All posts

Mango Season in Our Backyard
June 18, 2026Our old Haden tree drops more fruit than four people can eat. Mango bread, frozen chunks for camp and the neighbors who get a bag.

Make-Ahead Freezer Meals for a Two-Week Camper Trip
June 8, 2026Six dinners frozen flat in bags double as ice for the first days. What we cooked ahead, how we packed the cooler and what we'd skip.

Why We Skipped Trip Insurance This Summer, and When We'd Buy It
June 2, 2026Last summer we insured our trip for $41. This year most bookings were refundable, so we ran the numbers differently. Here's how it came out.

Maya Turned Ten With a Pop-Up Sleepover in the Side Yard
May 27, 2026Four friends, the camper set up between the mango tree and the fence, and a 10 p.m. lights-out that became midnight. Notes from the night.

Jonathan Dickinson in May: Hobe Mountain Before the Heat
May 20, 2026Baseball ended on a Wednesday and we left on Friday. Two nights near Jupiter, an early climb up Hobe Mountain and a 90-degree afternoon.

Leveling Blocks, Chocks and the Other Camper Bits Nobody Mentions
May 12, 2026The small stuff no checklist warned us about: blocks, chocks, a water pressure regulator and a power adapter. What we bought and what it cost.

Mapping a Summer Loop From North Georgia to the Gulf With a Pop-Up
May 5, 2026Twelve nights, three states, a hotel stop in Chattanooga and the Panhandle on the way home. How we built the route around towing hours.

Snorkeling With a Nine-Year-Old and a Six-Year-Old
April 21, 2026Masks that fit, a float to hang on to and shallow water off a Keys beach. What worked for our first real family snorkel days.

Towing a Pop-Up Down the Overseas Highway for the First Time
April 14, 2026The Seven Mile Bridge, crosswinds and about 2,400 pounds behind the Pilot. What towing to the Keys was like and where we stopped.