Camping guides & trip write-ups
Gear checklists, trip reports, and packing advice — grounded in what actually gets used on the trail, not just what's fun to buy.
Alexander Springs Campground: Ocala National Forest's Snorkeler's Paradise
A comprehensive guide and review of Alexander Springs Campground — 72°F water clear enough to read a gauge by, limestone caves at the spring head, and the only spot in Ocala National Forest where scuba diving is allowed.
What to Pack for a Backcountry Trip: The Complete Checklist
A practical backcountry camping checklist covering the Ten Essentials, shelter, water treatment, and food storage for your next backpacking trip.
Burabay: Glamping in Kazakhstan's Oasis in the Steppe
A camping story from Burabay National Park (Borovoe) in northern Kazakhstan — pine forests and granite peaks rising out of the steppe, a family history with the place, and a few nights glamping at a lakeside yacht club.
Canaveral National Seashore: Primitive Canoe-In Island Camping (Site #05)
A packing-lessons-learned review of canoe-in primitive camping at Canaveral National Seashore — two nights on Government Cut, condensation-soaked gear, and why we're finally taking our own 'pack light' advice.
RV Camping Checklist: What First-Timers Forget
The RV camping checklist first-timers actually need, built from years of renting Cruise America motorhomes, a pop-up trailer, and a fifth-wheel, plus what's changed about what actually comes included.
Fort Wilderness: The Bucket-List Campground Inside Disney World
A full review and packing guide for Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground — 700 acres of pine forest, a creek full of turkeys, and a golf-cart economy, twenty years overdue for a Florida family who'd never camped there.
Camping with Kids: The Gear That Actually Gets Used
The camping-with-kids gear that earns its space in the car, from sleep setup to a hammock the kids fight over, and why we leave the tablets at home.
Kolsay Lakes and Kaindy: Camping Beside Kazakhstan's Sunken Forest
A camping story from the Tian Shan mountains of southeastern Kazakhstan — yurt-camp nights by Kolsay Lake and a hike to Kaindy's sunken forest, a bucket-list trip for anyone curious about camping outside the US.
Portable Power for Camping (and Hurricane Season): Generators and Power Stations We Rely On
Our Champion dual-fuel inverter generator and a portable power station started as camping gear and became hurricane-season equipment. Here's how we actually use them for both.
Camping Coolers We Actually Use: Yeti, RTIC, Lifetime, and What We'd Buy Again
A rundown of the coolers that have actually earned space in our garage: Yeti Hopper soft coolers, an RTIC wheeled hard cooler, Lifetime budget coolers, and why we don't buy Igloo or Coleman anymore.
Camping in Bad Weather: The Gear That Actually Held Up (Fog, Rain, and Cold)
A rainy, fogged-in mountain trip and a cold Florida December taught us more about our gear than any clear-sky weekend has. Here's what actually kept working.
Camping With Kids: The Real Stuff Nobody Puts on the Packing List
The moments that actually stick from camping with our kids: packing the car together, chopping firewood, and a handwritten note that made the whole thing worth it.
How We Store and Organize Camping Gear Between Trips
Labeled bins, a dedicated shelf, and a rule about unpacking the same day you get home. How we keep camping gear from taking over the garage between trips.
Cooking Outdoors: Rocket Stoves, a Backyard Smoker, and the RV Kitchen In Between
From a wood-fired rocket stove to a Masterbuilt smoker to a Cruise America RV galley, a look at the different ways we've actually cooked on camping trips, and where each one fits.
Camping Chairs Compared: Ultralight, Classic Folding, and Beach Dual-Use
Not all camping chairs are the same job. Here's how ultralight backpacking chairs, classic folding lawn chairs, and dual-use beach chairs compare after using all three.
Our Backcountry Sleep System: A Poncho Liner, an Inflatable Pad, and a Packable Pillow
The sleep setup we actually pack for trips where car camping comfort isn't an option: a Helikon-Tex poncho liner, an inflatable sleeping pad, and a small inflatable pillow.
Camp Stoves for Camping: What We Use and How Much Propane to Actually Bring
Our Coleman two-burner propane stove has cooked everything from eggs to moka-pot coffee on car camping trips. Here's how we run it and how much propane we actually pack.
RV, Pop-Up Trailer, Tent, or Backcountry: Comparing the Campsite Types We've Actually Tried
A walkthrough of the different ways we've camped: a rented Class C RV, a pop-up trailer rented through RVshare, standard drive-up tent sites, and backcountry tent camping in the mountains.