Going to sleep to the sound of a babbling creek is almost as wonderful as waking up to the same sound. This campsite at Crystal Creek Camp on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) in Northern Minnesota will afford you that luxury, while keeping you close enough to reality that the car isn't far away, if you need it. While I was there, I had a chance to test out my new Lite Tech Monocular from Brunton.

Campsite Review:

Crystal Creek is one of those little gems that's kind of hidden, if you haven't already discovered it. It's well marked on the map, but a little off the beaten path, so some may give up on finding it. I was lucky enough to have it all to myself, along with my trusty Border Collie, and it was just as peaceful as I hoped it would be. Once you cross the creek of the same name on the cutest mini covered bridge you've ever seen, you make a sharp turn down a very long path. If you don't give up, and you keep walking, and you have faith in amazing little surprises, you'll come to the campsite and breathe a lovely sigh.

Now, let me begin by saying that I've been to campsites that wooed me more than this one, but this site has a few things to offer than many others don't. Aside from being only about 1 1/2 miles from the parking area, it has more than a few good features.

First, the good things: When the weather has been good, and it's been raining, and the sun hasn't beaten too much on the earth, there is a fabulous little creek that has lots of water that is super easy to access from the campsite. No more than 20 yards down the stairs. That's right…stairs! They say there is an old mine in the creek too, but as hard as I tried to spy the site, my eyes couldn't pick it out. Also, there is a fire pit that's pretty well established, a latrine that's well maintained (although I'd discourage you from eating the wild raspberries that grow around it, if you know what I mean), and it has one of the best views I've ever seen while sitting on a throne. You get to look at Lake Superior, while taking care of business. How is that for awesomeness? Not only are you off the beaten path, but you get to see Lake Superior from camp!

Now, just a few things that I wish I could have changed: While there are benches around the fire pit, I use the term "benches" loosely. And by loosely, I mean the benches are loose. As in falling down. As in, if you sit on them, you'll find yourself falling down. They could use some repair. And the ground isn't terribly level. There were one or two small level-ish spots for smaller tents, but if you had a large tent, it would be hard to set it up so everyone didn't roll on top of each other. And while at first glance the pea gravel appears to be a nice touch, it's laying on fine, dusty stuff that turns to mud if there's moisture of any kind. I didn't have much trouble hanging a bear bag, because there was an awesome tree right nearby, but it was a little too close to my tent for comfort. This site is surrounded by birch trees, and they don't have many low branches. That said, I made it work and I didn't hear a single bear in the night. In fact, I didn't hear anything but the babbling water and the birds.

Note - there are a lot of trees, but not many that would work well for hammocks

Product Review:

Occasionally, from time to time, I have the amazing opportunity to test incredible products in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. On this trip, I tested Brunton's Lite Tech Monocular, and thought it had some great applications!

First, this handy little piece of monocular loveliness fits in the palm of your hand, weighs very little and allows you the chance to see nature a bit more up-close-and-personal. It's not going to replace binoculars, but it'll let you see the bird in the top of the tree a little closer, you can look at the porcupine waddling down the path without risking a quill poke, and you can watch that bear eat your granola bars, and know exactly which flavor he likes best! Seriously…it's fun to keep in your pocket so that you can experience nature a little bit more personally without having to climb a tree or ford a river. Unless you want to. And you have good medical coverage. For that porcupine that would prefer you keep your distance.

Now, it takes a little practice to get used to using it. Get it too far from your eye and all you see is a little glass lens. Press it too close and everything goes black. And no, you aren't losing your eyesight, you are just doing it wrong. It's a gentle act to put it to your eye just right, but once you do, it works well. The lens sort of twists and swivels to pull things into focus. And if you have trouble looking with one eye, just close the other one while spying through it. Just don't fall off that cliff. But if you do, it has a cute little handle so that it won't slip off your wrist during free fall into the bushes below! And if you get stuck in that bush at the bottom, you can use the monocular to watch for help up above. Win win!

Seriously, it's a great little gadget to get you a little closer to nature, whether you are an animal lover, weather watcher or simply love to take a look around, at $35, it's kinda fun to feel like nature isn't far out of your reach.