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Your camping experience should be fun, here are some things to remember...Camping with your family will probably be one of the more memorable and affordable family vacations you will ever take. But first you need to decide how you're gonna do it. Here are 3 different styles to consider... RV Camping involves renting or owning a motorhome or a trailer that is pulled behind your vehicle. Tent Camping is what the name implies. You have a tent that you stuff in your vehicle. When you arrive at your destination, you set up your tent and that is your "home." Car Camping is when you do the majority of your sleeping in your car. You may set a tent up outside your car to sleep in, however, most purists believe to really rough it, you must sleep in your car. If you have a bad back, small vehicle or more kids than carseats, this probably isn't for you!
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If you clicked on this link for suggestions on places to camp, scroll to the bottom. When you have decided what style you prefer, you will need to put together a list of various camping equipment. 
A must for all forms of camping is a good camping stove. If you have a large family, you may want to consider buying a 2-4 burner stove, powered by propane or gas. You will find that eating hot food when camping, tends to become some of the best tasting food you ever made. A good lantern is also a good idea. There are many different kinds of lanterns, but I would recommend a propane (or butane) powered lantern over a battery opperated one. Batteries don't last long and are more expensive than gas.
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Your camping list should also include 2-3 good flashlights (buy metal cased flashlights-plastic ones usually break or don't work period). I would recommend one of the lights be a headlamp.
Now I understand that some of the above may not be as necessary if you are going RV Camping, but if you plan to car camp or tent camp, these items are important. If you plan to go backpacking on your family vacation getaway, then it is especially important that you have the above items. After you have put your important camping equipment
Other items you should consider bringing are games (board games and a couple decks of cards), pillows, rugged clothes (the stains may never come out), hiking footware
Got your camping list finished? Checked it twice? Perhaps, you want to know a little more before you go. If that's so, you can get some more helpful advice, recipes for food, and general camping and outdoor information by following the link. Add to your camping list as you see fit, however, don't overdue it. Sometimes the joys of camping involve having less and learning to cope with it! Now here is a list of some of our favorite places to camp:
For the truly hardy camper/backpacker, consider Peru's Inca Trail.
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A headlamp keeps your hands free and follows the direction of where you are looking. No matter what kind of camping you are doing, get a good sleeping bag! I recommend a synthetic material-it is lighter and packs smaller. You will also need to decide what time of the year you will do most of your camping. Sleeping bags are rated to different temperatures. For example, a +30 sleeping bag will mean your bag is designed to provide warmth down to 30 degrees F, but not lower. This kind of bag is a good middle of the road bag. It can be used in the summer (it is a little warm), but also during the winter (you may need to wear socks and a sweater). If you plan to do most of your camping in the summer, you may want a +45 or warmer. Food, of course! Decide with your family what kind of food they want to eat, then pack accordingly. If you are using a cooler to keep your food cold, I highly recommend using block ice-it lasts much longer than cubes or coolpacks. A good first aid kit is one of the most important items to bring on your camping trip. Check it first to make sure it is adequately stocked with band-aids, disinfectant, and tweezers. You would be surprised how often kids (and adults) get splinters and cuts while camping.
