Episode 12: Harvest Hosts vs. Campgrounds – Which One Wins? (+ The Story Behind Camping with the Innies)

Is a Harvest Hosts stay better than a traditional campground? In this episode of Set Up, Tear Down, we compare two very different camping experiences after staying at 1781 Brewing Company and Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views.

We share what surprised us most about each stop, break down the pros and cons of Harvest Hosts versus full-service campgrounds, and explain why the best choice really depends on the kind of trip you’re taking. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful overnight stop or a campground to settle into for a few days, we’ve got you covered.

Plus, we’re answering a listener question we’ve been asked more than once: How did “Camping with the Innies” get its name? (Hint: it has nothing to do with belly buttons!)

In This Episode

• Harvest Hosts vs. traditional campgrounds
• Our stay at 1781 Brewing Company
• Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views review
• Pros and cons of each camping style
• Which type of camping is best for different trips
• The story behind the name Camping with the Innies

Mentioned in This Episode

• 1781 Brewing Company: https://www.1781brewing.com/
• Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views: https://spaciousskiescampgrounds.com/shenandoah-views/

Follow our adventures:

• Instagram: @camping_with_the_innies
• Website: https://campingwiththeinnies.com
• Email: info@campingwiththeinnies.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with a fellow camper. Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Send it our way—it might be featured in a future episode!

Rich’s Retreat Recap : Massachusetts Camping, Road Trip Stories & Unexpected Mishaps

Our annual trip to Rich’s Retreat is in the books, and we’re sharing everything that made this camping adventure one to remember. From spending time with family around the campfire to exploring some great local stops, this episode is packed with real stories, travel tips, and a few unexpected surprises along the way.

Not every road trip goes exactly as planned. We talk about the gas can that somehow fell through our cargo basket while we were driving, a small battery that unexpectedly exploded in the cup holder, and why our Nissan Pathfinder may be giving us the first signs of a transmission problem.

If you enjoy RV travel, camping adventures, campground stories, tow vehicle maintenance, and honest conversations about life on the road, this episode is for you.

In This Episode

● Rich’s Retreat 2026 camping recap

● Campfire stories, food, and favorite memories

● Visiting Echo Hill Orchards & Winery

● Dinner at the Historic Steaming Tender Restaurant

● The gas can that escaped our cargo basket

● A battery explosion inside the tow vehicle

● Possible transmission concerns with the Nissan Pathfinder

● Lessons learned from another memorable camping trip

Places We Visited

Echo Hill Orchards & Winery: 
A family-owned orchard, winery, and distillery in Monson, Massachusetts. If you’re traveling through western Massachusetts, it’s a fantastic stop for locally made wines, cider, spirits, fresh fruit, and beautiful scenery.

Website: https://www.echohillorchards.com

Steaming Tender Restaurant
: Located inside the historic Palmer Union Station in Palmer, Massachusetts, this one-of-a-kind restaurant offers great food with front-row views of active railroad tracks—perfect for train enthusiasts and anyone looking for a unique dining experience.

Website: https://www.steamingtender.com

Antonio’s Pizza by the Slice
: A western Massachusetts favorite known for its huge selection of creative pizza slices—from classic cheese and pepperoni to unique combinations like buffalo chicken, mac & cheese, and more. It’s a quick, casual stop that’s perfect for grabbing a slice (or a few) while on the road.

Website: https://www.antoniospizza.com

We’d Love to Hear From You!

What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened on one of your camping trips? Have you ever lost gear on the highway, dealt with vehicle trouble, or had a camping mishap that turned into a great story?

Share it with us—we may feature it in a future episode!

🌐 Website: https://campingwiththeinnies.com

📧 Email: info@campingwiththeinnies.com

📸 Instagram: @camping_with_the_innies

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave us a five-star review, and share the podcast with your camping friends. Your support helps us continue sharing real camping stories, travel tips, and adventures from the road.

Thanks for listening, and until next time… happy camping!

Tim, Kristen, Monty and Gadget

In Episode 10 of Camping with the Innies, we're deep into preparation mode as we get ready for our annual trip to Rich's Retreat, a longtime camping tradition hosted at Kristen's parents' backyard. Before we can kick back and enjoy the weekend, there are plenty of projects to tackle, and we're bringing you along for the journey.

This week, we discuss the camper upgrades and RV maintenance tasks we've been working on to get road-ready. From reinforcing interior shelving to strengthening the rear bumper and preparing it to support a cargo basket carrying our generator, we're focused on making our travel trailer safer, more reliable, and better equipped for future adventures.

We also talk about our first experience using Harvest Hosts and what we're expecting from this unique RV camping membership program. If you've ever considered staying at wineries, farms, breweries, or other Harvest Hosts locations, we share our thoughts on planning, preparation, and why we're excited to give it a try.

As always, we dive into the realities of RV ownership, trip planning, and the unexpected projects that seem to appear before every camping trip. Whether you're a full-time RVer, weekend warrior, or just dreaming about life on the road, this episode offers practical insights, DIY camper modification ideas, and plenty of camping conversation.

In This Episode: • Preparing for our annual Rich's Retreat camping trip • Our first-time experience planning a Harvest Hosts stay • Reinforcing camper shelves and storage areas • Strengthening the rear bumper for additional cargo capacity • Generator transportation and power planning • RV maintenance and pre-trip preparation tips • Travel trailer upgrades and DIY projects • Lessons learned from previous camping adventures

If you enjoy RV camping, travel trailers, campground reviews, Harvest Hosts stays, DIY camper upgrades, camping with dogs, RV maintenance, and family camping adventures, be sure to subscribe and follow Camping with the Innieswherever you get your podcasts.

