Ghoulish Glamping: Campsite Decorating Ideas

If you plan to be camping during the Halloween season this year (which, let’s be honest, spans the entire month of October), you certainly don’t want to be the only undecorated site at your campground. That’s lame.

However, most of the items you use to decorate your home probably aren’t practical for a campsite -- they need to be plugged in, hung on walls, or set on mantels and shelves. So how does one properly embrace the Halloween spirit while glamping?

Check out some of my favorite Halloween camping decorations -- some of them are even good for decorating your home:

Lighting

In my personal opinion, lighting is one of the most important aspects of Halloween decorating. Your props aren’t that scary if they aren’t properly lit, so you must be sure to use the correct lighting to create an appropriate atmosphere for your decorations.

For a whimsical lighting experience that is perfect for families, check out these Halloween-themed Luci lanterns. I am a huge fan of Luci lights, simply because they are so convenient and affordable. Their original white lantern got my boyfriend, Ryan, and I through several pitch-black nights in a Costa Rican rainforest when our treehouse’s solar panels were conveniently covered by fallen leaves. Without our lucky Lucis, we would have been SOL. Lucis charge quickly in the sun and hold that charge for a ridiculously long 12 hours of use (when turned off, I have found that they can hold a charge for up to several weeks). On top of that, they are collapsible and inflatable, so they are easy to store and pack and almost impossible to break. Now they are expanding into different colors and fun patterns, like this Halloween line, and I am fangirling hard.

If you’re more into chills and thrills like I am, try illuminating your scary decorations with a few battery-powered strobe lights. When done right, the classic strobe light can be very effective in creating a spooky atmosphere, especially in the shadows of a dark, forested campsite….

If you’re just enjoying a chill Halloween with a group of friends, maybe decorate your site with some cute, chic string lights like these skulls or pumpkins. They set the mood without going overboard. Or DIY some floating, Harry Potter-esque candles to hang from trees... super cool!

You can also line the perimeter of your tent, site, or parking spot with path lights, like these adorable ghosts. For DIY-ers, try this fun path-lighting craft. I used this tutorial a few years back to light the stairs to our apartment door and the effect was enchanting!

Yard Decorations

Even if you lack walls and table-space, the one thing your site has plenty of is ground-space. For this reason, yard ornaments are a great go-to for Halloween decorations. Tombstones, zombie arms, giant spiderwebs, mischievous witches… the possibilities are endless.

Again, if you’re a DIY-er, you can create your own cool yard decor, like this chicken-wire ghost (you could make it of any size), or any of these awesome crafts (the one with the toilet roll and glowing eyes would be perfect to stick in trees and bushes around your site).

Hanging Decorations

If you have trees around your site, you can hang decorations too. Aside from your standard ghouls and ghosts, you could also hang bats, severed body parts and fake weapons, or this incredibly disturbing severed doll head craft that could be easily adapted into a garland using battery-powered string lights and some hot glue.

Please stop. You’re scaring me.

And of course, where would we be without the oldie-but-goodie: fake cobwebs. The tiny $1 webs in Target’s little cheap section are literally the best cotton-based webs I’ve ever used, and one box goes a LONG way. Now that I have discovered them, I will never buy the overpriced webs from Halloween stores ever again. Also, this year we finally invested in something I have wanted for a long time: the Webcaster gun. And it did not disappoint. It’s essentially a hot glue gun that you hook up to an air compressor so that it shoots thin threads of web-like glue. The results are insanely realistic -- as the pizza delivery girl said of our webbed courtyard area: “I thought either you guys  were super gross people, or you were just really good at Halloween decorations.”

Thanks, Jessica.

Just be sure to pick up after yourself and collect your webs - along with all of your other decorations - at the end of your trip.

Decor

For adults who aren’t so much interested in Halloween decorations as Halloween decor, I of course recommend the Target Halloween line, complete with adorable throw pillows and chic wreaths.

For more of my favorite Halloween glamping decoration ideas, visit my Pinterest inspiration board here, or visit this page to read about some great Halloween camping activity and food ideas. And of course, HAPPY HAUNTING.

Zombies, Monsters, and Ghouls, Oh My: 13 of the Best Halloween Campgrounds

Oh, the nostalgia: itchy costumes, smelly hairsprays, never-dry facepaints, and the constant reek of sweaty rubber masks.

Don’t get me wrong; I absolutely adore Halloween and always have. I love the thrill, the candy, the sense of mystery and ominous anticipation. If it were up to me, I would continue trick-or-treating right up until my deathbed, but alas I am now of that sad, pathetic age where you are too old for house parties and far too old for trick-or-treating. And since I have no children, I have been reduced to scaring the living hell out of any kid who dares wander up my driveway.

