Category: Camping

Tips to Make Packing for a Camping Trip a Little Easier

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

Getting ready to hit the road for your next camping trip? Before you leave home, you’ll need to pack up everything you want to bring along with you for the journey. From weather-resistant clothing to food for your fellow campers, you don’t want to leave any necessities behind. Here are a few tips to make the packing process seem a little less daunting.

Roll clothes to save space.

Clothing can take up a surprising amount of space if you don’t pack it efficiently. To make the most of your available space, roll your clothes into tight cylinders so that everything can fit in a single backpack or suitcase.

Map out your menu.

Trying to decide what you’re going to eat during your trip? Put together a menu in advance so that you know exactly which foods you’ll need to bring. This way, you can consolidate all your food in one place and avoid having to pick up odds and ends along the way.

Bring plenty of plastic bags.

Camping can be a messy enterprise, and it’s always nice to have a place to store dirty clothes and other belongings. Plastic grocery bags can be used to safely store a wide variety of items during your camping trip, from muddy shoes to empty snack wrappers. Just be sure to take any plastic bags you bring home with you at the end of your trip.

Remember a first-aid kit.

Finally, it’s important to be prepared for any scrapes, bruises and bug bites you might sustain along the way. A simple first aid kit is an essential camping accessory that won’t take up much room in your vehicle. Keep your camping first aid kit in an easily-accessible place where you can always find it such as a glove box or map pocket.

At Suwannee River Rendezvous, we have all the amenities you need to enjoy a comfortable camping trip in sunny Florida. Give us a call or contact us online to reserve your campsite today!

How to Choose a New Tent That’s Right for You

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

Has your family’s old tent seen better days? If so, you should consider replacing it with a new tent that will get you excited about camping again. Today’s tents are lighter, more durable and easier to set up than ever.

Check out a few tips for finding a tent that’s right for you below!

Look for a tent that’s large enough to meet your needs.

Are you looking for a tent that’s just large enough for you, or will your entire family be sleeping inside the tent with you? Tent manufacturers tend to be pretty conservative in their capacity estimates, so it’s typically best to err on the side of caution and choose a tent that’s slightly larger than what you think you need. This is especially true for tall people.

If it’s just going to be you and one other person in the tent, for example, consider shopping for a three-person tent to make sure you have enough room for you and all your gear.

Consider the materials and construction.

A tent’s construction will affect its waterproofing and its ability to protect you in extreme weather conditions. In general, it’s a good idea to look for a tent that has a combination of double stitching and folded seems. A tent with these two features will be far less prone to tearing and leaking during rainstorms.

You should also pay close attention to the seasons that the tent is rated for. Three-season tents—which are designed for use in the spring, summer and fall—are probably the most popular and cost-effective option for most campers. Four-season tents are ideal for camping in cold climates, but they are heavier and more expensive than what most weekend campers need, especially here in Florida.

Make sure the zippers are built to last.

During a camping trip, you’ll probably be moving in and out of your tent quite a bit. With this in mind, you should look for a tent that has rugged, heavy-duty zippers that won’t break after just a few camping trips. There’s nothing worse than trying to fix a broken tent zipper in the middle of a camping trip.

Ready to put your new tent to good use? We’d love to have you join us here on the beautiful Suwannee River! Just give us a call or contact us online to reserve your campsite today!

Meal Prep Tips for Your Next Camping Trip

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

Getting ready to pack up the car for your next camping trip? If you haven’t been on a camping trip in a while, you may be concerned about the logistics of cooking meals at a campsite. The good news is, there are a few simple steps you can take to make cooking much easier while camping. Check out a few of our favorite meal prep tips below!

Come up with a full list of meals you’re going to cook while camping.

Regardless of whether you’re going camping for one night or an entire week, it’s a good idea to sit down and make a list of what you’re going to eat for each and every meal. This way, you’ll know exactly what ingredients you’ll need to pack before you head to the grocery store.

Cook what you can ahead of time.

Cooking at a campsite tends to be a little more challenging than cooking at home. Therefore, you should cook whatever you can at home before you leave. The idea of sitting around a campfire cooking chicken might sound appealing, but in reality, it can be a slow and tedious process. Consider cooking things like chicken at home and then reheating them when you’re ready to eat. You can also cut up vegetables, fruits and more at home so that they’ll be ready to cook when you arrive at your campsite.

Try not to rely on your campfire to make every meal.

There may be times when you’re camping that you just don’t feel like cooking. You want to throw something together that’s quick and easy, like a sandwich. Bring along meals that are simple to make for when you don’t feel like getting a fire going. You’ll be glad you did when you’re exhausted after a day full of hiking, fishing and exploring the great outdoors.

At Suwannee River Rendezvous, you can find both primitive tent camping sites and full hook-up sites for RVs. To learn more about any of our campsites, feel free to give us a call or contact us online today!

These Kid-Friendly Crafts are Perfect for Your Next Camping Trip

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

Camping can be a lot of fun for kids of all ages, but it’s always a good idea to have some crafts and activities on hand to prevent young children from getting bored during a weekend camping trip. Check out a few fun and easy craft ideas to try on your next camping trip below!

