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If there’s one thing that there never seems to be enough of, it’s time. Last night J and I were flipping through his work calendar and, because his schedule is set a year in advance, we were able to see that our free weekends over the summer are few and far between. During the summer of 2011, we managed to squeeze in only three camping trips but hope to almost double that this year.

Over July and August, 2011, we found ourselves at Silver Lake, Washington, on Hornby Island and at Birkenhead Lake near Pemberton. While I’ve already managed to book a five-day weekend so we can explore the Oregon Coast this July, we are looking to plan and book other camping hot spots for the summer months.

• Where are some of your favourite places to go camping?
• Do you have any hidden spots you’re willing to share?

Those that have been, know. Those that visit for the first time are lovers for life.

My childhood summers on Hornby Island were far more impressionable on me than words can tell the tales of, so last week I packed up the camping gear and brought J along for his first trip.

After two quick ferry rides, we found ourselves at Tribune Bay Campsite and quickly set up. Unsure if the rain would come, we hung the world’s largest tarp over our site, I pitched the tent and J got busy chopping firewood. I’m quite proud to say that not only did he teach me to chop firewood with an axe that weighs as much as I do, but he also showed me how to start and maintain an excellent campfire.

Relaxation was the priority for our first evening – something that’s not hard to do on Hornby Island. Rather than spend time exploring, we grabbed cold beer from the Co-op and grilled up some dinner. My only “luxury” when camping? A pop-up kitchen.

I love this guy…

Despite rumours to the contrary, I found Tribune Bay campsite to be exactly as it was over a decade ago the last time I was there. It’s a quiet, family-friendly campground filled with happy dogs, kids racing around on their bikes and crackling fires at every site. We were lucky enough to have fun neighbours that challenged our Monopoly skills on the second night.

One of Hornby Island’s must-sees is Helliwell Provincial Park. On our first full day, we pulled into the parking lot before the sun got too hot and readied ourselves for the 5-km picturesque trek.

Flip flops might not be the greatest of ideas, but I made do with what I had.

The biggest draw to Helliwell Park is the breathtaking cliffs that bring hikers out of the woods and along the water. A bit of common sense is all that’s required. Keep kids close and dogs on leashes. The stunning views are not to be missed!

Taking our time, we veered off the path for some beach-combing fun! Vibrant purple starfish scattered the shoreline amongst slippery seaweed and crunchy barnacles.

Another often missed but worthwhile visit on Hornby Island is Ford’s Cove. Found at the furthest end of Central Road, this marina defines “quaint.” With a pizza cafe, boat-shaped fish n’ chips stand and organic fair trade coffee, spending a quiet morning at Ford’s Cove is hard to beat.

We scrambled over and around crater-like sandstone formations that felt more like moon-walking than exploring a shoreline. Shallow waters surround the area, so spotting crabs, geoduck sprays and fish in the water provides for some natural entertainment.

For anyone that has ever visited Hornby Island, the star attraction is undoubtedly Tribune Bay beach and the adjacent Little Tribune Bay beach.

Nestled in between tall trees on one side and incredible, natural sandstone sculptures on the other, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more stunning beach in BC.

Tribune Bay features aqua water, powdery white sand and stunning vistas into the Georgia Strait further than they eye can see. J constructed a “deck” out of driftwood, I slathered us in SPF 45 and we spent a sunny afternoon at Tribune Bay.

Noshing on organic strawberries, tossing a football around and watching skilled skimboarders made for a perfect beach day.

Rarely is dining out acceptable when camping, but Hornby Island is most certainly an exception. Visiting the Cardboard Bakery is unavoidable with their tasty pastries and chocolate shakes. On our final day, we visited Jan’s Cafe for breakfast.

Jan’s Cafe has been a staple in the Ringside Market for more years than I can remember. Known for creating fresh, delicious and healthy food, my favourite part of eating at Jan’s is the sunny atmosphere and infectious smile served up by Jan herself.

Four days and three nights wasn’t long enough for us, but we’ll take what we can get. There’s so much more on Hornby Island to explore, including wineries, a distillery, a meadery, more beaches, petroglyphs, a free store with an incredible local recycling program, kayaking and biking. I suppose that only means we’ll have to visit again next year with a few extra days added for good measure! You can view all my photos from Hornby Island on Flickr.

P.S. Do as we did. If you’re visiting Hornby, fill jugs with tap water and bring it with you. Water is a scarce commodity on the Island, so leave what’s there for the locals to use.