Don’t worry, I give them candy too. Once they stop crying.

But lately, I have wondered if maybe a change of pace might be nice. I simply love sitting on the couch, with nothing but candles illuminating the room as I watch horror movie after horror movie, devouring king-sized candy bars by the dozen, only pressing pause to refill my apple cider mimosa or to answer the door to a legion of tiny Ninjago characters. But what if -- stay with me here… what if I did all that while camping?

Is such a thing possible? you ask. And I say: YES. There are such magical campgrounds that embrace Halloween and all of its eccentricities: gory decorations, trick-or-treating, horror stories around a campfire, pumpkin carving…. These are right up my dark, cobwebbed alley.

So without further ado, here are fifteen campgrounds and RV sites around the U.S. with amazing Halloween activities:

1. Silent Valley Club, Southern California

With that inherently creepy name, I’m already on board. This RV camp hosts both a site-decorating contest and a costume contest. Kids frequently trick-or-treat around the grounds, and there is a pumpkin (anything and everything pumpkin) bake-off. Of course, they have ghost stories around the campfire. They even put together an annual haunted house that they claim is “one of the scariest you’ll ever experience.” Challenge accepted, SVC.

2. High Falls State Park, Georgia

The state park hosts an event on the 26th that includes a costume contest, s’mores roasting (when was the last time you had a s’more?!), and spooky storytelling. It’s an all-around good time for kids and adults alike.

3. Killens Pond State Park, Delaware

On October 19th and 26th, this state park has a fall-themed event for all ages. Pumpkin carving is a given, scarecrow-making, and of course there are costume and site-decorating contests. Best of all, they have something called a “Hoot ‘N’ Howling Campfire Experience,” where children can gather around a campfire and learn to make wild animal calls. Cool.

4. Wharton State Forest, New Jersey

Only a few minutes away from the campsite lies the Historic Batsto Village, where a Halloween event will be taking place on October 27. It includes a variety of activities, like a Halloween parade and the mysterious “Jersey Devil Bound Walk and Talk,” which is only for older kids and sounds equal parts creepy and awesome.

5. Ponca State Park, Nebraska

On October 12 and 19, head over to this state park for annual Halloween event, complete with hayrides, pumpkin carving, and pumpkin rolling (fun!). They also have a site-decorating contest and a variety of fall-themed arts and crafts.

6. Thompson Falls State Park, Montana

This is one for the adults. While there are no costume contests or crafts, the town of Bannack offers a guided ghost tour, during which guests will see ghoulish actors recreating real historical town events. Super spooky, super cool.

7. Canton/East Sparta KOA, Ohio

This campground really loves Halloween -- every weekend of October they have Halloween activities. Spooky evening forest walks, creepy haunted house, and ghoulish hayrides -- they have it all!

8. Lums Pond State Park, Delaware

They have all the staples of a Halloween celebration: pumpkin carving and painting, hayrides, trick-or-treating,  and costume contests. On top of that, they also offer pony rides, face painting, s’mores roasting, and ghost stories around the campfire. Can I just say… ooooh, ponies!

9. Fort Boonesborough State Park, Kentucky

In true Halloween spirit, this state park hosts a Halloween event for thirteen days during October. They have a pirate-themed miniature golf course, pancake breakfasts, and pirate-themed hikes (they really like pirates, I guess). They also offer trick-or-treating, crafts, and hayrides daily.

10. Scenic Ridge Campground, Wisconsin

This campground has some outstanding Halloween activities, including a pumpkin hunt (what is that and where can I sign up?), a chili potluck, trick-or-treating, and a creepy haunted trail set in an actual cemetery. Cool.

11. Gettysburg Campground, Pennsylvania

This campground literally has it all: costume contests for kids and adults alike, trick-or-treating, crafts, a pumpkin-carving contest, campsite decorating, haunted hayrides, a haunted house, and a Halloween dance. Fwew. They are definitely covering all their bases with fun for the whole family.

12. Land-O-Pines Family Campground, Louisiana

This is another location that offers activities for all ages. For the younger kids: a coloring contest, candy hunt, bingo, costume contests, and hayrides. For the older kids: a zombie-themed weekend that includes such creepy activities as “Find the Hidden Body Parts” (what?!), a zombie obstacle course, a zombie vs humans game, a pumpkin race, and a campsite-haunted-house-building contest. They go hard in Louisiana.

13. Jellystone Park

Jellystone is a chain of campgrounds that has several locations, including some in Alabama, Lodi (California), Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, and many more. Depending on the location, there are tons of Halloween events going on. Check their website to discover Halloween activities at a location near you.

