Camping in Seaside, Oregon: Roughing it in the Great Outdoors

Camping is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors. If you are new to camping, the first thing you should do is become familiar with the basic camping gear that you will need. One way is to go camping with a seasoned camper. You can quickly learn from them. Basically, you need a shelter, which could be a tent, cabin, or RV, and you need a bed, which could be a combination of sleeping bags and pads, cots, air mattresses, and comforters, and you need to eat, which may or may not require cooking utensils. First-time campers usually start out as tent campers, who are also referred to as car campers because they carry all their campground needs in their car (rather than an RV). Your first tent need not be expensive, but it should provide adequate weather protection, especially in the northwest. Similarly, you can find moderately priced sleeping bags that work well too. With a little care and maintenance most camping gear will last for many years. And, depending on your eating habits, you may need nothing more than a cooler, a bag of charcoal, and a spatula.

Sleeping Bags and Pads: With sleeping bags and pads, making a bed at the campground is easy. First, you need to have some type of padding to cushion you from the hard ground. There are inflatable pads and various closed-cell pads that work quite well. On top of the pad, you'll place your sleeping bag.

Camp Cooking Supplies: Outdoor cooking is enjoyed by many, whether at the campground or in your own backyard. So, if you're a backyard chef, you already have lots of recipes to try at the campground. If not, you can always get by with a cooler of drinks, sandwiches, and snacks. Most public campgrounds provide a grill and picnic table at each campsite. With a bag of charcoal and a spatula you're ready to make steaks, hot dogs, and hamburgers on the grill. Add a propane stove, a skillet, and a few pots, and you're ready to cook up lots of stove-top meals. Get a Dutch oven, and now you can bake at the campground too. Depending on your cooking skills and equipment, you can make meals at the campground that can rival home cooking.