Why is there so much fuss about giving an experience instead of an object?

If you need an idea for a really, really special and unforgettable gift for a loved one, choose an experience instead of just more stuff. Why? It has already been proven many times that experiences make us happier than objects, and that this happiness lasts longer.

To help you become everyone’s favorite gift-giver, read our list of 52 experience gift ideas, so you have at least one for every week next year. How thoughtful of us (and you)!

1. Opera/theater/show tickets (for the best seats, of course).

2. VIP concert tickets.

3. Plane tickets. Not really creative, but plane tickets are always a good idea.

4. A day at a spa center. Or, even better, at a warm outdoor swimming pool when it’s winter outside. Raise the stakes by bringing a flask of hot tea and rum.

5. A massage, preferably accompanied by a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate.

6. A thought-provoking book.

7. A book full of travel challenges.

8. Wine tasting. Beer tasting. Whisky tasting. Chocolate tasting.

9. A drawing/guitar/piano class.

10. A surprise trip (read How to plan the perfect surprise trip).

11. Bungee jumping.

12. Paragliding – a tandem flight.

13. A paragliding course (a whole new level where you can fly without an instructor).

14. Skydiving, diving, free diving

15. A day at a board games club.

16. A visit to an escape room.

17. A visit to a soundproof (anechoing) room – this is a hard task as there are just few anechoing chambers (absorbing every single sound and providing 99.9% silence) in the world, and they usually open only on specific days. They say that if you stay in an anechoing chamber for a while, you will start to actually hear your heartbeat.

18. A ‘coupon’ promising the recipient one day of your life together to do whatever they like.

19. Stargazing with a cup of hot chocolate.

20. A night at a Bedouin camp (for this particular idea you will need to already be in a country with Bedouins). If you are there anyway, use the chance to organize a great surprise by booking the night secretly, kidnapping your friend and taking them to the desert.

21. Glamping. Or champing (camping in a church) if you feel like scandalizing the religious society.

22. A dinner at a restaurant with such exotic cuisine that you can’t pronounce any item on the menu and you have to helplessly point to dishes to order them.

23. A whole day at a theme park.

24. A balloon flight.

25. A day on a yacht/boat with lots of champagne and a playlist with your favorite music.

26. A day snowshoeing in the mountains.

27. A cocktail night at a rooftop bar.

28. A night picnic.

29. A visit to a haunted/abandoned house.

30. A language course. Or step up your game by arranging a language course that takes place abroad.

31. A professional photo shoot.

32. If the person’s birthday occurs during a cold month, take them to a beach destination for a change. Or take them to a snow-capped mountain if they have never seen snow.

33. A party train ride. Book a whole compartment for the two of you, or for a bunch of friends. Bring goodies and drinks for everyone and let the party begin.

34. A hike in the mountain. Hide a box with a tiny cake and a bottle of champagne in your backpack. When you reach the peak, pop open the champagne and light the candles on top of the cake (you will probably have to buy non-extinguishable candles, because mountain peaks are windy places).

35. A night in a floating bungalow.

36. A dinner themed around the country of your most recent trip together.

37. Reunite the birthday person with an old friend who has been living abroad/faraway for years. Secretly arrange the friend’s arrival and, under the guise of a casual coffee with you, make the surprise meeting happen.

38. A membership for a museum, aquarium or a science center that lines up with the person’s interests.

39. A personal horoscope (if the person is into astrology). Substitute with a personal guided meditation, a human design, a personal coaching session or anything that will suit your friend’s soul.

40. A dance lesson.

41. Horse riding at sunset along the beach.

42. A subscription to yoga classes or any other sporty activity that will keep them healthy.

43. Anything homemade, because a homemade cake or herb-infused vodka is much greater than the product itself; it shows that you put time, effort and intent into creating it.

44. A luxury first night for a budget traveler. If you have a friend who spends most of their life on the road in crappy hostels and low-grade shared rooms, you can give them a ‘voucher’ for a first night in a luxury hotel for their next trip. After 26 hours of flying and interrupted dozes in airports, they will be more than thankful for a fluffy, cloud-like pillow and a real mattress in a soundproof hotel room.

45. Premium membership for their favorite app or online subscription. This could be Spotify, Calm or whatever service they love but would never splurge on.

46. Make one of their dreams come true. Has your friend always wanted to publish a book? To record their own song? Help them make their hobby a little bit more tangible by paying for the record or the publishing service.

47. Laughter. Have any of your friends been under the weather recently? Think of a way to make them laugh a bit: buy them tickets for a stand-up comedy show, take them to a comedy movie, or just organize a meetup with a mutual friend who is known to be light-hearted and always full of creative jokes.

48. A list of 52 challenges to complete during the next year. Make them fun and creative, and remember that some of them should be goofy and silly because that’s what friends are for! Thus, your gift won’t be forgotten for an entire year (and probably much longer). Browse through our Inspiration section to get some ideas.

49. A fixed sum of money with a catch. A 100-dollar note with a different kind of note, like: “On May 17, wherever you are, you have to spend this money on something unconventional, something you wouldn’t normally do. Spoil yourself, get adventurous or do whatever you feel like in the moment”.

