the Snappy Camper

If you're looking for something to do in P-Town on Saturday night, come and get 'Loaded'

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:06:00 GMT

So as summer turned to fall which is in the process of turning into the inevitable winter of discontent, there is a bright spot in this diminishing populace of a place and it's name is Loaded. Local cool cat Erik Hansen and recent seasonal LA/NYC transplant Cesar Padilla of the SS Cherry teamed up Wonder Twin style to form music in the shape of indie underground post punk electro and a dance floor in the form of a disco dance party. And the results are, well, something that only a dynamic duo of this magnitude could pull off.

Each and every Saturday night from now until who knows when these dudes will be spinning the proverbial tracks that will get even the wallfloweriest back up off the wall. You can catch a ride on this multi-dimensional magic carpet downstairs at the Governor Bradford, which for those of y'all who aren't from around here, is located at 312 Commerical Street. (Which, incidentally, is smack dab in the middle of effing everything. When you roll into town you will practically fall into it if you're not super careful. Which I'm totally not which is how I found this fabulousness in the first place.) Go there, dance your ass or the body part of your choice off, and then remove all articles of clothing (optional). If you care to thank me, you can actually do so in person. With beer <wink>.

Be forewarned that DJ Erik Hansen likes to play music that makes people want to take off their clothes. No lie.

Even the island of misfit toys has a frat party

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:16:00 GMT

The other night I found myself, quite by accident, sitting at the bar at John Dough. It was one of those nights that morphed into something entirely different than what it started out to be and suffice it to say that the vintage couture Estrada number I was wearing was more like a neon sign that screamed 'I'm not from around here' very effing loudly. And I have to say, ? number of Heineken's later, it really didn't matter. Sweet nostalgia filled the air with groovin' hits from the 90's (Yes, there were some. I suppose.) which fortunately excluded the good ole' Macarena and Electric Slide. Bad taste can be good up to a point and it appeared that the mixmaster of the room was well versed in the position of this imaginary line.

The girls were just a little bit drunker than what I've found at other establishments, and the boys a little bit friskier. But it was all in good fun and by the end of the night people were getting up to get down and there wasn't a bored or unhappy face in the crowd. Truth be told, I had more fun than I should have in a joint that felt more like a college bar than anything else I have found in these parts. Now I'm not so sure I would intentionally climb the stairs at 258 Commercial Street to boogie with Boyz II Men again, but I wouldn't exactly kick and scream if someone took me by the hand ever so gently and dragged my ass back there.

This outfit made perfect sense. Just not for a wild night at John Dough's.

Hey mom, this Sunday I went to 'church'!

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:58:00 GMT

So last Sunday when I was looking for a rabbit hole to hurl myself into I had the good fortune to run into Pauline from Map who wholeheartedly recommended I get my ass to church that night. And sweet Jesus, was I glad I did. Now just like everything else in these parts, church just ain't no regular thang. Held in the Grotto Bar in the basement of Enzo, local religious leaders throw down everything from the Rolling Stones to southern gospel which pretty much leaves the entire congregation speaking in tongues by the end of the evening. My only sadness is that I found the 'lowered' on the night he was getting ready to hibernate for the winter season. But I have no worries that I will commit enough sins in the interim to be much in need of a confession when and if this revival sets it's tent back up in town. Snakes and all.

Dear lord, please forgive the graininess of this video. Too many of your disciples were turning my water into wine on Sunday night.

Need cool clothes for some hot times? Better find Map on the map then.

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:22:00 GMT

Always on the lookout for sources to feed my clothing, shoe and accessory addiction I very happily stumbled upon Map while floating down Commercial Street on the way to where the land meets the sea to write yet another round of bad poetry. And what a great little diversion it was!

