Taking Off In Your Campervan
Posted by admin
It is a dream that lots of people have and yet not many people actually get around to doing. Packing up a campervan with all your essentials, saying goodbye to friends and family, and hitting the open road with only a vague idea of where you are going and for how long. There are things you can see and places you can go in a campervan that you simple wouldn’t have experienced if you’d stuck with bog standard holidays, so what are the essential things to get right.
Van. There have been some nightmare stories of people failing to taking out reliable van lease deals and the van dying within the first few miles. You don’t want this happening to you so you should either buy a van that has been checked out by a professional or hire a van from a reputable company. Mercedes van leasing is a pretty good option as these vans are pretty sturdy and rarely break down, but always give them a good drive before you set off on your trip just to make sure everything works properly.
Money. You may think that you have budgeted for every eventuality, but you really can never know what is going to happen. You should take money for the obvious such as food, gas and entertainment, but it’s worth having some back up. It makes a lot of sense to keep some cash for emergencies and things that you can’t plan for, such as having to pay for a new windscreen after a bird decides to try and fly through it.A credit card is also something advisable to take as you never know when you will need to access larger sums of money.
Time. So you’ve got your Citroen van leasing sorted, you’ve packed it all up, now all you need is a relaxed state of mind. You really cannot expect to keep to a strict plan when you go on campervan vacations as you will almost certainly have your plans changed by weather, traffic, attractions, and many other things. When time stops being the most important factor, you can spend yours enjoying the more important things.
Boy Scouts Offer Life Changing Experiences
Posted by admin
“This is lame,” Nathan grumbled as he stumbled from the comfort of his cabin at the Boy Scout Northern Tier high adventure base camp in Ely, MN.
Down at the lake, ten strangers wordlessly outfitted their canoes until Nathan gingerly stepped into his to confirm it wouldn’t tip. As suavely as a 16-year-old can muster at 5:00 a.m., Nathan shifted his weight to the one foot in the canoe.
An unexpected expletive escaped when his foot slipped. His long legs seemed to bicycle the air as his head hit the sand three feet below Moose Lake’s cold surface. Thoughts ranged from ”I’ll never forgive my parents for ruining my summer like this” to “My summer is ruined!” He had fun with the troop at Philmont last month. Wasn’t that enough?
Nathan’s blazing eyes shot out of the water to warn, “Don’t say a word!” One of the Scouts subtly turned his head to hide a smile. Total silence followed until the guide said, “Don’t swear on this trip; or you’d better have a good reason.” His stern eyes surveyed all the boys then glimmered, “And that one qualifies.”
Uproarious laughter began weaving the tie of brotherhood that firmly bound these Order of the Arrow (OA) members by the time they returned to base camp two weeks later.
The Boy Scouts’ service club invited Nathan and 69 other boys to work and canoe the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), taking up a third of northern Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota.
1.3 million acres along the boundary between Canada and the USA for approximately 150 miles make up the BWCAW. The area contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 15 hiking trails and about 200 designated campsites. It was set aside in 1926 to preserve its primitive character and made a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1964. Like the French explorers of 200 years ago, visitors paddle their canoes and carry them between the lakes.
“That first day, we paddled a long time until we got to where we all hoped was the end,” remembered Nathan. “The guides showed us how to portage over 850 pounds of canoes and gear for the next mile and a half, and we couldn’t believe it when we had to set everything into another lake and paddle for another 30 minutes. When we stopped at an ugly campsite, I thought even less of my parents making me go. I was wrong; the trees blocked the sun, making it possible to sleep a little later. I’m not a morning person.”
These 16- through 18-year-old Scouts spent their first week repairing a 1.5 mile expanse of trail. After paddling, portaging, paddling, and then setting up camp, the young men hiked to the top of the trail they were to repair and pulled out buckets, sledgehammers, and other tools. The guide pointed to a pile of large rocks and said, “You’re going to break up all those rocks over there and cover this trail first with softball-sized pieces, then over that with golf-ball-sized pieces, and finally with pea-sized pieces. It will end up six inches deep.”
The boys were shocked!
Not-so-fond thoughts of his parents provided extra momentum as Nathan forcefully swung a sledgehammer into the middle of one of the largest rocks. He couldn’t believe how much his hands hurt, so he dropped the sledgehammer and shook his hands.
