Summer is the best time to explore the great outdoors, and nothing puts you closer to nature than camping. It’s a fun chance to leave behind the comforts of home and try your hand at roughing it in the wilderness for a few days. Camping is an excellent pastime that can bring family and friends closer together as you roast marshmallows over a crackling fire. There are currently 29 campgrounds open for your use this summer, and reservations can be made online.

Although a lot of camping has to do with sleeping beneath the stars, it can also include other great daytime outdoor adventures.

• Want to partake in some physical activity during the day? Try one of the numerous hiking trails that run through the mountains and forests of Massachusetts. There’s sure to be one near where you’re staying!
• Or fish for your dinner at nearby lakes and ponds. Don’t forget that any sort of fishing in Massachusetts requires a permit, which can be obtained online.

There are also many other options for delicious dinners while you’re camping that don’t involve any manual labor.

• Try preparing something at home that’s easy to bring and safe to store, like fruits and vegetables. Just be sure to remember that dairy and meats will spoil if they aren’t stored properly!
• You can also use your campfire to cook delicious meals and snacks; you can even use it to make a breakfast sandwich.

Before you start loading up the car for your camping trip, there are a few safety tips you should always follow:

• Be careful when building a campfire.
  • There are millions of acres of forests burned every year due to wildfires and you don’t want your campfire to be the cause of another.
  • Remember to avoid wild animals and be safe while doing any physical activity in the woods.
    • Use the Center for Disease Control’s helpful camping checklist to be sure you have everything you need for any activity.
    • Learn the Massachusetts guidelines for what is prohibited at campgrounds.
      • For example, alcohol is prohibited and there are quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Massachusetts has also made specific cabins and tent camping sites wheelchair accessible so everyone can enjoy the great outdoors. And if you’re looking for an even more exhilarating trip, try some of Massachusetts’s new car-free and primitive campgrounds. Remember, the summer won’t last forever, so grab your family and friends, pack up your gear, and start exploring all that Massachusetts has to offer.

Join the conversation: Tweet a picture of your favorite Massachusetts camping spot to @massgov

Tags: active, activities, adventure, Camping, DCR, explore, fishing, hiking, outdoors, safety, Summer, travel