Proprietor Pauline has every nook, cranny, crevice and crater of this place filled with what can only be described as gourmet clothing. Have a yearning for 51 flavors of Levi's? Addicted to eclectic pendants? Wanna be too sexy for your shirt? Then look no further than 141 Commercial Street because all of your wildest dream will come true in this tiny tasteful shop extraordinaire. Hell, even the usually-not-something-I-would-wear sweatshirts have a fashionista like me screaming 'Thank you sir, can I have another?'

So the next time you come to town, pack lightly. Because you will most definitely want to leave room in your luggage for all of the groovy goings-on you will almost certainly pick up after you follow your feet to Map. Trust me.

Next time you're skipping down Commercial Street in Provincetown, stop at number 141 and buy something magical at Map.

Sometimes it's really the people that make the place

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:01:00 GMT

So if the rule of thumb in real estate is location, location, location then the rule in locations is the people make the place. And the ratio in Provincetown of awesomeness to assholes is quite exceptional. In fact, once the tourists leave, this place pretty much gets pretty close to the mythical land of asshole zero known only in Mother Goose rhymes and National Geographic shows set in indigenous rainforest tribal regions where none of us speak the language so we really can't even tell if they're being assholes to each other or not so pretty much this much awesomeness only exists in faery tales. And here.

And one of the cast of characters in this land of ab-fab is the ever dynamic Erik Hansen. As proprietor of the Stax of Wax record store he is pretty much the Rain Man of all things vinyl. Don't even bother asking him a question about anything ever made on one of those round disc-y things unless you feel like hearing the answer to the 10th power and then some. And like most folks that make this part of the world home, he is most definitely not a one trick pony. A functional bartender, expert level chef, and self-proclaimed friend to all mankind Erik's thread adds a unique color to the most unusual fabric of this town. And when he's not juggling the aforementioned balls, he makes busy be being an almost rock star. Which in the real world would cause someone like me to snicker and eye roll. But in this mythical land of fairies, goblins, ghosts, ninjas and pirates it just makes me say 'ah, of course, that make perfect effing sense'.

So when you make it out this way, sit back and enjoy the show. Oh, and stick out your hand and shake hands with the groovy folks on the street. Now they're not all Erik Hansens, but they're pretty damn close.

Erik rocks out like only a true renaissance man can.

It's showtime!

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:04:44 GMT

So the other night I was lucky enough to witness yet another end of the season journey into the fantastic via the fabulous show 'Showgirls'. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, I'm just sayin' that a video is probably worth a million. So rather than make a feeble attempt to describe this awesomeness, I'm a-gonna show you. Click on the little green arrow in the squarish thing below. You'll be awfully glad you did. I promise.

I think everyone who swam for life has superpowers of some sort

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 11:54:00 GMT

So last weekend over four hundred of the bravest souls I have ever seen set off on an especially windy I-know-it's-still-September-but-this-is-New-England-so-it's-practically-winter day to go for a swim in the always nippy waters off of Long Point to raise some duckets for the Provincetown Community Compact in the Annual Swim for Life event. And like always in these parts, there was just enough magic in the air for these folks to not only face the task at hand with the quintessential yankee spirit, but to do so with smiles, chants, cheers and more than one or two of 'yee-hahs' and 'right ons'.

And it really was the kind of thing that after witnessing, one feels inspired to do something other than close one eye and secretly squoosh the head of real or imagined assholes in one's past present or future. One is reminded that there is a place in the heart for good to triumph over evil, and that we all owe it to the world and each other to lend a helping hand and/or backstroke. So watch the vid, open your heart and your wallet and send these folks some dollars. You will be glad you did.

You pretty much needed to have testicles made of titanium to pull off a feat like this.

Cool crap like this only happens, well, here

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:34:00 GMT

So as a newbie to Provincetown I was told, then told again and told one more time that I would need to see these, er, dudettes in this band called Space Pussy before I could ever even be considered for full blown P-Town Peep status. And even though they were playing on a school night and it was way past my bedtime I figured I had better go as this was billed the last show of the season and I ab-so-lute-ly did not want to wait six or more months to award myself this FourSquare badge that only exists in my mind's eye. And boy was I glad I did.

