The Algarve is southern Portugal’s coastline of orange cliffs, hidden coves, and family campgrounds that have been catering to European families for decades. It’s warmer than anywhere else in mainland Europe outside of Greece, gentler than the Mediterranean’s busier coasts, and significantly cheaper than France or Italy. For a first beach-camping trip with kids — or a sun-and-swimming reset between more ambitious adventures — it’s hard to beat.

When to go

April through June, then September and October. July and August get hot (30-35°C) and packed with European holidaymakers — prices double, campgrounds book out months ahead. May has spring wildflowers and 25°C seas; September is still summer-warm with school back in session and coastlines back to themselves. Winter (November-March) is mild (15-18°C) but most beach campgrounds close — apartment rentals only.

Where to start

Tavira and the eastern Algarve

The quiet, less-developed end. Tavira town is built around a Roman bridge over the Gilão river, with a ferry to barrier-island beaches (Ilha de Tavira, Ilha de Cabanas) — 20 minutes across calm water and you’re on white sand with no road access. Camping Ria Formosa is the main family campground in the area; book ahead in shoulder season too.

Lagos and the Ponta da Piedade cliffs

Western Algarve’s headline scenery. Rent a kayak and paddle through sea caves the cliffs are honeycombed with — kid-safe in calm morning water, otherworldly. Walk the Ponta da Piedade boardwalk along the cliff tops at sunset. Stay at Camping Turiscampo (one of the best-rated family campgrounds on the coast).

Sagres and the wild west coast

Where the cliffs face the Atlantic and the surfers come. Calmer beaches like Praia do Martinhal are kid-friendly; the bigger surf at Praia do Beliche is for older kids and bodyboards. Sagres Fortress at the southwestern tip of Europe is an atmospheric afternoon and a free attraction.

Family-friendly tips

• Book campgrounds 4-6 months ahead even for shoulder season — the good ones (Turiscampo, Olhão, Ria Formosa) sell out.
• Atlantic-facing beaches are colder than the south coast — kids may swim more on Algarve south beaches than at Sagres.
• Rent a car. Public transport between coastal towns is poor; the cliff-top scenery requires backroads.
• Eat sardines grilled at the beach restaurants (€12-15/plate), not at the tourist places on the main strips.
• UV is brutal year-round — even in May. UV-protective shirts, sun hats, and proper sunscreen pay off in dodged sunburn drama.

Practical info

Getting there: Faro airport (FAO) is the only major one — 30-60 min from most beach towns. Direct from much of Europe. Cost: family pitch with electric ≈ €30-50/night, supermarket-cooked meals + one beach restaurant lunch ≈ €40-60/day, rental car (small) ≈ €25-40/day. Algarve is one of Europe’s best-value family destinations. Wifi note: most campgrounds have it but it’s slow — bring downloads, count it as forced family time. Don’t miss: the Benagil Sea Cave (paddle in by kayak from Praia da Marinha — best at low tide, early morning before tour boats arrive).

Chamonix sits at the foot of Mont Blanc — Western Europe’s highest peak — and is the closest most families will get to genuine high-alpine scenery without needing crampons. Cable cars do most of the elevation work. The valley itself has flat walks, swimming lakes, and a town built for outdoor tourism (read: gear shops, gelato, English everywhere). Around it, a half-dozen day-hike valleys give you weeks of family terrain without ever needing to summit anything.

When to go

Mid-June through mid-September for hiking. Lifts open progressively as snow melts on upper trails — by July most cable cars run. August is warm and crowded; June and September are cooler and quieter. Winter is for skiing, which is a different (and excellent) family trip but a separate planning exercise.

Where to start

Aiguille du Midi cable car

The ride goes from Chamonix town (1,035m) to a viewing platform at 3,842m in 20 minutes. Step out into snow in July. Look across at the Mont Blanc summit. The ‘Step into the Void’ glass cube is an optional thrill for older kids. Note: real altitude — bring layers, watch younger kids for headaches, don’t push it if anyone feels unwell.

