A Free Spirit's Bucket List: #323 Go On A Camping Trip

Camping is an awesome time.

With warmer weather around the corner, camping season will be in full swing again. And while camping isn't for everyone, it is an experience everyone should try at least once in their lives. Camping teaches us about the many things we take for granted in day to day life.

Indoor plumbing is one instance. Another instance would be appliances like ovens, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers. However, camping is not at all a negative experience. I think camping can be very fun, relaxing and inspirational.

I have done most types of camping, from rustic tents to pop up campers to camping on a boat. I've stayed in many local campgrounds throughout the Poconos. I've also camped in New Jersey and on a boat in Watkins Glen. Some of the campgrounds are more modern such as the Beachcomber in Cape May, NJ or Splash Magic in Northumberland, PA. Some of them are definitely more rustic such as Locust Lake, Hickory Run and definitely Promised Land State Park. The last three mentioned are all Pennsylvania state parks.

There are many types of campgrounds. Some are restricted only to tents. Some are geared towards RVs and pop ups. Some offer cabins. Some welcome everything. The biggest thing when figuring out where to stay, is to keep in mind what you are willing to go without. If you are looking for a campground with a pool, playgrounds, a grocery store, family activities and flushing toilets, campgrounds like the Beach Comber and Splash Magic are perfect choices. If you are looking for peace and quiet, nature walks, and escaping the modern world, campgrounds like Locust Lake and Promised Land are great choices.

Camping at Hickory Run State Park

Camping with Mr. B at Montour Falls Marina

My Grey camping with the family at Locust Lake.

Roughing it in Cape May.

To be perfectly honest, I do prefer a more rustic campground than a more modern one. Why? I just seem to get more mentally from a rustic camping trip. There is more work involved in one sense. You have to set up the tent and make sure there are no rocks underneath it. Sometimes you don't realize until you are ready to sleep that you missed a rock. That's always fun.

You have to gather wood to start the fire. You have to prepare meals that can be cooked over an open fire. You have to walk pretty far to the nearest bathroom. You have to accept dirt in your life. You have to make sure to store your food in coolers or else attract critters, sometimes smelly or rabid ones, to your site.

Same goes for the garbage. Make sure the garbage bags are kept in a secure spot. We would put them in the trunk of our car. We once had a family of raccoons visit our site one evening while we were asleep. They were so loud from fighting with each other that their screeching woke us. I am not gonna lie, I was a little scared that night because at the time, I did not know they were raccoons.

The next morning half our food was gone. They took the whole bag of marshmallows, plastic and all. Same with the cheese danish. They took the entire package including the metal tin. The hot dogs, buns and butter were all gone. They even took a plastic bottle of ketchup. We actually had to run out to buy more food because they obliterated us. Lesson learned. We stashed the food in coolers and in the cars.

The next night the raccoons came back for more. The food was stashed so there was no way they were getting any snacks. Didn't stop them from trying though. All you could hear was this non stop scratching for almost an hour. When we woke the next day, the cooler had these deep scratches on the lid from the raccoon family trying to get into it.

My mother looked over to a storm drain and saw these glowing eyes staring at her. Needless to say, that day, there were a few sick raccoons making noises from the woods. Eating plastic doesn't feel so great to the digestive system huh? Little buggers. Campgrounds are a gangsta's paradise for Trash Pandas.

The Trash Panda family of food thieves at Hickory Run.

Scenes from a hike in the Lehigh Gorge with my kids.

Becky and I spotted a field of really weird sheep while camping on the boat!

I've stayed at campsites where there was no electricity or water spigot. If you wanted water, you either brought your own jugs or walked to the community spigot to fill your water vessels. If you wanted light, you used lanterns and flashlights. If you wanted warmth, you put on extra layers and cozied up to the campfire. If you wanted entertainment, you listened to a battery operated radio, read books and played card and board games.

Yes, you have your cell phone, we had our phones, but even the top carriers with the broadest ranges often times have sporadic to no coverage in the more rustic campsites. We mostly used our cell phones to take pictures and send the occasional text but that was it. Besides, sometimes we all just need to put down our phones and forget about it for a few days. It's tough but also rewarding.

