One of the most exciting things about RV camping is meeting new friends, and here is a family – the Gruen’s – that we met during our stay at the Stockton Delta KOA in Lodi, California.

Wakeboarder, Jackie Gruen gave us a treat, showing off her wakeboarding skill, while our daughters played with their best friends Victoria and Alyssia.

Stopping for lunch, we beached the boats and the girls had a great time playing in the water and building sand castles before getting back on the boat to round out the day with more tubing and wakeboarding fun.

Thanks to the Gruen’s for a fabulous day on the Delta!

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I have baked rolls, cake and even pizza in a Dutch oven. One dish meals such as stews and soups are the best when made in a Dutch oven. Meat, even the cheapest cuts can be made tender and delicious in a Dutch oven.

There are a few tricks concerning the cooking source that are important to successful Dutch oven cooking. They can make the difference between undercooked or burnt food.

When I am preparing a meat dish such as ribs, chicken or roast, I like to brown the meat in the Dutch oven on a camp stove. Then the flavor from the browned meat is in the Dutch oven and adds to the taste of the finished product. Also this gets the Dutch oven hot so when it is placed on the coals, they maintain the heat and energy isn’t lost trying to heat the Dutch oven up.

The heat for Dutch oven cooking can’t be too hot or too cool. To take a line from the three bears, it must be, “just right. ” This might seem hard to determine, but if you are using charcoal briquettes it as easy as counting the number of briquettes to put under and on top of the Dutch oven.

Put as many briquettes under the Dutch oven as it size and two more than that number on the lid. That will give you a temperature of 350 degrees. For example if you are using a size 12 Dutch oven put 12 bricketts under the Dutch oven and 14 on the lid. If you are baking anything I recommend using bricketts.

If you are using a campfire you need to burn the wood down to coals and use the coals to heat the Dutch oven. I like to keep a campfire burning to replace coals as needed. Usually ever 30 to 40 minutes. This requires you to make a place outside of the campfire to place your coals for the Dutch oven. If you don’t do this and leave the Dutch oven in the fire pit with the fire burning you will probably end up with the food burned on the side closest to the fire.

I usually use a fire pan of some kind, the lid of a metal garbage can works great, to put the coals in. That makes for easy clean up of the ashes and you don’t have coals and ashes scattered all over your campsite.

Cooking with wood coals requires some skill learned by experience to determine the proper temperature for the food you are cooking. There are different types of wood that make better coals than others. Usually we don’t have the luxury of having the best wood available every time and just use what is available. So it takes a little more watching to make sure the dish you are preparing gets properly done. I don’t worry about this too much when cooking meats and stews. This may be more of a problem when baking products such as cakes and rolls. The correct and consistent temperature is more important when baking so the item doesn’t burn or become under cooked. Doughy rolls or soggy cake is a real disappointment after all the work you go through to make them.

You can also just use a camp stove and not have a fire or coals at all. This works great with one dish meals and dishes with a lot of moisture in them. A camp stove doesn’t work that great for baked items though because there isn’t any heat on the lid.

The best thing to do is just try it find Dutch oven recipe that looks good. They are on the internet or in special Dutch oven cookbooks. Follow the instructions and you will have a great meal that tastes better than anything you have ever cooked before. Especially if you cook it while camping in the mountains.

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The canyon is an exciting and adventurous experience. You’ll be mesmerized to see the sight of such a huge Canyon. There are a number of RV parks and campgrounds in and near Grand Canyon National Park. RV camping is one of the best ways to enjoy the scenic landscape of Grand Canyon. Some of the best RV campgrounds in Grand Canyon National Park are:
1. Grand Canyon/Desert View:

This campground has a lot to offer to its tourists. Some of its striking features are 50 pull-thrus, pets on leash, tenting facility, restrooms, payphones and Waste dump. This campground is nearby Grand Canyon Village.

