All that’s missing is bookshelves!
Photo by: Vivek Chugh (Stock Exchange)

Howdy, all!

In today’s AllCampgrounds blog, we’ll provide some more great sites for you to visit and learn even more about tent camping, gear, outdoor activities, and the nationwide camper community that’s out there and waiting to meet you.

Though we try to cover a little bit of everything in AllCampgrounds, we’d be remiss without a little tip of the hat to super-specialized venues around the web.

We hope you find these resources just as valuable as our own site, as they’re some of the best! (more…)

Whitewater rafting fun in Alberta
Photo by: Jeff Mackay (Stock Exchange)

Last time on AllCampgrounds, we got started looking at the thrilling and often challenging world of river rafting. Now that we know the basics of finding a river and a raft – and that you don’t have to bring Jean-Claude Van Damme along to safely work your way through a beginner river – it’s time to look at some basic techniques for navigating that current.

Tips and Tricks for Your First Rafting Trip

Get informed before you go: Not all campsites are right for rafting, but there are thousands of camp grounds around the U.S. and Canada that offer guided trips downriver. For your very first trip out without a guide, you definitely want to select a camp that focuses on its rafting as a main feature, even if only to find out from experienced rafters what kind of challenges you might face around the bend. In many places, you can get handy river guidebooks to study, too. (more…)

Which way?
Photo by: Cheryl Scott (Stock Exchange)

Welcome back to your Internet “home on the range” here at AllCampgrounds. As part of our continuing series on the best in hiking, we’re going to hit the trail today and showcase some of the hottest places to go hiking nationwide. Many of these scenic and historic trails are situated convenient to tent camping, and a few are accessible near RV parks and campgrounds, so nobody is left out. The longest, best-maintained trails wend their way through both modern and primitive camp grounds, and include breathtaking scenery that non-hikers just won’t get a chance to enjoy. (more…)

Evidence of beachfront hiking!
Photo by: Timo Balk (Stock Exchange)

Good to see you again at AllCampgrounds, your premier guide to camping on the web.

You know, in theory nothing could be simpler than hiking: at heart, it’s just walking, set in someplace fun and interesting to be.

Just about all campsites have some kind of hiking opportunity, whether it’s a full-fledged nature trail, a nearby mountain, or a landscaped pathway around the camp grounds.

But as simple as it seems, if you’ve never hiked before or you’re new to camping the best hiking trails, there are a few things you should know.

And, naturally, AllCampgrounds is here to give you the inside scoop. (more…)

Prairie dogs at rest
Photo by: Thomas Ricks (Stock Exchange)

Today’s AllCampgrounds blog continues our hunt for the wildest, wackiest, most majestic, and most amazing wildlife you can see at parks and camp grounds around the country. So far, we’ve spotted bald eagles and followed the trail of the American bison, known far and wide as the buffalo. Now, we’ll drop in on nature’s latest TV star, the prairie dog. Prairie dogs are fascinating creatures with habits that have intrigued and enticed everyone from your average nature lover to documentary filmmakers. These manic little ground squirrels are private by nature, but there are some places perfect for getting a glimpse of them – and doing some prime tent camping while you’re at it. (more…)

The American bald eagle, a “rite of passage” for many bird watchers
Photo by: Rob Sylvan (Stock Exchange)

A while back on AllCampgrounds, we got started with a great new series where we’ll show you just where to go to enjoy some of nature’s most spectacular creatures while you enjoy your tent camping or RV camping vacations. We got started with some of the top camp grounds in the nation for seeing bald eagles and other rare and amazing birds, but there’s just one thing missing: a guide to getting started in this fascinating hobby. After all, everybody should be in on the fun. So, we’re going to talk Birding 101 today.

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This buffalo is ready for his close-up
Photo by: Gabriela Pernecka (Stock Exchange)

One of the most iconic scenes of the American prairie is of the herd of buffalo, some of the most striking and powerful animals out of our shared heritage.

Buffalo, also known as American bison, are the largest land animals in North America and are exclusive to this continent.

In the Old West, the buffalo meant survival to frontier settlers; and as time went on, these giant creatures were nearly hunted to extinction for their meat and hide.

Luckily, the buffalo is one of nature’s great success stories, with a little help from concerned naturalists.

Today, there are camp grounds throughout the Midwest that offer prime opportunities to see the American bison live and in person. Let’s visit a few now. (more…)

The black-headed bunting, one of about 2,000 bird species in North America
Photo by: Akbar Nemati (Stock Exchange)

Today on AllCampgrounds, we embark on a whole new journey to find the best camp grounds for your nature-watching needs.

Just about everyone who loves camping loves to enjoy nature up close, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than a good, clear view of local wildlife you just can’t see day-to-day.

Of course, we all know that you’ve got to “leave no trace”, and nobody is better at this than experienced bird watchers. So, to get started, we’ll be picking out the best of all campsites for birding.

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A misty morning on the Louisiana bayou
Photo by: Pam Roth (Stock Exchange)

Good afternoon from AllCampgrounds!

Today, I think it’s important to brief our readers on the ongoing situation with the Gulf oil spill and its impact on camping in coastal states.

Information is scarce in some respects, but we’ll provide links and follow-up to help the tent camping and RV camping community understand how problems in the Gulf are affecting the camping scene in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, the habitats most likely to be see oil come ashore. (more…)

View of the Smoky Mountains from Tennessee
Photo by: Rene Kelley (Stock Exchange)

Good day!

Today’s AllCampgrounds blog will introduce our new National Park Spotlight feature as we move into the Great Smoky Mountains.

Around here, we think it’s pretty great that some of the most majestic natural features in the U.S. are on protected land for everyone to enjoy, so we’d like to highlight some of the best national parks.

And where better to begin than the state we’ve been touring lately, Tennessee? (more…)