People Camp in New York?! ~ By Phil and Lindsey

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Wildwood State Park
Wading River, NY 11792 (Long Island)

To date, our column has traditionally reviewed the hottest local establishments from a he-said (usually spot on) she-said (questionable) date perspective. Today, we are getting a little wild with our post and bringing you a no-holds-barred group adventure that you probably would have never considered a legitimate possibility in New York.

Camping y’all.

Oh yeah, we are talking sleeping on the ground in a tent (yes, one person in our group legitimately asked if there was dirt in the tent.) Tucked away on the Long Island Sound and a stone's throw away from the Hamptons (in case you feel the urge to escape and get bougie), this getaway is about two hours from the city and an amazing reminder that fresh air doesn’t smell like those little fake pine tree air fresheners that hang on your rear view mirror… oh wait, y’all don’t have cars.

Wildwood State Park is perfect for rookie campers. The grounds have large clearings that are extremely well manicured amongst the woods and, get this, there are bathrooms with HOT running water within walking distance from your campsite (provided a raccoon doesn’t latch onto your jugular in the process, but really.)

One of the amazing things about camping in Long Island is the easy access to the Sound. No doubt the gentle sunset over a glimpse of Connecticut is breathtaking, but we, and by we I mean the 99%, usually prefer our beaches with a more favorable sand-to-(jagged)-rock ratio than y’all do here. Picture Linds and I wanting to get romantic and take a stroll (and get a free foot scrub) by walking barefoot on the beach and only making it 17 feet before venturing into gangrene territory. 

Hilarity.

All in all this is an amazing opportunity to have a quiet and unique getaway from the norms of city living (hell, there is even 4G.) So take the opportunity one weekend this summer to hop in a zip car and, you know, actually talk to your friends and take a breather.

Ladies First:
“Ok ya’ll, so lets get real. I am always going to choose a weekend in Miami over camping in the woods, but I have to say camping was A LOT of fun (not drinks poolside fun, but down home lets-get-back to nature fun.) The entire area that we camped in was beautiful, and the entire weekend was laid back sans the torrential downpour during our set-up. Being in nature offers a different kind of relaxation one you just can’t find in a spa or at a dinner in the city. It's real!“ 

Gentleman’s Disclosure:
“Smores, grilling, building things, and potentially killing a bear. Camping is the real man’s perfect getaway. Whether with the fellas or with a group, camping will absolutely give you at least a few classic stories that you are sure to remember for a lifetime.”

Need some camping gear? We recommend Eastern Mountain Sports for rentals and equipment. Still clueless? Ask for Charl Smit at the 76^th and Broadway location, he is one smart chap!



Texas Ratings

Lindsey: 

Phil: