For my friends who have never camped or RV'ed, they wonder why I love it so much. I grew up doing it, and wouldn't trade it for the world. I hope your family loves it equally as much. Here's a few things that really made me fall in love with camping as a child, made me continue to love as a teenager, and purchase my own TT as an adult.
1. We always had a boat as well as camped, mostly tent camping. We loved the water, and rented a boat for a day, and that sold us for life on a boat. If your kids and wife love water, go somewhere that has a beach for swimming, many lakeside campgrounds have great beach areas. It's another expense, but renting a pontoon boat for a day is a life changing experience.
2. FOOD. We always cooked outside, and it was never just a simple meal. We feasted. We'd have spiedies (local delicacy), salt potatoes, steaks, all kinds of great foods. Getting to prepare and eat outside was always an awesome experience. As kids we were healthy eaters, and never ever were picky, so kids that are picky eaters will not enjoy this as much. We also brought snacks snacks and more snacks. On vacation we ate whatever and whenever we wanted for snacks... It was great. Obviously we saved room for dinner because it was always so good. We also always have breakfast together in the mornings, eggs bacon ect... Makes another fun meal if you make "zip lock bag omelets"... Look them up, kids love it.
3.Let the kids bring a friend. We always brought a friend, and these friends continued to camp with us for years, even as adults. They became part of our family. As kids we loved having a friend along. We rode bikes together, swam together, it was awesome.
4. Be prepared. Nothing ruins a trip faster than needing something and not having it. Bug spray, rain coats, enough clothes, bathroom supplies, towels, warm clothes for cold nights, flashlights... All things that are easy to overlook but makes a trip much easier.
5. Build a big fire, get smores to make, hotdogs to roast, games to play. This was always my favorite and still is, just sitting around a great fire. Buy folding chairs from Walmart to use, they're perfect for around the fire and very cheap. Get everyone their own chair. Let the kids and wife get different colors. We had a game called password. Small eelectronic game, would have a timer and a random word would appear, had to make everyone else guess that word, then you'd pass to someone else, great campfire game.
6. Games like ladder toss, bean bag toss, bocee ball (my fav) are awesome at a camp site. They come together often as a kit with many games. Bicycles are great too, campgrounds often have long flat paved areas that make biking fun, and can occupy kids for hours.
7. Plan some activities outside the campground. Find local hiking spots, local museums or attractions. Don't worry about filling the whole day with activity... The best activity is often just hanging out around the campsite.
8. Find another family you're close friends with, that has kids the same age. We always camped (and still do) with my aunt and uncle, who had 2 kids my age. We always shared buying food, shared cooking duty, shared clean up duty..... Makes everything so much easier. It gives kids more friends to play with, and gives the adults more people to have adult time with. It makes everything more fun, and easier. If you can find a family to rent and camp with, it's an awesome time.
9. Roll with the punches.... Things will go wrong. Something may break, your charcoal may not light, it might rain and soak everything, your awning might break or your easy-up might blow away... Just don't worry, don't stress when camping. Half the fun of camping is compromise and finding creative solutions to everyday things. The trip dosen't have to be "perfect". I remember the imperfect trips even more.
10. Sometimes just do nothing. Just sit around the fire, talk, and do nothing. You're camping... No need to worry about work or what to do next. Just enjoy yourself.