50. A surprise party. OK, this is a classic. But if you haven’t done it yet, it’s almost always a cool idea.

51. A test drive of a fancy sports car.

52. A short video you secretly shot for this special person during your travels. Use a basic free video editor to make it shine a bit, then give it to the person on a memory stick wrapped in a ribbon.

53. Personal gift with print 🙂

I would also add a luxury pen to create memories. Or rather to preserve memories :)

Pin it now because you never know when you are going to need a list of good gift ideas:

Creativity is very important and a big plus in many ways.
For example, see who are creative agencies and what they do. You can inspire on the website hd-room.com 🙂

The post Best gifts that are actually unforgettable experiences appeared first on 203Challenges.

But to ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, it is essential to choose the right campsite and understand the logistics of setting it up.

Choosing the Perfect Campsite

The first step to a successful solo camping trip is finding the right campsite. Here are some factors to consider:

• Terrain: Look for flat ground for your tent to avoid uneven sleeping surfaces. Avoid low-lying areas that could gather water during rain.

• Shelter: Check if the area offers natural windbreakers like hills, dense vegetation, or large rocks.

• Water and food: Proximity to a water source is important, but make sure it’s not too close to avoid attracting wildlife. Campsites closer to the trailhead typically have better access to facilities, including food storage.

• Privacy: Since you’re solo camping, choose a spot that offers privacy but is not completely isolated for safety purposes.

• Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the campsite rules, including designated camping areas, fires, and noise restrictions.

Choose a Practical Tent

For a solo camping trip, the tent you choose can make a significant difference. It needs to be lightweight for easy transport, durable to withstand the elements, and above all, easy to set up by yourself. Here are a few tents known for their ease of setup:

• Pop-up tents: These tents spring into shape once they are removed from their carrying bag. They are incredibly easy to set up but may lack the durability required for harsh weather conditions.

• Inflatable tents: These tents utilize air tubes instead of traditional poles, inflating to a sturdy structure with the help of a pump. While slightly heavier, they are straightforward to set up and take down.

• Freestanding tents: These tents come with a fixed pole system that allows them to stand up without the need for stakes. They can be moved around once set up and are relatively easy to pitch alone.

Selecting the right tent depends on your personal needs and the nature of your camping trip. Test the setup process at home before you head out to ensure you’re comfortable doing it alone.

Setting Up Your Solo Campsite: A Detailed Guide

After you’ve selected the perfect campsite and chosen an easy-to-assemble tent, the next step is the actual setup of your campsite. This process involves several key steps, each contributing to your overall comfort, safety, and enjoyment of your camping trip.

Positioning Your Tent

This is perhaps the first and most critical step in setting up your campsite. You’ll want to position your tent’s door facing away from the prevailing wind direction. This way, you won’t have wind blasting through your tent every time you open the door. 

Consider any views you might enjoy from your tent’s doorway – waking up to a beautiful sunrise or an overlooking panorama can enhance your camping experience. Lastly, ensure your tent is a safe distance from the fire pit if you’re planning to have one, to prevent any stray sparks from reaching your tent.

Securing Your Tent

Properly securing your tent is essential to ensure it remains stable and secure, regardless of weather changes. Use all the pegs, stakes, and guy ropes provided with your tent to anchor it firmly to the ground. 

Even in calm weather, it’s a good idea to secure your tent, as winds can pick up unexpectedly. If you’re camping in a particularly windy location, you might want to invest in additional heavy-duty stakes to ensure stability.

Setting Up Your Sleeping Area

Once your tent is up and secure, the next step is to set up your sleeping area. Inflate your sleeping pad, if you have one, and unroll your sleeping bag. 

Doing this as soon as your tent is set up gives your sleeping bag time to loft, ensuring it can provide maximum warmth when it’s time to crawl in for the night. Consider adding a small camping pillow to your setup for extra comfort.

Arranging Your Kitchen Area

If you plan on cooking at your campsite, you’ll need to set up a kitchen area. This should be situated a good distance from your tent and downwind, so cooking smells and smoke don’t waft into your sleeping area. 

Keep all food and cooking utensils in sealable containers to prevent attracting wildlife. If you’re camping in an area known for bears, you’ll need to store food and cooking equipment in bear-proof containers or use provided bear lockers.

Following Leave No Trace Principles

An important aspect of camping, especially solo camping, is respecting the environment and leaving the campsite as you found it. This is part of the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles, a set of guidelines aimed at outdoor ethics. 

These principles include packing out all trash, leaving what you find, respecting wildlife by observing from a distance, and being considerate of other visitors by keeping noise to a minimum and respecting occupied campsites.

Takeaway

Setting up a solo campsite might seem daunting initially, but with careful preparation and by following these guidelines, it can be a straightforward and rewarding process. The key is to respect nature and fully immerse yourself in the experience, enjoying the unique peace and tranquility that solo camping offers.

Photo by Daan Weijers on Unsplash

The post Finding the Perfect Campsite: A Guide to Choosing and Setting Up Your Solo Campsite appeared first on 203Challenges.

