My DH & I used to take our kids camping for our summer vacations many years ago...something we could afford and we all loved to camp...we had things down to an art...I even had a portable kitchen sink/table which was waaay cool! Now we're empty nesters and have recently moved back to the Northwest and downsized our camping equipment majorly! We wanted to know if we could camp without our kids (DH married me with 4 kids and we had one more together), so we went this past weekend...wwweeeeeelllllll...I think we picked a bad weekend to go...the temps were off the charts and I'm NOT a hot weather person...by noon, it was goodbye shade and hello hot, dry, sunshine beating down on us! We went into town and hung out in the local Dairy Queen for a while and did a bit of shopping, but eventually, we had to go back to our camsite and still had several more hours of fun sunshine...two times I even got in the car and turned on the A/C...also had one of those misting water spray bottles with a mini fan? Finally cooled off after midnight...can you spell "stupid me"? I let my DH talk me into a place called, get this - "Hellgate Canyon"! LOL! On the good note, we did discover that we still love to camp and that we can relax more and just do nothing and have a great time if the weather cooperates! :-)

What's your story?

RW: never been camping, never will!! Roughing it for me is when the A/C is out after a storm!!! Glad you got away from everything and still had fun.

WE have been camping every year for 38 years, Will be leaving again this weekend. I had 5 boys and now the 4 grands come camping. What a blast! I have to tell you tho the most memorable are the worst ones, Rain for 9 out of 11 days, skunks in the tent and me 8 months pregnant, (I am known as the skunk lady at the campground now!!), Tornado's Flooding, Heavy rains and high winds, rescuing other peoples boats from blowing away, Tents blowing down while us parents partied and the kids slept!! They sure are good memories!! Do we remember the trips that went smoothly? Nope, not sure there wasn't at least one thing to remember about each one. This year we can not get out pop up camper to go up!!! GRRR one corner is stuck and refuses to go all the way up. So we may be back to the tent. I do not mind the tent in fact I prefer the tent. it is just all the extra stuff I have to put in the van that is packed in the camper. We bought a pop up so we wouldn't have to pack all the pots, pans and paraphernalia that you need to haul. I do NOT allow a radio either! I love the quiet relaxing atmosphere and a good book! Wait, did I say quiet? With the 4 grands there is no such thing! LOL

I have had great camping trips with hubby and family; but the favorite was last year when my friend joined me for 5 days on the Maine coast. Hubby set up camp for us then left us there; and we spent every day antiqueing, hitting quilt shops, and eating great food!!

Oh wait I can't forget this one!! WE were camping on a river, Downstream was a bridge and farther down is a waterfall, Not a huge one it is the local swimming hole. Well we had just gotten a Kayak and my son wanted to try it out, So we launched it in the river, Need I say much more? He was paddling along and the current caught him pushing him towards the bridge and falls! He had to swamp it What a hoot!!

Love camping with or without kids. Last year a group of us went 5 couples had a blast. we're right on the water and sit around the fire and watch the canoes and innertubes float by take our shephard with us and shes good as gold Eventually would like to get a camper but when go out west theres some places you can't pull it. Found that out on the Going to the sun road. We had to park it do the trip backtrack down and then drive around the area added a lot of hours to the trip but well worth the time

We love to camp! Our first camping trip taught us many things! LOL!! Most importantly, do not put your tent site on damp ground, because when it rains, it becomes a swamp!!! :mrgreen: And make sure your do a trial run of putting up your tent BEFORE you go camping. It will make it much easier and less likely that you will want to kill your mate. :mrgreen:

We have now graduated to a pop-up camper. We really enjoy it. My bones are getting older and sleeping on the ground just is easy for me. We take our children and grandbabies when we go. The more we have, the more we enjoy it.

I am afraid of heights, so when we when over the pass on the "Going to the Sun" road, guess who was huddled on the floor with the kids shouting and hooting? Yup...me! We stopped at one spot and the kids got out and started running to the edge and I thought I 'd have heart failure! I've never seen more beautiful country anywhere else though...

