Save this for your next camping trip! 🏕️ I’m sharing my favorite Amazon camping essentials that make summer adventures easier, more organized, and more fun. Which item is your must-have?
We’ve just become Amazon influencers and we’re excited to announce that! We have a Facebook page as well as a YouTube channel. We’re only getting started, but we have lots of exciting things to come. We would love it if you would follow us on our Amazon storefront or any of our other links that I’ll put below.
We are avid thrifters and Travellers and this is new and exciting for us!
🌲 Help Us Build the Ultimate Camping Guide (GA, TN, North AL & MS!) 🏕️ Are you someone who loves camping and exploring the great outdoors in Georgia, Tennessee, North Alabama, or Mississippi? We’re creating a helpful, real-life campground guide—and we’d love your input! Whether you’re a weekend tent camper, full-time RVer, or just enjoy the occasional nature escape, your experience can help others plan better trips and discover hidden gems. ✨ What We’re Looking For: We’re gathering campground recommendations along with real pricing and honest reviews. If you’ve stayed somewhere you loved (or even somewhere others should know about), we want to hear from you! 📍 Please share: Campground name & location Type of camping (tent, RV, primitive, full hookup, etc.) Nightly or weekly pricing Amenities (bathrooms, hookups, Wi-Fi, trails, lakes, etc.) Your experience (quiet, family-friendly, scenic, crowded, etc.) Any tips or things to know before booking 💬 Why Contribute? Your input will help fellow campers: Find affordable campsites Discover new places off the beaten path Plan trips with realistic expectations Support great campgrounds across the Southeast Plus, it’s a great way to connect with other outdoor lovers in our region! 🌄 Let’s Build This Together Drop your recommendations in the comments or send them directly—we’ll be compiling everything into a growing campground guide for Georgia, Tennessee, North Alabama, and Mississippi. Happy camping, and thank you for being part of this community! 🌿
Give us all the sites! Links are helpful too or #GoogleMaps link Give us some of your best #northgeorhia and #middletennessee #campgrounds. We have been to David Crockett State Park Rock Island State Park . We are looking for areas working four hours of us in #northalabama in that radius. Love those two states. If you have anything in #Mississippi let us know. Honest #campgroundreviews please !! We’re getting ready to retire and looking for the best locations
Father’s Day is just around the corner, everyone is looking for something Dad doesn’t have! What could he use or what has he asked for before?
Making camping easy , fun and hassle free is what taking life easy is all about. Having things available to help with that, well, makes the experience even more enjoyable.
Not everyone likes to go camping and have to cook every meal. I love to cook while camping, but, certainly not every meal. Having the tools at hand makes preparation quick .
I used to be the one who made several trips inside the camper, always forgetting something. One of the best things we have found is this useful caddy, for storing utensils, spices, paper towels and more.
We have a few tables we set up at our site to use for the ice maker, radio and more. This table makes having or using an outdoor kitchen more manageable. With zipper. Posited to stow away dishes, flatware, napkins and daytime snacks. I would never leave door in it overnight or unattended.
Easy to fold away for carrying and for camper or truck storage.
I’m not sure hi ow many times we have used this next item at camp, but, at home it has become invaluable. We use all Ryobi tools because the batteries are interchangeable. You can see me blowing off our rug at the campsite, small pebbles and leaves are no match for me! I’ll Link it below too, but, our fave is this Ryobi battery operated fan.
Recently we had a power outage due to tornadoes. It saved us during a slightly warm evening . Useful for those who boondock too! There is a shelf sitting one and one that clamps. Both could be handy depending on your situation.
This one has the battery out which includes an extra charger, perfect if you’re already a Ryobi fan….pun intended lol.
The clip on is perfect for bunk areas in a camper where an extra breeze is needed or for those women over fifty who get the hot flashes like myself. Either way, it’s sure to do the trick
Small enough to carry under the belly of our 16 foot Wolf Pup, I love this portable leaf blower , easy to use and lightweight. does the job we need for our camp area to keep it clean.
The most recent lifesaver is a power inverter. I never understood what these were until our home power went out form the recent North Alabama tornadoes. Granted, only six hours, but , this was the handiest tool of all. Charge your phones, power lamps and much more from the battery pack. We have extra power supplies so we are always prepared. A great gift for the man or woman who has everything. They may not think to buy this for themselves.
This non Ryobi but compatible inverter has a two pack available now. One for home and one for the camper. At just $59.99 for a limited time, you can’t miss!
The next item is the most used at our campsite . Our Blackstone griddle does everything we need for breakfast and dinner. We snack at lunchtime, how about you?
We have had ours for four years and absolutely could not be happier . Surface area is enough for us and a few guests . We have the stand , but, you can use on a table like a concrete one available at most campgrounds.
