My Ten Favorite U.S. Hikes, RebeccaWanderlusting

My 10 Favorite U.S. Hikes

On March 5, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Top Ten, US TravelLeave a comment

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the State and National Parks and all that they offer, so I think it’s high time I share a round-up of my favorite U.S. hikes within these parks. As you may or may not know, the National Park Service is offering ten free admission days this year to celebrate its centennial.

I’ve written about this momentous occasion before, but was reminded of it by Cotopaxi, the socially-conscious, Gear for Good creators that specialize in adventure-wear, like these backpacks, and donate some of their revenue towards making the world better. This inspiring company reminded me of the upcoming free-entry days for the National Parks. The next free days are on April 15 & 16 and on April 22 & 23, so hopefully my favorite U.S. hikes will inspire you to get out and find your own.

Clingman’s Dome, Smoky Mountains National Park: The top of this steep hike and cement overlook features one of the best views in the Smoky Mountains. We visited Gatlinburg, TN last summer with my family and it was one of my favorite trips. All of the hikes we took through the park were fantastic, but this one stands out in my memory for its view and its crossing of the Appalachian Trail.
Matthiessen State Park: Any hike at Matthiessen State Park is guaranteed to give you beautiful views and at least one waterfall. This state park is about an hour and half outside of Chicago and gives a much needed dose of natural beauty to us city dwellers. The trails wind through canyons and over bridges suspended over creeks and waterfalls, and sometimes hopping over stepping stones to clear pools of water filled by yet more waterfalls.
Starved Rock State Park: Starved Rock is very close to Matthiessen State Park and equally as pretty, making it possible to visit both in one day. There are sixteen different trails, but the Lover’s Leap hike and view are my favorite. We tried a good number of the trails and each held their own beauty. There’s also a beautiful lodge on one end of the park that is the perfect spot for a well-earned, mid-hike meal.
Muir Woods: On a visit to San Francisco, we rented a car and drove to Muir Woods to hike for a day. This beautiful park includes multiple amazing hikes, and we chose the Fern path. The hike was steep and we had to stop to catch our breath more than once, but the view from the top was so worth it. Fun fact: Muir Woods also served as the set of the film Return of the Jedi, so if you hike here, you’re hiking through Endor.
Kettle Moraine State Park: Every winter, the Wisconsin State Parks host candlelit hikes across the state in which they line the paths with candles in white paper bags. I enjoyed one of these hikes at Kettle Moraine State Park, which is just a little ways north from Lake Geneva. The hike, with the candles and sporadic bonfires along the way, is gorgeous and unique.
Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park: My family and I visited this area when I was young, driving from San Francisco up to Seattle and stopping at National Parks in between. This rainforest was the most exotic thing I had seen to date and it instantly captured me. I did not love hiking when I was a kid, but this particular hike amazed me.
Wave Organ to Baker Beach, Golden Gate National Park: One of my favorite memories of San Francisco was walking from the Wave Organ (just pass the Yacht Club on the harbor) to the Golden Gate Bridge and then on to Baker Beach and Presidio. This hike took much longer than we had originally planned, and it started to rain halfway through, but the beauty of the ocean and the bridge and the area surrounding it made it perfect.
Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte National Forest: Located near New Orleans, LA, this mystical boardwalk crosses over the home of alligators, lizards, snakes, egrets, and the biggest spiders you’ve ever seen. We traipsed through the humid swamp, searching through the mossy surroundings for a gator. We eventually spotted one, which made our whole trip. This park is other-worldly and provided a scenery like I’ve never experienced before.
Chimney Rock State Park: This state park is a little ways outside of Asheville, North Carolina and holds a special place in my heart as my first solo travel hike. The park is famous for its fantastic view from the top of the rock, which shows the canyon below and a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I also hiked the trail that leads to Hickory Nut Falls; the scenic waterfall and it’s cool, clear water were the perfect cure for after the hot, tiring hike up the many, many steps to Chimney Rock.
Donut Falls, Big Cottonwood Canyon: Utah is chock-full of beautiful parks and scenery, but this hike will forever be my favorite. I visited this particular trail in November, when there was snow on the ground and falls were frozen, which just so happened to be the best time to see it. The trail to Donut Falls was gorgeous in of itself, but the main attraction was breath-taking. We climbed up the frozen waterfall and inside the cave at the top to see the actual “donut”. It was so worth the treacherous trip back down.

