Posts from — June 2011

Here’s what I’ve found for this weekend. Fair warning, though: I’m preparing this one well in advance because of my vacation. If I were actually updating it today, I’d probably have, like, twice as many items, because people often don’t list/announce/email items until closer to the date. But at least this will get you started.

Happy 4th of July and have a great weekend, everyone! I’ll be reconnecting with everyone soon!

All Weekend:

• Saratoga’s celebrating an All-American Weekend.
• It’s Sand Lake Kiwanis’ Summerfest.

Evening of Friday, July 1^st:

• It’s Ballston Spa First Friday from 6-9 pm.
• It’s First Friday Albany from 5-9 pm.

Saturday, July 2^nd:

• There’s a 4th of July Celebration at 10 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. It’s free, but they want you to pre-register and dress for the occasion.
• Learn How to Go Tent Camping at 10 am at Five Rivers. Call to register (but you already, did, right, when I told you to last week?).
• Take a Guided Walk at 10 am at Thacher.
• Learn about Birds of Prey from noon to 2 pm along the beach at Grafton Lake State Park.
• How to Go Take a Butterfly Census at 2 pm at Five Rivers. Call to register, and bring along a net and/or binoculars.
• Go Stargazing at Thacher at 9 pm.

Sunday, July 3^rd:

• I know: quiet, right? If it’s a pretty day, you could try Getting Wet or playing on a Playground.
• It’s the Summer Jam & Fireworks Display in Glens Falls, starting at 6:30 pm, and continuing a little bit too late.

Monday, July 4^th:

• At Schuyler Mansion, they’re celebrating the 4th of July from 11 am to 4 pm. Activities and ice cream on the grounds will be free, admission into the mansion is $3/person.
  
• Celebrate the 4th of July at Empire State Plaza with Price Chopper.  Grounds open at 2 pm, music at 8 pm, fireworks at 9:15 pm.
• From 2-9 pm it’s Family Day in Saratoga’s Congress Park as part of All-American Weekend.
• The Tri-City Valleycats play at 6 pm, and the game’s followed by fireworks.
• In Glens Falls, there’s a Symphony Summer Pops Concert followed by Fireworks at Crandall Park.
  

Here’s a guest post from Louise. Thanks so much, Louise!

It seems like couponing is all the craze at the moment. I am by no means
experienced in this area. Originally from the UK we ‘don’t do coupons’, so
it’s a novelty to me. I’ve been watching the TLC series Extreme Couponing
and am amazed at the savings people achieve. But is it really possible to
achieve those savings in the Capital District and is it fun?

My husband and 2 year old toddler would definitely say it is not fun. My
husband witnessed me poring over the Sunday inserts for most of the day,
unable to comprehend my new hobby. He sits firmly on the side of it being a
waste of time and I’m not really saving money. My toddler thinks the best
bit is stealing the coupons I’ve cut out as a game of chase follows as I
try to retrieve the paper coupon, now mangled from his hand wondering if
the store will still accept it or whether they accept ones you’ve had to
tape together?

I’ve only seriously been doing it for 2-3 weeks. Last week I found more
information on the internet about how to do it from various blogs which
help you reduce your OOP (Out of pocket expenses- there’s a whole couponing abbreviation dictionary it seems). One of my favorites is Coupon Mom –it’s free but you have to create an account to access the information.
There is a lot of advertising on the site, which looks a little
overwhelming at first but it means you don’t have to pay for the site. It’s
not upstate NY specific so sometimes not all deals listed are available
here in New York. There’s also Savings4Mom, which is a blog written by someone in upstate NY and has all sorts of coupon tips, money saving offers, and even Facebook giveaways.

So far I have had the most success at the drugstores rather than the grocery store- which is disappointing as I spend most of my money at the grocery store- but then you don’t ever see coupons for fresh fruit or vegetables.

Who knows how long my latest hobby will last. My husband discovering the 9
tubes of toothpaste in the bathroom cupboard might have a bearing on that!

One of the many items Cute W decided that we needed to pack for our Lake Placid trip was our washers game. Washers is the perfect casual, backyard, while-you’re-having-a-barbecue game.

After playing it at a friend’s house, handy Cute W whipped up this frame–there are two of them.