There are many sizes and options available, this is ours along with the legs.
If you don’t have outside speakers on your camper or you’re just chilling on a lake for a fishing day, this little JBL speaker comes in handy great sound at a great price!
As often as we use our phone, we have multiple charges in varying places. This retractable charger is handy. The cords aren’t hanging out everywhere and you could also use it inside your camper as well as your tow vehicle.
Want a comfy chair, even for the biggest guy? This one fits the bill. A gift to my husband three years ago, the size does matter. It’s large enough for two kids or a larger person. Up to 400lb capacity and a handy side table to hold the phone or binoculars.
These are just a few of our favorites we have purchased and used. If you decide to purchase for your Dad, friend, grandpa or yourself,we do earn a small commission as an Amazon Associate.
Have a great day celebrating Dad, Grandpa and all those step up dads out there!
Buy something they will really use while enjoying the great outdoors .
I often see posts on Facebook in camper groups about what are the must haves when you were first starting out with your new camper. Everyone always suggests camping in the driveway for the first time and go with what you have already in there. This is a wonderful idea and exactly what we did. You will start to see your needs as you do your daily tasks. What types of items will be essential for your first camping trip? Read through to find out more.
As an Amazon associate any links that I provide in my blog will direct you to the Amazon site. Purchase is made may provide me with a small incentive if you make a purchase through that link. Click any of the photos to start shopping for your camper finds.
We typically go where there is water and electric hook up , occasionally we Boondock when we are out west on BLM lands. We prefer to cook outside and only inside when it’s raining. So what we have for a cooking basics is very important to how we love to cook. We keep storage straightforward and simple. Everything has to stack beneath the dinette and, items we use to prep must be collapsible. We have managed this quite well so far!
Three years ago for my birthday, my wonderful husband got the Blackstone 22 inch griddle. I prefer this over any other cooking method while at the campground have you tried it? What do you think? I do breakfast, like frittatas, hash browns and sausage with plenty of room to move things around for their own space.n There are numerous accessories for this grill and other Blackstone versions. We have the griddle stand which enables mobility to a picnic table if you choose.
We also have a vintage Coleman camp stove, two burner with propane can hookup. My husband used this one as a child. We recommend everyone have this as a survival tool as well.
Essential for everyday campers or backpackers
We have an assortment of kitchen tools, and we got a couple of sets that we carry with us for camping that we got as wedding gifts four years ago . It has a variety of tools for any type of grills. Funny story on that, some people did not believe what we had on our Amazon wedding registry. It was all camping items. After all, we were in our mid fifties and had all that home decor stuff. We were ready for fun items.
This one has everything you could possibly need for cast-iron cookware or grill top. If you’re taking a charcoal grill with you that has the grid top. You could use this as well. Brush spatula meat, fork, tongs, corn, skewers, and so much more we find it to be the ultimate set.
There are so many ways to stay organized when you’re camping. If you’re not already a prepared chef, it can be hard to carry things in and out if you love to cook outside. We started with a tray, passing it through the door. How many times must we go in and out for one meal? So, an outdoor kitchen or storage area has saved the day. Keeps everything clean and dust free and at hand. Your tools, plates and seasoning are at your fingertips.
Outdoor Storage and Camp Table
Let’s get organized!
We recommend this one , because it has roll up covers on compartments and keeps critters out of your belongings. A sturdy area for your Blackstone too. We love to see raccoons and squirrels when we camp, but, who needs those pesky buggers trying to mess with your utensils and more?! We only use this with food inside during awake time. Otherwise, you’re just inviting Rocky and friends to the party, am I right?
No one invited you for dinner!
Whatever you love to do in the great outdoors, hiking, relaxing or just getting away, remember ……” Take Life Easy from Home to Camp”
We were finally leaving our spot in Spearfish South Dakota. We had fallen in love with that campground, the views, the people and the UFO. We still talk about it, I do not know if anyone believes, yet, we tell everyone.
We managed to see one last site in the area before leaving, Spearfish Canyon. It was right behind the campground; we had wondered where the walking trail led.
From Spearfish, we were on our way to Wyoming. Most people think of Wyoming as Yellowstone, that was not where we were headed. Our first stop was to be Devil’s Tower. You know, the one from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This is the vision that comes to my mind. The entire way there, yep, mashed potatoes. It makes sense, he has a vision of a place he has never been. The potatoes were his medium to show his family. It certainly got us thinking of alien life, After all, Star Wars had come out, we had long been watching Twilight Zone and similar tv shows. Lost in Space for instance, we grew up thinking there was life out there. Perhaps there is or was .
The real story or legend of Devils Tower comes from Indian lore.
Painting by Herbert Collins taken from NPS website
Now that we have left South Dakota, we barely went into Montana. I don’t know if you can really count it. What do you think?
