Most readers believe my favorite travel activity is taking photographs, and while that’s true to a point, it’s not my optimum experience; Photography is a close second, however. Though, I also thoroughly enjoy roaming aimlessly around the ancient cities of Europe; which is likely my third, but still close favorite. Photography will always be a passion of mine, but there’s something special about spending time with beloved friends and family, deep in the forest, far away from civilization, passing the time around a fire while telling stories and jokes, and playing games. There is a real connection to be found in Nature, and maybe it’s as simple for some as feeling at peace for awhile. Or perhaps, it’s something so much more.
For me, I feel a deep inner peace when I’m no longer subject to the hustle and bustle of city life, and when I’m so far out in the natural wilderness that I no longer hear humans or machines, and am totally surrounded by the wild majestic forest. When all I hear and see is the life that calls the woods home, then I am a different person. I think different, feel different, and want different things. I am no longer stressing about finances or trivial problems that I won’t even remember a year from now. Then, add in my favorite people in the whole world, and I might as well die then, because there’d be nowhere else that I’d die happier.
My family and friends like to sit around the campfire and tell stories, joke and play games, because it’s what brings us closer together, and it’s what passes the time easily and without a second thought or a single tension. We roast dogs in the fire and talk of times past, before we break out the games. Sure, it may sound lame to some to play board games in Nature, but when the night is winding down, the sun setting and the moon and stars appearing, there is no better way to connect with loved ones, and no better way to relax and take in the wonder of our natural world.
My family and friends like to sit around the campfire and tell stories, joke and play games, because it’s what brings us closer together, and it’s what passes the time easily and without a second thought or a single tension. We roast dogs in the fire and talk of times past, before we break out the games. Sure, it may sound lame to some to play board games in Nature, but when the night is winding down, the sun setting and the moon and stars appearing, there is no better way to connect with loved ones, and no better way to relax and take in the wonder of our natural world.
A lot of my family prefers to play traditional board games like Clue or Monopoly. But my more twisted friends like Cards Against Humanity. Me, personally, I love nothing more than a slow, competitive match of Chess. Maybe it’s because I have a strategic and resourceful mind, or perhaps it’s because I’ve found something I’m good at, but Chess is my game and will forever hold that title. The problem is my family members refuse to play me, so I tend to wait until my cleverer friends travel with me to get a real good game going, but there’s something fascinating about being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the forest, and putting your focus into something as simple, yet as complex as a game of Chess.
There are mini travel sets of Chess available, which can be great for when you’re backpacking or simply wish to pack light, but since my priorities are perhaps a bit askew, I prefer to take a full-sized traditional championship set with me on most camping trips. My friends over at Chess House specialize in producing some of the world’s most beautiful chess sets, and they’ve come up with the perfect way to travel with a traditional Staunton board and set: a thick, padded storage bag, capable of securing the 21” board and pieces. Their fine game boards are handcrafted in solid walnut and maple, and are cured and finished over a period of months to give it such a pleasing aesthetic. And they’re built to last a lifetime with proper care. When I’m at home and not traveling abroad, I have a table dedicated for my chess set, featuring Chess House’s matching walnut and maple hardwood chess box, which keeps the intricately carved game pieces safe and put away in a classy manner.
There are mini travel sets of Chess available, which can be great for when you’re backpacking or simply wish to pack light, but since my priorities are perhaps a bit askew, I prefer to take a full-sized traditional championship set with me on most camping trips. My friends over at Chess House specialize in producing some of the world’s most beautiful chess sets, and they’ve come up with the perfect way to travel with a traditional Staunton board and set: a thick, padded storage bag, capable of securing the 21” board and pieces. Their fine game boards are handcrafted in solid walnut and maple, and are cured and finished over a period of months to give it such a pleasing aesthetic. And they’re built to last a lifetime with proper care. When I’m at home and not traveling abroad, I have a table dedicated for my chess set, featuring Chess House’s matching walnut and maple hardwood chess box, which keeps the intricately carved game pieces safe and put away in a classy manner.
When I’m camping, I have a camp table that popups up, with straps that hold the structure tight and the foundation strong, which is ideal for any board game. Then with a lantern peering down from the side of the board, my friends and I will sometimes play late into the night. We’ll watch the stars and rattle off ten games before we even notice. And with that, good cheer and good friends, and good chitchat, a night of camping abroad could turn out no better. Because not only am I playing my favorite game, but I’m floating in a sort of dream, where I’m with my favorite people, in the most relaxing place on earth, with the most beautiful visuals in the moon, the stars and the mesmerizing fire. It may sound nerdy, or lame to some, but to me, it’s paradise. I don’t fancy the beach by comparison, though some do, so maybe it’s just me; but to be truth, I don’t think so, because deep down it’s all about the people and the place.
Chess House boards and game pieces are produced by an artist in Pennsylvania, by the name of John, who has a rich woodworking heritage, passed down five generations from the county of Switzerland, where he’s originally from. His work is a beautiful blend of timeless technique with the latest woodworking knowledge, and this extensive amount of experience is apparent immediately.
Chess House boards and game pieces are produced by an artist in Pennsylvania, by the name of John, who has a rich woodworking heritage, passed down five generations from the county of Switzerland, where he’s originally from. His work is a beautiful blend of timeless technique with the latest woodworking knowledge, and this extensive amount of experience is apparent immediately.
I’ve been blessed to have received the walnut and maple Heirloom Championship Chess Set with ebonized boxwood pieces, and was immediately blown away by the quality and craftsmanship that went into crafting such an amazing game set. The board was handcrafted over several months, through the drying and curing and assembly process, to the final stage where the grooves, beveled edge, engraving, and finishing followed. The surfaces looks and feels luxurious. The King stands at 3.75” and each piece is weighted with an average base of 1.5”, which provides a high quality game experience that even the most clumsy couldn’t mess with. The game pieces are carved to perfection and fitted with a billiard felt, making them feel so nice as you slide each piece across the smoothness of the game board. All in all, I think Chess House makes some of the finest chess sets on the market. And unlike most chess brands, they’ve thought of the chess-loving traveler by producing a fitted and padded bag that can handle the rigors of camping.
If you would like to find out more about Chess House, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
If you would like to find out more about Chess House, click here.
Article written & Photos by Brandon Scott / Eye & Pen
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