So you live in a metropolitan area, but are craving wide-open spaces. This might be hard to believe, but you don’t have to go far to go camping. A new wave of campgrounds has cropped up and we’re ready to lay out our proverbial (or actual) sleeping bags and book ‘em. From Louisville to Edinburgh, read on for our favorite urban campgrounds just a stone’s throw away from where you call home.
Deaton Street Photography
1. Progress Park Airstream Resort & Event Venue in Louisville, KY
Located about 25 minutes away from downtown Louisville, Progress Park is a must for quirky camping in the Bluegrass state. Here you’ll find a slew of Airstream trailers and lake house accommodations on 12 sprawling acres outside the city limits of Derbyville. Currently, guests can choose from overnight rentals in one of seven vintage Airstreams, a bunkhouse, and two houses that accommodate two to 10 guests. On the premises, enjoy swimming in a two-acre pond, access to kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, a groomed nature trail, corn hole, horseshoes, tetherball, and a playground.
Remind us why we haven’t hit the high seas—or Lochrin Basin—for a night in a “boatel” before? At this unique retreat in a wide-beam canal barge, securely docked in the heart of Edinburgh, you can hit the hay in vessels with two cozy cabin bedrooms that can fit up to eight guests (including bunk beds and double beds). There’s also a full kitchen and bathroom. You’ll be a stone’s throw away from Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile area, and your home away from home also boasts Wi-Fi and a nice patio for soaking up the views.
This vintage trailer hotel and campground under the starry canvas of New Mexico’s skies (check) within arm’s reach of Taos Mesa Brewing (check plus). It’s just eight miles from downtown Taos and you have your choice of 20 vintage trailers and 60 campsites. There are also primitive RV spaces without hook-ups. There’s free Wi-Fi, a pet-friendly policy, and no shortage of soul-restorative mountain views.
If you want to bookend your trip to New Mexico with a jaunt to Sante Fe, it’s a two-hour drive from Luna Mystica to glamping hub KitFox, a 25-minute drive from downtown Santa Fe. Rejoice in the silence of the desert, and if you can time your visit, swing by when they are hosting special events such as for Orionid meteor showers or super full moons, running/writing retreats, “dine in the wild” feasts, and more.
To Idaho we go. Less than an hour outside of Boise, Idaho, head to this luxury tiny home village before the stunning peaks of the Sawtooth Mountains when you need a break from it all. The abodes are fully furnished and offer Smart Glass technology (the glass changes transparency based on the external temperature or by remote control). There are also full bathrooms, kitchen, cooktops for outdoor dining, firepits, and Wi-Fi. When you feel like getting off-site, The Smoke Jumper is within walking distance of hot springs retreat The Springs, at the ready for that rejuvenating soak you didn’t know you needed.
Okay, so this may be two hours from a major city (in this case Denver), but it’s too cool not to mention for aspiring van-lifers. Once you’ve got the keys, you can go to whatever urban or rural locale to which the spirit moves you. These nifty vehicles make vanning around town a breeze with mini kitchens, comfy beds, and water systems as you cruise around to RV parks and fee-free Bureau of Land Management sites. Bonus for winter travelers: Some ski resorts allow overnight camping.
7. LCRA Parks Lake Bastrop North Shore Park in Bastrop, Texas
Only a 45-minute drive from Austin gets you to glamping central at LCRA Parks Lake Bastrop North Shore Park. Pick from a selection of lake-front tents, cabins, and Airstreams, all with boat dock access and watercraft rentals as add-ons. Between mountain biking, fishing, and hiking adventures, relax at the fire pit, outdoor deck, or cook up a storm during a boys’ weekend. FYI: The tents have a shared bathroom within walking distance and the cabins. The Airstreams have a private restroom with shower. Our vote if you’re bringing along the lady: the Montana tent for a romantic lakefront retreat.
8. Collective Retreats Governors’ Island in New York, New York
Hop on an eight-minute ferry ride from downtown Manhattan and you’ll feel away from the hustle and bustle of city life gathering around fire pits, lazing in Adirondack chairs, and walking or biking around park grounds, all with the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline illuminating the background. A cushy tent will be your home-away-from-home, and fare from the outdoor Argentine grill for dinner and Collective Brews, their craft beer program, are straight after our heartstrings.
So you wanna sleep in a shipping container? NYC Glamping is at the ready to make your upcycled slumber fantasies come true in these converted shipping containers. They come complete with A/C, Wi-Fi, a shower and bathroom, all overlooking the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn waterfront. For something snazzier, NYC Glamping also has an overnight boat rental on offer. There’s also glamping tents if you prefer to be more at one with the elements.
About 90 minutes outside of Chicago, situated near Starved Rock State Park, you’ll arrive at Camp Aramoni, established in a former 19th-century brickyard, restored by husband-wife team Jennifer and Tim Bias with their daughter Stephanie and son Jacob. Now, the 96-acre grounds is an idyllic escape of forest terrain, peaceful ponds and native wildflower fields along the Vermilion River. Guests stay in any of the 11 elevated safari-style tents, outfitted with air conditioning and heat. There are hardwood floors, king-sized beds, a private en-suite restroom, personal campfire with nightly gourmet s’mores, and other amenities.
When hunger strikes, mosey on over to The Barn, the campgrounds’ main lodge. Here there’s breakfast and dinner service, and a general store with travel essentials, snacks and grab-and-go meals. Admittedly, you can find us steps away from our tents hanging out at The Burlington, a renovated 1971 Airstream Overlander RV converted into a coffee, espresso, and cocktail bar. There’s walk-up access, turning strangers into friends, and hangovers into caffeine-fueled morning newspaper-reading marathons.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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