Big adventures are inspiring and they are great for impressing strangers in bars, but they happen quite rarely and the gap between them can make your life feel empty and uneventful. Plus, sometimes you just can’t take a day off from work even when you’re itching to get out and do something fun.

But all hope is not lost! There are several options that you’ve probably failed to notice in your despair.

After all, on a normal working day you’re free:

• in the morning;
• during your lunch break;
• after work (including the evening).

Here are 12 ideas for mini trips and adventures that you can squeeze into these breaks. They’re exciting, Instagram-worthy (because we all crave that killer shot that gets 100+ likes) and will help your free spirit survive until the weekend comes.

#1 Organize a sunrise picnic

A sunrise picnic by the lake | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

A picnic can be so much more than eating an alfresco meal on a blanket. Simply changing the time of your picnic can completely change the experience. Leave home an hour or so before sunrise, take a flask of coffee and breakfast in a basket, then drive somewhere beautiful to greet the new day.

>>> Try more creative picnic ideas.

#2 Head outside for your morning workout

Outdoor yoga routine | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

Yoga, tai chi or downhill biking – whatever your sporting passion is, try it somewhere new and exciting. Why practice your morning meditation in your living room when you can do it in a forest or a quiet park?

#3 Go ‘forest bathing’ like the Japanese

Go forest bathing | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

The Japanese call it shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) – the practice of walking in the forest to improve your health. The Swedes have a somewhat similar tradition called gökotta, which involves heading to a forest before sunrise to listen to the first birdsong of the morning. It’s much more exciting to tell your colleagues you practiced shinrin-yoku or gökotta instead of simply saying “I went to the park this morning.”

#4 Walk to work

Swap your daily commute for a walk to combine a healthy lifestyle, physical activity and a peaceful rebellion against big city’s pollution. It’s no coincidence that there’s a Walk to Work Day – use it as inspiration!

#5 Do something unusual in your lunch break

If you stop thinking of your lunch break as just a meal time, you’ll be able to come up with tons of amazing activities that you can squeeze into your day. If you’re struggling for inspiration, read this list of unusual lunch break ideas.

#6 Hop on your bike and ride to the nearest peak

Cycle for the sunset | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

All the sweat and pain of climbing a hill on two wheels is worth it when there’s a jaw-dropping view at the top. Take a bottle of wine and share it with your fellow mini-adventurers on a summer’s day; you can enjoy the sunlight long after work is over.

Psst. We’ve compiled a cycling playlist here.

#7 Dine on a lake shore

Dine on a lake shore | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

Instead of having dinner at home or at a restaurant, grab your favorite takeaway and head to the nearest lake. Reservoirs, river banks, city ponds and fountains will also suffice if your neighborhood is lacking in lakes. Of course, lakeside meals are often interrupted by lakeside birds, so keep some crumbs at hand for your feathered friends.

#8 Book a table at a restaurant in another city

Indulging in a scrumptious meal is always a special event, no matter whether you’re abroad or at home. To make this weekday night even more special, research a good restaurant in a neighboring city and head there. Don’t forget to try the dessert of the day!

#9 Go stargazing

A blanket, a friend and a half-hour drive out of the city are the only three ingredients you need for a memorable night under the stars. If it’s August and you live in the Northern Hemisphere, you can plan to see the Perseids meteor shower.

#10 Sleep in a hotel in your own city

Choose a cozy boutique hotel in your own city and treat yourself to a midweek vacation. Take advantage of all the services: the spa center, the gourmet restaurant, the rooftop bar…

#11 Go midweek camping somewhere close to your city

Go midweek camping | © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

Midweek camping is so unexpectedly refreshing that once you’ve tried it, you may wonder why you’ve wasted all those years sleeping under a ceiling. It’s much easier than it sounds; you don’t need a day off and you don’t need to drive for miles. Simply read our guide: How to organize a midweek nature escape in 10 easy steps.

#12 Go on a night hike

Provided you have an acceptable mountain/hill close to where you live and there’s a trail you know like the back of your hand, you have no excuse not to put your headlamp on and head on a refreshing hike under the moonlight. Choose a night with a full moon for an extra special experience.

Featured image: © Maria Angelova/ 203challenges.com

Like these ideas? Pin them so you always have them at hand:

The post 12 midweek mini trip ideas for when you can’t take a day off appeared first on 203Challenges.

Using the sun as a guiding point may save your life in the wilderness, backwoods, the Sahara or any other place where you find yourself lost and without a compass (or, of course, Google Maps). It’s also an essential skill if your compass fails you. Above all, this give you the chance to brag about your incredible survival skills to friends and strangers.

Ingredients:

1 x sun

1 x long, straight object (a stick)

Time:

15-20 minutes

Execution:

Take a long, straight object (1 m/3.5 ft long is perfect!)  – a stick is best, but you can also use a ski pole or whatever straight object you have at hand in the above-mentioned wilderness, where you might not have many options. In the worst case scenario, you could be the “straight object”, but we doubt you would be willing to stand still for 20 minutes under the sun.