To stay connected to the Hornby Island community or to plan a vacation to the island, visit Real Hornby online.

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Having spent the long weekend in the Comox Valley, it was almost impossible to go anywhere without being treated to a view of Mount Washington. Since J had never been, on our last day in the Valley we made a last-minute decision to make the quick trip up the Strathcona Parkway to take in the views from an opposite perspective.

The vibe on the hill is a bit different during the summer months (though you wouldn’t know it, being that the slopes were open for skiing over the Canada Day long weekend), but there’s still a ton of activities and events to keep you busy. We quickly discovered that shorts and flip flops were a smart idea as the plaza was free of snow and the sun was shining brightly.

After grabbing a quick, deliciously roasted coffee (and an oatmeal raisin cookie for good measure) in the lodge, we made our way to the star of the summer show. Mile-high chair rides draw visitors wanting to take in the expansive views often obscured by clouds during the winter months.

With all the snow still on the ground, you might not believe it to be July. However, the sun was toasty warm and the air fresh, making the 15-minute ride to the top nothing but relaxing.

Instantly we were greeted by the Inukshuk Gallery, compiled of rock formations created by those visiting the top of the mountain. While making one of my own would have been fun, I was instantly distracted by the panoramas.

If these photos are worth 1,000 words, then taking in the view in person would no doubt leave you speechless. To the north we could see Campbell River, surrounding lakes, Quadra Island and Cortes Island.

In the southern direction, the Comox Valley was laid before us – everything from Comox Lake to CFB Comox and all points in between. Denman Island and Hornby Island were in the immediate distance and the faint silhouette of Mt. Baker was on the horizon. Seeing Mt. Baker from Mt. Washington was a bit of trip, as only the weekend before we were standing on that peak, looking in the opposite direction.

Despite the snow at the top and the flip flops on our feet, our toes managed not to freeze.

And as we made our way back down, both J and I were blown away by our sky-high perspective on the Comox Glacier.

Mount Washington Alpine Resort is open daily until September 5th for mile-high chair rides. A family of four can visit the top for $43; those 5 and under are free while all other riders are $16 each. For more information on this and other great summer activities, visit Mount Washington Alpine Resort online.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2

With the first of many epic camping trips on our horizon, J and I decided that a trial run was necessary and made a last-minute decision on the weekend. We packed up the truck and made a run for the border.

Jordy’s first camping trip and first cross-border adventure found all three of us headed through Sumas en route to Silver Lake Park in Washington State.

Located in Whatcom County, Silver Lake is a tranquil body of water nestled among meadows within a valley of giant mountains. After quickly popping up our tent and marinating our New York steak, we hit the trails around the park.

Hunger brought us back to our campsite and J started the fire while I cracked open a couple of beers for us. Sometimes the best parts of camping involve doing a whole lot of nothing.

I found that “whole lot of nothing” to do in the nearby hammock that J had set up for us…

… and I wasn’t the only one who enjoyed it.

Following our grilled dinner, we spent the rest of the evening noshing on potato chips, swigging beer, laughing by the crackling fire and feeling awestruck by the sunset over the mountains.

With morning came more sunshine, so wasted time was not part of our schedule. After a quick breakfast of fire-cooked quinoa with cinnamon, raisins and sliced banana, we hopped in the truck and headed out on our day’s adventure.

Heading east on State Route 542, our first stop was Nooksack Falls. These cascading falls plummet more than 170 feet and are fed with ice cold glacier water. Curious as to where the water came from, we continued eastward and climbed the Mount Baker Highway.

Few things are as bliss-inducing as rattling through back country roads with sun splashing across the dashboard while Eddie Vedder’s “Hard Sun” crackles through the radio. After a short journey we found ourselves at Mt. Baker, eye-to-eye with Mount Shuksan. The source of Nooksack Falls, Mount Shuksan reaches the sky at over 4,411 feet tall (not including elevation) and is guaranteed to take your breath away.

As is always the case, the weekend ended far sooner than we were ready for. However, crawling along Highway 1 back to Vancouver would have been a great deal more painful if we didn’t know that we’d be sleeping in the great outdoors once again in only a handful of days. You can view all the photos from our camping trip in my Flickr set.

Hopeful that we’ll spend as much time camping as possible this summer, I’m looking for epic spots to spend our weekends.

What’s your favourite part of camping?

Where are your favourite places to go camping in southwestern BC or the northwestern U.S.?