Camping Information

Camping along the riverbanks makes for a great summer floating experience.

Shirt pulled up to expose his belly and plant in hand, 10-year-old Curt used a circular motion to rub the plant over the surface of his skin.

His little cousin followed suit.

The little boy was my genius cousin who was scientifically, in his mind, testing his theory that he was not allergic to poison ivy. The copy cat was me.

I have family coming in from out of state this summer so I’ll be showing off the neat things to see and do in the Ozarks.  Lucky for us and just in time for their summer vacations and my personal getaways, some great new outdoor adventures are ready for my family and friends to enjoy.

You're hiking toward a distant fishing hole when the trail makes a sharp turn and you come face to face with a bear hunkered over a freshly killed deer. It raises up on hind legs, mouth covered in blood. Then suddenly it drops to all fours, flares its ears back and glares at you menacingly.

There's nothing that makes the blood boil more than the relentless annoyance of biting bugs.

Even though the weatherman may be right more often than not, weather patterns can be unpredictable. So that camping trip that was supposed to be dry and beautiful can turn into a soaked mudfest in the snap of a finger.

Many camping trips are planned around water activities — most of which are fairly tame in the wild adventure category. But whitewater rafting turns up the adventure needle up a couple notches for most campers, if they are willing to give it a try.

Camping on the bank of a river or stream is an activity many river rats enjoy during the warm summer months. Almost all will agree that there is no better way to enjoy a river than to spend a night or two under the stars, listening to the sounds of night and gurgle of water as it flows past camp.  

Sitting around the fireplace this past winter, the family and I were reviewing photos taken during the previous camping season. Shots of campfires and camp setups, wildlife exploring the campground, and campers in action. Each photo told a story. The stories told in our photos revealed sights, sounds and other senses. It was enjoyable to relive, as we passed them around in front of the hearth.