As an adventure and tent camper I say “ha!” to you. I've gone camping dozens of times without the need for an RV or even a trailer, and gas prices, while they may effect my everyday travel, certainly aren't going to bog down my vacation! Nor should they do so to you. Even now, in the surprisingly chilly spring of British Columbia, a tenting trip should never be out of the question.

Before you start calling me crazy, show a bit of backbone and at least read through these tips!

Camping Equipment

Tent:

A tent is, of course, the most crucial piece of equipment when one is going tenting. Hence the name. Now, the one thing you must never, ever, ever do when buying a tent is to even think about going to Wal-Mart. Okay, that was somewhat of a joke. What I mean, is never buy a cheap $25.99 tent at Wal-Mart or anywhere else. The tent that you choose should be made out of thick material, and it should be advertised as being a "3 season tent." Although there are such things as 4 season tents, these are generally very expensive and unnecessary except for winter camping and high-altitude hiking. A good place to buy tents, and many other camping supplies, is Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Sleeping Bag:

In case you're a complete urbanite, a sleeping bag is what you, err... sleep in, when tenting. You can pick these up for relatively low prices, but you'll regret it. Seriously, there's nothing worse than shivering in a thin sleeping bag that you couldn't zip up all the way because the zipper snapped the moment you touched it while your air mattress slowly deflates beneath you. Canadian Tire is a good place, at least in Canada, to pick up a medium-quality sleeping bag.

Mattress:

Ideally, a mattress should be highly portable, as well as comfortable, which would suggest that air mattresses are the best option. However, I do not recommend them. Unless you're willing to spend a long time blowing them up with lung power, which can be difficult if you have the two-person, double-thick ones that are the size of a real mattress, they require either an hand pump or an electric one that connects to your car battery. More importantly, I have never encountered an air mattress that didn't leak, to a greater or lesser degree. Strips of foam, which can be rolled up into a tight coil, are both cheaper and more comfortable, in the long run.

Tarp:

If there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that it's probably going to rain... at least a bit. This means that you'll need two tarps: One to put under your tent, and one, preferably gigantic, one that stretches over your campsite. Make sure to bring plenty of rope, and a few helpers, to set this one up. If you do it right, tying the corners to your car and any trees that happen to be handy, you can even cover your table and chairs. Don't, however, cover the fire pit, for obvious reasons.

Campfire Equipment:

Bring plenty of wood, a good-quality axe, and someone who knows how to handle said good-quality axe. You will probably end up going through a lot of wood a day to fight off the cold, so hunt around in the empty campsites for wood that people have left behind. In most campsites, it is not legal to burn anything that came out of the forest, even if it's lying on the ground.

Minor Equipment:

There's all sorts of little things that will make your tenting life easier... A Swiss army knife, a barbecue lighter (for starting fires), plenty of rope, a portable coffee maker, a propane lantern... these are only a few of the many items that can help you stay warm and comfortable... even if it starts to snow. Oh, and don't forget plenty of changes of warm clothes, and at least one rain jacket.

Entertainment:

Although I don't protest to hiking in the rain, sometimes it's just easier to sit back and relax with friends. Therefore, I tend not to listen to the "no electronics" rule that some people seem to have with their camping trips. Just make sure that, even if the weather is bad, you do something other than sit around the picnic table. Or it's hardly tenting at all...

Nintendo DS:

My trusty DS is a great addition to any long trip. First of all, since I tend not to be the one driving, it's a good way to pass the time on the way to the campsite. This is especially good if your friends also have one. Personally, I find that playing a bit of multiplayer Pokémon is a great way to pass the time during a brief cloudburst.

Board Games:

Well, if you like this sort of thing, it can be fun. There's a couple of board games that I find entertaining, but a lot of them are pretty boring. Just my opinion, of course.

Card Games:

Now we're getting somewhere! Both a traditional deck of cards and a few decks of Magic or other collectible card games can be a great source of entertainment, especially at night. Just keep that propane lantern running, and the campfire burning!

