Green Are the Hills and Green They Will Stay

Spring is nearly upon us, and with it one of my favorite days of the year... St. Patrick's Day! This day will always hold a special place in my heart; growing up, St. Paddy's Day was a real treat in my family. As kids, we set traps overnight to catch leprechauns, and we awoke to trails of shamrock garland leading down the hallway and stairs to baskets of green goodies: green candy, live plants, green teas, costume jewelry and other accessories... all green. And, of course, the leprechaun always escaped our traps unscathed, leaving little bits of naughty mischief in his wake. And Mom always cooked the best corned beef stew -- and still does, despite my efforts to imitate her recipe.

As I got older, I became that weirdo who cared way too much about St. Paddy's: every year, I brought green treats to work to share with coworkers, made green crafts to decorate the house with, and - of course - established a particular fondness for Guinness.

I am not alone in my love for the holiday, but unlike most Americans, I see it as more than just a day for excessive drinking. To me, St. Paddy's Day is a festive, magical event that represents friendship, peace, kindness, thankfulness, and above all else, generosity. It is a day to appreciate those around us (friends, family, coworkers, neighbors... yes, even the annoying ones) as well as nature. Some of my fondest St. Paddy's Day memories are of gray, drizzly days when the hills are freshly green and covered in thick fog.... Despite its revelry, St. Paddy's Day has always meant, for me at least, a strange sense of calm peacefulness.

In celebration of this special day, I want to invite you to share my appreciation of all things green... particularly nature. If you camp or glamp, then you probably already do -- but sometimes even nature lovers like ourselves forget the impact we have on the environment around us when we camp. The next time you're out there in the wilderness, doing what you love, please remember that it is up to responsible people such as ourselves to preserve and protect the natural beauty we enjoy so much. 

Tread Softly

You already know all of the popular mantras... pack it in, pack it out; take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. But of those footprints, did you know that your trusty old hiking boots could be damaging the delicate flora in your campsite? On the rugged hiking trail, tough heavy footwear is appropriate; but if you're just lounging around your site (as I often do), you should opt for softer footwear, such as a reliable sneaker or tennis shoe.

Ditch the Disposables

Many people use disposable dinnerware while camping because of its convenience, but think of the hundreds of plastic spoons and forks, and all of the paper plates that are going into the landfills. Trade your disposables for a trusty set of melamine dishware and reusable utensils. Not only will it save you money in the long run, real dishware is sturdier and looks nicer, and is way better for the environment. 

Clean with Clean Products

When it comes time to wash those melamine plates, reach for a biodegradable soap instead of regular dish soap, which can harm local wildlife. Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash is a good alternative. It's completely biodegradable, and the brand offers a few other similar products, like wipes and hand soap. Just remember to keep your waste water away from rivers and lakes; dump it onto dry ground instead.

Pack Up, Pick Up

When you're packed up at the end of your trip and ready to leave, do one last thorough sweep of your site. Pick up anything that doesn't belong... yes, even if it isn't yours. Don't let others' sloppiness be your excuse for leaving your site trashed. You would be surprised how many bottle caps get left behind in fire pits and bushes. And, ultimately, you are responsible for leaving the site better than you found it. 

Burn Local

Many campgrounds will remind you of this when you arrive. If possible, wait to buy wood until you are local to your campground (don't bring wood from the next state over). Every environment is unique, with its own particular ecosystem in place. Wood from other areas could harbor dangerous bugs or spores, which have been responsible for devastating entire ecosystems in the past.

 

Respect the Rules

This one seems obvious, but you never know. Yes, it's a total bummer when you're not allowed to hang hammocks, but it's not just because your host is a jerk and wants to ruin your trip. Hammocks can damage trees by cutting the bark and making them susceptible to destructive beetles. Or... certain species are brittle and cannot reliably support the weight of a hammock, and may pose a threat to you and your campmates. Listen to your host and obey any posted signs... stick to the worn trails instead of blazing your own, as you could harm delicate (or possibly even endangered) wildlife. Be respectful and courteous; the rules are there for a reason.

Buy Green

Whenever possible, opt for eco-friendly products. These days, nearly every camping product comes in an eco-friendly option, including tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and totes, shoes, clothing, gear, and more. Do your research before you buy, and opt for a brand that either offers eco-friendly products or makes a conscious effort to reduce waste and protect the environment. Check out this list for more suggestions and ideas.

Donate to the Cause

If you have some spare cash lying around, consider donating to any number of environmental charities, such as WWF or NGS. Some areas offer a sort of environmental membership, like The Greener Camping Club. For a fee, this organization offers its members access to a variety of eco-friendly, sustainable campgrounds, all while using funds to plant trees, install nesting and bat boxes, and otherwise support environmental preservation projects.

