There are a lot of things that people do during the weekend or when it is time for vacation. RV camping in Mesa is one of the great activities that people do. There are many locations where you can bring this type of vehicle and stay for the night in this part of the state. Here is a list of the top choices.

The Arizona Cowboy RV Park is a popular choice for RV campers because of its peaceful and quiet area and has a picturesque landscape. You can stay in the park and enjoy their amenities or you can visit the nearby destinations. It is very convenient to stay in the location because you will not have any trouble when it comes to the hookups.

The Arizona Maverik RV Park is a small but family friendly location. It is safe and nice to stroll at their walking paths because they are well-lighted. But you can buy tazer gun and bring it along just to make you feel safe even more. There are also clean restrooms and showers and a laundry room so that you can have some clean clothes.

The Desert Vista RV Resort is a very nice place for adults or retirees who wish to have a great time in this part of Arizona. There are many kinds of sports and activities that you can do. You even get the chance to acquaint yourselves with the people who are also staying within the location.

Green Acres RV Park is also a great addition in the list of the top choice for RV sites. There are 64 available designated areas for your recreational vehicle and all of them have full hookups. It is in proximity to many tourist attractions of the state. You can bring your own pet as long as you have talked it over with the management.

You can also stay at the very wide area of the Mesa Spirit RV Resort. There are about 1800 spaces for any recreational vehicle of all sizes and they have full hookups. It is generally designed for adults and their amenities provide the outdoor fun, adventure and entertainment that most adults love.

The Orangewood Shadows RV Resort is a retirement park that accommodates 474 spaces for your recreational vehicle. The community welcomes every group that will try to visit the place. Because of its complete amenities it is one of the top rated areas every year. It is a great place to retire for a great number of seniors.

The Twin Palms RV Park is a clean and quiet RV campground. Electric hookups can reach up to 50 amps. Bringing along your pets on your vacation is allowed. There is an internet connection, cable television and a telephone line if you need them. You can bring your cellphone stun gun if you wish to try the different outdoor activities and follow the trails.

The Venture Out RV Resort is a good place to live and it is also a great place to stay especially when you want to rent a space and stay in the location for a few days with your personal recreational vehicle. The view is great and there are numerous things that you can possibly do in a day.

he summer months are a time for the great outdoors. Camping, hiking, backpacking – these are all outdoor activities that people enjoy in the summer times. But you just can drive to the woods or mountains and start your trip. No, you need to plan in advance and prepare accordingly.

Let’s look at each aspect of camping and talk about a few of the items you will need to take with you for a positive camping experience.

Shelter
Do you plan to camp in a tent or a camper? Even if you plan to do you camping in a trailer or camper, you might want to take along a tent. If you have children with you, they might enjoy spending one night in a tent. Even adults enjoy the adventure of sleeping in a tent at least one night! When you are choosing a tent make sure you consider how many people will be sleeping in it. You can find tents that have multiple rooms if you need a lot of space. However, most campers find a single room tent adequate. Check the zipper openings and make sure the tent is made of a waterproof material. You will want it to protect you if a sudden rain storm comes along!

Sleeping Arrangements
It is so cozy to snuggle into a sleeping bag when you are camping. The sound of the trees rustling and the creek running by, what a great feeling! However, it isn’t a great feeling if the bag you are sleeping in isn’t comfortable! Make sure you get the proper weight sleeping bag. Even though it may be balmy and warm at home, remember that it is much cooler in the mountains. You will want sleeping bags that will be warm, but not too hot. Get a bag that is a medium to heavy weight, unless you are going to high elevations then you will want a heavy weight bag.
Remember that the ground is not really comfortable. Bring an air mattress or foam pad for each person who will be sleeping on the ground. Your back will thank you in the morning!

Camp Cooking
Of course camp cooking must consist of hot dogs and marshmallows roasted over the camp fire. But, you can only eat so many hot dogs! Think of an alternate way of cooking while you are camping. Consider bringing a portable stove or at the very least, get a grill to put over the fire so you can heat water and cook different types of food.

Probably one of the most enjoyable experiences about camping in the great outdoors is the time spent around the campfire cooking and preparing a hearty meal. Eating outdoors while camping seems to make everything taste that much better.

There are different things to consider when planning cooking outdoors versus indoors. Below are a few points to consider to ensure you are more prepared while keeping the overall process relatively simple.

- Plan your meals in advance and on how you want to prepare them, this will ensure you have created a thorough grocery list as well as an equipment listing. There are plenty of checklists online that you can reference for equipment and items which can help in reminding you of something you may have forgotten.

