When I’m Not Reading . . .
. . . I’m planning my spring and summer vacations to Arches National Park, Mesa Verde, Bear Lake, the Tetons and Yellowstone (again – we just went last summer). Uh. . . although we won’t be doing them all at the same time. We will be tenting the trips because my boys think nothing is cooler than a tent at the moment.
Do you have any favorite travel advice for me? To die-for camping recipes? Fun things to do with the kids? Favorite books about camping? Picture books to read with the boys beforehand? Let’s hear them.
(Please!)
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Tags: When I'm Not Reading . . .
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I’ve never been camping (and don’t ever plan on it), but I used to love the Pee Wee Scouts books when I was a little one. There are oodles of picture books about camping:
Just Camping Out by Mercer Mayer
S is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet by Helen Foster James
Camping Day! by Patricia Lakin
Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins
Curious George Goes Camping by Margret Rey
Arthur’s Camp-Out by Lillian Hoban
Dora’s Camping Trip by Wendy Wax
Caillou: Goes Camping by Roger Harvey
Notice a pattern? Pick a favorite character, and they probably have a camping book.
And for stuff to keep you entertained, there’s Kids Camp! by Laurie Carlson and The Kids Campfire Book by Jane Drake. Enjoy your trip!
on March 5th, 2010 at 12:58 pmHaving done all of that (except Bear Lake) last fall in the space of a week, I highly support *not* doing it at the same time!
Have fun!
on March 5th, 2010 at 2:35 pmSounds like a fun trip. Do Arches and Mesa Verde in the spring. Make sure you take extra batteries for your camera.
on March 5th, 2010 at 2:39 pmWe would take our boys camping when they were younger and one of the coolest things I had found in the camping department was the long poker hot dog stick looking thing with a square on the end to make hot pies. (I know…. my camping lingo is impressive!LOL)
You may know of this Natasha – but in case you dont, you take buttered bread and put it in the square metal box at the end of the stick and on top of the bread put a favorite pie filling (totally blueberry for me!) You clamp the little box shut and cook it over a camp fire turning the stick until you “pie” is a golden brown and delicious!
on March 5th, 2010 at 2:53 pmWe go to the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival each summer and spend a week in the tent. I get to be a single mom for a week; my husband gets to get some work done. =) It’s not real camping though because we don’t have to move around, plus there are things like buses and roads and electric lights and showers. But my kids get to play in dirt all day and they love it.
Sheila, that pie thing sounds absolutely the most delicious dessert in the world. Something about camping makes all food amazing, doesn’t it?
on March 5th, 2010 at 2:59 pmWow lucky you. Want to take me? LOL
I did a Camping Week feature on my blog in 2008. Each day has a review of a camping picture book and some camping links. I especially recommend the picture book on Day 3. I hope it’s somewhat helpful!
on March 5th, 2010 at 3:26 pmWe stayed in the lodges when we went to Yellowstone.
I would suggest signing up for one of the guided tours at Mesa Verde–otherwise they don’t let you go anywhere and it’s pretty boring. Yellowstone has some fun “safari”-like things to do, too.
on March 5th, 2010 at 3:55 pmThe Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor. Great one to read while out enjoying nature. But your boys might be a bit young still. Also by Baylor- I’m in Charge of Celebrations. Recipe: Pita pizza is easy, fun and only slightly messy. Heat sauce, put on pita, add toppings (don’t even have to melt cheese, the heat from the sauce does that)
on March 5th, 2010 at 3:56 pmBreak out the tent early in the backyard so the first night in the tent you don’t stay up til midnight from the excitement. If you’re at a campground with roads, take little scooters or trikes to burn off energy. We are only staying in campgrounds with electricity and bathrooms with showers this year (since you just saw my blog I’m guessing I do not need to say why!) I also like to take a cheap little tent as a play tent so they don’t stop all over my bedding and stuff. Granted, we have a popup camper, but the same ideas apply, the boys want to be in and out and in and out over and over.
on March 5th, 2010 at 4:27 pmWait…you’re supposed to eat more than just s’mores when you camp out? It covers all the food groups: carbs, spun sugar, and chocolate and has the added bonus of making the kids hyper for walks and then sugar crash for naptime. You’re welcome.
on March 5th, 2010 at 4:33 pmLots of parks have the book “Who Pooped in the Park” that is specific to that part–I bet Yellowstone has one. We have one here in the Smokies and it’s a BIG hit!
on March 5th, 2010 at 4:41 pmIn Arches, don’t skip Sand Dune Arch… your boys will LOVE it. And if they are old enough, pay for a guided tour and do the Firey Furnace… but I can’t remember if there’s an age thing. We did that last time and loved it. Another thing we did was Delicate Arch at sunset, and it was totally worth it. So so cool. Another cool walk at sunset, and a very easy walk it is, is Park Avenue. You’ll go crazy with your camera.
Oh, and there’s a sand hill just across the entrance of the park… right on the road… stop there and let your boys run (try to run) up and down that thing. They will LOVE that too!
Arches is the best!
on March 5th, 2010 at 4:46 pmWe did the Tetons twice last year, and Yellowstone once. Make sure that you get a campsite before 5. I recommend one of the northern ones because they are way more quiet than the southern ones…
They have bear containers, but if you plan on camping for more than one day, I’d highly suggest a BearVault.
