Whether you’re a full-timer or just choose to take a camping trip during the holiday season, there’s no reason the spirit of the season can’t follow you to the campsite. Here are a few must-haves to keep the spirit with you:
1. Decorations: String lights don’t take up much packing space so make sure you have several strands to decorate your space. Cabelas.com has strings of tiny campers while amazon.com has some cute retro-trailer style lights. For garlands, go natural and consider strings of dried orange slices or popcorn and cranberries. A fun decorating idea that’s for the birds are actual birdseed ornaments – buy them pre-made (brecksgifts.com) or make your own (check out recipes at thespruce.com).
2. Traditions: Advent calendars, menorahs and Kwanzaa candles play a part in the holiday traditions so don’t be without them. Check out amazon.com for LED menorahs and flameless Kwanzaa candles so you can keep up with holiday traditions while traveling. For a twist on the regular Advent calendar, take a look at the Adventure Challenge Advent Calendar at amazon.com. Each day is another adventure to try.
3. Games: What’s a holiday party without fun and games? Don’t bother packing cumbersome boxed games, instead choose from these games that don’t require anything but people and imagination (and maybe some pen and paper).
• Two Truths and a Lie: Taking turns, each player must say two true statements and one lie and the players must guess which are true and which one is the lie.
• Charades: Ham acting at its best with this classic pantomime game. For fun, use camping-themed clues like rolling up a sleeping bag, chopping wood, putting up a tent, paddling a canoe, and using a compass.
• Telephone: In a circle, one person begins by whispering a long phrase or sentence to the next person, and that person continues the game by whispering what they heard to the next person and so on. The last person says the phrase they heard aloud. Get ready to laugh…a lot!
4. Entertainment: Stream, or download ahead of time, holiday favorites like “Frosty the Snowman,” “Home Alone,” “Love Actually,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and of course, the holiday classic, “Die Hard.” For musical selections, try a holiday mix that includes oldies but goodies like White Christmas and The Christmas Song to the newer holiday staple, All I Want for Christmas is You, by the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey.
5. Food and Drink: You never know what a friend’s favorite drink will be so instead of taking up space with assorted liquors and mixers, opt for canned cocktails or spiked seltzers instead. Make easy campground fare like campfire nachos, stuffed mushrooms in a Dutch oven or simple chips and dips. For sweet treats, put a holiday twist on the classic s’more by using a peppermint marshmallow or substituting the plain chocolate bar for a peppermint patty. No-bake Oreo balls or hot cocoa with a classic candy cane garnish are other options.
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- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.