Happy haunting!

Dissecting Decor: How to Turn Camping into Glamping

There are different types of glamping. Some people prefer comfy yurts and tents, while others stick to RV's and cabins; others still enjoy the DIY approach of transforming a regular old campsite into something straight out of a luxury magazine. That's how we roll. There’s nothing wrong with adding a dash of comfort to your otherwise-rugged campsite, but here at Glamp-Ed, we go big or go home. If it’s not over-the-top Instagram-worthy, then it’s not glamping.

Everyone adds their own personal flair to their site, but there is a handful of items that are essential if you wish to transform your campsite into a haven of luxury. Without further ado, consider this your beginner’s ‘how to glamp’ info-graphic:

OUTSIDE

1. Ambient lighting

       Rule #1 of creating atmosphere: lighting, lighting, lighting. For a bright, twinkling look, go with LED string lights. For something a little softer, try translucent globe lights. Combine with small hanging lanterns and the occasional flameless candle inside a mason jar, and you've created the perfect mood lighting for a luxurious glampsite.

2. Camp chair and side table

       You can't go camping (or glamping) without a good, reliable camp chair. This is the chair you can drag back and forth from the fire at night to the shady spots during the day without worrying about a little bit of dirt. Bonus: most camp chairs have cup holders... just what the glamper ordered. If not, pair it with a small, but sturdy, side table to hold your belongings.

3. Area rug

       Gone are the days when rugs were meant only for indoors! Drag that area rug outside to create a beautiful, homey footprint for your tent or yurt. Placing several more around the area of your site will prevent dirt from being kicked up and tracked inside. They also create a nice flat area for your tables and chairs.

4. Comfy seating

       The more seating, the better. For lounging, toss down a bean bag, a large pouf, or an inflatable chaise. Be sure to complement it with a soft blanket and some throw pillows for added comfort.

INSIDE

1. Hanging decorations

      If there is one thing every tent or yurt absolutely needs, it's hanging decorations. It doesn't matter what it is... bunting, tassels, framed photos, posters, tapestries, even a chandelier. Deck out your living space with anything and everything you consider beautiful.

2. Pillows and blankets

      If you've been rolling out a sleeping bag on your bed... that's not glamping. If your bed isn't simply overflowing with decadent pillows, comforters, and throws... that's not glamping. If you lay down on your bed and don't immediately think that you're back at home... that's not glamping. Pile that bed high with every soft thing you own -- that's glamping.

3. Poufs

     Poufs. Everywhere poufs. Big poufs, little poufs, decorative poufs, sitting poufs, handmade poufs and store-bought poufs. POUFS.

4. Desk and fan

      This one is optional, but highly recommended. Even if it's just a small vanity where you can sit and do your makeup, having a sitting area in your tent is great. Be sure to place a small fan beside it so you keep the air circulating throughout your space.

5. Bedside table and knick-knacks

       For your books, lamps and lanterns, flower vases, and portable speaker, have a nightstand or an ottoman at the foot of the bed. If you pick the right piece of furniture, it doubles as fantastic storage for clothes and other items.

6. Faux fur rug

       Emphasis on the 'faux,' of course, but having an area rug is an absolute must. Inside and out, rugs are a glamping staple: they tie the room together as well as provide a sense of homey comfort. Faux sheepskins draped over chairs and ottomans is my current aesthetic. Such luxury!

Hammock Happy: Know the Rules Before you Hang

Arguably, one of the best parts of outdoor camping is chilling in a shady hammock in the early afternoon, with a book in one hand and a beer in the other. If I’m in a particularly glampy mood, I might even open up a nice bottle of wine and pull out my handy collapsible wine glass -- now that’s my idea of glamping. If my site has trees, you can almost always find me hanging in my hammock.

So imagine my surprise when - as I was lounging in my hammock at one of my favorite camping spots - the local rangers pulled up beside my site and beckoned me over to their truck. I was a little apprehensive, since they usually mind their own business unless someone is breaking a law. As I walked over to them, I did a quick scan around my site -- the fire was within regulations, we only had one vehicle and one tent as per the campground rules, so what could be the issue?

My hammock.

They explained to me that hammocks were not permitted in this area because they damage tree bark, leaving the tree vulnerable to local tree beetles (which have apparently devastated entire forests in the past) as well as preventing the tree from nourishing itself properly.

I was completely flabbergasted, as I had always pitched my hammock while camping and never heard anything about it. I asked if there were any rules to follow that might allow me to keep my hammock up, but alas -- no. At this particular campground, they have a strict no-hammock policy to prevent tree injury.