What are your favorite U.S. hikes? Which National Park do you love most?

Top Five Friday #20 - Favorite Travel Writing Tools, RebeccaWanderlusting

Budget-Friendly Ways to Indulge Your Wanderlust

On January 10, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning2 Comments

I have this problem where whenever I read about or see a photo of any destination in general, I want to go there immediately. It’s a problem because I usually can’t afford there, especially not right away. This results in a very long bucket list and endless pennies pinched. When I take larger trips, meaning further and for longer, I save up for them for months. I would like to think that a lot of people are in the same boat as me with this. I believe that travel is one of the best, most rewarding things you could spend your money on. That being said, I also believe you don’t have to spend a ton of money or travel very far to indulge your travel bug.

Personally, I try to take one or two dream vacations a year, and then go on smaller trips in the months between to satiate my wanderlust. I do feel some pressure to keep up with my fellow travelers, but unfortunately, for right now it’s just not something I can feasibly do. So here’s what I’ll be doing in the next couple of months to keep my travel bug at bay, and things that you can do as well, if you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to seek out some adventure:

Exploring my own city: Chicago has so many different neighborhoods and attractions, I feel like I’ve just barely scratched the surface. I want to explore the different cultural areas and check out museums I haven’t visited yet. And, if possible, I want to plan a little staycation at one of the great boutique hotels.
Take a Friday after-work through Sunday night trip: I budget my paid time off just like I budget my money; saving it for larger trips to faraway places. It is entirely possible to fit a fun vacation into 36 hours, as long as you plan accordingly. The key is to choose a destination with minimal travel time to maximize your time exploring.
Drive to the nearest State or National Park for a day of hiking: I’ve been to Matthiessen and Starved Rock State Parks in Illinois and Kettle Moraine State Park in Wisconsin, and am dying to cross more off my list. Wherever you live, there’s bound to be a State or National Park within a short(ish) drive that you could easily explore as a day trip.
Have a spa day: It’s not for everyone, but for me, a spa day is one of the best ways to relax and get away from the stress of everyday life. The best way to do it is to visit a hotel spa and stay to take advantage the pool and steam rooms and room service.
Drive or take an Amtrak Train to another city in your area: As I said, there’s no need to travel very far to find a worthwhile destination. Last month we drove the 3 hours to Galena, IL and had a wonderful, relaxing getaway. It’s absolutely possible to enjoy a nearby locale for a weekend away.

If all else fails, you can find me making a pillow fort at home with my favorite travel books or movies, dreaming and scheming for future trips.

What are your favorite budget-friendly ways to indulge your wanderlust?

Trip Planning Milwaukee, RebeccaWanderlusting

Trip Planning: Milwaukee, WI

On September 9, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

A couple of weeks after I return from my trip to Europe (which I am currently enjoying – Hello from Copenhagen!), Mike is taking me on a little weekend getaway to Milwaukee, WI. While I have been to this city a few times, mostly for concerts, this will be my first time staying overnight there. Funnily enough, the original reason we were going to Milwaukee in the first place is because we have tickets to a Thrice (one of Mike’s favorite bands) show at the Rave/Eagle’s Club (the last time I was at this venue was to see All American Rejects when I was 15 and in love with Tyson Ritter). Because I am going solo to Europe, we thought it might be nice to have a little romantic weekend away together once I came home, so we made a trip out of it. Milwaukee is only an hour and a half drive from Chicago, which makes it a perfect destination for a quick vacation. It will be very nice to get a little time to ourselves while exploring a new city together. Here is the breakdown of our trip planning Milwaukee, WI:

Trip Planning Milwaukee, Visit Milwaukee — *Photo Via Visit Milwaukee*

Where we will be staying:

The Hilton Milwaukee City Center*

*Mike picked this swanky hotel and surprised me with the reservation. I think he did pretty good!

