Have you ever been camping?

Yes!

I never went camping with my family as a child. My first time was when I was a few days shy of 18. My friends and days-old boyfriend, who would later become my first husband, road-tripped from home in Houston to San Marcos, Texas. We stayed in tents, floated the river, imbibed a’plenty and indulged in various unlawful exploits. We were young, wild, and free: escapees from the concrete jungle we were accustomed to.

Now fully grown with kids, my husband and I take them camping every year. I later learned that libations need not preclude feelings of liberation, that disconnectedness from the status quo and changing the pace for a while is recipe enough for a good time. I want my boys to have these memories to look back on and to pass them along to the families they’ll build.

Most recently, we camped in Shenandoah National Park during a meteor shower. We watched stars shoot across the sky, picked up Appalachian Trail Hitchhikers, and went spelunking, too. Many’a marshmallows were roasted and fun was had by all.

Photos from Camping Shenandoah National Park

This is from skyline drive, the road throughout the park. In 1931, NPS landscape architects designed a road that would allow for maximum scenic views. There’s nearly 75 scenic overlooks–but take your time! The road has a 35 mph speed limit, and you don’t want to wind around those mountains any quicker.

A view from one of the overlooks on Skyline Drive.

Camping teaches kids a beautiful balance of teamwork and rest.

While we were in the area, we also visited Luray Caverns, a National Natural Monument.