Weekend Update: Family Camping 2010

"The fire is the main comfort of the camp, whether in summer or winter, and is about as ample at one season as at another. It is as well for cheerfulness as for warmth and dryness." ~Henry David Thoreau

Each year for the past four, our family has chosen a weekend to camp together.  We've mountain biked all over Tsali Recreation Area. We've ridden horses through Love Valley. Last year, to accommodate 4-month old Fiona,  we combined family camping with Thanksgiving and traded roughing it for a beautiful vacation rental near Boone, NC.   And this year, we met in the middle by spending two days in beautiful Hanging Rock State Park's family cabins.

 

My parents, sisters, and brother-in-law gathered for our annual trip this past weekend. We hiked, fished, sat around the campfire, made s'mores, spent all day outside, and enjoyed every minute.



Hiking to the top of Hanging Rock



Fiona dancing at the Hanging Rock summit

I love everything about this tradition.  Without TV, email, or cell phones, nature's magic takes over.  We enjoy the simplicity of each other's company.  We play in the dirt.  We're reminded that in addition to being family - we're also really good friends.