Lac Blanc (older kids, half-day)

Take the Flégère cable car up, then a 90-minute traverse to Lac Blanc — an alpine lake at 2,352m with the Mont Blanc massif reflected in it. Some metal ladder sections near the top (safe, exciting for ages 8+). The mountain hut at the lake serves lunch. Iconic photo, real achievement, no actual mountain skills needed.

Annecy day trip (rest day)

An hour from Chamonix, Lac d’Annecy is a turquoise lake the kids can swim in, with a flat 40km bike path circling it (rent at the lakeside; do an out-and-back you can manage). Medieval old town for ice cream after. The mid-week alpine reset that keeps the trip from becoming a march.

Family-friendly tips

• Buy the Mont Blanc MultiPass for cable cars — pays for itself in 2-3 lift rides and works on most regional lifts.
• The Mer de Glace train (Train du Montenvers) takes you to the glacier — a kid-magnet alternative to a steep hike.
• Stay in Argentière or Les Houches rather than Chamonix town if you want quieter evenings; both are 10 minutes by free shuttle.
• Afternoons can thunderstorm — start hikes early (7-8am), be off ridges by 1pm.
• Bring real hiking shoes, not sneakers. French alpine paths are rockier than the Dolomites.

Practical info

Getting there: Geneva airport (GVA) is 1hr from Chamonix by shuttle bus or rental car. Cost: family apartment ≈ €120-200/night, MultiPass ≈ €60-80/adult/day, mountain hut lunch ≈ €18-25/person. The Alps aren’t cheap, but cable cars do a lot of the work. Don’t: try to summit anything serious as a family — that’s a guided expedition, not a holiday. The accessible viewpoints give you the views without the risks. Languages: French primary, English widespread in Chamonix town.

Croatia has 1,200+ islands strung along a clear Adriatic coast that stays warm into October. The version of this trip you’ve seen on Instagram (yacht charters, infinity pools) is one option. The version that actually works for most families is cheaper and arguably better: ferry-hopping between islands, mixing beach campgrounds with apartment rentals, and breaking the coast trip with a couple of days at the Plitvice Lakes inland. Family-doable, weather-reliable, food-honest.

When to go

Late May through June, then September into early October. July and August are hot, very crowded, and expensive — Croatia gets the German and Austrian holiday traffic and prices double. Mid-September is the sweet spot: water still 22-24°C, tourist crowds gone, restaurants and campgrounds still fully open. October is hit-or-miss for weather but unbeatable for prices.

Where to start

Plitvice Lakes National Park (start here)

Sixteen lakes connected by 90+ waterfalls, with wooden boardwalks running across and between them. The full circuit is 4-6 hours; shorter loops work for younger kids. Go at opening (8am) to beat the tour buses, take the boat across Lake Kozjak as a built-in rest. Stay one night in Mukinje village so you can be there at dawn.

Hvar Island

The island that gets the magazine coverage, but the family side is still relaxed: Stari Grad (the older town, less party than Hvar Town) has small pebble beaches, ferries to nearby islets with snorkeling, and lavender fields you can walk through in June. Ages 6+ can take a day-sailing trip with skipper for ≈€80/person — cheaper than a private charter.

Korčula Island

Quieter than Hvar, with a walled medieval town and the best swimming beaches on the south coast (Pupnatska Luka, Vela Pržina). Easy ferry connections from Split. Stay 3-4 nights, rent kayaks, eat at konobas (family-run taverns) where dinner runs €40-60 for a family of four.

Family-friendly tips

• Pack reef-safe water shoes — pebble beaches are gorgeous but unforgiving on bare feet.
• Most ferries are car-and-passenger. Foot-passenger fares are cheap; car ferries fill up in summer (book ahead).
• Tap water is safe everywhere. Croatia’s wines and house olive oil are also excellent — and cheap.
• Sun is intense. UV index in July hits 10-11. Hat, long-sleeve rash guard, real sunscreen, no exceptions.
• Konoba > restaurant. The family-run taverns in fishing villages serve better food than the tourist-strip places — and at half the price.

