Unplug, Explore, Eat Tasty Food And More

Camping is the best. It gives us city-folk time out in nature – a time to get away from the noise and fast pace of everyday life. Plus, its affordable – making it accessible and relatively easy to get started.

Whether you’re a die-hard camper (camping, eff yeah!) or are new and a little nervous about sleeping under the stars (and amongst the coyotes, spiders and mud), here are my first 5 tips to get you started on your next adventure.

1. You have to start somewhere.

  • Sporting goods stores have a way of making you feel totally unprepared to go camping (Ugh, I can’t camp until I get that sleeping bag onesie, y’all.). But let’s get real, you can jerry-rig most everything. I recommend investing in a tent, but other than that – wing it.

2. Unplug.

  • Turn your phone off. Leave your tablet and laptop at home. If you discover wi-fi, ignore it. If you don’t, you’re missing the point.

3. Go explore.

  • Go for a hike, walk around the campsite or dig in the dirt for awhile. It’s amazing how rejuvenated you feel when you connect with nature and not much beats digging your toes in the mud or chasing after a tree frog.

4. Check the weather and plan accordingly.

  • Rain in the forecast? Bring a poncho and an extra tarp. Lows in the 30s? Pack your wool socks and extra pants. Highs in the 90s? Water and ice are your friends.

5. Get creative and eat good food.

  • Not having a kitchen is no reason to eat pre-packaged and processed foods. Look at it as a great opportunity to get creative and make something you normally wouldn’t try at home. Plus, cooking on the campfire makes you feel tough and who doesn’t want to feel tough?

Ready for more excellent camping tips (trust me, I’m a camper)? Check out part deux of my 10 Camping Tips – guaranteed to make you stronger, sexier and more interesting.