If you are like most people, you love spending time outdoors. It is relaxing and reinvigorating to spend time in nature's splendor. However, along with the beauty and fun of it comes the downside – pesky bugs. Whether you are camping, fishing, hiking, or just riding your bike on a trail, you will have to contend with a variety of insects. Not only are they annoying, they can transmit serious illnesses. Here are a few ways you can protect yourself from bugs and not let them ruin your outdoor fun.

Insect spray. It probably goes without saying but you should never go on an outdoor vacation without taking along a good bug spray. Of course, it won't do any good unless you actually use it. Read the directions and apply it as often as needed and in the way the manufacturer suggests in order to obtain the best protection. The CDC recommends you look for a spray that contains one of these ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon, eucalyptus, PMD, or IR3535.

Wear protective clothing. When you venture into the woods, you should protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and pants. These help protect you from both mosquitoes and ticks. Tuck your pants legs into your socks so ticks can't crawl up your ankles. Wear a hat to protect your hair from becoming infested and wear closed shoes. Wearing light colored clothes makes it easier to spot ticks so you can pick them off before they bite.

Sleep behind a barrier. Make sure your tent is equipped with mosquito netting or a screen that will keep the bugs out of your tent while you are sleeping at night. If the bugs get in, you could be covered with mosquito bites by the time you wake up in the morning. You can also treat your tent with permethrin so it repels the mosquitoes. Permethrin treated clothing typically lasts through five washings so if it rains, you may want to reapply it to your tent.

Protect your eyes. Don't forget about your eyes when you are getting ready for an outing. You probably have experienced how annoying it is for mosquitoes to be constantly bombarding your eye area. If the rest of your body is protected and that is the only way they can get at you, it will be even worse. If you are going for a hike during the day, simple sunglasses may suffice. If you are going out night fishing, you may want to wear goggles for full protection.

Avoid perfumes. Bugs tend to bother some people more than others. There can be several reasons for this but it could be a simple matter of smell. Don't make yourself appealing to insects, particularly bees. Avoid wearing flower based fragrances when you are going to be in the same places as lots of bees, like in the woods.

Remember, bugs are out to get you all hours of the day. They are most active at dusk and dawn, but mosquitoes will gladly bite you during the day or night hours too. While mosquitoes are the most notorious, don't forget there are all kinds of bugs out there waiting to attack, such as ticks and ants. So be well prepared and take steps to defend yourself so your vacation won't be ruined by bug bites.