Roughing It
Some of my favorite memories from my childhood are family camping trips. Campfires, jiffy pop, riding bikes and some ferociously competitive games of Yahtzee and Uno.
This past weekend we had the opportunity to go camping with our friends, the Bergstroms. We had an absolute blast. I would have to say the highlight of our trip was a hike to Burgess Falls. I’ve been in Nashville almost my entire life and I’ve never once been to this amazing place. There was a series of 3 different unique falls culminating in a 136-foot cataract waterfall. If you live anywhere in the middle Tennessee area you’ve got to make a trip to check this place out. Here’s a few pics of the fun at the falls.
Most of the world can be split into two groups of people. People who camp and people who don’t camp.
How about you, do you camp?
UPPER FALLS
MIDDLE FALLS
LOWER FALLS
even standing under a waterfall your hair stays the same….what kind of gel do you use dude?
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Loved the photos- and I have NEVER camped, but am planning on going very soon! I need to find a campsite with a waterfall now.
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Yep, in the backyard occasionally, but I could never talk my wife into going somewhere without electricity. That’s how I see it anyway….No power=camping…Power=Vacation
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I’m more of the cabin type camper- I need a toilet and shower! We used to camp when I was little in the NC mountains. Smores were my favorite part!
I grew up ALWAYS camping, never staying in a hotel at all. Then we camped up til our kids were teenagers. It got harder after that and we sort of stopped for a while, but this fall Phil and I will be empty nesters so we’re giving it another shot…….
My favorite campground is Elkmont in the Smoky Mountain National Park. A site by the river and all is good.
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The first and last time I ever went camping was in 1983. My husband was finishing up his field study for his master’s in geology, and his study area was in the Wind River Range (Wyoming). We went in by helicopter to the top of the mtns., camped and took notes for 10 days, and hiked 17 miles out with big ole backpacks on our shoulders. Mind you, I’d never even been a Girl Scout, so this was all completely new to me. And it was a wonder that I survived. Lots of good memories and some come-to-Jesus traumatic experiences.
If you want to read about how I tried to get lost at the top of the Wind River Range, go here: http://janconnair.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-part-i/
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I wouldn’t mind camping although at my age it is getting harder just to get out of a bed let alone a sleeping bag. But my wife’s idea of camping is Holiday Inn (get my drift?).
Great pictures and looks like you had a great time. Way to relax!
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Those photos were bliss…but still not even the lure of that beautiful scenery could make me go camping…I’ve been, several times. And each time it was less than fun…I don’t have the camping gene and I’m too old to fake it
Not a camper but know my children ages 6,3 and 2 would love it and so I’m going to attempt it. We live about 20 minutes from Burgess Falls and usually go on day trips. There are also many other places in this region which are beautiful and great for camping. Grew up in Nashville but have fallen in love with this area…even without a Target.
My family loves to camp. We take out tent, coleman stove, and our water bag and we are ready to rough it.
Sitting around the fire at night is one of my most favorite things to do… it seems the fire breaks down the communication barriers and everyone just lets the stories flow. It is awesome.
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I love a super cool cabin on the water.
And, look at all those girls amongst those darling boys!
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By the way… I have always wondered:
While you are standing under the falls, is there danger of getting whacked in the head by a falling fish?
Tony York’s last blog post..The Insignificant Niagara Falls
We love to camp and like you some of our best family bonding and memories come from camping trips. Friends who say they don’t like camping have never taken a camping trip with my hubs..he does all the set up, the cooking, and the clean up…what’s not to love?
Love all those little girls there in the pics too!
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@Tony, if we had been hit by a fish it would have been the only fish we would have seen the entire trip. We struck out fly fishing.
Those pictures are amazing.
My husband and I both went camping with our families a lot when we were younger. Last week was our first attempt at camping together, and I think we nearly drove each other crazy.
Good times.
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Does a bear…..Nevermind, you get the point. Yes!
I camp, these days only if someone else suggests it, but I still go. The first time I ever went camping was in the dead of winter with my dad. He only camps in winter. Why? No bugs.
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“Camping” as a kid meant being in the car for ten hours and arriving at the campsite after dark, setting up “camp” (pop up camper), and getting up at the crack of dawn to get back in the car and travel as quickly as possible (with a few stops at tourist traps) to get to the next campsite. We never stayed put long enough to enjoy it!
