Travel TMI

Camping in the mountains is an experience like no other. When you’re in the mountains, you’re higher up than you ever will be as long as you’re still alive in this world.

The mountains are not only high above the sea, they are also the closest to the sky and the clouds. 

Summer and very early fall is the most popular time for camping in the mountains. However, there are plenty of locations available for those who are into winter sports. 

They are the ideal place for taking lessons in winter sports because of the natural long ranges. 

The mountains are also very ideal for nature watching. If you’re into bird watching, for example, some areas are home to birds of prey like eagles. However, some caution is warranted as camping near a lot of nesting areas is prohibited. 

In the mountains, you’re expected to treat nature with the utmost respect. This means dumping your trash only in designated areas. This includes proper RV dumping sites. 

This also means not bringing more than you absolutely need or doing things like spraying bug spray directly on bugs.

Every site has slightly different regulations. Some are more strict than others. Many, for example, have regulations for gathering firewood and/or about the kind of firewood. 

Most have very strict regulations about handling pets while at least one has a horse rack available. 

Camping in the mountains is a very rewarding experience no matter when or why you decide to do it. It is perfect for those who love very cold weather and those who love to get away to cooler weather during the hotter times of the year.

Below are the top 10 longtime favorite locations of mountain camping. No matter where you go, however, you are guaranteed to have an experience of your lifetime. 

1. Mount Hood

Mount Hood is a stratavolcano in the Cascade Arc. It is one of the best ski resorts in the market. 

If you’re a skier or snowboarder who needs to polish your skills, like the idea of taking tours in snowshoes or taking a bus tour to the meadows, this is the place for you.

There are lessons available on Saturday nights as well as other events such as the Women’s Midweek Clinic and Super Bowl Sunday. They will also be hosting a Valentine’s special of a romantic dinner for two.

You also have a number of camping sites scattered throughout the forest on and around Mt Hood. With the close proximity to Portland you better reserve a spot or get there early in the morning because on the weekends they fill up fast.

You have you traditional campsite where you just drive in and set up camp. You can rent cabins or park your RV. But you also have camp site where you have to walk a mile or two to get to from your car. So there is something for everyone. All you have to do is research what you want to do. Check out this website to help you plan your trip.

2. Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is a stratavolcano located in Cascadia south-southeast of Seattle. Its National Park currently has three campgrounds. They are open all year, however, summer is their peak season. For safety, they have their own regulationsabout parking and visiting hours.

Most campgrounds are first come, first serve. However, Cougar and Ohanapecosh Rock require reservations. There is no electricity or running water on the grounds and some of the larger tents have been known not to fit in the ground space well.

3. Grand Tetons

The Grand Tetons is located in Moose, Wyoming. It contains approximately 200 miles of trails and a ride on the Snake River. There are also opportunities to backpack through the backcountry, climbing, and mountain viewing.

You can bring your pets. However, unless they’re service animals, they’re not allowed in places like park trails. 17 of the Tetons’s areas are accessible to those requiring wheelchairs through the Self Evaluation Transition Plan. 

Their fun Junior Ranger program is available for children.

4. Denali

Mount Denali is located in the Cordilleras in Alaska. It is the third largest mountain peak in the world at over 20,300 feet above sea level. 

Several rivers, creeks and lakes serve as campgrounds. Riley Creek, Savage and Teklanika River have the option for either RVs or tents. Whereas, Wonder Lake, Sanctuary River and Igloo take only tents. 

You can rent all of your camping equipment from your tent to your hiking clothes.

There are several resorts and lodges. However, Otto Lake Cabins and Campgrounds is no longer accepting reservations.

5. Mount Adams

Mount Adams is a stratavolcano in the Cascade range. It is the second highest peak in the state of Washington. 

Many of their campgrounds require reservations. Everything from the fees to seasonal restrictions vary from site to site. None of the sites have electric service. There are some private sites, such as Cougar and Trout Lake available. 

