Plan a Trip with Camping New York

Two years ago, after logging hundreds of trail hours in the parks and nature reserves scattered across Long Island, Eastern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut, and the Hudson Valley, my first book appeared in print. As any author will tell you, writing is a book is a lot of work, and Best Hikes Near New York City involved plenty of it. From trip planning and hiking (and in some cases re-hiking) each route, to mapping, photographing, and researching local history, I devoted a tremendous amount of time to that guidebook. Flipping through its pages now, I see little things I wish I'd changed and wonder if I could've added another hike or two. Overall I'm happy with it though, which is probably why, when my editor asked if I wanted to author a title in Globe Pequot's Where to Camp series, I said yes.

And so, once again, I consulted my New York State road map, charged my camera batteries, and rummaged around for the trusty Garmin GPS in the back of my closet. Then, armed with an Empire Passport and a new sleeping bag, I set out to write Camping New York, my second book for FalconGuides. It took me longer than expected, but it's out now in paperback and will soon be available as a Kindle eBook, too. In roughly 150 pages I concisely cover 130 campsites from easternmost Long Island to the top of Adirondack Park and west to Lake Erie. Hopefully the tour region maps, photos, and quick reference tables will make it easy to decide where you want to go, whether it's your first camping trip, or your fifty-first. Finally, for those who might be curious, the site pictured on the cover is at Mongaup Pond in the Catskills, the one place last summer where I actually spotted a black bear near the campground.

Beer Travel Talk at the New York Travel Festival

On Saturday, April 20th, I'll be moderating a panel discussion on beer travel at the inaugural New York Travel Festival (NYTF). Covering recent trends, brewery tours, and ale trails in New York and New Jersey, my session is one of dozens taking place at the Bohemian National Hall on East 73rd Street and will run from 11:20am until noon, with a beer tasting to follow. Panelists include: 

• Josh Bernstein, author of Brewed Awakening and the app Craft Beer New York
• Jeremy Cowan, founder of Schmaltz Brewing (NY) and president of the New York City Brewers Guild
• Gene Muller, founder of Flying Fish Brewing (NJ) and vice president of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild
• David Naczycz, co-founder of Urban Oyster

Join us in the first floor cinema and bring questions! Then stick around to sample several beers, including Hop Manna IPA. Single day and package tickets (which include lunch and a Sunday tour) are still available: bitly.com/NYTF2013.

Craft Beer and Edible Communities

In spite of the gains craft brewing has made in recent years, it's still a small piece of an enormous $101 billion pie. At first glance, it might even seem insignificant. Anchor Brewing Company, which distributes to all 50 states as well as several foreign countries, employs just 50 people. Anheuser-Busch InBev has 120,000 employees worldwide. But a closer look at the US beer industry reveals telling details that can't be neatly quantified or easily summarized with charts and tables.

Earlier this fall, I wrote several articles about the evolving story of craft beer in New York and New Jersey. The first, entitled "Heads Up, Big Boys," profiles a few of the newest brewers in the Garden State—businesses like the Cape May Brewing Company, Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands, and Kane Brewing of Ocean Township. Another piece, "Climbing Their Way Back," about the return of hop farming in New York, appears in Edible Hudson Valley. And finally, in a third article for Edible East End, I chronicle the proliferation of craft beer bars on Long Island.

Jersey Jaunts with Junior

School's out and summer's here. If you have children, this probably means that you're looking for ways to keep them busy and out of trouble. One relatively easy option is to get kids outdoors: take them to a park, teach them how to canoe or kayak, or show them how to pitch a tent. You'll be able to bond over the experience and they'll have fun learning something that doesn't involve homework and pop quizzes.

For parents in New York and New Jersey, my story in the July issue of New Jersey Family explains how to prepare for a camping trip with kids, and suggests seven places to go for under $65 a night. I also offer a short list of camping packing essentials and recommend several books that will take the guesswork out of planning a weekend in the woods. The Best in Tent Camping: New Jersey (part of a series published by Menasha Ridge Press) is a good bet for purists in search of scenic and serene campsites while Camp Out!: The Ultimate Kids' Guide is written for the younger reader who wants to help mom and dad plan for an overnight in the backwoods or the backyard.