This is a slide show I put together that include pictures of the five most important things to bring camping, in my opinion. I have already linked the tent in a previous post, as well as the camping stove but here is the link to the sleeping bag in case anyone wants the same one I have. You can buy flashlights, lanterns, and hammocks anywhere there are no specific ones I would reccomend at the moment.
Throughout the semester, as I have created this blog I have learned a lot about content creation. WordPress has been such a useful tool in helping me create this website. I would say the most helpful tool within WordPress was the themes I could pick from. After learning how to actually code a website from scratch, I am thankful that WordPress did all the coding and created such a beautiful theme that made my website functional and visually pleasing. Tools that weren’t effective were posting the blog posts to Twitter. Twitter has a feature where you can see if people interacted with your tweet. Unfortunately, I am able to see that no one clicked on my tweets about my blog post and went to the link of the post I provided.
If I could improve or add something to this blog, it would be more personal. For me, I did not want to include any personal information because this was a class project and it seemed inappropriate. Most bloggers, however, do include personal information just about what is going on in their lives and such. If i was to continue with the blog, I would make it more about me. This experience could benefit me in the future because my major is Public Relations, and my minor is Social Media, so content creation is very important to my education. This blog could very well go on my resume. If I was to get a job in social media this would be a great resource for my employer to look back on before hiring me.
My most popular week was the week where I did the review about Hiking Girl with Dog, if you would like to read that post I will link it here. I got 27 visitors that week, which is 12 more than I got on any other post of mine. I think this was the most popular week because Hiking Girl with Dog is a recognizable name, so people clicked on it just to see or hear about her. What was surprising to me about the data was that barely anyone read my blog. My most popular post other than the review was about Hiking Bull Creek and it only had 15 views. Some of my post got 1 view and I’m guessing that is from my GI grading this.
All in all, whether people read my blog or not, I had fun creating it. It was a good experience and I truly always did want to be a blogger, and now that I know how much hard work it is I appreciate those who do blog for a living a lot more.
So, this weekend I wanted to do a blog post about a hike that is closest to me in San Marcos. Five mile dam is located on the Blanco River and is 4.4 miles away from where I live, which is right next to Texas State campus. You used to be able to take Post Rd to the dam, but unfortunately, they have closed the bridge on Post that crosses the river, so do not take Post Rd. Instead, you will have to go around to I-35 and get off near Buda, and come around the back way. Here is a map just in case my directions didn’t make sense. Out of all the hikes I’ve posted about, this one is the closest to San Marcos and Texas State, which makes it way more convenient for me.
I had heard of the five mile dam, but until yesterday I had never gone. When I arrived there, I was confused to see no river. I had to double check the map the make sure I was on the Blanco river, which the map confirmed I was. After looking at pictures of it on the internet, it became apparent to me that when I went yesterday the water was dried up. Even so, people were walking with their dogs where the water used to be and I even saw a guy fishing! I asked him why he was fishing if there was no flowing water, and he told me it was because when the water dries up big fish get caught in the small ponds that do remain.
We walked under the bridge and all around the park, it was a beautiful day outside and the scenery was quite peaceful. Overall, I would say this isn’t the most challenging, interesting, or scenic hike around. However, it is close to home and a great place to go if you’re looking to get outdoors but not drive far away. This was especially good for me because I like to bring my dog on hikes but she gets car sick so long rides so Austin become horrible once she throws up in my car. So being able to take my dog somewhere where she can stomach the car ride, is great. 
Okay so this week on the blog I will be talking about what to eat while camping. Eating while camping is tricky. You first have to figure out how long you will be camping and how many meals to bring. This post will focus on an overnight trip which requires 2-3 meals (lunch and dinner for the first day and breakfast for the next morning.) Next you have to figure out what kinds of foods you can cook with the resources you have at your campsite. Usually this means what can you cook over a coal fire with a grill top, but sometimes camping spots will have a barbecue grill as well. If you would like to broaden the types of meals you can cook I would recommend investing in a camping stove, like this one that we have. I would also recommend buying some cast iron pots or pans, that can easily cook over open fires. You also have to consider if you have room in your ice chest for foods that need to be kept cold.
If you need some ideas about what to cook while camping then fear not, because I have some pretty good recipes. We usually will buy subway sandwiches on our drive to the campsite, and eat them for lunch after we set up. Then we pack food to cook for dinner and breakfast. If you need help creating a packing list of food, or are looking to make our recipes here is our list.
