Camping with kids - thumbs up or down?

A few of you have noticed that I've been somewhat absent for a few days. And that's for a good reason, I was in the woods with no phone, television or internet access. We didn't even get cell service.

Let me back up.

A few months ago my dear friend Amie, who now lives in Columbus, OH, called and said she and her husband were thinking about doing this new canopy tour of Hocking Hills, Ohio (about a four hour drive from here).  She was asking my opinion because she's afraid of heights. Not only did I say "do it!!" but I sort of invited myself along.

We talked about getting a cabin, but were having trouble finding one that would accommodate all of our combined children (they have three, and with our two that made a total of nine people, and most cabins don't fit that many or are way expensive), espeically one that would let us just stay a night or two (in the summer many cabin rentals are by the week only)

So they suggested tent camping.

And at first I told her she was bat-sh*t crazy (no idea where that term came from but it's something we say where I grew up and I find it amusing). 

But after a few weeks I started to warm to the idea. Mike and I had enjoyed tent camping before we had kids.  The kids are very flexible and always up for new adventures, so why not, right?

So I found the biggest tent I could find, and the most comfy air beds they make. It was the most expensive camping trip in the history of camping, no doubt.

Now I'm back and guess what?

It was fantastic!  Two thumbs up!

We had such a great time catching up with our old friends and the boys all got along wonderfully. We made smores, we hiked in the gorgeous trails of the Hocking Hills, we took walks and swam in the pool and most importantly we just were TOGETHER. There was no Sponge Bob, no Laurie Berkner. Just crickets and laughter. And I couldn't have asked for a better "vacation". Truly.

My biggest fear was the sleeping, but the kids did well. Ben had some trouble the second night but nothing unusual (he rarely sleeps through the night at home). 

The canopy/zip line tour was so incrediblly cool, I'm going to write a separate review of it.

I think I've narrowed people's distaste of tent-camping down to the bathroom. It's the pooping, right? Nobody wants to poop in a camp bathroom.  Taking a shower and peeing rank right up there too, but the pooping is what I think scares most people away, admit it. :)  I personaly believe it's the sole reason people pay thousands of dollars for RVs...so they can poop.  If campgrounds could just realize this and put in fancy modern bathrooms I bet everyone would camp. 

So if you crave the beauty of nature and good, old fashioned, quality time with your family, just do what I do...cut fiber completely out of your diet and load up on cheese for three days.  Problem solved.

Photos

Biiiiig tent!

And a reaaaallly big, comfy air bed.  Look at the size of our double-high queen airbed ...it was laughable how huge it was

All of the kids LOVED playing in the tent and jumping on the mattresses. 

The kids had a blast making smores, but just ate the chocolate.

This will go into their "when I was a kid" album for sure.

The hiking trails are kid-friendly enough that the boys had no trouble with them (although we got very nervous near any cliff parts and made them hold hands tightly) and the natural scenery is just breathtaking

And our original reason for going...Zip line tour!! (that's me!)