Conclusion:

Spring tenting trips in the wilderness of Canada, or anywhere else, are not as inaccessible as they seem. Anyone with a bit of adventurous spirit and a few friends to drag along can go. Also, one final note, alcohol might warm you up, but please, start the fire before you start drinking.

The first time I went, it was breathtaking, the panoramic view from the top, and looking down at every thing makes you realize how good those birds have it that they can see something of great magnificence from such a perspective. But it should not be surprising to that Pilot Mountain is home to some of the most wonderful creatures such as squirrels, quails, etc. It's a haven for any breathing thing.

However, besides sightseeing and bird watching, you can do a lot more on Pilot Mountain. Elevated at about 2,500 feet, it's ideal for rock climbing and hiking, as well as camping. It is a little chillier than ground level, but that can be to your advantage during the summer. If you are a parent, with teenagers, or even pre-teens, this is the perfect summer destination for you and your family. The hiking is my favorite, but I never really have to climb the rocks. Bummer! However, the best part of the whole experience is the time I got to spend with family and loved ones.

As you're sitting roasting chestnuts on an open fire, after Jack Frost nipped your nose so it's red like Rudolf's, have you ever wondered what Christmas is like for people at the opposite side of the globe? Have you considered that when Santa comes to the southern hemisphere it's summer? In fact he would already have been to New Zealand wearing his shorts and jandles (flip-flops). We're a day ahead of the rest of the world in terms of time. So when you in the northern hemisphere are having Christmas, it's Boxing Day here and we're sunning ourselves on the beach. On Christmas day, Santa would have had his work cut out trying to figure out how to find places like Hokitika, Paraparaumu, Papatoetoe, (pronounced Papa-too-ee-too-ee) Whakapapa (pronounced Fukapapa) Putaruru and Otorohanga.

And there'll not have been milk and cookies left for the old rotund one, because nobody will have been home. New Zealanders aka Kiwis will be found at campgrounds and baches (cabins) by the beach. In fact Santa has been known to arrive by jet boat or helicopter to deliver the kiddies their toys and lollies (candy). Christmas is the summer holiday season for Kiwis when they disappear for a three to four week break to the sea or the mountains. Their tents and caravans decorated with tinsel, will give a vague indication that it's Christmas time.

Christmas Food

Forget about roast turkey with Martha Stewart's special stuffing. No mate, steak on the barbie and plenty of salads, that's the way we do it. Some will treat themselves to cold chicken or turkey with a touch of sand to add to the texture if they're camping on the beach. As for dessert, no Kiwi Christmas is complete without Pavlova, a dessert made of fluffy baked meringue filled with whipped cream and topped with berries. The Aussies like to lay claim to its origins, named for Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova who danced in Australia a long time ago, but Kiwis are adamant that Pavlova originated in New Zealand. If you're not into Pavlova, there's always the old stodgy Christmas fruitcake pudding, a throwback from British colonial times. A sixpence coin used to be put in it for the lucky recipient to find in his/her serving.

The Kiwi Christmas Tree

New Zealand has a spectacular native Christmas tree that shows off bright red blossoms in December. The Maoris call it Pohutukawa. Legend has it that when the Pohutukawa blooms before Christmas, we're in for a long, hot summer. We don't do blizzards and snow in December - so as the saying goes, we have “no worries, mate.”

For the hikers we have boulders the size of office buildings at a park called Courthouse Rock in Stanton, or you can hike to Yahoo Falls, which is Kentucky's highest water fall, along the Big South Fork River near Whitley City. Or you can do a short 2 mile walk along the Kentucky River palisades or a 31 mile hike along Kentucky Lake's Trails. Just to name a few.

Many of Kentucky's most scenic areas loop through National Forests and Geologic Areas, most of the most scenic areas are in urban areas such as Bernheim Forest in Louisville or Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington. Kentucky has plenty to choose from. With its terrain which allows some of the best mountain biking, hiking, or hunting, from the rugged Appalachian Mountains and the Daniel Boone National Forest to trails at Mammoth Cave National Park and Land between the lakes.