Rules vary from player to player, but ours are pretty simple. One person (or team) has 3 silver washers, the other person (or team) has 3 spray-painted washers (I’ve got them piled up at the bottom of the wood). You separate the two washer boards, then take turns throwing your washers.

Each side gets points for which hole the washers land in, but points are canceled out if you get the same thing. So, for example, if player one tosses one in the grass, one in the 5 hole, and one in the 2 hole, and then player two tosses one in the 3 hole, one on the wood,  and one in the 2 hole, then their scores are 5 and 3 respectively, because the twos cancel each other out.

You win either by accumulating 21 points or by tossing a washer onto the bolt along the top (see there? between the 4 and the 3?)

Simple, but trust me: it’s an excellent game, especially for mixed age groups, because young and old can play. If you do teams, it’s a nice social activity while you’re chatting and having a beer.

There are a wide variety of variations on how to design and play a washers game, but keep in mind, when folks are enthusiastic enough to create a website devoted to washers, it indicates that they take washers pretty seriously. We prefer to sort of wing it. For us, that’s the spirit of the game.

Check out the International Association of Washer Players , Washer Game Players, or Bomb at Washers for more information, variations, and rules.

Still on vacation, and here’s another guest post, this one from Kelli. Thanks for writing and for sending along the great pictures, Kelli!

Monkey mama with baby nursing

I was working ahead on this one, and it was during the Time of Technical Troubles. So please don’t judge me for the unbelievably nutty variety of font styles and sizes. I could fix it, but frankly, I’m pressed for time here, people! You’ll just have to be patient with me, okay?

Here’s what I’ve found for this week. If you have more suggestions, please add them via the comments. But if you’ve never commented before, it probably won’t show up, because I moderate comments, and instead of moderating, I’m actually at a lake right now. Hopefully not shivering because it’s too cold. But, possibly shivering because it’s cold. Yikes. Anyway, this is why you should comment early and often–so that I know that you’re not someone who’s going to try to get me to invest money in something and/or try some sexual antics that are far beyond the constraints of polite society. Seriously, people I get some appalling spam comments.

But, where was I? Oh, yes, this week:

All Week:

• The Tri-City Valleycats are playing on Monday and Tuesday night at 7 pm.

Monday, June 27^th:

• From 10:30-11:30, try a Compass Course and Games at Moreau Lake State Park. Learn how to use a compass, then use it to play games.
• At 11 am, North Greenbush Public Library is kicking off their summer reading program with a visit from Southpaw and members of the Tri-City Valleycats team.
• Mr. Twisty will be at the Glenville Branch Library at 2 pm.
• There’s a concert at 6 pm at Halfmoon‘s New Town Park.
  

Tuesday, June 28^th:

• Phew! Schenectady Library is busy kicking off their summer programs today! Joey Didonno will be performing at the Schenectady Light Opera Company at 10:30 am and at 2:30 pm at the Woodlawn Branch. At 2 pm, there will be a performance by the Hamilton Hill Steel Drum Band at the Duane Branch Library. Also at 2 pm, Mr. Twisty will be at the Niskayuna Branch Library.
• Take an easy, family-friendly hike at 10 am at Moreau Lake.
  
• Electric City Horns are playing at 6:30 pm at Cook Park in Colonie.
• At 8 pm, they’re showing Ponyo under the stars at Albany Pine Bush. It’s free, but they’re asking you to pre-register.
  

Wednesday, June 29^th:

• Just show up for a Garden Workshop at 10:30 am at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.
• From 1-3 pm, Catch the World by the Tale at the Bethlehem Public Library with stories from around the world.
• At 2 pm, the Schenectady’s Mont Pleasant Branch is kicking off their summer programs with help from Fancy Face Creations.
• They’re Rockin’ on the River at 5 pm in Troy.
  
• Preschoolers can Catch the World by the Tale at 6:30 pm at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• They’re playing rock at at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.
• It’s Dixieland Music at 7 pm at Niskayuna’s Town Gazebo.
• At 7 pm, it’s Adirondack Drums Summer Games in Glens Falls. This is a marching band competition with bands from all over the country. Tickets for families are $12/adult, $6/child.