Insert the object into the ground at an angle of 90 degrees (it is important for the angle to be as close to 90 degrees as possible) and mark the end of the object’s shadow with a pebble or twig. Wait for 15-20 minutes: in that time, the shadow will move. Take another pebble and mark the new end of the shadow. Draw a straight line between the start and end point of the shadow’s movement (the two pebbles). This line points east–west: the first point is west and the second is east.

If you stand with your left shoulder pointing west and your right shoulder pointing east, then you will be facing north, while south will be directly behind you.

Pin it for later:

The post How to determine the direction using only the sun (and a random stick) appeared first on 203Challenges.

But we understand how difficult it may be to pack for multi-day camping adventures. That’s why we created this essential traveling checklist to make packing more manageable and less stressful.

1) Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag or camping blanket will keep you warm when sleeping outside in the elements, and they will also cushion your body slightly. Most campers pack a sleeping mat, although this isn’t strictly required, especially if you’re the sort that can sleep anyplace.

Most campers will also use a tent, while hardcore campers may want to use an insulated or bivvy-style bag to protect themselves from rain and snow. These are seldom as enjoyable for recreational campers, but in extreme situations, they may keep you warmer than a standard tent, and they help you free up pack space and reduce a lot of weight.

2) Multitool

A decent multitool is one of the most critical items in every camper’s kit. They are modern outdoor lovers’ Swiss army knives. Multitools allow you to carry multiple different tools in one compact and light container.

Even the most basic multitools will often contain pliers, screwdrivers, pens like everyday carry bolt action pens, scissors, and a knife blade, while more complicated ones would have everything except the kitchen sink. 

As with practically every other camping-gear purchase, you’ll have to evaluate the opposing forces of weight and luxury, so think about your needs carefully while making your selection.

3) Bottle of Water

Camping literature used to specify a canteen as one of the goods that every camper must pack, but in the twenty-first century, campers have a lot of better choices. Canteens make water taste strange, and their mouths are tiny, limiting their flexibility. 

You can’t readily prepare soup in them, for example. Instead, most current campers bring a wide-mouthed plastic bottle with them. These bottles are commonly referred to as “Nalgene bottles” since they were initially manufactured by a firm of the same name. 

They are currently manufactured by several manufacturers. There are variances between the various models, so consider your options carefully and be a discriminating consumer.

4) Flashlight

Every camper should take a flashlight with them. Flashlights are not only necessary for safety, but they are also beneficial to your sanity – sharing a flashlight is no fun at all. Choose a tiny, lightweight flashlight with an easy-to-activate switch that fits securely in your hand and produces sufficient lumens.

Some campers pack a headlight, but you’d be good to bring a flashlight as well, as they excel in areas that headlamps do not. For example, holding a headlight steady for an extended amount of time might be challenging.

5) Glock 

Many states made it unlawful for a bowhunter to bring a weapon to the stand a decade ago. We couldn’t be trusted not to shoot a deer with a Glock and then poke an arrow into it to conceal our tracks if one walked by. The world has changed. 

Fish and wildlife organizations have recognized the distinction between broadhead and hollow-point holes. That, plus the fact that those predisposed to poaching are likely to do it anyhow. 

Over the last decade, the legal carrying of concealed, defensive Glocks has acquired widespread popularity. It stands to reason that someone who brings heat to Walmart would likewise bring it to the deer stand. 

The Glocks usually have a single purpose: defense against a tiny but actual group of dangerous persons who may be encountered in the woods or a dark alley. These are small enough to carry daily but are especially useful in the woods because they are highly durable, weather resistant, sturdy enough for the job, and fitted with decent sights. 

To avoid Glock malfunctions, make sure that the Glock magazine base plate is clean and well-maintained.

Conclusion

Because every camping trip is unique, you may need to modify this equipment list to accommodate your destination’s terrain, animals, climate, or restrictions. As a result, no list, including the one above, should be regarded as exhaustive or infallible. 

You must always carefully organize your vacation to guarantee that you have a wonderful time while being safe while enjoying the great outdoors.

The post Traveling Essential Checklist Every Camping Enthusiast Needs appeared first on 203Challenges.

What is glamping?

The term “glamping” is, simply put, a mix of words: “glamorous” and “camping”. This is a one-of-a-kind camping experience where people can enjoy the outdoors in super luxurious five-star hotel suites built in a sensations outdoor setting. However, you don’t need to go to a posh hotel to enjoy glamping, on the contrary. There are options to rent a luscious cabin in the wood, treehouse, teepee, airstream camper, or a luxuriously equipped tent that even comes with quality tent heaters. Glamping is an exquisite mashup of cozy and comfortable camping that will enable you to exude all the modern conveniences while you are outdoors.

Glamping vs Camping

If you desire to go glamping, firstly you need to seek destinations that offer camping accommodation which is utterly upscaled to a fancy, comfort level. Unlike classical camping where you would have a sleeping bag, plastic kitchen utilities, and use “nature” as a bathroom, with glamping you can have it all. For a perfect glamping getaway, you can rent a dazzling RV or a majestic tent and park or place it near a spa-like private shower. Not only that, but your tent may come with plusher and funkier cushions and mattress and top-notch cookware. Espresso machine, elegant string LED lights, artistic and wool rugs in Australia, you name it, you can have it.