What we will do:

The Lakefront Brewery Tour (which came highly recommended by almost everyone I talk to about Milwaukee)
The Public Market
Cactus Club for cocktails and live music
North Point Lighthouse
Wisconsin Cheese Mart (my personal version of heaven)
Milwaukee Arts Museum
Riverview Antique Market

What we will eat:

County Clare for brunch
Cafe Benelux
Leon’s for custard
Comet Cafe
Kegel’s Inn for Friday Fish Fry

Resources:

Adventurous Kate – “Milwaukee Rocks! Who Knew?“
Drink Tea & Travel – “Sunday City Guide: What to Do in Milwaukee, USA“
Twirl the Globe – “Bikes, Brats & Beers Tour in Milwaukee, WI“

Have you been to Milwaukee? Please share any Milwaukee, WI travel tips in the comments!

5 Notes on Road Tripping with a Baby

On September 6, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

This post is brought to you by my wonderful sister, Molly Reis, the talented mama of my beautiful nieces and author of Blogging the In-Between.

We took two trips this summer with the family – one to Tennessee (a 10-hour drive each way) and one to northern Wisconsin (a 4-and-a-half-hour drive each way). This is how we planned, what we learned and what worked for us in our travels. Most of it was trial and error. This is by no means a perfect solution for the adventure that is traveling with a baby; however, I do hope what we learned can help you. Enjoy your journey!

ZIPLOC BAGS – They just make organization so easy! Get ready for a new best friend! We used the bags to make everything grab-and-go ready. We brought: pjs, outfits, extra tops, extra bottoms, eating supplies, swimming supplies, and blankets and burp cloths. It was nice not to have to think about what we’d need and when and to just have our supplies ready no matter what our trip threw at us. Also, the Ziploc bags allowed us to fit everything nicely into our Thirty-One bag, which was awesome. I highly recommend it (or something similar) because it fit all the babe’s things and was easy to store in the trunk.

BOUNDARIES – Set your limits and stick to them! If traveling with family or friends (or even if you’re not), be prepared to stick to your guns a bit. You know what your little one needs. If that means you need to duck out early or make dinner reservations for 5:00 instead of “going with the flow” to be flexible for everyone else, then that’s what you do. We wanted to keep our girl’s nighttime routine as close to normal as possible, so we insisted on eating dinner no later than 6 or being able to leave early if we needed to. We were with family, so it wasn’t a big deal. But I’m sure whoever you are with will understand.

BREAKS – Plan on a longer travel time. We needed to stop about every two hours to give the babe a break. We planned feedings and changings around those breaks. If your child is old enough, you can stop at places that offer a little grass or space to run around so she can stretch her legs a bit. Of course, if your baby is still taking three- to four-hour naps, you can probably stop less frequently.

TRICKS – I wish I had a one-size-fits-all trick to make a road trip with a little one easier, but, as I’m sure you know, every baby is different. Here are some things that worked for us, though: Baby Einstein videos (on my phone, using Guided Access so she couldn’t do anything but watch), rolling the windows down every so often, lots of snacks, and music. I also had a basket of toys in the backseat that I kept out of sight for the week or so before our trip. Some people recommend sitting in the backseat, but we found that more distracting than beneficial. It just made her want me to hold her even more, which was torture for both of us. She did better on her own, when she could just play or eat or zone out on her own terms.

FLEXIBILITY – While it is important to know your and your little one’s limitations, it’s just as important to be flexible. You’re not at home – you’re working outside of your normal routine. To expect your baby to behave normally is unrealistic. He might not eat as much or nap at the same intervals. We had to come to terms with the fact that our girl was just going to have to make do with naps in the car as we traveled from place to place on our trip. If we could get back to the cabin early for an afternoon nap before meeting everyone for dinner, great! But we had to be flexible. Trying to stick to the normal routine all day might make you a bit crazy. You’re not in a normal situation – it’s okay for you to put a pin in the schedule until you’re back home. Again, you know your baby best. Follow her cues and trust her instincts.

What are your best tips for traveling with babies? What has worked and what hasn’t worked so well?

