It’s a Camping Thing…

The cool night air on your skin, the stars lighting up the sky, crackling of a campfire, the sweet taste of s’mores melting in your mouth, and the sound of laughter while stories are being told. This my friend, is camping.

Camping in our family is a way of life. I know for some of you, camping is the last thing that you would ever consider. I have heard comments ranging from “I’d rather be in a hotel room with air conditioning and a cable” to “Are you crazy, that just sounds like a lot of work!” Well, for all you naysayers I guess all I have to say is… “It’s a camping thing…”

Over the years we have camped in many different places, some that we wish never to speak of again and others we reminisce about every chance we get. I thought that since camping season is in full swing I would list a few of our favorite campgrounds that are maybe in your area or at least a drivable distance for you this summer. These different campgrounds are very family friendly and great for first time campers.

1.) St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, FL; this campground has the most beautiful beach I have ever seen and it has a nice sandbar for little kids to play on. My seventeen month old never left the water.

2.) KOA in Trenton, TN just outside of Chattanooga. This campsite is located right on the side of Lookout Mountain and is absolutely gorgeous; it has a really nice bounce pad for children of all ages (I even jumped on it). We travel here in the fall to see the leaves change.

3.) Orchard Beach State Park in Manistee, MI; imagine waking up every morning to look over the bluffs and see Lake Michigan. The beach is really clean, and the little town of Manistee near the campground is fun to walk around and check out all the shops.

4.) Shenandoah National Park in Luray, VA; the views here will take your breath away and will make you appreciate even more the beauty that God put into the world.

5.) Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville, AL; the spring is the best time to camp here because the flowers are blooming. This campground is very family friendly.

Now that I have everyone wanting to see one of these beautiful campsites, or to at least check one out near you, here are a few tips on how to make sure the campground is family friendly.

1.) Get a campsite by the bathroom; nothing is worse than having a child wake you up at 2 in the morning to use the rest room that is a half a mile away.

2.) Check, Check, and Recheck any reviews you can find on the lake, ocean or river (if there is one) that the campground is near, we have had many camping trips ruined by getting to the lake that said on the campground website that “it was absolutely beautiful”, and couldn’t go in because we thought we would catch a disease or walk out with an extra limb.

3.) Find out what amenities the campsite and campground offers. (Running water, a park, showers, fire pits, electricity etc.)

4.) Research the town or surrounding area for things to do with children, we have found that when it is too hot and humid, having somewhere to take the children for a couple hours to cool off is very helpful.

Camping can be a very inexpensive, relaxing vacation that the whole family can enjoy. Just make sure you do your research before going to ensure a pleasant camping experience, and for first time or apprehensive campers try staying in a cabin, it is just as fun and a lot less hassle.

Enjoy your summer….I know we will!