Words like 'mind blowing talent' and 'irrationally eclectic' fall flat on the tongue when trying to describe what is the quintessential Space Pussy experience. I would compare it to what it must have been like to have attended at the original Woodstock, chilling with the Sex Pistols in 1976 or seeing the Rocky Horror Picture Show in Cambridge Square in the 80's all dressed up in your Frank-n-Furter best. You just have to have been there to understand what the eff I'm talking about. It's that good.

And if the 'regular' performances weren't mind blowing enough, the coup de grâce of any remaining wallflowers was the grandest finale imaginable. Violent Femmes front man Gordon Gano took the stage and belted out a couple of songs that transcended time and space and suddenly I was a sixteen year old girl and screaming and singing and crying all at the same time.

So if you're ever in Provincetown, or anyplace where these ab-fabs are getttin' down, drop everything you're doing and run to the show as if you were on fire and this was the magical anti-fire antidote. You will thank me. I promise.

Gordon Gano from the Violent Femmes sings Add it Up and Gone Daddy Gone in Provincetown Massachusetts. Yeah, I know. Holy Crap.

If you wanna get lucky I strongly suggest stopping by Lucky Dog

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:03:00 GMT

So as a vegetarian who does not like vegetables and a person whose ideal meal is pairing anything dipped in Velveeta with a bottle or five of Opus One 1987, it is next to impossible for me to find something that completely satisfies my every food desire and dalliance. (Which, btw, I ultimately blame my half-hippy, half-redneck big girl in a small town let's burn marijuana logs in the fireplace because we can't be bothered to chop up real firewood upbringing for my peculiar tastes in food and, well, everything else, but quite frankly that's a post meant for a different kind of blog.) And let's face it food is food for both the body and the soul. Or it least it should be.

Enter stage left Lucky Dog located at 293 Commercial Street (back of the building, not street side). The bad boys who work here will rock your world with the most extra-terrestrially delightful dogs that are just too good for mere mortals. And you don't need to have redneck gourmet vegetarian freak show tendencies to be completely wowed off your feet by the most far out hot dog menu I.have.ever.seen (but if by chance you do, stop by and visit me so we can get married or be best friends or write poems together or something; my apartment is literally a hop, skip and six jumps from Lucky Dog's door). I mean, the dudes who control the flow of food here have the skills to create and serve at the fanciest-schmansiest places in town and they have dedicated their many talents to producing works of food art served up in a brioche bun. And works of art they are. My fave is a double smart dog with mayo and melted cheddar smothered in caramelized onions. After a date with this yumsicle, I'm usually licking my fingers all the way up to my elbows and beyond. If I could eat twelve of them at one sitting, I totally would.

Stop by and find whatever floats your boat on the Lucky Dog menu. Because this is one snappy joint where there is most definitely something for everyone. No matter where your personal tastes lie. For real.

Eat a couple of these bad boys and you'll be singing 'who let the dogs out' for like the next six days. No lie.

Can't find the perfect party dress? Don't despair: grab onto something ab-fab at the SS Cherry!

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:58:00 GMT

So as I get ready to settle into my new neighborhood I am (of course!) making a list (well, more like 72 lists) of things that I need and don't need to do, acquire, avoid, buy and build. Sharing top billing with where the eff am I going to find a good bottle of wine  is how am I gonna get my fix of glam to groovy party-wear just in case I ever get invited to go anywhere by anyone. And although I haven't quite found the answer to the former, the latter pretty much fell into my lap quite by accident when I ran into SS Cherry proprietor extraordinaire Cesar Padilla while out and about. And boy was I glad that I did.

