We asked some travel bloggers about their best camping stories and this is what they said:
Lake Superior
Solo Traveler
My best camping experiences are about the simple things. Living outside. Campfires. Lake swimming. My best moment was when camping on the north shore of Lake Superior. The landscape is beautiful, the Lake legendary. But when the Northern Lights entertained us one evening, it was mesmerizing.
Thunder Bay
I’m from rural Canada. Camping is a lifestyle there. Most people own camps, otherwise, we pitch a tent anywhere and enjoy smores. My best friend owns a camp 150km from Thunder Bay Canada and we go there yearly for new years. New Years’ in Canada means snow and cold. We had people from Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta present. On each hour of 12, 1 am, and 2 am we lit fireworks over the frozen lake in celebration of it hitting New Years in each Province. We then stripped down, rolled in the snow, and jetted into the sauna. Nothing like Winter Camping in Canada to get the circulation flowing!
Girl Scouts
Laurel Smith
Moms Minivan Travel Games
My best camping experiences always involve Girl Scouts and my daughters. As a troop leader, I have a unique position to teach outdoor skills to many of the girls who have very little camping experience. I also am in a unique position to make a fool of myself and at the same time, make the girls feel independent and strong.
Picture me, leading a group of tiny scouts on their first outdoor adventure through the woods, like little ducklings following my every move. As we begin our hike, I turn around to warn my entourage to double-check that they have all of their equipment ready, their water canteens, their little beginner survival knives, and to be very careful where they step so they don’t fall and get hurt. Before I can even finish the sentence, my foot catches a huge tree root and find myself hurtling through space toward the forest floor. I literally had a mouthful of dirt and a skinned elbow.
The girls rushed over to help me up and ask if I was OK. With a dirty smile, I promptly replied, “Of course I’m ok! I just wanted all to see what NOT to do! And now that we have that demonstration out of the way, let’s hit the trail!” Naturally, the girls could see right through me, so I told them that the next time someone tells me to eat dirt, I can say that I already have.
Camping with the Macaws
Trans-Americas Journey
You could tramp through the steamy jungles of Chiapas in southern Mexico in search of endangered scarlet macaws and loud-mouth howler monkeys. Or you could put up your tent, put up your feet and let the critters come to you in the grassy camping area at Centro Ecoturistico Las Guacamayas (about US$2.50 per person per night).
This preserve, on the banks of the Lacantún River abutting the vast Monte Azul Biosphere Reserve (one of the most bio-diverse areas in all of North America), has been very successful at increasing the scarlet macaw population and attracting tourists. So much so that we woke up after our first night in the campground to discover that the tree next to our tent had been taken over by scarlet macaws.
Up to 10 of them at a time were feasting in a tree literally right next to our tent. We spent the entire day in our comfy camp chairs sipping coffee (and, later, cold beers) and watching the vibrant birds stuff themselves silly.
In the late afternoon, a small family of howler monkeys showed up as well and decided to spend the night in another nearby tree. The following morning their dinosaur-like roars (they really should be called roaring monkeys) served as our (very early) wake up call.
Ukraine
The Professional Hobo
I was passing through Ukraine and went hiking and camping in the Carpathian mountain range. One of the highlights was stopping in on an old shepherd’s wooden lodge in the middle of nowhere, talking to him about his lifestyle, and being given fresh cheese and bread that he just made.
I hadn’t expected Ukraine to be so beautiful, and the people so friendly. I’d go back in a heartbeat!
Isle of Arran, Scotland
Location Independent
Best camping experience? Has to be camping in the wild, on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, next to a lovely babbling brook in which we washed our pots, cleaned our boots, and cooled our tired aching feet after a full day’s hiking. Unfortunately, the water also meant tons of midges which duly covered me in hundreds of bites 🙁
Alaska
adventures with ben
RV Camping in Alaska has been, by far, my most favorite camping experience. In the span of 11 days, traveling on the open road with 6 friends in a 32 foot RV, we traversed mountains, glaciers, rivers, and the downtown streets of Anchorage. Camping at the end of August offered us the opportunity to see Alaska at the peak of the autumn colors and with a taste of the Northern Lights in Canada. After a day of hiking, rafting, and glacier trekking, you can retreat to the comfort (and warmth) of your RV and venture onward the next day to a destination unknown.
Camping by RV affords you the opportunity to truly appreciate the expansiveness of Alaska’s size and natural beauty. Camping is really the best way to experience America’s 49th State with limitless possibilities.
Australia’s Northern Territories
Never Ending Voyage
Our best camping experience was in Litchfield National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory. Eight private camping spots are spread out along Walker Creek each with their own small waterfall and swimming hole. We had to carry our gear for a few kilometers to get here but it was worth it to have such a beautiful spot all to ourselves. It’s so hot that you don’t need a full tent. We lay under the mosquito netting and watched the sky light up with stars.
Wales
I took my teenage daughter and a whole group of her friends to Trericket Mill in Wales where they have a bunkhouse and small camping area in the orchard behind their old mill house. The ducks and hens were pecking under the trees and there was a metal drum for campfires with an outdoor sheltered kitchen at the side of the bunkhouse where we could fry up bacon and eggs. A fast-flowing mill stream ran through the garden and a short way upstream there were icy pools deep enough to bathe in that made the girls squeal. Best of all, as a reluctant camper, I was able to have a cozy B & B room in the Mill House while the girls had their pop-up tents among the apple trees – my perfect idea of a camping weekend in Wales.
Queensland, Australia
The Travel Tart
My best camping experience was a ‘glamping one’ in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia. It’s not exactly roughing it, as the place was like a 5-star room inside a tent, which included a king-size bed, a jacuzzi, and a barbecue. But hey, I really loved it!
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Landlopers
Zion, National Park
Amateur Traveler
- Book Your Accommodation HERE
- Get a Car Rental
- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Buy Travel Insurance
+Chris Christensen | @chris2x | facebook
littlebpost
Says:September 5th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
Nehalem Bay State Park: an overnight hiker/biker site for five dollars along the Oregon Coast where I bussed it from Portland, walked along the 101 to notice all the banana peels and how close the cars really do come to the almost non-existent shoulder, hiked Neakahnie Mountain on no sleep the morning after Gabriel, a bay area bound hiker paced the communal campfire, telling stories of being on a spirit animal journey to recover his stolen laptop and seek revenge upon Andrea. I slept with one eye open in my solo tent, hoping the biker gang next to me would come to my rescue if all went south in the night. But it was my first solo camping trip and I’d do it again in a heartbeat, me, my backpack and a head full of wonder and slight worry.
chris2x
Says:September 6th, 2013 at 7:55 am
lol, great story!
chris
Says:January 30th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
My parents have always loved camping. Our first camping adventures were the Italian alps, then allover Europe. Next we camped and hiked Taiwan on my dad’s days off. We came home to America and I learned what their love of adventure came from. Camping is a way of life, with 2 family reunions every summer (imagine 200-300 family members camping together in national Forest) and being able to go camping on any weekend . My kids have grown up with the same love of nature and family that I have been given.
Best camping trip, waking up with my family in a popup camper, 100 yards away from the waves in Mexico. The cool ocean breeze and crashing waves you’re alarm clock. After a night of tide pool exploring under a full moon. There are some things you never forget.
chris2x
Says:January 30th, 2015 at 8:53 pm
sounds like some great memories Chris