A good indication of how life was changing for the Victorian woman can be found in the 1880 article, "A Girls' Walking Tour." In this piece, the "girls" conclude that they can take the vastly daring step of dispensing with the company of a protective gentleman or a chaperone (presumably an older female) and take a walking tour by themselves! This was clearly unheard of in 1880; in another ten years it would scarcely raise an eyebrow. Picnics were a popular family activity; camping tended to be more of an activity for the menfolk.

The Excursion (Illustrated London Almanack, 1853)

Primarily about arranging an outdoor picnic.

The Pic-Nic (Illustrated London Almanack, 1853)

How to Camp Out at the Beach, by Frank E. Clark (St. Nicholas, 1875)

Camping Out on the Thames, by James Albert (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

"A week on the Thames is a very healthy and very pleasant way of spending a holiday, but two things are necessary - you must have fine weather, and you and your companions must have good tempers."

How We Made Our Picnic a Success, by Phillis Browne (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1876)

The key-word is "planning"!

A Girls' Walking Tour, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

"We were, on this particular occasion, mourning over the various pleasures that girls are debarred from, just because they are girls... We all united in denouncing the arbitrary laws of Society, which forbid us these and other delights, including walking-tours, unless accompanied by a gentleman... when one of our party... electrified us by saying... 'I believe we could make a glorious tour together, without a single gentleman or chaperones to interfere with us.'"

How I Managed My Picnic, by Dora Hope (Girl's Own Paper, 1880)

Sunday School Treats (Girl's Own Paper, 1880, 1881)

How to arrange a Sunday School picnic in the country.

Camping Out in California, by John R.G. Hassard (Century Magazine, 1887A)

Camp Life: Accessories, Outfits, Cookery, Etc., by Laura Willis Lathrop (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889)

Everything you need to know -- and pack -- for a camping excursion in Victorian days!

Picnic Parties - How to Prepare Dainty and Delicious Lunches for Them, by Laura Willis Lathrop (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889)

Campiana, by Gordon R. Stables (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

An account of a camping excursion, Victorian-style.

A Camp in the Adirondacks, by Jessamy Harte (Ladies' Home Journal, 1892)

Camping Out for the Poor (Century Magazine, 1892B)

A [Walking] Party of Two, by One of Them (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1894)

An account of a young couple's holiday walking tour.

Camping Out on the River, and How to Enjoy It, by Arthur H. Shaw (Windsor Magazine, 1898B)

This article looks at permanent and temporary camps set up along the Thames - campsites where all the amenities are maintained and available for visiting campers, including complete kitchens!

Preparation for Camping Out, by Howard Henderson (Drapers' Self-Culture, 1913)

• See Luncheons, Lunch Parties & Picnics for picnic recipes.