The drain plug is in the boat. Probably. Let's make sure! Every boat owner has a version of the story. Maybe it's the drain plug. Maybe it's the bow line you left on the dock. Maybe it's the moment you got to the ramp, got the boat in the water, pulled the truck around, and realized the plug was still sitting on the dashboard where you put it so you'd "definitely remember it." Maybe it's all three. Maybe it happened on the same trip. Maybe that trip was last summer and you've

You've met all of these people. You ARE some of these people. Every campground in Michigan operates on the same unspoken truth: you don't get to choose your neighbors. You might get the lovely retired couple with the immaculate fifth wheel who bring you homemade cookies on night two. You might get the family whose children have apparently never encountered a boundary of any kind. You might get the generator guy — and oh, you'll know when you get the generator guy. The good ne

25 things to do before the bonfire burns down and the boats go back in storage. Summer in Michigan doesn't ease in. One week you're scraping frost off the windshield and questioning every life decision that led you to this state. The next week it's 74 degrees, the water is sparkling, and you're standing in your driveway looking at your camper thinking we need to leave. Right now. Today. That's Michigan. No warning. No transition. Just suddenly, gloriously, summer. And because

Real food, real fire, real results. Even if you forgot the spatula. There is a version of campfire cooking that exists on the internet. It involves perfectly charred vegetables arranged artfully on a cast iron skillet, a golden loaf of Dutch oven bread that rose exactly right, and s'mores that look like they were styled by someone who does this professionally. Everyone in the photos is wearing a flannel shirt that isn't dirty yet. The fire is exactly the right size. Nobody is

An honest accounting of our best decisions and our worst 1 a.m. impulses. There is a specific kind of shopping that happens in the weeks before a camping trip. It starts innocently. You're looking up campfire recipes and somehow end up in the outdoor gear section of Amazon at 12:47 a.m., reading reviews for a collapsible solar-powered lantern with a built-in mosquito zapper and a USB charging port and 4.3 stars from people named things like "OutdoorDad2009." You read the Q&A

A formal acknowledgment of the items that never make it to the campsite no matter how many times you tell yourself they will. We need to talk about the can opener. Not in passing. Not as a footnote at the bottom of a checklist. Not as a quick joke at the end of a post about something else. Formally. Deliberately. With the gravity this topic deserves. Because if you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you have noticed something. The can opener keeps showing up.

Nobody put them in the brochure. Everyone already knows them. When you pull into a campground for the first time, they hand you a little paper at the check-in booth. Quiet hours. Fire rules. Checkout time. Pet policy. What they do not give you is the other list. The one that explains why the guy across the loop gave you a slow nod when you arrived. Why the woman two sites down walked over with extra fire starter without being asked. Why everyone instinctively lowers their voi

A glossary for anyone who has ever "packed light" for a one-night trip. "I packed light." (Narrator: She did not.) There were four bags. A bin. A "just in case" tote. And somehow, a second cooler that appeared in the garage doorway at 9 p.m. the night before and nobody questioned it. Michigan campers are a special breed. We are optimistic, resourceful, and deeply committed to a certain version of reality that exists mostly in our heads. We say things with complete sincerity t

It's almost time. Don't blow it in the driveway. You know the feeling. The weather does that thing — the one where it's not quite warm yet but it's closer — and suddenly you can't stop thinking about it. The campfire. The lake. The morning coffee that tastes better outside than it ever does in your kitchen. The version of your weekend that involves absolutely none of your regular responsibilities. Camping season is almost here. And somewhere between that feeling and actually

Camping trips have a funny way of teaching you things the hard way. One minute you’re cruising down the highway dreaming about campfires and s’mores… and the next minute you’re stuck in traffic with a trailer behind you, staring at a gas station entrance that clearly wasn’t designed for an RV. Ask me how I know. After a few trips, we’ve realized something: our phones have become some of the most useful tools we bring camping. Between finding gas stations big enough for a camp

RV trips are supposed to be relaxing — lake views, campfires, and mornings that start with coffee outside instead of a commute. But anyone who has spent time in an RV knows the reality: small spaces get messy fast . Cabinets shift during travel, gear piles up, and suddenly you’re digging through three compartments just to find the spatula. The good news is that RV organization doesn’t require a full renovation. A few practical systems and purpose-built gear can dramatically

If you’ve lived through a Michigan winter, you know the feeling. One day you’re scraping ice off the windshield, and the next you catch a slightly warmer breeze and suddenly start thinking… “Is it time yet?” Not quite. But it’s close enough that many of us start doing the annual garage shuffle —moving snow shovels aside, peeking under dusty tarps, and rediscovering camping gear we forgot we owned. Spring cleaning isn’t just about the house. Around here, it’s about getting our

Click your answers to see how you line up with other boaters. ✨ BOAT ANSWER KEY ✨ Mostly A’s — The Dock Boss Your boat sparkles. You know your engine stats. People trust you to captain. You are organized, prepared, and mildly competitive about it. Mostly B’s — The Party Captain You own extra floaties. There is always a speaker. You believe “the more the merrier” and your dock neighbors know your name. Mostly C’s — The Go-With-The-Flow Captain Boat days are imperfect and that’

Every camper has that story — the one that makes you laugh before you even start telling it. The one you’re grateful you survived… but still aren’t totally sure how. And also the reason you keep coming back for more. Welcome to Campfire Stories, where the best memories are the ones you could never plan for — and definitely couldn’t make up. We had just decided we were going to buy a camper, and somehow that turned into finding the camper almost immediately. It was brand new,

People tend to treat Warren like a place you pass through . You drive by it on I- 75. You exit for a restaurant. You cut across town to get somewhere else. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize: Warren is Michigan’s third-largest city , and it didn’t get there by accident — or by trying to impress anyone. Warren’s story isn’t flashy. It’s not loud. It doesn’t brag. It just shows up and gets things done. Warren, Before It Was “Warren” Long before traffic lights, subdi

If you’ve ever looked at different surface options for outdoor storage, you’ve likely noticed gravel comes up again and again — and for good reason. At Red Run Storage, our gravel lots aren’t just a cost-effective surface — they’re also a functional choice that actively helps manage water and protect stored items . The Problem with Impermeable Surfaces Traditional solid surfaces like asphalt and concrete don’t let water pass through. When it rains or snow melts, water can’t i

If you store or camp with a camper in Michigan, you already know this truth: Cold weather doesn’t ask permission—it just shows up. Whether you’re squeezing in one last fall trip, camping early in the spring, or checking on a camper that’s tucked away for winter, heating questions always come up. What works? What’s safe? And why does the furnace always kick on the second you finally fall asleep? Let’s talk about it—honestly, clearly, and safely. What Is “Shoulder Season,” Any