Hey guys! Its me, back again with some more fun stuff to chat about as I take the time to let you guys know more about me!
As I've already mentioned I love the outdoors. Bonfires, hiking, road trips and exploring are all some of my favorite things. The one thing that literally combines all of these things is camping. I adore being out in the woods, relaxing by a fire, sleeping under the stars, exploring a new state park (and some already visited ones), and just really being carefree and 100% me.
One bucket list item I have is to visit and camp at all the Wisconsin State Parks - at least the ones that have campgrounds, and hike at the rest. Thus far I just have camped at just 7, but have visited and hiked at 13. Next year I already have two trips planned in July, one is a new park. I have a lot to go!
Now some back story into me finding my love of camping.... I grew up with campers. From the time I was very young on up, my family has always "glamped". We started with a pop-up, then to two different towable RV's and now my parents have a motorhome (of course after my sister and I both moved out LOL). So to be truthful, that's what camping always was for me. We'd pack our clothes and everything else was already there for us. No need to rough it! We had a shower and a toilet right there in our camper and there were zero worries about forgetting something at home.
As I got older and wanted to do some camping on my own, I bought a tent. Now that tent had only been used probably 3 times up until a few years ago; twice in my parents back yard, and once in Charlotte for the NASCAR races. It literally sat not being used for 10+ years. Finally after learning how much I love hiking and exploring outside, and after I got Breezy, I decided I wanted to try tent camping for real.
My friend Lisa & I started doing annual camping trips together with our pups and the rest is history. We now camp at least once a year on a fun trip that ALWAYS includes some exploring of the area, hiking, sometimes swimming, maybe kayaking etc. It has truly been the most freeing experience to learn something on my own. Sleeping in a tent when the temps drop in the evening is so incredibly relaxing and nice! Breezy is her happiest outside so she too just eats it up.
Camping with a dog brings its own challenge but its one that I fully embrace. My doggy loves it so I make sure she is comfortable and happy. Obviously she needs her food, bowls, treats and leash, but of course being the over packer I am, I always make sure she has a toy, a bone, her bed, a sweatshirt for the cool nights, a towel for swimming, her very own doggy sleeping bag and blankets. She's spoiled, what can I say?
We have learned to pack less and less food as we have went on. The first year, at Governor Dodge, our first trip together, we brought so much food and drinks that we ended up needing to go purchase a second cooler to fit it all in nicely with ice. We are SLOWLY learning to pack less and less, but we really need to work on this one a lot. I am a huge over packer as I am used to having anything and everything I could possibly think of with me in a camper. Through the past 3 summers I have learned I need to NOT do this because half of the things I bring, end up not even being used. Is anyone a camper? Any tips for learning to pack lightly? I would LOVE to car camp or even backpack some day, but truly just unsure how to get my packing down to the minimum to make this possible. My goal for next years trips is to literally only bring a cooler, Bree's food & supplies, clothing and sleeping gear....no extras! We will see how this pans out. I can see Lisa already laughing at me with that list knowing full well how I normally pack!
If anyone has any camping advice, tips, tricks, gear suggestions etc for camping with dogs PLEASE share them below! I'd love to hear from you all!
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