What makes glamping different?

Unlike with traditional camping, you want to sleep under the stars just as if you are sleeping in your bed. The entire glamping setting should have that home “feel” with a touch of classy standards. A genuine glamping site should have solid wood or laminate floor setting, a real bed is a must (or a quality air mattress) decorated with real bedding and lush sheets, pillows, and blankets, of course. Next, you should have the opportunity to store food in a refrigerator or heat it in a microwave as some glamping sites have electricity as a perk. In contrast to ordinary camping, here you would have everything your heart desires to make your nature-stay feel like a dreamy ethereal feel.

What should you bring when glamping?

Even if this is a luxurious camping experience, you still must be aware that you are in nature and that you may not have all the things you are used to. To make your glamping stay even more fabulous bring headlamps, first-aid kit, and backpacking food. Check with the facility rental organization before you start packing, as most glamping sites have other amenities and utilities that you would need. If not, bring a few towels, toiletries, personal cleaning supplies, sun cream, bug repellent, and all the vital backpacking clothes.

Where can you go glamping?

From innumerable fascinating sites to go glamping, to get the most out of your stay you must choose the venue and glamping structure that suits your needs and preferences. Nowadays, you can find various types of glamping structures from traditional to extravagant. Bell tents are the most idyllic glamping structures as they can fit a beautiful and comfortable bed, a few chairs, kitchen and bathroom utilities. Teepees are the second-best option. Then, you can go to a mountain lodge, cabin or hut for a full-service, all-inclusive say and not hesitate on anything. In the end, if you are more adventurous you can rent a tree house or a Mongolian yurt.

Book your all-inclusive getaway to a remote natural spot and get the most out of your glamping stay. Glamping is a perfect blend of luxurious outdoor accommodation and exciting nature-inspired vacations, so if you choose glamping instead of classical camping, you will undoubtedly have a blast.

The post Glamping 101: Best glamping tips for beginners appeared first on 203Challenges.

1. You change the asphalt under your feet with grass, hot sand or water.

2. You can walk around barefoot.

3. Sleeping in a tent restarts your biological clock.

4. Fresh air helps you sleep better.

5. Nobody cares whether your shirt is ironed.

6. Hours and time lose any relevance.

7. You can catch and gather your own food.

8. The food tastes better!

9. You can cool your beer in a stream.

10. Time passes differently when you’re camping. You can be gone for a year and find everything the way it was when you left.

11. It’s funny how real rest involves switching the place you sleep – especially for what seems at first a less comfortable one.

12. People are different around campfire.

13. You are free to take your pet with you.

14. You can be as spontaneous as you like.

15. The freedom to mix your own cocktails. Sometimes, from whatever is left.

16. You have a huge choice of places to pitch your tent.

17. And if you don’t like the place, you can leave in a flash.

18. The view when you get out of the tent in the morning.

19. Camping doesn’t take a lot of resources.

20. Great new friendships are started while camping.

21. And the old ones are strengthened.

22. The hammocks!

23. The campfire.

24. The fact that the sea (or the lake, or the forest) is a few steps away.

25. Lying in the grass.

26. You can leave the mountain, but the mountain never leaves you.

27. At some point your phone’s battery dies and then you realize you can do without it.

28. The feeling that you can do absolutely anything.

29. Or absolutely nothing.

30. Even if you’re with a big group, you can still find a secluded spot just for you.

31. You can travel with just a tent on your back for the whole summer.

32. Your ceiling is a sky with a million stars.

33. The legendary stories that you’ll tell for years to come.

The post 33 simple reasons to love camping appeared first on 203Challenges.

The weather might be getting colder, but that doesn’t have to mean giving up on the great outdoors. If you’re willing to prep properly, then you can still plan and execute an amazing camping adventure – even in the later months of the year.

Camping is an excellent opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a while and unplug from the headache of your mundane tasks and chores. Of course, while camping gives you a wonderful chance to get back to nature, it also means that you’re going to have to give up on some of your home luxuries for a little while.
If you want to stay comfortable during your nights under the stars, make sure you pack the following things.

1. Extra clothes and other essentials

Warm and cozy clothing is one of the best things you can have with you on any camping trip. Even if you’ve checked the forecast and you don’t expect the weather to be too bad on the days that you’ve chosen, it’s a good idea to stock up on lightweight layers.

Have plenty of extra socks in your rucksack, as these will help to keep your feet warm when it starts raining. What’s more, remember to pack a jacket that’s both lightweight and waterproof, so you’re defended no matter the forecast. A set of sunglasses and a great pair of hiking boots are two other essentials to add to your must-wear list. Extra underwear can go a long way towards improving comfort too!

2. The little “Extras”

Often, people assume that if they want to have a genuine camping experience, they need to give up on luxuries that they would have back home. While you can’t necessarily bring your PC and television with you, that doesn’t mean you can’t find additional comfort in little extras such as:
· Lip balm
· Toilet paper (the soft stuff)
· Painkillers
· Your favorite pillow
· A reading lamp and a must-read book

Even a tiny bit of makeup or a nice aftershave can help you to feel a little better when you’re aching for comforts from home.

