Month: September 2022
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Exercise and adrenaline
I keep asking my bf to take me hiking because I know it will reduce my stress. Hiking reduces stress mainly by balancing our adrenaline and cortisol and increasing our endorphins. Let’s talk about adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone your body produces to help you prepare for danger. It originates from the adrenal glands, which…
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Here’s what I take on a hiking day
Tomorrow we go hiking. Here’s my hiking stuff: What I’m also taking: My list is for day hiking in a popular area (i.e. we’re unlikely to get lost or stranded without help). It’s September and we’re in Maryland, so while it is still very warm, we don’t need sunscreen or protection from extreme weather. What…
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Book Review: How To Suffer Outside by Diana Helmush (a beginner’s guide to hiking and backpacking)
It is very good. Amazon suggested me this book because I have purchased almost everything single camping-related item on Amazon, and also I like books. I’m so glad I got this one. It is filled with useful information, but it reads like an adventure novel. It is absolutely binge-worthy. I finished the 220 pages in…
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Next camping plans: Assategue, Blue Ridge, Joshua Tree
Since our first glamping trip to Shenandoah in April, I am seriously hooked! We’ve had a busy summer and camped in Shenandoah once again, in a State park, and in a private campground (seriously, check it out if you’re in Maryland!). With my newfound passion for camping, and with fall bringing colder weather and changing…
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A Packing List For Your First Camping Trip
There are many such lists online. Here’s mine. I’m assuming car camping, which means driving up to your camping spot and parking right there; good weather (no rain, no extreme temperatures); no or little experience; essentials only. I have a blog post with some links to both essential and extra stuff I’m happy I bought…
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Starter sleep systems: cheap, cheaper, cheapest
A sleep system is gear you use for (you guessed it) sleeping. It usually refers to (1) a tent, (2) a sleeping pad, and (3) a sleeping bag. I recently bought my own gear and studied many reviews. Here, I want to share what I ended up buying and what other options I considered. Of…
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6 Super Basic Vegetarian Campfire Recipes for Your Very First Camping Trip
Ok maybe I’m not sophisticated enough to make Campfire caprese Brie when camping. Maybe I like things kept simple. Or maybe I’m just lazy and give it a year, I’ll be rocking a campfire berry peach cobbler. For now though, we’re veeery basic. We don’t even have a camping stove. Well, we bought one, but…
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Hidden Maryland gem: Endeavor Point campground
If you check reviews on Endeavor point on any platform, you’ll see bold five stars. Google maps, Airbnb, Facebook, The Dyrt, you name it. 100% ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews. Spoiler alert: it’s well deserved. As soon as I started looking for campsites in the area, it got on top of my list. Because I mean, look at…
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Camping vs glamping in Shenandoah (Big Meadows Campground and Lodge)
With so much beauty and only 2 hrs drive from DC, no wonder Shenandoah is so popular! A lot has been written about it (I relied on this blog for planning our trip). We’ve been to Shenandoah twice: in April and in August, and stayed in two types of accommodation: a lodge and a campground.…
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5 Reasons Elk Neck State Park (Maryland) Is Perfect For 1st Camping Experience (and 3 Reasons it isn’t)
My boyfriend wanted to go camping. I was sceptical. We were both a little scared. We talked a lot, made sure a more experienced friend joined us, raided REI and Amazon, borrowed a tent… now where do we go? Our choice fell on Elk Neck State Park (Google maps here), and here is why I…
Marie goes camping 