OA crews from around the country each year make a lasting difference in the BWCAW by repairing sections of trail damaged by rain and snow during the winter. They earn the trek of a lifetime by checking dams, water bars, turnpikes, or making gravel like Nathan’s crew did. While laying down the gravel they make, Scouts learn about preventing erosion. They earn a sense of accomplishment knowing they helped make the outings of thousands of other people more enjoyable.
“We didn’t think we could, but we did what we went there to do and in the right amount of time,” Nathan boasted. “They rewarded us with a bunch of jalapeno cheese. Then we started our voyage the next day.” All thoughts of his parents vanished.
During the fun part of the trip, the boys visited 57 lakes covering 100 miles. The boys caughted delicious largemouth bass in the Otter Track near Canada. They drank root beer to their hearts’ content. They jumped from the cliffs of the Fortress on Knife Lake and spent an hour silently contemplating life while looking at the unbelievable scenery.
“My crew and I started out as strangers,” said Nathan. “The trek made us feel like brothers.” We went lots of places, did lots of stuff, did some work to help out the Forest Service and shared some great campfire stories.”
And he returned home a more confident, mature young man than when he left.
Nathan enjoys sharing travel adventures with friends and family at http://www.discounttravelhangout.com and would love to hear about your adventures too.
Choosing the Right Sleeping Bag
Posted by admin
Camping has exploded in popularity as many parents take their children for weekend camping trips. Camping in the United Kingdom, even in the summer months, is always a risky business. While there is very little risk of encounteruing Bears or poisonous Snakes there is every chance you will encounter some uncertain British weather.
But, as long as yiou have the right camping equipment you and your family can have a lot of fun, regardless of the weather. One of the most important pieces of camping kit has got to be your sleeping bags.
There are a bewildering number of sleeping bag designs to choose from, some costing only a few pounds and others costing a small fortune. So how can you select the right bags for you and your family?
Probably the first consideration is the time of year that you will be using your sleeping bag and where you will be camping. There is no need to spend money on an expensive arctic quality sleeping bag if you are only ever going to use it during the summer months in the United Kingdom.
Another consideration is packing. Will you be hiking with your sleeping bag in a backpack or will it never need to be crammed into a small pack? If you expect to be hiking with your sleeping bag in your backpack weight and size will be a consideration.
It is also worth keeping in mind who bag is for, how big they are and whether they have any special comfort requirements. Some people are never comfortable sleeping within the confines of a sleeping bag and children can often be more comfortable in child sized bags.
Finally there is probably the most important aspect to consider which is, of course, the price. Sleeping bags, both down and synthetic fibre filled, can vary in price enormously. The most expensive sleeping bags are those that are made for all year round and winter use, often down filled.
Your most economical sleeping bag is likely to be polyester filled and suitable for the warmer summer months only. But don’t overlook the need for a good sleeping matt or maybe an airbed if you want the additional comfort.
Family Tents-Picking The Right Family Tent
Posted by admin
Heading into the great outdoors with your family is really something special. The thoughts of the wide open spaces, fresh air and quiet woods make you want to grab your family tent and hit the road. It doesn’t matter where you go, the important thing is to just get out and enjoy this time together. Many families avoid family tentsopting instead to use trailer or an RV. However, that might be because they haven’t chosen the right family tent for their family. Here are some things to consider when picking a family tent.
1. Picking the Correct Size Family Camping Tent|Family Tent|Family Cabin Tent
Family camping tents all size rated according to how many people they can accommodate. There are two person tents, three person tents, etc but you don’t reach family cabin tents size until you get to five or greater. Despite what the size rating is make sure that the tent is big enough for everyone and has a little extra space. For example, if you have a family of 5 people, you will want to look at an 8-person tent to make sure you have room each person, and your gear. You may even look into a family dome tent for a little more floor space.
2. Strength Of Tent Is Important Too
Many families avoid family tents because they fell they can easily rip and you will either be soaked from rain or infested with bugs. In reality, family tents have gotten much stronger and reliable over the years. When you are about to purchase a family tents be sure to look carefully at the construction of the tent. Is there double seam stitching? Are the grommets reinforced? Are the poles heavy duty? Is the mesh screen thick or thin construction? Look carefully at each aspect to make sure that the tent will accommodate 4 or 5 people and not cause you any problems.
