Cheerful Valley Campground

Come Camping in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

1412 Route 14, Phelps, NY 14532, 315.781.1222    Email Us

How To Properly Store Your Outdoor Gear Between Camping Trips

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cam;ping gearCamping is a wonderful activity for families. There is nothing better than being able to escape from everyday life so that you can relax and explore the outdoors with people that you love. Of course, your camping trips will go a lot better if you are prepared. Caring for your gear properly between camping trips is an important part of the equation. You need to store your equipment the right way if you want it to last.

When you get home from a camping trip, it is easy to fall into the trap of just stuffing all of your gear into your basement or attic to get it out of the way until your next trip. Even though this may be the easiest way to deal with it, it isn’t the best way.

It is well worth taking the time to prepare your gear for storage before you put it away. One of your primary goals should be to clean away any dust, dirt, or debris that has accumulated during your trip. Wash any of the items that you brought along with you so that they are clean and ready to go for the next time. Make sure that items like sleeping bags and tents are completely dry before you fold them up to store them. Cleaning everything before putting it into storage will make it a lot easier to get out the door quickly the next time you want to go camping.

Zippered storage bags are a good option for small, loose items that could easily get lost. You can also purchase larger storage bins to keep any of your bulkier gear contained. Whatever types of containers you choose, make sure that they are water resistant so that they will keep your gear dry. That way, you won’t have to worry about problems such as mold or mildew.

If you have any problems with moisture in your garage or basement, you may want to look for an alternative place to store your gear inside your home. Ultimately, the location that you choose should be free from moisture so that your gear stays dry until the next time you use it.

3 Fruit Desserts You’ll Want To Try On Your Next Camping Trip

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fruit desserts at the campsiteOne of the best things about camping is enjoying food that you never tried. The food you eat while camping doesn’t have to be only melted cheese or grilled meat. If you want to find out what three fruit desserts you should give a try, then continue to read on.

1. Bananas Foster- you need a few ripe bananas, cut into small pieces and then add a tiny bit of butter to them. We recommend adding a tbsp of butter, as well as about a fourth of a cup of cinnamon, brown sugar and rum extract. You should also use a tsp. of vanilla.

This sweet and creamy mixture can be used to top pound cake. You can pour it over the pound cake after you have grilled the ingredients for about six minutes. Make sure you add a bit of whipped cream after you have completed your dessert. It’s the perfect finishing touch.

2. Mountain Pie- The ingredients for this include peanut butter, chocolate chips, marshmallows, butter, bread, sliced bananas, shredded coconut and some Nutella. Take the ingredients and spread on bread so you have a sandwich. You can light roast the sandwich and then eat it warm or you can eat it later when it’s cooled. The choice is completely up to you.

3. Fruit Jello- This is a classic dessert recipe and it’s very easy to make. You cannot go wrong with a nice cup of Jello and your favorite fruit, and feel free to mix the two together. This dessert is easy, convenient and you can bring it with you on hikes so you can eat it afterward.

The above fruit desserts are all easy to make, so add them to your recipe book because you’ll definitely want to keep them on hand for your next camping trip. You will love how they taste and the chances are you’ll want to make them at home. They taste good and they are fun to make, so give them a try today.

Mistakes To Avoid When Making A Camping Marinade

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Marinade recipes for campingGoing camping is exciting, especially when you factor in cooking food over a campfire. While some people believe that food cooked this way is typically bland, it is your job to give it as much flavor as possible. Creating a marinade will be the key to your problems, as long as you avoid these errors.

Marinating your food for too little time means that it will not absorb as much flavor as you had hoped for. As a result, your food may not taste much different from the hum-drum, boring camping cuisine you are used to. Ideally, your meat should sit in the mixture you made for at least two hours. This will help break down the meat and ensure a more powerful flavor.

Using lots of sugar is a big no-no. The more sweetener you use, the more likely your food will be to burn. If you insist on having a marinade that has a good amount of sugar, try grilling your meat until it is nearly done, brushing on the marinade and cooking for just a bit longer. You will have all of the flavor you have been looking for without too much char.

Avoid brushing cooked food with the leftover marinade you used for raw items. This is a great way to end up in the doctor’s office stricken with food poisoning. Reserve some of the marinade early on to avoid any cross contamination. The only way you can safely use this would be to bring it to a boil. This will kill off any bacteria lingering there.

Whether you are planning to use a simple marinade containing citrus and herbs or you want to go for something with a little more kick, using the advice here will help you create a better culinary experience. Keep all of this in mind the next time you embark on a camping trip.

What You Need For Campsite Cooking

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Camping cookwareGoing camping is always fun. We all love the feeling of being one with the outdoors and enjoying the outdoors and just being able to relax. Camping is without a doubt one of the best ways to get away for a few days or even a few weeks.

With that said, it can take a bit of time to pack for a camping trip, and there’s a lot of effort that is involved. It’s far more work packing for a camping trip than heading to a hotel. Instead of having your meals prepared for you and your family, you have to bring everything you need, all packed inside your vehicle.