Shopping List
Camping Beef Fajitas
Firstly I want to say that if you prefer chicken over beef, you could certainly do chicken fajitas instead. When we cook this meal, or anytime we eat Mexican food really, I like to have queso. So the first thing we do is cut up some Velveeta cheese and dump that and a can of rotel into one of the baking pans. We put this on the fire, and stir occasionally. Then we start cooking the meat. We buy pre-seasoned fajita meat from HEB, so all we have to do is put it directly on the fire when were ready to cook it. Once the meat and the queso cook thoroughly (remember cooking while camping takes more patience) we heat up tortillas over the fire in another baking pan. Usually we will bring out a bag of Tostitos and start dipping them in the queso before the meat is ready. Then, once it is all cooked thoroughly we serve the fajitas. You can bring any kind of veggies and cook them over the fire as well, we just didn’t want any. You can also bring pico de gallo or any other topping you might like, again we just chose not to. When it is all cooked, it looks like this.
Camping Donuts
For breakfast the next morning we love to make donuts over our camping stove. They are delicious and so easy. First you pour about 2 inches of vegetable oil in your cast iron skillet, and heat it up. Next get out biscuit dough and cut holes in the middle of each individual biscuit with the cap of the vegetable oil. Next place the dough into the oil and wait for it to fry! Then once they are nice and cooked, dip them in powdered sugar and enjoy!
This weekend my boyfriend, my dog and I went on our first camping trip of the year. Every weekend since school has started has been fairly hot, with highs of 90s or 80s and I just don’t like to camp in such hot weather. So, when we saw an opportunity for a cool weekend to camp we took it. Unfortunately, it was a little too cold (that day the high was 62 and the low was 36) than I would recommend for beginners, but I still have plenty of tips on how to camp for anyone who is unsure about what to bring etc.
Planning
Planning is actually a huge part of camping. The first step to camping, as with most anything outdoors, is to check the weather. Like I said, the weekend we went camping was a little too cold for anyone who is a beginner but 10 to 20 degrees warmer would be perfect (anywhere from 70 to 50). Next, you are going to need to pick a destination. State parks in the hill country book up months in advance (some don’t have availability until Easter) so it is almost impossible to plan an impromptu camping trip to a state park. However, if you do you’re planning far enough in advance I would recommend a state park to anyone who is a beginner just because they tend to have campsites close to each other, which makes you feel safer, and they also tend to have restrooms & showers near every campsite. Unfortunately, we could not camp at a state park this time around. If you are like us and trying to plan a camping trip a week in advance I would recommend a park that has first come first serve camping spots (there are many to choose from just in Austin). We chose to go to Pace Bend Park, on Lake Travis. It was beautiful, however I don’t think it’s for someone who is a first time camper. The bathrooms are extremely spread out, and so are camping spots. This makes it more secluded but also can be scary when you’re in the woods alone at night. Wherever you decide to camp I would recommend looking for a place where the campsites have picnic tables, a fire pit, and even a grill (grill is not neccesary but they do have them at Pave Bend Park.) Here are a couple of pictures of Pace Bend Park. You should also be aware that almost any park will require a fee. Some just require a fee for the camp site and some also require an additional entrance fee.
Packing
Another huge part of camping is of course packing. Camping comes with a huge packing list that I am about to share with you so get ready. The first thing you will need is a tent. Our tent is a pop-up tent that only takes us 10 minutes to set up, if you would like to buy it I will link it here. For inside the tent we have a huge 22 inch tall queen size air mattress that is SO comfortable to sleep on, it was like maybe 30 bucks at Walmart and is so worth it if you are going to be camping often. 
Pack sheets, pillows, and a couple of blankets to make sleeping the most comfortable possible. Here is a picture of our bed inside the tent. Don’t forget to pack a pump to blow up the mattress! You should also pack trash bags, paper towels, foldable chairs, firewood, ice chests of your favorite drinks & water (and ice duh), pajamas, lanterns and flashlights, and a hammer for the steaks of the tent. Of course when you go camping always bring food. Bring lunch, dinner, and breakfast for the next morning. My next blog post will be all about what we eat while we’re camping and how we cook it, so check it out.
By the way guys, how cute is my little dog taking in the great big world?! We took this picture of her while on a hike on our camping trip, and I thought I would share it because who doesn’t like a picture of a puppy? (she’s a little over 3 months old and a Pomeranian)
This blog post will be a review of a blog similar to mine, in that they are both in the hiking category. Hiking Girl with Dog is a very established blog, she was awarded the top 100 hiking blog award. She has done an amazing job of producing interesting content in the hiking category.
Distinctly Different
What I think sets this blog apart from others in its category, such as mine, is that she is specifically focusing on hiking with dogs. She posts about dog friendly hikes and trails and even camping trips, catering to a large group of people who like to bring their dog along on their adventures. This is especially important for me because I just got an 8 week old puppy and I am very excited to begin taking her on my hikes when she is fully vaccinated. Reading this blog gave me a lot of information about how to hike with a dog, and makes me very excited to bring my puppy along with me. I would recommend this blog for anyone with a canine companion looking for some great tips on how to hike with your dog.
