Our region offers a variety of great camping options within a few hours of our home area. You can hike or walk to a camping spot, and car camping sites are all over public land in New York and Pennsylvania.

From primitive lean-tos along the Appalachian Trail, to lakeside campgrounds in the Catskills, a peaceful night camping is a great way to unplug and “Step Outside.”

The first thing you need is a tent or a bivy sack, and a sleeping pad. The better the sleeping situation for yourself, the more you will like camping.

A nice spacious tent to give you enough room for the number of people is good; stick with simple dome tent designs and don’t fall for the exotic tent styles, as the poles are more likely to break during installation or in high winds.

A nice sleeping pad or inflatable mattress will make your night feel cozy. The car battery or a foot pump can be used to inflate an air mattress; they provide ample air for the night’s sleep. But remember, no matter what, as the temperature drops in the evening, any air mattress will typically lose air, as cold air is less dense than warm air.

Closed-cell foam pads are warm and comfortable. I like a hybrid Pako Pad, with both padding and an inflatable capability.

The next piece of necessary gear is a good cooler to keep your food cold, fresh and safe from animals. Lockable coolers are best; pack them efficiently to keep your food out of ice water and so the food stays cold throughout a weekend trip.

Next is a decent stove; usually, a two-burner Coleman-style stove is easiest for car-camping situations.

Most campsites have a picnic table and a fire pit, so using the fire pit is an option for cooking as well. 

Packing up a small box full of items straight out of your home kitchen (your favorite utensils, oils, spices and pans) is the best idea for camp cooking. This way, when cooking at camp, you’ll already have the tools you are familiar with and things will run more smoothly.

Dealing with slightly uneven surfaces in campgrounds can be tough with stoves, so do your best to level your cooking surface before you turn on the burners. Pick easy meals to cook, and prep the vegetables and meat at home before your trip. Packing some easy-to-make desserts or hot tea is a nice way to cap off an evening around a campfire.

Be sure to have a good system for trash and dishes. Buckets lined with garbage bags are nice in your campsite, but make sure you don’t leave them out unattended while not at camp. Having a tidy camp will prevent bears, raccoons, and other animals from getting in your stuff.

Having some mess buckets for soapy water to do dishes is nice; pack a sponge and do your dishes quickly after meals to prevent mice and increased scents that can draw other animals.

Before going to sleep, be sure to have all food locked in coolers, bear boxes or your vehicle. Do not have food in your tents.

Aside from matters relating to food and shelter, a camping trip can be as active or relaxed as you’d care to make it. Some folks like to hike nearby mountains or trails during the day, while others can fish and swim the ponds and streams surrounding the campsite. The forest is a great place to read a book and relax by a gentle campfire on a cloudy day.

Camping can force us to go back to some old-school methods of fun. Writing and drawing games, word games and charades are all fun ways to get some laughs and pass the time.

Being outside for more than 24 hours with your spouse, kids and dogs is a nice way to feel free and enjoy a new area.  So grab the old tent and sleeping bag, pick a spot on a map, and go for a camping trip. There are many private campgrounds along the Upper Delaware River. The ReserveAmerica website is easy to navigate and has most of the public-land camping options in the area and beyond. Create a profile, pick a campground and site, and be grateful for public land opportunities like these. And don’t forget the pillows.