Camping Fun

CAMP CLEAR LAKE

Plan a fun and interesting multigenerational camping vacation

Gone are the days of visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s house — the new family get-together involves active getaways. And there is no better large-group activity than camping. Camping offers the best variety of everything — lodging, activities, even dining! And the best part about camping is that it is affordable. Whether you borrow your neighbor’s tent, own or rent an RV, or really splurge on a camping cabin, there is an option to fi t every budget. McIntosh Woods State Park near Clear Lake is a perfect destination for a family looking for a variety of lodging and activities. The park has two 16-foot yurts — circular tent structures fi tted with a full-size futon bed and a set of bunk beds. Nearby is the main campground with electric and non-electric campsites, perfect for parking the RV or pitching a tent. It’s nearly impossible to be bored on a camping trip — especially in a place so fi lled with history and activity as Clear Lake! You’ll have your choice of lake-side fun at the campground like swimming, fi shing and hiking. Gather everyone together and spend the afternoon on a a boat. You can rent one at Clear Lake Boats, or board the Lady of the Lake, a gorgeous paddlewheel offering daily cruises. One of the best parts of a vacation is dining — and camping is no exception. Camping food can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. From sandwiches to plank-grilled salmon, bagged chips to foil-roasted potatoes, there is no limit on what you can create, if you want to cook at all. With the incredible variety of restaurants in Clear Lake, you may fi nd that the only thing you want to cook over the fi re is S’mores. Unlike a hotel or resort, camping offers a vacation where families don’t have to work hard to “get their money’s worth.” Kids can run from cabin to camper to playground freely while adults gather around the fi re sharing stories, plans and dreams while achieving true vacation bliss — relaxation. A multigenerational camping trip also offers something you may not often have so nearby — babysitters. Yes, a large family vacation is the perfect time to plan date nights. With so many people gathered, a couple of parents can take each night “off” to enjoy — adults only. Maybe a romantic lake cruise, followed by dinner downtown, then a little dancing at the Surf Ballroom? A well-planned multigenerational camping vacation is affordable, active and interesting for everyone involved — no matter their ages.

CAMPGROUNDS

Campsites Shelter/Lodge Playground Pool Bath/Shwoer

3-point Hookups Clear Lake State Park 55 acres 180 • • • •

(641) 357-4212 | 2300 S. Lakeview Drive -215 McIntosh Woods State Park 62 acres 49 • • •

(641) 829-3847 | 122 E. Lake St. Oakwood RV Park 90 • • • •

(641) 357-4019 | 5419 240th St. Deer Valley Lodge 54 • O • •

(641) 829-4433 | 2387 242nd St., Ventura

Twin Oaks

45 • • • •

(641) 357-3337 | 5351 South Shore Drive

Photo by Jody Halsted

A projector and camper make a fun outdoor movie experience.

Ready to plan your family’s camping adventure? Handy tips:

• Check your bedding. An inexpensive “egg crate” mattress cover can make a thin mattress or air mattress much more comfortable. • Bring outdoor lighting. Solar-powered ground stakes are easy and inexpensive, or make your items multi-task and attach a head lamp to a full one gallon jug of water. • Be sure to let everyone know how meals will work. Will everyone gather together but bring food for their own families? Or will you assign a main dish to a different family group each night, with everyone else bringing side dishes?

Advance planning saves time and money — it also stops assumptions. • Bring cards and easy-to-transport games… just in case it rains. • Don’t forget bikes and scooters for the kids. • Most importantly, pack a comfy camping chair — preferably one that reclines — to truly enjoy your relaxing vacation.

Jody Halsted is an Iowa native and avid camper. She and her husband Doug have experienced all aspects of camping: from hiking in minimalism before they had kids and car camping with tents and sleeping bags to small camper and fi nally luxury RV camping. An authority on family travel, Jody publishes www.FamilyRambling.com, a website dedicated to living life… upgraded. She is also a regular contributor to MiniTime Trip Tips and The Scenic Route at www.GoRVing.com.

