Countless tents, pet gear, gadgets (be sure to check out Two-Way GPS inReach by DeLorme, a device that allows you to send text messages or even update your social media while outside of cell phone range), kayaks, car racks of all kinds, binoculars, and even baby carriers all made their debut at the showcase.  While other blogs are sure to be updating us on everything we missed, for a preview of what was there, check out GearJuinkie’s pre-show highlights (Part 1 & Part 2).

Easton Mountain Products, one of the showcase’s vendors, was clearly just as weight conscience as us when it came to gear for this season.   Easton slimmed down, losing 2 lbs. to be exact, with their new three person tent.  Slated for release early 2012, it weighs only 3 lbs.  Their previous 3-man Hat Trick was a bit heavier weighing in at 5 lbs.  To put this into perspective for those who are numerically challenged, your tent would now weigh less than that two liter bottle of soda in the fridge.

While looking up some other competitors’ weights, I came across a tent that I have yet to see anywhere else.  While this isn’t necessarily a “light-weight” tent, it’s something that cyclist and bikers should think about investing in.  Before you take that long trip on your two wheels (shout out to Alan Tansey), ditch hotels and motels, and go camping with the Ténéré Expedition Tent.  It not only stores your motorcycle or bikes, but it also sleeps up to 3 people.  Save some cash and have the chance to take-in more than just the roadside, with shelter for both you and your bike right there and ready to go.  If you are planning a long trip, either stop by here at Lone Pine and stay a while (I would love to see one of these and hear first-hand opinions of them), or at least try out one of Burlington’s newest and most interesting cafés, Maglianero, located right by the Waterfront.

Per usual, feel free to tweet us, @LonePineVT, and check out our Facebook, we appreciate the love!  Also, there’s less than one week left to enter to win a free weekend of camping, so be sure to sign-up over on our Facebook page.

(Easton Photo courtesy of GearJunkie, Product images from respective sites, Maglianero photo courtesy of bikeradar.com)

What better way to enjoy some autumn amusement than to: not only attend the festival (pony rides, face painting, corn maze, petting zoo…) and take a day trip to see, first-hand, some of the best autumn views in America (just google it and you’ll see why), but how about also trying some Fall camping just minutes away from the festival.  Think about it… Fall sight-seeing of our beautiful state by day, maybe even some biking and fishing, or a tour of Burlington; then the toastiest campfires ever at night, grilling in-season squash, broccoli, and sweet potatoes; and of course who could forget s’mores.  Make the most of this autumn season and book a reservation, which you can do right at the top of the page.  All we need to do now is to hope for the best fall weather possible!  Click here for a look at Autumn at Mazza’s.

If all of this autumn talk has you itching for the fall classics (Back to School, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc.), then you’re in luck.  August 12th and 13th is our Halloween weekend, complete with Trick or Treating, Children’s Halloween Party, and a Haunted House (we still have tent sites available!).  Don’t worry, we’ve got Thanksgiving covered later this year too.  Our Thanksgiving Harvest Weekend is September 9th and 10th.  Looking to stay a couple of weekends this fall?  Call and inquire about our Fall Getaway Special.

For more info on upcoming events, promotions, and pretty much anything Lone Pine, stay tuned and subscribe above, like us on Facebook, or follow us on twitter (especially all of those geocachers and foursquare folks…)

(Featured Image courtesy of Sam Mazza’s Farm Website)

3 Simple tips to help making your camp meals even more enjoyable and tasty:

1. Buy local fruits and veggies.  Not only will they be cheaper, since they’re actually in season, you’ll definitely taste the difference it makes.  There are plenty of farm stands to choose from right nere in Colchester, and we also have a Flea/Farmer’s Market coming up this Labor Day Weekend at Lone Pine, which will feature some great seasonal options.
2. Embrace the smoke.  Opposed to your propane grill or hot plate, the smoke from your campfire will definitely add that extra ::umph::, that’s more difficult to create back home.
3. Be prepared for any weather.  You never really know how the weather will turnout, so it’s always a good idea to prepare extra meat, tofu, or whatever the center piece of the dish is, and chill it.  Using it later, it can turn a simple salad into more of a meal, if the weather does decide to take a turn for the worst.

