Camping is the activity of spending a vacation in a camp, tent, or camper, or at least that’s the definition I found. Camping means different things to different folks. One extreme would be a sleeping bag on your back, a knife, gun, and maybe a canteen. The other extreme would be a class A pusher with electricity, recliners, TV, A/C, etc.

It may sound strange but camping is just not my thing. I know an outdoor enthusiast should love to camp, but my many sleeping quirks make sleeping in a new surrounding almost impossible.

Or maybe the memories of camping trips and sleepovers with friends as a kid where it was very unwise to fall asleep before your friends did as you would be the victim of various pranks, play a part in my unsettled nights.

Anyway, getting outdoors for a weekend can be great for the family, no matter your level of roughing it. Thankfully there are plenty of places to camp here in are area, and it’s best to do a little planning.

Pick a camp that fits your needs. That may be full hook ups or nothing more than a fire ring. Consider your whole family’s needs, but I would say the more primitive you can get the more “camping” you do. Think about what you would like to do, such as hiking, boating, and how much relaxing, since true primitive style camping can be quite a chore.

I’m not a planner but thankfully my wife is. A packing list is a very smart idea. Things like insect repellant, sunscreen, sunglasses, and even a mirror to get bugs out of your eyes are easily forgotten but can be sore missed when they are. And the packing and planning can be very fun for kids. Let them add some things to the list even if they may not be “essential.”

Know the regulations where you will be camping. Many places have restrictions on the firewood you can use, and where you can and can’t store food to prevent bears from wondering in. There may be regulations on number of campers, having pets, and thankfully some locations have quiet hours, for those lacking common courtesy.

I must admit, while I think of real camping as the way John Muir did it, a sleeping bag, canteen, and in his case a pencil and paper, I have, since a kid, admired Airstream campers. One of the first schoolbooks I received told the history and geography of the Unites States thru the life of a family traveling across the country in an Airstream camper. There’s just something about those silver aerodynamic campers that stand out to me, and to this day I take a second look every time I pass one. It’s funny what sticks in your head sometimes …