- Research the camp site you will be visiting to see what accessories they already have available. This can greatly reduce equipment that you would have hauled out to the site.

- Know how much space your vehicle, and if you are backpacking in, weight, can be easily handled. Camping is about taking only the essentials to get the intended job done.

- Purchase lightweight yet durable equipment. It is best to look for popular brand names, this way you can expect the equipment to last awhile. Many individuals look only for discounted equipment which is fine if it is a brand name. However, if it is of low quality, you can probably count on it lasting only a couple of times, if even functioning right the first time.

- Research the types of cookware material. Non-stick and aluminum equipment is generally more expensive but easier to handle. Cast Iron works well for cooking but can be very heavy to carry.

- If you are dead set on not paying full price for quality outdoor cooking equipment, you can always look around for used cooking equipment. Plenty of times people have the best intentions to do more camping and buy quality equipment, yet it ends up sitting in their garage. Once they decided to clean house, if lucky you can usually find these deals at yard sales.

- Check the cooking sections of outdoor gear stores. Most of the time, you will have a better idea of finding what suites your needs. Plus new and improved equipment is always hitting the market and you will be able to compare the different brands before deciding on what to buy.

One of the great things about Texas camping is that you can go pretty much any time of the year. Since winter weather is normally pretty mild this allows you to fit in a few extra camping trips while your buddies up north are hunkered down trying to stay warm. Again this year, at more than 70 state parks, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is waiving fishing license requirements for families as part of their Family Fishing Celebration. This ongoing promotion has really been nice for families and is designed to encourage more people to get out and enjoy fishing. So on your next camping trip, be sure and take along your fishing gear, and enjoy some fun times fishing with your kids.

There are many great camping sites in Texas. In fact, just counting state parks there are over 70 parks to choose from.This short article briefly describes some of the best camping spots in North Texas. Each of these campsites is just a short drive from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and should provide great fun for you, your family, and friends.

Bonham State Park – A 261 acre park located in Fannin County, a little over an hour northeast of Dallas. The park includes a 65 acre man-made lake, rolling prairies, and woodlands. Near the lake, there is a nice playground for children, and a large grassy area for throwing frisbees or playing ball. It also has a good swimming area.

Cedar Hill State Park – This 1826 acre park is located on Joe Pool Lake. It features over 350 mostly wooded campsites. Most of these are good sized and shade shelters cover some of the picnic tables. If you are into boating or water sports, this park is a good choice. It is located just south of Dallas near Cedar Hill, Texas.

Eisenhower State Park – A 423 acre park located in Grayson County. This park has much to offer, and is just a little over an hour north of Dallas up Highway 75. Situated on beautiful Lake Texoma, on the Texas-Oklahoma state line, this park has many nice campsites and provides a wide range of fun family activities.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park – A 3282 acre park that encompasses Lake Mineral Wells. The park is located between Ft. Worth and Mineral Wells just west of the metroplex. Swimming, fishing, boating, rock climbing, mountain biking, and horseback riding are just some of the fun activities available when camping at this park. Check the park website for the latest details.

There are many beautiful beaches in California. Although most of these have many activities available for day-use, not all of them provide facilities for camping and allow overnight stays. This article lists the best beach camping parks in California and gives you some of the hightlights of each park. We have broken the beach camping parks out into three sections: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California, so that you can locate beaches in just the region you desire.

Northern California

Clam Beach County Park is located just south of Little River State Beach, north of Eureka. It is one of the few parks that allows camping right on the beach. Beachcombing, clamming, fishing, picnicking, camping, kite flying, and building sand castles are all popular at this beach.

Gold Bluff Beach is within Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The campground is located in the dunes along a beautiful 10-mile stretch of golden beach. The campgrounds lie between the Pacific Ocean and a bluff thickly covered with Redwoods. It is located about 50 miles north of Eureka.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach covers over 3 miles of rugged and scenic coastline. There are approximately 100 campsites located on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is located about 19 miles north of Fort Bragg.

Central California

Half Moon Bay State Beach offers 4 miles of broad, sandy beaches. This picturesque setting is ideal for sunbathing, hiking, biking, fishing, picnicking, and camping. It is located near San Mateo in the San Francisco Bay area.

Manresa State Beach is a large, beautiful sandy beach, which offers surf fishing, surfing, swimming, and camping. It is located on Monterey Bay just south of San Francisco.

New Brighton State Beach is located in the town of Capitola, just south of Santa Cruz. This beach camping park offers swimming, fishing and a nearby forest. The camping area is located on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay.

Seacliff State Beach is best know for its fishing pier and concrete freighter just offshore. There is swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking trails. It is located on Monterey Bay near Aptos.

