Below are four approaches to exploring a National Park with limited time. (This holds true for cities or countries or museums, and so on, but let's just discuss parks.) See nothing: Take a picture with the park sign. Get a National Park passport stamped at the Visitor Center. Get back on the bus. (These types … Continue reading Badlands National Park: Unexplored Trails
Author: Camp Host Chad
Grand Prismatic Spring: Inspiring
A few years back, as I found myself buying orange everything (furniture, clothes, dishes, to name a few), I explained my new obsession to a friend, something like this: ME: My favorite color used to be blue, but lately one definition of blue brings me down: sadness. My new favorite is orange. FRIEND: What does … Continue reading Grand Prismatic Spring: Inspiring
Valley of Fire: Mouse’s Tank Trail
There are already so many sites and breakdowns about Mouse's Tank trail. What can I add? Is it really a 30 minute hike? Yes. Don't take pictures. Don't explore off the trail. Don't admire the many petroglyphs. You can be back in the car in 30 minutes! Is it worth it? No. You might get … Continue reading Valley of Fire: Mouse’s Tank Trail
Year O: University of Fun
Either you love lists, or you don't. If you don't, would you mind giving me a few quick reasons why not? Please number them, and put the most important reasons first. Just teasin'! One of my favorite lists — after the types of pie for sale (you say menu, I say me'n'you should grab a … Continue reading Year O: University of Fun
Hit Refresh
Maybe Campfire Tales content has been a little... arid lately. Sweet relief is on the way!
Campsite Bandit
Many years ago, I crawled out of my tent to the sounds of chirping birds, glanced around the campsite, and discovered a raccoon had visited in the night. Among much evidence of the culprit's identity, the most telling piece proved to be the adorable paw print left on top of a soft cooler. I remembered … Continue reading Campsite Bandit
False Starts, Sad End
I started a poem about Alcatraz And then... "What rhymes with Alcatraz? Sassafras? Razzmatazz? All that jazz?" I started a poem about pineapple And, while that's easier to rhyme, I grapple Instead with meaning, and another surprise: Too many eyes. "Write us a poem! Please?" I hear your pleas. So we're back to our old … Continue reading False Starts, Sad End
The Holiday Tree: Happy Easter!
There would be no Easter if there was no Christmas. ~ Gordon B. Hinkley When the time came this year to take down my Christmas trees (yes, "Christmas" is the correct term for why I had them up, and yes, there were two of them, small ones that don't overwhelm my living space, and yes, … Continue reading The Holiday Tree: Happy Easter!
A Bird the Size of the Moon
If there's an unofficial mascot of Campfire Tales, it's probably the moon. (Oh, such a troublemaker!) I found this juxtaposition after I reviewed these two photos: the bird is the same size as the moon. I wanted to write a post about perspective, and how our problems can seem so big (like the water tower) … Continue reading A Bird the Size of the Moon
Gut It Out!
Do you trust your instincts? Should you? If you start something big (a job, a relationship, a project, a trip) and you immediately feel it's not right, what's your pattern? Do you see it through no matter what, or do you start looking for the exit? I'm sure that the answers for you (like me) … Continue reading Gut It Out!
Campfire Tales 