3. The Design And Shape Of The Tent
A family cabin tent can come in a few different configurations. However, there are three basic shapes that are the most popular. Most tents will come as an ‘A’ frame construction. These tents have two sides raised at the ends with a flat back and front. The sides are sloped towards a peak forming an ‘A’. For a large family, this shape isn’t a good selection. There are Walled style tents that have poles at each end, and sometimes one in the middle. For a large family, this type of family camping tent provides a lot of room and storage. These types of tents also have extra rooms for privacy.
If you are going camping as a family, the best overall shape to look into is a family dome tent. These tents are more secure, and stable that any other kind as the wind can go around the curve structure. In addition, family dome tents provide better floor space because you do not have a pole in the middle. You can also extend some tents with additional rooms or vestibule for privacy, or individual rooms. And best of all a family dome tent is very easy to set up, keep clean, and pack up again.
No matter what tent style you choose, going family tent camping will bring your family closer together and provide experiences everyone will always remember.
Looking for a Good Campsite
Posted by admin
One of the most important things to consider when going camping is where you’re going to place your campsite. It’s important to find a good spot to set up camp since you’ll be spending a good amount of time there for the next few days - cooking, eating, sleeping and relaxing, at the least. But what makes a good spot for a campsite? What sort of things should you look for?
A large area of reasonably clear, level ground is the most important thing to look for in your camping site. The size of your campsite will depend on several factors - how many people are camping with you, the thickness of the trees and growth in the area, the terrain you’re camping in, etc - but you want to find clear spot that is at least 10 to 15 yards square. You’re going to need room to fit your folding camping chairs around your campfire, so give yourself plenty of space.
Reasonably clear means as little growth, rocks and trees as possible. You’ll probably never find a spot that is completely clear, but look around a bit until you find something good. You also want the spot to be level - you don’t want your tent mate to be laying on top of you all night because you both keep sliding down to the low end of the tent.
One way to find a good camp spot is to keep an eye out for existing fire rings. If someone has already built a fire ring, then chances are good that they were able to set up camp there and you should be able to as well. In addition, using existing fire rings and campsites reduces the amount of work you’ll have to do in setting up, and minimizes the impact you’ll have on the area. These campsites will also usually have a place to hang your fuel camping lantern, to help provide light as you’re setting up.
The weather forecast is an important thing to consider for the days that you’ll be camping. If it is going to be windy or rain heavily, you’ll want keep that in mind. If a good amount of rain is expected then high ground is recommended, and camping near a copse of trees or a hill can help shelter you from the wind. Getting flooded during the night because you camped on low ground is a bad way to start your trip. If you’re camping in Vendee on a beach, then make sure that the ocean will be calm and there are no storms headed your way.
One important thing in selecting a campsite is looking for evidence of animals or insects. You don’t want to set your tent up on top of a wasp or snakes’ nest or near a bear cave. Give the area a thorough inspection before you set up camp, even though there’s little chance of anything really dangerous occuring in most national parks.
Camp In Style! Read All About It!
Posted by admin
It’s great to go away for a few days into the countryside under canvas. It is wonderful to be able to breath fresh airand eat outdoors, surrounded by beautiful scenery. Of course, having the right camping supplies and equipment makes the experience all the more enjoyable.
The basics are the most important to do correctly. Tents vary in size and price, from the small one-man variety to large family tents. It’s important to choose one that suits the countryside and climate of the destination. Some tents are only designed for summer weather and any winter camping will require a 4-season tent. Most people like to have some kind of air mattress to sleep on. These come in single, double and king size with pillows and pumps that can be charged up from a car battery.
A good sleeping bag will ensure a sound night’s sleep. There is also a choice of materials aimed at the differing weather conditions. A lantern or flashlight with spare batteries is a good item to put on the camping supplies list. Plastic furniture is easy to keep clean and will last for years. There are portable stoves, Dutch ovens and barbecues, sets of durable pans and dishes and kettles. All food and drinks can be kept cool in cool boxes or mini refrigerators.
For campers who want to take a break from cooking, they can buy camping supplies could include pre-prepared meals that just need added water. There is a large range that includes curries, chilies, meatballs and pasta and some delicious desserts. Screens will give protection from curious insects and windbreaks will give shelter from the elements.
Laundry is something else to consider when camping outdoors. Mini washing machines and dryers will keep the family in clothes and camping supplies should also include a clothes line or airer that can be attached to the tent.