Sonoma Coast State Beach is one of California´s most scenic attractions. It has long sandy beaches below rugged headlands. The craggy coastline has natural arches and features secluded coves. The beach is located north of San Francisco between Jenner and Bodega Bay. There are many campsites to choose from. Fishing, hiking, horseback trails, and many other activities are available.

Sunset State Beach features pine trees, mountainous sand dunes, and oceanside picnic spots. The beach is 16 miles south of Santa Cruz.

Southern California

Carpinteria State Beach is approximately 12 miles south of Santa Barbara. This park offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area December through May.

Doheny State Beach is two parks in one. Camping is located in the southern area and the northern area is limited to day-use. There is a five-acre lawn with picnic facilities and volleyball courts. Surfing and surf fishing is popular here. It is located just south of Los Angeles.

McGrath State Beach is famous for bird-watching. The lush riverbanks of the Santa Clara River and the sand dunes along the shore create just the right environment for our feathered friends. There is a nature trail for hiking, and 2 miles of beach for surfing, fishing, or swimming. It is located near Ventura.

Morro Strand State Beach is a coastal frontage park with excellent picnic sites and about 3 miles of beach. Fishing, windsurfing, jogging, kite flying and camping are popular at this park. It is located near San Luis Obispo.

Pismo State Beach is located near San Luis Obispo. This park offers all kinds of attractions: hiking, swimming, clam digging, surf fishing, camping, and bird watching. Four restaurants are within 2 blocks of the campground.

San Clemente State Beach has about 1 mile of beach. The beach is located at the south end of San Clemente and is popular for surfing, skin diving, and swimming. The park has a landscaped bluff top with picnic areas. There are also hiking trails on the bluffs which lead down to the beach.

San Elijo State Beach is located near San Diego. The beach is narrow and backs up to a bluff. It has a nearby reef that is popular with snorklers and divers. The park also offers swimming, surfing, picnicking, and camping.

San Onofre State Beach has 3.5 miles of sandy beaches with access trails cut into the bluff above. The campground is near old highway 101 adjacent to the bluffs. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Whales, dolphins and sea lions can be seen offshore at times. It is located just south of San Clemente.

Silver Strand State Beach has extensive beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and on San Diego Bay. Camping, swimming, surfing, boating, water-skiing, volleyball, and picnicking are popular activities, along with fishing. The park is located in Coronado.

South Carlsbad State Beach is a beach near San Diego that features swimming, surfing, skin diving, fishing, and picnicking. Its large bluff-top campground has stairs that lead down to the beach. It is a very popular camping spot, especially in the summer.

Don’t cancel your weekend campout because it’s too hot! Be prepared and enjoy the warm weather. As we reach record high temperatures across the U.S. it’s probably a good time to review some of the tips for hot weather camping. Here are some tips to beat the heat that I have learned from my 25+ years camping with the Boy Scouts.

The 3 big personal issues to take care of are Heat, Humidity and Hydration:

Heat

As your body heats up, evaporation is the way your body handles cooling off. As moisture (perspiration) on you is released it carries the heat away. This works well in dry, hot areas.

Humidity

Air saturated with moisture is going to have a tough time absorbing additional moisture through evaporation. So, in humid areas you need to create air movement to encourage evaporation. Breezy areas around lakes are good for this.

Hydration

Perspiration draws water out of your body, which must be replaced frequently. Being thirsty is not a good indicator of your need for water. Surprisingly enough, your urine is the best indicator. Drink often enough so that your urine is light-colored or clear. If it’s dark colored, drink more water!

Water drinking tips:

• Keep water easily available and drink often
• Avoid drinking lots of caffeinated drinks. They act as diuretics and remove fluids from your body.
• Drink lots of water. Especially during a strenuous activity such as a hike. Take lots of water on a hike or hike to a known water source.

Hot Weather Clothing

Picking the right clothing for a hot weather campout can go a long way to making you a happy camper! Keep these tips in mind:

• Pick light-colored, breathable fabrics that don’t absorb heat. Leave your black “Metalica” t-shirt at home! ☺
• Wear a hat. Not only for shade, but to ward off sunstroke and over heating
• Nylon or polyester shorts and shirts are always good. The fabric is cool, durable and will dry quickly when you perspire
• Cotton is also a good choice. But I find it doesn’t dry as quickly and at night I don’t want a wet, cold shirt on my back

Bugs

If you are in a bug-infested area, you may need a hat with netting or need to wear long, light-colored pants and a long sleeved shirt. Above all, apply and re-apply insect repellent (DEET-based), especially around your ankles, neck, and ears.