Donna, you are an inspiration! I'll bet you are just the most fun gal to camp with! I'm so enjoying your stories of camping...keep em coming!

Oh boy do I have camping memories. And you are right the disasters at the time are much more memorable then when everything goes right. One trip was with all of my husbands family. He has 4 sisters and 2 brothers and all of their kids. We each trickled into the campground at our own pace and his younger brother and his brood of wife and 3 sons got there after dark. He didn't take very good care of his equipment and had one of those old canvas tents that he stored in a shed over winter that was obviously not water tight. We all stood around with flashlights so he could see to pitch the tent. First unroll of the tent, what is that smell?? As he unrolled it more and more you could see the tent was full of mold and holes. We called it the radioactive tent as I swear some of the molds were glowing in the dark. Needless to say it was unusable. Someone had an extra pup tent to lend them for the weekend. Family of 5 sleeping in a little pup tent. DH's poor brother was the butt of every joke that weekend.

[quote=SherriB

We have now graduated to a pop-up camper. We really enjoy it. My bones are getting older and sleeping on the ground just is easy for me. We take our children and grandbabies when we go. The more we have, the more we enjoy it.[/quote]

We are tent campers, at least for now...we both have nice cots and sleep comfortable...I'd like to hear more about pop up tents however...I've always wondered about them...

Ok here is another one. Our first Pop up camper worked great for two years then we set it up and I was in there getting beds ready when all of a sudden it fell all the way down, Good thing their is crawling room in their! Needless to say we all slept in a little pup tent that night!!! We have been looking for a small travel trailer used of course but it seems that their is nothing around this year when we really could use it. I am tired of pop ups not working like they should. Of course we have only owned older ones. Oh I wonder what our adventure will bring this year!!

Oh I just thought of another one! The 1'st pop up the side hooks were broken that held the canvas down. My 2 year old grandson was in there taking a nap. I looked over from my lawn chair just in time to see him fall out the end. How he missed the hitch I don't know but he did and wasn't hurt, just scared, As was I. Well when I went to get up the whole bottom of my chair ripped and I ended up on the ground too. Crying baby and grandma stuck in a broken chair- Funny Picture!!

we started out as tent campers, then a van (cargo van that *I* fixed up), popup, class c, class a....
We moved to the boonies and woods in 2003 so have our own private 'campsite' and get to sleep in our own bed in AC!!
Since we moved here we don't feel the urge to go camping like we used to when we lived in town.
The one campground we went to was waaaaaaaaaaaaay back when and it was a VERY primitive place - like we were the ONLY tent campers around and had the whole place to ourselves most of the time... mice running out of the water pump (hand pump)...
We had our campsite down to a science and had everything all set up when along comes a storm and tornadoes! took us 15 minutes to get everything into the station wagon (the kids were already in there!).. the only thing we missed was the clothesline!!
Give me an airconditioned hotel with cable tv nowadays LOL

We used to go camping in a small trailer. I'm claustraphobic--not good. I didn't enjoy it. I worked all week long (after my regular job and taking care of a small child) to get everything ready. When we got to the camp site my dh "set up camp" by plugging the camper into the electrical outlet and putting the jacks under each end to steady it. My job was to set out the chairs, roll out the canopy, start the fire, cook supper. After supper it was my job to clean up while he sat. After all, we were on a relaxing weekend. The next morning while he slept I had to cook breakfast, then clean up, then lunch then clean up, cook supper then clean up. Plus make the beds, keep the camper straightened up, take care of dd. All the work of home with few of the ammenities. Then when we got home I got to clean everything. Nope, not my idea of a good time. The one time I thought I could enjoy it and took a small sewing machine he had a fit! NO, no way was I going to sew, we had to go for a hike in 90 degree heat and humidity almost as bad. Never went again. We still have the camper, it's full of RC airplanes.

