4 Ways to Keep Camping Food Cold

February 9th, 2010

Vintage metal Coleman ice chest

Vintage Coleman cooler (photo by Caffinara on Flickr)

The year I was born, 1965, Coleman® introduced the popular steel-sided ice chest that I imagine many of us grew with, camping with our families. I imagine that it wasn’t all that great, compared to some of today’s high-tech plastic coolers, but it was as much a part of my early camping experience as the smell of kerosene from the camp stove and I kind of miss its retro-simplicity.

Unlike 1965, we have a lot of choices these days, when it comes to keeping our camping food cold. There are coolers of all different shapes and sizes, hard-sided, soft-sided and even refrigerated units. We have the boating industry to thank for a lot of the technology we see in today’s multi-day ice chests and, indeed, some of the best (and most expensive) coolers on the market are aimed primarily at boaters.

Go Vintage

Coleman metal ice chest

Retro-styled Coleman Steel Belted Cooler

Colman stopped making their metal cooler in 1994, but that doesn’t mean you have to work the garage sales to get your retro fix. In 2001, they introduced a reinterpretation of the old classic, under the Steel Belted® name.

Size: 54-quart
Dimensions: 24.25” x 16.75” x 16.75” (L, W, H)
Weight: 22-pounds
www.Coleman.com

Go Wheeled

Igloo All-Terrain Cooler

Igloo All-Terrain Cooler

Big ice chests work great on boats, where you don’t have to move them around, much. On land, though, these behemoths can tip the scales at over 100-pounds, which makes them cumbersome for family camping. Igloo® gives you the best of both worlds with their All-Terrain™ line of wheeled  ice chests.

Size: 120-quart
Dimensions: 38.31” x 17.38” x 17.75” (L, W, H)
Weight: 32-pounds
www.IglooCoolers.com

Go Soft

AO Coolers soft cooler

AO Coolers 48-Pack Soft Sided Cooler

Soft-sided coolers have a bit of a bad rap as being okay for picnic lunches, but not serious contenders for family camping. That’s not the case with American Outdoors® coolers, however. They feature more insulation than other soft-sided coolers and are guaranteed to hold ice for 24-hours at 120-degrees.

Size: 36-quart (approximately)
Dimensions: 21” x 13” x 13” (L, W, H)
Weight: 6-pounds
www.AOCoolers.com

Go Refrigerated

Engel portable refrigerator

Engel portable refrigerator-freezer

Like soft-sided coolers, 12-Volt coolers have a reputation for not keeping food cold, in addition to having lots of reliability problems. Engel coolers are a different story, though, and their AC/DC coolers feature ultra-efficient motors that have a great reputation for longevity.

Size: 40-quart
Dimensions: 25” x 15.5” x 18.5” (L, W, H)
Weight: 48-pounds
www.Engel-USA.com

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Comment on Family Camping Tents by Mark

February 4th, 2010

I’ve just returned from a 2 week camping trip in the southern hemisphere. Summer down here. We used a 3 room dome style tent. Great fun, our 3 year old girl ran circles around the inside of it for 3 hrs on the first night before collapsing into sleep from all the excitement. The tent is great except that the fiberglass poles keep breaking at the joints – even just standing up in dry, calm weather they just break. Anyone else have this problem and what do you do about it? I’m considering aluminum poles but could be expensive.

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Comment on Tips On Starting A Campfire by Andy

February 3rd, 2010

The question is whether or not it is appropiate to light a fire. One view is that hike stoves should be carried into the wilderness and used instead, because they leave behind fewer traces of our presence. On the other hand back-to-nature campers say that sitting by a campfire brings them closer to nature in a spiritual way that is impossible with hike stoves. I think it depends on where you are. It is certainly true that there are areas where use of a campfire is innappropiate i.e. places where it may trigger a forest fire where fuel is not sufficiently plentiful, or where fires have never been lit before. In these regions a hike stove is the sensible option as it safeguards the environment. I think we should aim to travel through the landscape like a shadow, leaving as little trace of yourself and your activities as possible, and to use either a campfire or a stove depending on your location and circumstances.

