Five Camping Tips for a Winter Family Adventure

Camping in the great outdoors is a wonderful vacation idea for your family in the summer, however, did you know that it’s also possible to camp during the winter and have a great time as well? Pitching your tent and sleeping under the stars when it’s below zero outside may seem like a crazy idea, however, there are several things that you can do to stay warm, enjoy yourself, and avoid anybody contracting pneumonia in the process. We’ve put together some winter camping tips for an unusual vacation your family won’t forget.

Tip #1. Plan Ahead:

In general, camping in the winter takes a little more planning than during the summer time. Since it’s going to be cold outside, you might want to consider some fun alternatives to staying in a tent, such as hiring a caravan, or even consider ‘glamping’ where you’ll stay in a yurt or tent that has heating and other utilities such as hot water. However, if you’re set on pitching a tent, then investing in a high-quality camping heater is a must!

Tip #2. Take a Smaller Tent:

Whilst a bigger tent is essential for family camping when it comes to having enough space for yourselves and all your belongings, smaller is better when it comes to staying warm at night. Since your tent is a huge part of the insulation process, a tent that is a snug fit will trap more warmth inside and help to keep you nice and toasty whilst you sleep.

Tip #3. Invest in a Winter Sleeping Bag:

Most sleeping bags are designed for camping during the summer, since this is the most popular time of year to take a camping trip. It might be a good idea to look out for new sleeping bags for your family and pick some up that have extra insulation inside to keep you as warm as possible. Another idea that you might like is a sleeping bag onesie; these can be worn just like pajamas and are easier to move about in so you don’t need to fully get out of the bag if you wake up in the middle of the night needing to go to the toilet, for example. Don’t forget to also take along plenty of blankets to put over the top, and extras such as hot water bottles and hand warmers.

Tip #4. Consider Your Activities

Camping during the winter can be a totally different experience, however you won’t have as many activities available to you as you would during the summer. If you’re an active family, you may want to look into cross country skiing and pack the gear you’ll need for that.  Maybe you’ve always told your teenager that you’ll teach them to hunt one day.  Deer, antelope and fox are popular animals to hunt during the winter months. Head to woodburyoutfitters.com to buy the rifles and other hunting gear you’ll need for this.

Tip #5. Plan Winter Warmer Meals:

The food that you eat whilst you’re camping can play a huge part in keeping you nice and warm, so do yourself a favor by putting plenty of winter warmers on the menu. For example, spicy soups are a good idea since they’re quick to make and will warm you up both with the temperature and the hotness of the spices that you use. It’s also a good idea to take along a selection of carbohydrate-rich foods since these will give your body more energy for staying warm.

Do you enjoy camping in winter? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

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