Journal it

One the things we decided to do early on, was collect our thoughts after each camping trip in a journal. This way, we could go back and reminisce on our time in the park but also use those experiences to determine going back. 


The journal was nothing special, just a freebie that I received at work actually. I took it with us on our first trip and decided that it makes the most sense to leave it in the glove compartment of the truck so we never forget it. It's also right there for me (I ride shotgun) once we get back on the road it is the first thing I reach for while our memories are still fresh. 

 

We've used it for three years now, and I was tired of looking at the logo on the front of it, so I put a big sticker on it and painted it! 

Much better, right? I've noticed that right after we camp is when we are the most excited and motivated to book the next trip. So I keep a copy of a Texas State Parks book with it so we can explore what other park we might want to do next. It fits perfectly up against the journal too. 

On the inside, I jot down:

• Park name
• City/State
• Date of trip
• Amount of time it took us to drive to the location 
• 5 star rating scale
• Activities at the park or nearby
• Thoughts/memories/things to remember for next time

Here are a couple of example pages:

This journal is a really great resource for us. If you can't tell from the pictures, we are brutally honest when describing our thoughts and experiences, which is important to highlight. Trust me, in two years' time when you look back, you won't remember what you really thought about it all.

I've also discovered, they make camping journals now that are pre-planned out for you and all you have to do is fill in the blanks! If that is more your bag, here are a couple of super cute options on Amazon and here are a few on Etsy.

Whichever way you decide, I highly recommend recording your experiences!