Are the kids driving you crazy, are you driving them nuts? Sometimes the best things to do that combat the same old routine and daily grind is to throw in a little adventure. Why not go camping, leave your stress behind and head out into the wild blue yonder. Don't complain about the cost of fuel, making memories are free and far outweigh the cost of anything by comparison. If you don't think that you have little campers stirring around inside your kids just ask them, I'm sure you'll be surprised at their answer. Camping with the family is one step up from a sleep over at a friend's house. Kids see it as freedom and they'll most likely jump at the chance for a little more of it.
I remember loading up the car, well, I remember dad loading up the car and we'd head off to a new adventure. We didn't care about wrinkled clothes or combed hair, we were kids, I think they're still inside of us and we really long to let the grass grow and leave the mandatory responsibilities behind for just a while. Parents need to stretch their legs in nature and get back to the rock skipping and butterfly catching youth we miss so much. If you have kids and want to remember what it was like to be care free then plan a camping trip. You'll see smiles on yourself that you though were lost.
Although jumping in the car and heading out to someplace new is more fun for the kids, parents can still make it enjoyable to plan and pack for a trip to an unknown place. If you want to explore the surrounding areas of where you live you can call your states travel and tourism department, they are full of information and they usually have packets they can send you. They usually have a website and you can brows the places closest to you that look the most inviting.
Car camping is defined as loading up the car, or van, and driving right to the campsite. Then you unload and relax, or get ready to head out on a light hike just to get some fresh air in your lungs. Car camping can be a day trip or even extended into a week. The best thing about car camping is that your car is close, if the weather gets a little rough its okay to "tough" it out in the car, we had to one night when a gust of wind blew our fly off, we got into the van and snuggled in. The storm blew over and we decided to get back into our tent, we slept great because of the fresh rain smell, nature's air purifier.
The benefit of car camping allows you to take what you want plus what you need. If you want to fish near a lake you can bring all the equipment you have and be able to back up those fish stories. If you just want to relax you can bring some magazines or a new book and break the spine while you rest yours. You'll need the basics like a tent and sleeping bags. Bring some bug repellent because you'll slap yourself along with the bugs if you forget it. Bring some canteens or bota bags; those are leather canteens that form to your side to minimize movement. Make sure to keep your feet dry if you decide to go hiking, it will keep your from getting blisters and sore feet. Pack a backpack for hiking as well. You'll need some energy bars or beef jerky to keep your mouth from getting to dry, drink plenty of water, outdoor exercise is the best medicine to clean out your lungs and mind.
Our family car camps right now, it's the best for the kids. We're an outdoor family too, that helps with the adjustment when we go camping. We travel a lot and it goes with the territory. I'm not saying that a suburban family couldn't enjoy camping but you have to lead up to an adventure like cutting off all contact with the modern world and embracing the natural one. Plus, teaching your kids about escaping and enjoying the great outdoors will plant a seed in them so when they have kids they can continue the tradition. Camping can help restore relationships that get separated; you're building memories to melt walls. Not all of us were born to carry a mortgage, but all of us were born to carry a backpack every now and then.
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