I spend a lot of time camping in tents. Big tents, small tents and everything in between- it truly doesn’t matter. As long as my version of a mobile home is parked somewhere with epic scenery, I’m a happy camper!
{My sense of humor kills me!}
Occasionally I will get asked why we choose to camp so much instead of staying in a hotel. Naturally, the question slightly horrifies me. However, I also realize that while sleeping in the dirt is my jam, it’s not for everyone….yet.
{Cue evil cackle.}
Think I can convince you to throw your pillow in a meadow for a good night’s sleep?
1. Mother Nature is a Beauty
I love her. I truly, truly love her. So frequently, those of us city dwellers can forget how beautiful and awe-inspiring the natural world can be. Sure, I get it; many of you get chills when you see a fantastically designed urban sprawl. However, the symmetry and color schemes that Mother Nature has thrown together amaze me on the regular. Rugged peaks with vibrant leaves and softly-blowing grass? Now that’s perfect that you can’t see from the window of a car.
2. Bonding Time
Camping is nothing if not a great time to catch-up on life with family and friends! We spent this past weekend on Kebler Pass {yes, again} and my best friend came along too. Between our car chats, hiking adventures, campfire discussions, and tent conversations, we finally caught up on the gritty details of life that so often get buried underneath the hustle and bustle of daily requirements. Will took off at sunset on Saturday night to do his photographer thing while Angela and I built a campfire and simply sat and chatted. It was wonderful!
Not to mention: on those not-so-ideal occasions where nasty weather locks you in a tent for a couple hours, what more can you do that chat and enjoy one another’s company?!
3. Freedom
One of my absolute favorite parts of camping is the freedom you feel once you setup your tent and take a gander at your surroundings. Unless you’re staying in a formal campground, you won’t see any signs or roads or people or electricity. No one will need you for anything {aside from helping with the tent setup!} and nothing will be required of you. In fact, your phone likely won’t have any cell service so even if you wanted to communicate with someone, you can’t. It’s just you, your makeshift home and an ever-changing itinerary. You get what you make of the experience but there isn’t anything in the natural world that can limit that.
We are frequently a distracted society and I love the open mind that comes as a result of camping. Once you realize that nothing can cut in to interrupt you, the day is yours. Carpe diem!
4. There Are No Mirrors
I’m not big on stilettos and face paint but I do like to look nice and enjoy wearing dresses on occasion. I also love ignoring my appearance and shoving my rat’s nest of a mane underneath a hat and calling it a day!
There are no options when you’re camping: there are no mirrors or electricity and everyone is in the same boat. I’ve never seen someone strut out of a tent wearing a full-face of makeup and it’s likely that you won’t either! Once that self-imposed pressure is released, you begin to look around and focus on the external adventures. Sure, many of us are minimalistic in our daily lives too, but it’s an entirely different scenario when you can’t even look at your face if you want to. This sounds weird, but your basically forget that it’s there. Instead, you just enjoy life sans vanity.
Be dirty. Smell bad. It will all wash off when you get home, and that’s okay. It’s actually kind of amazing.
5. A for Adventure
Adventure comes in all shapes and sizes and what blows my hair back may not do it for someone else. Having said that, almost anyone can find a fantastic adventure on a camping trip!
Big on hiking? Go conquer that peak.
Curious about wildlife? I’m willing to bet you’ll see some four-legged creature if you sit in that meadow long enough.
Maybe you’re stressed and you truly need a break from thinking? Pull your happy butt up to a campfire and settle in with a good book. You can read for nine hours if you want to.
Did I convince you yet?
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Sound off! Camping: love it or hate it?
17 Comments
((((sending this to my CAMPING ADVERSE husband)))
I swear, there is a way to make it fun for EVERYONE! It’s just a matter of dialing into preferences 🙂
Love this. I haven’t been camping in so long! I can’t wait to take my crazy city kids out to spend more time in the woods!
Definitely do– I’d love to read about it!
I LOVE camping, for all of the reasons you mentioned. There is something about being in nature that gives my mind and body permission to just RELAX and unplug in a way I cannot at home. And it doesn’t hurt when you are surrounded by those gorgeous mountains!
YES! For me, it’s the impossibility of connectivity that makes it so awesome. No one can call me or text me…and contrary to some people, I adore that feeling.
I love camping! My boyfriend and I just got back from a week long camping road trip on the north coast of California. I’m already ready to go back out there.
I’m itching to get back the Northern CA coast! We may be doing part of that area for our honeymoon– so pretty. I bet you have insane photos!
I really enjoy camping, both in tents and also with an RV – with 4 kids sometimes it’s just easier 🙂
Fair enough! My parents couldn’t afford an RV when we were kids so it was definitely an old Coleman tent and the ground! But, I remember thinking RVs were SO COOL so I bet your kids love it 🙂
Next year I am camping! For sure!!
Hooray! Have you been before?
Growing up I had a decent amount of camping experiences. Unfortunately they weren’t in beautiful remote areas and more often than not it poured down rain or we woke up freezing. (Even with legit sleeping bags and such) I seriously have a poor record when it comes to camping. When we hiked into the Grand Canyon I absolutely loved it. I didn’t freeze. It didn’t rain. And like you referenced, no one cared what they looked like. I loved that sense of ‘freedom’. DH and I are starting to think about coupling our off-roading adventures with some camping now. But first, we need to start purchasing gear. Where the heck to start?! Possible future post for you? 😉
You guys could have a blast camping with your Jeep! I’ll see if I can wrangle up a post in the next week or so 🙂
My husband and I are planning a camping weekend in southern Utah next week – so excited to get our kid out into a tent and start camping as a family!
One of my favorite things in camping is climbing out of the tent in the morning sunshine and brewing up some fresh campsite coffee, standing in the chill morning air and drinking hot coffee and planning the day ahead!
I LOVE sitting around and drinking coffee in the morning! It’s one of my favorites too 🙂 Southern Utah is going to be beautiful- love that part of the state!
Convinced! Your photos are gorgeous!