Don’t be discouraged; many campsites do allow hammocks as long as they are properly hung. There are numerous ways to prevent rope damage: for starters, avoid 550 cord because it is too thin and will cut the bark. Instead, opt for a hammock strap that is at least one inch in width. This will spread the weight over a larger area and minimize damage. If you don’t have a thick strap, you can also pad your cord with anything soft, like thick socks or that microfiber towel in your hygiene kit. Whatever you can do to prevent the rope from digging into the bark.

There are other factors to consider when hanging your hammock. For example, a hammock should not be hung within two-hundred feet of a water source (another rule I commonly broke before I educated myself of hammock etiquette) and hammocks should not be hung on certain trees that are known for being brittle (I have been warned to steer clear of oaks).

This may seem like a lot of fuss over something that you have probably already done a hundred times, but it really is important. As glampers, we are not only responsible for having a glamorous outdoor adventure, but also for preserving the natural environment that gives us so much joy. Besides, do you really want to be crushed to death by a falling tree branch while you doze in your hammock? I think not.

I encourage you to do the proper research on each specific area before you camp in order to determine the local rules and safety guidelines. If you're not sure how to hang a hammock from a tree, there are plenty of guides online (and helpful campsite neighbors). And when in doubt, the best source of information is your camp host or park ranger -- they are there to protect both the environment and our safety, and will always be happy to answer thoughtful questions from considerate campers. So before you hang your hammock -- ask!

Happy hammocking!

The Clean Camper: Top 10 Glamping Hygiene Essentials

One of the most challenging parts of glamping (or camping, for that matter) is staying clean. It’s one of the most common reasons some people refuse to camp: the greasy hair, the unbearable body odor, the gritty dirt in unmentionable places…. It is no surprise that adventurous campers get filthy, what with all the hiking, swimming, and playing. But even if you are a mellow, read-books-in-a-hammock, drink-wine-around-the-campfire type, it is truly amazing how you can get so dirty, so quickly.

It is for this reason that a good camping hygiene kit is a must. You could bring your entire bathroom with you in a suitcase (if you have the car space, go ahead), or you could cave and visit a nearby hotel every night just to use the shower (again, if you have the funds and desire for that, I won’t try to talk you out of it). But for those of us who want to keep our bodies - and our campsites - clean without much fuss, here are the top ten must-haves for camping hygiene.

Camping Hygiene Essentials

Baby Wipes

After camping both with and without a family-sized pack of baby wipes, I can guarantee that these will make your outdoors experience one-hundred times more enjoyable. Without all the comforts of a private bathroom, using the toilet at even the nicest campsite can leave you feeling a little… unclean. Before you set off for the camp lavatory, grab your pack of baby wipes so that you have a little more to work with than paper-thin camp toilet paper.

Wipes are also great for cleaning your hands after messy meals or dirty chores like collecting wood and hanging a hammock. Use them for wiping down your table and any camp accessories that might collect dirt and dust. Best of all, if you don’t have access to a shower, baby wipes are the best possible substitute. Whether in the bathroom or your tent, you can strip down and really get in there with some wipes. You’ll be surprised at how clean and refreshed you feel afterwards.

Washing Station

This one is less of a product suggestion and more of an ingenious camping hack. We’ve all been there: dumping the entire contents of a water bottle on our hands to wash off dirt and grime. Not only is it a ridiculous waste of potable water, it’s clumsy and inefficient.

No more! Set up a simple washing station at your table and cleaning your hands and dishes will be quick and easy. Set a spigoted water jug (the 2-gallon kind they sell at the grocery store for a few dollars) on the edge of your table and bungee a plastic paper-towel rack the top (if you don’t have a rack, simply feed the bungee through the cardboard roll of the paper towels). Fill the rack with a roll of biodegradable paper towels, set a bottle of gel-based hand sanitizer beside it, and you have a convenient washing station for hands, dishes, and anything else that might get a little dirty. To prevent a muddy mess, you can place a large tupperware bowl or gallon bucket beneath the spigot to catch the waste water.

Silicone Dish Sponge

If you plan on keeping anything clean while camping, you’ll need this. Other than its most obvious use (cleaning your camp dishes), it also serves to replace a few other hygiene products. If your site has a shower - or if you bring your own shower bag with you, silicone sponges are great loofahs. If you place one at your washing station, you can use it with a bit of soap to scrub your hands. And it’s great for cleaning up your table before and after a meal.

