“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself; I am large — I contain multitudes.”
Previously, I discussed the necessities of camping and stressed keeping it simple, but I am going to contradict myself by saying a little luxury can maximize the camping experience. While tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, and all the other supplies listed before are required, the following are suggestions of added items to help along the way. I don’t carry all of these on each camping trip. I am selective in what I bring along. These are my luxury items I have found useful for successful camping. I am sure there are more; anything can be a luxury, but these are the top that came to mind in no certain order.
My List of Luxury Items For Camping With Kiddos:
Taking one pillow per person will make sleeping more comfortable. I am a pillow queen, so bringing two makes my night even better. Pillows take up so much space, I have found packing them in a trash bag and removing as much air as possible helps to deflate them a bit. Pillows are one luxury item I rarely forget when car camping. Cookware and a portable over the fire grill can make the cooking experience more enjoyable and more manageable.
An over the fire grill allows room to stoke the fire as needed while cooking; therefore, the heat level is easier to maintain. The grill is relatively cheap, and it is durable. The legs fold under it, and it lays flat for storage taking up very little space in my car. I have three stackable pots for easy storage, one cast iron skillet, and one cast iron dutch oven. What meals I have prepped dictate the cookware I bring. I also have three plastic egg carriers that hold a half a dozen eggs each. We eat eggs on every camping trip, and I have broken many in the cooler in their original carton.
I always take one towel per person regardless of whether we will be getting showers. If showers are available, I bring a couple of extras, and I pack a “shower bag” with all of the personal hygiene items readily available. If showers are not available, I bring dry shampoo, soap, lotion, and deodorant. Toothpaste and brushes are required; we aren’t going three to four days without brushing our teeth.
I usually pack folding chairs or bag chairs to sit around the fire. If space is limited, chairs are the first to be eliminated. At a campground, sites typically include a picnic table, but rarely are they close enough to the fire and most are not movable.
I always bring along one game to play with the kids; a deck of cards is sufficient. I have several travel board games that I have brought along, as well. For the most part, we do not have electronics at the campsite. The older kids and I always have our phones, but I limit the usage while we are camping. I don’t go camping to stare at my kids staring at a screen.
Battery powered tent lights are priceless. My kids go to bed before me most nights that we camp, and they don’t like being in the tent by themselves when it is dark. We have improvised this on several occasions by hanging a flashlight or headlamp from the top of the tent. However, a small light that clips to the top of the tent is extremely convenient. You can buy a set of 3 from Amazon for little money.
Bringing a camping hammock can serve two purposes. One, they are excellent for sleeping, although I have never slept in one. I have this fear of a snake slithering out of the tree and into my hammock. I know the reptiles can get into my tent, too, but the exposure of a hammock makes this more realistic. Two, hammocks are great for lounging around the campsite. I have read many books in mine, and I like to wind down swaying in the breeze after a long day of hiking. The downside, some campgrounds do not allow anything hanging from trees, and some campsites are not suitable for hammocks.
A pop-up canopy is great for exposed campsites that do not receive much shade.
An extension cord if the campsite has electricity. We don’t camp with power often, but when we do, we enjoy the luxury.
In the heat of the summer, a fan can help cool the tent at night. In the winter, a small portable heater can be invaluable. Along with the extension cord, these are only needed if electricity is available.
As I said, this list is incomplete. Think of what you don’t want to go without for a weekend or longer and bring it along if space provides. Leave behind major distractions; video games and other electronic devices. There are many ways to entertain kiddos without them. I learn something new each time we camp, and I will add to this list and the other as needed. We take weekend trips often during the spring and fall for less than we could spend one week at the beach in a condo. We build memories each trip; my kids have gotten to see parts of our country some people will never experience. There has to be a love of nature in your heart, but camping with kiddos is a realistic and manageable goal if you desire.