Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Pick your location. Decide what type of activities you would like to do during the day. If you and your fellow campers like to hike, consider taking in one of the mountain locations in North Carolina. If you want to river raft or fish, find a nice water location. This will be your starting point. Campingnc.com is a great website listing camping locations all over North Carolina.
In the mountains, Timberlake Campground offers both the enjoyment of the hills and some waterfalls and beautiful hikes.
Timberlake Campground
3270 Conleys Creek Rd.
Whittier, NC 28789
campingnc.com/timberlake
For rafting, the Nantahala River flows through western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains. Many outfits offer guided tours down the river, some with camping included.
wildwaterrafting.com/nantahala
Gather all your supplies. All camping lists adjust according to the activities planned. It helps to make a list and check it off as you put together your things so as not to leave anything important behind. Consider the weather needs. If it is summertime, it is probably hot and humid so you will not want your sleeping bag to be too warm. Also, consider sudden summer storms and bring rain gear.
Drive to your location. Make sure to leave time to get there with plenty of daylight left so you can put up your tent. Although this activity can be done in the dark, it is preferable to figure out the lay of the camping area while you still have light.
Set up your tent. Tents come with fairly simple directions, and once you have put the tent up you will find it easy to repeat the process for other camping trips. Be sure to put on your rain fly, because North Carolina weather is unpredictable.
Unpack supplies. Use this time to put your clothing and sleeping bags inside the tent. Set up your chairs around the campsite and decide where you want to place your "kitchen." Many sites have a picnic table or obvious place to set up a cooking area. If not, seek out a flat surface; often a rock works very well. Be sure to have a place to move everything if a sudden North Carolina rainstorm heads in.
Gather firewood. Again, it is better to do this while the sun is still up. Decide where on the site you are going to put your fire, an appropriate distance from the tent. You should surround your pit with rocks if a fire pit has not been provided. This will help keep the fire contained.
Cook dinner. This is a longer process when you are doing things out in the wild. This can be a fun process to get everyone involved in. Whether cooking ramen noodles on the propane stove or cooking hot dogs over the open flame, everything tastes just a little better when you work harder for it.
Sit back and enjoy the campfire while you eat. You will want to clean your dishes before you go to bed, but you do not have to rush. Enjoy the quiet area, the stars, and the crickets and lightning bugs of Western North Carolina.
Go to sleep in your tent. Wake up the next morning and start all over again.