John Muir Trail Gear List

Holy moly batman... we leave to hike the John Muir Trail today. We have been planning for this trip for 6 long months. Honestly, when we decided to do this trip I had no idea how much planning and research was going to be involved. I will confess thought that I'm an over-researcher. I spend entirely too much time reading about items I want to purchase. However, what you can know is that all of this gear listed here is was heavily researched. When our trip is over, I will report back with how we felt about it all after we used it for a month.

When I was doing research I was looking for gear that was lightweight and comfortable. We are definitely not doing this thru-hike as ultralight backpackers. In the backpacking community there is a lot of debate about the weight of your pack because there is a balance between comfort and weight. Some people feel like having the lightest pack is the best way to comfort but others will carry more weight in order to have things with them that help them to be more comfortable. Another factor is the cost of ultralight gear. The lighter the gear is the more expensive it is. So we did our very best to choose gear that we could afford and that was lightweight and comfortable.

I want to take this time to give a big shout out to our local retailer Cumberland Transit. Those guys there have been a HUGE help in helping us pick out gear and making sure we had everything we needed. They were also kind enough to make us Cumberland Transit ambassadors which allowed us to get some free gear and discounts. I can say that without their help we would not have been able to take this trip.

For those of you who don't have access to local retailers like Cumberland Transit, we have linked all of our gear below. These are affiliate links and when you make a purchase through one of these links, we receive a teeny tiny portion. Your use of affiliate links helps keeps this blog alive. With that said, again, we highly encourage you to try out your local outfitter and test out gear, ask questions, and figure out what is best for you. And if you are in Nashville, definitely check out Cumberland Transit.

Packs
Osprey Aura 65

Sleep
20 degree sleeping bag
Sleeping Mat
Pillow
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3

Eat
Bear Canister
Cook Pot
Long Spoon
Camp mug
Stove

Wear
Puffy Down Jacket
Hiking Shorts
Hiking Pants
Short Sleeve Tee
Long Sleeve Tee
Altra Lone Peak 4 trail runners
Topo Ultraventure Trail Running Shoe
Camp Shoes
Rain Jacket
Rain Pants
Underwear

Electronics
Solar charger
Power Bank
Canon G7xiii
Tripod
Garmin inReach Explorer
Microphone

Misc
Homemade First Aid Kit (more info to come)
Gloves
Female Urinal
Pee rag
Towel
Trekking poles
Carhartt Beanie
Stuff Sacks
Wallet
Chair
Collapsible Bucket
Headlamp

We can't wait to come back and tell you all about how our gear worked out. Of course, we will have so many pictures and videos!! See you later!

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A Guide To Fall Creek Falls State Park: 7 Things To Do

Fall Creek Falls State Park is, by far, my favorite state park we've ever visited. Maybe it was the colors of the leaves and the time of year... but it was phenomenal. It is sort of like a tiny national park with it's lookouts and drivable loops. Why had I not heard of it's awesome-ness before? I've seen photos of the waterfall but in all honesty, that was my least favorite part of the park.

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Now I'm not gonna lie, our time at Fall Creek Falls State Park was cold. The days were lovely, but the nights were almost unbearable for us tent campers. If you go to the park this time of year (beginning of November) you'd probably be more comfortable in a cabin or camper than a tent. And trust me, this is the time of year you want to be there. Now let's talk about some things you should do while you are there!

1. Drive around at sunrise. The first thing you should do is wake up early. If you are camping in a tent, you may be like us and be freezing so much that you have to move to your car in the wee hours of the morning and by default you'll be awake before the sun rises! But if that is not the case for you, set your alarm. You won't want to miss the gorgeous views and the stunning sunlight shining through the fog. There's a scenic loop you can drive and there are plenty of places to pull look over. But even just driving the roads in the park (it's pretty big) we found the most gorgeous views, like this road above.

2. Stop at Millikan's Overlook. In the early morning you'll probably only see a person or two out. Fall colored leaves, sunrise, and fog- it's all there for you in the first part of the day. This is probably the coolest view in the park. It makes you feel very small.

3. Look out for wildlife. We saw plenty of deer (and raccoons) while staying at the park, and I know that seeing deer is very common, but it's still exciting every time I do.