3. A portable stove

Nothing helps you to fall asleep better than a nice hot meal after a long day of camping or hiking. If you really want to make sure that you feel cozy and well-rested during your nature retreat, don’t limit yourself to eating packed lunches or the berries you found around the forest. Take a portable stove with you so you can do some real cooking for you and your family.

Don’t forget to bring a fuel source too. Remember that propane gas is generally easier to transport and more lightweight. The downside to this is that it can often stop working in colder temperatures. Another option is liquid fuel, which burns quickly and speeds up your cooking times – but it’s also more expensive and heavier to carry.

4. A good place to sleep

Speaking of crawling into bed with a full stomach each night, it’s a good idea to make sure that you pick the right bedding too. This might be a hammock that you tie to some trees for a night under the stars, or it could be a memory foam pad that you can roll up and use underneath your sleeping bag.

A sleeping pad is often a great choice for people who want a similar feel to the one that they get in their bed at home. What’s more, sleeping pads offer an extra layer of insulation between your back and the cold ground on chillier evenings if you’re camping during cold weather.

5. A reliable tent

Finally, a tent is one of the most crucial items you’ll need for any camping trip – no matter what time of year it is. Remember, you don’t need a heavy or complicated tent to keep you and your family warm during those long nights. A lightweight pop-up or inflatable tent that’s well-made and double-stitched for protection from the wind can be just as good. A trusted and reliable tent is all you need. Read more to have more ideas on what tent you should be buying.

It’s also a good idea to opt for something easy to carry, particularly if you’re going to be hiking before you fall asleep each night.

Your camping must-haves

What are your must-have camping equipment for all-around comfort?

Remember, getting back to nature doesn’t mean having to give up on the cozy things in life that you appreciate the most. The five items above will help to ensure that you have a more memorable camping trip for all of the right reasons.

The post 5 essential things you must bring for a comfortable camping trip appeared first on 203Challenges.

Long post alert: This story will take you 14 minutes to read but I promise you’ll laugh, cry and cringe. You can, however, skip to the practicalities at the end if you want to.

When summer hits, you know it’s going to be hot. But sometimes it’s hot and you live in an apartment with no AC and every time you get back from work, you feel like you’re entering a giant blast furnace. You start sweating as soon as you thrust the key into the keyhole. Then you open the door and you’re knocked down by an even more potent heatwave from inside. It’s at this moment that you say to yourself “Enough’s enough!”.

In short, this sweaty scenario was exactly why I decided to evacuate myself from my home for a week this August, swapping my bed for a hammock in the forest. I’m not talking about a vacation here, just a normal working week in which I began every day (well, kind of every day) by jumping out of my hammock, making a campside coffee then heading to work in my inner-city office.

By the moonlight | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Day 1 (Sunday): First hammocking

As fearless and crazy as this idea might look at first sight, I have to admit that only the latter is accurate. The truth is that I love the forest but I hate bugs. Bugs are not my friends.

The solution: I bought a portable hammock with a mosquito net from a Chinese online store. Judging its comfort and glamor, I can only compare it to a canopy bed (prices start from only $20 if you’re interested). Besides being lighter than a tent, in many countries a hammock like this can be hung in national parks and other places where camping is forbidden (anyway, if you choose to stay in remote places like these, you know what NOT to do: don’t leave your trash, don’t pick rare flowers, don’t hunt for endangered animals etc.).

So, Day 1. I set off from the city to a nearby village with Lucho – my fearless travel and life partner and personal aviation mechanic (you never know when you’re gonna need one). The full moon was as bright as a street lamp and we didn’t even need to turn our headlamps on. After 30 minutes of walking, we found a perfect piece of forest to settle down in for the night. A short while before midnight, we were having dinner under the light of the moon and the stars (oh, how romantic, you should try it!) when we heard a piercing bird call that sounded like the blood-curdling screams of a damsel in distress. That gave us the heebie-jeebies and we were forced to gulp down two shots of vodka to regain courage. Then we tucked in our sleeping bags and watched the pine tops reaching each other somewhere high above us.

The light of the full moon woke us up a few times, but it could’ve been worse if we were, let’s say, werewolves. Thank god we’re not. Despite the interruptions, the gentle whiff of pine needles on the breeze proved that sleeping in the forest was actually a genius decision!

Sunrise | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Day 2 (Monday): Lunar eclipse… almost

I spent the whole day following the weather forecast with my other fearless hiking and sleeping-in-the-forest-on-weekdays partner, Eva. The weatherman predicted heavy rain, a natural phenomenon very much at odds with our plan to scale a near 2,290-m (7500-ft) mountain peak and watch the partial lunar eclipse from there. Late in the afternoon, it started raining cats and dogs in the city, while the live cameras from the peak showed nothing better than chin-deep mud. “Let’s leave this for the weekend when we’ll watch the Perseids, too,” said Eva wisely. So we ended up peeking at the eclipse from our apartment windows, just like all the other boring city people around us.