Connect With Us:

🌐 Website: https://www.campingwiththeinnies.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camping_with_the_innies 📧 Email: info@campingwiththeinnies.com

We'd love to hear about your favorite Harvest Hosts experiences, RV modifications, and camping adventures!

This week on Set Up, Tear Down: Tips, Trips & Campfire Tails, we’re talking about the trip that almost went sideways before we even made it to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Halfway to Disney, the truck threw a check engine light and started idling at crazy high RPMs. Instead of turning around, we convinced ourselves it could wait because the vacation was non-refundable and Run Disney weekend was already booked.

Then we pulled into Fort Wilderness and heard a completely different problem — a brutal grinding noise coming from the brake drum. But not every trip turns into a full-blown mechanical adventure. Sometimes the best memories come from slowing down, enjoying the campground, and making the most of the unexpected moments along the way.

The next morning we found ourselves sitting in an AutoZone parking lot getting a free code scan and trying to figure out whether we were dealing with a simple fix… or a financially devastating Disney vacation.

From check engine lights to brake drum chaos, we’re sharing the warning signs we ignored, the roadside troubleshooting that followed, and the reality that every RV trip seems to come with at least one unexpected mechanical surprise.

✉️ info@campingwiththeinnies.com

🌐 www.campingwiththeinnies.com

📸https://www.instagram.com/camping_with_the_innies?igsh=MTNud3JhMm9jeG1yeA==

🔗 https://linktr.ee/Campingwiththeinnies

🎙️ Episode 8 Show Notes

Dog Camping Gear That Actually Works | RV Life with Dogs

If you’ve ever camped with a Shiba… you already know—you’re not in control.

In this episode of Camping with the Innies, we’re breaking down the dog gear we actually use when camping with Monty and Gadget. No gimmicks, no overhyped products—just the gear that’s earned a permanent spot in our setup.

From containment systems to comfort setups, feeding gear, and safety essentials, we’re walking through what works, what doesn’t, and what we’ve stopped bringing altogether.

Whether you’re new to camping with dogs or looking to simplify your setup, this episode will help you focus on what actually matters.

🐾 What We Cover

• The 4 categories of dog camping gear (and how to think about what you bring)
• Why containment is the #1 priority—especially with dogs like Monty & Gadget
• The difference between a dog that settles at camp vs. one that doesn’t (comfort setup matters more than you think)
• Simple, effective feeding and water systems
• How to build a functional campsite setup for your dog
• Nighttime visibility and safety gear you shouldn’t skip
• The “nice-to-have” items that actually make camping more fun

🐕 Gear Categories We Break Down

Containment

• Keeping your dog secure at camp

Comfort

• Beds, blankets, and creating a “home base”

Logistics

• Food, water, bowls, and keeping things simple

Safety

• Visibility, environment awareness, and backup planning

🔥 Our Biggest Takeaway

Camping with dogs isn’t about bringing more gear—it’s about having the right system.

When your dog is:

• Secure
• Comfortable
• Fed and hydrated
• Safe

Everything else gets easier.

🎒 Want to See What We Use?

We’ve got all of our go-to gear listed here: 👉 https://linktr.ee/Campingwiththeinnies

🐾 Follow Along

🌐 Website: https://www.campingwiththeinnies.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campingwiththeinnies

💌 Got a Question?

Have a product you swear by? Want us to review something on a future episode?

Send it our way—we might feature it on the show.

Info@campingwiththeinnies.com

This week on Camping with the Innies, we’re talking about the camper buying process—and more importantly, where you buy.

From corporate dealerships to Facebook Marketplace meetups, we went through it all before finally landing at a small mom-and-pop shop that completely changed our experience.

We’re breaking down the pros, cons, and lessons learned along the way—so if you’re thinking about buying a camper, this episode might save you some time, money, and frustration.

🌐 campingwiththeinnies.com

📸 Instagram: @campingwiththeinnies

📧 info@campingwiththeinnies.com

This week on Camping with the Innies, we’re diving into another listener question—this one comes from Greg in South Carolina—and it’s a good one: state parks or RV resorts?

Are you all about quiet mornings, nature trails, and a simple campsite, or do you lean toward full hookups, pools, and planned activities?

We’re sharing our experiences from both sides, the good, the bad, and the things we didn’t expect. From privacy and cost to convenience and crowd levels, we’re talking through what really matters when choosing where to stay. If you’ve ever wondered which type of camping fits your style (or your dog’s), this one’s for you.

Whether you’re planning your next trip or just dreaming about it, Greg’s question might just help you decide—are you team state park or team resort?

Got a question you want us to cover? Send it our way.

🌐 Website: campingwiththeinnies.com

📸 Instagram: @campingwiththeinnies

📧 Email: info@campingwiththeinnies.com

New episodes drop regularly with tips, trips, gear talk, and plenty of campfire tales.

Episode Description

Camping with dogs sounds like a great idea… and most of the time, it is.

But no one really talks about the challenges — the barking at night, the new environments, travel day stress, and trying to keep them comfortable and safe in a camper.

In this episode, Kristen joins the show as we talk about what it’s really like camping with dogs — the good, the bad, and the things we’ve learned along the way.

We share our experiences, a few mistakes we’ve made, and tips that can help make your next camping trip with your dog a little smoother.

If you’ve ever thought about bringing your dog camping — or already have — this one’s for you.

In This Episode

• The best parts of camping with dogs
• Common challenges (and how to handle them)
• Travel day vs campground struggles
• Keeping your dogs safe and comfortable
• Tips for first-time dog campers

Connect With Us

🌐 Website

https://www.campingwiththeinnies.com

📸 Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/campingwiththeinnies

Listener Question

Have a camping question or topic you want us to cover?

📧 Email us at:

info@campingwiththeinnies.com