Try them out; they’re all free!

Waze

Waze is a navagation app with turn by turn directions. It will help you avoid traffic and speed traps on the way to your campsite.

Field Trip

Google’s Field Trip will notify you when you’re near interesting landmarks, historic buildings and great places to eat. It’s perfect for any road trip!

Chimani National Parks Apps

Chimani’s apps are a great companion for a visit to a National Park. They have apps for Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Great Smoky Mountains and more. Each app contains tons of features including photos, interactive maps, audio tours, sunrise/sunset times and even ranger events.

Gorillacam

Gorillacam allows you to shoot time delay photos, stop motion video, but my favorite feature is it’s photo timer. I can just prop my iPhone up on the branch of a tree and snap a photo of Billy and I.

Instagram

I use Instagram as my personal field guide. It helps me remember the names of plants I encounter. I snap a photo of the plant, identify it and post it to my Instagram account. You can follow me here.

Photosynth

Microsoft’s Photosynth allows you to take amazing panoramic photos and share them with your friends.

Coleman’s Classic Camping Cookbook & Meal Planner

This camping cookbook lets you search by cooking method, meal or ingredients. It has all the classic camping recipes.

SkyView Free

Sky View Free is really helpful for identifying stars and constellations. It uses the iPhone’s camera and overlay’s the names of the stars.

Also check out SkyView Satellite guide. It’s free for a limited time and lets you track satellites, the International Space Station and more.

Coleman Lantern

This cute, simple app will help you find your headlamp after dark. (hint: it’s packed in the deepest, darkest depths of the trunk of your car)

Yahoo! Weather

Yahoo! Weather is easy to use and it has all the information I need: current temp, 5/10 day forecast, detailed forecast, weather radar map, chance of rain and sunrise/sunset times. Thanks to images from flickr, it’s beautiful as well.

Hair

1. Start Curly: If you have straight hair, curl it before you leave your house. It prevents your hair from getting really flat. I’ll often curl my hair on Friday. By Saturday it’s just wavy, and on Sunday it just has a little extra volume. I use a technique like this.
2. Dry Shampoo: If your roots start to look greasy, use some dry shampoo. It’s super easy to use. Just spray it in, wait a few minutes and then brush the powder out. Pssssst! Dry Shampoo is $6 and it works great.
3. Pigtails: When my hair begins to get a bit flat, I sometimes put it in pigtails. They tend to look less slicked back than a ponytail. Just make your pigtails really low or you’ll look like Punky Brewster.
4. Hat: If all else fails, cover up your hair with a hat, scarf or bandana. I love my straw cowboy hat, It comes with me on every camping trip.

Skin

1. Makeup Removing Wipes: Sometimes it’s hard to wash your face at night. My old roommate tipped me off to these Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes and I really like them. They are meant to remove makeup, but they work equally well on dirt and oil. They are a great way to clean your face without water. 
2. Baby Wipes: Baby wipes are useful for freshening up other parts of your body when you can’t shower. They’re also really good at removing soot from your hands. I buy them in small packs like this.
3. BB Cream: BB Cream is great because it moisturizes and evens out your skin. It’s lightweight and perfect for a no-makeup look. I use L’Oreal Studio Secrets Professional Magic B.B. Cream in Light.
4. Mascara: When I’m camping, I leave my mascara on for a few days. I use L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tube Technology Lash Extension Effect Mascara, Blackest Black. I skip the white base and it stays on until I wet it with warm water. Then it removes in pieces and doesn’t smudge all over your face. 

Clothes

1. Running Gear & Yoga Clothes: In addition to my usual jeans and shorts, I love to pack a running tank top and shorts. They’re flattering and work well whether I’m hiking, kayaking or biking. I even sleep in them at night. In colder weather, I opt for yoga pants, a tank top and a fitted sweatshirt. Pick synthetic fabrics if possible. If you get wet they’ll dry quickly. Target has some nice, affordable activewear.
2. Flannels: Flannels are the quintessential camping shirt for a reason. They are cosy, lightweight and perfect for nights around the campfire. I find most of mine at Goodwill.
3. Tank Tops: I always pack a few tank tops for every camping trip. I like the fit of AE tank tops. These racerback bras work really well under a tank top.
4. Flip Flops: In addition to hiking boots, it’s great to have a pair of flip flops that you can slide on when you step out of the tent. I’ve had these
   Reef Stargazer flip flops for years. They’re durable, comfortable, cute and you can hose them off if they get dirty.
   Also check out my camping checklist for a complete list of what to pack.

What’s your secret to looking cute while camping?