The best feature of silicone dish sponges is that they are naturally antimicrobial. So instead of keeping a soggy, bacteria-laden kitchen sponge around your camp, collecting dirt and germs, these silicone sponges dry quickly and resist bacteria. If they do get a little dirty, simply toss them in a pot of boiling water to zap the germs. For dried-on food messes or really dirty hands, use some cheap nylon scouring pads.

Solar Shower Bag

Though there are many ways, this is probably the best way to shower while camping. First, it’s great for rinsing off after a long, dirty day of outdoor adventures. Leave it in the sun during the day to heat up the water, then tie it to a branch overhead, or use a pop-up privacy tent, and you’ll have an instant shower. Or, place it on a table to create a dish-washing or boot-washing station like the one described above.

There are a variety of portable camping showers on the market, ranging from cheap to less cheap. While in many situations cheaper products perform just as well as expensive ones (paper towels or hand sanitizer, for example), I have found through experience that a good solar camp shower is worth splurging on. Otherwise, you may end up with cold, leaky, glorified Ziploc bag.

Dr. Bronner’s Soap

You. Will. Thank. Me.

This soap - aptly referred to as Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap - is a one-size-fits-all solution to dirt and grime. It replaces a dozen other products in your camping hygiene kit, including shampoo, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, face wash, body wash, and even mouth wash. No, I’m not kidding -- yes, it is amazing. So instead of packing all of these individual items, instead buy a single bottle of Dr. Bronner’s and whip it out anytime you want something - or someone - to be a little less gross. Best of all, it’s biodegradable and eco-friendly, so you don’t have to stress about your impact on the beautiful environment. It really is the ultimate camping hygiene hack.

Microfiber Towels

If you plan on bathing at all while camping, a towel is a no-brainer. However, regular cotton bath towels are bulky to pack and take forever to dry. Instead, opt for a lightweight microfiber towel. They’re absorbent and fast-drying, and this one comes with a handy carrying case so that your towel doesn’t get flung into the dirt or lost among other random items while packing.

Aside from showering, these are also great for your washing station for drying hands and dishes, as well as wiping up dust and fine dirt from surfaces like your table and tent.

Handheld Broom and Dustpan

This one took me a while to figure out. For years, I suffered through piles of dirt and twigs being tracked into my precious tent. And once dirt gets inside the tent, you will never feel clean again.

If you have the same issue, simply grab a handheld broom and dustpan and sweep the filth away. This is also useful for keeping your camp footprint clean, as well as your table, chairs, and benches. Where there is camping, there is dirt… but it’s amazing what a little housekeeping can do for a site!

Dental Care Kit

Fairly self-explanatory. You probably already thought of packing a toothbrush and toothpaste, but there are better (cleaner) ways than bringing your own home set camping with you. A toothbrush that comes with a built-in antimicrobial travel case is great for keeping dirt and germs at bay. And rather than bringing a messy, sticky toothpaste bottle, use the magical Dr. Bronner’s as toothpaste (and mouthwash) instead! I told you, it really does do it all. Last, be sure to pack a small container of floss. Camping or not, you have to keep those pearly whites sparkling!

Dry Shampoo

Without hair products, glamping would be… well, camping. Some people don’t mind greasy, lifeless hair as long as they have their handy hair tie around their wrist. As for the rest of us, we would rather look and feel our best, even while roughing it.

To avoid packing leaky shampoo and conditioner bottles, opt for your favorite dry shampoo. I highly recommend R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo -- with this in your camping hygiene kit, you really could come out of Death Valley looking like a rockstar. For something more affordable, try Batiste Dry Shampoo (the Cherry scent is my favorite, you’ll look and smell great). Or, for a really handy hack, just bring the ancient bottle of baby powder you have hanging around your guest bathroom. It does the same exact thing as dry shampoo, at a fraction of the cost (shh… it’ll be our little secret).

Lotion

Again, this one is kind of obvious. But you shouldn’t just grab any old lotion. Definitely opt for unscented, as many scented lotions can attract pests -- bugs, bears, and other unwanted camp-crashers. Also, do your skin a favor and pick up a lotion with relatively high SPF (at least 30). You’ll be hanging around in the elements for days on end, and you would be surprised how much sun you can soak up even when you try to stay in the shade.

Herbal Choice Mari Lotion fits the bill perfectly -- it’s unscented and has adequate SPF for outdoor fun, and its ingredients are more natural than what you typically find in other sunscreens. Another of my favorites is Neutrogena Healthy Defense; it’s perfect for the face and doesn’t have a strong chemical smell, which I love because my sinuses are particularly sensitive to sunscreen smells. Regardless of your choice, a good SPF lotion is vital for guarding your skin against harsh elements, dry air, and harmful UV rays.