Kings Mountain State Park, South Carolina

Thank goodness it's camping season again!  After being stuck in the house for the past three months, working, helping the kids with their school work,  non-stop cleaning and wearing masks to the grocery store, I needed a break!! We booked Kings Mountain State park in South Carolina for a quick, peaceful trip, and that it was.  

Kings Mountain sits in the beautiful Piedmont region of South Carolina.  It is located 40 miles southwest of Charlotte in York County, and is a great campground if you want peace and quiet.

Like most state parks, there is only 30 amp hook-up, which usually isn't a problem if you don't need to run two air conditioners.  All sites are packed gravel, with no concrete pads available.  They do not have full hook-ups, but sites include water and electric with two dump stations on your way out.  The campground has several bathhouses, all of which seemed to be kept clean.  The sign on the door read only 3 people in at a time, but typically I was the only one in the one closest to our site.  

Kings Mountain Campground has: 115 standard sites for RV's and tents

10 tent only sites

15 equestrian campsites

30 miles of equestrian trails 

20+ miles of hiking trails

There is a little pond for fishing, but if you ask my kids, there weren't any fish in it because they didn't catch anything.  Be sure to bring your bug spray if you decide to fish as there are a lot of mosquitoes!  

Located near the campground is Kings Mountain National Military Park, a Revolutionary War battle site.  Throughout the year you may be able to see reenactments.  The trail throughout the park is paved, and you can complete a self guided tour with highlights of battle events throughout.

When we went, the hiking trails were closed due to debris from a storm.  This didn't keep us from hiking.  Crowders Mountain is a short drive from the campground with great hiking and breathtaking views.  After downloading the All Trails app, and researching our options, we decided to attempt the Rocktop trail.  This trail was 6 miles and three hours long.  

There were some steep spots, and rocky terrain, but when you get to the overlook at the summit, it was completely worth it!!  Be sure to bring plenty of water.  I saw several people without any and they were sitting down complaining of cramping of legs and very dehydrated.  

If you enjoy camping, and are ready for a trip outside of your house, this is a great place to go.  You will be able to sit back, relax and simply enjoy nature.  

Hiking and Camping must haves _Review

I had the amazing opportunity to get to try a few products from Mountain Warehouse.  Just a little back ground information about them, via their website. 

Mountain Warehouse has been offering quality outdoor clothing and equipment at the lowest prices since 1997. From hiking clothing and camping equipment to ski wear and running gear we stock everything you need for your outdoor activities.

Most of the products we sell are exclusive to Mountain Warehouse, unlike other outdoor clothing shops. By cutting out the middleman we can produce the best quality products at the best prices. We pride ourselves on providing great value outdoor gear and at Mountain Warehouse you can be sure to receive honest advice from our knowledgeable staff.

The products that I tried exceeded my expectations.  Each one being more than I thought it would be.  

First The Bolt 18L Backpack

This backpack is lightweight and so comfortable.  I like that even after hours of having it on, it still felt lightweight and didn't cause my shoulders or back to hurt.  It has a lot of room in it, and has a hole at the top for a water bladder if you want to add one.  I chose to bring bottled water on our hike to share, and it wasn't heavy at all!

The Bolt also has two straps to help distribute heavier loads, one of which goes across your chest and the other around your waist.  For our hike the waist strap was not needed and I liked where the chest strap laid.  Other backpacks lay too low, and make it very uncomfortable, where this one was just right. 

I have used this backpack on several occasions other than hiking.  It is great loaded with everything you might need for hiking, to adventures out with the kids.  There are no drawbacks to owning the Bolt 18L backpack it is amazing and will be used for several years to come.  

The next item we were privileged to try was a flint starter.  This is a handy, light weight item that provides piece of mind when hiking or camping.  It also makes an excellent addition to any survival kit and stores very nicely in the Bolt 18L backpack.   You don't have to worry about matches getting wet, or a lighter not working.   One thing I can say for sure is that this starter put out more sparks than any other starter I've ever seen.  Starting a fire is quick and easy as seen in the photos below.  Just gather some dry material together, make a little tinder bundle and while applying medium pressure, just slide the striker down the flint stick and watch the sparks fly. 

Lastly, my favorite new hoodie, the Kittwake Womens Hoodie.

It is so soft, and comfortable, that I would seriously wear it  everyday!  There is just something about how it fits and the softness of it, that my other sweatshirts don't compare! 

The sizing chart is different than a US chart, our sweatshirts are S,M,L, but they have made it easy with this chart.

