Vital Technologies, Inc.

It happened around 2 a.m. Saturday morning. I was fast asleep in my tent a few feet from the Atlantic Ocean on Florida's Long Key. For no obvious reason, I snapped awake, sat up, and looked out my tent's mesh window. There it was: the big ole yellow moon hanging over the vast sea, its rays dancing on the water. It was such a simple, perfect, and beautiful moment, I just sat there in awe.

That's why everybody should go camping. (Tent camping, that is. RV camping is a whole other experience.) To truly appreciate nature's wonder, you need to see it front and center. You need to get dirty. You need to get soaked by rain. You need to be too hot or too cold. You need to be humbled by nature to appreciate its gifts. At least that’s my take.

So go tent camping ASAP! If you can make it down to the Keys, check out Long Key State Park, which is about 90 miles south of Miami. Most sites are right on the ocean, have fire pits, water, and electric. (One caveat: Sometimes the overseas highway traffic noise can be a bit loud.)

I also highly recommend Bahia Honda State Park, which is about 40 miles south of Long Key and only about 45 minutes to Key West. Be sure to stay in Sandspur Campground, though, which is RV-free, very private, and oceanfront. Campsites 62-72 are the best – just mere inches to the water. How can you beat that?