Camping in Italy - The Top 3 Regions

With its spectacular mix of beautiful countryside and historical cities, Italy has long been one of the top European holiday destinations. The excellent selection of campsites, usually located near the major cities, beautiful scenery and sights means that camping in Italy offers the best of both worlds - rural seclusion, close proximity to the bustling cities, and easy access to the local attractions for families and couples who camp here.

With its spectacular mix of beautiful countryside and historical cities, Italy has long been one of the top European holiday destinations. The excellent selection of campsites, usually located near the major cities, beautiful scenery and sights means that camping in Italy offers the best of both worlds - rural seclusion, close proximity to the bustling cities, and easy access to the local attractions for families and couples who camp here.

Deciding to take a camping holiday in Italy is the easy part - choosing between the many highlights of the country is the real challenge. The three main areas for camping in Italy are Tuscany, the Italian Lakes and the Adriatic Coast. Each offers its own unique break, and choosing a destination depends very much on what kind of holiday you want to have - profiled below are the highlights of these three potential choices for a camping holiday in Italy.

Tuscany

The rolling hills of Tuscany, dotted with vineyards and picturesque towns and villages, is one of the most memorable parts of Italy. Campsites are divided between the inland region, the excellent Mediterranean coastline and two of Italy's most impressive cities, Rome and Florence. This is the perfect choice for people who want to combine cultural tours in the cities as well as the natural beauty of the countryside. Gourmets will also find plenty to enjoy in Tuscany; the wine and cuisine is world renowned.

The Italian Lakes

The Italian Lakes is perhaps the most beautiful region in the country, a series of enormous inland lakes, framed by mountains in the north of Italy. Camping holidays here are especially popular with families looking to relax by the lakes or to enjoy the many watersports including sailing and windsurfing. Lake Maggiore, which extends all the way up to the Alps, is the place of choice for walkers and mountain lovers, while Lake Garda, located at the heart of the country, is the centre of watersports in Italy. If you'd like a taste of city life, chic Milan and romantic Verona are just a short distance away.

The Adriatic Coast

Home to perhaps the finest stretch of coastline in Italy, camping holidays in the Adriatic Coast are the perfect choice for holidaymakers who like their beach holidays. Lido de Jesolo is a lively and popular resort that has the best beaches in the area, and there is one other local highlight that simply can't be missed - Venice. This spectacular canal city is one of the classic sights of the world, and camping in Italy is the perfect way to visit it on a day trip while avoiding the expense of staying in the city itself.

A camping holiday in Italy can be ideal for city slickers and nature lovers, families keen to entertain their children and couples looking for a romantic holiday abroad. Whether you want to windsurf on Lake Garda, sip wine in the Tuscan countryside or wander through the winding streets of Venice, there will be a campsite in Italy that is perfectly suited to you.

Lorraine Waddell is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, one of the leading European camping and mobile home holiday operators in the UK. With over 40 years of experience, Canvas offer tailor made Italy camping holidays and holidays to France, Spain, Germany and many more sites across 9 European

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Family Camping List

By A. T. Lupton

Let's see, we've got the "to do list", that one that never seems to get done and we sure put a lot into that list, then there's the grocery shopping list and it's usually written within the "to do list". I suggest making a new list, the "Family Camping List". Now let's see what that list would include, how about fun, getting away from the hustle and bustle, spending quality time with the family, challenging ourselves, getting back to nature. I think we might just get this list taken care of. When you decide to go on a family camping trip you usually take stock of the camping gear that you have around the house so you don't have to buy too much in order to make it an enjoyable trip. Unless you're going to be on the cover of "Family Camping" I suggest bringing the basics to base camp.

Let's see, we've got the "to do list", that one that never seems to get done and we sure put a lot into that list, then there's the grocery shopping list and it's usually written within the "to do list". I suggest making a new list, the "Family Camping List". Now let's see what that list would include, how about fun, getting away from the hustle and bustle, spending quality time with the family, challenging ourselves, getting back to nature. I think we might just get this list taken care of. When you decide to go on a family camping trip you usually take stock of the camping gear that you have around the house so you don't have to buy too much in order to make it an enjoyable trip. Unless you're going to be on the cover of "Family Camping" I suggest bringing the basics to base camp.

