Camping: Why we love it - And some tips

Camping. Roughin’ it. Pitchin’ tents. Backpacking. What comes to your mind when you hear these terms? For a lot of people, it's bugs, dirt, perhaps even squatting in a bush with a sock hoping that no one is walking nearby (Dakota’s humor). But for Dakota and me it means a lot more than just losing some modern-day liberties (although I don’t really care for the bug part). To us it means tranquility, peace, serenity, among others. However, I do have some stipulations on camping, and that includes not squatting in a bush with a sock, but we'll talk more about that later.

I didn’t grow up camping. Surprising, I know, considering how much I love it now. So, when we decided to make the leap into our first ever camping trip together last May (2021), I was a bit more than just nervous. Lucky for me though, Dakota grew up camping, and I’d consider him a pro. Now, I wasn’t nervous about the bugs, or getting dirty, or anything like that. I was genuinely afraid of creepers in the night. If you’re reading this, and you don’t already know me personally, I do not watch scary movies. Not even the iconic ones. And the true irony of it all is that Halloween is my favorite holiday. Confused? Me too. Anyways - I was very afraid of being in the dark, in an unfamiliar place, inside a fabric tent that could be ripped open.

I was so nervous; I was thinking of ways to make it seem safer. I asked Dakota (sadly, this is true), “What if we put a padlock on the zippers of the tent?” I hope you’re thinking - Seriously Kayla? You know you're sitting inside fabric, right? Don’t worry, Dakota quickly pointed out to me how silly of an idea this was. Luckily though, I was able to overcome this fear and take our first camping trip.

Our first camping trip was in Mammoth Cave National Park. And man, what a peaceful campground that was. We were right on the tree line to the forest (a great place for Freddy Krueger to hide), where we could watch deer making their way through. We made the typical hot dogs and s’mores and enjoyed the night sky. Mammoth Cave National Park is considered an International Dark Sky Park - a place where there is little light pollution, where you can see all that the great sky has to offer. Once Dakota and I made this trip together, I was hooked. I absolutely loved camping. It was a way to center yourself in nature, unplug from electronics, and take a break from the fast-paced world. We knew we already loved being outdoors, so this just gave us even more time to do so. Opposed to having to leave, go to a hotel, and drive back the next morning. It was a lot of time wasted that could have been spent doing more of what we loved.

Our tiny tent in Mammoth Cave National Park

Our next camping trip would be in Indiana Sand Dunes National Park for my birthday the following month (June 2021). I wish I could say we had as much fun as we did in Mammoth Cave. As you are probably well aware, Mother Nature is a beast who should not be messed with. I’m not sure what I did to piss her off, but every year without fail on my birthday, it rains. If it doesn’t rain, I have to check to make sure I have the right date and it is in fact my birthday. Well, this trip to Indiana was no exception. It rained the entire time. It was definitely a unique camping experience. Our tent was drenched and so were we. We spent most of our time in our tent too (see picture below). A lot of people would expect this to be an epic failure, but Dakota and I did get to spend a lot of quality time together. That night we were woken to the sound of thunder and lightning, which was pretty scary at the time, but it is now a nice memory.

Dakota and I hiding in our tent from the rain

Our latest camping trip was in Everglades National Park with our friends where we spent three nights in Long Pine Key campground. It reminded me a lot of mine and Dakota’s first camping trip. Beautiful weather, nice conversations, a great view, and so much more. We did have a unique experience at this campground that involved a helicopter spotlighting the campground that I suggest you read in our blog about the Everglades.

We do have a few camping reservations coming up. This summer we’ll be spending two nights in Cumberland Bay State Park in Upstate New York, two nights at a campground in New Hampshire, three nights in the Blackwoods campground in Acadia National Park, and two nights in Quechee Gorge State Park in Vermont. We also have some more local trips planned for Ohio. In the fall we’ll be staying one night camping in Congaree National Park, and a few nights in Elkmont campground in the Great Smoky National Park. We’ll be sure to give you insider tips on each of these spots in the future.

Night sky (and some light pollution from Miami) at our campsite in the Everglades

The reason Dakota and I have been able to travel so frequently is because of camping. It has decreased our lodging budget tremendously (~100$ for a hotel room or ~20$ for a campsite). There are even a lot of free camping opportunities that you can use various apps to help you find. So, not only is it a great way to connect with nature along with others, but it’s easy on the wallet, too.

I mentioned earlier that there are a few stipulations we have (more so I) when it comes to picking a campground and a specific campsite. I’m all for getting messy and roughin’ it. But I’m still not too comfortable with camping without a bathroom. So, that is one thing I look for is a bathroom, with the minimum toilet and sink. Since all our camping experiences have been at national parks, this hasn’t been a problem. Maybe one day we’ll be ‘bathroom squatters’ (unlikely). We also like to choose a spot that is the farthest away from others. This can be a little trickier, but we’re camping to be close to nature, not people. All it takes is a little more investigation on the space. I’d suggest taking a peek at the campground map (if they have one) to determine the best spot for you.

The great thing about camping is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Sure, there are people that camp with their living room and kitchen in their RV, and there are others who carry everything on their back (backpacking). And yes, there will always be someone who says one is the true camping, and the other is glamping. But honestly, in my opinion, as long as you're getting out of your comfort zone, getting outdoors, sharing the experience with the ones you love, and respecting the ground you walk on, there truly is no right way. Or, less eloquently said, “Tell those haters to shut up!”

We have quite a few gadgets that have made camping a little smoother. Recall for a moment the story I told you about our Indiana camping experience. Since then, we have upgraded our tent (wonderful decision), we’ve bought sleeping pads (we first bought an air mattress, but Luna popped it the first time we blew it up), and we also have inflatable pillows. Sure, you can bring your pillows from home, but we find having these pillows make it easier to transport and makes our at-home pillows a little less smelly. We have some other things that we haven’t tried out yet, but we’ll be sure to update you once we do.

Our newly upgraded tent in Everglades National Park

A few things to keep in mind while camping. A lot of parks have regulations on firewood. Firewood often carries invasive species. So, for example, for our East Coast Trip this summer, I cannot bring firewood from Ohio to Maine. Per Maine’s regulations, you cannot bring firewood more than 50 miles from the area. Always be sure to check specific rules relative to the campground. I’d also suggest creating a list that includes all the things you need to camp (ice, fire starter, matches, etc.). This will help to ease your mind when packing. And, if you’re truly new to camping, maybe you could try to camp somewhere relatively close to home, or even in your backyard to test your gear, and be someplace where you can quickly grab something you may have forgotten. I know we emphasize national parks a lot, but there are many state parks out there, and even local campgrounds that deserve equal amounts of representation.

Anyways - the point of this blog is to bring awareness to the fact that camping isn’t scary. It is a great way to take a break from reality, forget about deadlines, work, busy schedules, and perhaps even responsibilities. It is an amazing way to connect with the ones you love, take a break, and smell the roses if you will. Nature is a great way to boost our mental health (this has been proven time and time again), and it’s a great way to give back to our earth and even community. For example, the money that goes back to the state or national parks for your camping reservation. I implore you to take the leap into camping if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it - and if you do, forget I told you that!

If you can’t find us at home, you can find us in the parks!

Campsite at Mammoth Cave National Park

With safe travels and love,

Dakota & Kayla