TheCampingGuy.com Blog | Camping Tips

There are a few key things to keep in mind when planning a campout during a holiday–especially Thanksgiving. First and foremost, you must have atmosphere. Without it, you could find yourself surrounded by bored and listless guests who wish they were warm at home. You also need a great camping list geared especially toward Thanksgiving, and some great camping games to go along. Here are some tips to ensure you have everything you need to complete your Thanksgiving Campout.

Atmosphere: A holiday campsite isn’t a holiday without the tidings of decor. Inexpensive, plastic tablecloths especially made for Thanksgiving are a great start. Add a festive centerpiece and paper place mats (sheets of construction paper with cut out ‘hand-shaped’ turkeys glued to them) and voila! You have a festive table. Hanging cornucopia party lights, when used properly, are also a nice touch of holiday greetings. Place a Thanksgiving welcome mat at the foot of each tent to finish off the look of your site.

A Camping List is, as you know, is essential to any camping trip. For a Turkey-themed trip, here are the things I suggest you take, starting with the obvious: Clothing and toiletries, camping blankets, camping tents, family tents, outdoor cooking grill and utensils, THE TURKEY, sides, breakfasts, sandwich fixin’s for the turkey sandwiches – next day, snacks, hot and cold drinks, lots of water, decor, music, lights, a fire pit, marshmallows, hot dogs and an outdoor heater.

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Taken from a woman’s point of view, my friend April, who camps a lot wrote this piece for you. Enjoy!

Women may be domestic goddesses and they are just as capable of roughing it in the wilderness as men, but who says they want to? There is absolutely no shame in the need for a clean, quiet retreat in the outdoors where there is a choice—fishing or a fish restaurant. Which is why I bring you information on the cleanest, most convenient camping in America.

The most obvious place to visit is Big Bear, California. In Big Bear, The Honey Bear Lodge has an excellent reputation for convenience offering in-room spas, kitchenettes, and every level of cabin comfort at reasonable prices. There are basic rooms, rooms for couples, individual cabins for families and parties and even cabin homes! Honey Bear Lodge is also less than a half mile away from the eclectic shopping that Big Bear is known for and less than 5 miles away from Baldwin Lake Stables where you can take guided tours on horse back.

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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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