Must Read

If you’re looking for more camping recipes and the ability to take them with you offline, then you should check out “The Camping Cookbook,” by Annie Bell.  Florence Fabricant, of the New York Times, brought the book to light recently, highlighting some great sounding recipes and explains that it goes more in depth showing you how to “cook and serve food beyond hot dogs with no real counter space, and limited sources of heat and clean water.”  Bell, chef and former cookery writer for Vogue, has countless other culinary titles under her belt and finally with one crafted with campers in mind, it’s sure not to disappoint.

Got any great camping recipes or cooking tips?

Comment below, tweet it @LonePineVT, or post it on our Facebook page (where you can also learn how you could win a free weekend of camping).

Featured Image: Pictures From Heather / Flickr

In honor of our great campers and the love (or “likes”) shown and given to us, we’re giving back to you. Congratulations Ashley S.! In honor of being our 125th like, we’re giving you a $25 gift certificate! So stop by our office or call us up and we’ll place it on your account for you.

We would also want to give all of our other Facebook campers a chance to share the spoils of helping us get to 125 likes. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. Therefore, we’re also giving away a free weekend of camping for the 2011 season. Just fill out the survey located on our Facebook page and you’ll be enter for a chance to win! Continue to help get the word out there about Lone Pine Campsites because who knows what our next benchmark will be (tweet tweet…).

Must Be 21 or Older to Enter. One Entry per Person.

While chain restaurants are great for consistency, it’s time to throw caution into the wind and dive right into some great local restaurants, cafés, and diners.  It’d be hard to cover and give the deserved amount of attention to all of the great local places that made our list, so we deceived to stick to the ones that received more than one mention.

1. Libby’s Blue Line Diner

Straddling the border between Colchester, VT and Winooski, VT,  Libby’s Blue Line Diner finds itself at the top of our list having the most mentions.  Though Libby’s has a long history, being one of the last lunch cars built by Worcester Lunch Car Co. in 1953, it wasn’t until 1989 that Libby’s found its name and home here in Colchester.  This easy-going diner serves some of the best breakfast in Colchester by one of the friendliest staffs around.  Our Recommendation: Breakfast Combo #3 (Belgian Waffle)

2. Sweetwaters

Serving up some Contemporary American cuisine, Sweetwaters, is nestled right in the heart of Downtown Burlington on Church Street.  This year celebrates their 30th year as a part of the Burlington community and downtown culture.  Sweetwaters now also offers a gluten-free menu that stacks up to their original menu offering: starters, main courses, and desserts.  If you’re looking for something a bit more dressy than a diner, than Sweetwaters is a great choice for lunch. Our Recommendation: Seared Atlantic Salmon

3. & 4. Battle of the Fries

Coming in next on our list are two places to get some excellent french fries.  The first is Bri’s Fries, which was mentioned earlier in our Area Highlights.  The second, going up against some of the “best fresh cut french fries,” is Al’s French Frys.  Taking on the same diner aesthetics as Libby’s, Al’s adds a more updated commercial atmosphere to accommodate the all of their customers.  Our Recommendation: Besides Fries with Salt & Vinegar, Bri’s chicken tenders & Al’s grilled cheese are sure to satisfy your hometown fast food cravings.

5. Skinny Pancake

To most Skinny Pancake sort of sounds like just another oxymoron (jumbo shrimp, a fine mess, alone together, etc.), however, to us here at Lone Pine, Skinny Pancake means savory or sweet, and breakfast, lunch, or dinner crêpes.  In other words, there’s something for pretty much everyone.  Positioned meer feet from the Burlington Waterfront, Skinny Pancake offers up the best crêpes in the area.  Skinny Pancake also has musical performances: today and Sunday, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons take the stage.  Our Recommendation: Lamb Fetatastic (Savory), and Pure & Simple (Sweet)