Kentucky also has quite a few lakes. With great camping, boating, and fishing opportunities. We have Cumberland Lake, Buckhorn States resort park, and Carr's Creek Lake, just to name a few. Each offers a wide variety of activities for any family outing.

For the hunter there are plenty wildlife management areas that accommodate your hunting needs. There's the Daniel Boone National Forest as well as the Peabody Wildlife Management areas, along with 130 others. There is no shortage of hunting opportunities with seasons including deer, elk, and turkey along with small game.

Kentucky has also been featured on many hunting and other outdoor TV shows, including "Tournament Fishing".

For the music lovers the state has lots of music parks located in Eastern Kentucky with the states broad music heritage. Some of these attractions include the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum at Renfro Valley, As well and historic homes that are open to the public, (Loretta Lynn Home) as well as the Kentucky Artisan Center, the Jenny Wiley State Park and many more features too numerous to mention. Kentucky is native to many well know country and blue Grass singers such as John Michel Montgomery, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Scaggs and Montgomery Gentry among many others.

There is lots of resorts that offer accommodations. Here is a list of a few attraction to check out:

• US 23-Kentucky's Country Music Highway
• Berea
• Boone Tavern
• Kentucky Artisan Center
• Renfro Valley
• Kentucky Museum
• Jenny Wiley State Park and Theater
• Mountain Art Center
• Yates Ville Lake and Resort
• Historic Middlesboro
• Cumberland Gap National Park
• Pine Mountain State Resort Park
• Kentucky Coal Mining Museum
• Kingdom Come State Park
• Fort Boonesborough State Park

The list goes on and on...

Kentucky has lots of activities and plenty of historic places to visit. So the next time you plan a family outing think about Kentucky for your next vacation. Along with the view you'll leave with a memory that will last a life time.

In the morning we had breakfast at my aunt and uncles, and then got back on the road to head on our way through Vernon, we stopped in Revelstoke to change and have a quick stop, then we drove through Golden and into Banff National Park. Finally we drove across into Alberta, Canada, Lake Louise is just 15 to 20 minutes away once you’ve crossed over into Alberta. The entire drive was beautiful, as driving through the Rocky Mountains always is; trees and mountains everywhere as far as the eye can see, it is absolutely breath taking.

Once we arrived in Lake Louise we made a couple quick stops (seeing as the legal age drops a year to 18 as you cross into Alberta) and off we went to find our campsite. Be careful to check both sides of the highway for the campground before moving on to search for other places you think it might be, because the map that I had looked as if it were on the opposite side of the highway. If you have stopped in the small mall as you enter Lake Louise, all you need to do is head away from highway 1 to the next intersection and turn left and follow that road straight to the ranger booth at the end.

Now, you can make your reservation online, and for the 3 nights that we stayed at the campsite it cost us about $80, but since it is a national park when you show up you will need to pay a Park Stopping Fee, the amount of this fee will vary depending on how long you will be staying, but mine was another $80, so if you are thinking of going just assume that the Park Stopping Fee will be just another payment of whatever you paid for the campsite.

There are a lot of wild animals in this area since you are surrounded by a national park and therefore you will need to be careful with discarding remainders of meals and cooking water, but you can sleep soundly at this campsite not worrying about bears or any other animals, because the campground is surrounded by an electrified fence to keep the large animals out of the campsite.

When you are staying at the campsite I recommend taking a couple quick trips to see the glacial lakes in the area. The closest lakes to you are Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, which are just up the road a few kilometres. These are the most amazing lakes I have ever seen, the pristine mountains and trees surrounding these beautiful lakes are just amazing, it’s something you need to see for yourself, because pictures just won’t do it justice (but if you’d like to see a good picture of Lake Louis then check out my picture “Glorious Day”).

If camping is not the outing for you though, there is a Fairmount Hotel right on the bank of Lake Louise that is extremely pretty, and I would assume very extravagant, but I wouldn’t know for sure since I’m the camping type.

