Camping and Hiking

As the weather gets warmer, and the kids slowly get out of school, people begin to pack their backpacks  and lace up their hiking boots.  It's time to go camping! Lock up the house, say goodbye to air conditioning, and put the "Gone Fishing" sign on the door.

Where to go camping or hiking

The first thing you'll need is to know where you are going, unless wandering aimlessly in the woods is your thing (which should only be done by experienced campers with proper equipment and food supplies). Here are some ideas for where to go camping or hiking.

• Your own backyard: If you live in a suburban or rural environment, often times the backyard is a great place to camp out or go hiking (if you have an especially large and wooded backyard). Kids who may be too young to handle camping without a nearby bathroom or their trusty nightlight  would be better off camping out in their backyard. Try building a small campfire and roasting marshmallows with your children, or tell scary (but not too scary!) ghost stories.
• A local or state park: Often times local parks allow camping. There are usually signs posted at the parks that specify if camping is allowed. Usually, during the summer months, the parks that allow camping are easy to spot: they're the parks with hundreds of tents  pitched already!
• National parks, hiking trails, or mountains: Feeling adventurous? Try taking a trip to popular national hiking and camping spots, such as Palmetto Trail in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Global backpacking: If you have the means, try trekking the globe! Backpack across Europe, see the Great Wall, and go to the outdoor markets in India.

What You'll Need

At Camp Food Dehydrators Kitchenware Sleeping Bags Stoves Tents	Keep On Moving Hiking Boots Trail Running Shoes Snowshoes Walkie Talkies	Find Your Way Binoculars Compasses  GPS Devices Headlamps  Maps	Bring It With You Baby Carriers Hydration Systems Camping Backpacks	Survival Emergency Equipment First Aid Kits Flashlights Knives  Lanterns

External Links

• Backpacker-- A magazine dedicated to bringing you information on hiking and camping destinations, equipment, and activities.
• ABC of Hiking-- Contains information on how to start hiking and camping.
• American Red Cross-- Important safety information for hiking and camping.
• Knowledge Hound-- Information on camping and hiking with kids and pets, along with basic camping and hiking tips.