2. Grand Canyon/North Rim:

This is one of the best campgrounds of this place. It features 83 pull-thrus, rooms for slide-outs and Bryce Canyon National Park is located just a few minutes away. Some of the basic amenities they provide are restrooms, payphones, tenting services, waste dump, laundry, restaurant and showers.

3. Grand Canyon Railway RV Park:

These RV parks are the most popular destinations in Arizona. They have all state-of-the-art facilities to offer to its visitors. Whether you are in a couple or in a family this Park offers you everything you need for an unforgettable experience.

4. Bright Angel Campground:

This campground is located on the River Colorado’s north shore. The three trails the River trail, the South Kaibab trail and the North Kaibab trail all converge below this campground. The phantom ranch is just half-mile to the north. This place boasts of its lovely surroundings and the presence of Colorado River makes this place absolute paradise to visit. The campground entails a washroom and a ranger station.

5. Kaibab Camper Village:

The place is just 1 mile south west of Jacob Lake Inn. This is the closest full hook-up campground to the Grand Canyon National Park. Horseback riding and great hiking are some of the great features of this place. There is a newly restored Ranger Cabin that offers various interpretive programs, arranged by the Forest Service. People here enjoy calmness of pine trees. The camper store has a huge selection of grocery items, souvenirs and RV parts.

These are some of the best RV campgrounds in Grand Canyon National Park. Make sure you visit them on your next trip to Arizona!

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The whole experience should be fun, so if you can plan out a few simple camping dishes, it can make it a lot more enjoyable. Well with some traditional campfire cooking recipes, this can be a lot easier than you think.

Try out a couple or even all of the easy recipes below and see how much more exciting and interesting you can make your camping meals.

BREAKFAST

Oat and nut pancakes.

Ingredients.

1 & 1/2 half cups of oats,

1 cup of flour,

2 tablespoons of brown sugar,

Pinch of salt, to taste,

3 teaspoons of baking powder,

½ a cup of mixed chopped nuts,

1 & ½ cups of milk,

2 eggs,

2 tablespoons of butter,

Mix together all the dry ingredients (oats, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, nuts,) and put to one side, while you whisk together the milk, eggs, and butter. Pour this onto the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Lightly grease a griddle or frying pan and pre heat on the fire. Pour about half a cup of the pancake mix into the pan and cook until bubbly and edges look dry, turn pancake over and cook until golden brown. Serve with maple syrup or similar.

LUNCH

Simple Spam snack.

Ingredients.

1 onion,

3 or 4 potatoes, (depending on size),

1 tin of Spam,

1 tablespoon of butter,

Salt & pepper to taste.

Peel and chop the onion and potatoes into roughly ¾ inch pieces, and cook in skillet or frying pan until tender. Chop spam into similar size cubes as onion and potatoes and add to skillet or pan add salt and pepper and continue cooking until all ingredients are, crispy and spam is well heated through. Allow to cool slightly and serve with some crusty bread and butter.

MAIN MEAL

Foil cooked Meatloaf.

Ingredients.

2 pounds of ground beef,

1 egg,

½ a cup of bread crumbs,

½ a can of tomato soup,

Salt & pepper to taste.

Mix all the ingredients together in a suitable container or bowl until it all binds together and can be moulded into a loaf shape of your choice. Place into a large piece of tin foil and wrap well, leaving an air pocket at the top for steam. Cook on small grill on top of fire embers for approximately ¾ of an hour, turning as necessary. Serve with potatoes and vegetables of your choice. Will serve 4 people.

SWEET

Baked Banana.

For a quick tasty desert, simply split a banana lengthwise leaving the skin on. Insert brown sugar and butter into split. Wrap in tin foil and bake in embers of fire until sugar and butter melt into the banana.

