Family weekend away (non vacation) - Do you do them? Do you camp or hotel?

Question

We are always getting away on weekends with 3 kids (5-9y/o). We just pack up the tent and head out to either to the nearest dirt road with some trees or a campground. Our friends think we're nuts - are we? We've been doing this since the youngest was less than a year old and the others were sleeping in tents at 5 months old.

Do you camp often or is it too much of a pain? Do you get away for hotel weekends? We do that too even if it's just an hour away to break up the routine.

If you camp do you do a tent or RV (if so what kind, tent trailer, 5th wheel, etc). Do you do campgrounds or roughing it and bath in a creek (we love that!).

We are probably away half of the weekends each year - somewhere. Does anyone else do that?

Answer 1

You know what--you're making awesome memories for your kids!  My family camped in a RV when I was younger--many weekends per summer--and I HATED it then.  But those are some great memories to look back on.  I still don't particularly care for camping myself, but I have friends who do camp.  Kids LOVE that stuff!!  :)

Answer 2

Good Dad and Mom!

Who cares what others say! You are giving your kids memories!

Yes, we go on overnite trips to the beach and/or to Vegas (we aren't gamblers-just like to walk around, see shows etc), we alkso camp in the desert and just did a great trip to YOSEMITE! Loved it! My parents raised us camping and hiking and swimming at the beach-keep it up!

The other parentsa nodays just are too attuned to electronic or other fun-basics with kids is great. Mine are self entertaining and well rounded, they are physically ready to try anything-teens at this point-and I'm so glad. We did our first rafting trip this year-so Fun!

Answer 3

thats awesome.

I am 16 && the last family thing my family did was when I was 6.

I wish my parents did that. So your kids are lucky.

Kids with parents like you have more sucessful lives. && they are happier.

I bet you all eat dinner together too, dont you?

Answer 4

We don't do anything more than day trips right now. We're 40 miles off the Smokies...so it's prime area for recreation. With my husbands schedule it's almost impossible to do two day trips. He works a rotating shift everyday (one day, one swing,one grave, over and over again lol) no scheduled days off, just sheduled hours inbetween shifts. We'd love to go camping/hiking/fishing more. We're in one of the prime areas of the country to do it all..and don't have the schedule to do it. We did a lot of camping at RedRock, and Mnt.Charelston(just outside of Las Vegas, Nv.) when we were dating. 2 room tent..ahh it was fun. lol. Once he's been there 2 more years he'll have 3 weeks vacation time each year. Then we'll be doing that stuff a lot more.

I don't think it's crazy at all, we'd be doing the same if he had days off. Maybe not every weekend. But deffinate once or twice a month. We thought about pitching the tent in the backyard and doing a small bon-fire. Our acre of land backs up to 3k acres of forest, now you've got me thinking that might be a good idea one of these days lol.

It's good for the kids, they will cherish those memories when they are grown. Keep doin what you do, sounds like you guys have a blast!