Fresh air. Dirt. Sleeping outside. Bonfires.
Camping is undoubtedly the best thing there is about summer. Usually every year the hubster and I make our annual trek up to the North Shore, it's our favorite place in MN. We've rated our favorite hikes, state parks, and campsites. Its fun trying to stay in different places to find that secret hidden gem ;) Kind of camping snobs at this point ha ha! We only stay at the ones we know are awesome.
Last summer I was in my first trimester when we went to the BWCA in Ely and camped and canoed for a week. So incredibly thankful i didn't have morning sickness! We had some rough wind and waves we had to paddle our way back home in. That trip was amazing though I would love to do another one like that sometime.
But this year we had to do something a wee bit more local. Matt couldn't take time off from work so we decided to stay at Lake Maria state park 20 minutes north of our place. Knowing it would be a short 2 night trip we both agreed it just wasn't worth the drive past Duluth for the weekend with the two tooth wonder. The sweet thing about this park is that all the sites are backpacking sites meaning...... no neighbors! what what! I hate camping and seeing and hearing people right next to you. That is not enough wilderness for me.
The down side is its a lot of work. Especially with a baby. Its a hike to haul your stuff in, get water, drop off your trash, grab some fire wood aaaaaand pretty much anything else you could think of needing its a good 1/2 a mile adventure at least, if not more. Oh well, whats roughing it if you have all life's luxuries right at your finger tips eh?
All in all the park was great, site was pretty, weather was....
tropical, way too steamy for being outside all day and night. I was
bummed because we chose this weekend thinking it would be a little
cooler. Oh well can't win em all! We rolled with the punches an stuck it
out, more like sweated it out. Little pirate did really well though not
so much the first night but he got the hang of it eventually. I think
he was totally thrown off and confused "What the heck guys, why are we
sleeping outside? Where's my fan and sound machine? Why doesn't that
damn owl shut up? Who's idea was this? Why can't I have a warm bottle!? Where's my crib?" After that first night he was great, made sure he had a lot of water in a sippy cup, shade, and cool loose fitting clothing and cool water on his fuzzy little head.
Even though we had to carry it all in we still ate scrumptious campfire cooked morsels. Night one: Tilapia, baby red potatoes, and chopped veggies in foil packets. Breakfast: COFFEE and eggs in a muffin tin! Easiest meal EVER. Crack egg into tin. Add salt and pepper. Put on grate over fire. Add cheese. BOOM destroy. And night two: campfire pasta with roasted veggies and bread. And what camping experience would it be without smore's? Made with dark chocolate, cinnamon graham crackers and peanut butter of course. Mmmmm peanut butter.
Over all the small human's first camping trip was a success. Would I recommend it in 90 degree weather? Nope! Sure wouldn't! But you can't really expect everything to be perfect now can you!? Of course the morning we left it was 10 degrees cooler and wonderful. Typical. Well at least it didn't rain the entire weekend... could have been worse!
-E
