She is very low key, a kid magnet and just plain old great company. When she is around everyone just has to come introduce themselves and offer Sara Ruth her favorite thing in the world, "pet-pets". There are no strangers when Sara is along!
Submitted By: Kristine Peterson
My favorite person to go camping with is my husband who happens to be my best friend too. It gives us time to focus on each other away from stressful jobs, TV and phones. Our best memories in life have been our camping and RVing experiences together. Whenever we get the winter blues or feel down, we share stories about our travels and plan for our first trip in the spring. P.S. We also love having our grandchildren along and teaching them to love for God's beautiful outdoors.
Submitted By: Julie Camien
We love camping with our cousin Dalton. Uncle Heath and Auntie Nanin always take us walking on the beach and exploring. We always have lots of fun and never fight. Mom and Dad make great dinners and camp breakfast is the best. We like the mountains and love to make big ditches and villages in the sand at the beach. We get to go to the beach next weekend! It's going to be so much fun!
Submitted By: H. Reynolds
My Dad!
For as long as I can remember my dad has always had us in the woods. From Alaska to California and from the Rockies to the Texas plains. Now, as a father myself I have been lucky enough to enjoy my dad and my son. Every year we take a week in the Rocky Mountains fly fishing. My dad is always there with homemade sourdough pancakes and a real love for outdoor beauty. He has instilled in his sons and grandchildren a real love and respect for the beauty and challenges of nature.
Submitted By: Mike Haddon
Michael reminds us all year long to make a reservation. Alesia brings the wine and keeps my wife entertained. Michael helps me make the tent and set up the tarps. Their kids play with our kids. For meals they bring so much of everything that we don’t even have to pack, but we do anyway! Michael drives a mean Canoe, and we have Pontoon races through the interlocked lakes. It doesn’t get any better than this!!
Submitted By: Mark Seigelstein
I’ve always wanted to see the states along the west coast. It wasn’t until I retired that my husband and I spoke to our good friends and they convinced us the best way to travel was with an RV. At first we were a little reluctant of packing all our belongings and beginning the journey. But less than a few days had passed, and we both agreed it was the best thing we could have ever done. We met great people, we took great photographs and most of all we have endless memories that will keep us laughing until our next trip. We’re already planning our next trip with our good friends, I’m sure it will be better the second time around.
Maria Howe Barstow, CA
I guess I would say my proudest camping moment was this past July when I successfully put up a tent for our unexpected guests to sleep in. My wife and I have always camped in a travel trailer of some type. When our son and his family phoned us while we were camping and said they thought they'd come stay a night with us I panicked because I knew we wouldn't all fit into the travel trailer we have now. I made a quick trip to the store and purchased a tent. I have never put together a tent and did it quite fast. Needless to say we all had a great night. It was a very nice camping experience.
Randy Bryant
Newnan, GA
May 2007 my husband and I decided to take our Godchild, Anthony, camping this year. Now Anthony has always had a hard time getting up for school and that was one discussion we had with him. He would have to get up early everyday since we go fishing early every morning by 6am. During this trip Anthony woke up everyday with no complaints and I was proud of him. But on the second last day we needed to wake up by 4am. Anthony did not want to wake up that morning so I said, "Anthony it's 8am! Hurry and wake up! We are late!" He jumped out of bed so fast, got dressed and was ready to go. Right before we left the camper, my husband said to him (laughing), "You know its 4:15 in the morning, right?" Anthony's face was priceless! But he didn't complain just got in the truck and was ready to go fishing. This was his first camping trip and he wants to go again. Also, he now wakes up for school with no problems for the most part. This trip demonstrated to him that when you wake up early you can live the whole day experiencing life and enjoying God's Country.
Maria Baldivid
San Bernardino, CA
It was Feb.12 2007 and we were camping on Long Key in Florida right on the ocean. All of a sudden it started to rain hard. Eleven inches in a 6 hour period turned the campground into a disaster zone. The campground road turned into a raging foot deep river and campsites with campers in them were washing into the ocean. Thankfully everyone made it out with little damage to their rigs other than lots of water damage. The water was leaking in right thru their camper and RV windows. Us on the other hand, were high and dry. We camp in a truck tent in the back of our pickup truck. We set up a canopy behind it and cover the whole thing up with tarps. We had no water damage and made it through better than almost all of the campers and RV's. In this photo the water you see is the campground road and the ocean is in the background.
