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Camping can be a wonderful and relaxing getaway for the whole family. If you prepare and plan before your departure, your whole family will enjoy what nature intended.

Choose a camping location that you are familiar with or take along someone who is familar with the campgrounds. If that is not an option, research the area that you want to visit. Take a day trip to drive around the location and pick up brochures prior to your stay. If the area is further away, try a web search to get as much information as posible. Many campgrounds fill their chioce lots quickly and can easily be reserved as little as a week in advance.

If you plan on camping during hot weather or for several days, check on a location that sells ice. Usually ice is sold at the entrance to the campgrounds. Most campgrounds allow you to bring your own golf cart or provide rentals. Always choose the gas powered golf carts over the electric/battery powered ones. The electric/battery powered ones are slow and have low power. Most campgrounds have hilly areas that are almost imposible to climb with a low powered golf cart. The golf cart will provide you with easy transportation to shower houses, campground activities, swimming areas and much more. If you have a golf cart, most campgrounds will let you come and go from the campgrounds without an additonal entrance fee.

When camping in a tent, you must prepare for dew/moisture to settle on the contents of your tent. To prevent wet bedding, place a tarp under the tent and place a box fan inside the tent. Most campgrounds provide electric service at each lot. Don't forget to bring your extention cord. An air mattress provides a bed as comfortable as yours at home. A portable air pump will have it at your desired firmness in a matter of minutes. Hammocks and cots also provide a restful night. To be comfortable, plan on bringing plenty of blankets or a good quality heavy sleeping bag. Even in the hottest days of summer, tent camping is always chilly. When camping during colder months, exponent tents and sleeping bags will keep you warm even in freezing temperatures.

Plan your meals ahead of time. Breakfast can be as easy as disposable bowls, spoons, cereal and milk, donuts and juice/milk, or cooking eggs and bacon on a grate over a fire or on a propane stove. If you are a coffee person, plan ahead and bring a percolator that will make coffee over the fire or a propane stove. Lunch can be an easy lunchmeat sandwich and chips or a hotdog cooked over the fire. Dinner can be barbecue ribs on a grate over the fire with a stock pot filled with water and corn on the cob. Wash up can be easy with a plastic tub and some dish soap. Water service is provided at each lot. You might want to plan on bringing along a garden hose and sprayer. Local businesses frequently deliver pizzas if you plan on meeting the delivery driver at the campground entrance. Usually local businesses also have take out meals that would be easy to pick up in your golf cart. No matter your taste, plan ahead and take the necessary utencils.

Keeping a portable toilet in your tent is a wonderful convience for night time needs. If you are camping with children, a trip to the shower house in the middle of the night is never convenient. If your campground does not provide a shower house, plan to take along a portable shower too. They are discrete and provide a luxury to the wilderness camper.

If tent camping is not appealing to you and you don't own a RV, some campgrounds rent cabins and RVs at a reasonable price. Be prepared to take your own bedding and bath towels. Most campgrounds don't provide more than basic furniture, bathroom facilities, and a small kitchen with limited dishes and cookware. Fireplaces are provided in some cabins. If you are wanting to rent a cabin or RV, reservations are sometimes required several months in advance.

Fishing areas usually require a fishing license. Bring a current license for that area if you plan on fishing. Conservation officers consistantly check these popular fishing areas. Getting caught without a license could ruin a fun family getaway.

Before your next camping adventure, look into what your family would like for an enjoyable camping trip. Planning ahead and taking everything your family needs will make memories to last a lifetime.