It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so it’s been sung. A time for family, friends, and sharing. However, sometimes it’s a special treat to get away and experience the spirit of Christmas in the great outdoors. Nothing must be sacrificed, and the ambiance can be exhilarating if you’ve never spent the holidays under the clear, starry skies in the heart of Mother Nature.
Cruise America has RVs that are comfortable in every season, with heating and cooling, a complete kitchen, a comfortable bathroom, hot water on demand, and incredibly comfortable beds for everyone. Whether you’re camping on the sunny winter beach, or in the snowy mountains, there is something for everyone during a Christmas campout.
But what about bringing the holiday traditions from home? What about the lights? The tree? The gifts? Well, it just so happens that at Cruise America, we have some great ideas. So great, in fact, that we compiled a list of hacks for your Christmas campout. We hope these ideas help make your camping holiday a memorable one of great cheer, as well as a beautiful way to create memories as a family.
Christmas Campout Hacks
These hacks are sure to make your Christmas campout experience a blast! Read to learn how to keep the holiday spirit alive while traveling for the holidays.
1. What about the colorful lights?
Everyone loves to gaze at colorful Christmas lights and glittery decorations, so you should seriously consider bringing some along to make your campsite or rental RV more festive. If you do decide to hang lights, be sure you bring outdoor lights, and be careful how you plug them in... and for how long.
You can save yourself a lot of time and headache by packing lights using this particular hack: Wrap them around a hanger to keep them from getting tangled. It makes it so much easier to undo the lights when you get there for decorating, and much quicker to pack up when you leave. Also, consider stringing garland or other decorations on and around your rental motorhome to add to the holiday cheer.
2. What should we do about a Christmas tree?
You can always bring a tree along with you, or if it’s legal, you can cut your own if you happen to be in the mountains. If you do bring a tree along (fake or real), make sure it’s a small one. You needn’t bring ornaments along, as there are so many natural elements that can be used, like pinecones and berry bushes.
Another trick you can do is to try burlap wrap, a bow on top, and some lights. Or you could skip the tree altogether, and go for a fun alternative. Bring along a tomato cage and then turn it upside down. Then, decorate with lights, and all of a sudden you’ve got a tree.
3. There must be Christmas music
You needn’t worry about being unable to play your favorite Christmas music when you’re on your Christmas campout. That’s what Pandora, Spotify, and other streaming services are for! Just make sure you bring along your chargers for your phone and/or iPads, and maybe an extra speaker, and you’ll be all set.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, download some Karaoke Christmas Carols and go from RV to RV serenading the other guests. Just be sure that you don’t forget to reset your watches to local time so that you don’t do it at 1:00 a.m., as the guests may not appreciate the visit quite as much!
4. Will wrapping gifts be difficult?
Before you start worrying about gifts, you should realize that the best present has already been given to you and your family: a memorable, fun, relaxing Christmas that involves hanging out as a family and making memories.
However, if you’re looking to wrap up a few last-minute gifts you grabbed when family members weren’t looking, then consider this Christmas hack: Bring along some wrapping paper, scissors, and double-stick tape (which helps create secure, flat edges) so that you can quickly get your gifts wrapped when nobody’s looking.
5. Holiday cookies
Who doesn’t love the delicious treats that are served up during the holiday season? Well, there is no need to make any sacrifices during your Christmas campout! You can still make and enjoy these treats if you do a little work ahead of time. Bake and store holiday-shaped sugar cookies with wax paper in Tupperware containers and pack them up.
Be sure to bring along all the ingredients for the icing (or purchase them at the store) and keep the kitchen mess-free by putting the icing in squeezable condiment containers. The kids will still have a blast decorating, but there won’t be nearly the mess you’d normally have with this process. The added bonus is that you’ll probably make some good campsite friends if you share!
6. Grinch-inspired kid-friendly drink
Get a little crazy with Dr. Seuss and spend an evening with the kids during your Christmas camping holiday to watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Add a special treat to the evening by mixing green sherbet and Sprite. Serve it up in red and green cups with fun straws, and your night is off to a great start!
Have an Epic Christmas Campout with Cruise America
No matter what you do, or where you go, your Christmas campout in your rental RV will go down in history as one of the best Christmases your family will ever experience.
