Thursday, July 11, 2013

Why I Love Camping So Much

Yes, it is work, yes it can be a little dirty with little ones, yes we come home tired but a good tired but I really cannot imagine not camping with the family. I am hear to tell you why you should camp with your kids.

Now I have done it in all ways, but having a trailer is awesome. Though if I did not have one I would still do it in a tent
Here we are all set up on the first day. Hubby and I have a system. We arrive and he dials it in outside and I get the inside all set up. Takes about 20 minutes.


Here are the reasons I love camping so much:

Your kids spend more time together. Here I was pulling these two around in the big wagon.


You get to meet some really great camping neighbors. These horses would come by each day to the fence on the other side of our campsite. I sat for hours this trip just watching these beauties and the amazing view.


You feel free to act like a goofball around the campfire. A few nights on our trip all the folks in town came out to our campsite for the fire. We made smores of all kinds. We use Hersheys, white chocolate and my favorite Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.


We spent days here. I live in an urban area and don't like crowds so I love to vacation in nature. I would take a national park over a city vacation any day. Just how I am. Kids do not have as much freedom outdoors as we did but I feel camping gives them a chance to be outdoors and use their imaginations. We only ventured into town for the grocery store one day. We ate simply in camp each day.


No T.V. You really unplug when camping. We had no idea what was going on in the world and that was good. It is very healthy to get away from it all these days. My kids read, colored, played games. Just a slower more relaxing pace of life. I never want to come home.


One of my all time favorite things is getting to spend whole days with this guy. He works so much that when we are camping, it is so wonderful to just sit around the campsite outdoors talking and spending time together.


We camped on the Central Coast at San Simeon Creek State Park.

31 comments:

  1. so fun ... you know i love camping. so glad the family had a ball. hope you get to go again real soon. i love smores. ( :

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  2. Oh it looks like such fun, I love to camp too. So relaxing and the scenery is always amazing when you can get away from the city. Hugs, Marty

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  3. I'm with you 100%! Camping is awesome! It's so great to get away and relax and enjoy nature and family and get a way from the TV, the household to-do's, etc. We have a trailer and set up just like you and your husband...he sets up the outside and I set up the inside and we quickly have our home-away-from-home all set up and ready to enjoy. I usually a bit sad about leaving to come home but always remind myself that there's another trip right around the corner. :-)

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  4. We camped about 6 times a year from the time our youngest was 2 until she was 14. Their school involvement got in the way of planning. We have not been camping in years and I miss it. We always tented. For about 10 years straight, the last day of school, 20-25 families met up at Leo Carillo State Beach or Refugio. Many childhood memories were formed there and at least one marriage occured among the kids (not as kids, he became a doctor first). Unfortunately, divorce and death among the adults broke the camping group up. I think my husband and I are one of the few couples still together.

    Your kids look like they were having a great time. I hope you get away in the trailer a few more times this summer. Rincon parkway is a favorite spot in our area.

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  5. We love camping too, Elaine. We are planning to get another camper again soon and I can't wait! Going back to tent camping after having an RV is not as easy at it once was. People who think they don't like to camp have sure missed something good :)

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  6. What a delightful vacation - you hit the nail on the head with how wonderful it is to slow one's pace, stay unplugged and just LIVE.

    It is a very good detox for the young ones today who are REALLY image overloaded. Good for you.

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  7. I hear ya! I love camping too, for the reasons you mentioned and more! And that's also why I love hiking so much.

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  8. I totally agree! When our kids were at home, we would go tent camping in the mountains of Colorado (we live in OK). Now hubby and I have an RV. It gave him a reason to get away from the work that will always be there ;). Our kids and their families have even gone camping with us in the RV and we love the together time. So much fun and so many memories. And I'm like you...I'd much rather go camping than have a city vacation any time!

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  9. I love camping and we did a lot of it when our kids were growing up. All over the country. We had a pop up camper. Now I want o get a new camper or a trailer. I'm looking forward to camping with just my husband - sounds like heaven to me!

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  10. Oh I agree with everything you said about camping. We absolutely love it. We are going every other week end when possible. It is the most relaxing thing I have ever done. We are now looking to upgrade to a fifth wheel because we are spending so much time camping. Glad to see there are others enjoying it also.

