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My new hobby has become exploring campgrounds! Even when not staying there, (though I wish I had time to stay at them all!) if I drive by a campground and have a couple minutes to spare, I’m driving through and grabbing some information and a photo or two for this blog.

So, when on our way back to Gatlinburg from Cades Cove – after riding my bike for 11 long miles around the Cades Cove Loop – we pulled into the Elkmont Campground to get the scoop on staying here.

One of the camping sites at the Elkmont campground.

My first impression was that it was beautiful!  If you want to stay right in the Smoky Mountains themselves and be away from the hustle and bussel of Gatlinburg, this campground would be a lovely choice.  Many of the sites are riverside (The Little River) and the sound of the rushing water would be enough to lull even the lightest sleeper to sleep.

The sites are fairly spacious, (you won’t feel like your neighbors are on top of you) the ones we looked at were very flat, and they can accommodate trailers up to 32 feet, or motor homes up to 35 feet in length.

The only thing that might be a deterrent for some folks would be the fact that there are no hookups, showers, or dump stations.  There is potable water available at the campground and they can point you to shower facilities and dump stations just a few miles away. Generators are allowed on some sites, just be sure when you select your site that it is one that allows them.

Elkmont has a very special event that takes place annually for two weeks every June.  It’s the Synchronous Fireflies of Elkmont.  According to nps.gov, it is here that you can see “the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns.”  They do it as part of their mating ritual though it’s unknown why the fireflies flash synchronously.  The spectacle draws more than 8,000 visitors to the area annually, so if you are wanting to camp here during the month of June to see the fireflies, you’ll need to book your site months in advance.

Trying to catch dinner in the Little River at Elkmont

Because the Little River runs right through the campground, there is great fishing to be had; or if you enjoy exploring the Smoky Mountains, some of the most popular hiking trails are within a few minutes drive.

A campground store is on premises which carries only the very basics, (Firewood is available.) but Gatlinburg is less than a ten minute drive away and you can get just about anything needed there, including a nice dinner in a restaurant… if you so desire!

Even without the electric (although I might miss my air conditioner on the hottest nights) and shower facilities (a reason to explore the surrounding areas) Elkmont seemed to be a campground I would love to stay at.  If you’ve stayed here in the past, I’d love to hear your experiences.

Camping sites at Elkmont can be reserved at Recreation.gov.

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Our most recent outdoor camping trip took us to the Hillman Ferry campground down in the Land Between The Lakes region of Kentucky.  Hillman Ferry is a huge campground, with 380 sites!  But even though they have so many, they are still good sized sites – you won’t feel like your neighbors are on top of you! And, I really didn’t see many bad sites in the entire campground.  Most all of them are shaded and flat – what I look for in a great site!

C21 - Our campsite - see the water rising?

We chose lot C21.  The water in the lake had been rising steadily all week and the campsite next to us ended up under water, but the campground monitors it closely and had closed the site before we even arrived.  Fortunately our site was on a little higher ground, but even so, after we left they were going to close the site until the waters receded.

There is plenty to do at Hillman Ferry.  In addition to the great fishing, (they have a fish cleaning station on the premises – and hubby caught enough fish for two or three dinners!) they have a sand beach, a basketball court, (which occupied many hours of DS’s time) a volleyball court, and an archery range.

Like to hike or bike ride?  Hillman Ferry is great for doing both since they offer both paved trails and footpaths.  And, if you can’t bring along your bike, you can rent them at the Outpost Supply center located at the front of the campground.

There are multiple restroom facilities around the campground and the shower houses were some of the nicest I’ve found – they were individual concrete rooms and were extremely clean! Section” T” was the one exception I found. It still had the old shower houses I remembered from my teens which have no roof (if you like looking at the sky while showering this might just be up your alley) and just a shower curtain to partition you off.  However, this section is a full service section with pull-thru sites, electric, water, and sewer, so I guess they figure you have your own shower.

This wasn't our site - we're not quite this fancy! Look! It's complete with two canopies and a stainless steel cooler!

I had to take a load of DS’s dirty laundry with me since we waited to the last minute to pack, so I can tell you from experience that they have washers and dryers and that they work great.

We never left the campground, but if you are going to be there for a few days, there is an Elk & Bison Prarie, a Woodlands Nature Station, and a Planetarium within a short drive.

I do recommend you do most of your food shopping at home.  Since I didn’t, my options were to shop at the small IGA in Grand Rivers, or to drive 30 minutes to a Wal-Mart.  I opted for the drive this time because I needed a few items (co-axel cable) that the IGA didn’t carry.

For our spot, which was waterfront with electric and water and just 150 feet from the shower house, we paid $23.00 a night.  Not bad considering I just spoke with someone who camped in another state and the rate was $46/night!

To book a site at Hillman Ferry, Energy Lake or Wranglers campgrounds, visit www.usedirect.com/CampLBL.  To learn more about the Land Between The Lakes Recreation Area, visit www.LBL.org.

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Last fall I was running through Kroger grabbing a few last-minute items for our outdoor camping trip when I spotted these pre-made, delicious-looking portobello mushrooms that only required heating. What’s really funny about the fact that I thought they looked yummy is that I’ve never been a fan of mushrooms. Portobellos are about the only ’shroom I will eat because they have a firmer and not-so-slimy texture.