6. Papa Frank’s

Tucked away in the small city of Winooski, Papa Frank’s is a great little Italian restaurant that cooks food like it’s right out of your Italian mother’s kitchen.  While the wait may be long, depending on when you go, the food is good enough to keep Papa Frank’s on our Lone Pine List of some of our favorite eats.  Our Recommendation: Any type of pasta and sauce (couldn’t decide on a favorite)

Honorable Mentions

The list of places we came up with was so long that it took us a lot longer to sort them all out then we had expected.  Since we just couldn’t decide who should come next, below is a list of some of our other favorite places to grab a bite to eat:

• Rozzi’s Lakeshore Tavern
• Ray’s Seafood
• Spanked Puppy
• Junior’s Italian
• The Windjammer
• Bove’s of Vermont
• New York Pizza Oven
• Zachary’s
• Shanty on the Shore
• Maglianero
• Church Street Tavern
• Ken’s Pizza
• Hoagie Hut
• The Clover House

Think we missed something on our list or know of any great new places around town that deserve a little bit more love?  Let us know where you like to go chow down around town.

(Photos courtesy of individuals’ sites/facebooks) 

While campers had been arriving since the beginning of the week, Saturday morning was the start of the 4th of July events.  A camp-wide Flea/Farmer’s market was the heartbeat of the morning.  Local vendors sold their creations and crops, while several sites offered up some amazing bargains on everything from bikes to a festive red, white, and blue, foam-dart gun. Some of the vendors who attended were: Creations by Cole, Paul Mazza, Rolling Hills Maple Products, Lee Palladino Candles, Christine Hill Designs, Revitalize Massage & Bodywork, and Vermont Food & Gifts. Also in attendance was Toys For Kids, the largest holiday toy collection in Vermont, holding a community fundraiser.  Later in the day, there was T-Shirt Decorating, which helped the kids to prep for Lone Pine’s Annual Children’s Parade.

That night, campers gathered down at the Rec Hall for the Fire Crack 400 NASCAR Race, which was shown on the big screen.  While outside, the younger campers participated in S’mores night.

Sunday meant it was time for Lone Pine’s Children Parade as well as the all important announcement of this year’s Miss & Master Lone Pine.   The chosen two, Master Ethan and Miss Karissa, had the duty of leading the parade around the campground.  The kids were decked out in their shirts they made yesterday, while the fire truck, golf carts and bikes all donned the patriotic red, white, and blue.  After the parade was Candy Bar Bingo, where one lucky winner claimed the jackpot prize of 20 candy bars.  After a break from events, The Adams took the stage and set the tone for the night as the performers for the Holiday Dance.

To keep up with all things Lone Pine, from events to promotions, remember to follow @LonePineVT and like us Facebook.  For more pictures of the weekend, including ones of our Miss & Master Lone Pine) head on over to our Facebook Page.

Feeling like Lone Pine’s the place for you? Scroll up to the top of the page and click the link: “Make a Reservation.”

Next Up: Christmas Weekend (Remember: Sign up for the pot luck and become apart of the community here.  Try decorating your site to help add to the spirit and compete in the holiday display judging.)

Whether you would consider it our home or just our backyard, our love for this town should have you expecting a part 2 to this Area Highlight.  In this post, we discuss some great biking options close to the campground and local restaurants as well.

Biking the Colchester Bike Path:

Where to Bike
Don’t let the closing of the northern portion of the Island Line (pictured in the photo above) ruin your biking plans this summer, there are still more trails and places to bike right here in Colchester.  For starters, the Colchester Bike Path, which is located right next to us here at Lone Pine Campsites, will take you right into Mallets Bay and Bayside Park.  If you were looking to take a little break from your biking trip, this park is definitely worth a stop.  This park features: a beach, picnic area, playground, tennis courts, volley ball courts, a basketball court, a baseball field, and skate park.  After your visit at Bayside Park, you have two options: (1) Continue on road biking and eventually meet up with the Island Line Bike Path, the scenic southern half leads you right into Downtown Burlington (For This Route Click Here); or (2) adventure in the woods and try a bit of mountain biking.  While we would recommend both, it really depends on what you’re in the mood for.  If you want a more challenging ride through the rough terrain, while truly enjoying and taking in what the outdoors has to offer, then the choice for you would be to mountain bike on the trails located behind Colchester High School.  If you’re looking for an even greater challenge and wanting to add some variety to your exercise, then you can do hill sprints up Mother Hill (you’ll notice it to your left, once you get deep enough into the woods).  Meanwhile, the trip on and to the Island Line, offers some excellent views of Lake Champlain and also passes Airport Park; a place for exploration, or if you need to make a restroom stop.

