We love to camp as a family. Although the initial cost was high, now that we have all our own gear its a very economical vacation! We generally go camping memorial day weekend and try to go again either 4th of July or Labor day. We camp out in tents and we take our dog with us too. We love the state parks for camping.
I love to rough it, but my hubby refuses. His idea of camping is a motorhome with refrigerator, TV, shower, and microwave! LOL I used to go camping when I was in my teens, we had horses then and would trailer our horses out to the campsite (it was a special one for horse enthusiasts) and stay for the weekend. It was SOOOOOO much fun!
We love tent camping! We have even camped with each of the kids as infants. My ds went at only 3 months old, my dd at 2 weeks old and other dd at 1 month old. We have a great Eureka tent that we all just fit into. WE are now looking into buying a second tent just for the kids. I wouldn't have thought that they were ready (oldest 2 will be 9 and 7) but last summer for their b-days my 2 dds each got a single man tent for playing in. Well, my dd (6 at the time) wanted to take hers with us when we went camping for the weekend. I said sure but never expected her to last more than an hour or two let alone the whole night. Neither did anyone else in the group we were camping with. Well, not only did she last the night but the whole weekend. She loved it!
Well, the next time we went camping was up in Door County, WI for a week. Her older brother thought that if his little sister could sleep alone than he could too. I really underestimated my kids and their courage. I never would have lasted even as a teen, too many scary movies, I guess.
Most of my family and many of our friends have moved on to campers. But not us... not only is tenting more economical, it's just plain fun!
Carrie, I agree, I think roughing it is more fun too But having the motorhome was a nice happy medium. Hubby still had his comforts from home and I had the great outdoors.
I noticed you are in Wisconsin. Where are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm in between Lake Geneva and Kenosha, about an hour south of Milwaukee.
We live on the Brookfield/Menomenee Falls area, just outside of Milwaukee. I was born and raised in Milwaukee but went to college in cent WI. I liked certain aspects of having a big city close by but didn't want to send my kids to Milw public schools and couldn't afford private so we settled in the burbs. Plus, my DH was raised in small town WI and wasn't too crazy about living in city but necessary for job.
You are right about campers being a happy medium. My parents just built a house in central WI near a lake (WI Rapids area). Depending on who shows up for weekends we usually end up borrowing my brother's pop-up camper. Makes it easier during rain and colder weather.
We have also talked about some day taking the kids to Colorado on vacation. If we do this we would borrow the camper too.
Where do you do most of your camping- private campgrounds or public?? We do all of ours at the state parks except for occasionally we will go to a county park near Horicon. When you were talking about the horse campground I thought of Governor Dodge St Park where they have horse sites. We've camped at the reg sites there but have gone to stable just outside the park for riding. It was a great time, but also before children.
We love tent camping. We have a tent for us and the boys have their own. Then we have a screen tent for our "kitchen". Theres just nothing like cooking outdoors and sleeping outdoors. OOOOOOO I can hardly wait to go again!!
How old are your boys?? We have gotten some comments from people thinking that mine are too young to put in a tent by themselves.
We have a screen tent as well. We were finally able to buy one last year. I can't believe we went so long without one. Another purchase we made last year was a Dutch oven. It has been wonderful. We have made everything from breakfasts, dinners and desserts in it. And the big plus, we made popcorn for the first time while camping. Yummy!
I agree with you, we can't wait to go either. I would think that being in Alabama your camping season must begin a little earlier than ours. We usually try to do our first trip in mid-May, how about you?
My boys are 11 and 15 but ,we've been camping with them for about 5 years now and they have always had their own tent. We have never made popcorn outside. Definitely have to try that one. We don't usually get started camping till mid may or later also. Not just because of weather but because of work and/or school commitments.
I am so excited! Last night we made reservations for a week of camping in Door County (WI) for July. It's nice to be planning for summer especially after the fresh snow we're receiving today.
HELLO EVERY ONE !
GLAD TO READ ALL OF YOUR POSTS ON CAMPING. WHICH IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME MOST FAVORITE THINGS TO DO... I HAVE A LARGE FAMILY (13) 5 MINOR KIDS 2 ADULT KIDS 2 GRANDKIDS PLUS SON-IN-LAW AND ONE EXTRA FAMILY MEMBER YES ALL HERE AT HOME WITH ME. WE HAVE AN OLDER MOTER HOME 1970, ITS ONLY A 27 FOOTER, SO NOT THAT BIG, BUT WE GOT IT SO CHEAP AND ITS IN MINT CONDITION, NICE FOR ON THE ROAD BUT NOT AS MUCH SLEEPING ROOM AS ONE MIGHT THINK, SO WE ALSO HAVE A SMALL PULL BEHIND AND 2 TENTS AND A SCREEN HOUSE ALL OF WHICH I BOUGHT ON SALE OR HAVE HAD FOR YEARS, LIKE THE TENTS(20 YEARS) WE MAKE EVERY THING WHILE WE ARE CAMPING, EVEN THOUGH I AM THE MAIN COOK, EVERY ONE HELPS OUT, WHICH MAKES IT NICE FOR EVERY ONE. MY 14 YO DAUGHTER MADE POPCORN OVER A CAMP FIRE LAST YEAR USING A POCKET MADE FROM FOIL AND WRAPPED ON A STICK, IT WAS GREAT. I LOVE TO SEE THE KIDS BEING CREATIVE AND LEARNING TO DO THINGS WITHOUT MODERN APPLIANCES. SOME THING TO BE QUITE PROUD OF. BUT IN ANY CASE WE GO FOR A WEEK AT A TIME AND START THE FIRST OF MAY, THE LAST TRIP OF THE YEAR IS USUALLY MID OCTOBER. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. I ALSO LOVE MY DUTCH OVENS, BOUGHT AT YARD SALES FOR 2 AND 3 DOLLARS EACH. WE MAKE EVERY THING FROM BISCUITS TO CAKE TO ROAST DEER IN THEM, HOBO POTATOES ARE GREAT IN THM ALSO. WE USUALLY HAVE TO TAKE AT LEAST 2 CAMP SITES, USUALLY THE NON ELECTRIC, A LITTLE MORE PRIMATIVE THAN THOSE WITH ELECTRIC, ONCE WE GET THE CAMP SET UP ITS WONDERFUL, WE DO ALL OF THE COOKING OUT DOORS, THE FOOD IS SO MUCH BETTER THAT WAY, AND EVERY ONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP MORE THAT WAY. JUST TALKING ABOUT IT MAKES ME WISH WE COULD GO, I'M MORE THAN READY TO GO....HAPPY CAMPING THOUGHTS TO ALL,
KIM
His idea of camping is a motorhome with refrigerator, TV, shower, and microwave! LOL I used to go camping when I was in my teens, we had horses then and would trailer our horses out to the campsite (it was a special one for horse enthusiasts) and stay for the weekend. It was SOOOOOO much fun!
But having the motorhome was a nice happy medium. Hubby still had his comforts from home and I had the great outdoors. 