Toilet facilities are the more mundane aspects of camping supplies but an essential item. There is a wide range of chemical and portable toilets on the market.
Primrose Valley Holiday Park
Posted by admin
A popular holiday destination for families in England, Primrose Valley can be found in North Yorkshire.
This highly rated Caravan Park is a Haven Holiday Park located on the beautiful North East Coast of England, so the beach is easily accessible, and it is surrounded by manicured gardens.
As UK Holidays go Primrose Valley is very well appointed with a host of onsite facilities designed to help you and your family make the most of your stay - take a dip in one of the fantastic swimming pools, or have a go on the climbing wall; its even got its own funfair.
The inside entertainment accomodates numerous childrens clubs as well as evening cabaret and much, much more.
How to get there
By Car: The Park is on the A165 between Scarborough and Bridlington approximately 2 miles south of Filey. Postcode: YO14 9RF
By Train or Bus: The nearest train station is in Filey, which is about 2 miles from the Park.
There is a coach route operated by the National Express which goes directly to the Park
Accomodation
There is a broad range of Static Caravans to choose from, all of which are very well appointed with the latest mod-cons, including, TV, fitted kitched, Gas and Electricity and of course hot running water on demand.
Choose from the Following Ranges:
- Standard – Entry Level Caravan, but still offer excellent value for money
- Standard Plus – A well equipped Caravan, offering more space the the standard
- Superior – Less a Caravan, more a luxury holiday home. 10ft wide and offering 2 or 3 bedrooms
- Superior Plus – Like the Superior, but even bigger. The Superior Plus Caravans are 12ft wide
- Prestige – Some of the best luxury Caravans on the Park.
- Platinum – The Best Primrose Valley has to offer. Outstanding quality fittings and interior design for stylish living
There are also a selection of Caravans adapted for Wheelchair access.
They like to think of any eventuality at Primrose Valley, which is why they have a broad choice of outdoor & indoor sports facilities to cover anything the weather might bring. Football, fishing, mini-fencing or archery; if its sports you want its sports you can have. And lets not forget the tennis courts, basketball coaching, abseiling, kids golf and if that’s not enough try out the Wake & Shake sessions to kick start your day along with a whole host of other activities designed to suit your needs.
There are also some great activities you can get involved in in the swimming pools. Choose from:
- AquaJets
- Learn2Swim
- Aqua Gliders
- Scuba Diving
- Turbo Paddlers
- Water Walkerz
It should be noted however that not all of these activities are free of charge and it is recommended to see about about buying a leisure pass from reception to faciliate your stay.
Off the Park
Primrose valley provides easy access to the beach at Filey, very picturesque, a quiet beach with perfect sands set below the cliffs.
Scarborough Marine Sanctuary
The Scarborough Sea Life Centre is bother entertaining and educational and provides a fascinating introduction to the many creatures of the deep. With close up views of everything from sharks to starfish you will be amazed by this showcase of life beneatch the sea.
Eden Camp Museum
Eden Camp Museum is a unique museum designed to give you are taste of life World War 2. A fascinating slice of history that will introduce you to the experience of living during the blitz as well being a soldier fighting on the front line. Not to be missed.
Suggestions On How To Buy Camping Supplies The Right Way
Posted by admin
If you want a more exciting vacation then you should consider going on a camping trip which is sure to be fun even if you go alone or take your entire family along with you. Camping, in fact, will offer you a wonderful opportunity to get away from city life and it will in fact, give you a chance to breathe fresh air and be closer to nature. To ensure that everything passes off smoothly it is necessary that you buy camping supplies that will help you stay safe and also enable you to get the most out of your time in the wilderness.
High Costs Of Camping Supplies
The only real problem that you will face when you go out to buy camping supplies is the high cost of many of the items of camping supplies. In the case of a beginning camper this can prove to be a major hurdle, especially as you won’t know how and what camping supplies to buy. If you grab anything and everything that comes your way you could end up overspending and still not be sure that you have got the right items of camping supplies.
To ensure that you get the most out of buying camping supplies you should first itemize the camping supplies without which it would be impossible to enjoy safe and exciting camping. The list that you prepare should include the basic items including sleeping bags, tents, cooking utensils and backpacks.
