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Tent camping is a lot of fun and can be done very cheaply. I once drove from Madison, Wisconsin, to San Diego, California, over a period of ten days, stopping along the way to visit national parks and famous sites.

My girl friend and I never stayed in a hotel once, and we learned a lot about camping along the way. Here are some tips for beginners:

1. You don't need a fancy tent. We bought a two-person "backyard tent" on sale at Sears and it worked fine. The only problem was that condensation collected on the ceiling and would drip down on us in the morning.

I solved this by buying a plastic tarp and throwing it over the tent (driving stakes through the corner eyelets to keep it lashed down). After that, the condensation problem disappeared.

Other tents are lighter, easier to build, with fewer parts and have features like a "window," screen flaps, etc., but these can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars. If all you're going to do is sleep in the tent, then buy the cheapest one you can find and throw a tarp over it.

2. Invest in a sleeping pad. This will make your nights much, much more comfortable.

You don't need anything expensive. A basic hard-foam pad placed under your sleeping bag will do just fine.

The pad shields you from stray stones and bumps in the ground that will make it impossible to sleep. It also helps you better retain body heat.

3. Buy or prepare pre-cooked foods that can be easily re-heated, preferably in a pot over an open fire: soups, stews, chili, ravioli, curry, etc. If you're in a real hurry or just want to fill your face and sleep, then cold sandwich makings are recommended.

4. Be respectful at campgrounds. Don't walk through another's campsite, walk around it. Obey the campground's quiet hours.

Leave your campsite the way you found it - cleaner, if possible. Be sure to read and follow all campground rules.

Happy camping!

Learn more about this author, Les Jacobs.
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