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Camping as a staycation
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Sometimes life is not about the destination but is more about the journey. The same can hold true for a staycation. Camping is as much of a staycation as a stay in a local resort. And it can be a lot less expensive.
The temperature in Phoenix hit 115 last weekend. That was enough for me and my friends to get out of town. Lucky for us cooler weather was just a few hours away. Arizona is all about elevation. It’s a little known fact outside of the state that Arizona has three main ski resorts (four if you consider the little known Elk Ridge). In the broiling Phoenix summer, elevation can be a Godsend for Phoenicians.
Our camping trip brought us to a place hidden in the woods between Sedona and Flagstaff. While Arizona boasts a great deal of wonderful, developed campgrounds, it is also legal to camp on most public lands away from developed recreation facilities.
If you choose to camp in an undeveloped, or primitive camping area, be prepared. You will need to bring all necessary water as there will be no fresh water available. It is not recommended that you drink from streams, waterfalls or lakes as these can carry organisms that will make you wish you had bathroom facilities. Which brings up another point; you will not find toilets, showers or even a sink. This means you should bring your own toilet paper, shovel and dishwashing tub with environmentally safe detergent. And don’t underestimate the refreshing power of a baby wipe. You should also bring your own trash bags for garbage and recycling as well as a small table and some folding chairs to make your experience a little more comfortable.
As for eating, you can pick up a fairly inexpensive camping stove or cook over a campfire. Make a simple spaghetti dinner or get more creative and serve up a beautiful seared Ahi tuna. If you’re making a campfire, and you should, be sure to check publiclands.org/firenews/AZ.php for wood gathering policies and fire restrictions. Bring some marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers and bananas for a decadent night of s’mores and banana boats. Or go to www.koa.com/recipes/campfirecooking.htm for some great meal and treat ideas.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on camping supplies. You can generally pick-up anything you need at Walmart or Target. If you are looking for higher tech equipment you can visit one of the specialty stores such as REI or Sports Authority.
If you choose to bring along your four legged friend don’t forget the pet supplies. It’s also a good idea bring a long cable to attach to a tree so Fido can enjoy the great outdoors without chasing after the wildlife or other family pets.
Should you prefer a less rustic camping experience there is always the option of staying at one of the wonderful developed campgrounds in Arizona. There, you will usually find toilets, sinks, showers a general store for last minute supplies. You might also find cabins, a swimming pool and planned activities.
While I still encourage a weekend at one of our fabulous resorts, the less expensive option of camping will allow you an extra staycation this summer. And who couldn’t use another weekend away. As for me and my friends, we took the road less traveled and that made all the difference.
Coming on Thursday – The Ten Commandments of Camping
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