camping - 2/2 - Have Sippy Will Travel

Going Camping? Check these out.

October 11, 2017 by Samantha Leave a Comment

If you are headed out into the great outdoors anytime soon, you might want to check out some of these items. Not just for camping, but having other outdoor uses as well, you will find they make your camp experience that much more comfortable.

The new Quik Shade canopies recently launched SOLO Steel. This series of six portable, instant shade canopies makes setting up a breeze. They are lightweight and easy to carry, can be set up by one person, are pinch free and allow you to adjust it’s height as needed as the sun moves or if the ground is uneven- this is a real boon and very helpful. It has 99% UV sun protection built in, so it keeps away harmful rays, as well. Easy to set up AND put away (yes, really), it goes easily back into it’s carry rolling bag for easy storage. It is durable and built to last, with Rip-Stop polyester camping tent fabric that has water-resistant coating and features the Aluminex™ back lining to help you and your stuff stay dry.

The SOLO Steel canopies has a ton of options depending on your needs. Sizes range from 50 square feet of shade to 170 square feet, and comes in 5 color choices. From $119.99 to $249.99 at https://www.quikshade.com/

One of my favorite camping finds has to have been a Kickstarter campaign. The GoGo Lantern is a very cool option for camping, and for several reasons. It’s solar powered, which means you can charge it all day long and use it for longer periods of time without having to run off and use batteries after batteries or propane etc- and the charge lasts a long time, as well. It is fully charged after roughly 8 hours of solar charge, or you can charge via USB for about 3 hours. It’s waterproof- not merely water resistant. You can actually submerge it, and it’s still both fully functional and keeps working. It’s very light and thus extremely portable. The GoGo Lantern is extraordinarily bright, much more then most I have used. It folds up into itself/collapses, which makes it easy to store and put away while not in use (or for charging). It also is magnetized, and will stick should you want it to. That’s also a pretty neat option, and one I’ve not personally seen before.
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Filed Under: review Tagged With: camping, newspaper cross post, travel

“Rise from the Ashes” with Smokey the Bear #SmokeyBearHug #OnlyYou @smokey_bear

August 24, 2016 by Samantha 4 Comments

smokey the bear

If you are one to keep up with national news, you have no doubt seen the chaos and devastation that the wildfires are causing across 7 different states. Thousands of acres burned, families who have lost their homes, and even people who have lost their lives. We have all heard the message of Smokey Bear – he has been telling us to prevent fires for 72 years now. His message is just as important now as it was back in 1944.

Smokey Bear’s message about wildfire prevention is the center of the longest running and one of the most successful PSA campaigns in our nation’s history. Although progress has been made, accidental, human-caused wildfires remain one of the most critical environmental issues affecting the U.S. the Soberanes fire, in California, is a perfect example. This fire was caused by an abandoned campfire. By someone being careless and not thinking about the consequences.

fire

We have to take preventative action, always! And while we all know that matches, burning cigarettes, and abandoned campfires are all potential threats for wildfire – there are MANY lesser known causes. Ones that you might be participating in and not even realize it.
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Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, safety Tagged With: camping, check in, outdoors

Top Tips To Get Your Children Excited About Your Camping Trip

December 18, 2015 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Planning a camping trip can be lots of fun, especially if you’re taking your children with you. It’s an activity that’s filled with adventure and exploration and can ultimately bring you closer together. If your kids have never experienced camping before, you may feel even more under pressure to make this a holiday to remember. There is no need to feel stressed as there are countless ways you can keep your kids entertained and get them excited about the prospect of camping. Use these tips during your planning to ensure you create fun filled and successful trip that you can all enjoy.

Get the involved in the planning

Your children can give you a great deal of help when you’re planning your camping holiday. You can show them websites and pamphlets that advertise tourist attractions and places that might be of interest to them. It could be a kid’s outdoor playground or a family friendly history trail. Compile some potential activities that are nearby to your campsite and share your findings with them. You can talk through which ones you think might be suitable and get their feedback. Be positive when you speak about each activity to grab their attention.
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Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: camping, check in, travel

DISCOVERY KIDS 2-IN-1 4X LED STARLIGHT LANTERN

December 16, 2014 by Samantha 9 Comments

Disclosure- We received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest.