Creating a Travel Capsule Wardrobe | RebeccaWanderlulsting

Europe Packing List

On September 2, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip PlanningLeave a comment

Today is the day I finally stop talking about this trip and actually leave for Iceland, en route to Copenhagen. And it has finally hit me that this is actually happening. I am nervous and excited and ready for a new adventure. Before I go, I need to pack, which is a project in and of itself. While it’s been a bit stressful with everything else I have going on lately, I really don’t mind packing. With the search for the perfect hiking boots that also had to be suitable for wearing out and my best attempt at packing a travel capsule wardrobe, it’s been a fun process. What’s been the most difficult is trying to plan for the unpredictable climates of Iceland, while still trying to bring clothes I’ll be happy wandering around Copenhagen in. I had to edit the list down quite a bit because I am trying to pack lightly, and I think I’ve finally got it down. I’ll be bringing my Samsonite rolling suitcase (which will be my checked bag), a backpack (my carry-on) and my Madewell Tote (personal item) with me. So, without further ado, here is my Europe Packing List, broken down by bag:

Madewell Tote:

Notebook & Pens
Passport
Bill Bryson book (“Neither Here Nor There”)
Mophie
iPad with “Girl on a Train” on it
iPhone Charger
Face Wipes (1/2)
Bandaids
Water Bottle
Small purse with wallet

Backpack:

(1) Outfit – socks (1/10), undies (1/10), bra (1/3), jeans, tank top, long sleeve shirt
2nd Mophie
Camera
Tripod
Makeup Bag
Deoderant
Brush
Cliff Bars

Rolling Bag:

Socks (9/10)
Undies (9/10)
Bras (1/3)
Sports Bra
Tights
Swimsuit
Tank top
(4) T-shirts
Long Sleeve Shirt
Sweater
Blouse
Chambray Top
Dress
Skirt
Leggings
Pajamas
Flip Flops
Flats
Sorrel Boots
Towel
Toiletry bag
Jewelry pouch

What would you bring on a Scandinavian Adventure? How does my list stack up?

EuroTrip Budget

On August 24, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

Way, way back in the beginning of this year (gosh that feels like such a long time ago), I was formulating a plan to go on an international trip in the early fall. I, much to my chagrin, am not one of those last minute jet setters that can take off at the drop of a hat. A lot (read: most) of my travels take a bit of planning and forward thinking due to my work schedule and need for budgeting to make them possible. So, back in February, I started looking into where I might go, and how much it would cost to get me there and so on.

I stumbled upon the IcelandAir Stopover offer and was attracted to the idea of a two for one vacation. I played around with the second destination and length of time I could spend in each to see which flights were the cheapest and which destinations were the most solo travel friendly. Eventually, I landed on Copenhagen and booked the ticket a couple weeks later.

Fast forward five and half months later, and here I am, counting down the days until I depart and saving up every last penny. A large portion of this trip so far was bought and paid for by my tax return from last year. In fact, most of my tax returns sort of act as travel gift cards. Do you think maybe next year the IRS can pay me back in airline miles?? Just kidding…

Anyways, this means that my flight (which was around $800) was paid for upfront with my debit card. Everything else so far has been charged to my travel credit card (gotta get those points!). The rest of my budget for this trip is as follows:

Flight: $800
Accommodation: $100/night x 10 nights = $1,000
Food & Beverage: $60/day x 10 days = $600
Tours/Activities: $400
Souvenirs: $100/country x 2 = $200
Emergencies: $200
Total: $3,200

In the interest of total honesty, I already blew it on the accommodation portion of the budget, by $150. But, in my defense, these are two very expensive cities to visit! I’m just really glad I booked when I did, because as of a week ago, most of the hotels were booked or increased in prices. In terms of tours and activities, here’s what I’ve got going:

Elding Whale Watching Tour: $82
South Shore Tour: $105
Copenhagen Card: $95
Total: $282

So far so good on that front! When I return from this Scandanavian Adventure, I’ll check back in with how I did. In the meantime, please share any budgeting or Iceland/Copenhagen tips in the comments!