If you’re headed out to the backcountry or you just want to pack light, dehydrated meals are the way to go. I am planning on bringing an assortment of dehydrated meals for our trip. I don’t want to weigh our kayaks down with heavy cans and jars of food. I’m dehydrating a jar of our favorite spaghetti sauce right now. It’s really easy, and when it’s done dehydrating, it will be small enough to fit in my pocket.

You don’t even need a dehydrator to make dehydrated foods. You can just use your oven on its lowest setting, with the door cracked slightly. If you don’t mind spending a little more, REI has some freeze-dried meals that are pretty good, though I tend to prefer my own cooking. I think the Mountain House meals are the best of the bunch. I really enjoyed their dehydrated eggs when I went backpacking in Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks. I just topped the eggs with some Taco Bell taco sauce and they were awesome. The Mountain House Pasta Primavera was decent as well. Another option is to find dried foods at the supermarket or bulk food store.

Readily Available Supermarket Dried Foods

• dried tortellini
• soup packets
• dehydrated chili mix
• ramen noodles
• sun-dried tomatoes
• wasabi peas
• dehydrated onions (spice aisle)
• dried fruit
• oatmeal
• cous cous
• minute rice

If you decide to dehydrate foods at home, there are three rules you should follow.

3 Rules of Dehydrating

1. Prevent Spoilage: Keep all dehydrated foods in the freezer until you are ready to head out. Oil causes dehydrated foods to quickly become rancid. Try to cook with a minimal amount of oil. Rinse greasy foods like ground beef with water before you dehydrate them.
2. Don’t Mix Flavors: For example, don’t dehydrate bananas at the same time as onions – you’ll end up with banana-y onions and onion-y bananas. Nasty!
3. Use the Right Temperature: Foods like meats have to be dehydrated at a higher temperature to make them safe to eat. Other foods like fruits and vegetables can be dehydrated at a lower temperature. Refer to the manual that came with your dehydrator for the exact settings.

Hungry yet? Here are some recipes that look especially tasty.

Dirty Gourmet has a lot of really good recipes for dehydrated meals and snacks including this Coconut Curry Soup.

Ramen noodles aren’t just for broke college students. Check out Dirty Gourmet’s Not Your Average Ramen.

These Maple Olive Oil Apple Chips look delicious as well.

Dehydrated Bushwalking Food has some great dinner ideas, including this Tikka Masala.

Check out this savory Roasted Red Pepper, Garlic, and Goat Cheese Rotini from Happy Tramper.

Or try this healthy Lentil Soup from Powered by Plantz.

Laurie Ann March authored two backpacking cookbooks. Take a look at her recipe for Sunny Garlic Hummus.

Backpacker’s Packable Dehydrated Salads look great if you can’t live without salad when you’re on the trail .

Their Spicy Curry Noodles look great as well!

This One Pot Vegetarian Chili mixes wet and dried ingredients and looks incredibly healthy.

Check out YouTube for tons of step-by-step videos on food dehydration.

Do you have any go-to recipes for packing light? I’d love to try them out on our trip!

Here are seven glamping gear ideas that I love:

1. Classic Tableware

Paper plates and plastic forks are convenient, but they’re also wasteful. You worked too hard on that gourmet meal to serve it on paper plates. Instead, opt for classic enamelware and real silverware.

This dish set from GSI is great because the stainless steel rims protect against chipping. The matching cutlery is also adorable.

When it’s time for tea (or instant coffee), you can reach for this enamelware teapot.

2. Set A Pretty Table

The best tablecloths for camping are made of PEVA. PEVA is PVC-free, chlorine-free, phthalate-free and biodegradable, so it makes a great choice for your campsite.

Opt for a tablecloth without a flannel backing. Flannel can soak up water and snags easily on a picnic table.

For an affordable, non-toxic option, try this tablecloth from Walmart or this tablecloth from Menards.

3. Sip in Style

I love these glasses made from mason jars from Anthropologie. However, the punched lid design is less than practical. There’s nothing glamorous about bugs in your beverage.

Aladdin mason jar tumblers have a closed top. They’re made of BPA free plastic and you can find them at Cabela’s, Target, Kmart and Walmart.

Or you can make your own mason jar tumbler with this DIY from A Farm Wife’s Life.

4. Decorate

Some bunting can easily take your campsite from ho-hum to awesome. Check out this bunting on Etsy.

If you’re feeling crafty, let this DIY Bunting post over at New Wave Domesticity be your guide.

5. Snuggle Up

Whether new or vintage, a wool camp blanket is useful and beautiful. I have a vintage yellow camp blanket with cream stripes ($3 at an estate sale, yay), as well as two Pendleton camp blankets from REI. I use them in the summer for camping. Come winter, I use them for extra warmth on our beds at home.

