State parks are open in my state, so my friend and I went camping. We chose a backcountry campsite at Sloppy Floyd State Park, thinking that would be an easy way to social distance and still be outdoors. We were a bit disappointed by the campsites. There are 4 backcountry campsites situated on a little… Continue reading Backcountry Camping at Sloppy Floyd State Park
The Toccoa River Canoe Trail is a 13.8 mile route that goes from Deep Hole Recreation Area to Sandy Bottom Recreation Area in Blue Ridge, Georgia. This is a trip I’ve wanted to do since I first heard about it. I love this area of north Georgia, and I had a feeling this trip would… Continue reading Kayaking the Toccoa River Canoe Trail in North Georgia
It seems to me that the outdoor industry has claimed ownership of the outdoors. Paradoxically, they preach a message that the outdoors is for everyone while simultaneously acting as a gatekeeper that prevents people from going outside. I’ll explain, but first let me say that I’m not talking about diversity here. There’s a big push… Continue reading How the Outdoor Industry Discourages People from Going Outside
This summer I plan to try kayak camping for the first time, so this weekend my daughter and I did a one-night scouting trip to a campsite on the banks of the Toccoa River in north Georgia. Sandy Bottoms Recreation Area marks the end of a different kind of trail, the Toccoa River Canoe Trail,… Continue reading Camping at Sandy Bottoms on the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge, GA
I like adventure. I’m not a particularly brave person; I’m scared of heights, I don’t ride psycho horses (anymore), and I don’t take unnecessary risks with my life. But I do enjoy being in the wilderness, especially alone, and I like to learn new skills and then test them out. When I was a kid,… Continue reading Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
My son had a short break from school, so we headed north for a one night camping trip to Toccoa Valley Campground in Blue Ridge, Georgia, one of my favorite towns in the whole state. I told the kids they could each pick one activity to do in the mountains, so in addition to camping… Continue reading Camping at Toccoa Valley Campground
Jack’s River Fields campground is one of north Georgia’s best kept secrets. It’s located in the Cohutta Wilderness Management Area outside the town of Blue Ridge. It’s often confused with the Jack’s River area, which is also a great spot, but Jack’s River Fields is open to equestrian campers and has special facilities for the… Continue reading Horse Camping at Jack’s River Fields
I don’t know about you, but I love camping so much I could just die of happiness. A flannel shirt, a red Coleman lantern, a crackling fire and a chill in the the air; camping makes me giddy. In keeping with the theme of my whole life, I consider myself a simple camper. I don’t… Continue reading Simple Southern Goes Camping
My kids had a great time when we went camping at Sweetwater Creek two weekends ago. They wanted to do it again, but I had a busy week and no time to get a site and pack everything up again. So I decided to make the most of the weekend and do a backyard camp-out… Continue reading Backyard Camp-out
I absolutely love being outside. It’s my zen, my refreshment and what grounds me. Naturally, I love camping. I haven’t done much of it in a few years because I’ve been raising babies. Now that those babies have grown into kids, it’s time to get back out there and explore the beautiful state of Georgia.… Continue reading Let’s Go Camping!
Simple Southern 