Cheerful Valley Campground

Come Camping in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

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

Staying Cool in Warm Weather

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hot weather campingIt can be a challenge to stay cool when the weather is hot. Too much heat, during warmer weather, can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, heat stress, and even heat stroke. Here are some helpful tips that can be used to help you stay cool when the weather is hot.

Stay Hydrated – Water is essential for staying cool in warm or hot weather. It can help to cool your body and keep your tissues hydrated. Drink water on hot days, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks and soda, as well as alcohol and coffee, because they can have a diuretic effect. Water is best for cooling off on hot days.

Consume Foods That Are Cooling – Foods can help keep you cool. Choose foods like fresh raw vegetables, fruits, and salads. Make an effort to eat smaller meals which can help keep your core temperature down. When you eat a large meal, your body has a hard time breaking it down, which can raise your body temperature. So, eat small means filled with cooling, fresh foods.

Plan Your Time in the Sun – Avoid doing outside activities during the peak time of the mid-day sun. That means you should limit your sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm when the weather is warm or hot. If you must be outside at these times, limit your sun exposure, as much as possible. Children, the elderly, and people with sensitive skin should consider staying a cool area and limiting the amount of time they spend in the sun.

Here are some additional tips. Get to know your body and look for signs of overheating or heat exhaustion. Wear light-colored, protective clothes. And, make sure to drink lots of fluids, especially water. Following these tips will help keep your body healthy, happy, and cool, even on the hottest days of the year.

Keeping Ants Out of the RV

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Ants in the RVNo one wants ants crawling around their RV and, with a little prevention, there are a lot of things you can do that will help keep them away.

Make Sure They Don’t Have A Point Of Entry

The harder it is for ants to enter your RV, the less likely it is they’ll show up. Keep an eye out for potential points of entry. If you see an opening, make a point of sealing it off. You should try to seal your windows with caulk. If you do this, it’ll be very difficult for ants to get into your RV.

Use The Right Cleaning Products

If your ants don’t like the way your RV smells, they’re going to stay far away from it. You should try to use lemon-scented cleaning products if you can; ants dislike the smell of lemon. Using a vinegar cleaning product is also a smart idea. You could also try spraying peppermint oil around your RV. It’ll keep ants away, and it will give the RV a fresh minty scent.

 

Place Citrus Peels Around The Areas Ants Appear

If you see ants popping up in the same part of your RV, you should place a few citrus peels there. Citrus peels are toxic to the types of fungus that ants typically dine on.

There are a number of things you can do that will keep ants from entering your RV. If you have an ant problem, act now. You can get rid of the ants you have now and keep more ants from showing up.

Simple Camping Meals With Potatoes

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Potatoes for campingIt is not unusual for Americans to stick to certain foods when they are camping due to restrictions that can come with cooking over an open flame. Additionally, a major problem tends to be that they simply just are not thinking about their meals in advance and being creative. There are actually a number of things that are easy to cook while camping that will definitely spice up your meals.

One of the easiest items to bring along on your camping trip are potatoes. They are one of the longest lasting vegetables that you can find and do not need to be refrigerated to maintain their appearance, which leaves more space in your coolers for other food items. When cooking them over an open flame one simply needs to wrap them in tin foil and poke holes into them so that steam can escape. With this method, you can have a baked potato in a short amount of time.

You can also get rather creative as long as you bring a few additional items with you. You will need a heavy duty knife and a cutting board so that you can slice the potatoes. From there you can use whatever spices that you can imagine flavoring the potatoes such as dill, cayenne pepper, chili powder, basil, and oregano as well as butter or oil, whichever you prefer. Once you have seasoned them you will lay out tinfoil and place the potato chunks on top and then wrap the sides to the middle, creating a bag. From there you just heat them over the fire while cooking your meat to have a flavorful meal while enjoying the great outdoors.

If you take some time and think creatively there are a number of ways to enjoy your favorite foods while camping. Keep in mind foods that store easily, like potatoes, and you will find there really is a lot of options available to you.

Fun Road Trip Games to Play With the Kids

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There are a couple of road trip games that can be fun to take part in. You can find small versions of board games, for instance, to take with you. Or, you can play games like looking for different colored cars and more.