And let me tell you that Cesar is just the kind of renaissance man that should be running a store that packs a million pounds of coolness into about 500 square feet of fun. The eclecitally explosive combo of Marlboro Man meets Bewitched just oozes from every nook cranny and crevice in this little store that's just a hop skip and a jump from the hustle and bustle of the main drag. It's located at 359 Commercial Street, Unit G and is set back down a bit (in what should be a yellow brick road because you will totally feel like you're taking a trip to the wonderful world of Oz the moment you cross the threshold.)  And wouldn't you know that within like 72 hours of finding the perfect little mint green and rhinestone party dress I had and occasion that required a number just.like.that.  Like magic!

So the next time you're in town, stop by this little place and pick something big up.  It might just be the lucky charm you were looking for.

You, too, can be the buttercup of the ball with a little something-something from the SS Cherry.

A change in direction

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:48:00 GMT

So as I mentioned recently, I'm pretty much pitching my tent permanently in PTown. And actually it's not even a tent, it's an apartment on the beach. But it's about as big as a tent so it will be kind of sort of like camping. Now for me this is like moving to the Wizard Oz (pretty much something I've fantasized about since my brain was capable of producing fantasies) and the best.thing.evah at this point in my life. I'm still all black and blue-y because I keep pinching myself to see if this is real or if I'm going to wake up from the most awesome dream ever.

But unfortunately for y'all it means that I will be spending far far far less time travelling through coastal New England with my band of gypsies and sharing the secret sauce for glamorous camping, aka 'glamping'. But as I walked the streets in this most magical place I came to the realization that it is not the end of thesnappycamper.com, but also another new beginning. There is more snappiness packed into these 17.5 square miles than in the cumulative rest of the East Coast. And a lot of stories to be told in this very naked city. And I'll have some time on my hands so gosh darnit I'm a gonna tell them.

So just as I am packing my bags and deciding what to take here and what to leave at my other 'home', I will archive all things glamping (for reference for y'all), and start this blog afresh as a guide to snappy camping without ever leaving home (if your home is Provincetown, Massachusetts that is). And if you're not one of the 3,000 or so folks lucky enough to say that it is, consider this your insider's guide to how to get your glamp on when you make your travel plans that end where this fabulous country began 390 years ago. They have built it and you really should come. Really.

P-Town, it's not just my home, it's an adventure.

The neverending summer

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:31:00 GMT

Six days ago I decided to do what so many vacationers dream of doing so very often but never quite muster up the courage to bring that bad boy of an idea to the finish line-pack up my bags for one last time and set sail for my favorite weekend getaway on a more permanent basis. And for anyone who has checked in at theSnappyCamper it will be no surprise where I have chosen as my final destination. Why Provincetown, Massachusetts of course (also known as the Other Magic Kingdom in my book).

For years I have written about this amazing tip of the world and have dreamed of this place for even longer than that. This is my place, where I belong. I don't know how to describe it other than love at first sight that continued to grow and flourish across the decades of my life. And for years I have made up about a million and two reasons why I wouldn't, couldn't or shouldn't just pack up and go. But one of those not-so-magical special birthdays coupled with with a few major life shakeups really helped me to knock down each and every barrier, both real and imagined, that was holding me back.

Now don't get me wrong, all of this comes at a price and there are many, many logistics involved (not the least of which is the challenge of maintaining two households separated by one hundred and forty eight odd miles). Add a double shot of New England weather patterns, leaving a nineteen year old in charge in my absence and about sixty five other things that I have thought of and planned for plus seventy two more that will probably hit me the first week of my journey into the state of dual residence. But quite frankly my dears, I don't give a damn. I have always encouraged others to 'stop making excuses and start making reservations' and decided to take a dose and a half of my own medicine. And I'm pretty sure it will work out to be just what the doctor ordered. And then some.

Call me whatever name you want but checkout my new backyard before you get to judge-y

Why you really really really need to pitch your tent in Dune's Edge Campground

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:08:00 GMT

The snappy campers recently returned from the annual pilgrimage to Provincetown and, as, always, stayed at one of our favorite spots-Dune's Edge . True to name, this campground is nestled in the sand dunes at the tip of Cape Cod and is pretty much ground zero for all things snappy.

