| So you, like me, are an avid camper. My family and I | | | | If you are a novice to camping I would recommend |
| try and go on at least camping 4 trips during the | | | | not so much "roughing" it on your first try. What I |
| year. Here in New Jersey, at least for me anyway, | | | | mean by that is, look for a campground that has |
| the best times to go are March through the end of | | | | water hookups near your site. It will make it easier |
| May, and September through middle of October. | | | | on you when you need water for cooking, cleaning |
| For me the summer months in New Jersey can get | | | | etc. Also choose a campground that has bathroom |
| too humid, bringing out a plethora of bugs and | | | | facilities. Not all of them have them, most do, but |
| mosquitoes, which quite frankly I do not find too | | | | keep that on your checklist. I recommend the more |
| pleasant of an atmosphere. I try to limit my time | | | | new you are to camping, the closer your site should |
| during the cooler months for that reason and for | | | | be to the facilities. It doesn`t make the trip enjoyable |
| comfort. There is nothing more enjoyable about | | | | when you have to go in the middle of the night and |
| camping then sitting around the camp fire on a crisp | | | | have to walk a half mile to get to the bathroom. |
| cool evening. Something that I don`t feel you can | | | | Once you get accustomed to the camping lifestyle, |
| enjoy during the dog days of summer. | | | | trust me, it really is not that big of a deal. |
| Now that is not to say that camping isn`t enjoyable | | | | Regardless of where you camp, what time of year, |
| here in New Jersey during the summer months. It is, | | | | or who you go with, the key to a fun, safe and |
| as you will find many, if not all of the campgrounds, | | | | rewarding camping trip is in the planning. Sit down and |
| private and public are booked solid. The main reasons | | | | write a list of everything you will need to make the |
| being, kids are out of school and the days are longer. | | | | trip comfortable. Separate your list into categories, |
| New Jersey provides a wonderful selection of | | | | such as food supplies, cooking and eating utensils, |
| campgrounds throughout the state. You can hit the | | | | sleeping gear and so on. After you write your list, |
| mountains in Northern New Jersey, the Jersey shore | | | | double check it against the list others you are going |
| campgrounds down in Cape May. Whichever you | | | | with might have made up. Maybe you forgot some |
| choose, be prepared for the terrain. | | | | things that they have, and vice-versa. The more time |
| If you go camping in Northern New Jersey, expect | | | | you spend in the planning process, the more easy |
| very rocky ground. If you are tent camping, which is | | | | your trip will be and the more fun you will have. |
| something that I absolutely love to do, bring a good | | | | There is nothing worse, then when you are about to |
| hammer with you to bang those tent stakes in. In | | | | cook those steaks over an open fire and you forgot |
| fact, you probably should bring some heavy duty | | | | the utensils to cook, or the seasoning or even |
| tent stakes with you. If you just use the ones that | | | | worse, the steaks themselves. |
| come with your tent, chances are they will bend on | | | | Camping is a fun and enjoyable activity for the entire |
| you. | | | | family. Proper planning, and not trying to extend |
| A hammer is not needed central to south Jersey for | | | | beyond your comfort level, will make it even that |
| camping as the soil is more soft without much rock | | | | more special. |
| to break through. | | | | By: Bruce A. |