UK	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22
Euro	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50
German	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48
Italian	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54
USA	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18
Australian	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22
		S		M		L

	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch	cm / inch
Bust/Chest	80 / 31.5	84 / 33	88 / 34.5	93 / 36.5	98 / 38.5	104 / 41	110 / 43.5	116 / 45.5	123 / 48.5
Waist	63 / 25	68 / 26.5	71 / 28	76 / 30	81 / 32	87 / 34.5	93 / 36.5	99 / 39	106 / 41.5
Hips	88 / 34.5	92 / 36	96 / 38	101 / 40	106 / 41.5	112 / 44	118 / 46.5	124 / 48.5	131 / 51.5
Legs / Regular	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31
Legs / Short	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29	74 / 29
Legs / Ski	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31	79 / 31

Womens Footwear

avg. insole length (cm)	24.3		25.1		25.8		26.6		27.5
UK	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8
EU	37	37.5	38	38.5	39	39.5	40	40.5	41
US/CAN	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9	9.5	10
AUS	5	5.5	6	6.5	7	7.5	8	8.5	9
Slippers	S-M					M-L

I want to apologize for taking so long to write this review.  I received these products right after returning from a camping and hiking trip and didn't get the opportunity until last weekend to use the products out in nature.  The items were given to me, but all opinions are honest and my own. 

Camping Watkins Glen KOA

Staying at just any campground, is like saying it doesn't matter what hotel you chose when you go on vacation.  Like hotels, campgrounds aren't all the same.  I wouldn't just say hey, I'm going to New York City and pick the cheapest hotel I can find, you never truly know what you're going to get until you walk through the door, and by then, it's to late to find a hotel that might be more to your liking.

When we choose a campground, we take several things into consideration.  First and for most we have to have full hook-up, meaning we have to have water, sewer and electric.  We may not use all of those things while we are there, but I like the thought of being able to use the bathroom in the middle of the night without having to go to the shower house or have to dump it when leaving.  Call me spoiled or a diva, but I'm not going full roughing it, that's just not me.

My preferred campgrounds are KOA's when we try new places, if there is one in the area.  For the most part, they are super clean, very family friendly, and have fun things for the kids to do.  It's always important for the kids to be entertained, and it's nice when I don't have to always come up with the ideas.

There are three different types of KOA's.

KOA Journey campgrounds are conveniently located near the highways and byways of North America and are waiting for you after a long day on the road. KOA Journeys offer long pull-through sites that help make setup fast and easy, have well-lit after-hour check-in service, and offer a robust line of RV supplies. They are great places to unwind and relax before the next leg of your journey.

Whether you're looking for a base camp for exploring the area or a fun place to stay with lots of activities, you'll love our KOA Holiday campgrounds. There's plenty to do at these KOAs, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable, whether it's overnight or for a longer stay. Each KOA Holiday features full service RV sites and KOA Deluxe Cabins with bathrooms. Take a hike, see the locale attractions or enjoy a campfire. It's your holiday!

KOA Resort campgrounds offer a carefree vacation in the great outdoors with plenty of patio RV sites and Deluxe Cabins with linen service. KOA Resorts also have an abundance of activities led by dedicated recreation staff, on-site food service, group meeting space, and so much more. KOA Resorts are all you could want in a vacation destination - all in one place.

While staying in Watkins Glen at the KOA, we had a great time not only exploring the State Park, but also spending time at the campground.  There was plenty of fun things to do and occupy the kids time.

The kids big and small had so much fun on the jumping pillow, giant waterside, the indoor pool with hot tub, and of course the zipline!  They also had two playgrounds a miniature golf course and fun activities lead by the employees.  We had a blast playing kickball with the kids and they love their new tie dyed shirts.  They even have Happy Hour in the store for the ice cream!!

 My complaints would be the size of the spots, I like the kids to have room to play in the grass, and there wasn't room for that.  The larger spots were the end spots next to the road.   The bathrooms weren't always clean, now I don't think that was completely the staff's fault, with a variety of people staying there, and quite a few cabins,  I don't know that the non campers know the proper etiquette of a campground.  Another example of this, was people walking through occupied campsites to their cabins.  I stopped 6 people total from walking though mine while I was sitting there.  (Nicely of course)  This bothered me!  My two year old knows not to walk through someone else camping spot.  I know that everyone might not know not to do this, but you have to think, do you walk through some neighbors yard when you are home?  Probably not, it's considered trespassing!  So don't do it in a campground, please!  My other problem with the bathhouses were the size of the showers.  Can we say tiny?  These were the smallest showers I've ever seen at a campground.  I couldn't shave my legs while the water was on.

Overall I would give this campground a 3 out of 5 stars.  If you need a campground to stay in Watkins Glen, it's a good choice, just be ready for the things I mentioned.  This review is my opinion, thoughts and in no way was I asked to do this.  I feel if I'm going to share my thoughts on the campgrounds we chose and pay for, other campers would benefit from hearing a completely honest review.