A few years ago my parents and son and I camped overnight in an authentic teepee. THAT was fun! We have memories of long walks near a river where we searched for arrowheads, claiming our Native American names (laughing maiden, running deer, storyweaver, and “something” warrior), making s’mores around the campfire, and listening to wolves howling while we shivered in sleeping bags. (It was in the 40s that night which is unusual for MN in the summer.)
Anyway, the second experience totally redeemed the idea of camping for me. I would actually do it again…
My son and I just came back from a camping trip. He’s a teenager and I am 40-something and it was a wonderful way to get away from all the distractions – tv, facebook, etc. – and just be a family again. We found natural water slides high up in the mountains and we had so much fun going down the slides into the pools of water below. We also fished and jet skied. You’re missing out if you haven’t tried camping!!
I most definatley do NOT camp. I love getting out and about and hiking but stricly during the day.
If I had a really really REALLY big tent that I could stand up in I think I might be ok, it’s the tent bit that freaks me rather than the sleeping outdoors bit.
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If you’re planning another getaway, check out this website:
http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0203/lodging.html
I think the sod house, Madonna Inn, and ice hotel sound like a lot of fun!!
@Vicki, sounds like an amazing trip. I love it.
pete wilson’s last blog post..Roughing It
I will only camp if I’m in a cabin, and there’s a bathroom inside of said cabin. Just like I will only fish if all I have to do is hold the pole.
@Mandie, that’s not camping.
For me, roughing it involves staying at a hotel where the sheets have a low thread count.
Don’t judge me…
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Camping for me is a hotel – BUT I went to school in Cookeville and those falls are wonderful. Sometimes I miss Middle Tennessee!
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katdish- ha!
I’m not really a camping type but my husband is, maybe I’ll have to check out that place. GREAT photos.
Not since we moved to Hawai’i. I did when I was growing up and when we lived near The Grand Tetons & Yellowstone National Parks. With 7 kids that’s a lot of work for Mom!
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I was a Girl Scout so I went camping all the time growing up. Also, every church I went to in childhood/adolescence had quarterly camping trips. We take nature pretty seriously
I haven’t been camping in a long time though! Makes me want to go soon…
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I love to camp! Unfortunately, most of the people I’ve surrounded myself with in life (family included) are not thrilled about it. We camped when I was really little – but when my 3 older sisters ventured into their teens, camping was out for me by the age of 6.
So, I often did the alternate in CA prior to moving to TN. We did lots of day trips to Yosemite and Tahoe… tons of fun seeing some great things via hiking and some serious mountain biking. But always ended up in a cabin or lodge. “upscale camping” so to speak.
Haven’t done any since moving to TN… this looks like a great option! I’ll have to convince Sam to take Bradley and I before the summer ends… I can get my Yosemite Falls fix right there at Burgess (ok, probably about 1200 ft shorter, but just as pretty!)
I’d have to agree with Jessica and Mandie that I need a toilet and shower inside my cabin. Roughing it in a cabin is camping to me. I love hiking, finding waterfalls, cooking on the Coleman stove, and eating smores around the campfire. But having to walk alone into the wilderness with my shovel and TP is where I draw the line. Been there, done that and it’s not fun. Although… I will make an exception when I am chosen for Survivor!
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At the Four Seasons, they have these cabana-looking things, generally made out of tent-like materials. And you lay on cot-looking things under them.
Does that count?
@Paula, you won’t be disappointed. The pictures don’t do it justice.
pete wilson’s last blog post..Roughing It
How cool is that?!?!?!?
Love that photo with the kids under the falls.
We camp (fully equipped camper with A/C, microwave, cable TV though….roughing it is no bathtub for me)….in fact, heading out to The Soulfest (www.thesoulfest.com) in two weeks! I am STOKED!
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Never done anything resembling camping. Kind of weird.
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I enjoy camping! But not the type of camping you do. My sister and I coined the term “Glamping” … glamorous camping! My mom has a motorhome, complete with comfy bed, shower, bathroom, running water, fridge, all the comforts of home … away from home!
