KOA is having a “Come Camp With Us Day” where a free day of camping will be offered with the purchase of a day of camping, so it’s really a 2 for 1 offer.

For campers who pay to stay at a KOA campground on May 11, 2007, they will also be able to stay free of charge on May 12, 2007.

The weekend is being called “Come Camp and Care With Us Weekend” because it is also going to be a fundraising event for KOA Care Camps, which are KOA sponsored camps for children with cancer.

You can start your summer camping season with a fun weekend that is great for families because the campgrounds plan special events, including fundraising events to fund KOA’s 35 specialized summer camps that give kids with cancer and their siblings the opportunity to experience the joys of camping even if they are currently in treatment. (To find about more about KOA’s Care Camps, click here.)

Click here for a list of campgrounds participating in the weekend with the free day of camping.

Make your reservation soon though, before the campgrounds are booked solid for this fun weekend!

Have you heard of the Good Sam Club? It touts itself as the “World’s Largeset RV Owners Organization” with over 1,000,000 RVers having purchased memberships.

Good Sam is currently offering a free night of camping (a $25 value) at any one of their more than 1,700 Good Sam Parks in the United States and Canada with a paid membership. The membership itself has a special introductory price of $19 for the first year. After the first year, a yearly membership costs @29.95. Plus it is optional to have the membership autorenew.

Many states have their own Sam’s Club chapters. A few of them are: Wisconsin with 18,000 members, Kansas, West Virginia, and Arkansas. And that’s only a tiny fraction of the chapters. There are currently more than 2,000 chapters across the United States and Canada so there is a good chance there is one that is right for you.

What benefits do Good Sam Club members enjoy? Besides the camaraderie of being in a group of like minded and avid RVers and campers, some of the benefits are:

- A 10 percent discount at Good Sam affiliated RV Parks & Campgrounds in the U.S. and Canada (currently over 1,700)
- A subscription to “Highways” magazine (a members only publication)
- Free RV trip routing services
- A members owner website
- Special member only rates on RV and auto insurance
There are several other benefits too, notably special pricing and discounts on emergency services with several plans available to choose from.

It’s hard to go wrong with a deal like this. What have you got to lose?

Camping and hiking go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you go camping it’s likely you are going to go on a least a few scenic hikes or walks. To keep your feet comfortable and dry on walks and hikes, invest in SmartWool Socks. Your feet will thank you.

They are an investment. Expect to pay $12-$20 a pair depending on the style, size, and type of socks you purchase. But the socks will last you a long time, much longer than any discount store socks and they will keep your feet dry and warm no matter if it’s freezing cold or “middle of the summer hot.

How?

The fibers in the wool used have thousands of tiny air pockets in them that shield feet against heat and cold. Because the fiber iis as natural one that comes from New Zealand’s Merino sheep whose fur needs to keep them warm or cool, that fibers naturally regulate temperature and keep your feet warm when it’s cold and cool when the weather is warm. That means clammy and smell, hot feet are a thing of the past when wearing these socks because they also repel stinky foot odors.

Plus they are super comfortable because they have cushioning on the foot and toe area.

They come in several styles,colors and types for men

women,

children.

Are they worth the money? Definitely. I first came across SmartWool socks a few years ago after another family member had purchased them and went on a long three day hiking trip (over 10 miles a day) and reported his feet never sweated, nor hurt, nor got even one blister. I knew then I had to try them for myself so I bought 1 pair of hiking socks to wear while I went on my daily walks. They were wonderful. My felt comfortable the whole time and I was skeptical about that especially when I looked at the socks because the seemed heavy and destined to make my feet sweat. But they didn’t. I am now a convert. The only socks I’ll wear for walking and hiking now are SmartWool socks.

Try them. You won’t be disappointed.