Exploring Maine on the dogs' first camping trip.
The dogs enjoying their first camping trip c/o our Wagwear tent.
I love NYC. But every once in a while, it's important to get out of the city—breathe some clean air, hear birds singing, and actually see the stars. I grew up backpacking and car-camping around the Pacific Northwest, so something about waking up under pine trees just feels so right to me.
Planning Our Camping Trip
When we had an unexpectedly free June weekend, I jumped at the chance to plan a camping trip with our dogs. Our friends at Wagwear helped outfit the pups with their own stylish tent (which they loved!) and also some WagWellies (basically the dog version of Hunter boots) to keep their feet dry. Besides their bowls, towels, leashes, food, and crates, we also packed some puppy s'mores from Spotted Dog Bakery and cozy plaid fleeces from Woof Out West to make their first camp experience truly memorable.
Booking a dog-friendly campsite
Around NYC, I always feel like the hardest part of camping is booking a site. So many of the spots that are accessible to New Yorkers looking to do some car camping are booked way out in advance, and you either have to fly by the seat of your pants and just show up at the campground hoping for a spot (not my style) or you have to comb through the many jenky sites that let you reserve a spot online. And a lot of those don't allow dogs or have a $50+ dog fee. UGH.
But this camping experience was totally different because I discovered Tentrr. (I want to take a moment here and say this post is not sponsored by Tentrr, I just think they're doing something really cool and I am all about it.) It's basically like Airbnb for camping—people can sign up some of their land that they're not necessarily using, and Tentrr comes and turns it into a full-service glamping site. You don't have to deal with loud neighbors, gross campground bathrooms, dog fees, or getting your tent out of storage. Plus, you can reserve the kind of really cool spots that are tough to nab at traditional campgrounds—like ones with mountain views or right on the waterfront.
Our campsite was on a tiny peninsula in a huge lake-like river in Greene, Maine. The hosts were incredibly kind and welcoming on our arrival, but other than that, the only people we saw during our stay were a few kayakers who passed to check out an eagle's nest (!) next to our site. Tentrr sites come with a safari tent, wood stove, bed, toilet, picnic table, fire pit, Adirondack chairs, and sun shower. Our site also gave us the option to add-on a bedding, dishes, or canoe package for an extra $25. We went ahead and opted for a canoe, which was a great decision (see below). You can also use our referral link for 20% off your first stay.
Our Stay in Maine
The dogs couldn't have loved our little Maine escape more. Because we were next to the water, they could splash in the sandy shallows, ride in our canoe, and run around in the woods. It was wonderful to see them enjoying some freedom since they're on leashes for and in small spaces for so much of their NYC life. They came home muddy and exhausted. Scroll down for more pictures and to shop the post. Plus, tell us in the comments if you have any tips for camping with pups.
Lizzie loved canoeing
Dave just wanted to sit in his WagWear tent all day
Snack time
Puppy S'Mores from Spotted Dog Bakery
Our lovely view
Lizzie in her Woof Out West fleece
Modeling our Woof Out West fleeces
Our Tentrr tent
Snoozing 💤
Lizzie's first swim
Staying dry with WagWellies
Enjoying those river views
Working on Lizzie's swimming—she loved it by the end, but took some persuading at first...
Sitting by the campfire
Is it time for dinner yet?
Because coffee goes everywhere we go...
Drying off after her swim
Shop the Post
P.S. We don't pretend to be experts on the best dog gear for serious outdoor adventures, but if you're looking for that, our friends at You Did What With Your Weiner have a great guide.
We sometimes receive a small affiliate income when you purchase a product linked on our site, but we'll only ever include products we truly love. Please also note that we received some free products for styling in the photos shown in this post, but all opinions are our own.