Mount Adams has everything from fishing to horseback riding available. Most of their forest area is open to FAA drones. However, there are some safety restrictions on that as well.

6. Yosemite

Yosemite is a National Park that is best known for its waterfalls. Overall, it is the picture perfect representation of the ideal mountain with its beautiful scenery of deep valleys, meadows, sequoias, etc. 

Camping is usually quite full between April and September so early reservations are very strongly recommended. RV sites are available in most areas.

We would like to note that Tioga and Glacier Point Road are usually closed during the winter and open in May or June. Some places may require tire chains.

7. Rocky Mountain National Park

The Rocky Mountain is located in northern Colorado and reaches across the Continental Divide. It is known for its Trail Ridge and Old Fall River Roads that span across numerous rivers and aspen forests.

The Rocky Mountains has both winter sports and summer camps. The latter is usually full so early reservations are strongly recommended. Their busiest hours are between 9:00 am and 3pm so they warn that there is a lot of congestion and long waits during those hours.

For winter sports, equipment can be purchased or rented.

8. Smoky Mountains

The Great Smoky Mountains span across the Tennessee and North Carolina borders and are an Appalachian subrange. 

They have several different types of campsites. The backcountry is reserved for backpackers and the frontcountry is a developed campground. 

The latter has group reservations for eight or more available. The horse camps have hitch racks available for horses. 

Roads are often closed in the winter. As a result, summer and early fall are usually the best times to camp there. However, late spring tends to have the smaller crowd. 

9. Olympic Mountains

The Olympic Mountains are a range in the Peninsula of the Pacific Northwest.

Kalaloch, Mora, and Sol Duc require reservations. Otherwise, it’s first come, first served. Payment is in cash or check only and they state that they can’t give change for cash overpayments. There is no electricity or running water available on the campgrounds. 

Personal plans are available for backpackers. 

They do have a lot of safety regulations. Hunting and firearm use are both strictly prohibited. Pets must be kept on a leash and only eight people per group.

10. Mount Shasta

Mount Shasta is located in Siskiyou County, California. It is approximately 3,600 feet above sea level. The Shasta-TrinityNational Forest has dispersed, campground, and group camping. 

Dispersed is camping au naturalle, along the shoreline. The campgrounds have running water but electrical hookups and RV dump sites are not available. Group camping is like the campground but with larger tables, grills, etc. 

Mount Shasta is rich with legends. The most well-known one being that giant Lemurians that survived the sinking of Lemuria reside in the hidden city called the Telos.

Conclusion

When it comes to mountain camping, for the most part, it pays to make a reservation ahead of time. Summer and very early fall are usually the best times to visit the mountains. 

The mountains are usually cool when everywhere else is hot though it depends on the location and it’s weather conditions. 

Camping in the mountains is sometimes hectic and sometimes calm. However, it is almost always very rewarding. It could even be a good therapeutic experience and is almost guaranteed to give you good exercise as most involve a lot of walking.

If you love camping but haven’t tried doing so in the mountains, we strongly recommend it. Mountain air is usually very fresh. It makes a good change scenery and can help you put life into perspective in a way that nothing else can.

Every site is different and has its own unique features. We recommend that you pick the one that’s best for you and your family or friends. There are some places that take backpackers have au naturalle spots and some are more of a frontcountry of cabins and tours. 

Again, you will need to figure out which location will be best for you and/or your group. Remember that some locations allow pets and others allow only service animals. 

You will need to explore all of the regulations and rules before making your reservation or deciding to go to a site. Some of them are pickier about their regulations than others. For example, the Olympic Mountains are definitely not for hunters. 

Some have running water and electricity and others don’t. However, if you’re looking for off-grid solitude, we guess that the ones that don’t are what you’re looking for. 

However, if you’re looking for something more vacation-like, a campground with cabins is probably more your style.

As a bonus, in case you’re wondering what tent camping in the snow is like, here is a video of that. 