I am not a camper, so we started out in a 28 ft. motorhome! Now we spend summers in Vermont and winters in Florida, in 36 feet of luxury. I get most of my quilt tops made then, because the phone isn't ringing all the time, and no one is wanting me to do things!

Used to love camping but am now way more finnicky about temperature and bugs. We did upgrade to a 33 feet class C motor home but it is intensive with 10 kids or more. No I am done camping. Maybe when all the kids are grown up. We went this summer with ten children and just the packing, cleaning and cooking is overwhelming. The good part is DH likes it and the children had a good time so I just suck it up for two weeks. There is really no space on the motor home once we are all in with clothes and supplies so I bring a book and English paper piecing. I did ask them this year if they could go without me and leave me home. Hehehehe I love people that ask me when I am back from camping with ten kids if I had a nice relaxing vacation. LOL They are clueless what it is to go camping with a larger family.

We camp at a rustic campground, No fancy potty no shower, no electricity or running water. They have a great well and a huge lake. I get frustrated when people with motor homes come there, they HAVE to run those darn noisy generators, Have TV's and DVD players, Yuck!! Those things I have at home!! Give me a good old rustic place anytime!! I totally would rather tent camp as then in the morning you throw your sleeping bag over your pillow, sweep out the tent and get out of their for the day. I do find the Pop up more work, There is more to do in there. I have a battery operated Sewing Machine and Maddy made her first quilt while camping at age 6. Last year it was an outfit.

ahhhhhhhhhhhh camping ---------- I remember YEARS ago, we would drive to Dinky Creek in California, pitch a tent, make it cozy inside and then explore the flora and fauna around us. The smell of the pines, the feeling of freedom, the crisp air, the wonderful lake with our toes in the water looking for minnows and splashing around---THAT is the memory I WANT to keep.......BUT......DH is NOT a camper. he wants a BED, tv, kitchen....stupid me - - I convinced him to go with our 2 daughters. Well, we got to our site and Mr Happy was ddetermined NOT to have a good time no matter what!!
hm, I thought, feed him and he will feel better. I opened up the picnic basket to take out the spaghetti and started warming it up - my it was smelling yummy.....oh oh....there was a breeze.....a gentle breeze........oops, a leaf went drifting into the pot...........OH MY!! dh saw that, said we WERE LEAVING!!!HE WAS NOT EATING TREES FOR DINNER!!!!We were forced to pack up and head on down the hill..........needlesstosay, we, as a family, have NOT been camping together, but I have taken our daughters separately, and had a ball!!

We only went once.

We rented a cabin in a state park. There was something wrong with the door lock and when inside we had to pry the door open with a knife. Mom was afraid we'd be trapped in a fire, so we went home before our time was up and we never camped again.

LOL Camping IS all about eating leaves a few bugs and poison Ivy! Bugs are Protein!! Just ask my 3 year old grandson! He recently decided Ants were a great snack! His mom had a fit!!! Now when he catches one we ask him what he is going to do with it. Usually he just pets them and lets them go. So funny to watch!! And we all should eat leafy greens!! My Husband isn't much of a camper either, He leaves and goes to work comes grills dinner and then plays cards with the boys, I do all the packing, and work at the campground but I was raised in the great outdoors and have camped since I was a baby, As have my Children. Baby #5 was 5 weeks old. What an easy age for camping!!! My grands talk about it all year long!!

I go camping a lot. I NEVER take the husband - he just gets too grumpy. I have taken children on my own for years, now I take teenagers and grandchildren, as well as Guides and Brownies. Do you know, I never tire of the great outdoors, and would spend most of the summer holidays in a field if I could!