Visually Appealing
Along with being informative, this blog is extremely visually appealing. Each blog post has a multitude of pictures along with it. Not only are these pictures of beautiful scenery, but they also include her adorable dog, which is very pleasing to look at for any dog and nature lover.
Thoroughly Informative
Hiking Girl with Dog does an incredible job at creating not only visually pleasing content, but also extremely informative. I think this combination of the two components, pictures and information, is what makes her blog truly special. Reading about her hiking experience is so interesting, her voice in her work is so present and clear that I feel like I know her thoughts throughout her hikes. One of my favorite blog posts I’ve come across so far that I think is filled with the best information is called “5 Tips for Hiking with Dogs in the Summer”. Her “tips” are amazing, they are my favorite part of her blog. I was truly wondering how to keep my dog cool while hiking in Texas, where it is mostly hot. She answered so many questions I had.
In conclusion
Basically, I wish I would’ve thought to create a hiking blog also centered around my dog or dogs in general. Her content is interesting and informative and I strive for my blog to be more like hers. Keep doing you Hiking Girl with Dog, you’re amazing! If you would like to follow her, her Instagram username is hikinggirlwithdog, her Facebook page is called “Hiking Girl With Dog” and her twitter is @HikingGirlwDog.
River Place Nature Trail is a hike located a little north west of the heart of Austin, right above the Colorado River. The trail head is located in a neighborhood full of huge houses, and is right across the street from a beautiful park. Here is a map of where the trailhead is located. There is no parking lot for the trail, so when you get there just park on the street. There are three trails you can choose from panther trail, water main trail, and little fern trail. I have hiked both the panther trail and the little fern trail, but if your looking for Instagram worthy pictures my advice would be to take little fern trail. 
In order to get to this trail, look for rocks that go across the river and then cross to the other side. If your not sure what I’m talking about here is a picture (on the left) to know what to look for.
What to expect
If I’m being completely honest, this is not the easiest hike for beginners. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend this hike for anyone who is elderly, out of shape, or anyone who has small children. This is because this trail has a lot of built in stairs (like a lot). Although the stairs do make this hike challenging, it is completely shaded so even if you go on a sunny day, the sun won’t be beaming down on you. However, since the trail is mostly by water, there are a lot of things to look out for such as mosquitoes and various kinds of snakes. Bring bug spray and lots and lots of water, because trust me when you are heading up 30 stairs water will sound so good. I also suggest wearing long pants because a lot of the shrubbery on the ground can brush against your leg and can be very itchy and uncomfortable. If you’re looking for a shady hike to get a good work-out in and you’re in the mood to sweat, this hike is for you. However, if this picture below of this set of stairs looks daunting to you, I would stay away from this trail because this is a short set of stairs compared to some of the others.
Must-see features
When I first wanted to go on this hike, it was because when I googled it a picture of the waterfall similar to my feature image for this post showed up. So, I was disappointed when I finished the hike and still saw no waterfall. The second time I went, we tried a different trail looking for this certain waterfall and I finally got to see it. It is way prettier in person than pictures to me, the limestone bottom with the hole makes it very cool. This is why I suggest little fern trail.
Another feature I enjoyed was the rock walls that border one side of the trail at some points. Something about rock walls makes me feel like I’m not in Texas anymore, it looks like Colorado or something to me and that is what I love about it. This hike makes you feel so far away from the city and so close to nature. Please give this hike a try if you are up for a challenge with a good view, it is one of my favorites.
Although I do think that Austin has some of the prettiest hiking spots in my area, sometimes I just cannot bear the traffic. This weekend was one of those times where I didn’t want to drive into the city and take the risk of sitting in traffic for over an hour. So, instead of driving to the city, I chose the opposite. Guadalupe River Trail is a hiking trail in the small town of Canyon Lake (30 minutes away from San Marcos) that runs along the beautiful Guadalupe river. It was a nice back roads drive with no traffic which is just what I was looking for.
What You Can Do
I personally think that this trail had a lot to offer. When you pull into the gravel parking lot there is a trail to your left and a trail to your right, both lead to the river but the one on the left is closer to the dam than the one on the right. The one I chose to hike was the one on the right also known as “Guadalupe River South Trail”. Although I did want to see the dam, there was a smell coming from it that was foul. Once you get on the hike down the river though the smell goes away. There are plenty of things I witnessed people doing here. Some where hiking the shady trails (like me) some were fishing, and I saw a lot of people set up in lawn chairs swimming and hanging out by the river. I even saw a rope swing that kids were going on.