Thursday, June 30^th:

• Take a long hike on a new trail from 10 am to 1 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.
• At 10:30 am, preschoolers can join Miss Lisa for some Kindermusik at Schenectady Library.
• It’s free Jazz on Jay in Schenectady at noon.
• Bridge the Challenge at 3:30 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. It’s for ages 8 and up. Pre-register; it’s $2/non-member.
• They’re going Country at Alive at Five in downtown Albany.
  
• The Ballston Spa Community Band is playing at 6 pm at Wiswall Park.
• The Zucchini Brothers are playing at 7:30 pm at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland.
  

Friday, July 1^st:

• Drop in to watch The Jungle Book at 2 pm at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• They’re playing Classic Rock at 8 pm followed by Fireworks at 9:15 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.

Here’s another guest post, this from my Big Sister B! I was completely surprised and grateful when she sent it to me. Our mutual niece is the one who inspired my daughters’ devotion to Taylor Swift, and I’ve mentioned that I’m a fan, too. You can tell that my sister works in the apparel industry because she casually uses the word paillettes. And if you’re wondering, Taylor’s not touring anywhere near us for now, but I’ll let you know if she plans a trip to the Capital District.

In case you didn’t know (I didn’t), Taylor Swift is doing a big U.S. tour this summer called “Speak NOW.” I only know this because my sister and her daughter, my ten-year old niece, invited me to come with them to her Pittsburgh concert. It would mean a fourteen hour round trip drive for them and another hour either way for me. An overnight stay. On my birthday, which would leave my empty nest husband alone on Father’s Day.  I said yes, yes, yes  without hesitation. Not that I am a great big Taylor fan. But you have to practically be living in a cave not to be aware of who she is, even if, like me, you have no little girls or teens in your immediate universe. She’s pretty and sparkly, she plays a number of instruments and writes her own songs, she  seems very respectful of her fans and her Mom and unlike so many pop star girls lately, she hasn’t been caught in any embarrassing situations, sued her parents, gotten pregnant, been arrested or shown us her tender bits getting out of an SUV.  And my niece was SO EXCITED! I was honored to be asked to  come along.

Our Taylor calendar, hanging in the playroom

It was GREAT! There were 52,000 screaming but well-behaved fans at Heinz Stadium. The ratio of female to men was at least 20 to one – the outnumbered men for the most part either the coolest dads ever or sheepish boyfriends. Many of the girls and their moms, and even the toddlers, were dressed in their version of Taylor Swiftness – red lips, cut off denim shorts or flouncy sundresses with short cowboy boots and straw cowboy hats. Some times this worked for them. Sometimes not so much but we tried not to judge. We did not dress up like Taylor but  we did enjoy eating greasy pizza for dinner and watching the costumed fans swirl around us as they queued for souvenirs or overpriced junk food. Two of our favorite fans were little girls – maybe seven and eight, both in matching dresses totally covered in spangly paillettes – one in silver and one in gold, with black calf length boots and curly long blonde hair and red lips  – JUST like Taylor – if Taylor shopped at Target.

Well, Taylor did not disappoint! Even though we were up in the nose bleed seats and Taylor looked like an itty bitty sparkly nymph skipping around way far below us if we weren’t watching the big screens they thoughtfully mount on either side of the stage –we were engulfed and carried away by the world of Taylor. She sang her heart out and there were aerialists and ballet dancers and tap dancers and beautiful costumes and fireworks and love love love all around. Taylor gave it her all without a trace of irony or a hint of cynicism. Twice, she took long walks through the pitt of the stadium, wading through the ecstatic crowd. As a grown up old enough to be her mom, I worried for her safety.  And her guilelessness  and openness was paid back by her fans.  Even the most blasé looking clusters of teenage girls, who effected studied sullenness or boredom during the three (THREE!) warm up acts  sang along soulfully and sincerely to Taylor’s songs. The eight year old standing swaying  in the row below us  reached over at one point to hug her mom sitting next to her – she was overcome with the joy of Taylor. So were we.

Our niece and Taylor

My niece was totally transfixed. My sister and I were so happy to be there with her.  We all had a fantastic time and a great adventure. Overnight in Pittsburgh for Taylor Swift has to  be one of my favorite birthdays ever. Who’d have thunk it?