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The Pacific Outdoors Big Easy Storage Table gives you a generously sized table to gather, eat or play cards around, plus all the storage space you need to keep your camp site organized and efficient. Two storage compartments feature zippered openings on both sides for easy access and weather protection. Three side pockets on each end of the table give you a place to slip magazines, eating utensils and all those other small items you’re always trying to keep track of at the campsit…
Buy Pacific Outdoors Big Easy Storage Table at Amazon

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The first and foremost step is to determine what type of RV camping equipment for sale you require depends on what type of camping you are planning. In case you are planning to go deep into backwoods or off trodden path, then you need a solar panel system to charge your RV. By doing this you can extend your battery life and TV watching. If you are a serious camper then you might consider an RV water purifier. These come in different types as well as sizes and handle varied quantity of water. Whatsoever your actual RV fervor is, there is a catalog of RV camping equipment for sale that almost anyone can enjoy.

1. Satellite Dish TV for your RV: Imagine your team finished the match and the semifinal is the same night you reach to the lake on your trip. What is the solution? Hunt around for a sports bar? No, if you have satellite dish TV you can have the pleasure of watching it in comforts of your home away from home.

2. LED outdoor lights. These lights make a lot of enhancement in the efficiency of outdoor lighting which makes them a must on RV camping equipment for sale.

3. A gas stove for cook-outs. Even though your RV has an exclusive oven inside, no RV holiday can conclude without trying to cook with a Coleman type gas stove. It works perfectly with cast iron skillets as also waffle trays which can make an ideal high-mountain breakfast.

4. A Sun Shelter is RV camping equipment for sale. A sun shelter is a must on your camping trip otherwise be prepared to get baked in the sun when you are on a holiday.

5. GPS system. It’s necessary because nobody likes to get lost on a holiday, but is a fact that for this you have to be careful and prevent it. By having a GPS system on your list of RV camping equipment for sale, you need not worry about stopping and asking for directions on your way.

By getting the proper equipment, your holidays can be ten times more enjoyable. The above check list will help anyone, but if you are planning for specific holiday like a beach or ski resort you will require things suitable for those holidays. By net surfing or some homework you will get be able to get what you need.

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Camping manners are more than just “please and thank you. ” Having camping manners is a combination of following the rules of the specific campground and also respecting the privacy of any other visitors who share the campground with you. Keep in mind that the campground rules vary whether you are staying in a State or National Park or if you are staying in a private RV or tent campground.

Regardless of where you are staying, first impressions are the most important. If you arrive at a camp site during the evening, keep in mind that it is often very rude to have music blaring or headlights blazing in the eyes of your fellow campers. If arriving late at night, without jeopardizing anyone’s safety, dim the lights a little to make things easier on your neighbors.
Selecting a Campsite: When choosing your spot from among available camp sites, you must first ensure that the spot you are trying to occupy is indeed vacant. Often times when a family goes on vacation, they will head off on day-long excursions thus giving the appearance that the RV campsite is vacant when it is in fact not. Often times, if a family has left the RV campground for the day, they will leave behind some sort of indicator that the space is still theirs such as a couple of chairs or an awning.

Even if the site appears vacant, you might want to ask some of the nearby campers if the spot is available.

Respect Your Neighbors: Be respectful of your neighbors and pick up your trash. Not only can it be unsightly to have napkins and soda bottles blowing around a campground, it can also be dangerous in some places. Depending on where you camp, there might be bears in the area. Bears love it when campers leave food out or trash blowing around, therefore making the tent campground their own personal playground.

Even if you are camping in an area where there is no risk of bears, it is simple common courtesy to pick up after you and your family. Camping is more fun when you can enjoy nature in its purest most pristine form.

If you are camping with rambunctious youngsters, please keep in mind that you are sharing camp sites with strangers who might have come on their camping trip to escape the noise and bustle of the city.   Most campsites have separate areas for children to play in so make sure that you respect your neighbors and make good use of these play areas.

The same principles apply to your pets. There are often more smells, sights and small animals for your pets to chase at a campsite than in your backyard. With this in mind, it is in the best interests of your fellow campers as well as yourself to keep your pet on a leash and always…clean up after your pets!

