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Make it MemorableCamping doesn’t mean just sitting out in the wilderness waiting for the days to pass. Consider taking a day hike on your trip to a particularly scenic vista. Cliffs and waterfalls dot the landscape around Chattanooga and East Tennessee, offering some of the prettiest sights in Appalachia. Finding a private pond or lake to swim or fish in, stargazing out where the lights of the city don’t spoil the view, or bringing a pair of binoculars to keep an eye out for the area’s native wildlife are all activities that are better shared with someone special.If you don’t have a favorite spot to share with your favorite person, here are our suggestions:Scenic vista: Hemlock Branch Campsite, Prentice Cooper State Forest, ChattanoogaStargazing: Doll Mountain Campground, Ellijay, Georgia
Getting away from it all and temporarily living out in the wilderness, just yourself and nature, is one of camping's huge appeals. That being said, just yourself plus one can make for a fun and exciting date or vacation with your significant other, even if you're the more outdoorsy one in the relationship.
This begs the question: How can you make camping more comfortable for you and your partner? How do you rough it in the woods while keeping some of the trappings and comforts of home?
The food is a key component of any good getaway, but camp food suffers from a tragic stereotype of being bland and boring. Nothing could be further from the truth. Between French press coffee makers made for camping trips, lightweight camp stoves you can bring anywhere, and meals at the edge of a warm fire, the food of a campout can the be the highlight of the trip.
Camp food doesn't have to be from a can, and it doesn't have to be difficult, either. With some aluminum foil, olive oil and your favorite seasonings, you can have a gourmet-tasting meal in around 20 minutes. Simply season everything and wrap it in the foil, then place it on the coals of your campfire and top with some more hot coals. Just be sure to slice your veggies first.
REI Table Top French Coffee Press $44.95
Camping doesn't have to mean bitter, chalky instant coffee. Enjoy your favorite blends while out in the wild with this simple-to-use press. Waking up to the beautiful vistas of the Appalachian Mountains with a hot cup of coffee is a pleasure everyone should experience. Not a coffee person? Using loose-leaf tea works just as well.
G2-5" Folding Firebox Stove $59.99
You'll never worry about fuel for a camp stove again with a Firebox stove. Made of lightweight stainless steel but sturdy enough to support a dutch oven, the Firebox unfolds into a fully functional stove capable of utilizing any fuel that you bring or find - wood, charcoal, butane, denatured alcohol and gel fuels are only some of the options you'll have.
Big Agnes Dream Island 15 $249.95
This extra-warm bag was designed with couples in mind and is rated down to 15 degrees. A double bag saves you the trouble of trying to match and zip two bags together, although two single bags may be more within your budget. Whether you opt for a double or two singles zipped together, you'll still need a sleeping pad designed for two. Big Agnes also makes pads designed for double bags. If you've already got sleeping pads, coupler straps are a cheap way to ensure nothing moves around even if you do.