William Tamiso
East Hartford, CT
My proudest camping moment (and I have been camping since I was 4 years old) was a recent camping trip with our family and friends. The thing that made is so special was that it was our 4 year old sons first camping trip. We made/he found a treasure map. We all had a blast and were already planning our next trip.
Jenna Scholl
San Jose, CA
We took 5 of our 18 grandchildren camping on a 3 day weekend this summer. I had to leave camp for a few hours, leaving my husband with the kids, and worried that he would lose his mind from their questions, playing, fighting, whatever. When I returned I found that he had made them all bow and arrow sets from fallen branches and cord that we had in the camper. He was teaching them all camping safety tips and how to shoot and had taught them all how to set up their tents. Everything went smoothly and they had a blast about learning about the woods.
Linda Wentworth
Baker City, OR
My proudest (and scariest) camping moment thus far has to be shooting a class 5 rapid called "Tunnel Shoot" with my husband and three sons while camping on the Middle Fork American River in California. I was so scared the night before I couldn't sleep a wink and yet, after we completed the "Tunnel Run" I was thankful that I was still in one piece I was very proud of myself that I overcame my fears and did it! That has to be my proudest Camping Moment thus far.
Marcy Downing
Lakeside, CA
As the proud grandparents to Chessie and Dalton, we took them to the KOA campground in Cherokee, NC for one of their annual Halloween weekends. At the time, they were 5 and 4 years old. Of course, we had to enter the pumpkin carving contest, costume contest and best decorated campsite contest. But the proudest moment was during the parade of costumes around the campground. Chessie and Dalton were so excited to be in the parade and all decked out in their finest Halloween costumes (Chessie was Lilo and Dalton was Buzz Lightyear). To see them interacting with the other campers' children in such a fun activity at such a young age, made us so proud to realize that we were witnessing a rite of passage for yet another generation of ghosts and goblins!
Candy McElroy
Rydal, GA
Learning to Camp on my Own
My husband passed away Nov 2006. He did all the maintenance and towing the trailer. I was the camp cook. I had to learn to tow and set up the campsite on my own. I had to put a new sewer hose together and dump it for the first time alone. It took me a while to figure out how to hook up the hose and how to empty the tank. After I did it I sat down on the ground and looked up to the sky and smiled and said "Michael, aren't you proud of me?" I know he was proud of me and was looking down with a smile.
Judie Malinen
Warrenton, OR
It was when it was really cold out in the morning and I was freezing. I got up and figured out how to turn on the stove to make the coffee. I was shivering and no one else wanted to get up. I gathered the large pieces of wood and small pieces of wood put it in the fire ring. I gathered some leaves, got a lighter and started up the small stuff first then blew on it and then put the bigger pieces of wood on it and in about ten minutes I had fire! The fire kept me warm and so did drinking my coffee. 15 minutes after that, everybody woke up, sat by the fire and sipped on coffee. They thanked me and complimented me on my fire!
Deborah Schutz
Heidelberg, PA
I would have to say that the best camping trip that we have had was 2 years ago. We went to Rhode Island for a family reunion. My family traveled from Florida, and my brother’s family traveled from Nebraska. My brother arrived one week before us. When we arrived at Hope Valley RI there were a total of 18 kids. I have to admit, they were getting under the adults skin. We got to a point where we were tired of listening to all of them, so my brother and I decided that we would take all 18 kids to Pachuage State Forest for the week. It was the greatest time ever! All of the kids seemed to get along great. There was no fighting. I couldn’t believe it. The older kids took care of the younger kids. We all had a great time. We plan on camping on are next reunion. I’m sure it will be just as memorable.
Submitted By: George Olsen
My husband, daughter, son-in-law, grandson and granddaughter spent four days camping at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville NY. The Lakes are actually green in color and offer a spectacular view surrounded by hills of green foliage. A swimming beach (w/lifeguards), picnic area, and playground are located at one of the lakes. My husband enjoyed the fishing. We all went out in paddle boats and had a grand time. The scenery is simply breathtaking. We also hiked around the lake - a beautiful hiking trail is available surrounding both lakes. Picnic areas are available in abundance throughout the park. We observed a Deer feeding her fawns and saw many forms of wildlife throughout our stay at Green Lakes. This trip was extra special because our grandchildren ages 13 and 15 joined us and actually said they had a great time. It is refreshing to know that they actually enjoyed being outdoors, hiking, swimming, boating, sleeping outdoors, cooking outdoors and just enjoying mother nature in this fast paced world of computers, television, and expensive entertainment. We stepped away from this "give me world" for a short time and realized that there is so much to enjoy and learn from the "non-material" simple way of life. Camping affords us the opportunity to "simplify" and realign our priorities. Our "camping retreats" are revitalizing in nature and get us powered up to face the real world again. We have been to hotel resorts, on cruises, and recently spent time at the Villages in Florida, all of which were enjoyable. However, we always remember our camping trips with a fondness that no other get-away can offer.