Practical info

Getting there: Split airport (SPU) is the hub for the central Dalmatian coast; Dubrovnik (DBV) for the south. Cost: apartment rental on Hvar shoulder season ≈ €80-130/night, ferry tickets ≈ €5-15/person/leg, dinner at a konoba ≈ €15-25/person. Itinerary: 2 nights Plitvice → 4 nights Split (with day trips) → 4 nights Hvar or Korčula = solid 10-day trip. Bring: snorkel masks for kids — the underwater visibility is dramatic and they’ll spend hours in the water.

Iceland’s Ring Road (Route 1) is a 1,332-km loop around the entire island that hits most of the headline scenery: glaciers, geysers, black-sand beaches, fjords, and waterfalls you can walk behind. It’s drivable in a week with kids if you’re willing to skip some of the north, or split into a south-only loop in 5 days. The driving is straightforward, distances are real, and the payoff is the kind of landscape that makes kids stop scrolling.

When to go

Mid-June through August for the easiest family conditions: 24-hour daylight, all roads open, mildest weather. September brings shoulder-season prices and the first chance of Northern Lights but also weather that can turn fast. Winter (October–March) is genuinely difficult with kids — short daylight, icy roads, gear-heavy — leave that trip for when they’re older.

Where to start

Golden Circle (Day 1, easy intro)

Þingvellir National Park (walk between two tectonic plates), Geysir (Strokkur erupts every 8 minutes — kids count down each one), Gullfoss (a two-tiered waterfall you can stand near). All within an easy day from Reykjavik with an early start. Solid foundation before heading east.

South Coast — Seljalandsfoss to Vík

Seljalandsfoss is the waterfall you walk behind (bring rain gear). 30 minutes further, Skógafoss is bigger and you can climb stairs to the top. Reynisfjara black sand beach has basalt columns and dramatic surf — but read the warning signs and stay well back from the water. Sneaker waves are real and have killed tourists.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Where the Vatnajökull glacier calves icebergs into a lagoon that drifts to a black-sand beach (“Diamond Beach”). Take the amphibious-vehicle tour for kids — they’ll remember it for years. About 5 hours from Reykjavik; worth the drive even if it’s the only thing east of the south coast you do.

Family-friendly tips

• Rent a 4×4 or larger AWD car even in summer — F-roads are off-limits to small cars and crosswinds will scare you in a compact.
• Book everything ahead. Iceland in summer is fully booked — guesthouses, campgrounds, even gas station hot dogs are crowded.
• Camping is cheap and equalizing. A campervan rental ≈ €120-200/day all-in (vs. €150-300/night for guesthouses) and you skip booking accommodation each leg.
• The cinnamon buns at every gas station are the unofficial trip currency. Use them as walking-rewards.
• Don’t underestimate distances — the south coast alone is 250km from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón one-way. Plan stops.

Practical info

Getting there: Keflavík (KEF) is the main airport, 50 min from Reykjavik. Direct flights from many US cities and most of Europe. Cost: Iceland is expensive — budget €250-400/day for a family of four with car, food, and one paid attraction per day. Cooking your own breakfast and lunch saves a lot. Safety: always check road.is and vedur.is (weather) before driving each morning. Conditions change. Pack: proper waterproofs and warm layers even in July — Iceland can be 8°C and raining sideways.

Slovenia is the country other Europeans secretly love and don’t tell anyone about. Half the size of Switzerland, twice as friendly, with prices that haven’t caught up to its quality. Triglav National Park covers most of the Slovenian Alps, and Lake Bled — yes, that island church on a turquoise lake you’ve seen on Instagram — sits right on its edge. Family-friendly outdoor adventure with espresso and ice cream around every corner.

When to go

June through early October. July and August are warm enough for swimming in lakes (yes, even alpine ones — Lake Bohinj hits 22°C). September is harvest, fewer crowds, perfect light. Avoid Lake Bled in the first two weeks of August — it’s beautiful but mobbed. Most attractions stay open through October with cooler weather and far fewer day-trippers.