Here's why you, too, should allocate a little bit of your summer to this super snappy piece of sand:

Location, location location-you can walk to downtown in about 15 minutes, bike to the beach in about 10, and, if you insist on driving, you're like 30 seconds away from both.
You don't have to put your Merlot in one of those annoying red plastic cups-nothing says 'I'm an underage frat boy' like having to drink you beer out of a keg cup (or makes you behave like one, too). Dune's Edge is a place for grownups, and doesn't care if you drink like one.
You can bring your bff-well behaved, rabies inoculated pets are always welcome at Dune's Edge.

The deets:

$40 bucks a night covers 2 people, 1 car and 1 tent. Kids are 5 bucks a night and extra adults are 14. If you need to bring more than one car, rent more than one site.
Pretty much all sites are shaded so don't obsess (too much) about how 'he who has the most trees wins'.
Reservations can be made by visiting the Dune's Edge website, or by calling them directly at 508.487.9815. The folks on the other end of the phone go out of their way to be friendly and informative.

Know before you go:

P-Town is the Cape Cod equivalent of Manhattan in terms of real estate value and availability. No matter where you go, sprawl is not an option. The same holds true at Dune's Edge. That said, some sites are definitely more spacious than others. IMHO, best non-electric site is 45 and best electric 51 A. I would avoid 18-31 unless you are camping in one of those teeny tiny backpacker type tents (shudder). Check out the site map and book what works for you.
No woman no fire-this one breaks my heart a little but it's law in this part of the Cape. You can light up on the beach, but you need to snag a permit first. Also, leave your tiki torches at home as Smokey don't play that here.
The showers are metered. A quarter will get you 3 minutes. Which was like a minute and a half more than I needed.
Be prepared to go off the grid. I had no data service on my Verizon and T-Mobile devices from the moment I crossed the town border and basically no voice either. Set your Outlook to direct folks to someone other than you in case of emergency. Trust me on this one.

And finally, Be sure to pack your open mind. For those not familiar with P-Town, the Other Magic Kingdom you should come prepared for anything. You will probably still be surprised at what you find. If you are a narrow-minded obtuse jackass this is definitely not the place for you. Actually, America is not the place for you and you should probably move to a country where you start a fire by rubbing two sticks together and have the option of stoning your wife, sister and/or female neighbor to death if she looks at you sideways. But if you're looking for a break from all that, head to P-Town. And stay at Dune's Edge.

Make Dune's Edge Campground your home away from home for a few days this summer. You'll be super glad you did.

5 things to do in Provincetown before you die

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 11:05:00 GMT

A snappy camper contingent just got back from Provincetown and, as usual, there was something for everyone in this magical place.

Here's my short list of five things that you ab-so-effing-lute-ly should do in P-Town before you die:

Go to the Carribbean Corner Cafe located at 269 Commercial Street. But only if you want to eat awesome original food with ab-fab drinks. Oh, and chill for a bit with the friendliest staff in town (bartender Jen even listened to me talk about Human Dog Babies for a good hour without mocking me <too much>).
Hike the dunes trail to Herring Cove Beach. Then run around writing on your hand with a quill and invisible ink . Or dress like the twin of your BFF and use a tiki umbrella as a parasol , or set up as many pinwheels as you can get your hands on around your beach blanket. Inspirations is definitely in the air here. Take a whiff and do your thing.
Spend the Fourth of July there. This is where America started on November 11, 1620 and I just know this is what my pilgrim ancestors had in mind on that fateful day. Embrace it.
Dance samba under the moonlight at the Portuguese Festival that's held the last weekend of June. It really doesn't get any more primal than that.
When all else fails, people watch . You'll be sitting smack dab in the middle of a land where rules and conformity have yet to break the human spirit.

Check out the Caribbean Corner Cafe in P-Town. But only if you feel like eating the best food and drinking the best drinks in the best place in the world. Oh, and talking to the awesome bartenders. If you go say hello to this dude, and his little friend.

