Best camping stories from travel bloggers

My best camping experiences are about the simple things. Living outside. Campfires. Swimming in the lake. My best moment was when I was camping on the north shore of Lake Superior. The scenery is beautiful, the lake legendary. But when the Northern Lights entertained us one evening, it was fascinating.

I’m from rural Canada. Camping is a lifestyle there. Most people own camps, otherwise we’d pitch a tent anywhere and enjoy s’mores. My best friend has a camp 150 km from Thunder Bay, Canada and we go there every year for New Year’s. New Year’s Eve in Canada means snow and cold. People from Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta attended. At every hour of 12, 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., we set off fireworks over the frozen lake to celebrate the New Year in each province. Then we undressed, rolled in the snow and went into the sauna. There’s nothing like winter camping in Canada to get the circulation going!

My best camping experiences always involve Girl Scouts and my daughters. As a troop leader, I am uniquely positioned to teach outdoor skills to many girls who have very little camping experience. I’m also in a unique position to embarrass myself while making the girls feel independent and strong.

Imagine me leading a group of little scouts on their first outdoor adventure through the woods, like little ducks following my every move. As we begin our walk, I turn to alert my entourage to double check that they have all their equipment ready, their water canteens, their small beginner survival knives, and to be very careful where they step so that they do not fall. and get injured. Before I can even finish the sentence, my foot hits a huge tree root and I find myself hurtling through space toward the forest floor. I literally had a mouthful of dirt and a skinned elbow.

The girls rushed over to help me and ask if I was okay. With a dirty smile, I promptly replied, “Of course I’m fine!” I just wanted everyone to see what NOT to do! And now that we’ve got that demonstration out of the way, let’s hit the road!” Obviously the girls could see right through me, so I told them that the next time someone tells me to eat dirt, I can say I already did.

You could trek through the steamy jungles of Chiapas in southern Mexico in search of endangered scarlet macaws and noisy howler monkeys. Or you can pitch your tent, put your feet up and let the critters come to you at the grassy campsite at Centro Ecoturistico Las Guacamayas (about US$2.50 per person per night).

This reserve, on the banks of the Lacantún River, adjacent to the vast Monte Azul Biosphere Reserve (one of the most biodiverse areas in all of North America), has been very successful in increasing the scarlet macaw population and attracting tourists. So much so that we woke up after our first night in the camping to discover that the tree next to our tent had been taken over by scarlet macaws.

There were ten of us partying at the same time in a tree, literally right next to our tent. We spent the whole day in our comfortable camp chairs, sipping coffee (and later cold beer) and watching the lively birds stuff themselves silly.

In the late afternoon a small family of howler monkeys also showed up and decided to spend the night in another nearby tree. The next morning their dinosaur-like roars (they should actually be called roaring monkeys) woke us up (very early).

I was passing through Ukraine and went for a walk camping in the Carpathians. One of the highlights was visiting an old wooden shepherd’s hut in the middle of nowhere, to talk to him about his lifestyle and to get fresh cheese and bread that he had just made.

I didn’t expect Ukraine to be so beautiful and the people so friendly. I would go back in a heartbeat!

Best camping experience? That must be camping in the wild, on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, next to a lovely babbling stream where we washed our pots, cleaned our boots and cooled our tired, aching feet after a whole day of walking. Unfortunately, the water also brought in tons of mosquitoes, leaving me with hundreds of bites 🙁

camper Camping in Alaska is by far my favorite camping experience. Traveling over public roads with 6 friends in a 32-footer over the course of 11 days camperWe crossed mountains, glaciers, rivers and the streets of downtown Anchorage. Camping in late August gave us the opportunity to see Alaska at the height of its fall colors and with a taste of Canada’s Northern Lights. After a day of hiking, rafting and glacier tours, retreat to the comfort (and warmth) of your own home camper and continue to an unknown destination the next day.

Camping at camper offers you the opportunity to truly appreciate the vastness of Alaska’s size and natural beauty. Camping is truly the best way to experience America’s 49th state with unlimited possibilities.

My dear camping experience was a ‘glamping one’ in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia. It’s not exactly a disaster, as the place looked like a five-star room in a tent, with a king-size bed, a jacuzzi and a barbecue. Anyway, I really loved it!