Where to start

Lake Bled — the famous one

Take the pletna (traditional gondola-rowed boat) to the island church. Walk the 6km lakeside path — flat, paved, stroller-friendly, and there’s an ice cream stand every kilometer. Climb to Bled Castle for the view (steep but short, about 25 min). Eat kremšnita — the cream cake Bled invented and won’t shut up about. Worth the hype.

Vintgar Gorge

1.6km of wooden boardwalks attached to the side of a narrow river canyon, ending at a waterfall. Easy enough for kids who can walk independently, dramatic enough that older kids and parents are equally entertained. Buy entry tickets online in advance during summer — they cap daily numbers and it sells out. Allow 2 hours including the walk back.

Lake Bohinj (the local one)

30 minutes from Bled and a different universe — bigger, quieter, deeper, surrounded by Triglav peaks. Swim, kayak, rent paddle boards, or do the Savica Waterfall hike (45 min uphill, well-stepped, big payoff). The cable car up Vogel gives you alpine pasture views that kids talk about for months.

Family-friendly tips

• Slovenia is small. Base near Bled or Bohinj for a week and day-trip everywhere — no need to move.
• Tap water is excellent everywhere. Refill bottles, skip the plastic.
• Slovenes speak excellent English. Italian and German also widely understood.
• Buy a single ‘Julian Alps Card’ (Bled tourist info offices) — covers transport, attractions, parking, often with kids’ discounts.
• Don’t drive into Lake Bled town in summer — park at Lesce-Bled train station, take the bus or rent bikes for the 8km cycle path.

Practical info

Getting there: Fly into Ljubljana (LJU) — Bled is a 40-min bus or train ride. Direct buses also run from Trieste, Venice, and Vienna. Cost: apartment with kitchen near Bled ≈ €90-140/night, dinner out ≈ €15-25/person, attractions €5-15. Stretches a budget further than Italy or Austria. Bonus: a 90-minute drive south takes you to Postojna Cave (electric train into a giant karst cavern) — the all-weather backup if a hiking day rains out.

The Dolomites are the European Alps with better food. Pale, jagged peaks rise straight out of green meadows, and the campgrounds at the base — most run by Italian families for generations — are wildly more comfortable than “camping” usually suggests. Heated bathrooms, restaurant on site, playground, swimming pool. This is the gateway trip if you’re nervous about real mountain camping with kids.

When to go

Mid-June through mid-September. Snow lingers on high passes until late June. July and August are warm enough at altitude (1,200–1,800m) for tent camping, with cool nights — bring real sleeping bags. September is the photographer’s month — clearer light, golden larches, and most campgrounds still open. Ferragosto (Italian holiday week, mid-August) books out a year in advance.

Where to start

Caravan Park Sexten (South Tyrol)

Often rated Europe’s best campground, and not without reason — heated bathrooms, sauna, on-site ski-style restaurant, and trails leaving directly from the gate into the Tre Cime di Lavaredo massif. Pricey for a campground (€60–90/night for a family pitch in summer) but you can ditch the car for a week.

Camping Olympia (Toblach/Dobbiaco)

Lower-key sister option further down the valley. Cheaper, slightly older facilities, but the 5-minute walk to the Toblacher See lake (paddle boats, small beach) sells it for kids under 10. Bike rental on site — the Pustertal cycle path runs flat all the way to Brunico.

Cinque Torri area (Cortina)

If you want fewer crowds, base near Cortina d’Ampezzo and use the chairlifts. The Cinque Torri loop is a 90-minute walk on a wide, almost-flat trail past WWI trench reconstructions kids find fascinating. Refuges along the way serve €12 plates of homemade pasta.

Family-friendly tips

• Refuges (rifugi) are restaurants with beds, not survival huts. Lunch at one mid-hike — the food is the reward.
• Italian campgrounds book early — start in February for July dates. Reserve the pitch type (with or without electric hookup) explicitly.
• Altitude matters. Sleep below 1,800m for the first night to avoid headaches in young kids.
• Pack rain gear even in the forecast says sun — afternoon thunderstorms are a feature, not a bug.
• Train to Bolzano + bus combos work well — driving the Sella Ronda passes is gorgeous but stressful with kids car-sick.

