Camping Ideas for Santa

Continuing on my holiday shopping theme, I’d like to offer a few Christmas gift ideas for the avid camper and RVer. My husband and I really enjoy receiving something for Christmas that reminds us of our travels in the past and suggests new adventures and destinations in our future. Again, it gives us that vacation feeling all year long. Here are a few ideas to get you started in a variety of price ranges:

• Power Inverter—This very handy item converts DC power to AC. It plugs into any car power outlet, such as the cigarette lighter,  so you can charge cell phones, IPods, netbooks, laptops, etc. while you are driving even if you are camping without electricity.

• Toiletry Bag/Personal Organizer—My husband bought me one of these several years ago and I would not be without it when traveling. He purchased this one from LLBean. It has a wonderful hinged design and a built-in hook that allows you to hang it anywhere, from shower and towel rods to treee branches. Mine has hung from all of those! It has many wonderful compartments and the new ones also now have side-zip storage pockets that allow you to quickly access toothbrushes, medicines or cosmetics while on the go without unzipping the entire case. It is available in a multitude of colors and comes in 4 sizes, from small to family size. Most travelers would probably choose the medium size which sells for $29.95. The large model will even hold a travel size blow dryer; the family size is large enough to carry full-size bottles of shampoo and shower soap. Don’t leave home without it!
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  Netbook

  Netbook—These are simply portable minicomputers. A recent article on the Woodall’s site discussed the trend that is leading many RV travelers to carry a netbook with them rather than a full-size laptop. They are lighter, smaller and easier to transport. The screen can range from 5-12 inches in size, with 9-10 inches being most common, as compared to the 13-17 inches of a typical laptop screen. While they do not have as much memory and generally have fewer features than  a larger computer, they can perform most of the same essential functions, such as word processing, email and web browsing. Compact and portable. Netbooks can be purchased for between $200 and $300, although some wireless companies have begun to offer them for a nominal fee such as $39.95, to patrons who sign a contract for service.

• Travel Tool Kit—LLBean carries a deluxe roadside safety kit for $59.95 that contains booster cables, crank flashlight (no batteries required), 30-piece first-aid kit, red LED safety light, utility knife, reflective vest, fleece travel blanket, emergency blanket, poncho, gloves, duct tape, shop cloths, six washup towelettes and a car-care guide. If you do not have something like this in your vehicle, this might be a nice addition to your traveling gear.
• Any my own personal favorite, a Heated Mattress Pad for the camper for those chilly nights! Lands End carries one for $119.95 that is also water and stain proof. Pure luxury! Enough said!

These are just a few ideas to give you a good start. Put your thinking cap on and see if there isn’t something that would make your next trip a bit easier or more pleasant. Opening camping gifts at Christmas can help you maintain that vacation feeling all year long! Happy shopping!

For more good holiday gift ideas, browse RV and campground directories at Woodall’s online bookstore.