Are you far from the outdoorsy type of person? Does the thought of hiking, picnicking or camping send shivers down your spine? If so, you’re not alone.
Plenty of people don’t consider themselves outdoorsy. But what happens if you want to at least try an outdoors adventure? Perhaps you may enjoy it if you give it a fair chance.
We’ll take a look at how camping can be made more approachable, enjoyable and relaxing for those who don’t consider themselves outdoorsy.
These tips may even make you a convert.
Spoil Yourself with Tasty Food Options
A big part of the camping trip will be the food, and rather than opting for the standard often boring camp meals, why not treat yourself to some tasty options?
By putting a little thought and planning into the items you pack and the meals you cook, you can make camping a more sophisticated experience.
Some great ideas can include:
- Chicken skewers
- One-pot pasta dishes
- Breakfast sandwiches with sausage
- Campsite nachos
- Grilled fish or seafood
- Grilled vegetables
- Homemade mac and cheese
- Apple crisp
- One-pot orzo
- Tacos
- Grilled cheese using artisan-style cheese
None of these dishes are typical campsite meals, and by adding spices and herbs you can elevate them to the next level of tastiness.
Bring Activities for the Evening Hours
Although the daytime is often filled with hiking and exploring, the nights aren’t always as exciting. As a non-outdoorsy type, you’re probably used to being able to flip on the television, surf the internet, read a book, enjoy a local pub or club, or any other such evening activity.
Why not bring some excitement and entertainment to your campsite so that the evening hours don’t end up as a total snooze fest?
Some of the best ways to pass the time at your campsite in the evening include the following:
- Board games or card games
- Watching movies on a portable device (they will likely need to be downloaded to your device as you may not have a good enough signal to stream content)
- Reading a few good books
- Packing food that is perfect for roasting over the fire
- Bringing a small packable telescope for night-time star gazing
- Packing your music
By packing a variety of entertainment options, you’ll also be giving yourself enough to do outdoors, and inside the tent if the weather doesn’t allow you to be outside. Just be sure to pack adequate lighting since campsites get very dark at night. Ideally, you will want to bring a few different styles of lights, such as a hanging battery-operated lantern, a headlamp and a flashlight. Choose cool and neutral temperature color lights to get the best quality lighting. These are brighter than warm lights.
Be Prepared for Bugs and Wildlife
One of the things that can turn people off camping is the idea of being swarmed by bugs and being a little too close to the wildlife. Both of these are part of the outdoors but, at the same time, you can take some measures to limit their impact on your adventure.
To help combat the bugs, be sure to pack plenty of bug repellent, use it, and reapply when necessary. You may even want to pack a bug zapper, but keep in mind that it would need to be battery operated. Your tent should also have mesh screening on the windows and doors that will do a great job of keeping bugs out while allowing for air circulation.
As for the wildlife, inform yourself about what’s in the area, what precautions are recommended and plan to be vigilant. Choosing a campsite that is well-maintained and busy will help ensure that wildlife is kept back. The more remote the setting is, the more likely it is that you will encounter wildlife.
Don’t Sleep on the Ground
If this tip sounds over-simplified, that’s on purpose. Sleeping on the ground is a sure-fire way to turn non-outdoorsy types off camping ever again. It’s hard, uncomfortable, cold and damp. Who enjoys that sleeping experience? Instead, be sure to pack either a sleeping pad or mattress or a camping cot. Either option ensures you’re not directly on the ground, which will make things much more comfortable.
Because you will need a little extra room to set up your sleeping area, make sure the tent will still accommodate everyone going. It’s always best to have too much room than not enough, so experts tend to suggest buying a tent that is larger than you think you will need.
By using all of the above tips, you will be able to experience camping in a whole new light, despite being more of a city-person.