A Weekend and a Monster Story at Lilac Oaks

For my birthday in December, I received a brand new, very cool tent. I had been thinking about upgrading for a while and had my eye on the Cabela's 10x10 Outback Tent Lodge. There's nothing wrong with my old tents, and I will probably continue to use them on lighter, less glampy trips, but I was looking for something a little larger and more comfortable. 

The box had been sitting in my house for the past few weeks and I was dying to take her out for a spin. I circled President's Day weekend on the calendar and anxiously counted down the days. And after much anticipation, we finally packed up and drove up the hill to gorgeous Valley Center. We had been hoping for something a little further from home (my boyfriend, Ryan, has been gunning for Red Rock all year), but we didn't have the time to make a long drive and instead opted for something local.

Lilac Oaks Campground is similar to Dixon Lake in the sense that it is a hidden gem here in North County San Diego: it is only minutes from our home and yet you feel like you could be hours outside of city limits. Because half of the property is available for long-term RV rental, the campground is the perfect combination of nature and amenities -- clean bathrooms, warm showers, coin-op laundry, and sites that offer both solitude and amazing scenery in the heart of Valley Center. This is not a rugged campground by far, but make no mistake -- even hardcore nature lovers will not be disappointed: large, old oaks providing plenty of shade, an adorable duck pond, and a wide variety of sites to suit every mood. 

So let me tell you... this new tent is awesome. The moment we pulled it out of the bag, we immediately recognized the quality of the materials. Tough, durable nylon, carbon fiber poles, self-cinching guy lines, and hooked stakes that are not messing around... at the end of our trip, the stakes were so strong and stubborn that we were forced to dig them out of the ground with a hatchet. Despite its size and weight, the tent went right up with no issue. Other than our Kelty Acadia 6, I think this was the easiest tent setup I've ever done.

The sitting room

Once you figure out how to work around the center support pole - which allows for a whopping 8.5-foot ceiling height - there is an incredible amount of space inside. Because the bottom foot of the walls erect vertically, then slope inward to the top, the 10x10 footprint feels much roomier than the average slanted-wall tent; it makes a world of difference in what you can fit inside the tent, as well as the livable space.

I loaded the tent up with all of my favorite decor, as well as a few new items I recently picked up. I was immediately in love with the setup: a sitting "room," a comfy sleeping area, a storage corner for luggage and basics, and a dog accessory corner (consisting of a storage tower filled with dog supplies, because my babies are as spoiled as I am). Even after I was finished, there was still plenty of room inside for moving around, and I realized we could have brought twice the supplies without any storage issue!

The sleeping space

Because San Diego was expecting a cold snap, we opted for function over fashion when it came to the bed. We ditched most of the cozy blankets and pillows and brought along our Teton queen sleeping bag and Ryan's trusty old Cabela's bag, which survived both of his deployments and many cold desert nights. To put as much between us and the frozen ground as possible, we layered the open Cabela's bag on top of a queen air mattress, then threw our super comfy Teton on top. The Teton is rated for below freezing temperatures, but even so, it was seriously frigid out there after the sun went down.

Dog Accessory Storage Tower

Our poor dogs... they're tough little things but terribly pampered -- and at the end of the day, they are not built for cold weather. According to some of my reading, little Phoebe only has an optimal temperature range of about 20°, so the near-freezing nights kind of crushed her spirit. But we did our best to make them warm and comfortable; we brought along both of their beds and an entire collection of blankets specifically for their use, as well as their own personal storage tower filled to the brim with dog sweaters, scarves, beanies, leashes and harnesses, treats, food, several bowls, and a selection of their favorite toys. 

Like I said, they're terribly pampered.

During the day, we spent most of our time relaxing (our favorite camping activity). Unfortunately, the campground does not allow hammocks due to brittle oak branches, but this was only a minor inconvenience for us. Our first evening there (Friday) was spent setting up, with barely enough time to warm ourselves by a fire before bedtime. Saturday afternoon, we opened a chilled bottle of one of our favorite wines and lounged in the shade. I had intentionally picked one of the shadier spots available for ultimate relaxation. We took a short lunch break to snack on some Asian cucumber salad, which I had prepped before leaving home, and walked the dogs around the campground to explore, but for the most part it was a lazy day.

Homelegance Accent Chair

TETON XL Sleeping Bag

Rustic Melamine Dishware

That night, after the four of us had crawled into bed to escape the cold, I had the displeasure of being awoken by footsteps crunching around our site. My first thought went to a small scavenger -- perhaps a raccoon or possum. But after a few seconds, I realized that the footsteps were that of a much larger animal or, perhaps, a person. I froze and held my breath, listening to the footsteps come closer and closer to the tent, until I could sense that they were just outside the tent door. 

