You guys. How in the heck did we get so lucky that Nature is a thing? I feel even more blessed that I live in a place that has amazing sights like these just a few hours away.
A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to take a few days off and spend the weekend camping with my best friend who made the drive all the up from Texas to spend time with me! We have been friends since we met in the fourth grade and we stayed friends when she moved away in high school, so it is very special to me when we do get time together.
She brought her dog, Rocko (the floofy boi on the left), and he and Dempsey (my lil pip squeak on the right) became fast friends and adventure buddies!
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge for the first time was definitely something I will not forget. I have lived in Michigan my whole life, but it's taken 25 years for me to finally get across that dang bridge and into the Upper Peninsula. As you can see, Dempsey was not quite sure how she felt about the whole driving over a nearly five-mile-long bridge over two of the Great Lakes, but she did great!
I absolutely love camping. I am not really sure why, but the stuff that usually bothers other people about camping - the bugs, sleeping on the ground, no showers - doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I say the more rustic the campground the better!
So I was especially pleased that we were able to find the perfect spot at Monocle Lake Campground, just an hour away from Tahquamenon Falls. It's a beautiful, horseshoe-shaped site in part of the expansive Hiawatha National Forest and is definitely a nature-lovers dream. Our site was directly across from the lake and it was gorgeous at sunset.
The best thing about camping has to been how everything is forced to slow down. Suddenly, tasks that are quick and easy at home become more laborious and have more steps. Making coffee in the morning or cooking dinner in the evening now takes an extra hour or so depending on how well you can build a fire and if the coals stayed warm.
And did I mention the fact that also means technology slows down too? Turning my phone onto airplane mode and disconnecting from our loud, chaotic society even for a few short days is rejuvenating.
As a person who already loves camping and getting outdoors (when I'm not busy being an introvert homebody), I didn't think I would be able to enjoy it more. And then we got Dempsey. If you are one of those people on the fence about camping, I really recommend you take your furry friend with you on your next camping trip.
Watching Dempsey get to constantly explore and experience new things while I do too is everything. She gets to go on hikes, swim in lakes, and chew on lots of sticks. But more importantly, we get to have these shared experiences that are so much more rewarding and fulfilling than if we just left her at home with a dog sitter.
What about you? Do you like camping? What are some of your favorite camping activities?
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