Memorial Day Activities for Your Camping Weekend

Make this a Memorial Day weekend your family will never forget. Created after the Civil War to honor soldiers killed in action, the holiday was originally called Decoration Day. 

Memorial Day, as we know it, became an official federal holiday in 1971. Since then, this day of remembrance has been marked with parades, family gatherings, hot dogs, and the unofficial start of camping season.

Use this list of things to do over Memorial Day weekend for inspiration to make it truly memorable. 

1. Pay Your Respects

Learn more about the Civil War at a historic battlefield or pay your respects at a national cemetery. The National Park Service maintains 14 national cemeteries across the nation, including Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, Soliders National Cemetery in Gettysburg, and Antietam National Cemetery in Maryland. 

2. Partake in a Parade 

Memorial Day parades happen in towns big and small across the county. 

Many of our resorts at Sun Outdoors also have their own celebrations. So rally your family troop, unfurl an American flag, make a patriotic craft, and find a spot on the street to honor the great men and women who gave their lives for the USA.

3. Plant a Poppy 

The red poppy has been a symbol of the American Legion since 1920 and they have been distributing them around Memorial Day since 1924 in exchange for donations to help serve veterans.

Try planting poppies at your seasonal site for a spot of summer color. Oriental poppies are hardy in most zones, needing only sun and well-drained soil. Poppies do well in garden containers and would brighten up an RV site all season long.  

4.  Hot Diggity Dog 

According to the people who keep track of these things, nearly 72 million hot dogs are enjoyed on Memorial Day. These days, hot dogs come in all types including beef, chicken, vegetarian and even seafood. 

If hot dogs are a part of your Memorial Day camping celebration, here are some of tips on the best way to cook and enjoy some dogs hot off the grill. 

Stick It To ‘Em

Keep to tradition and use a found stick for your hot dog roasting. Make sure it is long enough to safely put the hot dog near the flame and spear the frank on the whittled point securely, or you'll risk the chance of it falling off into the fire. Metal versions are good alternatives that can be used again and again. 

Make It Grate

One of the best ways to cook hot dogs is to place them directly on a clean grill to the side of direct flames or heat to avoid blistering. Grate isn't in great condition? Use your own or a cast-iron skillet. Make sure to add some butter or beer to the skillet first. Once cooked through, remove the hot dogs from the skillet and place them over the hot grate to get that perfect crisp char.

Many of our Sun Outdoor resort RV and tent sites as well as our vacation rentals come with a grate ready for outdoor cooking. 

Beyond Basic Toppings

There are a lot of regional favorites when it comes to topping off a hot dog, including coleslaw, jalapenos, and sauerkraut. If you're more a traditionalist when it comes to condiments, pick up a jar of local mustard at a farmers market or try making homemade ketchup. 

Check out what people across the country are putting on their hot dogs this holiday weekend.

5. A Time to Remember 

On Memorial Day Monday, take a respectful time out at 3 p.m. to observe a National Moment of Remembrance. A few minutes of silence is the least we can do to remember our soldiers lost in battle.  

6. Wear Your Patriotic Pride  

Show off your love for our country all over a Sun Outdoors resort this holiday. Put on a red, white, and blue bathing suit and make a patriotic splash in one of our pools or water parks scheduled to open over the weekend. 

Sport your favorite stars and stripes when picking up a game of basketball, while pushing the kids on the playground swings or when tossing an all-American baseball for Fido at the dog park. 

Show off your USA pride at all the Sun Outdoors resort amenities you enjoy this weekend!

At some point this Memorial Day, take time to learn about, remember, and be thankful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.  

Are you a veteran? Thank you for your service. We offer a special discount for American and Canadian military members with our Sun Military Discount Program.