Submitted By: Cindy DeVoldre
Family Time
We met a group of friends at Tippy Damn, a State of Michigan Forestry Service area. It was just memorable because we all got together and had such a great time...family time! That's what camping is all about, making and sharing memories!!
Submitted By: Michael Tull
We recently returned from a camping trip at DeGray Lake south of Hot Springs Arkansas. The group consisted of three bumper pull campers with 8 adults and my 10 month old grandson. We enjoyed horseback riding, swimming, site seeing, go cart riding, fishing, and of course camping, but our favorite activity by far was the day we spend out on the lake. We rented a party barge and a giant inner tube and literally spent the entire day in the water. We took turns pulling everyone on the tube and when we started pulling two at a time, that’s when the craziness started. Of course the younger men (16 & 17) were a little rough, the father and son pair ups were hilarious, but when the married couple started, a battle of the sexes began. As you can see from the photo Derrill may have won this battle, but Peggy finally got her revenge.
Submitted By: Tammy Lemaire
The summer of 2006, a bunch of friends and I went camping at Stony Brook, NY. We headed out on a Friday evening and got to the campsite just before dark. We were nervous that we wouldn't have everything set up in time as we heard the thunder rolling in. Sure enough, as soon as we pitched the tents and set up the canopy it started to rain. It continued to rain through the night, which provided soothing sounds as we slept, and miraculously stopped before the morning came. The next day was beautiful. We spent the day splashing around in the creek, hiking through the woods and taking naps. The next night we sat by the campfire making s'mores and enjoying nature. Ending our weekend we played into the wee hours of the night a very addicting game of Blokus.
Submitted By: Cathy Reitz Rochester, NY
We planned a Camping trip for the whole family at Kendall Campground here in KY. We also invited another couple and their children to come with us. We laughed and relaxed all weekend long. It was nice to have all of us and our children together. We watched the kids try to scare each other. We had a skunk come up into our campsite. I yelled out Skunk, and you should have seen them run. I threw my coke into the air. Nikki jumped clear over the picnic table. Then we all laughed for hours about the whole ordeal. The men always want to stay up later then the children and wives. My husband stayed out a while relaxing in the lawn chair. All was quite inside the camper and then here he comes. "You will never believe what just happened. I was sitting here in my chair, when around the camper comes the skunk. It looks at me, I look at him." And next thing, I know he is in the camper. Oh, so much for the strong and brave. I will never let him live that down.
We had a very nice weekend.
Submitted By: Rhonda Roberts Columbia, KY
The best time I had camping was this past June 2007 at Carter Caves in Olive Hill, KY. It rained all the way to the campground and it took us about 3 hours to get there. But once we pulled up the rain stopped. We had an all girls campout with my best friend and youngest daughter. Everyone told us that there was no way we would be able to camp without the help of the men. Boy did we show them we had a blast putting up the tents, cooking over the fire that my daughter started and roasting marshmallows and hotdogs around the campfire at night. We never missed a beat and even told scary stories but the best part was we proved that we are women and that we are strong and had a great time. We bonded like the sisters that we are and the men felt left out when we came home telling what a success our camping trip was.
Submitted By: Carol Pollard, Florence, KY
Well. My husband, mother-in-law and I set up camp at Jedediah Smith State Park amongst the beautiful redwood trees. We heard there was a campfire with a Ranger telling stories of Jedediah Smith. We were all set up and started walking to the campfire when I told my husband I wanted to put my purse in the car, he gave me his keys and back I went. I put my purse in the car and came back. Then my mom-in-law wanted to put hers in. I looked at my husband felt my pockets and discovered I locked both sets of keys in the car. We told the Ranger. He said after the campfire he'd come and get them out. He came in his truck. The truck had been in an accident and when you shut the door the latch falls and locks the door. Guess what?? He left the truck running, slammed the door and ... you guessed it...he locked his keys in the truck with it running! His buddies (other Rangers) were coming up and he said "shhh please don’t tell my buddies" but... too late they figured it out... It was a good laugh amongst the stress! We still laugh about this every time we go camping.