If you have a chance to go see Taylor, you should definitely  go. Here are a few hints:

• Bring a great deal of money – you will have to buy a number of souvenirs and they aren’t cheap. We  thought the commemorative book for $30, which was printed on really nice paper, came with a poster, had 3D photos and glasses, gave you the play list and some coupons to get MORE STUFF LATER – was really a good deal. My niece spent all the money she had saved since Christmas (I was impressed with that!) and more that she borrowed from her mom.
• Buy your stuff early. By the end of the show, most everything was sold out.
• Don’t forget your binoculars. Wherever you sit won’t be close enough.
• Bring your cell phone so you can text Taylor  (yes, you can!) and also all your friends moment by moment action along with photos of you THERE!

And if you go and decide to wear a dress with metallic paillettes, pink cowboy boots and a sequined cowboy hat and top it off with really RED LIPS (even if you are six) don’t worry, you won’t be overdressed or alone.

I’m away on vacation, so I asked for help from readers. Here’s a contribution from Amy, who helped me out last year, too. Thanks, Amy!

Fridays in July and August are FREE at the Albany Institute of Art! Last year we took advantage of the opportunity to visit such a special place. I remembered having gone a few years back while my oldest was younger and more stroller tolerant than my youngest is now. While my oldest is a spirited child to say the least, my youngest is no less spirited but a whole lot more difficult to manage in terms of his aptitude for destruction. When we “checked in” upon entering, the kindly man at the desk suggested a visit to the Children’s Gallery. But no, says I, we were there to see the current Hudson River Panorama exhibition. On and up we went to the second floor where within minutes of entering my youngest climbed upon a display faster than you could say “Jack Robinson” (For usage, read a favorite of ours, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes (Sandpiper Books) by DuBose Heyward). And faster than Jack Robinson did a security guard arrive and fixed me with that knowing glance that perhaps our kind would be better suited to the Children’s Gallery after all. I must admit to feeling slightly annoyed until we entered containment zone known as the Children’s Gallery.

The Children’s Gallery is a wonderful little room for families who desire a cultural outing without worry of becoming persona non gratis. (Although it’s really so much more, so read on!) Despite our experience, it is important to note that the AIHA does indeed welcome families. They also offer programs beginning at ages 3 years and up, as well as summer camps for kids. It just may be that the 2 and under set are not quite as ready for all of their offerings like the exhibits on the second and third floors, especially if those tots are anything like my own almost 2 year old. While children are welcome to touch and explore and “interact” in the “happy space” of the Children’s Gallery, there was only one other “touchable” display, located in the “mummy” room on the second floor and these were replicas of Egyptian deities. In the Children’s Gallery, “touchables” include a light box encouraging color and pattern exploration, an awesome puppet theater, dress up clothes and a bookshelf of Caldecott-only books. Next time, with both in tow, we know where will be headed.

Light Table in the Children's Gallery

As luck would have it, my oldest and I were able to make a return visit to the AIHA the same day, later in the afternoon. What a world of a difference! The man at the front desk remembered us and inquired about my other child. I assured him that said child was in the good care of his father. The two of us then proceeded upstairs and into the museum gift shop. (We like gift shops.) With the help of the shop girl, we picked up several postcards featuring works of art on display to be used as part of a makeshift matching/scavenger hunt game. Not only was it fun, but also encouraged my daughter to really LOOK around her and take in all of the great art here. She spotted pieces that I walked by, completely oblivious to her experience. “But mom, we saw this one already right when we walked in!” And she was right!

We didn’t mind the rain so much today for our first official day of summer vacation. The girls played in the playroom, danced in a downpour, and watched a bit too much tv, which is okay, since they’re about to go on a week-long tv fast.

I borrowed a friend’s life jackets and foolishly decided to bike over to her house. It had been overcast all morning, but it was only once I’d picked up the jackets that the deluge began. It was coming down so hard that I was having difficulty seeing with the water pouring into my eyes. This because I’d actually gone out without my helmet. I always wear my helmet (I had a crash once, which is its own story for another day), but I was so busy hurrying that I’d forgotten it.  So the water was pouring down, the wheels seemed wobbly and made funny I-don’t-like-the-rain noises, and I was very frightened that I would crash. But I made it. And the life jackets do okay in the water, luckily.