Trip Planning: Copenhagen

On August 9, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

Thanks to IcelandAir, I am lucky enough to get a two-for-one European vacation in a few weeks. The first leg of my trip will be spent in beautiful Reykjavik, Iceland (read more about that here), and my second stop will be in Copenhagen Denmark. I will be staying in the land of the Danes for five days and four nights. I haven’t been to Europe since I studied abroad in London six (I can’t event believe it’s been that long) years ago, and I could not be happier to be visiting again. I chose Copenhagen, because of its colorful architecture, canals and charm, plus a very convincing article I read in Afar Magazine. Because it’s a kind of a pricey city, I’m trying to find as many budget-friendly options as possible, like the hostel I’m staying in for all four nights and the Copenhagen Card that will save me museum and attraction entry fees and include discounts at restaurants. With all the outdoors adventuring I plan to do in Iceland, I will be looking forward to enjoying the café life in Copenhagen and seeking out that famous Danish Hygge*. Here is the breakdown of my plans in Denmark:

What I want to see and do:

Canal Boat Tour
Tivoli Gardens
Freetown Christiania
Explore the Neighborhoods, especially Norrebro
Take the ferry to Helsingborg, Sweden
Royal Library Gardens
The Friday Lounge at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

While there are lots of things I want to see and do in Copenhagen, I also want to leave plenty of time to wander and explore this beautiful city. I don’t want to over-plan beforehand and stress while I’m there, I just want to enjoy Copenhagen and all it has to offer.

Where I want to eat:

Copenhagen Street Food Market and Torvhallerne Market
Atelier September
Madklubben (tasting menu!)
Mother (for their rumored to be amazing pizzas)
Any where I can get an open faced sandwich on rye and a Danish pastry

Resources:

This Battered Suitcase – “Why I Love Copenhagen”
My Twenty Somethings – “Copenhagen, Denmark”
The Copenhagen Tales – “Copenhagen Weekend Tips”
On The Luce – “Visiting Copenhagen on a Budget”
Visit Copenhagen

If you have any tips for trips to Copenhagen, please share them in the comments!

**Hygge is the Danish word for enjoying all of life’s little pleasures; a term I fully plan on embodying while I’m there.

Trip Planning: Iceland

On July 29, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning3 Comments

In 5-ish weeks, I’ll be boarding a night plane bound for Reykjavik, Iceland. I’ll arrive in the early morning, as most direct flights do, and stay for six days before moving on to Copenhagen. I am so beyond excited for this trip that every time I talk about it, my voice takes on a high-pitched squeaking quality. I have never been to this enchanting island country, but, with everything I’ve read and seen of it, I think my only problem will be trying to see it all in one go. I’ve been doing a ton of research on tours and activities in Iceland in the past few weeks. It would be very easy for me to book my whole trip full of tours because they all look so amazing. But, I also want to make sure I leave plenty of time to enjoy the city of Reykjavik. I’m entranced by this colorful city and I can’t wait to explore it.

Here are some of my trip details:

Accommodations:

AirBnB for (2) nights – this is my first time trying AirBnB and I’m excited to see what all the fuss is about. The location is a little bit outside of downtown, so I will definitely be utilizing public transit.
A Boutique Hotel for (3) nights – for the second half of my trip, I’ll be staying at an artsy boutique hotel that is more centrally located.

Activities:

Whale Watching – I’ve booked a whale watching tour with Elding Tours which involves three hours on a boat in the arctic. I am ecstatic about the possibility of spotting some whales.
South Shore Excursion – A minibus will be transporting me to the magical southern coast of Iceland to see glaciers, waterfalls, black sand beaches and hopefully puffins!
Kolaportid Flea Market – I’m lucky enough to be in Reykjavik over a weekend so I can visit this unique flea market. I will have my eye out for some local specialties.
Heading out to the Grotta Lighthouse to try and spot the Northern Lights
Hiking on Mt. Esja
Swimming at Nautholsvik Beach
Walking along the old harbor

The two things I can’t decide if I want to splurge on or not are the Golden Circle Tour and the Blue Lagoon. I know that these are both very popular Iceland activities, but I am still on the fence. They are both pretty pricey and I’m not sure I’m as interested in them as I am other things.

Resources:

I’ve been reading a few blogs on Iceland to get some ideas of what I want to do while I’m there, including: Unlocking Kiki, Young Adventuress, and Hand Luggage Only. I also acquired an Iceland Lonely Planet book from a friend which has become a great factual resource!

I can’t express how much I am looking forward to this adventure. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to go and explore a new country. If you have any Icelandic travel tips, please share them in the comments and stay tuned for more details on my Reykjavik travels!

