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The beloved children's book, "My Side of the Mountain," inspired this Catskill Mountain destination as part of our camping and hiking road trip through the northeastern United States. Around 700,000 acres have been set aside as "forever wild" by the State of New York. Woodland Valley Campground, one of their oldest public parks, made an excellent choice for us to explore the Catskills region.

August 6, 2020

Less than a mile off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina, lies an eight mile stretch of pristine, undeveloped barrier island that - due to its limited accessibility - is often overlooked as a camping destination. While summer or early fall might be the best time to plan a paddling adventure to Masonboro Island, don't rule out a winter adventure.

July 23, 2020

When you find your way up to the glorious summit of the Beehive Trail in Acadia National Park, Maine, realize that a million years ago it was under 10,000 ft of water which explains a lot about the formations. Most of the exposed surfaces are smooth and the fissures have been gracefully carved by a millennia of rushing Atlantic tides.

July 23, 2020

What does a 39-day American road trip of 7,600 miles look like? The call to go to Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota and everywhere in between was too loud to be denied. I wrote recently about the "how" of the trip, so now I'd like to include you in on the details of Part I - North Carolina to Kansas - where we camped, places we stopped, and things we saw. Hope you enjoy the ride and let it inspire you to make your own road trip adventure!

July 18, 2020

Our family road trip across South Dakota remains a favorite vacation. South Dakota offers outdoor beauty from the vast prairies to the rolling Black Hills as well as nonstop wildlife viewing. From stunning state parks to awe-inspiring national parks, South Dakota should be on everyone’s must-see destinations.

June 6, 2020

East of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a massive monadnock dome towers 600 feet over the surrounding land in its namesake park, Stone Mountain State Park. Another gem in the North Carolina state park system, Stone Mountain makes for a glorious camping and hiking adventure – even in the dead of winter.

May 20, 2020

With access to Lake Tillery and situated in the midst of the ancient Uwharrie Mountain Range, Morrow Mountain State Park, with over 4700 acres in western North Carolina, makes a perfect destination for camping, hiking, and paddling.

May 20, 2020

One of the most visited state parks in South Carolina, the semi-tropical Hunting Island State Park offers a relaxing camping experience with white sandy beaches, spectacular marsh views, and a historic lighthouse. If that's not enough, only a short 17-mile drive from Hunting Island State Park, you can explore the charming southern city of Beaufort and the variety of nearby attractions.

May 20, 2020

If you've spent any time planning a vacation in Yellowstone National Park, you'll realize that it is too massive to take in all at once. With over 400 miles of paved roads, our camping strategy was to break the park into three sections and build an itinerary for each. Madison Campground, near the West Yellowstone entrance, served as our basecamp to explore the awe-inspiring thermal area of Yellowstone National Park.

May 19, 2020

The dramatic landscapes of the secluded South Dakota Badlands National Park serve as a backdrop of one of the most unearthly camping adventures you might ever experience. The prairie region's steep canyons and towering spires, its remoteness and geologic formations, all make this an extremely rewarding – and challenging – terrain to explore.

May 16, 2020