Camping Bingo

Bingo is a classic game that the whole family can enjoy. To make it even more fun, you can play camping bingo and incorporate all the sights and sounds of camping into the mix. This is a great activity to help pass the time during a passing summer thunderstorm.

Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

Your kids will have the opportunity see all kinds of amazing things when they go camping. You can encourage them to look around and make the most of the experience by equipping them with a pair of homemade binoculars! Make a simple pair by binding two toilet paper rolls together with twine and decorating them with stickers and illustrations. They’ll love looking for birds and other wildlife with their personalized binoculars.

Camping Scavenger Hunts

If you really want to keep your kids occupied, you can send them out on a camping scavenger hunt. Ask them to spot things like flowers, birds, insects and ferns. Chances are, they won’t have to travel far to find all sorts of plants and animals around your campsite.

At Suwannee River Rendezvous, we offer a variety of kid-friendly activities that are fun for the whole family. You can take a swim in our beautiful pool complex, or sing your favorite songs at karaoke night in the Lodge. Give us a call to learn more, or book your reservation online today!

Handy Travel Accessories to Keep in Your RV

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

One of the best parts about traveling in an RV is that you can bring all the comforts of home along with you when you hit the road. From basics like cooking utensils and organizers to luxuries like TVs and camping hammocks, you can equip your RV with all sorts of useful accessories. But while most of this gear is optional, there are a few travel accessories you should definitely keep on board during your next adventure. Check them out below!

First Aid Kit

When you’re far from home in unfamiliar territory, it’s always a good idea to keep a first aid kit on hand. This way, you can treat everything from minor cuts and bruises to headaches and sunburns. It’s especially important to have a complete first aid kit if you’re traveling in remote areas where hospitals and urgent care centers might not be easy to find.

Solar Charger

In the event that you lose power in your RV, a solar charger can allow you to keep phones and other devices charged so you can contact roadside assistance for help. These chargers have gotten far more affordable in recent years, and they can offer some valuable peace of mind when you’re on the road.

Weather Radio

The weather can change quickly when you’re on the road, and a weather radio can help you stay one step ahead of dangerous storms. These radios offer access to a nationwide network of NOAA weather stations that provide regular updates on developing weather patterns throughout the country. You can also find hand-cranked weather radios that operate reliably even if you don’t have access to batteries.

Next time you’re on the road, we’d love to see you at our beautiful RV resort on the Suwannee River! Give us a call to learn more about our accommodations, or reserve your campground online today.

Gift Ideas for the Camping Enthusiast in Your Life

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

Is there someone in your life who loves to go camping? If so, there are plenty of great gifts to consider this holiday season. To help get you started, we put together a few of our favorite gifts for camping enthusiasts. Check them out below.

Portable stoves

Cooking on a campfire certainly has its charms, but it’s not always a practical option. That’s why a good camping stove is nearly essential for overnight backpacking trips. This compact stove from MSR, for example, is small enough to fit in a cargo pocket, but powerful enough to boil water in under 4 minutes.

Camping hammocks

It’s not always easy to find a comfortable place to rest when you’re out in the wilderness, so a camping hammock is a great accessory to keep in your pack. Just anchor one of these lightweight, portable hammocks to two trees and you’ve got a comfortable place to take a nap and watch the world go by.

Water purifiers

It’s always a good idea to have one of these on hand when camping in remote areas. In the past, you may have had to purchase water purification tablets. Nowadays, however, you can find hand-operated pumps that filter water without chemicals. With one of these handy tools, you can always find potable water at the nearest stream.

If you’re still struggling to find the right gift, why not treat your loved one to a camping trip on the beautiful Suwannee River? Book your reservation today, or give us a call to learn more!

Research Finds Camping Can Help Reset Our Body Clocks

Posted by Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

If you love the great outdoors, than you know how restorative spending time in nature can be. But did you know it can even help you overcome sleep problems? New research shows that camping can help reset our internal body clocks.

Reset

Due to our frequent exposure to artificial light, many humans stray from a natural sleeping pattern. But one week of camping outdoors and getting away from artificial light sources is enough to return a person’s body clock to its natural sleep rhythms, according to a recent study published in Current Biology. These findings demonstrate that our internal biological clocks will quickly synchronize to a natural light-dark cycle if the opportunity arises.

Easier to wake up

During their one week of camping, the study participants’ average light exposure increased by more than four times. This added exposure to natural light caused changes in their brains’ melatonin production, which made it easier to wake up from a restful sleep.

Better Sleep

Many of the participants who usually experienced sleep issues claimed this was the only time they were able to get uninterrupted sleep by going to bed early and waking up early. This suggests that carefully controlling our exposure to artificial light, particularly at night, could help successfully treat sleep problems.

For a relaxing and rejuvenating camping experience to get your sleep schedule back on track, come visit us here at Suwannee River Rendezvous in Mayo, Florida! We offer a variety of primitive, water/electric and full hook-up sites. Contact us today for more information!