heck even the modern camper, you’re going to be somewhat limited on what you can cook. My camping extraordinaire of a boyfriend suggested we bring a propane camp stove, which worked out wonderfully.
7. Don’t forget the essentials.
You know, the bug spray, a raincoat, Jiffy Pop; you know the works.
8. Ice will last a lot longer than you think.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out how long the ice within our cooler actually lasted. It might’ve been because it was chilly and not sunny, but if packed well, the ice lasted us for two days.
9. Pick a place with a great view.
If everything else goes wrong, at least you’ve got a view to enjoy.
10. Disconnect.
One of the greatest things about camping is the opportunity to turn your phone off and take a break from the ever chaotic web of social media we are so intertwined in. The real calming experience from camping comes from leaving your phone in the car. Odds are you won’t even have cell reception, but just in case you do, remember to power down so you can make the most of your trip.
11. Bring something to do.
Whether it’s a book, deck of cards, or word puzzle book, you will want to bring something to keep you occupied considering you shouldn’t be bringing your phone.
12. Know how to make the best of any situation.
Even in the worst circumstances, you have to be open to making things work. Sometimes camping can get rough, but if you can tough it out, it proves to be worth it in the end.