4. Hike one of the many trails. The amount of trails here are endless. You mostly just have to figure out what length of hike you'd like to do and go from there. We only hiked the Woodland Trail from Fall Creek Falls to the nature center. This hike is short, but you get to see a lot! Unfortunately the nature center was closed for remodeling when we were there so the trail stopped there. Normally you can add on another trail from if you wanted a longer hike.

**It was not anywhere near Christmas time when we were on this trip, but Whitt only has one sweater and it was stinkin' cold, so he had to wear it.

This is the view over Cane Creek.

5. Walk the suspension bridge over Cane creek. We came across this on our hike from Fall Creek Falls itself, but you can also park really close to the bridge and hike down to it in about 5 minutes. The bridge is right by the nature center, so just find your way to that and you'll find the bridge!

This bridge is really swingy/bouncy. Which our dogs HATED. And honestly, if I hadn't been on one of these just a week before, I would've also not loved it. I guess you could say I got my "bridge legs" while we were in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But walking across was still a little unsettling. Especially since this water ends in a waterfall right near the bridge. But the view is breathtaking, so it's okay.

6. Check out Fall Creek Falls. I'm assuming this is the whole reason you want to go to the park! And while it is pretty cool, it surprisingly wasn't my favorite part of the park. I still loved it though! We actually ended up being at the waterfall when the sun was rising and also when it was setting. In the morning we saw two people during our whole gallivant. In the late afternoon is was really crowded. Also, for the dog owners out there, the trails around here are full with other people and their dogs. It made for an interesting hike since we too had our dogs. Let's just say there was a lot of barking happening, pretty often. This was fine with us, but something to keep in mind if you or your dog isn't a fan of other dogs.

7. Watch the sunset over Fall Creek Lake. This lake is small an not anything to write home about, except when the sun is setting. It was covered in fog in the morning so you couldn't even see what was going on. But go ahead and stop here in the evening.

If you've been to Fall Creek Falls State Park or are planning to go, we'd love to hear what you favorite parts were in the comments!

Save this post for later by pinning the image below!

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7 Reasons to Visit Your State Parks

While Savannah + I were camping recently at Pennyrile Forest State Park in Kentucky, I had this realization -we are so lucky to have access to all of these beautiful state parks. In the United States, there are over 10, 000 state parks! So most people in America have access to these gems. Between hiking and our new found love of camping, we've visited a lot of them in Tennessee + Kentucky! I haven't really started appreciating them until the last couple of years. Today we're telling you 7 reasons why you should give your state park a visit.

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1. They are free/cheap. A lot of state parks are free and if they aren't the entrance fee isn't a lot of money. Part of our tax dollars go to our state parks, so we might as well take advantage of them!

2. They are beautiful. There is something significant about disconnecting from the urban jungle and standing in a forest full of trees or looking at a beautiful waterfall. Also, if you are into photography- what's a better back drop than nature?

3. They offer a variety of activities. Lots of state parks have a variety of activities from spending time on water to disc golf, regular golf, miniature golf, hiking trails, biking, volleyball, playgrounds, etc. If you have kids in your life or you are bored one day- go to a state park! And check their calendars because a lot of state parks offer seasonal activities.

4. They have camping sites. Going camping in nearby state parks has been one of my favorite new ways to relax. I didn't grow up camping and I would have never thought I would have become a camper, but I love it. State parks have some of the best camping options around. I actually prefer them over private campgrounds. Most of them have water + electricity at their campsites which is really nice if you want to camp comfortably (our preferred way to camp).

5. They are good for your state. There are a variety of economic and environmental benefits to having state parks. They provide jobs. When people use them they are more likely to be healthy, and they are good for local businesses. State parks connect people to the environment, therefore making them more likely to care about it. Everybody wins when people start caring about the environment! (I got a lot of this information from this website.)

6. They are good for you. There is no question that spending time in nature is good for your health. Here are several articles that talk about the benefits in more detail and have the research to back up their claims 1/2/3. The general gist is that spending time outside is good for your mental + physical health. State parks in our area don't seem to have the greatest cell phone reception which initially seems frustrating, but is really a blessing. Disconnecting from our phones is most certainly good for our health.