We traveled into Banff on our first day there to take a look around at hotels and little shops. Banff has a very similar look and feel to it as Whistler Village, if you’ve been to Whistler that is. The second day we went on an outing to Lake Louise, and on the third we took a trip out to Moraine Lake. All of which had their own distinct adventure, and were all quite fun outings. I would recommend this trip to anyone who likes the outdoors, or if your not the outdoorsy type then reserve a room at the Fairmount and have the view of a lifetime just out your window as you wake up each morning.

It truly was an amazing trip in all aspects, both me and my girlfriend loved it, I’m sure you would too. Safe travels.

So before you pack your bag and book your airline tickets, I have put together my top ten list of things to do on a 10 day trip!

1. Tour the Tulips of Table Cape

   

   This one is an absolute beauty, truly a photographer"s paradise. Table Cape is best viewed in the first week of October, and is located on the north coast, about 2 hours west of Devonport, on Bass Highway towards Stanley.
   Best of all you can look and take photos from the road side for free. The farms also have great display's, bulbs and souvenirs for sale to remember your experience.

2. Feed a Tassie Devil!

   

   Made famous by the Warner Bros cartoon character, these little guys have the world's strongest jaw! They devour absolutely everything when fed, flesh, skin, and bone - not a scrap left behind! Don't worry about them while your camping, they are only scavengers! Please only feed them under supervision at the many wildlife parks scattered around tassie! While they are friendly, one bite could break every bone in your hand! Get in and see them soon, as unfortunately there is a bad face tumor disease that is really wiping them out.

3. Walk with the Penguins in Stanley

   

   Many places around Australia make you pay to see the Fairy Penguins come up from the beach. In Stanley you can see them for free! You can find them just down on the beach in front of the graveyard. They come out of the surf about 15 to 45 minutes after sunset. I even had one walk between my feet when I was there!
   Stanley is about 4 hours west of Devonport on the Bass Highway. Please don't touch, disturb or shine your bright torch lights on these birds, as they just want to come home and go to bed!

4. Drive the Western Explorer!

   

   This little known, but spectacular drive, traverses the windswept plains and valleys from Murrawah in the North, to Corinna in the South. Enjoy the spectacular views across the north west wilderness area and the appropriately named, savage river national park. It is a great days drive from Stanley, and there is accommodation and camping available in Corinna. Suitable for 2 wheel drives in good weather.

5. Discover the Southern Caves

   

   Well worth a day trip out from Hobart, are the Hastings Caves There are over 50 spectacular limestone caves in the area, all of them still very much alive and growing.
   The caves are managed by Parks Tasmania, and there is a small charge to go on a tour. You can get to them via Hastings Caves Road, off the A6, Huon Valley Highway.
   Enjoy your journey through the Huon, and take time to stop at all the craft, local fruit and vege and wood working shops on the way. The lush spectacular local scenery is not to be missed. Just out of Geeverston, you may like to visit their latest tourist attraction, the Tahune Air walk. This attraction boasts a 600m walk up to 50 meters above the forest and river below. This is a great way to enjoy the splendor of the majestic Huon Pine forests.

6. Tramp around the Majestic Dove Lake

   

   Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park, deserves the title of Tasmania's most popular tourist attraction. The ancient cold climate Huon rain forests have you looking for elves and fairies around every tree trunk. You may not see those elusive creatures, but you will find the park bursting with life! Wallaby's, echidna and wombats galore are everywhere. A 3 hour walk around the mysterious Dove Lake is not to be missed.

7. Walk with the Wombats in Cradle Mountain

   

   Included with your Parks Tasmania entry fee, are nightly wombat walks in the Cradle Mountain. Starting on the board walk, just down from the cradle mountain car park, you'll see dozens of the creatures out foraging, digging new burrows or out guarding their territory. Contact Parks Tasmania for more information, and don't forget to rug up. Wombat's enjoy a funny sort of weather!