What Not to Do
I wouldn’t exactly call this hike a leisurely stroll, but its no mountain climbing either. I wouldn’t bring my grandma on a hike here, because it is a lot of going up and down stairs. However, if you can handle a couple of flights of stairs then this shouldn’t be too hard. Also, since you are next to the river and in the woods you definitely don’t want to be like me and forget bug spray (seriously I had so many mosquito bites). If the smell doesn’t go away, you might also want to stay away from the dam. In fact get as far away from it as you can as fast as you can so you can enjoy this beautiful hike. Here is a picture of the dam so you know what I’m talking about.
This is kinda in the middle of nowhere, and is also a long hike so if you need directions and a trail map then check out this site for that information. http://www.grpg.org/mapsanddirections/
Since it is September, and the weather is a little too hot to camp in my opinion, my first adventure will be about one of my favorite spots to hike. Bull creek is a 2.9 mile hike located right in the capitol of our great state, Austin. Austin itself is an amazing city with cool places to eat and shop, but they also have some of the most scenic hiking spots in Texas. This particular one is my favorite because its beautiful, if it gets too hot you can jump in the water, and it is dog friendly.
My absolute favorite part of this hike is the waterfall that is located just off the path in the upper bull creek region. My advice would be to walk across it to the other side so you can really get a good look. Here is a picture of me atop the waterfall:
As you can see its not too narrow to walk over. If you do want to cross all the way to the other side I would suggest doing so only if you are a tall person who can reach their legs over the waterfall, or if you are with someone reasonably tall who can get across themselves and then help you (my boyfriend had to help me because I’m barely 5 feet tall). If you aren’t careful I’m sure the water could possibly pull you down the waterfall and you could get really hurt.
To prepare for a hike like this is not a huge task. This is a relatively easy hike but I do recommend wearing some kind of tennis shoe, or closed toe walking shoe with support. However, if you are planning on spending a lot of time in the water then I might suggest wearing chacos or some water shoe so that you don’t slip on the rocks below the water. You might want to bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and water (always). I would suggest athletic clothes in the summer, sometimes even a cotton t-shirt can get too hot in my opinion. If you are planning on getting in the water during the warmer months remember to bring a towel or two, I always like one to dry off with and one to sit on. In the winter you can just wear something you’re comfortable walking in. I also like to pack my hammock, its just a little foldable hammock but it is fun to sit and relax in.
If you would like to read other people’s thoughts, opinions & tips about hiking this greenbelt check out some reviews about it on yelp! https://www.yelp.com/biz/bull-creek-district-park-austin
Introduction
My name is LeAnn Bannon, and I love to explore. Unfortunately, I am a college student and do not have the budget to travel all over and explore various parts of the world, or even the United States for that matter. So I must settle for the cheapest kinds of adventures such as hiking and camping in local areas. This blog will be about my adventures in San Marcos, TX (where I live) and the surrounding area. If you love to explore the outdoors and live in the area this blog is for you.
I can’t stand being inside for too long. Although I do have my lazy days (who doesn’t?), I love to get outside and explore. Every weekend I either will take a hike somewhere in reasonable driving distance (an hour and a half at most) or if I have the time and the weather is nice I will go camping. Here are some pictures from adventures of mine in the past.
Basics for Hiking
Hiking can be very easy for beginners who want to get out and explore nature. The Hill Country area is filled with amazing hikes for people with no hiking experience at all. My advice for someone just starting out would be to first check the weather. If the forecast shows rain you obviously don’t want to go on a hike, however you should also check to make sure it is not going to be too hot (above 92 is too hot for me) or too cold (below 45 is uncomfortable to most). If the weather is lovely then pick a hiking spot. I always search the internet to find a new beautiful place, and this blog will be about my favorite spots but if you don’t want to wait for my blog posts here is a website that shows some amazing spots. http://365thingsaustin.com/2015/09/02/top-5-tucked-away-hiking-trails-in-austin/
Pack a bag
Always pack a bag when going on a hike, you should pack water (lots of it on a hot day), snacks such as a granola bar, sunglasses, sunscreen, and I always bring a first aid kit with me everywhere I go just in case.
Basics for Camping
The basics for camping are comparatively much more complicated than of hiking. Here is a link that will walk you through some basics https://gizmodo.com/so-you-want-to-go-camping-for-the-very-first-time-1582236909 . My advice would be to borrow some camping supplies from your parents or a friend and get out there and see if you like camping before buying supplies. However, don’t be intimidated by the long packing list because when you get out there it is so worth it.
Exploring Hill Country 