Suzi’s Blog
The U.S. National Forest Campgrounds Guide website, www.forestcamping.com, is a wealth of information about developed campgrounds in all 176 national forests and grasslands across the country. It is basically an encyclopedia, straight forward and impersonal. Suzi’s Blog adds a little personal touch to the ForestCamping.com website with postings about our experiences, adventures, and discoveries along with other postings related to camping, national forests and grasslands, and family fund.
I am Suzi Dow and I hope you will find something interesting, something helpful, something informative, but mostly something that will help you get out and discover our national forests and grasslands.
RETURN OF THE BUZZARDS!
They are not the prettiest birds in the Southeast Arizona skies but they might be the most welcomed. To the citizens of Bisbee, March 15th is the day we celebrate the return of the Turkey Vultures (a.k.a. buzzards) and the arrival of Spring! They left months ago. Long before the freezing temperatures established residence. And Read More >>
Salt Springs Pear Butter
Across the road from the Ocala NF’s Salt Springs campground (located in central Florida) was a produce stand. Boy, do we love produce stands! We haven’t found a grocery store anywhere that can touch the delicious produce you can buy at a roadside produce stand and the Salt Springs’ stand was no exception. We got Read More >>
Sledding Safety reminder
Even here in southeast Arizona snow brings out sleds and sledding safety is a concern. Pictures of families sledding and skiing bring smiles and we hope nothing happens to remove those great memories. Here are a few tips we hope you remember to keeps everyone safe. Partner up when sledding Young children should not ride Read More >>
Alternative to the Crowds and Congested Camping in a National Park
There is little doubt that national parks located west of the Mississippi River attract lots of visitors. According to the Department of Interior, national parks in this area received 331 million visits in 2017 and the number are only increasing year after year. Anyone who has visited a national park has experienced the cheek-to-jowl crowds Read More >>
Coffee Filters – not just for making coffee
Space and weight are always a critical issue when camping. I, for one, hate to haul something (like a drop coffee maker) all over the countryside that has only one use. My aunt sent me this list of multiply uses for a coffee filters, none of which had I ever thought of. Anyway, it got Read More >>
My Old Coffee Pot
My old coffee pot has seen better days but who hasn’t? I’ve been camping with it for probably 50 years. Oh, if this pot could talk, the stories it would tell. Tales about snowy mornings and tubby baths for children. Tales of an old sour dough shepherd dropping in for a visit and campfire sing-a-longs. Read More >>
Prescription for improved health – Walk
This past winter was not much fun for me. Heck, last summer and fall weren’t all that great either. My life seemed to be deep in the pits. Than I was given the suggestion – WALK! Don’t think. Just walk and let Mother Nature do her magic. I have always liked to walk. It was Read More >>
Cold Weather Camping
Cold weather camping requires an RV have a dependable and adequate source of heat, reliable batteries with enough amperage for your needs and a way to charge them, full propane tanks, plenty of warm clothes, extra food for “just in case” situations, and some way of receiving weather reports. Winter is a beautiful time of Read More >>
Grass has been around a long time
We left the mountains of Arizona for the “Lone Prairie”, a..k.a. the rolling expanses of Rita Blanca, Kiowa, Black Kettle, and McClellan Creek national grasslands. Fred and I were exploring the differences, history, and beautiful landscapes. Looking out across the vast expanse of prairie/grassland got me wondering just how did it all come to be. Read More >>
Firewood tips to contain nonnative critters
Perhaps the only thing better than sitting around a campfire at the end of a summer’s day might is sitting in front of a fireplace with a roaring fire on a cold winter’s night. As cold winter temperatures settle across the country and many people cozy up next to their warm fires, experts warn that Read More >>