Submitted By: Kathy Fields
For 19 years, the Bucketts (Bill, Heidi, Rob, Andy, & Emily) have camped with the Haugens (Mark, Anne, Justin, Kari, & Kristen). The kids have grown up camping together. Each year, we have "Stew Night". Everyone gathers around the campfire as our stew cooks and garlic bread heats up. Attached is a picture of a few of the gang standing guard.
Submitted By: Heidi Buckett
My wife and I took our twin girls Mia & Miranda (6), and son Soren (8) camping at Wekiva Springs in Apopka, Fl. We spent the weekend "unplugged" and went fishing, hiking, biking, swimming in the springs and plain old relaxing. We also saw all kinds of wildlife including a doe with her very young baby. After having soo much fun together, I asked my son what his favorite part of the camping trip was, he said "Making the bow and arrow". I asked why since we did so much. Soren responded with "Because I got to spend time with you Dad!" Needless to say, that really touched my heart, and will be something we will both remember for the rest of our lives.
Submitted By: David LaFaver
We camped at the Kohler-Andre State Park earlier this summer. When we left our hometown of Platteville, WI it was a balmy 75 degrees. My husband and I and three girls arrived 4 hours later and noticed that the temperature had dropped 20 degrees. Never having camped along Lake Michigan before, we had packed mostly summer clothing. Little did we know it would get down to 39 degrees that night with blustery winds. Not to fear though, we spent our night sleeping in our minivan alternating the heater every 20 minutes. The kids didn't mind at all and slept well...my youngest daughter awoke that morning and was quoted as saying, "This is the best camping trip ever!" The campground was delightful, but next year...we're coming in August!
Submitted By: Jen Kasper
My favorite camping trip was our first annual family trip to Big Sur California. My parents had 5 kids. We are all married with children so when we get together there were 24 of us. We all love camping so we decided to plan a family camping trip to Big Sur. We had a wonderful time swimming in the creek, playing cards, hiking, riding bikes, roasting marshmallows and enjoying each others company. We all took a hike up to a beautiful waterfall not far from the campground, you can see some of us in the picture attached and hiked down the coast to explore tide pools and caves. This is a perfect family vacation spot. We enjoyed it so much we made it an annual event and are going on our 4th year.
Submitted By: Alica Goeckner
Our favorite site is Hurkey Creek Campground. We loved it so much, we got married there this April. Our kids were the best man, ring bearer and flower girl. It was a small gathering, but even the rangers congratulated us. We camped and fished all week and left before the influx of people on the weekend. We had a great time cooking and enjoying the outdoors.
Submitted By: DiAnne Thrush
During a camping trip to Woods Canyon Lake last year with my parents and my brother's family, we got this crazy idea to create tinfoil helmets like the ones we saw in the movie "Signs". Needless to say we got a little carried away. We spent the rest of the afternoon trying to act serious while other campers passed by and then laughing at the expression on their faces.
Submitted By: Colleen Roque
My parents used to camping a lot but due to their age, they can not go now on their own. They have mentioned several times to us their children they would like to go. I come from a family of six girls. In July my husband and I told my parents we would go with them. We took my moms wheel chair and walker, and my dad took his cane. We reserved sites back to back and they had the best three days of camping in a long time. They now want to go again. They are both 83 years old. I’m hoping we can do it again next year!
Submitted By: Sheryl Gillette
We recently stayed at 1000 Trails Resort, Whaler's Rest. We had such a great time crabbing and going to the aquarium. The beach was beautiful also! My 15 year old son and I love camping. We like it all from roughing it with minimal luxuries to the resort style with a pool and clubhouse activities. It's all good - mainly because we always meet such wonderful people that love camping and the outdoors also!
Submitted By: Kara Adams
Wyatt and I spent a week at Earth Teach Forest Park in Oregon. This has been the best camping experience to date for either of us. In addition to learning skills such as "fox-walking," making our own debris shelters and bow-drill fire-making, one of the many highlights was a new version of capture the flag. First we camouflaged ourselves by slopping on mud, then rolling around in forest duff (dirt, leaves, twigs, pine needles, etc.). Then the parents hid in the forest to guard the "flag" (the prize being COOKIES and other treats). It was the kids’ job to stalk silently into camp while instructors created hilarious hillbilly distractions for us all. By far the messiest activity of the week, it was certainly the most exciting as well! This photo of Dad after the game gives an idea of how crazy it can get!
