Summer Travels: Glamping in Hunt Country, Virginia

Thanks to my lovely job, I spent the first week of June at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show in Virginia. It's one of the few shows where we are able to camp on site. You can't beat the commute... and frankly there's something quite nice about coming home to your own "space" at the end of the day, rather than the barren austerity of a hotel room. The Upperville show is usually brutally hot, but we were graced with pleasant enough temperatures to make evening cookouts and occasional journeys into town very enjoyable.

Some of the best barbecue I've ever had in my life was at this spot here... and the aroma from those giant smokers was not to be believed.

collar and leash by Houndworthy, beer by Guinness, Galway boot in black/brown by Dubarry

Otto held things down in the camper most of the time, but he felt obligated to walk down and make sure things were running smoothly at the booth too. Boy did he benefit...

The folks at Nutro were at the show promoting their canine goods, and Otto was more than happy to try something new. (Thanks Nutro!) 

P.S. Those crunchy treats have actual berries in them. 

P.P.S. I ate one.

P.P.P.S. It seriously wasn't bad.

Don't worry, I did eat some half decent human food on this trip too. 

I don't know if it was because I'd been subsisting off of bacon and mac + cheese in the camper, but the meal I had at the Hunter's Head Tavern was one of the best I've ever had in my life. All of their food comes from local farms, so their menu changes with the seasons. Otto also enjoyed a delicious dog dinner to-go for only 3 bucks! For Hunter/Jumper people reading... Joe Fargis was eating there too. That's an endorsement, if nothing else!

photo by Lauren Giannini for Sidelines Magazine
Our good friend and fellow photojournalist/blogger Lauren stopped by to get an obligatory glass of champagne and a photo for her Sidelines Magazine blog post about the show, which you can read here.

I've been to plenty of feed stores in my time, so I had a difficult time imaging what Dubarry product would look like being sold on one. Everyone kept telling me that Tri-County Feeds in Marshall, VA was a totally different story, but I didn't really believe them until I saw for myself. The place is mindblowing. From the outside, the building is huge, nice, but still unassuming. Step foot in the door, however, and it's like stepping into Disneyworld for tasteful country dwellers.




If Tri-County did wedding registries... I'd register for these dishes! and I'm not even engaged!

Feed, stable and pet supplies, home goods, elegant country clothing, and a top of the line collection of riding apparel for every discipline from polo to showjumping. Owners Bill and Jeri definitely know what they're doing: my wallet barely escaped in one piece. If you're too far away to make the trip, they are online... but the trip is definitely worth it.

Virginia... you were an impeccable host. Same time next year?

Dreams of Camping

While I do understand the appeal of using rugged products for urban life, (via Range Rover commercials where the safari SUV is navigating Manhattan), nothing compares to going off the pavement and using products with utility to reconnect with the natural world. I've never been camping for real, and every fall I get the urge to try it. I love hiking and being in the woods, and I generally prefer being as far away from large crowds of people as possible, so camping is extremely appealing to me. This year I've vowed to finally get out in the woods, pitch a tent, and warm myself by a campfire. In my dream camping universe, these are a few things I would have.

Montana Canvas, based just north of Yellowstone National Park, makes all of their camping products right here in the USA. They also have all sorts of camping stoves, bedrolls, saddle packs, and whatever else you could imagine needing out in the grand old wilderness. I'd have no problem cozying up in their Wedge Tent after an evening of drinking cocoa by the campfire in my trusty Stanley thermos.

For just about a hundred years Stanley has been making super durable and functional thermalware. Because let's be honest... nobody wants lukewarm coffee or cocoa on a chilly night. Or cold feet.

Keeping warm while camping is a preoccupation of mine, and I'm pretty passionate about socks. I think it goes along with being passionate about good boots, but the right socks for the job can make life a thousand times easier. I have a pair of these Fox River Mills Outdoorsox, and they are absolutely brilliant. The company started in Wisconsin in 1900 making socks for lumberjacks, whom I'd imagine have pretty high standards. Their wool wicks away perspiration and moisture to keep your feet dry, so you never get clammy feet. They are extra cushiony as well, perfect for keeping your feet comfortable on a long day of hiking in the woods, or chopping down trees, (your choice). 

Campfire time in your warm socks with your awesome thermos seems a little lacking without being wrapped up in a blanket. Pendleton's National Parks collection of blankets are perfect for this task. The Yosemite and Glacier Park editions are my favorites, but they all have amazing, retro stripes and prints in each park's official colors. For the times at home in between camping adventures, this blanket would look beautiful on a bed as well. 

No camping supply list is complete without a sleeping bag. The Sportsman's XL Camp Sleeping Bag from LL Bean is big and roomy -- great for someone like me with a dog who likes to snuggle up under the covers, or just someone really tall.

This is all really great, but it definitely seems like a lot to carry. Enter Topo Designs, whose clutch collaboration we explored previously. Topo was started by a couple of dudes in Colorado who love doing things outside and wanted to make quality gear that could keep up to their standards. All of their bags are both rugged and multifunctional, but for my camping-fantasy purposes, the Klettersack would likely serve me best. You can fit plenty of stuff inside, and it has leather lash tabs on the exterior to hook on extra gear if necessary. It has a laptop sleeve inside as well, for keeping it rugged once you return to your more urban pursuits.

Mark my words, my camping fantasy will come true this fall. When it does, photos and anecdotes will surely follow. In the meantime, I will continue to dream about all of these goodies and try to hide my credit cards from myself. 

As always, I'd appreciate any input or suggestions on camping supplies, as I am clearly a camping fangirl/newbie.

Montana Canvas

Stanley

Fox River Mills

Pendleton

LL Bean

Topo Designs