There are 63 National Parks in America, as of now, in 2021. But being in the southeast, with the limited budget and fear of driving 20 plus hours in the car with toddlers, setting a goal of camping or hiking in all the parks seemed overly ambitious. I needed something smaller, something a little more doable.

There are 48 state parks in Georgia and 56 state parks in Tennessee. Picking one of those states seemed like a more realistic goal. Plus, the last time we tried camping with just one nursing baby, I am positive I cried over my coffee the next morning because no one slept. That was more than a year, and one child ago.  

The second time we tried camping, we were a family of four with a different nursing baby. That trip had all the potential to be perfect. An idyllic spot, an afternoon of peaceful canoeing—but no—we packed up at 2 a.m. and drove home.

So, what’s a gal to do when she’s desperate to get out of town with her family. She tries again. Third times a charm.