Ricky chilling on the tire swing in Locust Lake

If it is a scorching hot day at a rustic campground, you could walk through some natural air conditioning via shaded nature trails or soak in a lake for some relief. If it is raining, you can lie in your tent and listen to nature's tears or hang under a canopy and watch mother nature give the earth a bath.

If you are camping near a lake, make an effort to wake at sunrise. I highly recommend it. The mist coming off the lake at daybreak is nothing short of amazing. It's like sitting in a cloud. It's also the ideal time to gather firewood and get the blaze going for some percolated coffee.

Nightime is the perfect time to enjoy fire shows. To experience this, all you have to do is look around the lake or down the horizon. Depending on the set up of the campground, sometimes you can see the beautiful glow of all the many campfires from other sites. It's a simple and pretty view against the pitch black sky. And let's not forget nature's glitter. Depending on the time of summer you are camping, be sure to check out the trees and fields after dark. Thousands upon thousands of fireflies can often be seen fluttering about the trees, showcasing an enchanting display of sparkles in the dark of night. Who said there is no such thing as fairies?

A cool tree growing out of rocks on one of our hikes.

Sure, Camping can be very uncomfortable depending on the elements but, if you change your perspective slightly, it's really not so bad. Food cooked over an open fire is some of the best tasting food ever. Watching the little forest critters scurrying about can literally amuse you for hours.

My kids and I would hike around trails trying to identify trees, birds, plants, and flowers. Nature books are great to take along when camping. You learn so much about your surroundings that it actually takes on this whole new appearance. It's like a world within a world.

My kids and I would stroll around the lake searching for turtles, minnows and pollywogs. There were so many of them. We would stop to admire the clusters of lily pads, our eyes scanning the water for frogs we could hear but could not see.
"Yes! There's a frog. Look mom, there is another one!"
"Look at the turtle bobbing his head out of the water mom. He is so cute!"

Lily Pads hiding frogs and turtles beneath them.

My girl scout making trail mix.

The kids and I would search for the perfect walking stick. In those quests, we would also find sticks ideal for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. We would gather wildflowers and daises and place them in jars or water bottles as centerpieces for our picnic table.

We would fill sandwich bags with our own custom trail mixes made from items I bought from the grocery store. Here is another camping tip for everyone: Do not forget to secure your sandwich bag of trail mix. If you leave it alone for even a minute, a chippy or squirrel will have that bag ripped open in no time and eat all your candy corn. Those furry, fluffy jerks.....from the jerk store!

Custom Made Trail Mix
Add these goodies to your camping grocery list then have some fun with your family and friends making your own custom trail mixes. A lot of these items you can pick up at the dollar store.

Sandwich Bags
M&Ms
Animal Crackers
Granola
Chex or Life Cereal
Yogurt Covered Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Mini Pretzel Twists
Chocolate Chips
Cheerios
Cheese Nips
Roasted Peanuts
Smoked Almonds
Dried Pineapple or Apricots
Reese's Pieces
Frosted Mini Wheats
Candy Corn
Sunflower Seeds
Dried Apple or Banana Chips

Fun times with the Brominski Clan and Crew at Splash Magic

Becky and Jeff cooking Ribeyes over an open fire at Splash Magic. They were soooooo good.

As for the more modern campgrounds, they are great too. You can take a warm shower. You can use flushing toilets. Some have pools and little beaches. Maintenance will pick up your garbage everyday and they have plenty firewood for sale. Modern campgrounds also have more activities such as family movie nights, craft workshops and bingo nights. One of the downfalls to modern campgrounds is they tend to pack people in tight. They are always crowded. But, if you are looking for a cheaper alternative to a hotel in a more expensive vacation area, these campgrounds are perfect for families with children.

The Redheaded days.
Doing puzzles & chillin in the screen tent.

In closing, I highly recommend doing a rustic camping trip for at least 2-3 days. Leave the electronics at home. Keep cell phone usage restricted to emergencies and taking pictures. Avoid social media, television and the news.

Enjoy some relaxation in nature. Allow her to embrace you. Set up some chairs around the fire. Take a nap in a hammock. Use the cast iron for some delicious campfire cooking. Stroll through the forest and discover her mysterious world.

Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, Facebook, Instagram, television, your bills, your responsibilities, your stresses, they will all be there waiting for you when you come back to the modern world. Trust me. They aren't going anywhere. However, your mind will thank you for the small break from reality.