What I Wished I Knew Before I Camped with Kids

Camping with kids can be an absolutely wonderful experience for everyone involved ... roasting marshmallows, looking for shooting stars, singing Kum Ba Yah around the camp fire.

Or it can be a nightmare.

On our first camping trip with our young kids (one and three), our 1-year-old daughter spent the majority of the weekend falling down, bleeding or crying. (You really can never have enough band-aids or changes of clothes.) 

On another camping trip, the same child (who was now a mature 3 year old) wandered off. After about 10 minutes of epic terror, we found her under a picnic table about 10 sites away visiting a dog. (After this I always brought along duct tape. Yes, it's useful for camping, but it mostly served as a reminder to the girls that I'd tape them to a tree if they tried to wander off again. Yes, moms do crazy things.)

Yes, camping with kids is hard. But it's so worth it. And with a little (a lot!) of planning and preparation, your trips will be amazing and jam-packed with wonderful memories. 

First, I strongly recommend a book by Helen Olsson, called Camping With Kids (amazon.com). It's packed with oodles of excellent tips from the author who has years and years of experience camping with her kids. 

Second, here are a few of my own tips: 

• Pack three outfits per child per day. (Whether it's sticky marshmallows, a rainy weekend or someone had an "accident," there are oh-so-many ways for kids to get dirty camping. It's part of the fun, but fresh, dry clothes will keep your campers happy.) 
• Pack at least two sets of pajamas. 
• Pack a raincoat, rain pants and rain boots for every child. (Embrace the rain, and everyone will just have more fun!)
• Bring small, plastic toys (like Barbies, Hot Wheels or Legos) that are easy to clean. 
• Bring along a pack of cards, crayons and paper. Ask the kids to draw what they see around the campsite. Give them a short list for a Scavenger Hunt.  
• Prepare food ahead of time (like Breakfast Burritos) so you don't have much food prep to do on site. This will give you more time to have fun (and key an eye on) the kids. (Hopefully you won't have to get out the duct tape!) 
• Bring a water bottle for each child. Just keep cleaning and re-using the one water bottle during the entire trip. 
• If you are potty-training, bring along the small potty.

Like I said, camping with kids can be more than a little challenging. There are bound to be hiccups, but don't let it discourage you. These hiccups make for the best stories! 

Take the Scenic Route Across the US

Planning a road trip? Take the scenic route! Yes, it may add a few more miles, but the rolling hills or quirky roadside stops will likely make it worth it.

During one of our trips, taking the scenic route meant we got to discover a carousel in Story City, Iowa, that was built in 1913 with hand-carved horses. A few miles down the road, we also got the chance to see the surprisingly beautiful terraced fields of Iowa.

I picked examples from Iowa on purpose because I think most people - me included - would think Iowa didn't have much scenery to offer. But it did, and I think pretty much every region offers something special to see. Just keep your mind open and your eyes peeled!

If you are mapping out your next road trip, check out the Reader's Digest book, The Most Scenic Drives in America (amazon.com), for 120 spectacular road trips around the U.S.

It features well-known regional trips like Yellowstone's Grand Loop or lesser known routes like the Missouri Rhineland. Each route overview includes:

• The length
• Best time to visit
• Stops not to be missed
• Nearby attractions
• Resources for more information

Check your local library for this book and others to help you chart your adventure. And share your best scenic route discoveries in the comments below.

Overview of the "Practical Camping Handbook" by Peter Drake

Are you new to tent camping? Check out the Practical Camping Handbook by Peter G. Drake (available on amazon.com). This short book gives a comprehensive, but brief and to the point, overview on planning your camping trip and setting up camp.

"The simple pleasures of sleeping under canvas and enjoying the freedom of the countryside cannot be over-estimated," writes Drake. (I agree.)

The book gives useful tips in purchasing equipment, selecting clothing, erecting tents and making fires. It includes lots of helpful pictures and tips. One of the fun tips is the "mug tree," where Drake suggests hanging clean coffee mugs on a nearby tree to keep the mugs clean and organized while drying.

If the idea of starting a fire is daunting to you, this book will help. Drake covers fire building in excellent detail so every reader can start a fire to rival any Eagle Scout!

No-Fuss, Yummy Camping Breakfast Burritos

There's really no better camping breakfast than a cheesy, warm breakfast burrito. They are especially delightful on a cold morning. Plus, you make them ahead of time, so there is no onsite prep and no clean up!

Ingredients: (Makes about 8 burritos)

• 8 large tortillas 
• 10 eggs 
• 2 to 3 cups of your favorite shredded cheese
• Pack of bacon or sausages
• Back of frozen hashbrowns 
• Add your own favorite ingredients

 

Directions to prepare your burritos: 

• Scramble eggs
• Cook bacon or sausage
• Cook hashbrowns
• Prepare anything else you'd like to add to your burritos 
• Set out all of your burrito ingredients and assemble your burritos
• Double wrap burritos in tinfoil or use thicker tinfoil so your burritos won't burn while cooking
• Place finished burritos in freezer or fridge (frozen ones will keep fresh two or there days in your cooler)
• Place burritos in your cooler along with salsa if desired

 

Directions to heat-up your burritos: 

• Build a fire or light coals
• Place the tinfoil-wrapped burritos in a circle around your fire or coals
• Turn the burritos every few minutes to prevent burning
• After 20 to 30 minutes, check a burrito to see if it is warm enough
• Add salsa if desired
• ENJOY!