Major03
Ultimate Member
Great way to spend family time and build memories...even if the kids complain a bit about the bugs along the way.
On that note...shower shoes for the trip to and from the bath house. Flashlights / headlamps for everyone.
Bug spray (or equivalent like Avon's skin so soft -- it works!).
Agree on the tarps, and spare tent for the kids. Definitely want sleeping bags and consider either the foam roll up mattresses (can use them as you graduate to backpacking) or a blow up air mattress (if it's truck bed camping). Cots if you really want to be comfortable.
If you're truck bed camping, some portable yard games (think horse shoes or bean bag toss) makes things fun around the campsite. Bring firewood (a lot of campsites don't want you cutting your own and the loose stuff gets picked up fast). Sometimes the camp ground's store has bundles you can buy if you forget.
Stuff to make s'mores. Can't be a kid and have a campfire without them.
A lantern is nice if you want to set it up on a camp picnic table (usually at each site) and play cards / table games after the sun sets.
Portable camp chairs for sitting around the fire.
To be honest...if you're camping out of the back of a car/truck you can almost think of it as an extended tail gate party. Plan accordingly (although music, generators and things that run off of generators will generally annoy other campers and will diminish your overall experience).
On that note...shower shoes for the trip to and from the bath house. Flashlights / headlamps for everyone.
Bug spray (or equivalent like Avon's skin so soft -- it works!).
Agree on the tarps, and spare tent for the kids. Definitely want sleeping bags and consider either the foam roll up mattresses (can use them as you graduate to backpacking) or a blow up air mattress (if it's truck bed camping). Cots if you really want to be comfortable.
If you're truck bed camping, some portable yard games (think horse shoes or bean bag toss) makes things fun around the campsite. Bring firewood (a lot of campsites don't want you cutting your own and the loose stuff gets picked up fast). Sometimes the camp ground's store has bundles you can buy if you forget.
Stuff to make s'mores. Can't be a kid and have a campfire without them.
A lantern is nice if you want to set it up on a camp picnic table (usually at each site) and play cards / table games after the sun sets.
Portable camp chairs for sitting around the fire.
To be honest...if you're camping out of the back of a car/truck you can almost think of it as an extended tail gate party. Plan accordingly (although music, generators and things that run off of generators will generally annoy other campers and will diminish your overall experience).