Practical info

Getting there: Closest airports are Venice Marco Polo (~3hr drive) or Innsbruck (~2hr). Cost: family pitch + 2 refuge lunches + groceries ≈ €130-180/day. Don’t miss: the Lago di Braies sunrise — go early (6am) before the tour buses arrive. The classic photo lake without the Instagram crowd. Language: South Tyrol is bilingual German + Italian; English is widespread.

Norway’s fjords look intimidating in photos — sheer cliffs dropping into deep water, rope bridges over thousand-meter drops. The reality with kids is friendlier than you’d think. Most of the iconic viewpoints have ferry-and-walk approaches that work for families. The trick is choosing the right fjord, the right month, and accepting that two short hikes beat one ambitious one.

When to go

Late May through mid-September. June and early July give you the longest daylight (the sun barely sets in the north) and waterfalls at full flow from snowmelt. August is warmest but busiest. September brings cooler air, fewer crowds, and the first hints of autumn color — great for older kids, trickier for toddlers if rain rolls in.

Where to start

Geirangerfjord — Skageflå Farm

The most family-doable of the famous viewpoints. Take the ferry from Geiranger across the fjord, then a 90-minute uphill walk to an abandoned mountain farm with a view that looks like a Disney rendering. Trail is well-marked, no exposure. Ages 6+ comfortably; younger kids can do the first 20 minutes for the photo and turn back.

Nærøyfjord — Flåm to Aurland boat

A UNESCO-listed fjord arm narrow enough that the cliffs feel close. Skip the hike entirely with the 2-hour electric boat (silent, magic for kids). Combine with the Flåm Railway for a half-day that doesn’t require any walking — perfect for the rest day in a longer trip.

Lofoten Islands — Reinebringen (older kids only)

Further north, in the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten islands have stupid-good views from trails that are now properly stepped. Reinebringen has 1,600 stone steps to a postcard viewpoint over Reine village. Steep but graded; suitable for kids 10+ with patience.

Family-friendly tips

• Layer like a Norwegian — “there’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.” Quick-dry pants, fleece, rain shell, beanie. Even in July.
• Public transport is a superpower. Train + ferry combos eliminate driving stress on twisty roads.
• Hytter (small wooden cabins) at most campgrounds beat tents for families with small kids — heat and a real bed for ~€60-90/night.
• Buy snacks at Rema 1000 or Kiwi grocery stores. Restaurant prices will hurt — pack lunches.
• DNT (Norwegian Trekking Association) huts are not your first family trip. Save those for when kids are confident hikers.

Practical info

Getting there: Fly into Bergen for the western fjords (Geirangerfjord, Nærøyfjord), Tromsø for Lofoten. Daily cost: €120-200/family for a campground hytte + groceries + one ferry. Safety: trails near cliff edges have surprisingly little fencing; brief kids before you start and stay close at viewpoints. Kid-tested: Geirangerfjord’s fjord-cruise + Skageflå combo is the easiest way to get the iconic Norway experience without anyone crying.

Going camping in the spring season has its benefits as the weather tends to generally stay calm and the blooming of flowers makes for a delightful view.

Also, during these transitional months, there are loads of activities to participate in that would make your camping experience even better. Whatever it is you choose to do, just make sure you are prepared for whatever may come your way and remember to have fun.

Other intriguing things about camping in the springtime are witnessing the birds and ducks making their way back from winter migration, an opportunity to hunt, not to mention that hiking is a lot easier than it might be in the summer or winter because there is less fear of frostbite or heat stroke.

With the exception of the winter season, campers can also enjoy a barbecue outside which can consists of any number of meals such as hot dogs and burgers.