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This was our path from border to border as we drove toward Devils Tower. We never go in a straight line, it’s not that interesting. We didn’t officially travel into Montana, the sign just as you entered was as far as we ventured. On to bigger and better things.
Spearfish, north on 212 until we hit Montana, I am counting that as a visit.
Off we go, got the obligatory sign picture, so we’re good. If you have never been to Devils Tower, it is ominous! We could spot it from a great distance, sprouting up from the earth, looking volcanic and massive. This giant rock rising out of the earth, from a distance looks like it is on a plain or prairie. Where did it come from? A rock rising more than 5112 feet, that’s nearly a mile. No wonder you can see it from 10-12 miles away. It is indeed a sight to behold. All things in the United States, all lands, mountains, canyons, waterfalls/ buttes, rock formations and I want to see them all. We thought as we approached, wow, to camp here. Can you imagine the stars above, no light from towns, the wildlife that could be there. This is a journey again later in our life, we are certain of it. While David was in the tourist gift shop, I was happily taking photos for a group travelling on motorcycles. I was admiring the Indian bike, when one of them made me an offer I had to refuse. I was almost a biker chick on the back of the single guys ride. Hahaha, really nice folks enjoying their country. Bikers have a leisurely and interesting ride with a fantastic view.
Devils Tower up close and ten miles away.
On the next post, we will be travelling from Devils Tower to Cody Wyoming. A scary and treacherous ride! Wow what a view we had.
I don’t believe I told you about the campground site we reserved, it was three nights at this beautiful county park. Right on a stream, near the walking trail and had lots of beautiful rocks and friendly folks. There was a fish hatchery on site, a walking trail and nearby Spearfish Canyon. One of the first things that happens is the hammock gets set up for pleasure. A great gift from my husband on my 55th birthday, I remember that, because, it’s also the first year we had the camper.
What’s even better is the stand he got to with it. It has a convenient drink holder for the beverage of your choice, cell phone nook and table. Ahhh, it’s the perfect relaxation spot while camping.
We pale in comparison
Here we are, another day in South Dakota, this was another adventure in our circle through the western side of the state. I had never been to see Crazy Horse; in fact, I knew very little about it. I knew of the legend of this warrior chief from history lessons, when we actually taught history to children. I am linking the site History.com here to share with children who may be interested in learning, one of my favorite subjects. They even have a today in history daily knowledge bump here. Today, as I write, Elvis Presley made his debut on the Ed Sullivan show.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is not a National Park, instead, a privately funded memorial, made possible through a foundation and donations from patrons and visitors. It is a remarkable tribute to the Indian nations. Everyone should know the dedication of the man and the Ziolkowski family who began the process, the story of the family and collaboration of tribes and Chief Henry Standing Bear to carry through a promise made.
You need to plan on several hours at this memorial, the walking, the scheduled tram ride to see the process up close and yet another large scale nose. It is certainly humbling to see the sculpture, walk the museum full of artifacts and history, perhaps see a family member who oversees the project.
Considering we got to the Crazy Horse Memorial early in the day, we still had plenty of time to visit other places on our list. Remember, our campsite location was in close proximity to so much! We decided on Custer State Park, just southeast of Crazy Horse, The path took us on highway 385 to 16 A into the park.
Time to look for buffalo…..in this beautiful park, which meanders on all kids of roads, lots of sites to see along the path to buffalo. I was eager to get great photographs of buffalo in their native habitat, although , I learned that occasionally, the buffalo are moved to new areas. Here’s why. The buffalo roundup occurs once a year in order to keep the balance between healthy live stock and available forage. Good news, just days away on September 30, 2022 is the Livestream of the roundup. Join here to watch this roundup without being there, but, it will be like you are with cowboys and cowgirls as the plains rumble with thundering herds of buffalo. Here is the roundup from 2021, wow, what a sight and adventure. This could be or should be on a bucket list, am I right!
We were not fortunate enough to see this kind of a sight, but, on my list was to see them on the plains, with baby buffalo roaming about watching the day to day life of a buffalo. I got my wish, and, my husband was brilliant enough to locate a spot high above in the park, perfect for viewing and photos. He had recently purchased a tripod for me and I couldn’t wait to utilize it. I had purchased a nice digital camera about two years before that, I was always a 35mm film camera photog before, I had the right camera for this purpose. This tripod is affordable for everyone and I highly recommend having one. At this low price, how could you not!
Check out this Idea List on Amazon: Camping Travel Necessities by Patty Pickens https://a.co/hol7A12 Here is out link to favorites!
I wanted to share some of our favorite things we have used and currently have in the camper. This is not a comprehensive list but it is some thing that everyone could use if you don’t know where to start!
