What books to read this summer to make a camping trip successful

Two new books from Adams Media (Simon & Schuster) offer great advice for those wanting to hit the road.

Overlanding 101

Last year, some fun guys broke into my Kia and went for a joy ride that totaled my car. As if that wasn’t rude enough, someone stole my son’s Kia about six weeks later. At the time, videos had spread on TikTok showing how easy it was to steal a Kia and boy were these folks excited to find two!

The happy ending of this story is that I later bought the car of my dreams. I couldn’t afford an Outback but I got a great deal on a Subaru Crosstek and have since loaded that baby up with all kinds of camping gear, reading for a road trip.

It’s not exactly what author Scott Brady recommends to go overlanding, taking road trips to remote destinations, interacting with other cultures than your own and becoming self-reliant on the road, sometimes for long periods of time. My idea of overlanding is quick camping trips, sleeping in my Subaru, and mingling with other cultures such as those quirky folks in Mississippi.

But I thoroughly enjoyed reading his new book, “Overlanding 101: A Field Guide to Vehicle-Based Adventure Travel” (Adams Media, $27.99). Brady joyously explains overlanding as a rewarding way to travel, offers tips on what vehicles work best (four-wheel drives, larger tires, winches, etc.; not a Crosstrek), items to bring along, tips of the road, examples of his travels and much more. It’s a comprehensive guide to everything you need or could wonder about overlanding in one handy book.

Blackstone Griddle Cookbook

            Another author with a passion for her subject matter is Cheri Reneé, who experimented with her Blackstone Griddle to come up with a wide variety of fun things to eat in her new book, “The ‘I Love My Blackstone Griddle’ Cookbook: From Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes to Crispy Breaded Port Chops, 175 Easy and Delicious Recipes!” (Adams Media, $18.99) Reneé believes you can cook almost anything on a Blackstone and she proves it with this cookbook.

            For those of you not familiar with this appliance, the Blackstone Griddle contains a flat steel cooking surface to be used for cooking outdoors, powered by either propane or electricity. Reneé describes her Blackstone as working like “an extra-large cast iron skillet.” The beauty of the griddle is that multiple items may be cooked on the griddle at once. Some are portable so easy to bring on those camping trips to serve up practically any meal, from breakfast to main dishes to desserts.

            We’re talking Smashed Breakfast Tacos, Donut Bacon Melts, Naan, Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry, Apple Bourbon Pork Chops and Blackened Shrimp Lettuce Wraps. There’s also plenty of vegetarian options, such as Cauliflower Steaks with Cowboy Butter and Spinach Mushroom Feta Ravioli. For dessert, how about Bananas Foster, shortcake, crepes—even an Elvis Donut Sandwich.

            The cookbook also contains tips on how to clean and maintain your griddle. 

Weird, Wacky & Wild South is written by travel writer Cheré Dastugue Coen who is hitting the road through the South this summer in her new Crosstrek Subaru.