3 Camping Alternatives

I love the great outdoors, but occasionally I don't want to experience all they have to offer--if you know what I mean.  Like on my anniversary, for instance.

As much as I wanted to enjoy some outdoor time with my husband last weekend, hot showers and heat were not something I was willing to forgo.

We ended up staying at a cabin in Bay View State Park that had electricity, heat, and a nearby bathroom.  There are others that have a bathroom included, but they were unfortunately booked.

Look at that cute porch swing!

We stayed warm and dry over the weekend and had an excellent view of the bay right out our front window.

Another option would be the popular Yurt.

Photo by Marya

I think this concept came from Mongolia, but Pacific Northwesterners love 'em.  They're fully furnished and usually include a skylight and porch.

And my final, and favorite camping alternative...glamping!

Photo by Laura Hamilton

It's a canvas tent that includes all the luxuries of home--and then some!

Many even have hardwood floors and full dining areas.  Check out this video from Alexandria Nicole Cellars for the full effect.

If you don't live in Washington, you're missing out

This was the view from our cabin last weekend.  We spent a few days in Anacortes for our anniversary.

Check out my Flickr account if you'd like to see more.

What I Learned Concerning Homemade Fruit Leather

1) Don't let your husband buy a 6 lb. can of pineapple.

2) However, if you happen to miss him sneaking it into the cart, search for a good fruit leather recipe, thereby converting the Beast into it's smallest and least liquidy state.

3) This recipe by Vintage Chica was simple to follow, easy to leave in a low temp oven while at work, and roughly the same for any type of fruit, including canned.

4) Adjust the amount of lemon juice you add according to how tart your fruit is as well as your personal taste.  I'm a fan of sweet, not sour.

5) Also, the less water you use, the faster your fruit leather will dry out.  I tried a fresh strawberry batch along with the pineapple, and each took nearly 10 hours.  You want it thin enough to pour evenly but not so liquidy that it takes a full day to dry.

6) Canned or fresh?  Although I would still say this is an inventive way to use up extra canned goods--especially those Costco specials your husband just couldn't resist--I definitely prefer fresh.  Canned fruit has already been cooked once in the canning process, and therefore has lost some of its flavor.  The fresh strawberry fruit leather, on the other hand, was still delicious after 10 hours in my oven.

7) Overall, I would recommend making fruit leather because it's healthier than purchasing Fruit Roll-Ups, and it makes a nice change when you get bored with plain old fresh fruit.

I hope these tips help!