Eye spy is a game where you say that you see something with certain features. For instance, you can say “eye spy with my little eye, something blue” if there is a blue car around the vehicle you’re in. You can also play this when the vehicle is stopped because that allows you to pick from more things in the landscape. You can’t expect to pick something on the side of the road if the vehicle will be going by it fast, but if there is a large landmark in the distance that may just work out.

You can find small versions of games that you can bring with you on a road trip. Even if you don’t want to go with that because your kids don’t know what to do to play the game, you can bring tablets or other devices that have games on them. You could also bring paper and pens and let the kids play tic-tac-toe. If you’re going to bring anything in the vehicle, make sure you store it properly when it’s not in use. You don’t want to have, for instance, your tablet sitting out in the sun while you go somewhere for a while.

What you take with you as your road trip games will depend on what your family is into. The more you can prepare to have a good time on a trip, the better. You’ll know you made the right choice when everyone is having a lot of fun on the road.

Cake in a Mug – Perfect for Camping

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Mug cake for campersThis cake in a mug trend is a fun one for camping. You can make a single-serving cake in a coffee cup and even choose which flavor you want. The kids will enjoy the whole idea of having their own little cake to eat as they sit around the campfire at night. It takes minutes to put together and will be a big hit.

Photo Source: BuzzFeed

Cookies & Cream Mug Cake
This one will be a favorite of many. All you need is some flour, sugar, baking powder, crushed sandwich cookies, milk, oil, and vanilla.

Birthday Cake Mug Cake
This is as pretty as it is delicious. Bring some sprinkles along with you and let the kids decorate their own. It takes all the ingredients as listed above except the sandwich cookies.

Strawberries ‘n’Cream Mug Cake
Even better than strawberry shortcake, this little delight will curb that craving for something sweet and your love of those delicious strawberries. You can top it with whipped topping and you’re on your way to a little bit of dessert heaven.

Chocolate Hazelnut Mug Cake
For the hazelnut lover in the family. You’ll be adding the ingredients as listed above, along with some of your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread. The fragrance alone will be enough to call the kids back from the pool.

You can make all of this even easier by pre-packing individual storage bags of the dry ingredients. Then, when camping, just open one into your mug and add the wet ingredients. Now you stir, microwave, and enjoy.

You can find these recipes at 3-Minute Mug Cakes 4 Ways. So, go ahead and enjoy a single serving piece of cake. It will add that final touch to your next camping meal.

How to be a Good Camping Neighbor

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good camping neighborThere’s nothing like spending time with family and friends, camping and enjoying each others’ company. You get the chance to catch up with each other, spend quality time together, and reconnect for awhile.Your experience will be a good one and so will your camping neighbors’ when each of us follows a few simple rules of camping etiquette.

Arrive early. Try to arrive before dark, if you can. Setting up in daylight will be much easier for you and you won’t risk waking those campers around you who have already gone to bed.

Keep it clean. Run a sweep of your campsite at least once a day to pick up any paper or food wrappers that may have fallen on the ground. Put all food away each evening before going to bed for the night.

Be friendly. You’ll be surprised how willing campers are to talk to you if you strike up a conversation with them. You all have one big thing in common, you love camping and sharing stories is half of the fun.

Leash your pet. It’s better for everyone when you keep you pet on a leash at all times. Campgrounds are known for having a lot of running kids, bicycles, and new smells that can tempt your pet to run. They will be safer in your care, safely leashed. Be sure, also, to clean up after your pet. Bring bags with you as you walk the campground so you can remove their waste as it happens.

Watch for boundaries. Your neighbor’s campsite is their home for the duration of their stay so be careful of walking across their lawn. Make an effort to keep to the roads and everyone will be fine.

These are just a few things to enhance your camping experience and that of your camping neighbors. We look forward to meeting you so be sure to say hello if you see us in the campground.

How To Protect Your Pets’ Paws When You’re Traveling In Your RV

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protect pets' pawsIf you have a pet, it’s very likely that he or she is a part of your family and often goes with you in your RV. However, your pet isn’t at home and can be at a higher risk for injury if you’re not being mindful of their paws.

To protect your pet’s paws ensure that you have some special paw pads available for those times that your pet may have to go outside but you’re not in an area that has softer grass or pavement.

Keep in mind, too, that pavement can get hot and burn your pet’s paws. Help your pet before you ever leave home by working with them to get used to paw protectors before the trip. This way, when you put them on during the trip your pet won’t mind wearing them.

