There are just some things you have to try once in life. Camping is one of them, but whether you camp in a tent, PUP, or travel trailer these are some things you should try at least once, and believe it or not some people haven’t tried them yet. Here are my top 5 must-try when camping.
- Build a campfire
Yes, a real campfire. I have met people who camp but have never made a campfire. For some it was the danger and uncertainty of the fire and others they hate the smoke and all the work it come with. I personally love the smell of the fire and prefer Cherry wood when I can get it.
- Make Smores
Yummy! After a long day fishing, hiking or just lounging around nothing sounds good then a glass of wine and a smore. No Smores come in all different sizes and types. You don’t need the tradition 3 items to make smores though the recipe is a no brainer. Try strawberries or create your own! Try it using Fudge Graham crackers with marshmallows. Delicious!
- Swimming in the evening or early morning (If Accessible)
Now swimming in the dark is dangerous and I won’t recommend it! But I have done it. The best part is in the evening or early morning though when sun is just up. Just on our last trip, the swimming area had a light post for over night swimming. So, we safely swam with the stars. I don’t recommend this with young children or those who can’t swim. Note: Skinny dipping is usually done at these hours!
- Taking a walk or hike around the campsite or nearby trails
This is such a blast! We have didn’t know that the campground had certain services or play areas if we didn’t do this. We also saw other PUP owners which gave us new ideas. We have never met someone who was rude to us either. We actually met our neighbors this way and are friends with some of them still to this day. Once we found out that the camp group had laundry service. It wasn’t listed on the brochure or online. My daughter always meets other kids or teens. We would have dinner with each other several different times or talked around the campfire for hours.
The trails we so unique and we always learned a little on the way with historical markers on the trails. We would have never known about some of that if we didn’t take the trails. One weeklong trip my daughter met these two-sister visiting with their dad, he was the camp host. We all went on this long 7-mile hike and bonded. We were tired at the end but had a blast.
- Stay up late to watch the stars
A must-do! To see the stars in all their glory is remarkable. No words can be said when you gaze up and see a shouting star or the space station. We also use an app to see certain planets when they are in view.
Have you tried any of these things? For most just beginning to camp, this list would be perfect if all items are accessible.