Sun

I hope everyone is “programmed” to put on sunscreen and wear a hat when going on a summer campout, let alone a hot weather camp. In humid climates purchase the waterproof sunscreen so it won’t come off when you perspire. And, always use at least 15 SPF. Don’t forget some lip balm! You can get this in 15 SPF also.

There’s nothing worse than trying to sleep with a bad sunburn. ☹

Find shady places to set up camp, bring a canopy or make one by stringing a tarp between some trees.

Hot Weather Gear

When camping in hot weather you can bring the same gear as you would normally take on a campout, except your bedding should be lighter and cooler. What I mean by this is, bring a light nylon sleeping bag, or a bed sheet and a couple of blankets.

In hot, dry weather sleeping under the stars is the best camping has to offer. Slip a sleeping pad under your sleeping bag and you are set. If you need more shelter you can tie up the ends of a tarp in the trees or sling the tarp over a tight robe, tied between two trees.

Most good 3 season tents have a rain fly that goes over the top of the tent to prevent moisture from coming in. This is good in humid, hot camping, but I would remove the rain fly in hot, dry areas so you have a “screened” roof to keep the bugs out and watch the stars as you doze off.

Keeping things Cool

Once you are settled into camp and you have your personal hydration under control, your tent in the shade, and maybe a canopy setup to get out of the sum, you are pretty much ready to enjoy the campout.

Keeping food and drinks cool in hot weather is not difficult. In the desert camping I do, I bring two coolers, one for drinks and one for food. Knowing ahead of time that the drink cooler will be opened and closed all day, but the food one will not. I bring extra ice and store it in the food cooler and as the drink cooler looses ice, I replace it My coolers will keep my food and drinks cold for about two days. Any campout longer than that and I’ve got to make a trip for ice.

Keeping your cooler clean is a necessary chore, but it doesn’t have to be a frustrating one. A clean cooler will last longer and will prevent odors from appearing that may seep into your food. Keeping your cooler clean will also prevent mold and mildew from building up inside. Once mildew has established itself, it can be hard to get rid of, so stop it before it starts by following our advice.

The main thing to do when storing your cooler is to make sure that it is completely dry inside and out. Most often coolers are stored in garages or sheds which can get very hot and musty during the summer months. Moisture and warm temperatures are a great breeding ground for mold and mildew so you want to deny that to them. Wipe down the inside of the cooler with a cloth and then if possible set the cooler out in the sunlight for an hour or two to get rid of all the moisture hiding in tiny scratches on the cooler liner.

If you regularly store food in your cooler then you want to also keep out harmful bacteria. While direct exposure to sunlight will kill of most harmful critters, it only takes a moment to go the extra step to ensure that your food stays safe. Food borne illness is very painful (and possibly fatal) so do not skip out on cleaning the cooler!

There are two ways you can get rid of bad germs in your cooler:

1 – Alcohol wipes

Alcohol wipes are cheap and can be bought just about anywhere. Simply take one and wipe down the handles and the inside of the cooler. If you have a large cooler then you should use two or three wipes to make sure that every corner gets hit with some alcohol. Let the cooler sit for a while then dry out the interior with a cloth or towel. The alcohol will quickly evaporate on its own, but there may be some lingering moisture so be sure to wipe down the entire cooler.

2 – Bleach bath

Fill the cooler about halfway with cold water, then add in 1/2 to 1 cup of bleach. Use a sponge or a cloth to swish the water all over the inside of the cooler and it doesn’t hurt to wipe down the handles as well. Close the cooler lid, rock the cooler back and forth a few times to slosh things around, then dump out the bleach water and let the cooler dry in the sun. After the cooler has dried, rinse it out with cold clean water and let dry again.

Keeping the outside of a cooler clean may seem daunting since they spend so much time in the dirt and weather. However it doesn’t hurt to take a damp cloth and wipe down the outside of the cooler after getting home from your trip. Any part of the cooler that you touch should always be cleaned, so this means the lid and handles. For the rest of the cooler you can just hose it off and let dry in the sun, or use window cleaner and paper towels to wipe off mud and hand prints

Most people don’t consider having water filters when they go out camping but you must understand that camping water filters are one the most essential requirements in camps. Most of us are so addicted to bottled waters that we tend to buy it almost everywhere and several people also use it at home too. However, once you learn about the advantages of using water purifiers at home, then maybe you would want to use them when you are out camping too.

Purifying your own water at home is the best way to get rid of toxins and impurities. If you read about the several companies that sell bottled water then you would realize that it is really unsafe and you must use filters to get pure water. Once you inculcate this habit at home then you would understand the importance of camping filters because once you are outdoors you don’t have the option of buying bottled drinks from stores.