Your list of essentials to bring for camping should be: a sturdy tent with a fly, sleeping bags for everybody and sleeping mats for the kids. Bring an air bed for mom and dad so they can be comfortable too. Flashlights with fresh batteries and even bring some in case somebody leaves theirs on by accident. If you want to bring a lantern make sure that mom or dad is the only one who operates it, you don't want little ones getting burned for their curiosity. If you decide to cookout check with the campground you are heading to, some encourage propane even though they will have charcoal pits available; propane is easy to control and burns cleaner. If you have to buy a little grill they don't cost that much and you'll be able to use it more than once. You'll also need a hammer to pound in your tent stakes and an air pump for your airbed.

To make proper list for family camping it matters where you are going and how long it will take to get there, typically its best to take younger children camping, teens are usually involved with sports but if its in the summer time they should really experience what its like to rough it and those that are college bound might think it's a little beneath them. If your trip is going to be over two hours long you'll want to make sure the kids are entertained so you don't hear those dreaded words, "Are we there yet!?" If you have a DVD player built into your car you've got it made. If you know where you're going for your destination you might be able to find a DVD of the upcoming attractions, that might help the passengers get excited and anticipation of arriving somewhere fun will occupy them for a while.

Make sure to check the weather where you are going, don't just head out into the wild blue yonder, you're not pioneers, you're campers. Dress for the weather too, if its says it's going to be cold, believe it, even though you'll be in a tent, it's a thin piece of fabric that separates you from the elements. If its summer and you sleep without PJ's, you'll need them on a camping trip for sure. If you have suitcases for everybody pack them per day, put one outfit on top of the other for the kids, it makes it easier to get them dressed so they can start their day. Bring tennis shoes for walking and a backpack to carry water and snacks, you'll need energy to keep going and keeping your kids active all day will ensure that 8:30pm bedtime you've been begging they cooperate with for a while now.

There are games to play while driving too. The kids can name different state license plates on cars and trucks; mom can keep records since dad is usually driving. You can pump your arms when you pass a semi-truck; it's always fun to hear the horn blast on an 18 wheeler, just let dad know that you're doing it. You can scan the channels on the radio, chances are you'll be leaving your zip code and its fun to see who can name the song first, this is usually a game mom and dad play, and the kids can keep score for each parent playing.

Once you arrive at camp don't expect your kids to help with the tent, let them play and run around and mingle with the other kids, you might find a dinner invitation from a 7 year is hard to turn down and you'll meet new people in the process. Bring a football or Frisbee to play with during the down times, with no television or cell phones or computers, and please don't bring your laptop, you have more time to bond with your family. If you want to tell stories about the place your in make them adventure stories, not ghost ones. I'm sure mom doesn't want to have a kid on her side hogging the covers while dad sleeps soundly without a care.

If you really need something you've forgotten when you get there see if you can live without it, camping is about challenging yourself to live without certain creature comforts for a few days. Just be sure to make a list of what you need to go camping with, not what you want. We used everything we brought but we forgot the hamburger patties so we had hot dogs twice, no problem, enjoying a meal outside is the best when everybody gets to help. I think you'll find that little ones are willing to help when mom and dad don't have any distractions to deal with. Camping can be a great family time too. Don't bring any board games that create competition, bring zip-lock baggies for collecting rocks and various things that you find in nature. You might even bring some books about nature so kids will have some application along with their information. Most of all, don't forget the ingredients for smores! You'll be the hit of the campout, its all my kids want to eat when we go camping.

Anne Lupton maintains Door-County-Camping.com, a great resource for information on camping in Door County, Wisconsin.

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Favorite Camping Recipes

Don’t be a slave to boy-scout treats and campfire favorites when you want to have more options for better tasting meals to eat on your outdoor vacations. You don’t have to. This is because you may not know it, but there all kinds of great recipes perfect for camping as well as for cooking outside. Depending on how much room you have for food items, how long your trip will be, and the portable cooking equipment available for you to use.