Sounds like I'm one of the few lucky ones whose DH HELPS when camping! I cook, he cleans up, etc....
That's one thing he has ALWAYS helped with - a camping trip - it might have had something to do with a madfit I might have had some time in the far distant past or something ... not sure I actually remember something like that - but it could have been.... possibly..... maybe....

buwahahahahaaaa

LOL! I'm sooo loving reading all about your stories good or bad with camping! I have a great DH regards camping, thankfully...I get things ready...food, sanitary, ulitarian, etc...he gets the tent and and all the stuff that goes inside plus dutch ovens, etc...we share the work...and with just the two of us, we camped soooo simply! Hot dogs...how hard is that to make a properly burned hot dog that crunches when you bite into it? We did splurge and cook peach cobbler in the dutch oven though...yum!

Many years ago I learned to speak my mind and husband and kids all had chores and mom had some time to play as well, but that was after mom did everything and went home exhausted and none too happy! Kids learned to do a bit of helping without too much complaining as they had mostly playtime and DH learned to do some mighty fine cooking and cleaning! LOL!

My idea of camping is staying at a hotel with a number in the name of it. Motel 6, super 8.... :-)

When camping Children should look like this till bedtime!! :lol:

We LOVE camping -- in fact, we're leaving in about 2 hours for a week at the lake! I'm taking some fabric for handpiecing.

My worst has to be this last May!!! We went on our yearly jaunt with friends. We got there a day early and instead of "rounding up the wagons", they parked in another area(4 campers)and blocked our view and basically excluded us! They did things totally opposite from the past....dinners not until 10:00 at night!!!!!! I can't handle the way it went and the people were even different! One guy and his wife are alcoholics and caused problems. We will NOT be going with them again -- we'll go to the same area, but we'll camp up a different arm of the river.....

I did a lot of camping when the kids were small and started back up three years ago. DGD lives with me and I thought she might like it. She loves it. Cries everytime we leave the campground and wants to know when we will be back. Nearly every trip involves some kind of drama like setting up in the rain and strong winds overnight. But that is what makes it interesting. This last trip was the only scary one. We rented a fifth wheel at the KOA we stay at. There was a huge storm with 65 MH winds. I thought we were going to tip over. Yet at the end of it there was a beautiful rainbow and the rest of the trip was great. If it ever cools off we will be back again.

We went "camping" ... once. I didn't know how much my significant other DIDN'T want to use a tent. After not finding a cheap camper, he drove over three hours to VT to borrow his brother's RV. Okay, I don't mind even though I like sleeping in a tent.

Being unfamiliar with the RV, he didn't put the jacks under the end. Everytime one of us turned over in the night, we went a rockin' and rollin'; glad I don't get seasick! :-)

The second morning I get out of bed only to land in a very wet soggy rug! Something sprung a leak in the night. Now, no water in the RV. That's okay. Ugh!

Best thing though... which he doesn't let me forget... it was almost 100 degrees with (felt like) 90% humidty that weekend. Blessed A/C worked just fine. I may become a believer!

We camped for years in tents with our 4 sons. I did all the work, they hiked, fished, swam and boated in inflateables. Now empty nesters, we inherited a little motorhome, only 20 ft.. I am so glad to finally have a bed,toilet, shower, sink, fridge and stove. We don't camp much, mostly use it for trips to visit the kids. Having a bathroom with us is a very big deal in my book!

Amen!

When you are in the woods, Who cares if you go potty like a girl scout?!! I learned the log thingy at an early age!! LOL

I was sent to wilderness camp every summer from the the age of 9 till 18. The boy's dad's family camped, and he was heavily involved in Scouts Canada.

So, when we got together camping was a given.

We started out in a tent, then a pop up, and have now graduated to a 30 ft bumper pull. The indoor potty and A/C are my favoroite things!!

We are also involved in Scouts Canada with the boy's.

Stephen and I went to a big boy scout camp in May, and when I put the truck in park, it thundered on my right, and lightening struck on my left... it rained, hailed, and snowed all weekend long... plus the wind was brutal.

