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With Thanksgiving right around the corner and the holidays in sight, we know that cooler weather is creeping in. There are still some warm camping spots to enjoy this time of year, mainly on the west coast, but soon Father Winter will move in and change the atmosphere of camping for a season, with or without rain.

The well known ways to keep warm while enjoying your camping trip are: long johns, layered clothing, boots, coats, blankets, ponchos, a fire pit, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, chili and soup. In fact I wrote an article on Cold Weather Camping Tips, which goes into, shelter, bedding and some tricks I use to stay warm. However, this time I want to talk about a couple of gadgets that I found that will make your cold weather campout that much more enjoyable

Vehicle A/C Converter Plug
This amazing, little device is plugged into your cigarette lighter outlet and runs off of your car battery, regardless of whether or not it is running. All standard, low watt electrical appliances can be plugged into the A/C Converter and will safely run for moderate periods of time. When practicing safe use of this device, heating blankets, portable DVD players, and any chargeable media can now be a part of your camping experience! Get one at most hardware or car parts stores.

The Coleman Outdoor Camp Oven
There is no better way to stay warm outside than with a portable oven that you can cook delicious dishes…and it’s all done outdoors! If you know me you know that I like to eat well on my campouts. With this little “beauty” you can bake brownies, chicken, casseroles or anything else you can dream up with this small, collapsible oven, which runs on propane.

So conquer the cold and enjoy the coming winter camping season. Be safe, pack well and get a few of these gadgets to make it fun. Happy Camping!

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Our world is ever changing and growing which is why we must take the time to reconnect with nature. Nothing is more important to our spirit than observing just how connected everything on this planet is. And with increasing cases of disease and illnesses, related to stress levels, the time we spend relaxing has become a necessity.

When you choose to camp as a form of relaxation, you are offering several things to your body and mind that they cannot experience in a controlled environment like work or home. Beautiful landscape and fresh air awakens the senses and can stimulate the nerves in the brain that, when overworked or unbalanced, cause depression. Furthermore, even the slightest amount of walking or working to set up a comfortable camp site, combined with a fresh environment and oxygen-filled air will increase circulation and blood flow throughout the body.

The natural approach to relaxation and de-stressing can be taken much further, while camping, without excess effort. Chinese teas that detox and regulate sugar levels are delicious and their effects are noticeable within days. Teas with Ginko, Dandelion, and Dong Quai (for the women) are excellent choices. Dandelion and red clover, found in most detox teas, are a great way to cleanse the kidneys and metabolism and

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The nights are darker, colder and dry. The wind is whistling through the trees and the stars are staring at us, sharp and clear. Costumes and candy cover the shelves in every store and the cackle of fall can be heard at dusk… Halloween is here again and it’s a great time of year to camp!

Whether you’re planning a rough and tumble get-away in a tent or a convenient, cozy hole-up in a cabin or trailer, camping during the Halloween Holiday can be a fun and spooky experience. Knowing this first hand, The Camping Guy suggests a few fun things to do for a creative, safe holiday:

A Pirate’s Camping Party
Ahoy mate! Add adventure to your camping trip with a Pirate theme. Stockings, long socks, boots, beads, eye patches, bandannas, scarves, wide brim hats, costume hats and make-up are a great start for costumes. Add pirate themed food like glaze-grilled turkey, wild rice, pineapple slices, fresh coconut and papaya for atmosphere. Canned fruits work especially well for those tropical fruits that are not in season. For drinks, serve pina coladas and rum with cola for the adults and tropical fruit juice for the kids.

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The sky is filled with black smoke and a thick ash. It is difficult to breathe and several communities seem to be completely ablaze. Hundreds of homes have been burned to the foundation and thousands more have been evacuated. With two people dead and more homes expected to require evacuation within the coming days, The Camping Guy brings you some emergency tips and helpful information on Emergency Camping:

• Be safe. First and foremost, keep the entire family together for support. Inform your children and keep them informed to lower their stress and panic level. Children who are kept out of the loop often feel more insecure than those who are told about the situation and kept nearby.

• Find a safe campsite by logging on to www.parks.ca.gov for a list of campsites and services available in California. You can also visit www.koa.com/where/ca for a list of KOA campsites and their amenities. If campsites have filled up or are unavailable, contact the Red Cross at www.redcrossla.org or call (310) 477-5829 for shelter information. For information on the fires, visit www.fire.ca.gov or tune into the local information station on your radio.

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It’s that time of year when the air is crisp, the sky is clear and s’mores have a warm and inviting appeal. It’s also, however, considered the most stressful time of year. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to get away before the holidays start and there’s no better way to unwind than to enjoy mother nature’s vacation. But before you pack your snowsuit and camp gear, take a look at what The Camping Guy suggests when deciding on a campsite vacation.

There are two types of winter camping to choose from. 1) Snow Camping which is for those who love winter sports in plains and mountainous areas or 2) Desert Camping which is for campers who prefer a more dry setting for sight seeing and water activities. This year, The Camping Guy would like to give you some vacationing suggestions for each type of camping trip based on excellence in reputation and available outdoor activities.

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