Don’t be a slave to boy-scout treats and campfire favorites when you want to have more options for better tasting meals to eat on your outdoor vacations. You don’t have to. This is because you may not know it, but there all kinds of great recipes perfect for camping as well as for cooking outside. Depending on how much room you have for food items, how long your trip will be, and the portable cooking equipment available for you to use.

The first recipe I will mention will be a breakfast recipe for your camp-outs. (I figured starting with breakfast would be appropriate.) Just like with your everyday life, when you are camping – your breakfast remains “the most important meal of the day.” One of my friends introduced me to the beauty of beer pancakes. A perfect decision for a camper’s morning meal, it is like a wonderful merlot with a delicious steak perfectly cooked to your taste. All you need to whip up these babies is a box of plain old pancake mix. There are a couple of mixes you can purchase that require little to no additional ingredients – just a little water. When you get a pancake mix which only requires moisture to turn powder into batter for cooking. “All ya gotta do,” he told me, “is put beer in the mix instead of water.” Tasty, light and fluffy. Not only are beer pancakes a great idea for camping – but the mix is simple to transport, it not affected by the temperature and the only other thing you need is a little bit of beer. Besides, you usually bring at least some beer along with you anyway, right?

Another breakfast food that is high in protein (just as pancakes are high in carbohydrates) is a boiled egg. These are also simple to make while you are camping. Of course, you will need an egg for this, but the only other thing you will need is a paper cup and a bit of water. Dig a ditch in the center of red coals from your fire. Place the egg in the cup and the cup in the hole. The water will actually boil without the paper burning.

"Foiled again," we always say. You can have meals cooked in foil for lunch and dinner without repeating yourself – even on a long trip. There really are a lot of recipes out there for cooking with basic camping equipment, using foil to aid the heat and the process of cooking without expensive equipment that is difficult to transport. One such recipe (and, as many recipes I will mention) is one of my personal favorites: fish fillets.

We caught some trout on a long, great day of fishing in the sun, and though we threw them all back in – cooking fish in foil is very simple. I had brought some salmon steaks in the cooler, and the first night decided it would be the best time to cook them, before the cooler was too warm. I took the salmon fillets, lightly coated with a mustard/dijon and mayonnaise mix. I wrapped them in foil and cooked them slowly over red hot coals. You want to watch them close so you can turn the fillets frequently. The salmon came out flaky and delicious.

The process will take thirty to forty minutes if you are using salmon steaks a thinner slice will take less time, of course, and the process will be (aside from that) exactly the same. I often check fish perhaps more frequently than I should – but it is easy to accidentally overcook them. You can also cook steaks the same way, or stew, cut into squares along with chunks of yummy vegetables and basted with gravy. You can cook more than hot dogs without a grill.

Let’s think about it a moment, in the same manner in which people pick out which kinds of fine wines go best with which kinds of foods. Ask ourselves, what is the very best, easiest, and tastiest kind of food to eat while camping? There are definitely more possibilities out there than you think. As a matter of fact, this article will only be able to cover a few of them. So check out more of my favorite recipes some of my other articles about camping cuisine!

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her articles on camping and lighting, please visit campinglanterns.net, supplier of high quality Solar Camping Lanterns and Camping Lanterns.

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How to choose a sleeping bag

Article by Joe Rivera

Determine the intended use of the tent before you make your purchase. For fair-weather camping, a well-strung tarp can serve as a shelter, and tarps are lighter and cheaper than tents.

Get a tent that doesn't require many stakes. Stakes are heavy, easy to lose and make it difficult to pitch the tent on hard or soft ground or on snow.

Look for a tent with a fly that closes completely and has a vestibule for storing packs and boots out of the rain.

Stick with the three-season variety of tent, which can handle moderate winter use, unless you plan extreme mountaineering or expedition use. Four-season tents, designed to handle extreme weather, are much heavier than their three-season cousins.

Find a big stuff sack for the tent so that you don't have to go to extreme lengths to cram it into the bag and potentially cause damage to the tent.

Buy the lightest tent that meets your needs and budget.

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