My Glamping Adventure at Country Thunder

“AWAY is a place where it’s not about the money you spend. It’s about the moments you share.”

Those who know me well know that I am all about making memories with my family and friends. When my daughter and my best friend presented the idea of glamping at Country Thunder music festival in Twin lakes Wisconsin, I said sure! My love for country music and making memories together with my girls sounded like a recipe for success.

Part of me was scared to death about the camping aspect, but I have always wanted to go “glamping” — glamour camping for those of you that have never heard this term. The outstanding four day lineup including Sam Hunt, Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan was also quite motivating. A furnished tent with air conditioning, refrigerator, table, chairs and ottomans convinced us to sign up for not one, but two tents which would hold 8 people. This did not come without a price, but we were all excited about our adventure. Both of my girls were on board as well as my friend and her daughter, so our next step was to convince three other people how much fun this experience would be. This did not take long and then the planning and silly text exchanges began!

GETTING READY

I am a list maker and all about being prepared. I scoured the camping aisle at Target several times and came home with items I really never thought I would ever buy. As we all know, it is always hard to just walk into Target and get a few things, but the Coleman stove that I purchased was definitely a huge hit! We planned our meals and the food we would need, as well as things to keep us entertained during the day.

DAY OF

The plan was to take two SUV’s packed with all of our needs and the eight of us. We borrowed two hitches to attach to the back of our cars, but only one would work, so it became clear rather quickly that a third car would be needed. It was also clear that we had way too much stuff! We did not want to be lacking anything, so everything got shoved in the cars and off we went. What was supposed to be a 4½ hour drive turned into a 6 hour drive due to the downtown Chicago traffic. Although morale was a bit low at that time, we got through it and finally arrived.

Driving on to the property through the general camping area did produce a few tears from me and some major apprehension! I was overcome with a huge sense of “what were we thinking?!” I did give everyone a good laugh, but pushed through and it was the last tear shed during the trip. We got to our glamping site and unloaded, and of course decorated our area and got settled in. Our full bar was a must and a huge hit! Laughter and fun rang through and I actually slept great each night and looked forward to the next day’s fun.

MUST HAVES

• Lanterns
• Coleman stove and pan
• Tailgate grill
• Butane canisters and several Bic mega-lighters
• Grilling utensils
• Aluminum pans and foil
• Yeti coolers (they keep things cold for several days)
• Bug Spray
• Lots of paper towels
• Garbage bags
• Small collapsible table
• Rain ponchos
• Collapsible ballpark chairs
• Pop up canopy tent
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Wet Ones skin wipes
• Sweatshirts
• Old towels
• A shower caddy that you can hang
• Shower flip-flops
• Back up battery chargers for your phone
• Lights to decorate tent
• Paper goods and solo cups
• Your favorite alcohol and mixers
• Case of waters
• Waterproof speaker

EXPECTATION VS. REALITY

I had anticipated everything that we might need and had packed several outfits for each day. I knew it might rain, but had no idea that the rain would just not stop! It also did not stop our fun. Our rain ponchos were a must, especially the ones from the Titos tent. I could have left half of my clothes at home. Pack minimally and just make sure you have a sweatshirt or jacket. Our glamping village had our own private shower trailer and portable bathrooms. I had serious trepidation about this, but they really were just fine! They were kept rather clean and always available when needed. I did learn that a shower caddy with a handle for hanging is a must.

Our tents were provided by Canvas Town Events and were quite impressive! They held out all the water from the rain and were quite comfortable! The bedding and accessories in the tent made our stay quite enjoyable. My daughter did ask if we were getting housekeeping, and that made me remember why this was such an adventure! We ventured around the area during the day exploring and getting exercise. I was not sure what to expect of the area, but it was really safe and incredibly clean! Our tents were located closest to the music venue, which was a huge plus! We also drove to Lake Geneva for lunch and a change of much needed scenery. It is a lovely area with darling shops and restaurants and the lake is beautiful! I definitely want to go back there.

NOURISHMENT

Our grill and stove were amazing and we were able to cook wonderful meals each day. Eggs toast and bacon, French toast, grilled pizzas, burgers and more were all part of our menus. Made-ahead breakfast burritos were a huge hit and the recipe is below with some other great suggestions for camping cuisine.

Breakfast burritos

• 1lb ground sausage cooked and drained
• 2 baked potatoes and 1 large onion diced and cooked till browned and soft
• 1 dozen eggs, scrambled and seasoned with salt and pepper
• 1 package of flour tortillasPlace large spoonful of potatoes and onions in center of tortilla, top with eggs and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Roll up and tuck both ends under and wrap in aluminum foil. These can be heated on the frill for 15 minutes and are delicious!

Hummus & veggies

Chips & salsa

Charcuteries board

Pulled pork and already cooked chicken skewers that can be warmed on grill

Burgers and hot dogs

Pizzas made with Boboli premade crust
Heat grill and brush boboli with olive oil. Place sauce, toppings and cheese and grill for 3-5 minutes until melted and crisp.

Aside from all of the things we needed or didn’t need that we brought, the memories made last weekend will last a lifetime! The laughter is imprinted in my mind and I wouldn’t have traded a minute of it, even with all of the rain. I still don’t know the words to half of the songs, but that added to my kids’ laughter. I now understand and have a new appreciation to why people enjoy camping, or “glamping “ in my case. Doing something for the first time can be priceless and so worth it! Take that chance and make your own memories! I’m not sure when or if I will do this again, but I hope this helps you plan your camping experience!

Happy camping!

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