STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Alegria · Kate Spade

How does one...

bumblebee · Coach

i haven't been camping since i was a small child, so i def. wasn't pitching my own tent, but i would think target would be a good/inexpensive place to start. they seem to have all kinds of that stuff.

bex · Chanel

i HATE camping. BUT- i have gone a few times in the past year and can offer a bit of advice. pitching tents is NOT what it was back in the day. it is super duper easy to put a tent up. check at target or any outdoors store (gander mtn, etc.) at the end of season for a a great clearance price. in the tent, we use a coleman inflatable mattress, a battery operated light and fan.

and that ends the extent of my camping experience. i just make sure the tent is comfy for me! the rest is up to the BF.

janey831 · Kate Spade

well i went camping last 4th of july, and i had a GREAT time. although this was my last year in college, and we just rented a campsite, pitched our own tents, slept in sleeping bags, and 'roughed' it. granted i did none of the bitching as we went with abt 4 boys and 4 girls, but still, i watched. h aha. all we did all weekend was lay by the lake, swim, drink massive quantities of beer, and eat a lot of. A LOT. it was nice, relaxing, being dirty, wearing no make up and not caring one bit. (we did take showers, but the water was cold!) it was great taking a break from the real world. anyway, it might be a little different, since i am assuming if you go, it would be with your family and kids.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

There is a place I went camping once, it wasn't in the woods but a park with trees and all by the river. You pay your fee and pick your spot. They had restrooms and showers, plus a little convenience store to get goodies if you didn't bring enough or forgot something. I would never camp somewhere they at least didn't have a clean toilet!

Metric · Gucci

I love camping and I have been camping tons so feel free to ask any questions if I miss anything

You will need...essentials

a tent, sleepingbags, a foam or air matress, lighter for making fire, coolers (I usually take 2-one for food one for beer) and ice packs or ice, an axe, chairs, cooking equipment (an old frying pan or pot, those long weiner cooking sticks, etc) and plastic or paper dishes, flashlight or lantern.

non-essentials...

a tarp (for covering things if it rains), waterjugs (if your site doesn't supply water), wood (some sites supply wood, some you have to buy it), butane or propane camping stove, blankets, other things that make your trip more fun (we bring cards, crib board, the bf brings his guitar, lots of beer)

then all you have to do is pick a site, get your food and gear togeather, and go. Camping is so fun. Its cool to get dirty and spend the weekend drinking alot of beers infront of a fire.

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

If you have never been before I'd pick a campsite close to home. Call and reserve the spot. Ask if they have as far as amenities (just bathroom or are there showers). Tell them you are a first timer. I'm sure they will be helpful.

Don't forget to pack a first aid kit, some medicines and bug spray. I take picnic kinds of foods (premade pasta salads and stuff) and a grill to toss on the fire for my burgers and veggie packets (you could probably take the rack rom your owen if you don't have anything).

REI actually rents some equipment, so if there is one around that may be a cheaper in the short run way to decide if you like it.

If you know anyone who camps, invite them. They will be super helpful, and will have some of the stuff already (or borrow from a friend. no sense in spending $200 on a tent if you wind up hating it)

-gd

lindsayp · Kenneth Cole

if there's a university near you, check out if they have an outdoors club. At my university they have an outdoors club where you can rent/borrow everything you need to go camping. I'm not sure if you'll have to be a student, but it's worth checking out :)