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  11. Hi there, We are going camping this weekend. WE always camped with our girls and now we camp with them and their families. I will say I wish I had a trailer or motor home because at 61, it is a tad bit harder to sleep on the ground(even with air mattresses). One year we had a motor home that belonged to our oldest daughter and it was wonderful.
    Thanks for sharing and keep making memories.
    Noreen

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  12. I miss my camper and camping. Looks like you're having a great time!

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  13. We love camping! Our travel trailer doesn't get used near as much as we would like! Looks like you guys had a wonderful time!!

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  14. The goal was when our youngest graduated Ray and I would get a camper and newer truck so we could go where and when we wanted. My husband died 8/14/10. Ray never got to see our youngest graduate. I think camping is exactly as you put it...time to enjoy one another. I still think about getting away and camping but right now I'm just not ready. So until then I will enjoy your trips. Thanks for sharing.

    Donna

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  15. Tent camping is awesome, I grew up camping and then we went camping with our children and our tent. Your trailer looks comfy and it gets you out in nature.

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  16. Aren't you glad you didn't sell the trailer last year when you were thinking about it? Some of my fondest memories as a kid were camping - I am sure your kids feel that way too.

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  17. I love to camp too, for all of those reasons. And of course, who doesn't love San Simeon. Foggy days and all. Mimi

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  18. I had never camped when I was a kid. When we decided to take our girls camping when they were little I was a little dubious. I remember asking my husband, "but what is there to do when you camp? I had no clue! But yes, we tented with the girls on the shores of lake Huron for years and loved every single moment of it. Since they both have jobs and it has been so hard to co-ordinate time off together we really miss it. I am hoping some day to renew the tradition with grandkids:>) Yes, camping is wonderful!

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  19. This is the second camping post I've read today! :D
    How nice....to unplug! I really need a vacation like that. It would have to be healthy for one's mental and emotional health!

    I love seeing the photos of you and your family. I'm so happy y'all had a nice time on your trip!

    xo,
    RJ

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  20. What a wonderful trip for you and your family! I'm not a camper at all but everyone I know who camps just love it. Maybe if it wasn't so hot.....

    Judy

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  21. Everything tastes better over a campfire, even an old hotdog. The fresh air is great too and I can see where it does encourage the family to get closer. Besides, it is just good to get away from the house now and again.
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  22. Hi Elaine! Oh, I wish we could have done this when our children were little. Sounds wonderful. We've just bought a teeny little RV and are loving it. I've even started another little blog just for Kiki, our RV.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  23. I can't say I blame you one bit.. You get back to the basic things in life which are SO lacking today.. There's so much "noise" in the world we live in today.. I wouldn't want to come back either!

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  24. I love your post. Yes, I love camping too. My favorite is spending time with my sweetheart too.
    Great post!

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  25. You have a great camper!! What a wonderful way to spend time together and love, love, love that you are UNPLUGGED!! No TV, no computer!! Awesome! Get some creative juices going for the kids.

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  26. We like camping to for most of those reasons, especially having no TV. I tend not to have the TV on much in the house these days and just enjoy listening to the silence :)

    Looks like a lovely spot to enjoy yourselves...

    xx

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  27. How wonderful! Those horses are so beautiful. My favorite vacations are always the ones that get us back to nature. I am not a city vacay girl either, and not the busy busy "let's do everything" type. I always love seeing your darling family Elaine!

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  28. ..Hi Elaine........... my Hubby and I spent 9 months travelling around Australia in our little camper.....we had a wonderful time... We're in our early 70s now and arthritis makes camping a lovely memory.....
    It's great that you and your family had a fabulous holiday...
    Hugs .... Barb xxxxx

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  29. Kudos to you for taking them camping! We had a tradition with my BIL that my husband and his four brothers all took their families camping (no wives-17 kids) every year until the kids turned 16. My kiddos complained every year they went. Now they are 25 and 18 and organized a family campout for this year b/c they miss it!

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  30. I truly need to start camping again. I grew up camping and miss it so much. Thanks for inspiring me to get back in the swing of things.

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  31. When our children were 4 and 6, my husband was going to school full time with 3 day weekends, and we bought a used camper.

    We camped every weekend that the weather permitted that year, and it was such fun and such a wonderful way to make memories.

    I totally see that you are doing the same with your family. You are right...it has many benefits.

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