We’re headed off to Lake Placid tomorrow. Apparently it’s still been pretty chilly there. I’m a little bit worried, honestly. Cute W keeps joking that we’re going to need to buy wetsuits and I’m sort of like, uhhhh, not funny, dear.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve found for this weekend.

All Weekend:

• The Tri-City Valleycats are playing each night at 7 pm.
• It’s the Old Songs Festival all weekend at the Altamont Fairground. My friend raves:  “Old Songs is so great for families, my kids look forward to it every year. They have an entire section for kids (under a very nice, large pavilion). All day Saturday and Sunday it includes tons of craft projects (most nice and not cheesy) plus hourly family friendly performances of music, storytelling and dance. Most of the performers are also “main stage” performers for the adults, so the quality is very high. Any child can be part of the “Jug Band” that practices several times over the weekend and then performs on the main stage on Sunday.” Plus, she says, the kids just all seem extra-nice.
• The Tri-City Valleycats are playing each night at 7 pm.
• The Mohawk Community in Fonda is having a Strawberry Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
• It’s a Free Fishing Weekend (without a license) at Grafton and Cherry Plain State Parks, and there’s a clinic at Grafton from 1-3 pm on Sunday.
• In Malta, check out The Rockin’ Tale of Snow White. Tickets are $8.

Evening of Friday, June 24^th:

• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
• From 5:30-6:30 pm, there’s a Children’s Yoga Class at Soluna Yoga in Niskayuna.

Saturday, June 25^th:

• Josalyn from Cow and Chicken’s Cupcakes wants you to know that she’ll be giving away some of her free vegan mini-cupcakes and animal tattoos at the Farmer’s Market in Menands.
• Take a Family Hike to Bullfrog Pond at 10 am at Thacher.
• At 10 am it’s an Insect Extravaganza at Five Rivers. They wanted folks to register by June 20th, but it’s worth a call to see if they have space.
• Go on a School’s Out Hike at 1 pm at the Albany Pine Bush. Register; it’s $3/person, $5/family.
• From 1-3 pm, there’s a special Art Smart Workshop at the New York State Museum. The cost is $10/non-member.
• From 1-4 pm, Celebrate our Refugee Cultures with stories, food, and dance at the First Unitarian Society of Albany. Suggested donation $5-$15.
• At 2 pm it’s an Exlore a Stream at Five Rivers. They wanted folks to register by June 20th, but it’s worth a call to see if they have space.
• The Albany All Stars have a roller derby bout at 7 pm at Washington Armory.
• Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers are playing at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.
• Take a Twilight Kayak from 7-9 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.
  

Sunday, June 26^th:

• Take a Turkey Trail Hike from 9-11 am at Moreau Lake–this one’s a bit ambitious for little ones.
• From noon to 4 pm, it’s Summer Fest at the Schenectady Jewish Community Center. Kayaking demo, rock wall, bouncy bounce. It’s free.
• At 1 pm it’s Science 101: Balancing Bobs at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. It’s for ages 8 and up. Pre-register; it’s $2/non-member.
• There’s a Ballston Spa Family Fun Day at Saratoga County Fairgrounds from 3-9 pm. It’s free.
• A reader shared that there’s a fundraiser before the Tri-City Valleycats game starting at 4 pm to Cure CMD (Congenital Muscular Dystrophy). It’s $25/adult, $20/child 3-12, and it includes a buffet dinner in the picnic pavilion, a souvenir baseball cap, and ticket to the game. There are also raffle prizes including a Disney trip. Call her at (518) 894-4054 or email stephaniedague@gmail.com if you’d like to go.
• There’s a classical music concert at 7 pm at Freedom Park in Scotia.
• The Clifton Park Community Chorus is performing at 7 pm at Clifton Commons Park.

It’s our last day of school, which means I’m now the proud mama of a first grader and a (holy crap!) 4th grader! That makes us all pretty old. Sniff.

You might be seeing a new photograph in the header (and if you don’t, you can keep refreshing until you do see it). One of the headers is from the Central Park Rose Garden during the off-season, and I’ve been meaning to add one during the blooming season. Cute W took this new one with roses in bloom and the new fountain. Thanks, baby! Also thank you to my friend Brian who taught me how to add the header images in the first place, and made me such easy-to-follow instructions that I can add new ones without bugging him again.