Also, the Moose Pond Loop is a great trail that you should be able to take your boys on without any trouble. We saw oodles of moose tracks, and trails, but no moose. The trail is relatively unknown, and we didn’t see another person on it the entire time. (It was peak season too)
In Yellowstone, I’d recommend the Mystic Falls trail, it’s rewarding and a way to get really close to a waterfall if you want to. Shouldn’t be too hard for the kiddos either.
In Arches, don’t miss Delicate Arch or Landscape Arch. Delicate is definitely the best, but I don’t know if you’ll want to take your kids on the narrow-ledged trail. Landscape is huge and an easy trail. I’d also look into Natural Bridges National Monument if I were you. We did it on a whim and have been back a couple of times. It’s similar to Arches and only like thirty miles away.
Don’t miss Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde either. It’s ah.mazing. I don’t remember the hike much, ’cause we haven’t been back for seven years, but I do remember it was definitely worth it.
Bear Lake I have not visited, but the Utah side of Dinosaur National Monument is really cool (even with the visitor center closed).
As for other travel stuff, make sure to buy your National Parks Pass – if you’re going to all of those places, it’ll save you money, and get you into places you might stumble upon along the way, even if it’s just to drive through.
As for recipes, my favorite camping recipe book is LipSmackin’ Backpackin’ by Tim & Christine Conners. It’s all fairly simple, and everything I’ve tried has been totally yummy.
on March 5th, 2010 at 4:48 pmI love that picture! I used to camp with my family all the time as a kid and have such fond memories, although since I am not a parent yet myself I don’t have any advice for you. Have fun!
on March 5th, 2010 at 9:52 pmThe Roosevelt always in the background of my work is, of course, his relative Franklin, but I’m wondering if going to Yellowstone might be a good time to start introducing your little ones to the concept of how nature gets saved: i.e., by political decisions. How about reading them a little out of a child’s biography of Teddy Roosevelt, the President who handed down to us these wonderful parks?
on March 6th, 2010 at 11:25 amI visited those places when I was about 12 or 13 and have been dying to go back! Have such a great time! I don’t have much advice or books that haven’t been mentioned. Just take lots of pictures! That’s always my advice to people who travel!
on March 6th, 2010 at 12:43 pmNatalie – I’ve just put both of the two books that mentioned at the end and put them on hold. You should go camping! I don’t LOVE it but I like it well enough.
Jaime – I could spend a whole week just in Yellowstone! We are doing Bear Lake, Tetons and Yellowstone in one week and Mesa Verde, Arches in another week.
Jaleta – Oh yes. I need warm weather like nothing else! We are heading south first week of May.
Sheila – I have wondered recently what in the world that cooking tool does! I see it when I look at camping stuff but I had no idea. I think I need to buy one because that sounds delicious!
Maggi – You take the kids by yourself?! Although I did yellowstone with the kids without the husband last year. Glad he’s coming this year!
Callista – Oh thanks! I am definitely going to look at your recommendations!
Heidenkind – Hmm . . . good to know. I wasn’t planning on doing the guided tour because they said my littlest probably wouldn’t be able to climb the ladders. But I bet he probably could.
Tiffany – Thanks for the recommendations. That recipe sounds nice and easy. Pizza while camping?! My boys would love that.
Lisa – We did exacty that last year when we took the boys camping for the first time and slept in the backyard. So glad that we did. When it was time to go camping they were so excited.
Kristen – Ha, ha! The marshmallows are a favorite for the kids.
Sarah – My kids would LOVE that book. Nothing like poop to get their excitement.
Suey – Thanks for the tips! I’ve never done Arches or Mesa Verde with kids so I hope all the hiking goes okay. I remember that there was a ledge up to Delicate Arch and my husband wants to skip it with the kids. I’d like to manage it though.
I Heart Monster – You are a WEALTH of information. Thank you, thank you! I had looked up Dinosaur National Monument and was worried that there wouldn’t be anything to see with the visitor center closed. Maybe it’s worth it? And yes! We do have a National Park Pass! We bought it last year and we’re trying to get our money’s worth before it expires in July.
Amused – Thanks! We will have fun!
Shelley – My kids are probably a bit too young but my oldest does know not to “trash the earth.” So it’s always a good reminder on how to treat nature.
Julie – I bought a larger memory card for my camera and I am ready for photos!
on March 8th, 2010 at 12:44 amI love this shot of you and the boys!
on March 8th, 2010 at 12:51 pmOh, camping is my favorite thing in the world! We don’t do camping that is very conducive to little kids though (hiking in 5-8 miles, etc). The best advice I have is to enjoy nature all you can while you are in it. That always helps me relax.
We’re having a family reunion at Bear Lake this summer. Beautiful place!
on March 8th, 2010 at 10:08 pmHave you done Glacier? I live right outside Yellowstone, but Glacier is my favorite.
My family loves to camp, and favorite thing to do at Yellowstone is (when you drive in on the north side) swim in the hot springs. And as an alternative to graham crackers in our s’mores since I don’t like graham crakcers, we use bananas.
on March 14th, 2010 at 10:30 amYour life is what I aspire to be when I have kids! I love that you’re so bookish AND outdoorsy!
on March 17th, 2010 at 10:14 am[...] Out! The Ultimate Kids’ Guide by Lynn Brunelle. I’m slowly making my way through your camping book recommendations that you gave me. This is why I love my [...]
on March 19th, 2010 at 11:27 pm