What to Eat Along the Way
A couple of eateries for a variety of cravings:

• Said to have some of ”the best fresh cut french fries around,” Bri’s Fries located right by Bayside Park and is a great place to go if you’re looking for something filling and fried;
• New York Pizza Oven is a place to grab a quick slice of pizza, further down West Lakeshore Drive;
• In the plaza as NYPO, Bayside Bakery & Coffee Bar is a nice little dinner to get some good breakfast;
• And finally, there’s Rozzi’s Lakeshore Tavern. Whether you’re looking for a pub one night, or somewhere to get a filling dinner, Rozzi’s is the place to go for some good food and friendly staff.

Biking at the Sunny Hollow Natural Area:

Where to Bike
Located just 10 min (by car) from the campground, Sunny Hollow Natural Area is a good place to go if you’re looking to do a bit of nature walking or some pretty tough mountain biking.  Though there is very limited parking, Sunny Hollow Natural Area offers around 80 acres of diverse land including: mountain-side inclines; bridges over brooks; and a good outdoor option overall.  We recommend that you bring extra bug spray, and if you’re biking it’s a good idea to bring some glasses (it can get a little buggy out there).

Directions from Lone Pine

What to Eat Along the Way
If you don’t mind driving a little bit further (5 min away from the natural area), a great diner here in Colchester is called Libby’s Blue Line Diner.  Serving up some amazing breakfast, Libby’s might even appear on this week’s Lone Pine List, which will feature some of the staff’s favorite places to chow down.

As always, look out for our Area Highlight: Vol. 3 and Area Highlight: Colchester Village & “Milchester”

(Featured Image courtesy of Nicholas Erwin/Flickr; Island Line Photo by _Yoshi_/Flickr; Sunny Hollow Natural Area Waterfall photo from Colchester Parks & Recreation) 

If we had to choose a secondary theme for this weekend, it’d definitely be soccer.  Almost completely booked, this past weekend was filled with soccer players and their folks, as they took to the soccer fields all weekend for a tournament in Essex, VT.  Throughout the weekend we heard countless stories fit for the movies of the persistent underdogs, and the triumphant champs alike.  We would like to take the time out to congratulate all of the soccer players who competed this past weekend.

As foul kicks, throw-ins, and hat tricks (maybe?) were taking place in Essex, the first event on saturday was Cow Bingo.  What exactly is Cow Bingo?  Well, take a calf and a hand painted 10×10 grid on the grass, then just let nature take its course.  Throughout the week, a miniature version of the same grid was in the office, without the cow.  Each square could be purchased for $1, and what’s in it for you?  The winner took home the entire pot.  So if you do your math correctly, it means that since two sheets were bought out, two people won $100 cash.  Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Cow Bingo, Cindy and Ean, who chose the apparently lucky square I8.

If you find yourself a bit lost amongst the squares, math, and numbers, if you just like food, or if you appreciate a pretty witty pun (keep I-8 in mind), then this next event was for you.  It was simple: bring your original recipe Chili or Michigan sauce that could make the judge’s mouths water, and more importantly get them to come back for seconds.  Judging was based on aroma, color, consistency, taste, and after taste.  Selena crafted a hearty Chili that took first prize, while Carol’s Michigan Sauce wowed the judges and also took first prize amongst the Michigan sauces.

For more pictures of the weekend head on over to our Facebook Page.