Submitted By: Jack Nicklaw
The 5 grandkids spent time on the river and at the ocean playing together. The adults had a ball playing, cooking and swimming with them. It’s what camping is all about. Family!
Submitted By: Cliff Cray
I love going camping with my family! It’s great! We slept in a tent outside! We hiked up a big hill, walked through a river and went fishing! Austen caught his first fish. We saw a turtle! I helped Daddy cook meat outside. It was awesome! I can't wait to go again.
Submitted By: Jordyn, Austen and Debbi Dietz
My Dad was playing with his Bagpipe band in a Grand Lake Colorado parade. We decided to make it a camping trip too. After the parade we set up camp on the bank of the lake and launched the canoe. We caught our limit and headed to shore. When Dad stood up the canoe tipped and we went in with all our gear I grabbed my father by the back of his belt and kicked off the bottom about 10 feet. We came up gasping for air, but Dad had a firm grip on the creel so we started a fire, stripped to dry our cloths, sat in our underwear and enjoyed a laugh and fresh caught trout dinner.
Submitted By: Patrick Sullivan
I remember when I was much younger, Dad used to take us four boys, plus two of the neighbor's boys to the beach. It was just us guys. Mom stayed home. I remember one time, it rained all week and everything got soaked. We went home two days early. Mom swears when we got home I was still wearing the same clothes I left home with five days earlier. It was one of my favorite trips of all time.
Submitted By: Henry Donald
Although I grew up in a home surrounded by countryside and abundant wildlife in the backyard, I looked forward to every family camping trip I went on. My father has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and has shared a wealth of information with me that I have passed on to my own children. I can remember learning how to bait a hook and patiently wait for a fish to bite, the time at Limekiln Lake where my dad and I proudly rowed to shore to present a stringer full of perch to my mother who would later make her version of "poor-man's shrimp."
Camping brought an otherwise very busy family closer with evenings around a fire and family stories shared. Now, as a mother of 2 boys I can truly appreciate the time my father spent with me as a child teaching me the "way of the woods." I try to take every weekend in the summer and head out camping. I am forever grateful to my father for the lessons learned and my present ability to set up a camp, build a fire and take the boys out fishing. I think as a mother of boys this has enabled me to make a very close bond with my children and I hope that the experiences we have shared in the woods will carry through to their children in a world that seems increasingly dedicated to technology and rapidly moving away from "nature" and the idea of camping.
I feel as though in wonderful experiences I have shared with my father and the bond between us created by his teachings, that I have truly been a lucky girl. Thanks dad for taking the time and teaching your little girl that a daughter can be just as tough as a son! A lesson I will carry with me forever into the woods!
Submitted By: Lauri Dwyer
We stayed at the Defeated State Park’s beach near Carthage with the family. My youngest daughter had a blast playing with the sand and being near the water. It was a great sight to watch her fall in love with the great outdoors.
Submitted By: Tisha Sturm
We went camping at North Lake campgrounds in the Catskill Mountains every year my father and brothers would set up our green canvas WWII army tent that a friend of my father gave him; and my mother, my sisters and me would set up the rest of camp. the next day my father Took my brother and me hiking up to the site of the old Catskill Hotel I say site cause the hotel by 1963 was burn it down to the ground. All that remains of what was once America's most fashionable resort is the gateposts and the sweeping views from the cleared site. We found a wild blue berry bush right thereat the site & we pick a bunch of the blue berries and brought them back to camp. My mother washed them off and made blue berry muffins and blue berry pancakes for breakfast the next morning all on the camp fire. My father had just recently passed away and that is one of my dearest memories of him. He was the one who made camping fun and gave me such a love for it and for that area of the Catskills.
Submitted By: Barbara Sonin
This is my dad and I on one of our many camping trips. My dad is the best teacher. He makes me aware of the dangers of a hatchet, campfire, and makes me stay on the trails when we ride or hike. He even taught me to build a fire from a stick, string, and friction. I have the coolest dad.