You could go for the legendary (but pricy) Hudson Bay 6 Point Blanket.

Pendleton also has a lovely series of wool blankets inspired by National Parks.

6. Take a Seat

Though we have the plasticky chairs with cup holders, I’ve had my eye on these classic camp chairs from Byer of Maine for a while.

These camp stools are super cute and have great reviews as well! Just add a little table and you’re all set.

7. Enjoy the Comforts of Home

Well, most of them anyway. If your site has electric, you can bringing a variety of creature comforts from home. A box fan is awesome to have; it will chase away bugs and keep you cool. Bring your crock pot for easy meals. I’ve even seen someone camping with her coffee maker. I guess she couldn’t do without a perfectly brewed cup of coffee in the morning. Just one request: please leave the TV at home

What do you do to make your site extra-special? I’d love to hear your ideas. Also, be sure to check out my glamping board on Pinterest for more ideas!

The camping menu planner has five sections you can complete: day, menu, grocery list, supply list and prep list. It will keep you organized when you’re trying to think through everything you’ll need to prepare meals at the campsite. The menu planner is for a weekend camping trip, but you can print out extra copies if you’re planning a longer trip.

Here are the downloadable versions of the camping menu planner:

Also, be sure to check out my matching printable camping checklist!

I don’t bring each item on the list each time I camp. It would be a little silly to bring sleeping pads, cots and an air mattress.

I simply print out the checklist and cross out the items I don’t need. Once I gather all my camping gear, I check off all the items that I am bringing.

Here are two downloadable versions of the list:

Also, check out my matching Camping Menu Planner.

Here’s the complete list, along with my tips and recommendations.

Before you leave:

• charge air pump
• charge rechargeable batteries
• charge camera battery
• charge led lantern
• freeze blocks of ice
  I use a food storage container to freeze several blocks of ice for my cooler. Then I release the blocks by running hot tap water over the container. These blocks take forever to melt and make it easier to pack the cooler.
• get cash
  You’ll need smaller bills to pay for firewood, entrance fees and your campsite.
• grocery shop

Buy near campsite:

• firewood
  To avoid spreading Emerald Ash Borer (and breaking the law), buy firewood near your campsite.
• more ice
• cold beer
  Things that start cold, stay cold. We like to drink local beers when we’re traveling. On our last camping trip we picked up some New Glarus and Potosi brews.

Nearby in the car:

• directions
  My phone’s GPS has a meltdown when we’re driving on country roads. Print directions as a back-up.
• guidebooks
  The tent camping guides from Menasha Ridge Press are great. I can’t recommend them enough.
• reservation info

Lounging:

• chairs
• blankets
  Billy gave me a camp blanket like this for Christmas. It’s great for snuggling up around the campfire and we also throw it over our sleeping bag on cold nights.
• book/kindle
• clothes line
• clothes pins
• canopy
  We have a Eureka! Northern Breeze Screen House. It seems like it will last a lifetime, and it is great when the bugs are bad or when there are few trees to block the sun.
• canopy poles
• canopy stakes

Chilling food & beverages:

• beverage cooler
  The beverage cooler gets opened (and left open) a lot. Bring a separate cooler for food.
• food cooler
• ice
• water jug
  I use my parents’ Coleman water jug from 1984. The camping tradition continues…

Campfire:

• torch lighter
• matches
• newspapers
• shovel
  To pull hot coals out of the fire for cooking.
• tarp
  To keep your firewood dry.

Shelter:

• tent
  I love, love, love my tent. It has huge windows, so I never feel claustrophobic. I have the older version of this tent. And just so you know, a 4 person tent will only fit two people and a dog comfortably.
• tent footprint
• tent poles
• tent stakes
• hammer/mallet
  We picked up this mallet at Menards a while back. It’s lighter than a hammer and makes hammering and removing stakes a lot easier.
• sleeping bags
  We got a double sleeping bag recently, and we love it. For warm-weather camping, it’s a lot better than being twisted up in a mummy bag.
• pillow cases
• pillows
  Mini pillows are big space savers in the car. Or, you can just bring pillow cases and stuff them with clothes.
• sleeping pads
• cots
• air mattress
  We have been through a lot of air mattresses. The cheap ones get holes really easily. It may be best to avoid air mattresses if you have a dog.

• air pump
• sheets
• entry rug
  I use an old rag rug. Great for taking off shoes and keeping dirt out of the tent. Plus I can just throw it in the wash when we get home.