7. They are good for your relationships. This may seem like a stretch but spending time with friends + family in nature can be a great way to bond. There is something to be said about stripping away the technology, disconnecting from our jobs and taking a walk in nature together. There is a simplicity to it. Taking most of our comforts away gives way to conversations that matter and last.

We hope this post has encouraged you to get out in nature and visit some beautiful parks around your neck of the woods! If you would like to see more posts like this, leave us a comment below!

- Casey

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The 21 Best Things For Camping Comfortably

You may know by now that Casey and I love camping. But what you may not know is that we are borderline glampers. Now we don't have AC or heaters, (although if I could make that happen easily don't think I'd hesitate) but we do have fans and a strand of lights to be able to see at night. We both use air mattresses and cots and it's glorious.

So today we figured we'd give you the low-down on everything we purchased to stay comfortable while camping.

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We have divided the list into two parts. Must-haves and Extras. I guess they ended up being all must-haves for us, but just figure out what works best for you!

The must-haves:

1. A Good Tent / This is our exact tent and we love it. It's easy to set up and gives us 2 and the 3 dogs plenty of space. Make sure you buy the right size as I express in this blog post.

2. Camp Chairs / You're going to want to have a place to sit outside of your tent. Camp chairs are also great because of their capability to collapse into something very portable. This means to can pack them up and take them with you to the lake or your neighbor's campfire as many times as needed.

3. Hammocks + Hammock Straps / This may seem like it's not necessary but hammocks pack up very small and provide a lot of relaxation. You can carry them everywhere with you and hang them in a tree anywhere you can find two together. These were game changers for us. When you are spending a lot of time at your campsite, it's great to be able to move around in different spots. You could even sleep in your hammock if you wanted to.

4. Camp Stove / Cooking over a fire is fun once or twice, but it's a lot of work. Save yourself the trouble and just buy this camp stove. I love it even more than my stove at home because your pan heats up so quickly. We use this one so many times on our trips. Don't forget to buy the propane! The stove won't work without it.

5. Huge Tarp / We actually have two tarps. We usually put one under our tent, but that one isn't totally necessary. The other is in case it rains or we don't have much shade. The tarp can be strung in the trees over your tent so the rain doesn't ever touch it. Or you could use it to create a shelter from the rain or sun over the picnic table area. Either way it's great to have because it packs up pretty small. If you have the space, another option is to have a canopy tent. We don't have room for one of these, but if we did I'd bring one along with our tarp.

6. String and Duck Tape / These are great things to have just in case. The string can be used for a clothesline and to tie your tarp up. The duck tape if something rips or needs to be held down. Obviously the uses for both of these are endless and you'll be able to tackle a lot of problems with just some string and duck tape. Well, and maybe some scissors too.

7. Air Mattress or Camp Pad / We use air mattresses and it is glorious but you could also use a camp pad if you wanted it to take up less space. You'll also want something to blow your mattress up with. We use a car pump but this one has the option for plugging into a wall and your car.

8. Battery Operated Lantern / This is our exact lantern and is the best battery operated lantern we've found. We love it. It collapses. It has three different brightness levels and the batteries last for a really long time. We haven't changed our batteries in a year and it's still working great!

9. Fire Starter / Building a fire is quintessential for every camping trip, but it doesn't have to be hard. You can still gather wood and leaves from around your campsite, just use the fire starter stick to start the fire immediately. Your beautifully built fire will light in no time without much work in the beginning.

10. 50 ft. Extension Cord - To plug in all your important things and charge your phone. This one has 3 plug sites which is more helpful as your plug won't be right next to you.

Some extras we can't live without:

11. Unbreakable French Press / Casey needs her coffee and her favorite way to have it is french press. Hear all about how she makes hers in this video. When we first started camping Casey tried her hand at making Percolator coffee and it was not her style. So a french press was perfect for her! Now we use the percolator (with inside pieces removed) to boil water because it is pretty cute after all. Also you can find the Good Morning Lovely Mug here!

12. Cozy Blankets or a Sleeping Bag / Even in the middle of summer it can get chilly at night. Plus it's good to be able to have something outside of the tent to bundle up with.

