Top Camping Resources on the Web
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Adventure Network
Planning a camping trip? Then you’ll want to visit this site, which offers camping FAQs, product recommendations, and a Fabrics and Fibers glossary of terms. Who knew fabrics could be so important? But to a camper faced with rain, wind, and snow, they make all the difference in the world.
Altrec.com
Shop here for hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, paddling, fly-fishing, snow skiing, and running gear. Whichever outdoor activity interests you, you can find all the gear you need at this site. Attractive and well-organized layout makes this site easy to find outdoor camping equipment and supplies.
American Park Network—Camping
Planning a camping trip to a national park? Check here first for site availability, park activities, fees, and much more. Camping in some national parks requires reservations, and you’ll find contact information here. Some park campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and this site provides information on how to make sure you get a spot.
Camp-A-Roo
Maintained by outdoor recreation enthusiast Mary Bould, this site features information about camping and hiking with an emphasis for parents who want to camp with their children.
Campfire Cooking
www.eartheasy.com/play_campfire_cooking.htm
Before you head out on your next camping adventure, stop by this site for some great campfire cooking recipes. This site also features instructions on how to build a safe campfire that’s conducive to cooking.
Campground Directory
Find a campground or RV park quickly and easily using the searchable directory or pull-down menus. Special kids area is full of activities to keep kids busy on long trips, and includes safety tips, state information, and campfire recipes.
Camping World Online
Camping World is a leading supplier of products for RVs in particular and camping in general. Use this site to request a free catalog, check out products, get special online bargains, or find a Camping World store closest to you. You’ll also find links to some other great camping websites.
Coleman.com
Besides descriptions of Coleman products you can buy online, here you’ll find advice on how to prepare for a camping trip, how to set up camp, where to go, how to cook meals in the great outdoors, and more.
Get Knotted
www.42brghtn.mistral.co.uk/knots/42ktmenu.html
Animated knots for scouts, plus the do’s and don’ts of knot tying. Not the glitziest site of the lot; but if you need to tie something, this site can show you 15 ways to do it.
KOA Home Page
If you like plenty of luxury while you’re camping—hot showers, recreation rooms, convenience stores—KOA is the way to go. Check here for a list of the KOA campgrounds across North America, an explanation of the different ways to camp at a KOA, a list of services available, and, if you’re looking for an enjoyable and profitable way to earn your living, ways to open a KOA of your very own.
L.L. Bean Welcome Page
Keeping warm is a primary concern when you’re camping, and L.L. Bean is the place to go for warm (and stylish) clothes, snowshoes, camping accessories, and more. Request a free catalog, check out the online product guide, and use the park search page (located in the Explore the Outdoors section). With hundreds of national and state parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, it’s a handy tool.
Minnesota State Parks
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html
If we had to pick only one state to highlight in the camping section, Minnesota would be the one. Whether on the prairie, in a hardwood forest, or near the Great Lakes, Minnesota state parks offer every possible camping experience, from canoeing and portaging the Boundary Waters, to just sitting outside your RV listening to the wolves howl. Find the park you’d like to visit and make your reservations—all at this site. Click on Newsroom to sign up to receive enewsletter updates on boating regulations, safety tips, and more.
Ocean City, MD’s Frontier Town Campground
A fun site to visit, brought to you by a unique family camping experience. This campground features more than 500 campsites, a pizza parlor, and access to many area attractions, including golf courses and harness racing.
Outdoor Action Program
www.princeton.edu/~oa/index.shtml
Maintained by Rick Curtis, Princeton University hosts this site, which you should check before undertaking any kind of wilderness trip. Loaded with places to go and things to do, the site is equally jam-packed with safety and health facts. A comprehensive site for outdoors folk to visit.
U.S. Scouting Project
usscouts.org/usscouts/start.asp
The U.S. Scouting service is a not-for-profit organization that’s dedicated to supporting and promoting the scouting movement. This site acts as a comprehensive directory, or portal, to a vast collection of online resources dealing with the scouting movement.
Visit Your National Parks
This is an official National Park Service page. Learn about U.S. national parks, pick one that is right for your camping needs, find out what the fees are, and make reservations. This site features a Park Spotlight and a guide to lesser-known parks, along with lots of useful and up-to-date information.
Backpacking
Backpacker Magazine
This is the home of Backpacker magazine, where you can learn about every aspect of backpacking, including gear you need to pack, interesting destinations, and skills and techniques. You can connect with other backpacking enthusiasts in the Community area, shop online, or even subscribe to Backpacker magazine online.
Eastern Mountain Sports
Great place to shop for camping gear and equipment for hiking, climbing, kayaking, and other outdoor adventure activities. Click the EMS Adventure Treks link to plan an outdoor vacation.
Leave No Trace
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a “nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships.” This site provides tips on how to interact with nature without leaving your human footprint behind in the form of litter, noise, erosion, or anything else that can damage the pristine outdoor environments you visit.
The Backpacker.com
TheBackpacker.com caters to all levels of backpackers, from those just thinking about it to seasoned veterans. Here, you can find reviews of the latest gear, search for trail reviews by state, learn basic backpacking techniques, find out what you need to pack, and hook up with other backpackers in your area.
The Lightweight Backpacker
Find useful information on researching and purchasing lightweight backpacking gear here. You can also read contributions from visitors dedicated to making backpacking safer and more fun.