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Comment on Don’t Forget To Clean Your Camping Gear by River Kayaks

February 3rd, 2010

Cleaning your gear is an essential part of having a wonderful camping experience. Must be clean and dry to preven many sorts of bacteria from growing while you camping gear hibernates in your garage until its next use.

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Comment on Family Camping Tents by Robert

February 2nd, 2010

N!ergy 1310 Description
Sleep 10 people comfortably in the 2 rooms of this spacious straight wall tent that is powered for comfort! You can plug in your laptop, your radio, or your razor in the morning. The added benefit of straight walls maximizes interior space, making this tent ideal for using cots on camping trips. A removable room divider easily ties back to convert 2 separate rooms into one large space when needed.

Durable and freestanding fiberglass frame, clips, rod sleeves, and ring and pin assembly make set up fast and easy large, side opening, D-style doors offer private entry into each room and feature #8 zippers with zipper covers for durability and water protection. 75D StormShield polyester fly features brims over side windows to protect against the elements plus pockets to store guyouts when not in use. Clear skylights in ceiling let additional light inside or cover with toggled panels to keep light out. 6 windows, 6 mesh roof vents, and 2 low wall vents provide high/low ventilation and light. Jumbo size gear loft and 8 storage pockets keep essentials close at hand, yet conveniently tucked away.
mummy bag’s

Hikealot

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Busiest Family Camping Weekends for 2010

February 2nd, 2010

Family camping - campground full

Photo by North Cascades National Park on Flickr

2009 was a banner year for many popular family camping destinations. Parks in Maine, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota and Virginia all set attendance records last year, with big national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite also putting in big numbers.

There is a renewed interest, across the country, in family camping trips that offer more bang for consumer’s vacation buck. Vacation hours and holidays have also been under pressure during the economic recession as companies cut expenses, including employee benefits. All of this is leading up to another banner year for the parks, which means the busiest family camping weekends in 2010 are sure to fill up quickly.

Memorial Day Weekend: May 28-31

Family camping Memorial Day weekend

The traditional kick-off to summer, Memorial Day weekend is always one of the busiest family camping weekends of the year. With many states now accepting reservations up to one year in advance (see Advance Reservations at State Parks for 2010), you are likely out of luck if you have not already made your plans, for this year.

Some states, though, like North and South Dakota, and Wyoming, have 90-day advance reservation windows, which means reservations can be made at the end of this month. Maine, too, begins accepting reservations for their state parks on February 8th and Montana on the 13th.

Independence Day Weekend: July 2-5 (Canada Day: July 1-4)

Family camping Independence DayIndependence Day falls on a Sunday, this year, so it’s one of those holidays that might not buy you a long weekend, depending on your company’s policy. Eight states have six-month reservation windows, meaning you can start making your Independence Day plans today.

Despite the popularity of family camping over the Independence Day weekend, I have been successful finding reservations inside the window, before, so don’t think they’re not available without checking, first.

Labor Day Weekend: September 3-6 (U.S. and Canada)

Family camping Labor Day

Labor Day marks the end of the camping season for much of the country and it is usually second only to Memorial Day, in terms of family camping popularity. People struggle to make long term plans, though, so even if you missed your state’s 9-month reservations window (Idaho, New York, Oregon and Washington), there’s a chance that some sites are still available.

Backup Plans

If you cannot find reservations for your family camping trip, this year, there are alternatives that you should consider. Many federal and state parks offer a number of first-come, first-served sites. It may sound risky planning a family camping trip in the hopes of landing one of these sites, but if you can arrive on a Wednesday or Thursday, it is a safe bet that sites will be available.

Another alternative is to make your own campsite on federal public land (see National Park too crowded? Try a National Forest Instead). Called dispersed camping, you are guaranteed lots of privacy and one of the best backcountry family camping experiences ever.

Have you made family camping plans for one of the popular holidays, this year?