Cool crap to do in Brewster

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:15:00 GMT

The snappy campers recently pitched their tents at Nickerson State Park and had a very snappy time. The park was so filled with awesomeness that we really didn't have to leave. But we did. And boy were we glad we did. Here's some cool crap we did in Brewster:

Visited the Green Grocer on Route 6A which is a boutique-y organic grocery store that feels more like an art gallery and picked up some specialty veggies and some very snappy gourmet bruschetta spread.
Checked out the historic Brewster Old Burial Ground behind the Unitarian Universal Church on Route 6A.
Ate an amazing lunch at JT's Seafood Restaurant. Veggie burger with a side of merlot rocks my world!
Visited a local very well-stocked herb shop on 6A. That also sold fruit and vegetable plants. That also had random chickens walking around. Rock.
Oh, and of course, there's the beautiful beautiful beautiful Brewster Flats that run down the seaside length of the town.

And that's really just the tip of the ice berg. Brewster has fantastical little knickknacks tucked away in each and every corner. Go there and take a walk. You just might find what you're looking for.

Now here's something you don't see everyday-unless you're shopping at the Jewel of Brewster, that is.

Snappy Camper Super Secrets

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 01:26:00 GMT

Ever wonder what the secret is to having a perfect camping trip? Watch this video to find out.

The neat-o Nickerson State Park

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:21:00 GMT

I just got back from Nickerson State Park and I gotta be honest-I didn't want to leave. A couple weeks back I thought Shawme Crowell was the biggest.campground.ever but Nickerson is really like Shawme's big boned older brother. It's about 4 miles from the entrance to the end, but filled with so much awesomeness in between that your really don't have to leave (even though there are many cool things to do in Brewster-more on that in a future episode.) There are 7 kettle ponds (ranging from very pond-y to almost tropical looking), miles of paved bike and blade trails, even more miles of hiking trails, and trails for horses (if you have one). Bike rental is available right at the entrance to the park, and one can rent boats inside after June 18.

I do have to say that the sites in each of the 7 areas vary GREATLY in size, shape and privacy, and can leave one feeling like Goldilocks rummaging through the three bears' sh*t to find the right balance of these super critical camping elements. I was lucky to land in site 32 in area 6 which worked out perFECtLY for me. Here's why:

all 500 or so square feet of my camping snappiness fit with room to spare
I was close enough to the bathroom to not be tempted to go in the woods, yet not so close I could hear other people, er, using it while nestled in my tent
I was nowhere near the garbage dumpsters
I was about a 6 minute walk from the most amazing kettle pond ever
I had about as much privacy as one can reasonable expect when in a campground

It was really the perfect place within the perfect place and a great place to use as a launching pad to out yonder or to just chill in the park. As far as amenities, there really aren't any more to add other than a better-than-average camp store which is open 8-8 7 days a week. They stock the usual, plus a selection of gear, souvenirs, postcards (and even stamps!)

Convinced? You can book your site by visiting ReserveAmerica.com. The cost is $15/night for MA residents (a couple bucks more for you out-of-towners) and RA will tack on a $9.25 booking fee. You'll be covered for 2 cars and 4 peeps. Pets are cool, alcohol is a no-go and don't bring any firewood in or out (there is plenty of downed wood in the park so you really wouldn't need to anyway). Stop making excuses and start making reservations!

Site 32 in Area 6 fit this snappy camper just right!

How to cure (and prevent) a hangover

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:51:00 GMT

Hangovers suck on a good day, but they super suck when one is afflicted on a camping trip.

However, I wouldn't know because I've never had one.

Why?
a) Because I don't drink alcohol, ergo I am precluded from this sordid way of whiling away a morning.
b) I am a cyborg and have metabolic prowess that exceeds that of an ordinary human.
c) I have developed and algorithm for the prevention and treatment of hangovers.

