Living in New York City can often be as brutal and impersonal as a cavity search in a Turkish airport.
That's why, every once in awhile, I feel the need to check myself out and disappear for some peace and quiet. I need to find someplace where I can reconnect with nature and remember that there are far more important things in life than securing the corner office, the best table at the restaurant, or those prime orchestra seats.
For me, that escape has always been camping.
When I tell people who don't know me very well how much I love camping, they always start laughing their asses off. They think I'm kidding them and truth be told, I've got to admit that I don't look like much of an outdoorsman. Not many people in the fashion industry do. Could you imagine Ralph Lauren, David Beckham or Tom Ford pitching a tent and living off hot dogs for a week?
But underneath this polished urbane veneer lies the heart of a true outdoorsman.
Since the beautiful BossLady hates camping (one word: Arachnophobia) and has been in Texas caring for her ailing father the past two weeks, I decided this would be a good time to take Peanut on her very first camping trip. I've been dying to take her camping since she was born and decided that, at the age of 3.5, she was finally ready.
A week before we left, I pitched a tent in our living room and let her take a nap in her new sleeping bag. What's the first thing she does when she gets in the tent? She throws a little tea party for her stuffed animals and then starts doing some redecorating. Girls are fucking funny.
During the weekend, we drove up to a state park in Duchess County. It was in upstate New York, right on the banks of the Hudson River. Together, we spent the weekend going on long nature hikes, building campfires, cooking s'mores, roasting hot dogs, skipping stones in the river, chasing fireflies, and learning how to crap in the woods.
It was great seeing the Peanut have so much fun. Being raised in Manhattan, she's already a true New Yorker and I often worry that she's growing up too fast or too far removed from "normal" life. After all, she's not even four years old yet she knows what to order at an Indian restaurant. She knows how to ask for the check in Chinese. She knows the subway lines that we take on a regular basis. She knows when taxis are off-duty. She knows how much to tip the parking attendants at the garage. Hell, I think she even knows the fastest way to get through midtown during rush hour!
But now, she's totally hooked on camping and I couldn't be happier. I never want to force my interests on her. I much prefer to expose her to everything and let her figure out where her own unique set of interests lie. If she didn't like camping, I would have been fine with her decision. On the other hand, it's just nice to know that sometimes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
This was hilariously reinforced to me when, after seeing all the jeans, flannel shirts, and polar fleece that I had packed for her, the Peanut turned to me and adamantly stated, "Daddy, if we're going camping, I'm not going to wear those clothes. I'm only going to wear dresses, ok?"
What could I say? After all, she is half-fashionista on her daddy's side...
It's no secret that the best campsites are always found by word of mouth. That's why I want to hear about your favorite campsites, both in the US and abroad. Where's your secret spot and what's so great about it? Feel free to share any good camping stories too. If you don't camp, what do you and your family do to "get away from it all?"
When we want to "get away from it all," we take 5-day canoe camping trips. The solitude is amazing. We've done a few trips where we never saw another single person the whole time. Can't really do it if you have young kids. Since the hubs and I don't plan on trying for kids until next year, we've been trying to do as many trips as possible before then. Next week, we'll be up in Maine.
Posted by: nora b | August 04, 2008 at 02:41 PM
It's not that I'm opposed to camping. It's that I am a human mosquito magnet. And black-fly magnet. And chigger magnet. And I abhor ticks. Okay, maybe I don't do camping.
She is a doll. And so blessed to have you.
Posted by: SURCIE | August 04, 2008 at 03:48 PM
How cute are you for pitching a tent in the living room for the Peanut? And then taking her camping by yourself for an entire weekend? We just spent a week at the beach with our 2 y.o. daughter. By the end of the vacation, we were worn out from chasing her around, keeping an eye on her, and making sure she was entertained. And that was with the two of us. I don't think I could have made it solo!
Posted by: Isabelle M. | August 04, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Hey MD, We took our 7 mo old camping over the 4th of July. We used to go a lot before she was born and hope to start going regularly with her. Our "good spot" was taken, but we were able to get our #4 spot up in the N. Georgia mountains.