By this time, I was almost certain it was a serial killer invading our campsite, intending to sneak into our tent and murder us in our sleep. I considered waking Ryan, who was blissfully snoring beside me. But just as I reached to shake him awake, the invader took a few more steps and caught themselves in the scarce light outside, casting a disproportioned - but very clear - shadow across the wall of our tent: it was an incredibly large canine of some sort.

Photo credit: Unknown

I heard it sniff at our tent door and I instinctively felt for Phoebe and Mattis to be sure that they were indeed safe inside the sleeping bag with us. The creature paced slowly around the perimeter of our tent, sniffing the whole way. As I listened, I suddenly heard a shout from a nearby campsite: one of our neighbors had spotted the thing lurking and brought it to the attention of his companion: "Wolf! Look -- it's a huge wolf!"  My heart pounded and the dogs stirred inside the sleeping bag... but within seconds the creature was gone, back to wherever it had come from. I breathed a sigh of relief and laid back in bed, but I didn't sleep well that night.

Sunday morning, I fried up some scrambled eggs and brewed some coffee using a little drip-brew we brought back from our Costa Rica trip a few years back, and we discussed the night's event over breakfast. Unbeknownst to our camp neighbors, wolves don't live in the area. We concluded that it was probably a coyote scavenging for camp scraps and agreed to keep a very close eye on our little dogs for the rest of the weekend. Mattis is just large enough to make an inconvenient target, but 10 lb. Phoebe has "coyote snack" written all over her. 

It was a little colder than the previous day, so I left Ryan to build a fire while I went into town for a few supplies. There's a little grocery located about ten minutes from the campground, so I buzzed over to pick up some wine, a few snacks, and a couple more gallons of water. By the time I returned, the fire was blazing and we settled down for the afternoon. I did some reading in my tent sitting room (perhaps inspired by the previous night's excitement, I read a few selections from my favorite gothic horror book) while Ryan and the dogs napped in the sleeping space. It was a perfect day and exactly what we needed after a busy start to the new year. Dinner was a prepped hobo meal of beef and veggies (super yummy) and we followed it with some classic s'mores and a bottle of wine. As far as meals go, it was hard to beat.

As night fell, so did the temperature. Despite their blankets, the dogs began to shiver and so did we. As the wind picked up, we decided to retreat into the tent for the rest of the evening, where we played a few lively rounds of Uno and devoured a sleeve of Thin Mints. The dogs hunkered down and eventually we called it a night.

I was startled awake at some late hour by a terrible racket nearby. The wind was howling outside, a low sprig of leaves was slapping against the top of our tent, and somewhere just outside of the campground, a pack of coyotes had caught some poor, screaming creature and were cackling up a storm. The dogs grumbled a bit, but I settled them and tried my best to go back to sleep. Just as I was beginning to drift off, I was again awoken by a familiar crunching of footsteps outside the tent. I didn't have to see it to know it was the same creature that had visited us the previous night. I gently woke Ryan and whispered that the thing was back. We lay there for a bit, listening while it circled our tent. As it came around the bed side, Ryan grabbed a flashlight, slowly unzipped the window flap, and (despite my protests) peered outside.

Photo by David Tostado on Unsplash

I held my breath as he shone the light around, and after a few seconds he sat back with a grunt. I asked what it was and he replied that it was just a dog; just a massive, white dog. He must have startled it, because it disappeared once more into the night. We pondered the incident for a few minutes, then went back to bed. The coyotes continued howling somewhere in the hills. Again, I didn't sleep well.

Monday morning and another breakfast, then we packed up. Checkout time was noon, and we were anxious to be home anyway. We had enjoyed our trip immensely, but there's something really satisfying about arriving home early in the day after a camping trip -- one of the perks of staying local. We wanted enough time to unpack, degrime ourselves and the dogs, and prepare for the rest of the workweek. The office was closed due to the holiday, so I slipped a note under the door notifying them about the mysterious white dog. I wouldn't call myself an overly concerned person in general, but I figured the groundskeepers should know about a large dog lurking around every night, even on the off-chance it was just a harmless stray looking for scraps.