Happy Camping!

Watkins Glen State Park

Sorry about not posting last week, but I spent an amazing week with my family, best friend, and her family exploring Watkins Glen, New York.  If you've never been, you have to go at least once!  There was so much to do, not only for the adults, but for the kiddos too!  I'm going to write about our camping fun later in the week, but today, it's all about Watkins Glen State Park.

If you are into hiking, walking, fitness or just beauty in nature in general, this place is amazing!  I could make this a very image heavy post, but I'm just going to show you a few, because it was stunning, and the pictures really don't do it justice.

If you've never heard of Watkins Glen, NY, it is located here:

There is tons to do, not only in Watkins Glen, but in neighboring cities like Corning

The great thing about the State Park is people of all different ages can walk it's many trails.  You can start at different locations and choose the difficulty you want.  We started at the bottom and worked our way to the top.  Once at the top, you can walk down a path with no stairs, walk back the way you came, or check out the snack bar at the top and ride an air-conditioned van back to the bottom parking lot.  

The falls were breathtaking!  There were so many of them, and each one was different.  You could see the way the water wore away the rock to form pure beauty in nature.

There were several falls you walked behind, so be prepared to get a little wet.  

We went the day after some rain, so there were several puddles that we carefully walked around.  I wore a pair of new sneakers and they only got a little dirty.  Sneakers or hiking shoes would be your best bet.  We climbed 832 stairs, so wear comfy shoes and depending on the weather, layer your clothes.  It was cool to begin with, but got warm with the walking quickly!

One of the many views from above.

I would highly recommend visiting this beautiful state park! My best friend that grew up in Corning, had never been until we went together, and said she'd be going back! Isn't it funny, each of us has beautiful spots close to us, but don't go to see them?  I am going to start taking the kids on more adventures right around us on those weekends we have nothing to do, so that I can say, we haven't left Ohio unexplored. 

If you have any beautiful spots that you would highly recommend, please leave them in a comment or share on twitter!  

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.

E.E. Cummings

Camping 101

Good Thursday Morning all!  It has been a while since posting, and I have missed you all.  Life has been busy, summer is in full swing and fun lies everywhere.

If you didn't already know, we are a camping family.  I grew up going camping with my parents, from towing our little 21' Prowler, to  parking our 34 1/2 Coachman at Big Bear Lake in West Virginia.  I have always loved it, and think it is one of the best ways to spend quality time as a family.  Camping is also a great way to teach your children many life lessons.

When we started camping as a family D was 6 1/2 months old.  We have gone every year since then to Myrtle Beach with my in-laws.  For the first 5 years we were lucky enough to be able to share their space in their RV.

 We spent many years loving the space we were able to share as a family.  It was a great way for us to become close, learn new things about each other, and my boys became close with their grandparents.  When we had little man, we grew too big to fit on the couch in the RV, and finally decided to purchase a camper of our own.  It was one of the best purchases we have made since being together.  We still go camping with the in-laws every summer, we just don't invade their space any more.

Choosing a campground has been pretty easy for us.  We try new campgrounds every season, and learn what we like and don't like, which is a really great way to decide if we will be going back. 

A must for choosing a spot is full hook up.  Call me a diva, or what you will, but I have to have full hook up.  For new campers, that is where a campground has, water, electric and sewage.  I like to be able to go to the bathroom in my own space, take a shower in my own shower, and run the air conditioner so that I don't have to sweat to death, especially in South Carolina in August!  Not every campground has all three.  Some people don't need all those things, it's just a matter of what you can and can't live without.  Many campground have very nice bath houses which many people use instead of their campers, other bath houses, aren't so great.  My favorite bathhouse is at the beach, and I enjoy extra long showers! (the best showers I take all year long)

If you can't afford a camper, there is the option to camp in a tent, or many campgrounds have cabins.  Campers come in many different sizes, shapes and price ranges. We are starting out with one that works for us now.  When the boys get older, the size of our camper will probably have to grow with them. We don't need some enormous, lavish camper, with all the bells and whistles.  We need a place to keep us dry when it rains, warm in the cool spring and fall air, and cold in the summer months. It carries the things we need and so far has been a great little home when we aren't in our Ohio home. Don't think that the option to buy is out, you might be surprised! 

This post is just going to be the first of many camping posts.  I'm going to write about the different campgrounds that we have stayed, what I like and don't like about each.  Tips and tricks for camping with kids.  The things I can't live without while we are in our home away from home.  Items we have made or adjusted to make camping and/or towing easier.  

I'm really excited to start writing again.  There will be recipe and workout posts also.  I have missed you all, and can't wait to hear from you soon!  

Have a beautiful day!  BJ