During the summer I am all about weekend getaways. I grew up with the four seasons, and in the summer I simply must enjoy the warm weather (aka fall asleep in it). My group of friends and I decided to go camping, but we had three requirements: we wanted to go somewhere close (within a two hour drive of the Bay), next to a body of water, and most importantly, with showers and potable water. We packed our bags, filled our coolers, and headed out to The Glory Hole in Angel's Camp, California. And yes, we picked it for the name.

A steady flow of glory hole jokes and teenage snickers filled each day, as did the smell of food on the grill and the sound of ice clinking in freshly poured vodka mojitos. Hard decisions were made by all: Corona or Blue Moon? Lounge in shade or sunlight? Take a nap or go swimming? Peach cobbler or mixed berry? Two s'mores or three?

The 90 degree weather that we experienced all weekend called for much laziness during the day. Relaxing was the name of the game, so we were happy to oblige. At night the air was just right with a light breeze to temper the heat, and oh-so-clear skies – perfect for stargazing. And I didn't get bit by a mosquito once!

So what should you bring if you decide to head down towards the Glory Hole? Here's a quick list of items that proved very useful:

1. Sun shade canopy – It gets very hot, shade is your friend. Also important: sunscreen and a hat.
2. Camping chairs (with drink holders) – So you can hang out under the canopy with all of your friends, duh.
3. Games and books – We played Cornhole ... Cornhole at the Glory Hole, heh heh. I also finished Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. It was epic.
4. Quarters – For the shower, baby. The facilities, btw, are very clean, and the toilets flush. SWEET!
5. Flip flops – It is dirty, dusty, and hot. These will be the only shoes you wear. Trust me.

Well go on and get out there. Happy camping ya'll!

All photos by Paul Ubongen