Why Overnight Camping Shouldn’t be Cancelled

Let me start out with the truth: I have never had a good experience overnight camping. Granted, I’ve only ever been camping 5 times in my life. Looking back, I realized I’ve never been camping with anyone experienced before. This was my first camping adventure in 10 years, and the first time I didn’t have a truly awful experience. Which is why I’ve created this post on Why Overnight Camping Shouldn’t be Cancelled.

My friends are always so surprised when I tell them I don’t like camping. Rightfully so. I’m sure you’re all thinking the same thing! I’ve ridden camels in Morocco, played volleyball on the beach for hours on end, I hike alone! Alas, when it comes to camping, it just wasn’t my thing. Maybe if I give you my bullet points as to why? Yes. Lets.

Why Camping Shouldn't be Cancelled // On the Trip Side Blog

Table of Contents

Reasons camping, previously, just wasn’t for me:

I woke up IN the Pacific Ocean one time, on the Oregon Coast.
Slept in a barn with no doors. Looked like I had Chicken pox 2.0 from the bug bites.
Almost drowned in a camp site pool. (Still have nightmares)
Woke up purple. (This one, hahah, well that’s a story for another time)

These are very much unresolved childhood fears… except that last one. 😉 Honestly, I thought I had out grown them, but I definitely had a full anxiety attack before this last trip. Which is why I created a quick pros/cons list before heading out the door and into the wild.

The Pros and Cons List of Overnight Camping:

Why Camping Shouldn't be Cancelled // onthetripside

Cons:

Can’t control others around you.
- Example: The teenagers that took a walk at 2am or the early birds ready to greet you at 5 in the morning with mediocre coffee. Haha. I recommend airpods and an audible.
Can’t control the weather.
- You need to be as prepared as possible for all the weather elements. Especially in the PNW, despite what the weather man says… definitely bring your fleece 3/4 zip!
Fire safety
- This is a big one. Depending on the time of year and the state of wild fires in your area, you might not be able to build a fire. Either way, you need to constantly be around an active fire to ensure it doesn’t go rogue. I recommend taking turns being in charge of the fire while others explore.
New sounds can make it hard to sleep.
- This happens anywhere for a lot of different people. Even at a beach house. Adjusting to new sounds can be hard. However, there’s something about rustling in the woods that gives it that extra level of scary. 😬 Again, airpods and an audible.
All you do is set up for your next meal.
- The work that is involved in making sure the food is covered until it gets on the stove or on the fire is hilariously sitcom worthy. Trying to keep bugs and birds away is just one of the cons of being one with nature. I recommend camping nets or covers.

Camp Fire & Washington Wine #DrinkforWA // On the Trip Side

Pros:

Fresh air.
- This was, arguably, my favorite part of camping. It’s so easy to maintain distance from people when you have so much space around you. I bet you’ll love being surrounded by trees and pure oxygen. It’s the best.
You wake up bright and early.
- I am not a morning person. However, my favorite day was when I finally got a good night’s sleep and got up early. The crisp cool August air, the light coming through the evergreens around me and the excitement of going for a walk was absolutely worth this trip in itself.
All you do is set up for your next meal.
- Correct, this was a con, howeverrrr… this is where you spend the most time with your friends and family. Sitting around the camp, laughing at your sister dropping her marshmallow in the fire and playing games.
It’s inexpensive.
- Holy guac, friends! Once you get past buying the tent and all of the gadgets… at the end of the day, camping is wildly budget friendly. You really just need to purchase your spot (our site was $37!), buy food and wine and you’re done.
Spend time with people you like and love.
- You’re probably not going to have a TV. Which means, you only have your phones and they’re used primarily used for music. Which means, you get to enjoy the people around you! It’s a great way to unplug, get away from electronics and BE for awhile.

Bonus Pros:

Exploring and Hiking.
- Y’all that morning hike gave my soul some peace! It’s SO much fun to explore a new camp ground or even revisit an old one. I could tell the families that grew up going to that very one every year. It must be wonderful to watch the kids grow and share those memories time and time again.
Recreational Activities.
- I went to girl scout day camp every year but I didn’t know you could still rent canoes, kayaks, paddle board and even bikes at some camp grounds. This made it so easy to fill your day with fun and exciting things to do.
Wine.
- The most important thing I learned while camping… wine makes everything so much better. This summer, especially after my trip to Napa, I really saw those wineries struggle to get people in the door. I’m trying to support my local wineries during this time, which means: Sangria for camping! The adult version of Bug Juice, friends. Sooooo good.

As you can see…

All of the cons have fairly easy remedies to them and the pros far exceed them. Though I am not a pro camper, yet, I really did enjoy myself this last time! That says a LOT, you guys!

Thank goodness my brother and sister’s boyfriend are huge wilderness buffs. They knew exactly what to do in all situations. I definitely recommend going with people you enjoy being around, and also those who have been camping before.

Can’t wait to see where this brings me in the future. Til then, catch you On the Trip Side! 😉

Alli

Thanks for reading Why Overnight Camping Shouldn’t be Cancelled!