Note: Kohl's has provided us with a $50 gift card for the giveaway and the products listed above.
The Backstory
With spring approaching and Lexi getting older, I have been thinking a lot about taking her camping. She keeps seeing camping references in books she reads and shows she watches and has become pretty interested in it. While we were in Chattanooga on a press trip ( post coming up), she bought a little lantern at Ruby Falls and has been inseparable with it, talking about camping with her lantern. Now my experience with camping equals to zero. I grew up in a city and during my adult life never had anyone who was even remotely interested in going camping (and who wants to go alone?). So I always wished I could camp, but never had the opportunity to make it happen. Andrew always said "ugh, bugs mosquitoes, why???". Despite all that, I have planned out all the camping spots I wanted to go to years ago and have had that on my to do list periodically looking it over. Obviously when Lexi was little, going on my own first camping trip was out of the question. Now that she is 4 and is herself interested in it, it would be a shame not to get it going. Two females against one male. We know who wins there. So we started shopping on Kohl's for their camping sale event.The Gear
Tent
- Open Roof: I wanted a star gazing roof. Lexi is obsessed with space and I absolutely love the night sky and the fresh air, so finding a tent with a big panoramic roof was a requirement.
- Large: Being tall, I didn't think it was even an option to have a tent where I can stand up, so this wasn't a requirement until I found the right tent, but I wanted a large space. Big, breezy and open. I like my living spaces very open.
- Easy to assemble: that's a duh! If I have to assemble it on my own, I don't want to spend hours reading the manual and struggling to get it up.
Chairs/Lounges
Lantern
Well, I guess I didn't realize it but I have an affinity for lanterns. Probably because it's such a quintessential camping/outdoor item, it calls to me on that level. I have so much technology in my life, so many conveniences, I just love the idea of going to basics for just a few days. And lanterns do that for me.Sleeping bags
Locations
I have a few Florida locations mapped out for our first in the wild camping experience: Ocala National Forest The area has a lot of different parks and campground sites that are picture perfect. From springs and lakes, to moss covered oak trees to pine needle covered trails. My favorite is the Juniper Springs area. Crystal clear blue teal waters of the spring is what I am most interested in.Backyard Camping
This experience made both of us excited to go real camping very soon! Summers are going to be BUSY!
If you'd like to score some Kohl's camping gear, feel free to enter the giveaway below for $50 Kohl's gift card.
4 comments
What about Fort Wilderness at Disney? You could camp in the tent, sing campfire songs and roast marshmallows with Disney characters, I can’t wait until my girls are a bit older so we can go. We also love Ginnie Springs but make sure you go when college is in session or the Gainesville kids tend to overwhelm the place with their revelry. The snorkeling makes it worth the trip, plus the Ichatucknee is nearby for tubing.
Omg I have not even thought about fort wilderness! What a great idea! Ginnie springs is awesome.
I can’t get Lexi to snorkel though.
I didn’t even know that tents could be see through on the top! That is awesome!! I haven’t been camping since girl guides when I was little! This has inspired me to at least set up a tent in the back yard 🙂
It’s so awesome! I was seriously giddy just camping in the backyard. I have always wanted to! Try it!!!