Give a gift this year that will produce memories for years to come. The holiday season is for giving and most times people forget that sometimes the best gift is not one you can hold, but is an experience that produces memories for a lifetime. Personally, my favorite gift I have received was the gift of flying a plane! I will never forget flying that plane, and feel the way I felt in that moment. 

This holiday season, give a gift that allows you to make memories, give a weekend to remember with Coonhound Camping. Giving the gift of Coonhound's Camping experience will provide the comfort and full service that will allow you to enjoy your time off. Along with a wonderful package you will be able to be centered in one of the most beautiful places in the United States of America. So many wonderful views to see and things to do in East Tennessee that this will be the best gift ever! So make sure you don’t just give a gift this holiday season, give a gift, the Coonhound way!

With so many things to do in East Tennessee in the Fall it can be hard to decide where to go and enjoy a brisk fall weekend. I want to make it simple for you by providing you a couple of places that I have been personally this Fall. Hi everyone, it’s Jeremy here and I wanted to let you know a couple of my favorite places to go this fall.
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I had the privilege of going to Dollywood this fall and experience all of the wonderful things it has to offer. For those that do not know, Dollywood is a family amusement located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and is owned by Dolly Parton. This park provided a great mix of thrilling rides with the fun fall activities. From high-flying rides all the way to the pumpkins found throughout the park, you will have a blast, no matter what age. I would recommend steering clear of the couple of water rides in the park for this trip though! This was the first time I had gone to Dollywood and it will not be the last.

Another place that I went to was Oakes Farm in Corryton, Tennessee. Oakes was a very wonderful place to take your family or a significant other for a photo shoot with the beautiful mountains in the background. If that isn’t for you then maybe you are interested in discovering which farm animal took ‘Farmer Joe’ as you find your way through the corn maze. Maybe you want ride the hayride to go pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. My point is that no matter what you are looking for in a fall day, you will find it at one of the 25 activities that Oakes provides. Along with the attractions it also had multiple places to sit and eat something from ‘Pappy’s Fry Shack’, ‘Farmhouse Grill’, or ‘Grammy’s Sweets & Treats’. I will be going back to Oakes in the future.

With all of the beauty in East Tennessee it is hard to pick what to do this fall. I hope this helps anyone with a tough decision on where to go!

Connor here! I’m the co-founder that has, fortunately and unfortunately, been studying abroad while we’ve been starting things up here at Coonhound. While I haven’t had a lot of camping experience living in a big city like London, I have honed my skills in the masterful art of packing light. I believe that, whether you’re traveling, camping, or going for a long hike, what is and, more importantly, what isn’t in your backpack makes a big difference. Here’s what I’ve learned going from London to Jerusalem and several places in between. 
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First, like any good southerner, I’ll use a lesson I learned from my mom. It’s the most obvious - don’t pack a lot of stuff. The way she helped me do this is by asking me to lay all the clothes I wanted to take on my bed. Then cut it in half. Once you’ve gotten down to only the essentials, cut it in half again. That’s how much you actually need. What this consists of should be, if you’re concerned about your appearance, things that are versatile and all go well together. I’d recommend sticking to one pair of pants (unless you have some particularly for hiking) for your trip. You might laugh now, particularly if you’re a guy, but buy into the miracle that is stretchy jeans. They’re perfect for any situation, and I have personally put them to the test, walking over 20 miles in a single day in them.
 
Secondly, to maximize your space I would recommend rolling up your clothes in tight cylinders, a trick many probably already know. What I recommend more, however, is to instead pack button-ups. Button-ups are the unsung heroes of efficient packing. They take up less space, look nice, and, most importantly, can be customized to the temperature. Hot? Roll up the sleeves and maybe unbutton a bit. Cold? Do the reverse. This way, there’s no need to bring both the long sleeve and the short sleeve - it’s a 2-in-1!
 
Speaking of temperatures, always bring something to cover up with. There’s nothing that can ruin your fun like being unexpectedly cold. Most times you don’t even think about how cold it can get, I certainly didn’t in Israel. Whether you’re in the desert or the mountains, the nights are much colder. Make sure you’re prepared. I think the best way to do this is to bring your rain jacket. This breaks the wind, covers up, packs well, and also means you don’t have to worry about the weather. 
  
There’s a few more tips across the board I’d like to mention. First off, I’ve had success with packing cubes, but you should be careful to fill in the cracks between them with stuff also. Otherwise, a great way to stay organized. Second, re-wear clothes. It sounds like something your mother would scold you for, but trust me it’s not necessary to have a different shirt for each day. If you have a particularly long trip, buy a couple Woolite packets and give them a quick rinse in a sink. Otherwise, just mix and match! Lastly, stuff all those cracks between your packing cubes with some pocket-sized snacks! Snickers hit the nail on the head when they said, “You’re not you when you’re hungry.” For your sanity and the sanity of your companions, keep those snacks locked and loaded at all times.
 
That’s all I have for now! I hope to see several people sporting the stretchy jeans, button-up, and rain jacket look munching on some cashews when I get back to the beautiful hills of Tennessee!
If you’re wanting to pack as light as possible for your next camping adventure try out Coonhound! Not only will you avoid the hassle and time-consuming process of setting up and taking down, but you’ll get top notch equipment and not have to carry a thing! Whether the Great Smoky Mountains are in your backyard or you’re flying across the country, camp with Coonhound and you’ll truly get the most out of your trip!

Waking up to birds singing the song of spring, the infectious, sweet, smell of dew mixed with the reminiscence of the campfire, and the sight of the spring sun peering over the trees, the spring has arrived. Nothing quite like the simplicity of nature to thrust you into the world outside of the city's hustle and bustle. We at Coonhound would like to personally welcome you to our favorite time of the year, "camping season". 
This time of the year is best because you can truly enjoy your favorite trail, creek, or camping site again. The weather is finally warming up and whether you are getting antsy to get back into the mountains or you are looking to experience your first enjoyable encounter with nature, we would love to assist you, and your loved ones, experience a moment you will never forget.
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With a wide variety of campers and camping stiles, we offer many different packages and miscellaneous items to assist, even the most experienced camper, enjoy their time in the mountains.  So come on out, you never know the what type of adventure you will encounter in the woods this time. The world is your playground, so go play, with Coonhound.

Most people would agree that skiing is best left to winter and baseball is most enjoyable in the summer. Where there isn’t a clear consensus is camping.  With the potential for snow, wind, and overall bone-chilling temperatures, many would say that camping isn’t meant for the winter. The truth is, with the right gear, winter camping can be one of the most rewarding outdoor experiences. Often it can be difficult during prime months to get a great campsite at some of the national parks' best locations. However, during the winter this isn't the case. Waterfalls, usually overflowing with people in the summer, can be a particularly beautiful experience during the cold tundra of the winter months and gazing from atop your favorite peak in the Smokies is truly unlike anything you’ve seen during peak season. Of course, nothing makes camping quite as enjoyable as a burning fire and some campfire-made hot cocoa during the chilly nights. In the end, as long as you bring the right clothes, and have a high-quality winter sleeping bag, the great outdoors can be a weekend getaway year round.
 
So, go and see that waterfall. Take that trail you’ve been on several times during the summer. You won’t regret it.
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Stay tuned for our top picks for your winter adventures in our future posts, and be sure to check out our Luxury Winter Package with all the essentials to have a camping trip unlike any other, we’ll even throw in the hot cocoa!