Camping like it should be… at Cumberland River Campground

When I started researching camping for our family nearly 4 years ago now.. Images of adults in chairs around campfires, kids roasting marshmallows making smores, Grilling meals, laughing and enjoying each others company in the outdoors. We had glimpses of that experience and have enjoyed our camping… but all our camping trips before were nothing like our weekend at Cumberland River Campground. (Click for info on the campground.)

We recently went camping for a short weekend with our friends the Millers at Cumberland River Campground.. just Friday thru Sunday. The weekend was filled with so many memories and a genuine modern day camping experience.

It was already a special weekend .. it was the one year anniversary of Hannah coming into our family. Celebrating with the Millers was perfect as they are part that family, not by blood but certainly by choice. Ours not Jamey’s.

That night we sat around the campfire laughing, solving all the worlds problems (Jamey and Chris), and fighting over who got to sit in Lisa’s new barrel camp chair. Of course Lisa won, it was her chair.

In the back ground all over the campground the kids are playing… hide and go seek in the dark with flashlights. They are all ages from 8 or 9 up to 16.  In the pavilion there adults laying bean bag toss or corn hole as we call it in the south. I hear the river rolling, kids laughing and random cheers from the pavilion, someone is playing music in one of the campsites. It is alot of noise, but it is welcoming…. happy, campground noise. It goes on until late, but not in a bothersome way.  Everyone winds down and goes off to sleep in their campers. I honestly could not have imagined a better evening.

In the morning, I wake with my coffee and take a relaxing stroll down the river walk. I am in my Friends PJ’s and flip flop… No one is awake or out yet, they wouldn’t care if they were. That is the beauty of a campground.. The walk is peaceful and relaxing.

When I returned a stray pup had shown up and Hannah wanted to keep him.. Not happening. We found his home and Belle (Hannah’s dog) was happy to be rid of the stray.

Then the Millers cooked up an absolutely delicious breakfast of eggs, biscuits, hashbrowns, bacon and sausage!! So good, I am getting hungry just thinking about it!

The whole day the girls were outside, no cellphones, no interet… just fun! It reminded me of my childhood at my grandmothers house.. just freedom and the outdoors.

They rolled in the tunnel.

They kayak the river.

and they swam….

Chris even got in on the fun playing Frisbee.

But then Bucky was feeling neglected.. so Papa had to baby him so he could take him nap.

They hung out in their hammocks…

They got into a fight… but it was all good fun!!

Then came the evening and another campfire….

The campground and river walk were lite up with the lights from everyone’s campers, but being down the river it gives the campground a special vibe.

You can’t deny the night sky looks better when view from a campground.

When Sunday came.. we did not want to go home, but the next day was the first day of school for the girls.. so back to reality we had to go. So now we await Halloween so we can return for another weekend of fun.