As always, every season has its peculiar benefits and drawbacks but overall, the experience of being in the great outdoors camping is an adventure which millions of people crave and seek each year. This is why camping is rapidly growing throughout the world as both an individual and family experience.

Firstly, not only are kids out of school for a couple of months with nothing to do, but the weather is also exceptional for camping. You can participate in a lot of different activities during summer as the weather allows you to do whatever pleases you. Whether it is playing golf or tennis, whether it is hiking or swimming, the summer months are the absolute best time to get outdoors and do these activities while camping.

Another advantage of camping in summer is the longer days. As the tilt of the earth brings more hours of sunshine during summer so are the days longer.

With the days being longer comes the benefit of being able to fit more in a day. So you can spend more time enjoying the different daytime activities.

With a clear summer night, there is nothing much better than spending time outdoors under the stars. Sitting around a campfire with your family, telling stories, snacking and enjoying the views will create long-lasting memories that your children will cherish.

Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks when camping in summer.

One of the frustrating drawbacks is the unavailability of sites. During summer, spots in campsites and campgrounds are noticeably harder to be reserved which means that booking before leaving is vital to your overall camping experience.

Another drawback of summer camping is the heat you will be exposed to inside a tent. If you were to step into a tent during the day in summer, it could be over 100 degrees. This makes it impossible for you to stay in for more than a few minutes.

When considering going camping in summer, it is important that you physically prepare yourself for summer camping. Constant exposure to the sun often leads to heatstroke, sunburn, and even severe dehydration. This means that staying hydrated by drinking plenty water is essential, alongside protecting yourself from the heat with the use of sunscreen.

As an important rule:

Remember the 3 S’s

Slip, Slop, Slap

• Slip- Slip on a t-shirt. Remember to cover up during the times of 11 am and 2 pm as these are the times when the sun is at its strongest.
• Slop- Slop on some sunscreen. Make sure you apply sunscreen to any exposed areas of your body to avoid being sunburnt. Getting burnt by the sun is one of the easier ways to develop melanoma skin cancer. So, make sure you apply sunscreen before stepping out in the sun.
• Slap- Slap on a hat. Always wear a hat to protect your head from the sun

Another piece of advice to consider is taking insect repellent along with you. Insect repellent should be a part of your camping supplies as spending time outdoors means exposure to nature’s pests, particularly mosquitoes.

Here are some additional tips to make for a better summer camping experience.

• Bring lots of water to stay hydrated
• Try to avoid hiking and being overly active during extremely hot temperatures
• Stay in the shade if possible and don’t expose yourself to the sun for too long.

A good number of people still enjoy going camping when the weather is atrocious in the winter because of the added excitement of having to brave the harsh winter weather. It becomes a so-called “adrenaline rush” to be out in the wilderness when the weather is wild. Camping in the Winter is also called “Extreme Camping” and has grown in popularity over the years, as people seek out more and more inventive ways to fulfill their adventurous desires and their urge to live life on the edge.

If you do decide to go camping during the cold winter months, here are a couple of ideas that might make those long, cold nights under the stars more bearable.

The first thing you should do is linked to the second thing, which is to buy a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag. I listed the pad first because no matter what awesome sleeping bag you might buy, you’re not going to be warm after the temperature drops below thirty since the ground will suck the warmth right out of you.

Even the greatest of sleeping bags need loft (the space inside the bag that holds in your heat, aided by the use of various insulation materials), and when the bag is being squashed beneath you, there is nothing to retain your hard-earned warmth.

The sleeping pad should be the number one concern of cold-weather campers!

Luckily, there are a couple of types to choose from. The first is the closed-cell kind made of foam, which can be rolled up or folded into a rectangle, depending on the style. You should carry one of these whenever you go hiking or camping, because not only do they do a great job insulating you, they also have a variety of uses in backcountry emergencies.

The other type of sleeping pad is the inflatable pad. This kind of sleeping pad is more comfortable than the foam even though it can easily get punctured and be rendered completely useless. Most likely this will happen the afternoon preceding the coldest night of your trip. That is why you can’t afford to forget your repair kit or duct tape.