As much as I wish the answer was b, c is still better than a and the actual true story. And since I am way more transparent than, say Google, I am willing to share this magical formula with the world. Here goes:

Before you indulge

Eat-The fattier and more carb loaded the better. My personal favorite is a heaping plate of queso frito (fried cheese to my uni-lingual friends out there).
Vitamins-Take them. Every day. But especially on a day when strong water is on the menu.

During the fiesta

Only drink top shelf liquor-Drink trailer trash and that is what you will feel like the next day. And act like. And even smell like. You might even develop romantic feelings for your first cousin.
The secret's in the salt-Macrobiotics 101: alcohol makes you lose fluid, salt makes you retain it. It's like feng shui for your digestive system.
Squeeze those lemons baby-Those bad boys aren't just sitting on your glass looking all pretty and trying to seduce you. The extra kick of vitamin C will make tomorrow a bright sunshine-y day for you and yours.

(the morning) After

V8 is most definitely where it's at. This vitamins-doused-in-sodium is the secret sauce you should pour over your morning. Add a couple tablets of ibuprofen and kiss the last remnant of a headache goodbye for good.
Camping pizza for breakfast anyone? Um yeah, and make it a double. I honestly have no idea why, but this works.
And finally, if all else fails, drink a beer-Nothing like the hair of the dog that bit you to take the edge off.

Trust me, the street value of an ounce ofprevention is worth way more than a pound of cure in this department.

These snappy campers will still be smiling tomorrow. Will you?

P-Town: the other Magic Kingdom

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:43:00 GMT

There are different types of magic in this world-the kind you can buy with lots of money and little taste (think: Neverland), something so naturally beautiful that it could only be a result of some kind of sorcery (like, say, the Amazon rain forest) and that je ne sais quoi that seems to grow and metamorphosize from the creativity of the human spirit. Provincetown, Massachusetts is simply erupting with the latter.

I know, I know, it's cliché to say there's something for everyone. When the tourist brochures of vacation destinations say it, they mean you can play golf while your wife shops and your kids swim in the pool. But for P-Town, it might actually be true. There REALLY is SOMETHING for EVERYONE.

Somehow, someway people have carved out a creative wonderland in this natural paradise at the absolute edge of the East Coast. Surrounded by sand dunes and sea, drag queens, fisherman, artists, artisans, comedians, Shakespearean actors and everything in between, next to, over, under, above and below goes about the daily business of doing 'their thing'. And what a thing it is.

We're talking about a town that's dog friendly, kid friendly, family friendly, gay friendly, multi-culturally sensitive and still just a little redneck at heart. All crammed into about a 17 square mile radius.

Ever since I was old enough to drive, I have made an effort to introduce someone to P-Town as often as I could. And I have watched people from all walks of life fall in love at first sight. If you have never been to Provincetown before, raise your right hand. Swear that you will go before you die. You will not regret it. And if you have been, double pinky swear with me that you will go back every year UNTIL you die.

Posing for a family portrait at the Provincetown Fourth of July festivities

Yummy in your tummy snappy camper pancake recipe

Jennifer@theSnappyCamper.com (Jennifer) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:10:00 GMT

Anyone who has ever brought bananas on a camping trip pretty much knows what happens to them-by day 3 they become banana soup. In the traditional New England spirit of 'waste not want not' I recently invented a solution that not only kept my bananas from becoming fish and/or seagull food, but also left my hungry army of snappy campers wishing I brought more semi-rotten bananas on the trip (true story).

Here's what you need:
1 super soft banana
1 tablespoon of nutella
1 cup of Krusteaz complete pancake mix
3/4 cup of water

Here's what you do:
mash the banana in a bowl, stir in the nutella
add water, then pancake mix and give it a whirl
spray a non-stick pan and turn up the volume on your camping stove
cook, flip, eat, flip out
find someone to wash the dishes
rock

Even the pickiest eater in your group will devour snappy camper pancakes. (And yes, they do go nicely with and ice cold Corona.)