Backyard Campouts

My 4-year-old daughter has been asking to go camping…I was thinking that a campout in our backyard might be a good place to start…and then I saw this event, “The Great American Backyard Campout,” sponsored by the National Wildlife Foundation. What a wonderful idea! We already have a vacation planned that overlaps this event, but you can bet we will try it out later this summer.

If your family is ready to venture beyond your own backyard, here are some sources for family-friendly camping ideas:

The Essential Family Camper by Zora Aiken

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

GORP — A wealth of information on adventure travel and outdoor recreation.

National Park Service – everything you need to know about visiting one of our beautiful National Parks. 

State Parks in the US

Happy Camping (be sure to tell me how it goes!),

Michelle

Mommy List #4

10 National Parks I want to see with my children 

#1 Acadia National Park, Maine

Why? There is something about the combination of coastal beauty, whale-watching, and afternoon tea that is calling to me… 

#2 Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

Why? Having grown up in coastal Northern California, I would like to see the “other” coast with my children. 

#3 Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Why? Okay, I’m ashamed to admit it. I’ve never been there, even though it’s right here in my very own “backyard.” 

#4 Denali National Park, Alaska

Why? Who wouldn’t want to share the tallest peak in North America (Mt. McKinley) and “Wonder Lake” with their children? 

#5 Everglades National Park, Florida

Why? I want my children to see what the South Eastern U.S. looked like before it was settled by explorers. 

#6 Glacier National Park, Montana

Why? Who can resist names like “God’s Backyard” and “Going-to-the-Sun Road.” 

#7 Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Why? Mountains, sapphire-blue lakes, and wildflowers. Doesn’t that just sound heavenly? 

#8 Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Why? Because my daughter is currently intrigued by archeology. Enough said. 

#9 Yosemite National Park, California

Why? Because even though I grew up in California, I never got the chance to travel there.  

#10 Zion National Park, Utah

Why? Ooohhhh aaahhhh….the land of rainbow canyons!

 

Hope you will share your fav family travel destinations too. Please feel free to post your comments and resources for others to enjoy. 

Happy Travels,

Michelle

 

References:

1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List by Patricia Schultz

United States National Park Service

 Additional Family Travel Resources:

Travel with Your Kids.com

Parents’ Choice Family Adventures

Savvy Mommy Family Travel

 

what I’ve learned from being a mother (so far)…

 No matter what I thought before, I really didn’t love my pets as if they were my own children.

I’m stronger than I ever knew. I can survive extreme pain (e.g., childbirth), discomfort (e.g., sore nipples), and sleep deprivation. 

My kiss has the power to heal almost any boo-boo.

Values and experiences are more important than belongings.

My parents did the best they could, with the skills and knowledge they had at the time.

Time can move insanely slow (as in, “Dear God, how will I ever make it through this day?”) and insanely fast (as in, “Another birthday already?”) at the same time.

Raising a child really does take a village. If you don’t have the luxury of living near extended family, you need to make your own “family.” 

I don’t have to be perfect all the time. I can just be “good enough” and everything will still turn out okay.

If I was able to birth two beautiful human beings, I must not be so bad!

The best things in life really are free! A child’s unconditional love is the sweetest gift in the world.

 Be Well, Michelle

 P.S. What I’m doing today: Getting caught up on laundry. What I’m reading today: ”Haiku Mama“. What I’m listening to today: KMHD.