Creating Family Connections One RV Adventure at a Time
“Huh?” You may be thinking. “Why would the co-writer of a camping-themed blog say she doesn’t go camping?” It’s not that I don’t go camping—because I do, and since marrying Jarrett I’ve done a lot of it. But there are several factors surrounding the camping experience that could easily squelch my appetite to engage in any more such trips—that is, if not for the reasons
Our adventure out West last year took us to a number of national parks—Yellowstone, Devil’s Tower, the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Although our visits varied—hiking here, a ranger program there, and kiddos working to complete Junior Ranger badges—there was one thing we did at every national park: We stamped our NPS passports. If you don’t already have your own passport to the national parks,
Last April I had a guest post appear on MoneySavingMom.com featuring ideas to save money while camping–or glamping as I often call it. 🙂 I outlined five ways our family saves money on our camping and touring adventures. My No. 2 tip–coordinate your touring activities ahead of time–has saved us a lot of money in the past by doing the following: Use the Visitor’s Center During our 2014 trip to Charleston,
As we planned last spring for our three week Wild West adventure, developing an easy and simple meal plan was particularly important to me. We knew we were going to have many days of long travel and many more days of fun exploring and touring our amazing country. So I didn’t want to have to fuss with making complicated meals after long days, and I
I’m one of those types of people who likes to plan … and plan … and then plan some more. I like to have my ducks in a row. I don’t like to be caught unprepared. So taking a big trip like we did this summer had me doing a lot of planning. And even then, I still had a bit of trepidation about whether
Our visit to the Black Hills of South Dakota in 2015 was our favorite stop along our Wild West adventure. The region is rich with natural wonders, man-made marvels, and roadside Americana. It’s a great place to bring the whole family–with enough variety to keep everyone a happy camper. (Plus, it is home to one of the BEST campgrounds we have ever stayed at: Click here to find
It’s hard to believe summer is winding down already and the kids will be headed back to school soon. Although we only have a handful of summer weekend camping days left, it doesn’t mean your camping gear needs to be packed away quite yet. Because really, the best time to camp is still a few weeks away–and you still have time to make some plans!
While staying at the Lake Thompson Recreation Area near DeSmet, S.D., we discovered a fantastic (and free!) program for families: Kids in Parks TRACK Trails. According to the website, “TRACK Trails include hiking trails, biking trails, geocaching trails, paddling trails, nature trail disc golf courses, and even adventures you can do in your own back yard! In addition to getting prizes in the mail, you can
On New Year’s Day we announced that we were planning a two-month, 15-state, 6,000-mile camping trip out West. The motivation for this trip was to assist my dad and his wife in an adventure of a lifetime to see some of America’s iconic national parks. However, my dad’s health has gone down hill faster than we all expected and his doctors are limiting his activities while pursuing
For many families making their rounds of the Utah 5 National Parks, a visit to Bryce Canyon is a highly anticipated stop. With its sweeping vistas and spectacular hikes, Bryce offers something for everyone. But with most of the camping options concentrated immediately around Bryce, families that want to escape the crowds and explore Bryce…
For many families planning a trip to the Utah region, their itineraries often center on hitting the high points of iconic stops like Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and Arches. Several lesser-known parks are also worth the stop, though, and for families looking for ways to escape the crowds, Cedar Breaks National Monument should be on…