Submitted By: Dustin Copsey
One of my fondest childhood memories is camping with my family. My dad loved fishing and would always put out trot-lines. He would get up early every morning and go out and check them. One morning he went out before anyone else was up. We awoke to dad trying to get back across the bay with nothing but a gallon bucket to propel the boat. The motor had stalled and he forgot to take a paddle. All he had in the boat was the bucket. So we stood on the bank laughing and watching his journey back to shore.
Submitted By: Gina Neal
I am 7 years old and every camping moment I have with my dad is great. When I am with my dad it is always an adventure. We go camping a lot. He taught me how to set up the tent and to build a fire. We love to go hiking in the trails and look at all the animals, bugs, habitats, and I like to look for bears. My dad teaches me to respect nature and to always make sure I don't leave messes. We camp in Yosemite, Idyllwild, Big Bear, and any State Park along the way. Being with my dad is great especially when the sun goes to sleep and the moon wakes up and its time to make s’mores. Me and my father have a very special bond and camping together is always a special moment.
Submitted By: Alona Minchin & Audrey Fennel
We went camping at North Lake campgrounds in the Catskill Mountains every year my father and brothers would set up our green canvas WWII army tent that a friend of my father gave him; and my mother, my sisters and me would set up the rest of camp. the next day my father Took my brother and me hiking up to the site of the old Catskill Hotel I say site cause the hotel by 1963 was burn it down to the ground. All that remains of what was once America's most fashionable resort is the gateposts and the sweeping views from the cleared site. We found a wild blue berry bush right thereat the site & we pick a bunch of the blue berries and brought them back to camp. My mother washed them off and made blue berry muffins and blue berry pancakes for breakfast the next morning all on the camp fire. My father had just recently passed away and that is one of my dearest memories of him. He was the one who made camping fun and gave me such a love for it and for that area of the Catskills.
Submitted By: Barbara Sonin
We had just bought a new Jayco pop-up camper and we decided to camp at Stone Mountain, Georgia. We were just learning to put up the camper and Dad, like many great dads, wanted everything done just right! We had just put up the camper and he was attempting to put on the screen room that attaches to the canopy, when a bolt of lightening struck the lake next to us. You could almost feel the vibrations, and the sound seemed to reverberate around us. Suddenly, rain began pouring down! In seconds (it seemed like only an instant!), he was inside the camper with a frantic look on his face. With eyes bulging, rain soaking his head and clothes, and yet attempting to appear in control of the situation, he strove to reply calmly, (but with a note of fear in his voice), "That'll be good enough for now!" We all burst out laughing because the storm was the only thing that would have kept Mr. Perfectionist from finishing the job at hand. We still tease him when we are too tired to put up the screen house by saying, "Hey, we think we hear thunder in the distance. It's time to quit!" He laughingly jokes that we need a lightening rod, but we tell him we don't need one because we already have a human one - him.
Submitted By: Becci Tatum
My best camping moment with dad was the year my dad figured out how to grill me a bagel with cream cheese on the campfire. It was during the morning and I was a very picky eater at the time. My dad, Robert, knew how to grill a bagel on a stick and manage to put cream cheese on it without burning his fingers - it was delicious!
Submitted By: Mabel & Jesse
While camping with my girlfriends one summer on a site with no electricity and water, I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I usually know my bearings pretty well, so rather than wake my roommate to inquire where the flashlight was, I decided I could find the bath house without the flashlight. WAS I WRONG! I was lost for about 30 minutes wandering around our area of sites. I would be walking on pavement one minute and dirt and leaves up to my knees the next. I have never experienced pitch black darkness before, but this was definitely it! When I finally made it back to our site, my roommate says, "There you are! I was beginning to worry about you!" After being gone a total of about 45 minutes to go to the bath house, I replied "BEGINNING to worry?? How long do I need to be lost for you to actually worry???" From that trip on, I ALWAYS carry my flashlight. Even if our site is right next to the bath house!
Submitted By: Tracey Jarrett
We were traveling from Pennsylvania to Texas going home from our two week long vacation. We were entering into Kentucky when our cat sitter called with some bad news. Our fifteen year old cat had passed away. We stopped for the night in Louisville, KY and rested. The next day we decided to visit St. Louis as a side venture. We got to the St. Louis site earlier than we normally did, so I decided to catch up on laundry. While doing laundry, the weather changed from cool to dark and cold. I was leaving the laundry area and I saw something move quickly toward me. I could not see anything but little specks of white. When I got into the light I saw this beautiful creature. She was a tuxedo cat. I inquired about her at the store. I was told that she had been left behind, but adapted to everyone who worked there and some that had visited. The clerk asked if we wanted her. I was a little hesitant because we did not have the items needed to care for a cat on the road. The next day my husband packed the car along with our new friend, Ms. Burbank. We stopped and got the items we needed to travel with her. She is a great traveler. She now lives in Texas with us.