Keep your pet on a leash at all times to ensure that they don’t run off into an area that could be potentially dangerous for their paws. Even the most well-behaved pet will sometimes run off in an unfamiliar area. Be sure to stay with your pet at all times when they are outside of your RV.

Always do a sweep of the campsite area before letting your pet out of the RV. Shards of glass and other sharp objects can seriously injure your pet’s paws. We work hard to make sure your site is clean as a whistle when you arrive but doing an extra look-around can’t hurt.

Keep a ground cover available for your RV so that when your pet emerges he or she will have something familiar to walk on.

Remove pet paw covers when your pet is inside of the RV and make sure that you teach your pet that these are for their safety and comfort. It will help you to protect them if they get into the habit of wearing these on their feet.

Tips for Your Camping First Aid Kit

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First Aid kit for campingAccidents will happen when you are camping and hopefully they are all small and easily remedied. It is wise to keep a first aid kit on hand to fix a cut or pluck a sliver quickly, getting everyone back outside playing again soon.

Some of the basics to carry in your kit:

For bumps, bruises, rashes, bug bites, cuts, burns, slivers, and scratches you should pack plenty of salves and bandages. Bring antibiotic cream, calamine lotion, something for sunburn such as an aloe based lotion, bandages, gauze squares, ace bandages, eye wash cups, saline solution, tweezers, small scissors, and a magnifying glass.

For pain, tummy troubles, sniffles,and allergies you should carry Pepto Bismol, Benadryl, Tums, a pain reliever of your choice, throat lozenges, cough syrup, and cold medicine.

Check your own prescriptions to be sure you have enough to get you through while camping. It is easier to fill one these days as you travel but still could be inconvenient. Be sure your pets’ medications are full as well. It doesn’t hurt to carry their vaccination records with you, too, in case you have to visit a vet while you are away from home.

Some other things to consider are sunscreen with a high SPF – and be sure to apply it often, and bug spray or repellent bracelets to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Check yourself and the kids over each night to see that there aren’t any scrapes or bites that need attention. They will heal much more quickly if you catch them early and remedies applied at night will have time to work before they wake up and go off playing again.

This should help make your stay a pleasant one. Some bumps and bruises may appear but they can be kissed and fixed quickly when you have the supplies on hand.

Tips for Fall Camping

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Fall Camping at its FinestIt’s a wonderful time of the year and we hope you’ll make the most of it. Fall can become your favorite time to camp once you’ve tried it. It does require a different approach so there are some things to keep in mind.

It gets dark a lot earlier than it did in the summer. Days can shorten by several hours alltogether so, when Fall camping, it is advisable to arrive earlier than usual. No one like setting up in the dark so arriving by at least mid-afternoon should have you unpacked and enjoying a toasty campfire by early evening.

Pack clothes that can be layered. Afternoon temperatures will be warm and inviting but evenings will really cool down. Be sure to bring along your favorite hoodies and cozy pjs. You will put them to good use.

Think about your favorite soups and stews when packing food for your trip. Fall is a time for watching the steam roll up out of your cup or bowl while sitting all snuggled in around the campfire. Your tummy will appreciate the warm feeling of a nice, hot bowl of chowder.

We love Fall, here at the campground, and we think you will, too. Give us a call to make a reservation and then prepare to fall in love with this particular camping season. We look forward to seeing you.

Pets Love Fall Camping

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Pets love Fall CampingPets usually like camping, no matter the time of year, but Fall camping is especially nice for them. The park is less populated and everything seems to go a little slower. The cool air feels great and there is more room to go for walks and explore. There is less noise distraction during the Fall and it’s a better time to meet the other pet friendly neighbors.

It’s always a good idea to carry your pet’s shot records with you and the contact information of your pets regular Veterinarian. Bringing your pet’s favorite bed and toys to play with will make the trip all the better for him or her.

Pets naturally love being outdoors but they don’t necessarily appreciate a lot of noise. Fall camping is a much quieter time all around the campground and the surrounding areas. Your pet will be less distracted by loud laughter, kids running, and bicycles rolling by your rig. And, of course, when your pet is happy – you are happy so the whole trip gets better for everyone.

We know you love your pet and we want your camping experience to be a good one. You should try Fall camping, if you haven’t already. Give us a call to make a reservation. We look forward to meeting you and your furbaby, too.