8. Climb to Wineglass Bay

   

   Arguably, the most scenic beach in the world, it is only accessible after a 1.5 hour climb over a hill from the closest car park. Trust me, it is worth every step! The fine yellow white sand, granite boulders rocks, sky blue waters and rugged mountain back drop makes this place very special. Only the dedicated walkers reach this spot, so you don't have to worry about the crowds spoiling your photo. The only people you do see a lot of are the photographers with large format cameras, out to soak up every lumen of this place's beauty.
   You can get to Wineglass bay, via Coles Bay Road, off the Tasman Highway (A3). It is about 4 hours north of Hobart. Beware during the summer months the park can get closed due to bush fires, so contact Parks Tasmania for more information.

9. Smell the Lavender Fields of Scottsdale.

   

   The sweet smell of lavender puts a spring in your step, and a smile on your face. The lavender fields of Scottsdale are an awesome sight in full bloom, and are at their peak around January. Unfortunately, this does not line up with the tulip peak, so if you want to see these fields in full bloom, you may need to make a second trip. Take your time traveling around the farms, they nearly all have shop fronts, where you can buy lavender products, souvenirs and have a coffee or lunch all year round.

10. Laugh at the Launceston town monkeys

    

    Free council run zoos are very much a rarity in modern Australia, so this is delightful find. You can find these amusing creatures, right in the heart of Launceston's “City Park”, only a short stroll from the main shopping precinct.
    There are about 20 Japanese monkeys that are kept in the enclosure, which is open from 9am to 5pm each day. It makes a great place to have lunch, or to bring the kids

Pack Your Bags and Visit!

So, I hope I have inspired you to pack your bags and board a ferry / plane to come and visit the most beautiful isle in the world. Whilst these are only my top ten, there are so many more highlights that you should experience, including:

• The snowy top of Mt Wellington, Hobart.
• The Cadbury chocolate factory, Hobart
• Lake St Clair
• The chairlift and "Nut" at Stanley
• The blowhole and penguins of Bicheno
• The super cheap cheese factory at Burnie
• The flowery beaches of Swansea (see the picture on the right)
• The beautiful farmland, craft stores and murals of Sheffield
• The rugged beauty of the south west wilderness

Enjoy!

For example, I have located a super vacation destination which I had little idea existed. It is demonstrative of the new trend in vacation destinations which are rapidly overtaking time share resorts as the inexpensive getaway resorts. In fact, these new resorts offer amenities every member of your family will find attractive. These resorts are so up and coming many travel industry pros feel they are ready to compete with major hotel chains for reservations of future guests.

These new resorts are actually campgrounds but not the traditional type so you can forget the tent. These are luxury camping resorts which feature all the comforts of home so there is no roughing it. In fact, with these trendy new sites there is little need for anything except perhaps your swim suits. Many of these are even located in exotic destinations such as this one near Barcelona Spain.

Paramount Places has created an ultimate family holiday package which every member of your family will enjoy. What is more important is the community style living arrangements in mobile home units which sleep six comfortably. Plus, this particular location offers perfect summertime weather practically all year round.

Conveniently located near Barcelona Spain, this adventure also features the opportunity and potential for experiential learning as well as fun and leisure. Other amenities include a gymnasium, sauna, and fitness programs such as aqua aerobics, aerobics classes daily, an indoor swimming pool, two full size outdoor swimming pools and volley ball courts, tennis, etc. There is also a Championship 18 hole golf course nearby, a Hacienda style restaurant overlooking the pool area. There is nightly entertainment both young and old will enjoy.

Finally, there is a botanical garden and a mini petting zoo for the kids. Plus a full market for shopping so you can stock your self catering unit. But, not to worry, your short or long term rental will be completely stocked with all the necessities including appliances, pots and pans, and linens.

So there is no reason for you to stay home during the holidays whether it is in season or out you can hop on over to fun at Paramount Places to book your reservations. And don't forget to bring your camera. You will want to remember this trip forever. Explore Barcelona Spain while you are there, it is a lovely historic learning experience you are certain to enjoy.