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Three Secrets to Camping With Kids

January 31st, 2010

Online travel site Tripbase is putting together a project on “Best Kept Travel Secrets” and has asked me to contribute something from a family camping perspective. This sounds like it’s going to be a really great resource, as I’m just one of over a hundred sources contributing to the effort. I’ll be sure to give everyone a heads-up when they publish the series.

Many parents we have met feel a bit overwhelmed at the thought of spending a weekend in the backcountry with their kids. Camping with kids is a great way for families to spend time together and have fun in a different kind of setting, which helps keep the experience interesting for everyone. Here are three of my secrets to camping with kids.

Choose a Family Campground

Camping with kids- family campground

There is nothing more fun for kids than…other kids! We go camping primarily in state and county parks, which are popular destinations for families on a budget, who are looking to get away for the weekend. Once we setup our campsite, a quick stroll or bike ride through the campground always turns-up other families with similarly aged kids, which is usually all it takes for new friendships to blossom.

This is particularly true of holidays, when many families plan camping trips in order to take advantage of a three-day weekend. Packing a few extra drinks and snacks can keep the playtime going, just be sure to check with the other parents, first. Whether the kids are playing at our campsite, or their friend’s site, we exchange information with the parents and keep an eye on our kids to ensure that they’re not breaking any of our camping rules:

  • Stay out of other campsites
  • No loud playing
  • Stay within eyesight of adult supervision

Keep to Familiar Bedtime Rituals

Camping with kids - bedtime rituals

Let’s face it, there are a lot of unfamiliar new sights and sounds in a campsite at night, which can make bedtime a challenge when camping with kids. The best way to deal with bedtime is to make things as normal as possible.

If you usually read a book to your kids before bedtime, this is still something that you can easily do when camping. Likewise, if your children have special pillows or blankets that they are used to, there is no reason that these familiar objects can’t be a part of their camping experience.

One area that might deviate heavily from the norm, when camping, is snacks and this can have a big impact on getting the kids to settle in for the night. Campfire s’mores are a big tradition in our family, but we have learned that we need to limit these sugary snacks, and have them early enough in the evening to not impact bedtime.

Encourage Children to Participate in Campsite Activities

Camping with kids - setting up tent

Our early family camping experiences were probably indicative of how many parents handle the camping experience. We would park the car, and the kids would run off and play while we found a spot for the tent, setup the tent and arranged the rest of the campsite. We quickly learned the benefits of involving the kids in all of these activities, though, which has proven to be an enriching experience for all of us.

Involving kids in traditional adult activities, like building a fire or setting up the tent, is a rewarding experience that teaches responsibility and valuable outdoor skills. Kids are happy to participate if we just give them the chance, and it helps them feel much more involved with the family camping experience.

Your Kids Deserve an Outdoor Experience

Camping with kids - experience nature

Family camping with kids is a great way to experience the outdoors together and it’s the best way for your kids to develop an appreciation for nature. You can reduce your anxiety about spending a weekend in the backcountry by selecting a family-oriented campground, following typical bedtime practices that the kids are familiar with, and encouraging kids to participate in camping activities. Follow these three family camping “secrets” and your next family camping adventure is sure to be a success!

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Comment on Sausage Hash Browns and Eggs by Joseph Pannell

January 30th, 2010

A great simple dessert is:

Bannanas,
Banna leaf (if you have it) tin foil if you dont
Chocolate/mars bar

Slit the bannana open (keep in skin)
Stuff in the chocolate
Wrap in your leaf and throw in the embers,

Delisious mark my words and goes down great with the kids too.

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Comment on Family Camping Tents by Dino

January 30th, 2010

I really enjoy tent camping. I like the primative camping sites at camp grounds as they are more secluded and private and there is nothing like tent camping to really enjoy the great outdoors.

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Comment on Garmin Rino Radio – More Than Just Another GPS by Wayne

January 30th, 2010

Neat Site, I laughed when i seen the checklist of things to remember to bring on your camping trip. I went undefeated at the game Uno last year at our family reunion. I advise anyone If they are traveling in the northern California and their looking for a great camping spot, check out Richardsons Grove state recreation area. Nestled in the redwoods with a warm and comfortable feeling all year round.

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