Outdoor Vacations 101 - Driving Camp Holidays
Outdoor Gear for Access-by-road Camping or Holiday Park Camping
Oct 9, 2009
Physically easier than backpacking camp holidays, camping park holidays or camping holidays at campsites that are accessible by road can be great fun, especially for group vacations or adventure family vacations. All required gear for a reasonable level of comfort can transported to the campsite, which can serve as a base for further hiking or other adventure activities.
Personal Outdoor Gear, Carry According to Planned Activities on a Camp Holiday
If hiking trips are planned with the campsite as a base, then each member will need to carry all personal gear required for a hiking trip - a backpack or daypack depending on the duration of the hike, raingear and rain cover for the pack, good walking shoes, suitable headgear depending on the weather, a water bottle, and if desired, a stout walking cane for tricky patches on the trail. It would also be a good idea to carry a basic first-aid kit.
Even if there is no further agenda beyond camping at the chosen site, it would be smart to carry a daypack and raingear, along with walking shoes or boots and cap. Protection from the elements is important even if there is nothing more strenuous planned than just relaxing by the tent and watching the world go by. A pair of floaters or sandals would help air the feet when just sitting around. If bird watching or wildlife watching is planned, carry a good camera and a pair of binoculars, along with a bird book to help in identification.
It is important to carry proper sleeping gear on a camp holiday, as lack of rest has a way or taking the fun out of a great adventure experience. Sleeping bags are a must: the selection of sleeping bag would depend on the altitude of the camping location and prevailing temperatures at the campsite. Using an inner liner will keep the skin from coming directly in contact with the synthetic material of the sleeping bag. Seasoned outdoorsmen will also swear by the comfort afforded by a sleeping mat, which serves to protect both the body and the sleeping bag from being poked by small pebbles or thorns under the tent floor. An air pillow would be a luxury.
Camping Gear, Camping Tents and Camping Furniture
Whether tents need to be carried will depend on the campsite where the camping holiday is planned: some providers of camping accommodation offer tents for hire. If this is not the case, then camping tents will need to be carried. Since road access is available, larger frame tents can be carried on this kind of a camping holiday, as opposed to the smaller, more compact backpacking tents. The larger tents can often accommodate a whole family, and come complete with rooms, verandah, awnings and netting for protection against insects.
Making camping holidays extremely comfortable are also a whole array of camping furniture - camp cots, camp chairs, camp stools and camp tables. Carrying a couple of these can make a great difference to the outdoor experience, especially for older members of the family and first-timers.
Camp cooking can also be fun with camp stoves and fuel cakes, especially if goals are not too ambitious and most food only requires cans to be put on the fire. Along with the camp stove, carry a couple of camp utensils for cooking food and heating water in, plates and mugs to eat and drink in, and buckets and cans to carry and store water. A couple of fly covers for prepared food might be a good idea.
A camp holiday at a site where one can drive right up in a vehicle is a great way to introduce the family to an adventure vacation. Whether it’s holiday park camping or a camping vacation at a wilderness campsite, it offers an outdoor vacation that is fun without being too difficult, especially if the right outdoor gear is carried.
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