Summertime usually means festival season, especially for music fans. In addition to featuring the hottest headlining acts and letting guests rub elbows with rich and famous attendees, music festivals are also the prime time for camping, and they have plenty to teach campers of all types.
No matter which camping sites you choose, whether they’re public campgrounds, where 70% of campers converge, or family camping resorts with cabin rentals, you can use these common sense tips for festivalgoers, too:
- Dress appropriately. Sure, you’ll need your cutest flower crowns and most boho chic outfits if you’re headed to Coachella, but it’s probably not necessary if you’re going hiking and fishing instead. A survey of campers found that 87% of them participate in more than one outdoor activity on their excursions, with hiking as the most popular, according to 92% of respondents.
Make sure that you and your family members have appropriate outerwear for the outdoors, no matter which season you choose to go camping. That means breathable cotton and comfortable hiking boots for the summer and heavier clothing for the winter.
- Figure out how you’ll be getting clean. Whether you’re camping out at Lollapalooza or going backpacking at your favorite state park, you’re sure to get sweaty, muddy, and just all around dirty on your trip. While that may not be a problem for you if you’re surrounded by other unclean concertgoers, it might be uncomfortable after a long day of hiking.
Before you go camping, figure out what resources you’ll have to get clean during your stay. Some camping sites will have showers available either in a central location or in your very own rental cabins. In some cases, however, you might be washing up in a nearby lake or stream. Either way, stock up on some deodorant and dry shampoo and find ways to keep cool.
- Don’t be afraid to explore your “glamping” options. Delaware’s Firefly Music Festival announced its lineup at the end of November, and with it, they also gave music fans the chance to sign up for some exclusive glamping options. Glamping, or glamorous camping, involves staying in anything from RVs to cabins and sometimes even hotels, all while still allowing you to enjoy the outdoors as much (or as little) as you would like.
When you plan your next trip, figure out just what your family will need to stay comfortable. Many camping sites offer cabin rentals, which have ample room for the whole family. You can also drive up or rent an RV for the weekend, which can offer creature comforts like cable and WiFi, too.
Above all, plan your trip in advance! The more work you do ahead of time the more you can enjoy relaxing and/or roughing it on your next camping trip.
