For Mother's Day weekend, my wife Karen wanted to go camping for the first time with our new Jayco travel trailer. We had purchased a new 2025 Jay Flight SLX 175FQ at an end-of-season sale, but it didn't leave the lot until this spring. Given this was a new, untested camper where anything can go wrong, we decided to stick close to Sioux Falls and reserved camping spots at Palisades State Park.

Karen, and I have camped most of our marriage with a pop-up tent trailer and a travel trailer. After selling our previous trailer, we spent the last four years experimenting with tent camping with friends that discovered camping after we sold the old trailer. Our conclusion: we're getting too old for tent camping and needed to return to a trailer. At a later date, I will write a review of my experience with our newest Jayco travel trailer as well as how well my Ford Maverick does or doesn't tow this trailer. With only one camping trip with this trailer, it's too early for this review, and I'd rather not get into the nitty-gritty of likes and dislikes right now.

South Dakota's Palisades State Park sits just to the northeast of Sioux Falls is as only about a half hour drive from the city. The park at 435-acres is famous for its dramatic 1.2 billion-year-old pink Sioux Quartzite cliffs and spires that rise up to 50 feet along Split Rock Creek. It is a popular, compact destination for hiking, rock climbing, camping, and photography, offering a unique rocky landscape in eastern South Dakota. There is some fishing that also takes place here, but my son and I have never really captured much from the creek over the years.

The park recently grew from 167 acres to 435 acres, with the new property following Split Rock Creek to the south. This addition of land allowed for a well-needed expansion of camping sites, but my family prefer the older loop of camping sites as the area is better shaded. Less than a mile from this loop, you can quickly reach the heart of Palisades, which is the bridge that crosses the creek over to the King and Queen Rock Trail. It is here where first-time and most repeat visitors will come as the creek, cliffs, and spires all come together for family fun and photo activities.

As both my wife and I have visited this Palisades State Park numerous times, this weekend we spent more time hiking the trails with our dog Jasmine and staying close to our camping site in what is now called the Queen Campground region in the park. We've learned over the years that some of our most enjoyable times have been doing these two things, hiking and camping, regardless of where we visit or what there is to see.

After spending Thursday through Sunday camping and on our way home, my wife and I were discussing what we liked most about this weekend. I told her I enjoyed our time around the campfire the most. Despite us having all the time in the world to talk at home, the talks and value of our time together always seem so much better around a good campfire. While this first camping trip has come to a close I can't help but look forward to the many more camping trips that will follow this year.

A version of this story was first published at BryanRuby.com.