TIPS FOR NEW FAMILY CAMPERS

Jeremy and Stephanie Puglisi are the cohosts of “The RV Atlas” podcast and have authored several books, including Where Should We Camp Next?

Here are their tips for beginning campers.

1. For your first trip, camp close to home in a familiar environment. 2. Consider Sunday–Thursday trips to avoid weekend crowds and have a bit more space to yourself (prices also tend to be lower). 3. Don’t spend a ton of money on gear when starting out (rent or borrow gear, if possible). Invest in better equipment later if you fall in love with camping. 4. Before departure, practice using equipment at home so you are familiar with how everything works and can address any issues in advance of your trip. 5. If you rent an RV, reserve a pull-through site instead of a back-in site. It’s less stressful and easier to navigate. 6. Consider reserving a site at a private or family-owned campground for your first trip, so an owner or manager is there to help if needed. State and National Park campgrounds are beautiful, but often understaffed (better for second or third trip). 7. Arrive at the campground during daylight hours. Set-up is challenging and can be stressful when it’s dark, especially when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. And late-night arrivals may be disruptive to campers in neighboring sites. 8. Keep food simple. Maybe don’t try Dutch oven peach cobbler on your first trip. But do try easy foil packet dinners. 9. Involve kids in set-up, breakdown, and camp chores—it’s a great opportunity to teach them stewardship and responsibility. Everyone should pitch in and earn the fun! 10. Always leave a campsite better than you found it.

RVshare is a peer-to-peer online platform for RV owners and people who want to rent them (think Airbnb, but for RVs). If you’re interested in renting an RV (a great way to test one out before purchasing) or you own one and want to rent it out, check out www.RVshare.com.

Did you know? It’s possible to experience RV camping without driving one! When you rent your RV, ask if they offer campsite delivery and set-up.

Harvest Hosts is an affordable membership program that offers RVers free overnight stays at unique locations such as wineries, farms, museums and botanical gardens. www.harvesthosts.com

Learn about the California Responsible Travel Code at www.visitcalifornia.com/thingsto-do/travel-california-respectcalifornia.

County of San Diego Camping 858-565-3600; www.sdparks.org

California State Parks Camping and Lodging

www.ReserveCalifornia.com

When Lisa Gipson isn’t editing San Diego Family Magazine, she loves to explore with her husband and young adult daughters.

This is part one of a two-part series. Be sure to pick up next month’s issue to read expert tips for camping with friends.

June 2021 • SanDiegofamily.com • 23