How do you bring the fun of a camp out, when you are stuck inside? It’s going to be a long, cold winter. Want a big bright sky full of stars into your bed room, living room, playroom? Or how about just bringing the fun of sleeping outside inside? With the new 2-in-1 LED Starlight lantern. This fun lantern combines two great ideas into one fun product. Authentic-feel-camping, here you come.

First of all, the Starlight Lantern is a Star Projector. This means it projects stars on ceilings and walls to give you a feeling of laying under a star filled sky at night. This is, of course, minus the bugs and sleeping on the ground. To add to it’s usefulness, the lantern doubles as a lantern with the flip of a switch. Now it is a 4 LED lantern that will easily illuminate your way, be it on the way to the bathroom in the woods or just to your sleeping bag in the living room.
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Filed Under: evergreen, Holiday Gift Guide, review Tagged With: camping, Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Fun Things to Bring on a Camping Trip

October 24, 2013 by Samantha 2 Comments

Once you have the tent and sleeping bags covered, you will want to turn your attention to other camping items that will help makes your trip a success.

Here are some of my current favorite take alongs.

Kids Flashlights

One of the first things you will want to think about is lighting. When it gets dark, your kids will not likely be thrilled with that. Lanterns around the tent (and inside as you get ready for bed) as well as flashlights are going to be not only needed, but a huge comfort to your little campers.

Camping Lanterns

Children will love the HABA Terra Kids Lantern, and so will mom and dad. Kids never remember to turn off lights (or toys) and this won’t be a problem with this lantern, since it requires no batteries and charges when the child winds up it’s attached crank. They can keep their light shining all night long (or at least until they fall asleep) with the HABA lantern. It also features very bight, easy to see by LED lights, a compass (perfect for little explorers) and a padded handle with neoprene cover, attachable karabiner, and alarm whistle for safety, and is extremely well built and sturdy.

For more, please see http://www.afterschool.com

For exploring and nighttime, Melissa and Doug have a kid-friendly flashlight that will make any child smile. The Bibi Bee Kid’s Flashlight will be an instant hit, and will chase away any fears of darkness. It has a cute handle just right for little hands, and a happy face that can scare away nighttime monsters. It takes AA batteries, which to access require you to press down a tab and also remove a small Phillips screw so that you can you unscrew the cap. These are preventatives to keep the child from opening the flashlight and removing the batteries.
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Filed Under: review Tagged With: camping, Camping Trip, camping with kids, family, family travel, famiy fun

Camping with Kids – What to Bring

August 11, 2013 by Samantha 7 Comments

With summer winding down, and fall nipping at our heels, it’s the perfect time to look at great camping gear. My personal favorite times to camp are fall and spring- great weather, less crowds, and plenty of fun to be had. So what to pack? Here are some fun and easy ideas for a perfect family camping trip.

You can’t go camping without the perfect tent. For a small family, I love this Carbon River 3 Person Tent from Eddie Bauer. It fits 3 (including large adults) comfortably, with room to spare for gear and supplies. “55 inch height makes for more room when moving about the tent, and it comes with a full rain fly and two vestibules for lots of weather protection, but is still easy to get in and out of the openings.

Color-coded poles make this oversized tent easy to pitch and easy to see and put together even when it’s getting dark and you might be getting tired. Bright yellow stakes keep the tent planted in the ground and easy to see (no one needs to be tripping over stakes when you get out to use the bathroom or stubbing toes on them).

For more, visit http://www.eddiebauer.com

Sleeping bags would be the next necessity on a camping trip. For the taller camper, or one who desires extra room, check out the Snowline. An honest to goodness 3-season performer (this saving you money and room having to buy multiples), this bag comes in regular size or a long option. Goose Down insulation covered by a ripstop nylon shell, this mummy style bag is tough and will keep you warm on cool nights without overheating on warmer ones. It comes with it’s own stuff sack and storage bag, and is machine washable (although I hung it to dry, and think you will want to as well). Weighing in at only 3 pounds, it’s easy to take along for those sites you need to hike to, or the glamping trips you still want to be comfortable on.
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