We were home by noon and unpacked quickly, anxious to do laundry and bathe the dogs. They were exhausted after the weekend; it was Mattis' first camping experience and he seemed to actually enjoy it, and Phoebe tolerated the whole ordeal with her typical stoicism. Ryan and I got a much-needed retreat to start out the new year. Overall, I would say it was a successful trip for everyone. Lilac Oaks has made its way onto my list of local favorites, and I can't wait until the next opportunity to use my sweet new tent. As for the hulking white dog... I'm almost certain it was just a lonely stray and not the monster my sleepy imagination made it out to be (at least nothing like the monsters and creeps in these scary campfire stories), and I'm hoping the groundskeepers deal with it gently and responsibly. We went looking for nature and wildlife, and although it wasn't strange or exotic, wildlife we found. That's the beauty of camping -- you just never know.

Ringing in the New Year at Dixon Lake

Hello, glampers... welcome to 2018! 

No doubt about it, 2017 certainly was a doozy and some of us were happy to see it go. And there's nothing better than celebrating the new year with a bit of nature therapy. With its convenient location, stunning view, and excellent recreation activities, Dixon Lake was an easy choice for Glamp-Ed's New Year celebration!

Dixon Lake is located in Escondido, California, and offers fishing, boating, camping, hiking, picnicking, and hours of rest and relaxation. At $18/night during the off season, it was certainly affordable compared to many other California campgrounds. Dogs are allowed (on leash, of course), and the recreation area offers boats and fishing equipment for rent during the day. 

We were particularly excited to try out our new teepee tent. The Ozark Trail 7-person Teepee Tent is perhaps the most affordable of the teepee tents available, so we were anxious to try it out for ourselves. We also had a variety of new decor for our tent and campsite, so we were all set to party in style and comfort!

Admittedly, setting up the tent was a bit of a struggle. Unlike most larger tents, it comes with only two legs for support. As one of us balanced it upright, the other had to move around and stake out the sides of the tent to keep it standing. However, once it was up, it was sturdy enough and very cute! The large windows allow for great lighting inside during the day, and help cool you off at night. While the tent could technically sleep seven people, we don't exactly pack light... so this setup could potentially sleep about four people comfortably (with another air mattress). And the height is amazing... camping is an entirely different experience when you don't have to duck to get into your tent!

Overall, we would give the tent 4 out of 5 stars. Other than the awkward and counter-intuitive setup, it served us well and is super stylish.

Our tent decor was fairly simple but incredibly comfortable. We actually used this opportunity to try out a new car air mattress. Although it's made to fit conveniently into the back of SUVs and minivans, it also works well for camping! All it needs are some soft blankets and comfy throw pillows, and it feels like you're back in bed at home.

Perhaps my favorite accent in the whole setup was the fur throw. Faux fur is my current aesthetic and I thought this throw was to die for! And is that llama throw pillow not adorable? Sophia even pulled out some of her hand-made macrame to decorate with. We picked up a lot of our decor from the clearance sections at TJ Maxx and Target, but of course specific products vary from location to location. You never know what you're going to find there so keep an open mind! If you like what you see and want this decor, I've collected a few Amazon items below that are either similar or the exact same products.

Faux Fur Throw on Amazon

LED Pouf on Amazon

Luxury Blanket on Amazon

Storage Tower on Amazon

Throw Pillows on Amazon

Serving Trays on Amazon

Setting up a tent is hard work, so after we finished it was time for lunch. Luckily, we came fully prepared with a melamine dish set and and my favorite set of Keto stainless steel wine glasses. Our first day there was pretty warm; we decided on a refreshing Asian cucumber salad. For this and other delicious, simple camping recipes, check out Glamp-Ed's guide to camping cuisine.

After lunch, we still had a few hours of daylight to kill, so we decided on a short hike with the pups. We had Winston and Shaunna with us, and they're always game for an adventure, so we headed to the peak of the tallest hill within walking range of our campsite. Let me tell you... the view was downright stunning. Many of the campsites at Dixon have great views of either the lake or the surrounding city, but with a little more elevation the vista was truly amazing. One of my favorite things about this campground is how secluded it feels when you are actually only minutes (and I mean literally three minutes) from the bustling city of Escondido. It really is a hidden gem.

Before we lost the light, we hurried back to the campground and set up all of our lighting equipment. I've said it before and I'll say it again, one of the most important aspects of glamping is the lighting. Without it, you're likely to stumble around in the dark, knocking things over and wasting all of your hard setup work. To learn how to light your campsite properly, and for other great glamping tips, read our camping-to-glamping guide.

It was a very dark night, so we illuminated the perimeter of our campsite with solar LED stakes to avoid tripping or stumbling off into the wilderness. We also hung plenty of string lights, battery-powered plastic bulbs, and - of course - my trusty Luci lights, which I never camp without. 