You should buy camping supplies that include items that are required for personal use including toiletries and also basic items such as cheap watches, boots as well as back packs. The quantity depends on the scope and type of camping that you intend to do. For hiking, you would need to buy camping supplies that are specific to hiking while for fishing you would need to buy camping supplies that are suited for catching fish.
It is also a good idea to buy camping suppliesonly after having researched different options so that you are sure about the functionality of the items and what they should cost you. Last but not least, by checking out various stores (online and offline) you will stand a better chance of buying camping supplies at the most competitive prices and you will also get a chance to buy better quality items.
The Coleman camp stove is a good choice. You won’t let this choice as it will help you with the type of use that will ensure that you have a good outdoor kitchen to prepare mouthwatering meals. It is also very portable and so taking it along with you will not be a big problem so far as transporting iis concerned.
Do You Remember Duffle Bags?
Posted by admin
When I was a teenager, most people I knew used duffle bags. Though there were a few with backpacks, they weren’t as common as they are today. Today, most will choose to carry a backpack if given the choice, but there are still some great uses for the duffle style of bag. Some things just can not be carried in a backpack if you want them to stay intact.
A backpack is convenient for lots of reasons. The biggest is that they are much easier to carry than duffle bags.However, there are some who know that the duffle bag is the smart choice in many occasions. A good example is a musician. Although there are special bags for some of the more sensitive equipment that people might own, many will carry that stuff in a duffle bag. If the same stuff were put in a backpack it would be broken rather quickly.
Though some people like to use a briefcase to carry important papers, there are some people who don’t like the look. When they have a large amount of papers to carry around with them, they will find the duffle bags will help protect those papers because they will be lying flat. Think about teachers who need to carry a lot of papers back and forth to work every day, or the person who works from home for a few days a week. They have a lot to haul.
Duffle bags may not be as easy to carry as a backpack, but they are useful for many other reasons as well. They are even very useful for travel.They are usually more versatile, and can cost less as well. However, when hauling something fragile around, the more expensive style of duffle bag would be the best investment.
Haggerston Castle Holiday Park
Posted by admin
Haggerston Castle is situated in Berwick-upon-Tweed in the North of England and just south of the Scottish borders. Magnificent countryside is the backdrop for this holiday park, set amidst 7 glassy lakes, manicured gardens and mature woodland, its very easy to see why Haggerston Castle is a popular choice of holiday destination for British families every year.
The park caters for both active individuals as well as the more sedate types thanks to the on-site activities ranging from the energetic water and field sports, horse riding or at the other end of the scale you can ease away your problems in the luxury spa.
Children of all ages will find plenty to do at Haggerston Castle, as usual with Haven Holiday Parks, with a broad range of Kids Clubs and activities as well as some excellent swimming pools where younger kids can be taught to swim and the older ones can just have a fab time.
Don’t worry about feeling exhausted after your exertions in the pool, theres always the option of a family show to distract you with a full programme of entertainment being laid on throughout the day.
There are a number of bars and restaurants to be found onsite so you wont have to travel to far if you want to look for something to eat.
If you are not one for staying in one place on your holiday then Haggerston Castle offers plenty of opportunites to explore the Great British countryside, situated as it is in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just on the doorstop of the British countryside and only a few miles away from stretches of dramatic undiscovered coastline.
Alnwick Castle
The world famous Alnwick Castle is a short car journey away and offers a piece of history dating all the way back to Medieval times.
The Castle is best known these days for its appearence in a number of popular movies including the Harry Potter films and ‘Elizabeth’.
Northumberland Coast
We’ve already mentioned the Northumberland coast quite a lot but it can’t be over-emphasised that this stretch of coastline is amongst the most stunning in the country.
There are 1935 Square miles to Northumberland and it well thought of as the Best Kept Secret in England.
Next door to the border of Scotland and England and on the North Sea, the Northumberland Coastline is one hundred miles long and is designated an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lindisfarne
To round off the hilights of your Northumberland excursion we have to mention The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, the focal point of England’s Christian heritage.
The magnificent 16th century Lindisfarne Castle dominates the rocky outcrop on which the island stands, cut-off from the mainland twice a day by the North Sea in an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty.
This romantic, enchanting Tudor Fort is packed to the turrets with small rooms full of intimate decoration and design, with views of the walled garden designed by Gertude Jekyll and stunning coastal panoramas.