13. Dog Tie Outs / This is 100% necessary if you have dogs. Most campsites require that your dog(s) be leashed at all times. The tie outs let them roam around your campsite without you having to worry. We also will pack our tie outs up and take them with us if we move to a lake or different area of the campground. There is always somewhere you can hook them up to take a dip or just to be hands free. Make sure you get the right size for you dog!

14. Tabletop Tiki Torches + BiteFighter Fluid / This is something that we have to have when camping in the months where mosquitoes are alive and well. Make sure you get the fluid that repeals bugs- they have some that is just citronella scented. Get the "BiteFighter" fluid and it will help keep those pests away from your area!

15. String Lights / So you can see around your campsite when it's dark. Plus, bonus, it looks kinda cute.

16. Waterproof Hiking Boots / These are something we didn't buy right away but we really needed them. Not only is it good to have hiking boots, if that's something you will be doing a lot of on your camping trips, but it's also a good idea to get some that are waterproof. Even when it hasn't rained we've had muddy campsites due to the really high humidity and temperatures dropping over night. I remember one trip where we were dealing with very muddy Birkenstocks because those were the only shoes we had. Birkenstocks are good camping shoes for everything else except mud and hiking.

17. Camp Forks / These are perfect for hot dogs (which we end up eating every time we camp) and even marshmallows for s'mores (which we also always have).

18. Box Fan / This is a game changer for summer camping. We will use it to blow away mosquitoes wherever we are sitting at the campsite and then also at night to keep cool.

19. Games / Cards, Dominoes, Phase 10, and Bananagrams have been our favs. It's really nice to get out into nature, with zero cell service, and just play games. It's something Casey and I never do at home. One time we did try to do a puzzle but after an hour we were over it. So we save things like this for camping, and it's perfect for it.

20. Bug Repellent + Bug Repellent Products / Mosquitoes suck, need I say more? If you aren't one to spray repellent on your skin, you can get these sticks to burn or these coils.

21. Cots / This is the one thing on this list that I might be able to give up if we didn't have room for it. But it's really nice. Not having to get up and down off the floor is worth something. This is the exact one we have. It folds down and has it's own carrier with a strap.

And that's it! I'm sure there are some extra things you will need to cater to your needs, but this should get you started!

If you like this post, please pin an image from this post onto your Pinterest!

xo, Savannah

**This post contains affiliate links**

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6 Tips For You First Camping Trip

Camping can be a beautiful experience, because you get to relax without expectations. Plus, it's a really cheap and attainable way to incorporate travel into your lifestyle. Casey and I decided to go camping on a whim at the end of the summer last year. Out of nowhere, she called me from work to say we should go camping. We didn't even own a tent. So the next day I bought a tent and some air mattresses and the next day we were camping. And just like that, we were hooked.

After a few trips I'd say we have really gotten the hang of it. By the end of the year we had learned a lot. We realized we could actually cook over a fire and we had to learn how to make a fire. (Hint: if you end up being somewhere between campers and glampers like us, just bring some fire starters with you. It'll make your life easier!) But that first time, we were clueless! We figured there were others out there who would benefit from some camping tips, just like we would've. So here are a few things we wish we had known from the beginning!

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1. Buy a tent that's big enough. This was the first mistake we made when we started camping. We weren't even sure if we would like camping so we bought a cheap 4-person tent. It was a good decision then because tents can get pricey. If you end up hating camping then you'd be in a pickle if you spent a good chunk of money on your equipment. Our problem is with that tent though is that we were camping with 3 dogs and 2 people.

When it comes to tents, you almost need to double the amount of people who will be camping. Especially if air mattresses are involved. We ended up upgrading to an 8-person tent after a few trips. Our old tent would've only fit 4 people if they were basically sleeping on top of each other. Our new one only takes a couple extra minutes to set up and is there perfect size for us and all the dogs! The point? When it comes to tents, size up.