Posted by: Mi Young | August 04, 2008 at 08:33 PM
The Texas Hill Country in the Fall or early Spring is amazing. We hike the rocky riverbeds, walk down into caverns and waterfalls, roast smore's in the perfectly cool weather, bring our telescope to watch the stars, and ride our bikes all over creation. There are so many campgrounds around the Austin/Bastrop area that are fantastic.
Posted by: Jen | August 08, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Your Peanut is a cutie.
I too love camping. But my family and I are what I like to call "luxury campers". We do it in our RV. Have to. We live in Texas.
Big Bend National Park for primitive camping rocks.
Terlingua Ranch (near Big Bend) is great for RVers.
Posted by: ella | August 08, 2008 at 02:48 PM
P.S. forgot to mention Canyon of the Eagles in Burnet Texas.
Beautiful place with accomodations for everyone.
Posted by: ella | August 08, 2008 at 02:50 PM
I recall taking my 3 sons camping ONCE during their childhood. It rained the entire time and when they got all their clothes wet or dirty ,they resorted to wearing mine. too bad I didn't think of wearing only dresses.
Just recently my friend and I went camping in a yurt at Lake Degray State Park in Arkansas. It was great fun for two middle aged women. The link below has the story and pictures. A wonderful little place.Except for the fact that I was scared of murderers ,snakes and knew nothing about camping:)
http://catsonthecounter.blogspot.com/2008/06/yurty-baby-part-2.html
Posted by: Smocha | August 12, 2008 at 08:10 AM
Oh my God! She looks absolutely precious.....
Posted by: Big Pumpkin | August 16, 2008 at 10:08 AM
3 little letters—K-O-A
I can't believe no one has posted about these campgrounds yet! I grew up going on road trips with my sister, cousins and grandfather in his winnebago staying at KOAs in upstate and central NY. And now, having 2 daughters (3 & 4 mos), my husband and I have a travel trailer of our own and dedicate Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends to camping at a KOA outside Pittsburgh to meet up with his sister and her family from Virginia. It's an awesome place when you have kids!
Love your blog. Haven't visited in awhile and this is my first posting. I enjoy your entries about your Korean upbringing since they often parallel my half-Vietnamese upbringing.
Posted by: Lee | August 18, 2008 at 10:58 PM
We camp EVERYWHERE! my favorites are on the beach. We are in california. www.boa-magazine.com
Posted by: insane mama | September 03, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Was just surfing the web and I came across you site and I have to say that I am greatly impressed. Thank-you!
Posted by: Penpals | September 21, 2008 at 02:21 PM
I know this is an old post, but I just discovered your blog, and was going through all the archives. Love it!
So, my husband and I really wanted to "experience" Hawaii, so we decided to spend ten weeks biking & camping on the Big Island. I had gone on a few camping trips to Maine growing up, but this was a real adventure!
The very first night we flew in, he went out on his bike to find food, and I got to work on starting a fire.... 35 minutes later, I was a sweaty, frustrated mess!! By the end of our trip, I could cook a gourmet three course meal over a fire. The Big Island was so beautiful, and the diversity of the Island (Hilo side vs. Kona side) is amazing!
I now love camping, and am happy to sleep under the stars, in a hammock, in a tent, anything! The only thing I can't do is winter camping!! Too cold!
Posted by: Leigh Michelle | September 24, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Metrodad: first time on your blog, live in Westchester County, looking for a campsite for the Columbus Day weekend: please do tell where you went, please.....
Posted by: | October 01, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Dear Metrodad,
I'd definitely recommend you for summer time, some fantastic camping sites in Spain all the way down the Mediterranean Coast.
On the other hand, I would recomend you a nice stay up to Madrid mountains in winter to forget about this sunny idea of Spain.
Your little daughter looks so cute and so nice.
I have been revising Bosslady post from 2006: fan tas tic ;)
Take care!
N-joy!!
Posted by: Pepa | November 04, 2008 at 03:58 PM
thnks
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