Wherever We Land

What makes you nervous?

Hey fellow adventurers! So, we finally decided to embrace the great outdoors and go tent camping for the first time. Our destination? The beautiful Lake James State Park in North Carolina. We were so excited, picturing ourselves roasting marshmallows under the stars, surrounded by the serene sounds of nature. We even documented the whole thing – you can check out our epic adventure here: First Overnight Camping in a Tent/SUV | Outdoor Adventures.

The Shopping Spree

First things first, gear! We hit up Walmart, feeling like pros. A cast iron skillet set? Check [01:02]. An air mattress for ultimate comfort? Double-check [01:20]. And a portable Buddy Heater, because, you know, safety first [02:51]. We were ready!

Setting Up Camp: Nailed It…Or Did We?

We arrived at the campsite, eager to put our tent-building skills to the test. After a few… minor… adjustments (okay, maybe it took a while), we had our temporary home standing! We even did a test run to make sure it wouldn’t collapse on us in the middle of the night [16:19].

Outdoor Cooking: We’re Basically Chefs

Dinner time! We whipped out our new cast iron skillet and propane grill, ready to create a culinary masterpiece [13:43]. Let’s just say, the food tasted a lot better in our imaginations. But hey, we were camping! Everything tastes better when you’re camping, right?

Exploring Lake James State Park: Nature’s Playground

Lake James State Park is seriously gorgeous. We explored the whole campground, checking out the beach [20:17], the fishing pier [22:47], and the picnic area [24:38]. They even have a West shelter [27:01]! We were especially impressed with Paddy’s Creek Campground, giving it a solid 10/10 rating [29:12]. It was perfect for the conditions, whatever those conditions may have been.

The Great Car Escape

Okay, here’s where things get interesting. Let’s just say, our first night in the tent didn’t exactly go as planned. Without going into too much embarrassing detail, we may have wound up sleeping in the car. Yes, you read that right. We, the brave outdoor adventurers, retreated to the comfort of our vehicle.

The Verdict

Despite our little… hiccup… we had an amazing time at Lake James State Park. It’s a beautiful place, and we definitely learned a lot about camping (and our own limitations). Would we go tent camping again? Maybe. Would we sleep in the car again? Hopefully not! But hey, that’s part of the adventure, right?