Even if you don’t think you’d like these, I urge you to try them. I’ve not had anyone try them and tell me they wouldn’t eat them. Hubby thinks they taste like steak, and though I wouldn’t go that far, they are the only decent best tasting mushroom I’ve ever had.

After I bought the pre-made ones, I figured out the ingredients they used and started making them on my own. Depending on the time of year, and the price of portabellos, you can save a few dollars doing it this way.

You’ll need either a cool grill (Let the coals turn to ash, then move most of them to the side and cook over just a few.) or a toaster oven. (If you are the type of camper that likes a little more civility than roughing it.)

INGREDIENTS
Portobello Mushroom Caps (The ones I bought this past week were called Baby Bellas, but were still a good size.)
Spinach Leaves
Grated Italian Cheeses (You can buy a cheese blend with Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan, Asiago, Fontina and Romano that works great for these.)
Italian Seasoning
Cooking Spray (Like Pam)

DIRECTIONS
Lightly spray the tops of the portobello caps with the cooking spray then turn them over and into the cap place 2 – 4 spinach leaves. Place a heaping amount of the cheese mixture on the leaves and then sprinkle liberally with the Italian seasoning.

Place on cool grill or bake in toaster oven until the cheeses are thoroughly melted and bubbly, about 20 minutes.

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It’s a glorious morning to be outdoor camping. The sky is blue, the temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and other than the geese fighting and making their honking noises just two spots away, the birds singing, and a few kids laughing, there is nothing but peace and quiet.

This particular outdoor camping trip was pretty much last minute. We had booked a sight earlier in the week, but the weather caused my husband to have to back-up his work schedule by at least one day. Then the forecast for the weekend was calling for showers and we didn’t make the final decision to go camping until late Thursday evening.

Fortunately, I was able to pack in just a few hours time and we hit the road by 9 a.m. on Friday. It’s a little ironic because a friend had just said to me a few days ago that she couldn’t go camping this weekend because she didn’t have any time off from work and it takes so long to get ready for an outdoor camping trip that she would need a day off to pack.

The key to picking up and going at the last minute is to have the majority of your supplies always ready to go. We have a popup trailer that we keep packed with all the necessary items in it. But, even if you tent camp you can be ready to go at a moments notice by keeping everything together in a few large Rubbermaid-type totes.  I’ve read that some people even keep extra clothing in their RVs so that all they have to do is stop at the grocery and they’re set for the weekend. I don’t do that; as long as my laundry is clean I can pack clothes in just a few minutes. And, even if it’s not (as in the case of my son’s clothes this past weekend) I just throw it in a bag and bring along a little laundry detergent and do a load at the campground.

So, just what should you keep packed in order leave in haste on any given weekend? Here’s a list of what I keep in our popup camper.

· Cups/Plates/Cutlery (I like disposable but you can bring flatware – if you don’t mind washing it)

· Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife

· Spatula(s)

· Floor Mats. I keep three. One for inside the camper door, one for the step and a larger one for outside the door on the ground.

· Mixing/Serving Spoon

· Antibacterial Wipes

· Bug Spray

· Sunscreen

· Paper Towels and/or Napkins

· Tablecloth(s)

· Coffee Pot or French Press. (I keep a French press because electric is not needed to make coffee, and I can’t function without my coffee!)

· Dish Towel(s)

· Dish Cloth(s)

· Dish Soap

· Container for Water. (I have a solar shower, but there are also collapsible water buckets or solid containers with spigots for easy dispensing. These are great for hand and dish washing.)

· Pot Holder(s)

· Foil and/or Plastic Wrap

· Ziploc-type Baggies

· Lantern (extra mantels and fuel)

· Flashlight(s) (additionally, bring spare batteries and bulbs)

· Large Skillet (non-stick or cast iron skillets are both great for camping)

· Medium Saucepan (great for side dishes and pasta)

· Toilet Paper

· Garbage Bags

· Rain Poncho or Jacket

· Can Opener

· Lighting Stick or Matches

· Folding Chair(s)

· Camp Stove (unless you are using a Pop-up or RV with a stove in it, or if you want to cook everything over a campfire)

· Propane Bottles (For the lantern and stove)

· First Aid Kit

· Salt, Pepper, and other Miscellaneous Spices

· Rope

Here are some optional items I like to have with me but they probably won’t make or break your trip:

· Colander

· Electric Skillet

· Ax

· Steak Knives

· Tarp

· Bowl(s) – (I like cereal for breakfast so I need small bowls, but you may also want a large bowl for serving)

· Shovel

· Games, Cards, Books, etc. (things to keep you entertained – especially if it rains!)

· Small Propane and/or Electric Heater

· Fan

· Bungee Cords (good for making clothes lines and tying off tarps, etc.)

Now all you need to do is hook up your pop-up or RV (or grab your tent – don’t forget the poles and stakes) and bring along your blankets, pillows, towels and wash clothes, clothing, and food and you’re ready to hit the road and have an incredible time on your outdoor camping trip!.

If you are backpacking, you probably don’t need everything listed here, use your discretion you don’t want to be carrying 1,000 pounds around on your back.

If there is something I’ve forgotten that is necessary when outdoor camping, please leave me a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

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