[USAmma]

Dh and I are still digging out of debt. We realize that a vacation is unrealistic and couterproductive. I mean dd wants to go to Disneyland and we went to AAA for some quotes and it was like $800 for two days!

The summer is long and hot and we just had to get away before we all killed each other (so to speak).

So . . . earlier this year I bought a 4 person tent on sale at CostCo with a coupon, I think it was around $50 for a really good Coleman tent.

I dug all the old camping gear out from pre-kids (propane stove, tarps, clothesline, air mattresses, etc). And we booked a reservation at a campground in the mountains just 2 hours from our home in the desert.

It was great!! We stayed 4 days, 3 nights. The campground had water and toilets, and coin-op showers. Except for some toilet accidents because they couldn't wait to walk to the toilets (little ones don't squat well!

) it went very well. I even just hand washed the soiled clothes and hung them on the line and they were dry by nightfall. The campsite was right outside a small town in case we needed supplies. We ended up splurging on a cheap shower tent because the coin-op showers gave us ice cold water and it was $1.00 for 4 minutes.

: The shower tent will pay for itself in just a few camping trips. We used the Indian method of heating a kettle of boiling water, adding it to a bucket of cold water, and using a large measuring cup to pour water over ourselves. OMG it felt heavenly! We were frugal with the food: pancakes and eggs for breakfast, PB sandwiches and apples for lunch, and something for dinner that varied every night: noodles, Boca burgers, etc. One day we hiked and the next day we visited a natural wonder.

Campsite $15 per night (car included)
Gas $50 both ways
Shower $35
Two cheap sleeping bags for the kids $20
Entry to natural wonder $6
Ice @1 new bag per day $4
Propane tank $2.50
Firewood for 2 nights $6
Food doesn't count because we would have spent more than that eating at home probably.

The kids had a great time and we made some good memories. I think it was nicer than a trip where you spend lots of $$ and have to hurry and hurry and everyone is stressed out.

Oh, about Disneyland: Dh is already planning a trip for next summer to go up and down the CA coast at different campgrounds. We hope to end up at Monterey, and hit the Redwood forest on the way. We might even be able to stop by Disneyland for one day on the way back. Plan is to stop by a laundramat sometime to wash our clothes.

Camping saves in three ways:
1) driving is cheaper than flying in most cases
2) campgrounds are cheap or free depending on where you choose to camp
3) you don't have to eat out-- you can cook your own food!

 

[momto l&a]

We sold our camp trailer

: because just we weren't using it enough to warrant keeping it. Plus the price of gas it outrageous to haul it anywhere.

We took 1,000 from the sale and bought camping equipment. SO while we spent over $1,000 up front we can get many many camping trips out of that

The cost in the future will be just gas and food.

We have gone on 1 camping trip so far and have 2 more planned for this year. Where we camp its free and nobody is around

It wasn't cheap to start off with but the equipment will last us for years. We bought a high quality 8 adult person tent so that will grow with us so we wont have to buy another one for years to come.

All the equipment we already had just wouldn't work for a family of five. I used to pack so I had minimalistic equipment

I mean I cant cook enough food for 5 mouths on my wonderful Sierra stove, so we got a 3 burner gas stove

We still have to get 3 sleep pads for the girls, hoping to find some at yard sales. They are about 50+ nowadays.

:

:

Then we had to buy a canvas cargo bag because we cant get all the camping stuff in the car or in the carrier that slides in the hitch.

Camping with 5 people is hard

Cant imagine going on a pack trip which I plan to do once they can carry themselves

Kids have soooo much fun out camping. We live in the country but it still a treat for the girls.

:

 

[grisandole]

We went on a four day "camping" trip this summer in our travel trailer. It was so fun, and affordable. We bought an old travel trailer last year so that we could stay in it instead of hotels....even staying at the pricey campsites is cheaper and more fun than hotels.

 

[annethcz]

Quote:

We sold our camp trailer

We're about to sell ours also. After 3 years with a pop-up, we're going back to a tent. I actually think it's easier to have a plain old tent with our 4 kids than it is to tow that darn pop-up. They both have to be set up when you get there, anyway.