I could never do tent camping – but I love the camping atmosphere, building a fire, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, etc. I just need the amenities to go with it!
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I love to camp!
And if you play uno you will like Skipbo if you havent played it!
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I used to work at camp in the summer when I was on break from college. LOVED IT! I can pitch a tent and make a one match fire (without lighter fluid, thankyouverymuch)!
Because of my camping days, however, I am sad to report that I do not like s’mores. At all. I’m s’mored out!
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@Kelly,
Does that mean you like s’less more than s’more?
Tony York’s last blog post..The Insignificant Niagara Falls
Camping is one of our favorite family activities. With 4 kids ages 9,7,5,3 it is a fun and inexpensive vacation. I believe in making lots of memories with my kids especially while they are young. One of my favorite places to camp was where we went for our 1st anniversary: the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Your pictures reminded me of the Ocoee.
Those pictures should be in a magazine.
Wow!
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Yes, have camped in many states, East and West – including all around Tennessee, but somehow never in it.
But our unforgettable camping experience was the six years when our tent trailer was our only home – mine, my wife’s, our two teenagers.
That happened when over 3/4 of our defense plant’s workers were laid off – and the same thing happened in most other defense plants all over the country. There were just almost no jobs in my field, and the few there were went to guys in their 20′s – not over 40.
But not long before that my boss had offered to give us his tent trailer for the cost of fixing it up (tires, service refrigerator, etc) – because his wife was allergic to ants. So when all the layoffs hit we had a place to live.
We kept our attitudes positive. Did a lot of praying, learned a LOT! Experienced a lot of miracles. (Saw a lot of beautiful country, too.) And God brought us through all of it.
Since then we haven’t had the chance to camp. We would. Mostly, our schedules don’t let us. But we DO do a lot of backcountry day hiking out here in the West (especially Wyoming and Colorado).
I love to camp, partly the reason I want to go on the show “Survivor” so bad!
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I love the camping part. I just don’t care for all the stuff *I* get to do before and after. The good part is that when we do go, we go for 5 to 10 days.That kind of makes it worth the packing and unpacking. We have one or two trips to the nearest facilities to do laundry and take a real shower. Otherwise we make full use of our tent trailer. MOst of the places we have gone have flush toilets. Just not the shower part.
I camped my way through Australia! It was amazing! It was me, my backpack, and my little one man tent. I lived there for just under a year. I spent almost 4 months of my time there in the “bush”…no electricity, no running water, and NO TARGET! Looking back on it now, I have no idea how I did all of it! I can’t even stand it when flies get around me now! I’m spoiled! But I still love to camp! My family on the other hand…not so much! Oh well, I have some awesome memories!
I have camped my entire life! My parents camped on their honeymoon, so it was sort of a ‘destiny’ thing for me. I Love it, and Montana is a great place to camp. (except for that bear thing you hear so much about!)
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I’ve camped everywhere between the Outer Banks of NC and the California coast during my over 30 years with my hubby – more than once in Yellowstone (until Nathan got sick). It’s been awesome. I wouldn’t trade anything for the beauty we have seen in “God’s country”. Glad you are experiencing this in your “young” age Pete. Elaine
@Rhelton,OK, you’ve got to let me buy you a cup of coffee and here this entire story. I bet that was the adventure of a lifetime. Can’t wait to hear all about it.
pete wilson’s last blog post..Roughing It
When I was young, my father would take us camping. The usual spot was at a place called the Little Jetties. It was right beside a beach, of course. We had our tent and essential camping gear and we’d go shrimping. I loved the camping, but hated touching those blasted shrimp and hated the mosquitoes. These days, I would prefer a cabin.
I have been to Burgess Falls many times…and it IS beautiful.
I love the idea of camping….but I haven’t been camping in a long time. Miss it!
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We love camping but have been too busy the last few years to go. Hoping to be a camping family again by this fall! Those waterfall pics are gorgeous.
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I also grew up camping, every year. Like you, some of my most fondest memories are from camping!!!
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I’ll take that cup of coffee any time! My schedule is a little less hectic than yours, so I’ll let you pick!
This place is incredible! Now I want to go camping!
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being a camp counselor, i think my answer would be a bit biased. i obviously camp. we are not completely “roughing it” though…
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