It may be freezing now, but spring and summer are right around the corner! Have you checked out your local camping sites yet? Camping is one of the best ways to get out, have fun and connect with family and friends. Thanks to America’s natural propensity for beautiful and expansive environments, you’ll never be at a loss for options when planning your next great family vacation. Below are the top five tips you should keep in mind before checking out a camp resort, from creating fun activities to avoiding common mistakes!

Choose Your Camping Style

Not everybody camps the same way. Some prefer to lay back under the open stars after pitching a tent and others prefer to check out local camping sites with additional amenities. The American Camper Report showed a stunning 40 million Americans (that’s 14% of the country’s population over the age of six!) camping back in 2013. Each camping participant, whether they stayed in an RV or cabin, spent an average of two weeks camping every year.

Invite Friends And Family

Did you know 12% of adult participants went camping with their immediate family? Another 13% said they camped because they wanted to spend more time with their loved ones. Local camping sites, no matter how polished, won’t be very memorable unless you have some truly good company to share the weekend along side you.

Pick Your Favorite Activities

Why are you camping in the first place? To have fun! When you invite friends and family along you also invite a lot of different tastes and perspectives. In order to keep everyone happy you should make a checklist of activities that can appeal to everyone on some level — studies have shown over 87% of campers participating in multiple outdoor activities during their stay! Common activities include, but aren’t limited to, hiking, swimming, fishing, bird-watching, painting, kayaking, boating and cooking.

Always Plan Ahead

Nothing is more frustrating than cultivating a fun trip only to have something go spectacularly wrong. Make sure to keep a checklist of all the things you’ll need on the trip — this goes for camping supplies, toiletries, food, medication and emergency additions like flares, flashlights and maps. Not only will you have more peace of mind, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. A little planning goes a long way!

Have As Much Fun As Possible

This may go without saying, but having fun is the name of the game when looking at local camping sites. Over 99% of camping participants in a recent survey said they were either ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’ to camp next year and the overwhelming majority of surveyed campers said they plan an average of five camping trips. All in all, camping is a great way to get fit, enjoy time with your family and experience the great outdoors. Whether you’re camping near a lake or want to check out campgrounds with a pool, the most memorable vacation yet is right around the corner!