hiking and camping
Hiking and Camping in One Day Hiking and camping can be day trips, and very successful and fun ones, too. Hiking and camping can be done solo, with friends, or with family. Kids often enjoy the whole concept of camping. It might be just the thing to get away for a day and escape into the realm of nature. Here are some tips for making that day trip successful and fun. What to Pack If you are just going to be gone for the day, then your packing list won't be the same as it would be if you were spending the night in the wilderness. Depending on the weather, here are some suggestions on what to wear and bring on your day trip. * Hiking boots or shoes are important for comfort and safety. Make sure you have a good pair of hiking footwear. * Dressing in layers is almost always a good idea, regardless of the time of year. In winter, layers help prevent you from getting too hot or too cold, and in summer, wearing a light wrap over your summer clothing can help ward off bugs and sunburn. Spring and fall tend to have significant temperature ranges (cool mornings and hot afternoons), so layers are once again a good idea. * Food should be enough for at least two meals if you're spending the entire day out, usually lunch and dinner, and should be either non-perishable or the sort of thing that will cook well over a campfire. You can also just pack sandwiches for everyone for lunch and save the open-fire cooking for dinner. Granola, trail mix, dried fruit, and nuts are good snacks to bring. * Make sure to bring lots of water, both for drinking and for washing up at mealtimes. * Backpacks are essential if you're going to be spending the whole day out in the wilderness. However, if you plan to just spend an afternoon, then you can get away with a fanny pack or small backpack/drink bag. What to do Are you wondering what sorts of things to do on a hiking and camping day trip? For some, just walking and camping are fine; for others, something specific to do and/or see is more their style. Here are some ideas. * Hike to a certain destination, landmark, overlook, museum, etc. Then you can spend some time at the destination and sightsee before hiking home. * Make camping the focal point of the day trip more so than hiking if you like. Just hike to the campsite and spend part of the day there, then hike home.