In my opinion food travel is the best because when it comes down to it, quite often travel from one city to another is pretty much the same. With mild exceptions, there are the same hotels, the same swimming pools, the same art museums. And truly memorable travel is when you experience true uniqueness. 

While many cities offer only the occasionally unique tourist spots, one thing that most cities have that is truly unique is food experiences that are out of this world. 

Here are a few of our favorite food travel destinations in the U.S.

1. San Francisco

According to US News and Reports the number one food travel destination city in the country is San Francisco. 

San Francisco has seven 3 star Michelin rated restaurants, and well over a dozen one and two-star restaurants. But it’s the sheer variety of food that makes San Francisco such a popular food destination, due to its extremely diverse population.

As the San Francisco Chronicele reported on it’s article, “20 Funnest Restraunts in San Francisco,” there is plenty of variety.

From Irish Pubs, Korean Barbecues, to Thai-Laotion restaurants, if you hanker for variety, consider San Francisco a must travel destination.

2. New Orleans 

Alternatively, Trip Advisor rated New Orleans as the best place in the U.S. for a food vacation. 

Why New Orleans? Think gumbo, jambalaya, Po Boys, and more. Trip Advisor says the New Orleans French Quarter is the number one booked food walking tour in the U.S. and its hard not to agree after the experience.

Creole and Cajun food abound in the Big Easy, and the unique combination of French, Spanish, Italian and African cooking elements blend so well, that even keto dieters splurge when in New Orleans. 

3. New York City

New York City is on Fodor’s list of top foodie cities, and the Big Apple is on practically everyone else’s list as well. 

Sure you can dine at Masa for a 26-course “Leave it to the Chef” meal that will set you back 5 bills or more, but you’ll be just as happy with a Reuben at Katz Deli, or a hot dog at Pappaya King. 

It’s safe to say there is no cuisine in the world that you can’t find a restaurant for, so if you have a hankering for Egyptian food, Turkish food or Russian food, then eat away.

A word of caution though. Get there early or on non-peak hours. Even delis, places that sell Philadelphia cheesesteak or hot dogs get really crowded during peak times.

4. Austin Texas

According to Conde Nest Traveler if you want a great food vacation, visit Austin Texas.

We’ve been to Austin multiple times, so feel free to call us prejudice, but Austin lays claim to some of the best barbecue and Tex Mex food anywhere. 

A must-go place is Franklin’s barbecue, which is world-famous, and people willingly stand in line for two hours just to get it.

Another unique trend are the many food trucks in the city. Geographically spaced throughout Austin, you can get unique items like fish tacos, or comfort food like meatloaf wrapped in bacon. 

For a truly unique taste treat, try Gordoughs on Lamar Avenue which makes virtually and kind of sandwich baked inside a fried doughnut!

For fantastic soup, visit the Soup Peddler’s Real Food and Juice Bar.

The terrific thing about Austin is you can always find a sumptuous meal for under $10 bucks. 

5. Alaska

It may seem unfair that an entire state gets thrown in as a contender but Alaska, being so far north and having less of a population than many of the cities on the list, perhaps that can be excused.

According to Adam Richman, former host of Man vs Food, one of his biggest challenges took place in the small city of Kodia, population 6,000.

You can view the video on Youtube called the “Kodiak Arrest Challenge.” which involved making 28 ounces of salmon burger, covering it in cheese, then topping it with 3 pounds of Alaskan Crab.

On top of that, there was also a huge, reindeer sausage sour cream and chives mashed potatoes. Even if you never go to Alaska, the video is a food lovers delight. 

If you go to Anchorage, some say Chicago or New York be damned, the best pizza in the U.S. is made at Moose’s. And if pizza isn’t your thing. Reindeer hot dogs are everywhere. 

6. Portland Oregon

In both 2018 and 2019, Wallet Hub named Portland as the best foodie city in America for its 600 food carts and its high number of full-service restaurants as compared to fast food joints.