Anyway, I grew up camping, and actually think it's kinda weird to go on vacation and stay in a hotel

It's just not within the realm of my normal.

We're going camping next week, and I just finished the grocery shopping for our trip. I was feeling a little guilty about spending $10 on a bunch of granola bars, and then I realized that the alternative was probably to spend $25 on fast food instead (blech!).

 

[Stone Fence]

Anyway, I grew up camping, and actually think it's kinda weird to go on vacation and stay in a hotel

It's just not within the realm of my normal.

:

 

[atpeace]

I love camping too...this is our last year as a two-some before baby joins us, but I'm glad to see that there are lots of people who go camping with young children. Perhaps next summer we'll have to stay closer to home, or maybe even rent a cottage instead of tenting (baby will be 8 or 9 months old then)?

 

[Starr]

We are going to try camping with DD, 10 months, over labor day. We have a tent so we'll see how it goes.

 

[PennyRoo]

We'll be camping on the cape cod national seashore in a few weeks - I can't wait! Such a cheap get-away, and such a great experience for the little ones. It's indescribably wonderful to wake up with the sunrise, roll out of your tent onto a pristine beach, and dive into the ocean.

 

[excitedtobeamom]

Atpeace-camping with babies is easy. Once they start walking it is a bit harder but still not bad. I went camping with my two twice this summers so far and I hope to go more this year. We are trying to reduce debt as well. We also invested in two backpacks for long hikes. The sling doesn't work for long hikes so I love my backpacks. It was so nice to escape the AZ heat this summer for three days. We brought the Tonka dump truck for my newly walking son and he pushed it all over the place and had a blast. I first went camping at 6 weeks according to my mom. I wasn't that brave with my kiddos though.

 

[pixie-n-hertwoboys]

Thats the only vacations we have!! We grew up camping too so doing anything else just doesn't feel like vacation to me!

I hope you get to go up the CA coast. They have some amazing campgrounds!!! DH and I honeymooned there. Drove up hwy 1 and then over to Napa Valley, camping the whole way. There is one near Big Sur that is fantastic!! one of the state parks there. THere is a super cute little restaurant around there too that has an old english feel. man, thanks for the walk down memory lane!

 

[USAmma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixie-n-hertwoboys Thats the only vacations we have!! We grew up camping too so doing anything else just doesn't feel like vacation to me! I hope you get to go up the CA coast. They have some amazing campgrounds!!! DH and I honeymooned there. Drove up hwy 1 and then over to Napa Valley, camping the whole way. There is one near Big Sur that is fantastic!! one of the state parks there. THere is a super cute little restaurant around there too that has an old english feel. man, thanks for the walk down memory lane!

Nitara was conceived in Monterey.

I guess we brought back one more souveneir than expected.

It's such a beautiful place!!

 

[Irishmommy]

Well it's not as cheap for us - I am not giving up my travel trailer!! But we go for a two week and a one week trip, and lots of weekends every year, starting in late April to late October.

 

[spatulagirl]

I am on vacation in Canada right now. The kids and I camped the entire time except when staying with family. With the exception of gas we spent $100 driving up to Canada. It took us four days.

We have been cooking all our own food and either bathing in lakes or the occasional shower in the campsite.

 

[EviesMom]

We looooove camping! Just because you're camping doesn't mean Disney isn't an option! Does Disneyland have a campground? There must be campground places close to it?

We've been saving up for a big extended-family reunion/disney world/camping trip over thanksgiving. We're staying at Fort Wilderness, which is a campground on the Disney property, so we don't need cars to get around most of the time. It's pricey for a camping spot, but you can have up to 10 adults and related kids (presuming you can fit them!) on one camp site. We reserved 2 sites for 10 to 12 adults (one sibling and partner haven't decided if they can go), 2 RVs, 3 tents, 3 dogs, and 1 child.

Also, the person looking for camp pads: We finally bought some this year at Campmor, a great place near us. You can buy online from them too at www.campmor.com. We got the campmor brand self-inflating pads, and they were about $20 each I believe. However, I can't find them on the site right now, so either they're sold out, or the slumberjack stuff might be a replacement for them.

