Camping in New York, Best Outdoor Gear, Fashion, Fun + Easy Campfire Recipe
Sometimes you just need to get out of town. Let’s pack up the family and go camping in the Adirondacks, New York, the largest State Park in the U.S. outside of Alaska. The Adirondack State Park is only 4 .5 hours drive from NYC. Just over 9300 sq. miles, (24,000 sq. kilometers), it’s about one third the size of Ireland.
What isn’t more wonderful that hanging out in nature, lounging in a cozy hammock or cooking over an open campfire? All that can be done in New York, with your complete selection of outdoor gear sourced from stores right here.
When planning your camping trip, the first piece of kit that comes to mind is your shelter. There are endless tent options. Let’s look at a few…
Basic tent, military surplus, the Polish Lavvu, Coleman’s
The Lavvu tent performs double duty and can be worn as a poncho, Coleman’s Surplus
Not the most attractive camping attire we’ve seen, but if you find yourself in the pouring rain, the Polish Lavvu tent divides in half and forms two waterproof ponchos with hoods. Versatile yes, up-trending and fashionable, not exactly.
This old fashioned tent might work for some intrepid bushcrafters, but as we’re bringing the two kids, we’ll need to consider other options.
Portable camp bunk beds, LLBean
The little rascals can’t wait to go camping! But they insist on sleeping in bunk beds. No problem, LLBean has the answer. This adaptable configuration works as bunk beds, camp cots or benches. It also has little pouches to hold all the wonderful treasures the kids will find. (Frogs, worms, interesting rocks, who knows what else.)
Big Agnes Big House Tent sleeps 6, REI
Here’s a gigantic tent that will fit the whole family and the bunk beds, (plus it has a welcome mat! Love that.) We’ve got plenty of room in this tent, 83 sq. feet, (7.7 sq. meters.) Maybe we should invite Granny along, she loves to camp.
If we bring Granny, we really should make sure she’s comfortable. Here’s a foldable rocking chair she would truly enjoy. Plus, it’s got a handy beverage holder for her brewskis. L.L.Bean
Sleeping bags are an important camping gear decision. These two can be zipped together, by Campmor. So versatile, they can also be used separately, in case you disagree on who sleeps on the left side.
On the other hand, you could always snuggle up close in a plush North Face double sleeping bag, available at Hatchet.
Which brings us to the ever important snuggly, cozy, warm and comfy factor, for those cool Adirondack evenings. (And fashionable, we can’t forget fashionable.) This is of major importance sitting around the campfire at night, gazing up at the stars, singing songs, munching on large quantities of toasted marshmallows.
Super cozy. Deep-pile ¼ zip fleece for women in Century Pink, by Patagonia
Serious award-winning trekking trousers for women, Fjallraven. We choose pink, of course.
District Vision, Nagata sunglasses, available at Hatchet. You might as well look fabulous while keeping the sun’s glare out of your eyes when canoeing, or just hanging around the campsite.
Baby needs to be snuggly and warm and Patagonia has just the hoody.
So, you’re determined to live off the land and catch your dinner? Good for you! The best bamboo fly rods are from Orivs.
We’ll need some firewood for our campfire. Could you go out and find some dry wood and chop the kindling please? You could use this handy tool. It chops, saws, hammers, and you’ll probably figure out other things you can use it for. Zippo – Woodsman 4-In-1 Multi Camp Tool, available at the Army-Navy Store.
If you need a refresher course on how to build a campfire, (and who doesn’t?) WikiHow is so helpful.
Campfire trout cooked on a Lodge cook-it-all black cast iron skillet, REI
You didn’t catch anything with your state-of-the-art Orvis fly rod? No heavenly trout to gently grill with lemon slices over the glowing embers of your fabulous campfire? No worries, there’s always hot dogs and beans!
Common fare cooked over a fire, enjoyed outdoors…there’s nothing like it. Skillet from REI
Simon, a bloke in the woods, professional Bushcrafter and Youtube personality shared his favorite easy to prepare campfire breakfast cooked in a cast iron skillet:
“Landfill” recipe can be varied depending on taste and what you have! 2x bell peppers, 1x red onion, 4x large mushrooms, 4x sausages (meat removed from casing) or vegetarian sausages, 4x rashers bacon, (optional), 4x eggs, grated cheese (cheddar.) Hot sauce of your choice. Chop up vegetables roughly. Fry veggies and meat in vegetable oil until meat is cooked through and the vegetables are softened. Crack in the eggs and mix through. Stir until the eggs are cooked. Add grated cheese and allow to melt. Serve with a good dollop of hot sauce. Wraps are optional.
As evening approaches and the loons begin to call to each other, you’ll be glad you brought the collapsible solar lantern that also charges your phone. LuminAID PackLite Max Phone Charger Lantern, REI. An indispensible piece of camping equipment.
The mission of the LuminAID brand seeks to make safe light and energy accessible for all. They have donated more than 50,000 solar lights which have been sent to families around the world through the Give Light Get Light Program.
Credit: Men’s Journal
Now it’s time for lights out so we can stare up into the night sky and wonder about this beautiful planet we all share and our place in the immense universe. Happy camping!