Obey Campground Rules: Please keep in mind that every campground has specific rules regarding things like fires, smoking, quiet areas and so on. It might be a good idea to be prepared by bringing a small supply of your own firewood. Camp sites frown upon chopping down trees for firewood or kindling; plus, you do not want to bother your neighbors in the middle of the night by inquiring if you can have some wood from their supply, should you happen to run out of firewood during your late night marshmallow roast.

Before loading up your trailer with firewood, however, check with the local laws in the area you will be visiting since some states prohibit the carrying of firewood across state lines.

Furthermore, when quiet hours are posted, make sure that you turn your radio down and keep your voices to a minimum. You would be surprised how well sound can travel in any campsite!  The same principles apply early in the morning. If you are planning to get an early start before you head off to the next RV campground on your tour, try to get your belongings packed up the night before.

This includes any chairs, tables and trash that you might have left lying around. Before you leave, make sure that your fire from the evening before has been fully extinguished and that the ashes around the fire pit have been cleaned up.

Respecting nature around you, as well as your fellow campers is a big part of what can make camping such a great experience. Following the rules makes the whole experience enjoyable for everyone, not to mention ensuring that the RV or tent campground is as safe as possible for everyone staying there.

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Whether you are interested in going camping alone, with your family, with a loved one, or with a group of your friends, you will need to find a campground to camp at. While many individuals just choose to go camping at the nearest campground, you may want to consider doing a little research to find one.

Given the vast number of sites that are available in the US, you want to make sure you choose the best one for you, and your needs. If you are interested in taking the time to find the “perfect” campground, you may be wondering exactly how you can go about doing so.   In all honesty, it will depend on your own wants and needs, as well as the wants and needs of the rest of your camping party.

Although not everyone wants to get the same thing out of their camping trip, there are a number of important factors that you may want to think about, when looking for a campground to camp at.

One of the many things that you will want to take into consideration, when looking for a campground, is the cost of doing so. In the United States, you will find that most campgrounds require the payment of an admission fee or a camping fee, and occasionally even both. The cost of the admission fee or camping fee will all depend on the campground in question. For instance, many smaller campgrounds charge smaller fees. You will likely find larger fees for campgrounds that have more on site activities (like fishing, boating and hiking).

Speaking of onsite activities, activities are something else that you may want to take into consideration, when choosing a campground.

When it comes to the onsite activities of a campground, you may want to take a look at the scenery.   If a campground has an onsite lake or pond, there is a good chance that swimming, boating, and fishing are activities that you may be able to enjoy. Campgrounds are often home to hiking trails, biking trails, playgrounds for children, and much more.

How reservations are taken, is another factor that you may want to think about when planning your camping trip. For instance, there are some campgrounds in the United States that randomly assign you a camping spot.   On the other hand, there are campgrounds that allow you to handpick your camping spot out of all the available locations.   Many campers prefer choosing their own camping spot, as it tends to give them some freedom over their camping trip and how much fun they have.   If you are picky about where you would like to camp, you may want to find a campground that allows you to choose your own camping spot.

Although it is nice to know what you should look for in a campground, it is also important that you know how to find them.

If you are interested in camping locally, you may already know of a number of local campgrounds.   If not, you should be able to use your local phone book, or ask those that you know for recommendations (optimal).   As for campgrounds that are located a ways away from your home, try using Recreation. gov  – “Recreation One-Stop is one of the E-Government initiatives in the President’s Management Agenda to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and customer service of the recreation programs. ”

You may also want to check out Camping Sites Online and Trails. com As a reminder, you may want to think about taking the time to research a number of different campground parks. It is important that you remember that no two campground parks are the same.

To ensure that your next camping adventure is as memorable as possible, you want to make sure that your intended destination is perfect for you and the rest of your camping party. Remember, check our myroadtotravel for all your travel needs.

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