10 Reasons to Love Camping

Teri and I love to camp. We attended our annual Martial Arts training camp at Wolf Creek Park next to Lake Livingston last week and spent this past weekend at Tyler State Park right outside Tyler, TX.

What is it about camping that makes us want to go so often?  Here are 10 reasons I came up with as we were warming our feet by a cozy campfire:

1. Seeing Stars. Getting out away from the city allows you to see a sky full of stars.  At Wolf Creek Park, you can even see the Milky Way, something you’ll never see living around the streetlights of Houston.  One night at Pedernales State Park north of Austin, we even saw a low orbit satellite go by.
2. Hear the Birds Sing. Without the sounds of city streets nearby, you can actually hear the birds sing.  We heard a woodpecker looking for bugs long before we actually saw him up in a tree.  Another treat is hearing the trees “talk” to each other (actually, the sound of the wind blowing through the trees).
3. Falling Asleep to an Outdoor Lullaby. At night, the sounds of frogs and crickets can lull you into one of the most restful nights of sleep you’ve had in a long time.
4. Fresh Air. Nothing smells as good as being outdoors.  You can take a deep breath and smell nothing but clear air -  no diesel fumes, no perfumes, no factory exhausts.
5. Exercise is Built-in. Our campsite at Tyler State Park was at the bottom of a hill.  The bathroom was at the top of the hill.  Get the picture?  Part of the fun of camping is hiking, walking, or biking everywhere you need to go – all of which provides a little exercise at no additional charge!
6. Campfires. Nothing is more relaxing or hypnotic than staring into a campfire.  You can sit and stare at the flames for hours.  The smell of the burning wood, the smoke curling to the sky, the crack and pop of the fire beneath a star-filled sky is a unique experience.
7. Getting Away from It All. Camping lets me get away from the “grind” of city life.  No TV, no radio, nothing to remind me how twisted things can be in the big city.
8. A Renewed Spiritual Connection. To me, being in a forest is like being in church.  My spirit forms an immediate connection with Nature and is instantly renewed.  To use a term from the 60′s, I “mellow out.”
9. Communication. Although many of the places where we camp have electricity, we choose not to bring portable radios, TV’s, or iPods.  Since there’s no readily available mindless entertainment or distractions going on all the time like there is in the city, we’re forced to actually talk to each other.  The result is real communication.
10. Appreciation of Modern Conveniences. OK, I admit it.  After being out in the woods for a couple of days, I really do miss checking email or reading Google News.  Camping does give you an appreciation for all of the modern conveniences that have become a part of our lives.  However, camping also gives me the confidence of knowing that I can do without them, if I have to.  This was readily apparent after Hurricane Ike when most of Houston was out of power for 1-3 weeks.  Teri and I treated it like we were camping and did just fine.

For me, there’s nothing better for the health of my mind and spirit than to get away from the city for a couple of days and spend them next to a mountain stream or under a forest canopy.  Give it try and you’ll see what I mean.

Hiram
The Balanced Health Guy

PS.  For the other side of camping, see my companion post, “10 Reasons to Hate Camping.”

Technorati Tags: camping, relaxation, mind and spirit, balanced health, relationships, mental state, sleep

Related Reading:

Superfoods: The 101 Best Foods to Live Longer and Feel YoungerReviews:

"Are there 'really' super foods and can we actually 'feel younger' when we eat them? Yes and YES!! I've been a leading expert in t... Read More >

The Men's Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular YOU!The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises is the essential workout guide for anyone who wants a better body. As the most comprehensive collection of ex... Read More >

7-Day Green Smoothie Kickstart Guide (Health and Wellness)Explore the health and nutrition benefits of green smoothies with 7 days of delicious recipes, information and tips to help you kickstart a new health... Read More >

No related posts.