outdoor camping, coleman tentWhen I was just a girl, my family and I went outdoor camping every spring and summer.  We were the most popular campers at the campground because my Mom made sure we had every creature comfort under the sun while we "roughed it" outdoors.  There was nothing better than the smell of fresh-caught crawdads and catfish from the camping stove while the sounds of soda can tabs popping from our Coleman cooler.  We even had a camping sink where we washed our dishes and a solar shower we hung from a tree to get clean after fishing.

        My favorite part of outdoor camping was the stories we told around the fire while we roasted marshmallows and chocolate bars over graham crackers for the best S'mores ever.  The crackle of the fire and the flicker of the flames while they illuminated each storyteller is something that will live in my memory forever.  Once the stories had been told and the fire dampened, my brother and I would retreat to our room in the family Coleman tent where "lights out" was never an issue because the stars stayed lit all night long.

       In my mind, there is simply no better way to spend quality time with your family surrounded by nature's beauty.  I look forward to the first time I will take my own young family outdoor camping and the memories we will make there.