2. Book the right campsite. I am writing a whole blog post about this, but really you just need to decide what kind of place you want to camp in and then find it. It can be overwhelming the first time you are looking for a campsite. For our first trip we came close to booking a primitive site that you had to hike a mile to. A mile isn't that far, but after our first trip we were so glad we didn't go that route. I can't imagine trying to get all our gear and 3 dogs a mile out and then possibly forgetting something in the car. For us, having the car right next to us is crucial and as of now we wouldn't have it any other way. Stay tuned to our next camping blog post to see exactly what we look for in a campsite and campground.

3. Decide what you need to be comfortable. This will be different for everybody. Casey and I both use air mattresses and like to have a fan- which means we need electricity. Some people are fine sleeping on a tiny camp pad. Neither is right or wrong, it's all up to you!

If you really need your memory foam pillow to sleep and it fits in the car, bring it. If you want to put makeup on everyday that you are camping- do it. If you want to wear the same clothes everyday- so be it. There is no right or wrong way to camp. If you want to be comfortable, figure out how to do just that.

4. Don't plan too much. One of the best things about camping is that there doesn't have to be an agenda. On a lot of our trips we just sit in hammocks and/or by a body of water and eat food. We don't plan it, but that's all that happens and it's great.

We accidentally went on a hike on one of our camping trips and definitely think that's a fun thing to do while you're camping. If you're an avid hiker, maybe you'll want to make sure you're staying near a nice place hike. But if you aren't into hiking, don't force yourself to do one. Just make sure that no matter what you decide to do on your trip you leave room for spontaneity!

5. Be prepared for all types of weather. When you are sleeping in nature, you really start to become involved in the weather. By the end of your first trip you will more than likely know more about humidity, sun, wind and nightly low temperatures than you ever wanted to. But you are out in that weather 24/7 and you are going to want be prepared.

We always carry an extra tarp and rope with us in case it rains. We, luckily, have NEVER dealt heavy rain while camping, and I'm sure it would be a nightmare. So an extra tarp is crucial to hang above your tent and keep it dry.

Another weather related note- even if it is the middle of summer, check the low temps and pack accordingly. Casey and I camped in Florida last year which was our favorite camping trip to date! But we never imagined that we might be cold there. It's Florida, after all. We went to the beach and were hot all day in the sun. But then one night it got down in the 50s and neither of us had the right clothing. Casey ended up driving into town to buy sweatpants.

6. Plan for no cell service. Most state parks are in areas where cell service is less than desirable And no surprise, there probably won't be wifi. However, most of the state parks have a lodge near the campground which usually has wifi. It's a good idea to figure out where the lodge is or how you will obtain cell service in the event of an emergency. If anything the lodge can let you use their phone, so just figure out where you'd go if you needed to make a call or use wifi.

We have a couple more camping posts coming to you soon, so check back regularly if you want to learn more about camping!

xo, Savannah

P.S. If you liked this post and would like to see more like it, please pin any image from this post!

**This post contains affiliate links.

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camping in Florida in October

Let me start by saying that this was my favorite camping trip that we've been on yet! The crazy thing is that we waited until October to go to this campsite because it was the only time they had open when we were trying to book. At first I was worried that it may be a little cold when we went, but turns out Octobers in Florida are AMAZING. The weather was perfect. There were a couple nights that we were pretty chilly, but the days were so comfortable. The only problem with camping in Florida- sand in all of your gear, for months to come. Even my purse is still producing sand somehow. Anyway, I'm going to share where we stayed and everything about our trip, so we hope you read through this post :)

This was the first trip where we got to try out our new tent. We hesitated to buy the tent because we only had one camping trip left for the season, but I'm so glad we just bit the bullet and purchased it. We started out with a 4 person tent for two twin air mattresses and 3 dogs. We were a bit squished in there. It worked for a while, but we really just needed more room. In the 4 person tent, we weren't able to bring any bags or gear in there except for our purses. There just wasn't enough room. Now we can stand in our tent and bring our clothes in there and not trip over the dogs. It's glorious!

When we first arrived in Florida, we stayed the night in Pensacola. I'm so glad we did because we got to visit the dog beach! This was great because we were able to hang on the beach that day and the next with the dogs. 30A beaches don't allow visitor dogs and most beaches don't have a dog friendly option. So being able to do this gave us extra time on the beach.

