by Alanna Kordell

If shopping the day after Thanksgiving is your idea of the call of the wild, then perhaps it's time you head to the great outdoors for some real adventure. Even if you weren't a Girl Scout or never received a Brownie badge, a working woman can still get in touch with her wild side while mastering the basics of camping.

Camping provides an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Fresh air, endless hiking trails and a campfire for roasting marshmallows can help you rediscover the simple pleasures of life and reinvigorate even the most worn out work horse. But before heading out to blaze your own trail, there are some camping basics you should know.

Sleeping Beauty

Does sleeping under the stars sound appealing? Think again. Although sleeping out in the open allows you a great view of the night sky, it can also make you a mosquito's midnight feast. Aside from swatting insects all night, you will also be at the mercy of the weather. To play it safe, plan on camping with shelter overhead. When it comes to sleeping accommodations, a range of options ensures you will find your own personal camping style.

Inexperienced campers can cruise to a local campground in a RV to avoid roughing it. Many campgrounds have sites that can accommodate RVs, such as Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park, which offers spots along the Kaweah River and a small grocery store nearby. Other accommodations in Sequoia National Park range from permanent tent structures allowing you to simply unpack and start camping, to sites where you must pitch your own tent.

Permanent tent structures such as those available at Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite National Park have the comfort and convenience of modern amenities. Tent structures are located within sight of the Merced River and consist of three concrete walls, a concrete floor and a curtained fourth wall. In addition to saving you the hassle of pitching your own tent, this modified form of camping comes complete with a picnic table and bunk beds, so no one sleeps on the ground. The electric lights and outlets in a Houskeeping Camp tent are another amenity those new to camping may appreciate. (CONTINUE...)