Submitted By: Lisa Cobb
My Mom and I enjoy spending time together. As a family we go on weekend camping trips with our horses. Our favorite destination is Lake Somerville, Texas at Nails Creek. They have a wonderful horse friendly camping area with great trails for both hikers and horses alike. When we are out camping and spending time together the rest of the world seems to float by. We forget about work and worries. I enjoy watching my mom enjoy herself and feeling the everyday stress of things just lifting away. We cook out, ride the horses around the lake and have a wonderful time telling stories of our family and friends. I love my Mom very much and treasure all the times we get to spend together camping and just being with one another. I hope we get to experience many more of those times to come.
Submitted By: Sheri Wise
My favorite camping story is about the time we shared our s'mores with the raccoons. We were at Wellesley Island State Park in New York State. It was campfire time and we were settling down to an evening around them campfire. Of course we had all our S'more supplies. There was a neat ledge behind the campfire pit that was just right for setting out all the s'more stuff. As we were chatting and enjoying the fire, all of a sudden the marshmallows disappeared! Next thing we knew, away went the graham crackers and we saw two little bandit eyes take off with them. I wasn't about to let them know we had chocolate bars too, so I grabbed them. I'm sure our little friends were waiting to catch us off guard again but we were saving the chocolate for another night of s'mores. We have laughed about those bandits many times over the years.
Submitted By: Debby Allen
When I was 5 or 6 years old, my Dad took my sisters and I camping in Hope, Alaska. My father moved from Texas to Alaska for work. We went for a visit and ended up camping under a tarp. Not in a tent, just under a tarp that he placed between two trees. He then sent the three of us Texas girls out for firewood so we could get the fire going. As we were gathering all the small sticks he circled around us as quietly as possible then came charging and growling at my sisters and I. Our first thought was BEAR! So we threw down the sticks and ran towards camp. He slowly walked up laughing uncontrollably. After we settled down, we went fishing for salmon, something we were scared of doing, since some of the salmon was larger than we were and we didn't think our cane poles could hold a fish that big. He taught us a song that we sing when we go fishing to this day, "Fishy, fishy in the brook come get on my little hook". No one caught anything and it wasn't until many years later that he admitted to removing the worms before dropping our hooks into the water. That was the first and last time my dad ever took us camping and it is one of the most cherished memories I have.
Submitted By: Hope Sherrod
Every year when I was little, my Dads family would go to Garner State Park. There, my father taught me to climb the ropes and jump into the Rio Frio. He took me hiking into the cold cave and bike riding up and down the steepest hill! This has stayed with me and always will! This last year we all went to Garner, and it was for my wedding! My father walked me down the aisle and gave me away! Garner holds so much for my family and I. Especially for my father and me! Now my husband and I take our kids to Garner every year. It's a family tradition! Something my father's father started and I'll keep it going! It's another home for us!
Submitted By: Jessica Cisneros
The best camping trip was when I went with my Dad to Green Peter Lake to go boating and camping. I love going in the boat and swimming with my dad. Fishing was one thing I love watching him do. I like to help when he catches fish and finding worms for him to use.
Submitted By: Madison Steffan
I am now going on 60 years old and still love to go camping because of my childhood memories with my mom and dad. We were 5 girls and 2 boys in our family and dad didn't make a lot of money but he made sure we had family fun every summer. We would load up all our stuff on his homemade trailer and away we would go. Once we arrived at the campground, dad would hang a mirror just the height for us little girls and he would give us a quarter to buy ice cream or some kind of treat at the pavilion. He would make a campfire and we would sit around and just talk until the wee hours of the morning watching the moon and then the sun in the morning. When I got married, I got my husband to take our three kids camping, they all talk about those fun outdoorsy times. Now one daughter is married and they bought a camper. My grandson who is 6 years old caught his first fish last Saturday and now he is hooked! There is nothing like sleeping under the big trees and smell the fresh air.
Sumbitted By: Judy Nelson