We also scattered some LED tealights on the picnic table and inside the tent, set out some citronella candles to ward off any stubborn bugs that somehow survived the bitter California winter, and hung lanterns inside the tent. To add a little ambiance, we plugged a portable solar charger into our LED inflatable pouf.

After a quick dinner, we huddled around the firepit, popped open a bottle of Cabernet, and settled down for a relaxing night. It did get fairly cold, and unfortunately Dixon doesn't allow for wood fires (just coal) due to extreme fire danger. So after a little star-gazing, we retired to the tent to play some card games.

The next morning called for fresh espresso, a light breakfast, and more hiking - this time around the base of the lake. Here in San Diego, we are incredibly blessed to have temperate weather most of the year, including winter, so it was the perfect day for basking in the sun.

Afterward, we did some light reading back at the site and played with the dogs, who were having an absolute blast listening to the sounds of nature and sniffing out critters (Dixon warns on their website that they are currently suffering from some kind of raccoon infestation, though we saw no proof of that during our stay).

That night we rang in the new year with some champagne, gourmet camping cuisine, and some of the most beautiful scenery anyone could ask for. Good company certainly doesn't hurt either! Overall, it was an amazing trip and the perfect way to start out the new year. And just because we were outdoors doesn't mean we didn't enjoy all of the glitz and glam of the holiday.

For a short weekend glamping trip, I think we did alright for ourselves! Considering we are fairly new to the world of glamping, this was an interesting experience for us. It was really an opportunity for us to get creative and let our glamp flag fly, and we had a lot of fun picking out decor and designing our comfy campsite.

The last day of camping is always the hardest and the saddest. No matter how much time you spend out there, it's never enough. Luckily, the process was made easier with teamwork and a nifty dish-washing station we set up on the picnic table. Washing dishes while camping can be a messy job, but this actually made it a breeze. And instead of a traditional sponge, which collects dirt and bacteria especially on a camping trip, we used an item from our very own Glamp-Ed line of products, our TOKKA silicone sponge -- it's practically made for camping.

Finally, we packed up the truck, loaded the pups, and bid farewell to Dixon Lake. Not forever though -- especially considering the campsite is only minutes from home!

We here at Glamp-Ed are excited to begin a fresh year of new experiences and incredible adventures. We want to thank all of our readers for their continued support and interest, and we can't wait to thrill you with what Glamp-Ed has in store for 2018. Happy New Year and, as always, happy glamping!

The Most Stunning Winter Camping Spots in the US

Camping is all fun and games until winter rolls around and suddenly there is snow on the ground, everything is cold, and all of your favorite camping spots are closed for the season. And when you do manage to find a beautiful campground that is open for winter, you really have to debate -- is it worth all the effort to go camping in horribly cold weather, and perhaps even snow... or should you just stay home with a hot cup of cocoa and a fresh log in the fireplace?

That's what I love about glamping. In harsh conditions where the average camper's tiny tent and thin sleeping bag would amount to a miserable experience, glampers come fully prepared with blankets, pillows, hand warmers, and all sorts of cozy, cold-weather things! And when you're warm and comfortable, the beauty of a winter campground is difficult to beat. So pack up your trailers, SUVs, and truck beds... these are the most amazing winter camping locations in the US!

Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan

Red Rock Canyon State Park, California

Adirondack Mountains, New York

Manti-La Sal National Forest, Utah

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

Acadia National Park, Maine

Best Camping Gifts of 2017

Well, the biggest shopping weekend of the year has past, and hopefully you scored some great deals. But you and I both know we're not done yet. There's always room for a little more retail therapy, and lucky for you, I've compiled a comprehensive list of this year's top camping gifts and gadgets. And there are some awesome items here. 

So, join me down the shopping rabbit hole with this list of 2017's coolest gear and unique camping gift ideas for both you and your loved ones.

BioLite CampStove 2

 

Glow in the Dark Guyline

 

PizzaCraft Outdoor Pizza Oven

 

Yeti Roadie Cooler

 

Honesh 2 Person Hammock

 

Goal Zero Solar Kit

 

Sportneer Solar Camping Shower

 

Ozark 2 Room Heated Shower Tent

 

Camp Chef Outdoor Portable Movie Screen

Intex Queen Air Bed 

 

JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

Haitrail LED Lantern and Fan

Scout Pleasure Chest Picnic Cooler

 

Tent Stakes with LED Lights

Tentsile Connect Treehouse Tent

Melamine Dinnerware Set

There you have it... all of the best camping gifts on the market this season. I don't know about you, but more than one of those definitely caught my eye. Hopefully you gathered some unique camping gift ideas or at least some inspiration to guide you when buying for your loved ones (or for yourself) this year!