Worldly Recipes: Risotto

On July 27, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Worldly Recipes2 Comments

I love making risotto. It’s as simple as that. The act of making this recipe has a soothing familiarity to it that is very relaxing, plus Mike and I both almost always have seconds so it’s a popular dish in this apartment. Risotto can be made for any taste, with any number of ingredients. I typically make this dish in the fall and winter, but this past rainy weekend had Mike and I craving something hearty. It has a wonderful warming quality about it that will shake away any rainy weather blues. You can really use any protein or vegetables you want to, but this time around I used short rib, peppers and mushrooms to flavor this particular risotto. It’s a fairly simple recipe that takes a little bit of knife-work, a lot of stirring and a little patience to pull off.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup arborio rice
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup red and green peppers, chopped
1 1/2 cup bella mushrooms, chopped
1 lb short rib, sliced into 1/2 inch squares
3 1/2 cups beef broth
1/2 cup red wine
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Salt, Pepper and Oregano to taste

And here’s how you’ll combine them:

First and foremost, pour yourself a glass of that wine. You have a whole bottle and you only need 1/2 a cup of it for the food.
Chop your vegetables, separating the onions and garlic from the peppers and mushrooms
Slice the short rib to cook separately
Heat butter and olive oil in a large pot
Add in onions and garlic to sweat
Add in rice
Add in peppers and mushrooms and saute
Start adding in liquids, 1 cup at a time and stir continuously
Season as needed with each addition
In a separate pan, saute short rib in a tbsp of olive oil and season with salt and pepper
When there is only a cup of broth/wine left to add, add in the cooked meat
Stir in the parmesan cheese
Cook off the rest of the liquid and continue stirring, rice should be tender but not chewy
Enjoy!

Try it out and tell me what you think!

Have you ever made risotto before? What is your favorite kind to make?

Camping Essentials

On July 23, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Travel Tips, Trip Planning1 Comment

Next weekend, Mike and I will be trundling down to Utica, IL with a carful of camping equipment for a night under the stars (sort of). We’re camping near Matthiessen State Park, where we will be exploring during the day. I have not been camping in a very long time, but lucky for me, I’m dating a former boy scout. With Mike’s wilderness knowledge, my camping expert sister’s advice and all of our borrowed supplies, I think we will be just fine. The plan is to hike at Matthiessen during the day, check into our campsite in the late afternoon to set up, and spend the night cooking various items over the campfire. I have to say, I am very excited for this little weekend trip enjoying the great outdoors. Especially with all of the fun camping accessories that come with it. Here are the camping essentials I wouldn’t go without (*please note: this is not a professional camping adventure, just one bougie night in a tent):

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Iron – Our dinner will be happily cooked over the fire with these handy little sandwich irons and no grilled cheese will ever taste better. My parents have hauled these with us to every camping trip, so it’s kind of a tradition.
Photo via Amazon
Wine Tote + Glasses – In order for me to fall asleep without my brain hearing the tell-tale twig snapping that horror movies are made of, we will need to have wine in cute plastic glasses. I’ve been really into rosé lately, so that is what we will be bringing with us into the woods.
Lantern – This is needed to light our way to and from the bathrooms and brighten up the tent after we put the fire out. This particular lantern is quite bright and clips to the top of our tent for maximum efficiency.
French Press – The French press is a must-have for a couple of caffeine addicts our in the wilderness. It’s perfect for preparing our morning fix fireside. Add a couple of mugs and we’re good to go.
Photo via REI
Bug Repellent Candle – We’re bringing a couple of these beauties to keep the insects at bay while we sit by the fire. We purchased them at target for a couple of bucks each and I’m sure they will be invaluable after the sun goes down.

In addition to these camping essentials, we will also be bringing a pretty large tent (leftover from Mike’s Boy Scout days), sleeping bags, pillows, rain covers, tarps, food, water, and other basic woodsy supplies like sunscreen and bug spray. I am beyond excited to try my hand at camping again, especially since it was on my 26 in 26 list. Right now, it looks like it will be a little stormy next weekend, but I fully intend to power through. Feel free to share your favorite camping tips and tricks in the comments!

What are your must-have camping essentials?