©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Day 3 (Tuesday): Pause for a night sleeping in the blast furnace

Day 4 (Wednesday): Sleeping alone in the forest

For a third day in a row I came home thinking I’d be lazy and sleep in my bed, but things escalated. When I opened the door of my apartment a burst of scorching air burned me down and only a small pile of ashes fell on the doorstep. You imagined it. I had no choice.

10:30 pm. I took my hammock, a sleeping bag and breakfast for the next day and headed for another village close to my city. I gulped my shots of vodka early that night as this time I was going to be all by myself. It was going to be my first solo hammock night in the forest. A piece of cake! What could go wrong?!

Once I had arrived in the village, a pack of stray dogs started chasing me, which, let’s face it, was not a promising start to the night. After getting rid of the dogs, I entered the woods and 30 minutes later I found a perfect spot to hang my hammock. The air was pine-fresh and a brook was babbling somewhere nearby. What an idyll!

My hammock in the forest | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

I fell asleep almost immediately. Then, I woke up almost immediately. My sick mind was dreaming that a psychopath was leaning over me (let me remind you: I was a woman sleeping alone in the forest). As I mentioned, I’m not fearless at all, and there are worse things out there than bugs. I looked around – there was nobody, so I tamed my palpitations and fell asleep again almost immediately. Once again I woke up almost immediately after I had dreamt about another psycho. And this, my dear wannabe solo-hammocking enthusiasts, continued for the whole night! I had only one dream that didn’t involve a psycho, but it was just as terrifying: a fox took away my sandals and I had to walk barefoot back to the village.

In spite of the pines, the babbling river and the refreshing whiff of the wind, I had just endured the worst al fresco night of my life so far.

Morning coffee | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

However, I want to clarify that the night was not all psychos and sandal-loving foxes. For the first time I had the chance to really appreciate the net of the hammock. When I woke up for the last time in the morning, I saw that a forest spider had illegally used my hammock net as a base for his web. I imagined how, if it hadn’t been for the hammock net, I’d have woken up entangled in cobwebs from head to toe, with a giant spider staring directly into my eyes. Don’t judge me. I’ve seen too many thrillers in my life.

Now I’d like to take a moment to share my thoughts on meeting other people in the forest. The scariest of all encounters you can have in a dark forest at night is not a bear, a wolf or even a flock of hungry mosquitoes – it’s another human. What would a normal person be doing in the dark, more than an hour away from the nearest village? He must be a psychopath. Except for you, you are slightly adventurous but completely normal on the whole. Yet, sometimes people don’t get it and the roles swap. Especially when a father and son walk their puppy in the wood above their village at 6 in the morning and you jump out of the bushes with messy hair and bloodshot eyes because you haven’t drunk your coffee yet. Oh well, in this case you are the psycho and you can be sure that the father has squeezed the phone in his pocket ready to call 911 or, if necessary, is prepared to knock you down and drown you in the river.

Morning coffee and planning | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Day 5 (Thursday): Pause for another night sleeping in the blast furnace

Day 6 (Friday): The Perseids and sleeping on a mountain peak

I don’t want a fox to lick my nose while I sleep. I just don’t. Everybody has their irrational fears, and that’s (one of) mine. I’d bought a hammock with a net and now I was forced to sleep in a meadow (try to hang your hammock in a treeless meadow!). But being a part of a group of four (I’ve already mentioned Eva and Lucho, plus Ilko) dedicated to sleeping in the fresh air and watching the Perseid meteor shower, I decided to keep my fears to myself and daringly lie under the stars, stuffed in my sleeping bag and zipped up to the top, with only the tip of my nose poking out.

Earlier this evening, we’d hiked for more than an hour up in the mountains and had chosen a peak (1300 m/4200 ft) with a magnificent view of the surrounding area. We saw tens of blinking villages down in the valley, while the shooting stars above us were doing what they do best – they were leaving their bright trails in the sky while we were ticking off wishes from our lists. We ate dinner with no light other than the moon, laughed and ate home-grown tomatoes… And I slept like a log for the first time in a week.

For the record, no fox licked my face that night.

Day 7 (Saturday): Thunderstorm = sleeping in the blast furnace (again!)

Next days: all summer hammocking

After the first experimental nights, I’m sure sleeping in a hammock will turn into a summer tradition around these parts. Maybe it’ll go beyond summer, too. Has anyone come up with a winter hammock yet?!

Sunrise | ©Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Q&A: Practicalities

– How do you get there?

– This challenge was completed around Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and my destinations were the villages of Zheleznitsa, Simeonovo, and Yarlovo, between 5 and 50 km (3 and 30 mi) away form the city. I used both my car and public transportation to get to the villages, then relied on my own two feet to find a sleeping spot in the forest. Regardless of where you live, you can create your own hammock map with suitable locations around your home.

– Do you shower at all?

– In general or during this adventure? Yes, I take a shower at home before I head to the office. But even if I can’t make it, I have a bathroom in the office, so this is not an issue. Anyway, sleeping in the forest is more refreshing that you’d expect.

– How early do you wake up for work?