When you are out hiking through the most beautiful of locales then there is always a tendency to drink water from streams and natural lakes. However, the water from lakes and streams may seem very fresh and endearing but you must avoid drinking such water as they may be infested with germs and there’s always a chance of falling sick on drinking such water. You should always use filter to purify the water and only then should you drink it. Water from lake or ponds should always be disinfected with the purifiers and water filters before being used for any purpose and for this reason you must always carry water filters with yourself whenever you go out camping.

Water in natural lakes or ponds may contain several pathogens, fecal matter and dead animals. Besides pathogens, there might also be sediments of mud, soil and dirt that would be harmful for our body if it enters our system through the water that we drink. The best way to treat such water is to use a filter. Once you collect it from lakes, then you must let the sediments and dirt settle down before using the water. Once the water is clear then you may pour it in another receptacle and use the filter to treat the water before consumption.

Purification filters can be of various types. The ceramic or glass fiber filters can remove most bacteria and protozoa from mildly contaminated water and is the best choice for hikers and travelers to treat water in small proportions for consumption. If the water is heavily contaminated then it is advisable to use chlorinators and iodinators to treat the water as the harmful materials may seem a bit difficult to remove. Some of the portable filters do come with iodine releasing resins designed specifically for campers, while others come with carbon filters to remove any excess amount of iodine from water to render it safe for use.

Camping on the beach can be one of the most incredible experiences of your outdoor life. Waking up every morning and going to sleep every night with the sound of the waves and the magic of a front row view of sunrise and sunset can be an experience you will remember for a lifetime. But beach camping can mean intense exposure to the elements and could possibly become very unpleasant if the weather turns bad. So be prepared for every possibility and you will surely have the time of your life!

The beach has certain elements that come with the territory, namely wind, salt, and sand. Rain is common to every outdoor experience so we’ll assume that you are already ready for rain. If you are camping in the tropics be ready for noise from roosters, hens and dogs. Here is some advice on how to make beach camping relaxing and fun.

Wind

Wind could be a nice breeze but it can also develop into a gale or even worse a hurricane. If you are going to be camping during hurricane season be aware of hurricane procedures in the county or country that you are visiting. Are there evacuation plans in place for your beachfront campground?

So, say it’s not a hurricane but more like constant on shore winds that make it difficult to light a fire or keep your camp stove going. First and foremost have some extra tarps and rope so that you can construct your own windbreak. Second, make sure to bring rain gear that also works as wind gear, i.e. Jacket and pants, because no matter how heavy is your sweatshirt or sweater, the wind will find its way in and make you miserable.

Finally make sure that your tent is in good condition with no rips, and that you have all the stakes you need to keep it in place while the wind is blowing. If you plan to use a pop up canopy as a shelter for your picnic table and campfire area, choose one that has a vented canopy top and make sure to attach some kind of weights to keep it from sailing away. Having optional side panels for your canopy can also help to make cooking and eating your meals endurable, even calm!

Salt

Salt spray from the ocean can be corrosive. It will cause parts of your body, especially your nostrils, to become chafed and sore. Rinse your face often with fresh water and breath in some of the fresh water through your nose to keep the salt from getting too concentrated.

Shower or rinse off often and especially before bed to keep your bedding from getting salty. Consider setting up camp behind a barrier of brush and shrubs. This natural barrier will absorb some of that salty spray.

Sand

Love that sand! Long walks down the beach with the sand massaging your feet can feel better than a massage or a day at the spa. Lying in the sand, reading, meditating, sunning is one of the reasons many of us love the beach. But, when sand finds it way into everything you wear, eat and sleep in, it can become a nuisance. Practice strict de-sanding procedures whenever you go in or out of your tent. If possible, have your clothing and everyday items in a separate spot from where you sleep. That way, every time you go to get your book, or your toothbrush, or want to change your clothes you aren’t tracking sand into your sleeping area.

Shake and air out your bedding every day if possible and take the opportunity to sweep the sand out of your tent at this time, during the day, while you can see what you are doing! Then, at night, after sunset and last meal and the campfire is going out, you can slip into your clean tent and just slip into sleep.

Noise

Roosters and hens are ubiquitous to all Caribbean islands. They are often living half wild and roosting in nearby trees. Although there may be someone feeding them and collecting eggs, there is usually no coop and they roam freely. Maybe you have lived on a farm and know that roosters crow all day and sometimes all night. If you don’t know this fact know it now and be prepared. Bring earplugs and a bit of patience. Earplugs can also keep the peace in crowded campgrounds where some people like to stay up late partying while others like to go to bed with the sunset!