Your sleeping bag will reflect your budget’s limitations, but usually, you can buy yourself something that will work well enough, as long as you don’t get too ambitious with the projected temperatures of your camping trip. What to look for in a sleeping bag will be explained in more details in a subsequent chapter, so stay tuned. For now, I’ll assume you’ve gotten something that will do a reasonable job in keeping you warm.

A lot of people make the mistake of not changing their clothing before they crawl into their icy sleeping bags. I don’t just mean shirts and pants, but underwear and socks as well. It all has to be totally new, or else you’ll find yourself shivering miserably well before sunrise. During the day, you sweat whether you realize it or not, and this moisture will rob you of your body heat as the night goes on. You should also remember that your temperature falls slightly with sleep.

Keep a separate change of clothing for sleepwear and allow it to dry out the following day so that it’s completely dry for the next night of camping. Avoid cotton if possible!

If dry clothing, a decent sleeping bag, and a sleeping pad don’t do the trick, then it’s time to move on to other options. When you are camping in temperatures around the mid-20s, a good tip would be to boil some water right before you go to bed and make some hot chocolate in your thermos. That way, if you wake up cold, you would have a ready-made hot drink to sip, which would warm you right up and help you get back to sleep. The sugar will do its part as well, and if you just don’t feel like boiling water, you should remember to bring some hard candies and eat one whenever you start getting cold. It’s amazing what a little sugar can do!

When everything else fails, you should heat up water and pour it into a sturdy water bottle.

Don’t use the flimsy plastic type of water bottle, as this will hurt a lot when the plastic melts! You should put your good water bottle into a wool sock and lay it next to your neck, or on your stomach. The heat can last for hours.

Something to remember when trying to stay warm on a cold night is that if you need to go to the bathroom, go! It will warm you up, since your body is expending a lot of energy to keep urine warm, so no matter how little you want to get out of your sleeping bag into the biting air, just do it and get it over with. You’ll ultimately be more comfortable. It follows that if you’re going to have a warm drink, consume it an hour before you intend to go to bed. You’ll decrease the chances of making a midnight visit to the outhouse.

If things get really bad, and you feel like you’ll never get warm, it’s time to get drastic. I usually slog around with a fleece blanket and a silk sleeping bag liner to boost my sleeping bag’s temperature rating. These serve two purposes. The first, and most obvious, is to provide more insulation to my sleeping bag, but I drape my sleeping bag with the fleece rather than having it inside with me. The reason for this is the same reason that you shouldn’t try to go to sleep wearing every bit of clothing you brought with you. The more bulk you try to stuff into the bag, the more compressed the sleeping bag insulation will get and the less effective it will be in keeping you warm. Also, do wear a hat as you lose a lot of heat through your head.

Now to the benefits of camping in winter, one of the main advantages of camping in winter is the beautiful scenery. If you go camping in the mountains during winter, one of the highlights is the serenity of the snow capped mountains and the quality photographs that come with it. Some of the most amazing scenic shots are during winter so be sure to take a lot of photos and wear your best smile!

Another benefit of camping in winter is that there is less wildlife on the prowl and you should be safe when out in the wilderness. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to be careful though; you should always remain cautious. The main thing you don’t have to worry too much about is seeing bears and the likes as the bigger animals like to stay in hibernation during the colder months.

Lastly, a significant benefit of camping in the winter months is being able to book campgrounds without worrying too much about large crowds as is the case in warmer seasons.

Winter sports are also appealing as one can participate in fun activities including skating, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, tubing, and more.

Just like summer camping, winter camping requires a good amount of preparation. Here are some tips to help make your winter camping experience a safe one.

• Bring lots of water to stay hydrated. Dehydration is still possible in winter just as it is in the summer. It’s a good habit to drink water even when you are not thirsty.
• Bring a good amount of clothes to stay warm and avoid frostbite. Rain gear is also a good idea for rainy conditions.
• Maintain a good diet and make sure to consider proper nutrition including complex carbohydrates to help you stay warm.