Many people will be enjoying their Fourth of July weekend at a campsite.
People we spoke with said they expect the campsites to be a little busier than usual, but they're still excited to unplug from the city.
They say that being away from the distractions of work and day-to-day life, while spending quality time with friends and family, will be the best part.
Maridian Crow, a Camper, told us, "I just love being outside and, just the little things, like the smell of the trees, being with, especially the people that I love to be around, and just like the disconnect of it all, like I feel like that's so grounding and I love it."
When it comes down to the cooking, people told us they'd be sticking to the traditional meals, hot dogs, and hamburgers, and occasionally, tacos are on the menu too.
They did say it's important to run through your regular cooking routine when getting things ready, to prevent forgetting things at home
Brandon Mickoleit, a Camper, tells us some of his essentials: "Just different cooking things on, like, a Blackstone, because there's always, like, the fire restrictions and stuff. So having, like, cooking, like, something to cook on and, like, all the utensils is always important, and like, bringing your seasonings. That's one thing everyone forgets. Like seasoning something up here. Now you have unseasoned food. So like the big essentials."
People we spoke with said being in nature without distractions can lead to great moments with family.
Putting their phones down and enjoying the simple things together is what they look forward to when it comes to camping trips.
Miguel Neri, a Camper, tells us, "Most of the time we try to enjoy the water during the day. We go into the lake and try to stay in there as much as we can. We built, like, a temporary swing for the kids to play. Let the kids play with the dirt. Bring soccer balls or footballs that we can toss around, and at night we hang around the fire camp and do some s'mores and tell stories.“
Other campers told us that the community that's built in campgrounds is always willing to lend a hand when needed.
Nash Johnson, a Camper, said, "I just love getting out there and spending time in the outdoors. And I really like seeing how it can bring people together and seeing how it builds community, and people help each other. I think that's super cool, but I really just love spending time outside."
They also told us they recommend that people research the campsite they plan on going to, so that they can prepare as best as they can for what they will need.
