Every time we pull the tarp off of our ’78 Apache for the first camping trip of the year, I get the same giddy feeling.
There’s just a sense of peace that comes with pulling a tent out of a bag or getting a camper pulled out. From camping in my backyard as a kid, to my first up north Wisconsin camping trip, to a spring desert camping trip in Marfa, Texas, I’ve always found tranquility in sleeping under the stars.
These days, each time we pull the camper out, I also wonder what the heck we’re getting ourselves into.
A lot of people might view a camping trip with kids as more work than it’s worth but what I’ve come to realize is that, despite the stress, it’s totally worth it.
It’s worth it because what we’ll remember most is swimming in the lake together, the sound of the loons as we fall asleep (kids curled up between us), the fish we caught and cooked over the camp stove, our daughter in footie PJs eating a PB&J around the campfire, dripping ice cream cones on Grandma and Grandpa’s laps, hour-long bike rides to get the kids to nap and so much more.
To make camping with kids as relaxing (and fun!) as possible, there are a few things we like to keep in mind while searching for a great campground.
• Campgrounds with water access only enhance the fun, and northern Wisconsin is FULL of many such places. We enjoy any of the campgrounds in the Northern Highland State Forest. My husband has been camping at Firefly Lake every year since he was a kid, and now we take our kids every year as well! Our daughter talks about “Flutterfly Lake” all year long.
• Make sure you’re close enough to civilization that you can access food and supplies as needed. With little kids, you’ll likely find yourself needing to make a few different trips for supplies. It’s also important that you be close to a hospital, just in case. We love Peninsula State Park in Door County. There’s literally always something to do in Door County, and you can find just about anything you need all within a few miles.
• Not feeling quite sure you’re up for the adventure? Some of our favorite places to camp are literally minutes away from our house in southern Wisconsin: Brigham County Park (very quiet) and Governor Dodge State Park (beautiful trails and sandy beaches). Blue Mounds State Park (great pool and splash pad) is also not to be missed! It’s really easy to sneak away for just one or two nights when you’re not going far from home. Plus, if you have no idea how it’s going to go — and let’s be honest, it doesn’t always go great! — a great starting point is to try somewhere relatively close to home.
If you find yourself with an itch to explore and unplug with your family, search for local campgrounds in your area, buy a cheap tent and see how it goes. No matter what, it will probably be an adventure your family is sure to remember for years to come.
– Megan Kulick
Megan Kulick is a journalism graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She worked in the nonprofit field for seven years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She and her husband and their daughter and son live in Mount Horeb. She is always in pursuit of a great trail to run, a good book to read and the best place to find a good iced coffee.