Speaking of excellent dads that I know, I meant to link to Steve McCurry’s photography blog again for his series on fathers in honor of Father’s Day, but I forgot. You can still appreciate fathers today, so go check it out.

I’m recycling material, an edited-down version of an essay that I wrote about J’s recital last year for the now-defunct CBS 6 blog (accompanied by one of my favorite photos ever, taken by the delightful and talented Cute W). I’m hoping that enough of you are new and/or lazy about clicking links, so you haven’t seen it. Yes, I’m slacking off and using the extra time to pack and do laundry. Don’t judge me, okay!?!

The Recital

It’s recital season, and I predict crying. Luckily, it will be me, not my daughter. She takes classes at a large dance school with a marathon rehearsal, followed by a marathon recital, as its annual capstone.

Last year was our first time. As one group of dancers, then the next, took the stage to rehearse, I realized that we were acquainted with someone in almost every group: neighbors, classmates, a former babysitter, girls from church. The effect was overwhelming. For each child, I’d search out the parent in the crowd and frequently find a familiar figure. Even the strangers, actually, seemed familiar: hands clasped, face rapt, jaw set in fear of a stumble, eyes filled with utter devotion.

A few of my friends had been coming to this rehearsal every year for close to a decade. With books and snacks, they were more prepared than I was, and more relaxed. The grown-ups all chuckled knowingly at my daughter’s beginner class, uncertain and tentative as they crossed the stage to practice their bows, straining to keep hands clasped and their chain of dancers unbroken. All the parents were telescoping back to their own children’s early efforts—was that the year that they wore the yellow polka dots or the shiny blue? Remember how she cried all morning, and then onstage she never stopped smiling?

I was stuck in my own time warp. The acts progressed, with older girls and more complicated choreography. Many classes included various stages of puberty, and tiny pixies skipped on the stage with muscular Amazons. And yet they all moved so gracefully, looking more alike than different, taking on a sort of archetypal image: today’s adolescent girl. Their steps were strong and sure-footed even as many solemn faces betrayed their deep concentration to avoid a misstep. It was mesmerizing. If my daughter continues, I will be sitting and watching every year for the foreseeable future. We’ll have a shelf of DVDs of each year’s recital, and watching them in a row will be like watching time-lapse photography showing flowers unfurling.

I had seen other performances and recitals, even those with my own kids, that were a chore. But seeing all of these lovely dancers perform in succession made me recognize my preschool daughter, and even myself, as part of an unbroken chain. The choreography was wonderful, but the impression was so great because the most advanced dancers weren’t girls at all anymore, but fully grown-up young women.

It was like a glimpse of the future. And it looks beautiful.

Come on! Let's go camping!

Happy Summer, everyone!

Did you know that this Saturday is the Great American Backyard Campout? I actually wrote an article encouraging people to try a little backyard camping, and you can read it at Kids Out and About here.

Meanwhile, if you want to venture beyond your backyard, here are a few suggested campgrounds that are close (or, you know, close-ish) to the Capital District. Some of them have extra comments that I stole from a discussion from my moms’ group:

• Luzerne Campground at Fourth Lake  is wonderfully piney and cool…camping there is wonderful. The lake is small and quiet (only non-motorized boats allowed). There are horseback rides nearby.
• Thompson’s Lake is right near Thacher Nature Center. The lake is nice and has a good beach (great sand for making sand castles). They have a small play area for kids, and a canopy over picnic tables for shade. This is a busy camping spot, but it’s a good one for first-timers.
• Pine Hollow Campground in Vermont is about an hour’s drive. The kids will love the spring fed pond with a sandy beach.  There are paddle boats, shuffle board, horseshoes and fishing.
• Glimmerglass State Park near Cooperstown has swimming and fishing, and you’re allowed to use canoes and kayaks. Plenty of nature trails to explore.
• Lake Durant in the Adirondacks
• North-South Lake in the Catskills
• Rollins Pond near Saranac Lake

Do you and your family ever camp in the backyard? Do you have a favorite camping spot that I didn’t mention?