So far we’ve covered why to go camping, what to eat while you’re there, how not to pull your hair out camping with small children. Today is an idea of how to fill your days.
Of course, what you do will depend on where you are and what your family is physically up for. A few ideas for finding things to do are:
- Google the area (of course)
- call ahead to a nearby ranger station
- pick up maps and brochures from local visitor stations when you arrive
- find a couple locals to ask for favorite spots
- Find hiking trails and reviews on alltrails.com
The following is a picture tour of how we filled our days last year camping in western North Carolina. We tried to plan one big “event” each day, then spent the rest of the day at the campsite enjoying meals, the warmth of the campfire, and each others company.
Have you started planning your Fall trip yet?
Sample Itinerary & A Week In Pictures
Monday:
- Drive to campsite
- Set up camp
- Explore campsite
- Dinner and bedtime
Tuesday:
- Breakfast at campsite
- visit Grandfather Mountain (small zoo, museum, mile-high bridge(!) and beautiful vistas)
- Picnic lunch at G.M.
- Naps in van on return drive (approximately 1 hour)
- Play at campsite, dinner, bedtime
mile-high suspension bridge…I definitely freaked out a little walking across…
one of the beautiful views from Grandfather Mountain
Wednesday:
- Breakfast at campsite
- Hike at a nearby state park (Mt. Mitchell)
- Lunch at park restaurant
- Naps in van on return drive (approximately 1 hour)
- Play at campsite, dinner, bedtime
Thursday:
- Breakfast at campsite
- Hubby goes fishing, returns after naps
- Mom and kids hang out at campsite: walk in the woods, paint pictures, read books, naps/rest time in the hammock, and target practice
- Drive to a town about forty-five minutes away to have a picnic dinner at a park with local friends
- Return to campsite, bedtime
Friday:
- Breakfast at campsite
- Play at campsite
- Pack up and clean up
- Hike and explore a different nearby state park
- Picnic lunch
- Drive home, naps in the car
Breakfast is served. Campsite cooking is daddy’s job.
Building a campfire. Our metal spatula and tongs were favorite “toys” of the week.
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