We headed to Grayton Beach State Park the next day for the rest of our trip. This trip was very different than our other camping trips because we were in a destination area. All of our other trips had been in the middle of nowhere and camping was our destination. This time it was a mix of the relaxing that comes with camping, but also being in a place that you want to explore.

Grayton Beach State Park has it's own private beach (you have to pay to enter if you are not camping there) and it's beautiful and serene. We walked there with the dogs the first night to see the sunset. Dogs are not allowed on this beach, but they are allowed on the stroll there and the sand dune hike that is right by the beach.

One of our IG friends was our inspiration for the location of our trip. She and her husband were camping at the park and it's looked idyllic, so we booked our stay. She also had been to a place called Black Bear Bread Co., so that was something we knew we wanted to check out. Tip for every traveler ever- share the places you go and love because you never know who needs advice on where to go! We wouldn't know about half of the places we go if we hadn't heard about them from someone. Traveling and finding good places to visit can be really overwhelming, especially when you read articles named "15 Best Restaurants In Tulum." How will I ever visit 15 restaurants in Tulum during my one week stay?!? Seeing a friend or family member say they just went to + loved a certain restaurant or place makes it easy for me to know where I want to go.

This place was super cute. They have huge cinnamon rolls that are delicious, a croissant sandwich that was melt-in-your-mouth good and an oatmeal bowl (Casey ate this twice she loved it so much)! And, they serve Stumptown coffee, so you know it's good (Casey tells me this is the good stuff).

Hazel kept having sand mustache at the campsite.

Side note- this is my favorite flavored sparkling water of all time. It's almost like you are drinking a Sunkist, but without all the sugar. It's a very pleasant beverage!

One of the days in Grayton, we took the dogs to doggy day care. This allowed us to have a whole day of exploring and doing things that we couldn't do with them, like go to the beach at Seaside.

The next day we went on two hikes with the dogs, one on the sand dunes in Grayton Beach State Park and one that we happened upon while driving around Santa Rosa Beach.

Some of the hike was closed due to Hurricane Irma damage, but we enjoyed the part that was open anyway. Hiking in the sand is weird, y'all.

The second hike we did was in Point Washington State Park. We had no idea this park existed, but we drove by it on our way to Grayton, so we knew we wanted to check it out. This is what we love about camping. If we were coming to vacation in Florida, only planning to lay on the beach all day everyday (which is fabulous and something I love to do), then we would've never noticed this forest or spent time exploring it.

But I'm so glad we spent time here because it was gorgeous.

We felt like we went through so many ecosystems on this hike. It was an easy hike, but definitely worth doing with all the landscape changes that happen.

After the two hikes, we decided to try to go to this restaurant that Casey wanted to try, but with the dogs..... Guess what we have never done? Taken all three dogs to a restaurant- except the time when Hazel was a teeny tiny puppy, we did sneak her into a Cracker Barrel by putting her in Casey's purse. It was the day we had picked her up in Ohio and she weighed 3 lbs. That was a lot easier! But the dogs actually did pretty well. We sat in their outside area where they allow dogs and everything was fine. We did have to settle them down a couple times, but for the most part they just chilled and watched us eat.

The restaurant was called Chiringo, by the way. The cocktail Casey had was perfect, can't remember what it was called though.

When we were done eating, the sun had just set, but there was still a little light. There is an entrance right across the street from Chiringo, so we headed over there to catch the a last glimpse.

Okay I'm only putting these photos of our dogs in here because these were all taken with Casey's iPhone.... Portrait mode is AMAZING y'all.

One day we are going to do a post on traveling/camping with dogs. We have learned a lot of tips and tricks that we think could be beneficial to our readers :)

The sunsets here were so amazing.

Hazel clearly didn't want to leave. She was protesting by laying on all of our stuff as we were packing up our campsite.

Anyway, we really loved this campsite. We were staying at campsite 11, but I really don't think there was a bad space there. If you plan on making a trip to Grayton Beach State Park, make sure you book way in advance. They book very quickly.

Some of our favorites from this trip:
- Our new tent!
- Clip-on LED light
- Our new cots
- This cooler
- Our straw hats
- Aquafina Orange Grapefruit

If you liked this post, share this post on Pinterest!

xo, Savannah

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