 

[Red]

My family never camped. Then dd brought a 'family bank' home from kindergarten. THe directions said to put you change in and buy something for the family at teh end of the year.

At the end of the year, we had $80. Enough to buy a tent and rent a site!

We took the blankets off our beds, some charcoal and paper nplates and had a blast. WE have camped every year since and that was 25 years ago.

Boston Harbor Islands, tiny island in Maine, state and federal campgrounds/ My kids have a ton of great memories. Enjoy yours.

 

[~Megan~]

We are waiting till October to do some camping. With the baby we decided to do a rustic cabin though. Its $35 a night but it includes:
Double bed
Single-sized bunk bed
Futon sleeper sofa (double size)
Dining table and chairs
Outdoor gas barbecue grill
Small refrigerator
Heat
Lights and electricity
Covered porch
Outdoor picnic table

We are trying to decide if we want to share it with someone. It is a two room so it might work nicely.

And with the fridge it will make cooking and keeping food easier and give us more options.

 

[grisandole]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamao'two We are waiting till October to do some camping. With the baby we decided to do a rustic cabin though. Its $35 a night but it includes: Double bed Single-sized bunk bed Futon sleeper sofa (double size) Dining table and chairs Outdoor gas barbecue grill Small refrigerator Heat Lights and electricity Covered porch Outdoor picnic table We are trying to decide if we want to share it with someone. It is a two room so it might work nicely. And with the fridge it will make cooking and keeping food easier and give us more options.

Now, that's my style of camping

Seriously, that's why we have a travel trailer (purchased used for 600.00, it needed cosmetic work that dh did), it's comfy and has a bathroom and fridge, we converted it so that it has a king sized bed for us and bunks for the kids, and it has a/c, which is useful for when we visit the desert in the summer. I like our trailer, and enjoy "camping" now that we have it.

 

[zjandosmom]

Camping is the only way we vacation! My kids love it and they have so much more freedom than if we were to stay in a hotel. My last 2 were both camping at about 3-4wks old!! I can't wait to go again. We go to the beach every spring and the mountains every fall. We try to fit in more than that, but those are the 2 trips we take if nothing else. I know we are giving our kids some great memories!! Tenting for us!!

 

[Emilie]

I am printing off camp sites right now in our area. No need to waste gas going to far away.

What should I be looking for?
I would like there to be lake access- preferably a beach....

I am so excited. I want to go so bad on vacation and we just could not swing it. Dh can take a long weekend and we can do it. And since we will be close to home- if it is a bummer we can just decide what to do!

I hope I can convince him!

Emilie

 

[craftymom]

We just got back from a camping/motel vacation--2 weeks, about half camping.

Some ideas for you for next year:
--If you're going that far north, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park on the NorCal coast was great. A great park, with big trees, elk, banana slugs, and limited mosquitos and poison oak. We also spent a night at Humboldt Redwoods State Park (I think--it was Burlington Campground). There was poison oak EVERYWHERE. My dh is very allergic, he was a nervous wreck, and our 6yo didn't get it either, but not worth the stress.
--Honeyman State Park in SW OR is great. We went cos dh went as a kid. Great programs at the nature center, huge playground, tons and tons of huge dunes, a great small lake for kayaks/canoes/paddleboats and swimming, campfire programs, no poison oak. We would love to stay a week, if it weren't so far away!
--Don't camp at Crater Lake Natl Park! Crater Lake was a volcano. So the campground sits in 3 inches of loose ash--wish we had thought of this first! It takes more than 7,000 years for ash to turn to dirt. The dirtiest, dirtiest, night I have ever spent camping. We love pancakes or eggs for breakfast, but we got danishes at the store instead. Awful mosquitos, too!
--A yummy dinner: canned pinto beans, onion, eggs, corn, torn up corn tortillas, chili powder, served w/cheese. Easy, yummy, 1 pot!

Love camping!!!! We can't wait til the boys will backpack well!