Portland was also named high for its abundant amount of coffee shops and plenty of breweries. 

As you can imagine there are plenty of upper-crust restaurants. But Portland also offers a large variety of affordable delicious unique places like the delis Kenny and Zukes or ice cream shops like the Salt and Straw with unique flavors you’ll likely never find elsewhere. Or if you prefer greasy pig out food then Lardos sandwiches are perfect and so are sausage nachos from Clutch Sausagery.

For ten bucks you can get a real bang for both your wallet and your tastebuds in Portland. It’s another must-see foodies destination.

7. Bar Harbor Maine

You can buy lobster everywhere. So why would you want to travel to a tourist town that all but shuts down in the colder months? Possibly because Bar Harbor offers lobster so fresh you’ll swear it was just delivered off the boat.

Bar Harbor has only 5,000 people but 27 seafood restaurants and besides lobster, lobster rolls, clam chowder and muscles, you can get old fashioned food like hand made pancakes.

But lobster rules here, and you can even get ice cream with candied lobster at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium.

If you have ever dreamed of a 3-pound lobster, just swimming in butter, Bar Harbor should be a part of your food destination itinerary. 

On top of the food, Bar Harbor is a nice little town to tour around in the summertime. Sort of like the town featured in the movie “Jaws” only without the great white shark. 

8. Jackson Hole, Wyoming 

Jackson Hole is just the opposite of Bar Harbor. It’s popular all year around because of its many attractions. With skiing, Jackson Lake, and the nearby Tetons, Jackson Hole is hopping through ever season.

One of the things you can get in Jackson Hole for food is fantastic wild game at The Gun Barrel Steak and Game House. If you’ve never eaten buffalo or wild elk, you owe it to yourself to try it. 

Featuring Venison Bratwurst, Buffalo Wraps, Bison Carpaccio, Snake River Potato Boats, fried green potatoes, along with Velvet Elk, Buffalo Sirloin, Elk Chops and Buffalo ribs, this restaurant will soothe the savage meat-eater within you.

There are dozens of other restaurants to choose from in Jackson Hole, so don’t worry, you don’t have to choose between an expensive restaurant or Wendy’s, Subway or McDonald’s. You have lots of restaurants that are in between. Generally, people come to Jackson Hole for an experience and that includes food. 

9. Las Vegas, Nevada

A reporter once asked a famous bank robber, Willie Sutton, why he robbed banks. Sutton said, point-blank, ” Because that’s where the money is.”

They don’t rob banks, but more money flows through the casinos of Las Vegas than perhaps any other city 10 times it’s size. That is precisely why there are close to 50 celebrity chef managed restaurants in Las Vegas.

Gordon Ramsey has a presence. Guy Fieraa is involved. Bobby Flay has his hand in the Las Vegas market.

We’re not saying that a meal at a celebrity chef’s restaurant is always perfect. Generally you get a much better experience for your one hundred plus dollars than if the head chef is a recent graduate of the Institute for Culinary Education. 

There are literally dozens of restaurants in Las Vegas that are amazing, with nine of them holding 1 star Michelin rating. 

For around $20 bucks or so with a discount, you can get a decent buffet at one of the strip casinos. For around twice that amount, you can eat lobster till it’s coming out of your ears at a top rated buffet.

Our tip is to eat at least once at the best possible restaurant of your choice, and in-between times, hit up McDonald’s or In and Out Burger. 

10. Every Place Else

You can get a great BLT in Valley City, North Dakota, at Budget Burger but you wouldn’t want to drive 60 miles from Fargo to get one. But you might drive 300 out of your way to taste the best Apple Pie in 6 states. 

The point is to make an adventure out of it and to have fun.

Concslusion

Being a foodie, and combining travel with great food can really make your life more enriched. 

Wherever you travel, search on the internet not only for the best restaurants in that city but also for the most unique or fun restaurants. You’ll find plenty of food establishments to tickle your fancy.