The Ultimate Backyard Camping Guide for Summer
No reservation at the local campground this weekend? Your backyard will do, and here’s how to make it happen.
There’s nothing quite like a night under the stars, but busy schedules can make planning a camping getaway to one of the best campgrounds impossible. Many families yearning for the great outdoors are scratching the itch by setting up campsites right in their own backyard—and they’re having a blast.
Planning a backyard camping trip might seem like a big undertaking, but this guide will help. Keep reading to learn more about the essential backyard activities, camping gear, and need-to-know info for undertaking one of the most fun things you can do in your own backyard.
Benefits of Camping in the Backyard
Most folks like roughing it for a few days each year, but there are serious benefits to vacationing in the backyard. Folks who like breathing in fresh air but would prefer to park their derriere on their own (indoor) toilet, rejoice.
Also, families with young children can benefit from setting up a campsite with a fall-back plan. If the baby’s not comfortable in the tent overnight, there’s no reason to lose sleep: Just head inside and try again another night.
Not to say that emergencies can’t happen, but they’re much easier to handle in a backyard than they are on a campground in the middle of the woods. This can help children and adults who get anxious by the cord-cutting experience some of the excitement without any of the drama.
Read the full article, written by Tom Scalisi here.
June 7, 2022
Bob Vila
You probably know Bob Vila from TV, where for nearly 30 years he hosted a variety of shows: This Old House, Bob Vila’s Home Again, Bob Vila, and Restore America with Bob Vila. Or perhaps you caught Bob starring as himself on Tim Allen’s sit com, Home Improvement. You can now watch Bob's full TV episodes online.
Before his life in broadcasting, Bob launched his own residential remodeling and design business. Earlier still, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer, building houses and communities in Panama. He learned first-hand about home building from his father, who hand built their family home. He's written 12 books about remodeling your home, buying your dream home, and visiting historic homes across America. It’s fair to say that buildings, especially homes, are his life’s work.
Now he's breaking new ground on the web, at BobVila.com.
LIFE OUTDOORS
MEDIA MENTIONS
While DEET products may be more familiar by name and their chemical smell, sprays with 20 percent picaridin, like Sawyer Products, offer comparable protection without the harsh odor and oily feeling on your skin.
MEDIA MENTIONS
The Sawyer Squeeze was (by far) the most common Pacific Crest Trail water filter this year – for the fifth year in a row. It’s a $39, 3 oz / 85 g hollow fiber filter that rids your drinking water of protozoa and bacteria (and floaties). It can be used with Sawyer bags (included with the filter) or with compatible water bottles (Smartwater is the bottle of choice for many hikers).
MEDIA MENTIONS
SAWYER MINI WATER FILTER, $22 This has been my water filter of choice for years now. The bags can be iffy — I have had a few break – so carry a couple. However, the filter itself is reliable, light and inexpensive. -Logan