By now you are probably wondering what you should pack for your trip. After all, you don’t want to go hungry while you’re camping. In the next paragraph, we will discuss some of the things you’ll want to bring with you for your trip.

First, you’ll want to get a small stove that is of high quality and make sure you get fuel for the stove. A few pots and pans, as well as a pot grabber are essentials and so are food containers. Other items include cutlery, cutting boards, cups, a can opener and a bottle opener. Knives, matches, foil, a coffee maker and many types of food and treats are other items you want to bring with you.

Keep in mind that the above items are only a few of the things you can bring along with you on your camping trip. There’s many other items you can bring, so spend some time doing a mental walk through to predict the items you’ll need and what you would likely cook when you’re camping. This will help you decide what to bring with you and what you should leave behind.

Choosing a Great Camping Chair

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Camping ChairCamping is a simple pleasure and it can provide the memories of a lifetime. The joys of setting up your  home-away-from-home in the wonderful outdoors appeals to people across a variety of ages, lifestyles and interests. Why do we love it so much? Maybe it is the chance to feel at one with nature, the ability to forget about time for a while, or the opportunity to enjoy quality time together with the people you love.

You know your personal reasons for why you love camping, however one element will have a significant impact on the quality of time you spend catching up with friends or gazing into a campfire. The camping chair is your resting place while you’re away and we think you’ll appreciate having a comfortable one.

There are a couple of things to look for when you’re shopping for one.

Choose a chair for sitting and lounging
Those perfect sunny afternoons when camping should provide plenty of time for a sweet snooze. Deciding to purchase a camping chair that doubles up as a sun lounger will bring a whole new wow factor to those camping naps.

Go for quality over price
While it may seem tempting to buy the cheapest chair going, you may be disappointed when it comes to quality. Choosing to invest a little more money into a high quality item will mean you can be a whole lot more comfy, for a whole lot longer.

Certainly, camping has the potential to provide an incredible vacation. To really make the most of your fun time in the outdoors, be sure to choose a camping chair that meets all of your needs.

Simple Tips For Leveling Your Trailer

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level your RVIf you are planning to enjoy your travel trailer, you’ll want to ensure that it’s level when you park it for the night. These tips will help you to level your travel trailer and ensure that get a great night sleep for the night.

Choose The Right Spot
Try to park your trailer centered within your camping space. If you’re planning on making adjustments, park the trailer where you want it before you begin. Once it’s in place, you can make the proper adjustments to level it. Your trailer will have onsite levels to assist you with this. Check them all to be sure the bubbles are centered within the marked lines.

Place A Level On Your Trailer Hitch
If you don’t have levels built in to your trailer you can use your own level. The trailer hitch is an ideal spot to check. From this angle, you can often make the required adjustments to ensure that your trailer is level. Use your level to adjust front to back and side to side.

Use A Board To Lift a Low Side
Bring along a few boards, of varying depth. These are the ideal way to lift low sides. Place the board underneath the trailer on the low side. This should help balance the trailer.

Watch Your Wheels
Don’t let your trailer roll away. Chock those wheels once you’ve leveled the trailer. Ensure that it’s unhitched and place chocks or large rocks behind each of the wheels. This way, you can rest assured that it will remain in place.

It can be a challenge to level your trailer, however, if you have followed these tips, you’ll find that it’s much easier to level the trailer without any issues. Be patient and focus on the issues at hand one at a time to resolve any issues and you’ll find that it’s much easier than to worry about the entire levelness of the trailer all at one time.

Camping With Kids: The Benefits Of The Great Outdoors

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Kids playing at RV parkAre you searching for activities that will keep your kids engaged and happy without any screen time? Have you considered camping? There are a number of reasons why camping is a great activity for kids. If you plan your trip right, it is an event that your entire family will remember for years to come. The following information highlights why camping is the perfect way to spend time as a family.

1. It Isn’t Easy

Much of a child’s life is centered on a routine; they get up in the morning, go to school, come home and then go to bed. Routine is important in helping kids to feel safe and secure, but they also need to be challenged every now and then. Camping provides that challenge. Children learn how to take care of themselves. They get creative and find ways to entertain themselves. It isn’t always easy, but the experience is worth it.

2. It Keeps Kids Active

Obesity among children is on the rise, which is why it is important to encourage your kids to be active. Camping keeps kids moving; they have to set up camp and they having the opportunity to fish, hike and just run around. In an era where technology has taken over, these types of experiences are becoming rare.

3. It Doesn’t Involve Technology

Technology serves a useful function, but it is important that kids are not completely wrapped up in their devices. Make camping a device-free activity; have a special place where you put the cell phones and iPads and make them off limits for the experience. Doing so forces the entire family to really interact and spend time with one another.

Camping is a great activity for children. There are so many ways that they can benefit from the experience. Think about taking a trip as soon as possible!

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