– It depends on a bunch of factors, but I usually wake up at 6 am, make some coffee and breakfast and get to the city before the morning rush hour. It’s a well-known fact that you sleep better in the forest (unless you dream about psychos 20 times per night).

– What’s in your backpack?

– A sleeping bag, a mat, a hammock with a mosquito net, gas stove + coffee, breakfast (I usually take a few tomatoes, bread and cheese), vodka (a shot before bed to pay homage to an old tradition), water, headlamp, cup, a long-sleeve blouse (I sleep with my shorts only) and a camera.

This was one of the 5 travel challenges for August 2017, inspired by the book “203 Travel Challenges”.

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The post How I swapped my bed for a hammock this summer (and kept on going to work) appeared first on 203Challenges.

Here’s the inspiring story of Lexis Noelle and her little converted blue-bus “Lola”:

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– Who is Lexis Noelle and what does she dream of?

– My name is Lexis Noelle, I am a 19-year-old girl from New York with a strong desire to travel and explore new places. I was never the college/bookwork type so after I graduated High school I went to my mom and told her I need to do something that I’m going to love doing and sitting in school was not it. She knew who I was and what I loved so we decided since I love camping and exploring new places, why not get something that would make traveling a lot easier and fun to do! And that is where “Lola” came along. My biggest accomplishment so far was being invited by “Girl Camper“ (Janine Pettit) to be in the Rhinebeck NY, “Country Living Fair”. For years I had the “Country Living Magazine” delivered to my house and I remember flipping through the pages and looking at all the awesome décor and content they had. I never thought that “Lola” and I would be a part of the fair! Going to the fair really made me realize what I accomplished and it made me look at things so differently. Talking to women/men about why I bought a bus instead of just going to a dealer and buying a brand new camper, and what she is capable of made them look at my idea in a totally different way than they could imagine. It was a 3-day fair with a lot of questions, a lot of answers, and a lot of pictures. It was an experience I will never forget.

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– Who is Lola and how (and when) did she come into your life?

– “Lola” is a 1989 Canadian blue-bird short bus that my mother and I turned into a “glamper” on wheels. I was looking around for something that would suit my needs, and would be practical for me to handle driving. After months of looking for the perfect vehicle I was giving up hope on finding the right one. I stopped looking for little bit and went online one day just to see if maybe something came up, and there she was. A light pastel little blue vintage bus with endless possibilities. I contacted the seller and he was a few blocks away from my house in the same town!!! My mother and I hopped in the car, went to his house, took her for a test drive, and the rest is history. She was mine.

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– How long did it take to renovate and furnish your bus?

– My mother and I did the conversion together, being that she already had her own bus conversion. She knew how to lay a floor and do all the stuff I didn’t know how to do. She helped me with the layout and the “hard” parts and told me the rest was up to me to decorate and make my own. The conversion took about 3 months of sleepless nights, late night shopping runs, and a lot of laughs.

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– What was the hardest part?

– The hardest part was choosing how I wanted my layout. What would be most practical for me, and utilizing the most space I could.

– What was the fun part?
– The fun part was definitely the decorating! I had tons of ideas and seeing those ideas come to life was amazing.

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– What are the perks of living a bus life?

– The perks of living a “bus life” is escaping the everyday norm that a lot of people have a hard time separating from. Living a “bus life” means you can literally take your little home on wheels anywhere and always have a place to hangout, cook, sleep, shower, go to the bathroom in. The feeling of being able to open your back door and having a different view of wherever you go, whether it is mountains, a lake, a sunset, a beach is something you cannot even put a price on.

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– What was one thing you hadn’t realized about living in a bus before you actually did it?

– Right now I am currently part time “bus life” working to save more money to be comfortable hitting the road full time in “Lola”. I travel on my weekends off and my vacation days, always with a plan to see or explore something new.

– How do you find living with so little stuff?

– One thing about “bus life” is that you seriously realize how much you don’t need. There is no better feeling than having only what you really need and not having the burden of clutter on your shoulders.

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– What’s the trip that has changed you the most?

– My trip to Rhinebeck NY has been my favorite, seeing and meeting so many people and encouraging them to think outside the box gave me such an amazing feeling. Also watching them take a inside tour of “Lola” and seeing their reactions to how a short bus can fit a kitchen, bathroom, dining room and a full sized bed and still have a ton of space to move around freely completely shocked them.

– Many people dream of breaking the routine and start living in a van or converted bus. What would you tell them?

– I would tell those people if it is something they really would love to do, then they should 100% go for it. Make sure that the vehicle you want is going to suit your needs and comfort the best, watch a ton of Youtube videos on others living this lifestyle and most important have fun with it!

Photo courtesy of Adventuring with Lola

– What’s one inspiring thing you’d share with us?

– I am beyond happy that I have “Lola” and that she came out to be exactly what I wanted. I can’t thank my mother enough for pushing me to accomplish this goal, and always motivating me to go beyond my comfort zone .

– One challenge for everyone reading this?

– Go somewhere that you’ve always drove past, biked past or even walked past and always wanted to stop and see and take pictures of but never took the time out to do

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The post This cute bus to camper makeover will inspire you to follow your dreams appeared first on 203Challenges.