We went out in the trailer on father's day weekend and when Kyle and I were emptying out the holding tanks, the grey water spilled on the ground... finally watered it down enough it wasn't to nasty, and then when we were doing the black water tanks... the hose came flying off... we clamped it back on, and it came off AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! thankfully it was a clamp and we could get another one at the campground AND we only go #1 in the trailer... and I had poured laundry soap in the tank in an attempt to clean the sensors so it wasn't to bad!!! We hosed ourselves off and were on our way!

I love the great outdoors, but when bedtime comes I want to home in my comfortable bed! :D

My Dad used to own a little Trillium trailer. When the kids were small, we used to pull it and go camping in Maine. It was a full day's drive but we loved it. The kids knew that it was a long drive but would be lots of fun when we got there. We have such special good memories of camping there. The first few times we went we would have lobster but the kids always wanted hamburgers and such. We always slept on the kitchen table in the trailer and the kids slept on the bottom bunk. We would tie a lounge chair across so they would not fall out. In the morning we would wake up and see 4 little eyes peeking at us between the rungs. So cute!!!! We would go to the beach and when the tide went out there would be some puddles. We would put our son in the warmed puddles in his diaper. As they got older they would play in the tide pools by the hour gathering starfish and crabs. We would get bread, cold cuts and chips and that would be our lunch. It was always our anniversary when we went and we would have beer and hotdogs so we would save money for lobster. YUM!! We would pick wild blueberries and raspberries and buy pancake batter. The kids loved it. I miss that time so much but the memories are in my heart forever. Sorry this was so long.

Worst was the first time I took DD's camping they were 3 and 5. Went camping with BFF and her two kids. First night I lost my 3 yr old walking back from the bathrooms. I could hear her, but I could not find her any where with the flashlight. Finally found her in tent talking to two gay men having sex. Thank God she didn't know what they were doing. I'm still scarred for life over that one.

Next day I lost her again when she decided that the water pressure was too hard and it hurt her so she ran out of the shower without any clothes on. I had to dress and run out with shampoo in my hair to find her. Was a least two years after that before I could camp again.

I have been going camping sense I was a child. My parents loved it. My Dh and our 2 oldest children love camping too (littleman has never been). Each trip was a good one except for 1 when my DS ( was about 5 then ) got the stomach virus and started throwing up in the middle of the night and was up all night long sick to his stomach and running a fever. We were well over 4 hours from home, so we decided to stick it out and he wanted to too. Every blanket and sheet we had was dirty so we had to leave the next day.
We always camped at Bretz camp ground on the side of Mamoth mountain twice a year when we were in Cali. We havent gone camping in 6 yrs, we live in Kentucky now.

Hehehehehe My moto is HAVE POTTY WILL TRAVEL!
When we did the tent thing I rememeber worrying about black bears when I went to the potty middle of the night.

I am not a camper. I want hot running water and a shower in my tent. My DH was convinced that he could make me love it if I would just try it. I agreed to one weekend, if he would stop nagging me.

Every day I came home from work to more stuff in the living room. A four room tent, 6 new sleeping bags, 6 air mattresses, a stove, a coffee pot, a thing you could toast bread over a fire; you name it, we had it.

Off we go Friday night. We get there and the water was standing in puddles measured in feet because they had so much rain. We get the tent up and it starts to rain again. It rained the entire weekend. The tent got so saturated, it started leaking. On me, in my sleeping bag.

When we finally pack up, our boat (which we hadn't used at all because of the rain) was stuck in the mud and we almost didn't get it out.

We haven't been camping since. :thumbup:

The only Potty we have taken camping is the one for the little guy!! Gonna get him trained, Got 3 kids off bottles while camping, Here you go kid here is a water bottle with a spout!! Worked like a charm!!

I must say I agree about the generators. We are one of the big guys, and we either try not to stay in rustic campgrounds, or we try to fit in. The only time the generator is on is to watch the evening news and charge batteries. Takes about 30 minutes.