Next Up: 4th of July Weekend

1. Film Enthusiasts

Weather Option 1: One of the most enjoyable ways to end the day is with this classic option.  Right here in Colchester, not far from Lone Pine, is the Sunset Drive-In Theater, complete with: four screens, each playing blockbusters as a double features; old-fashioned shorts in between films; a playground (just in case you arrive there too earlier and need to keep kids occupied); and snack bar.  To find out their current listings and more information be sure to check out their website.

Weather Option 2: If the Drive-Ins aren’t in the forecast for the day, try heading to a traditional theater.  The Majestic 10 in Williston, VT is one option, while The Roxy in Burlington, VT, features both blockbusters and independent films, giving you chance to catch some flicks that aren’t playing in other local theaters.

Bonus: If you’re here towards the end of October, then be sure to check out the Vermont International Film Festival (Oct. 21st – 30th).

2. Foodies

Weather Option 1: Although, like many other Vermonters we wish this first option was the Green Mountain Chew Chew Fest, that is unfortunately not the case.  However, often times out of an inconvenience comes positive things, ergo make your own waterfront picnic.  Whether it’s right here on Mallets Bay or on the Burlington waterfront, take in the beautiful scenery that surrounds you, and take advantage of some of Vermont’s finest: Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot cheese, Island Homemade Ice Cream, Green Mountain Coffee, and Bove’s of Vermont.

Weather Option 2: When an outdoor picnic looks like it’ll take a turn towards more of an outdoor mud bath, take your cravings inside.  Both Lake Champlain Chocolates, in Burlington, and Magic Hat Brewery, in South Burlington, offer tours.

Bonus: Be sure to stay tuned for a more in-depth look at the local cuisine when we choose some of our favorite local eateries, in the next Lone Pine Lists.

3. Teens

Weather Option 1: Regardless of how eventful or low-key you make this option, it’s still simply called: the beach.  Open to a variety of activities, some of the best beaches in the area are: Thayer Beach here in Colchester; The Sandbar in Milton (opens July 4th weekend if Lake Champlain keeps going down); and Leddy Beach in Burlington.

Weather Option 2: Luckily, Option 2 can be saved for either a sunny or rainy day.  Try heading to downtown Burlington.  For shopping you’ll find both small boutiques and major brands.  No need to worry about packing lunches, as there are plenty of restaurants if you’re looking for a dressed-up dinner or to simply grab a slice of pizza.

4. The Lounger

Weather Option 1: If it’s nice out, try simply setting up a campfire and relaxing right at your site for the day and night.  We have scheduled activities on the weekends and some of the following will definitely help you enjoy your time: grilling, socializing, and playing some outdoor games (horseshoes, cornhole, bocce ball, or even shuffle board).

Weather Option 2: Not so nice out?  Bring a book (or your e-reader/iPad).  If you’re a quick reader, here at Lone Pine there is a book swap if you want a cheap way to find something new to read.  By mustering up a little energy to venture further away from your campsite, you can find yourself at a cafe reading your book (and if the book isn’t that interesting, you can always people watch).

5. The Adventurer

Weather Option 1: Whatever the weather, you can always try a short trekking trip at Niquette Bay State Park right here in Colchester, a few minutes away.   If this just seems as though we’re telling you to wander through the wilderness, and while that may not be far from the truth, trust us when we say that the curiosity will pay off.  Follow the right trails and you should end up seeing some amazing views of Mallets Bay.

Weather Option 2: As you’ll soon notice, both of these options can be chosen for a sunny or rainy day.  This second option is biking.  Colchester has plenty of places to bike (as you’ll soon find out in our upcoming Area Spotlight) so if you’re a road biker or looking to see some what Vermont is all about try heading over to the Island Trail, which will take you right into downtown Burlington, or head into the “Milchester” area (the area at the border of Colchester and Milton) for some country road biking.  Looking for more of a challenge? Within Colchester, there are a couple of mountain biking spots that are sure to capture even the shortest attention spans.

Think we missed something on our list?

As always, let us know below, or on our Facebook or twitter.