TIPS FOR THE CAMPING NEWBIE

So you’re ready to do it. Really jump in and do it right. You’re ready to take your family camping. Congratulations! Camping is an incredible family activity fi lled with fresh air, exciting explorations, outdoor cooking and (kids’ favorites) dirt, sticks and rocks. It’s an adventure designed to bring your family closer together and leave you planning your next outing. Now, fi rst things fi rst: Where will you sleep? If your answer is a tent, be sure to do your research before purchasing. Consider a visit to Kramer Ace Hardware in Clear Lake where the camping experts can help you choose the perfect tent for your family.

Maybe you would prefer to “glamp?” Book a camping cabin or rent a camper or RV for the weekend. Tip: Try www.RVshare.com for locally and privately owned RV rentals at affordable prices. Now that you know where you’re sleeping, it’s time to get ready.

How to pack for camping:

Forget suitcases — use Rubbermaid-type containers. The reasons are simple: • They hold a lot. • They are waterproof so you can leave the crates with utensils, plates, etc., outside. • Most woodland creatures can’t get into them. • They stack nicely. • You really don’t want to drag your luggage around in the dirt.

Sleeping at your campsite:

Kids will love “roughing it” on the ground, but a word of advice for adults: that’s only fun if you’re younger than 13. Invest in an infl atable mattress. And make sure it has an air pump — either battery powered or electric — you don’t want to try to blow one up! Bring more blankets than you think you’ll need (use Space Bags to fi t them into one of the plastic containers). Bring one for under the kids’ sleeping bags, just for a bit more cushion from sticks and rocks on the ground. For the air mattress, you’ll want three blankets: one to protect it from sticks and rocks on the ground, another to go on top of the mattress (below the sheet — plastic gets cold) and the third to cover yourself. It can get cold at night! If you have napping toddlers, spend more for an electric campsite and bring a fan. Tents can get hot and muggy in the afternoon, and the bit of breeze even a small fan creates can mean the difference between naptime and a cranky child.

Your new favorite campfi re treat: S’maco

It’s more than a s’more…..

Gather

Aluminum foil, fl our tortilla, marshmallows, chocolate chips and any other topping you want (peanut butter, crispy bacon, honey, shredded coconut)

Create

Place your tortilla on a square of foil and build your treat. If using peanut butter or honey, apply fi rst. Layer on the goodies!

Fold

Fold the tortilla around the fi lling, then the foil around the tortilla.

Heat

Place in the embers of the fi re (or on a hot grill) for 5-10 minutes, turning at least once.

Enjoy

Carefully remove smaco from heat. Let it cool (if you can!). Unwrap and enjoy the melty deliciousness! Photo by Jody Halsted

Glamping? Be sure to ask if bedding is provided. Usually you will be supplying your own. Let the kids use sleeping bags — it’s just easy!

What to wear camping:

Bring two sets of clothes per day, per kid. If you don’t use them, great. But kids play in dirt, sand and water when camping, and it’s nice to be able to get them clean-ish. Pack each outfi t in its own Ziploctype baggie to keep everything together, organized and create space in your packing containers. Bring warm pajamas and socks — it can get chilly at night! If you plan to hike, bring jeans, longsleeve shirts and hats to protect yourself from scratches, ticks and other woodland creepy crawlies. Don’t forget a fi rst aid kit for any cuts and scrapes, and an inexpensive camping clothesline could come in handy for drying wet clothes.

What to eat when you go camping:

Follow the KISS rule: Keep It Simple Sweetie. Don’t feel like you have to cook a gourmet meal. Many campsites offer a heavy grill or fi re pit, so bring easy-to-grill foods — hot dogs, brats and burgers. To cook chicken and veggies, cut them into small pieces and wrap in foil with some spices and a few drops of water. Cook over fl ames or in hot embers. You can even make a baked potato or corn on the cob this way. If you plan to cook over fi re — maybe a breakfast of eggs or pancakes — invest in a solid cast iron skillet. Just don’t forget to bring oil for cooking! The beauty of cast iron is that it doesn’t need to be washed. Just scrape it out, maybe add water to cook out anything that is stuck, oil it and it’s ready to use again. And don’t forget the supplies for S’mores or S’macos! You’re not camping until you’ve had at least one gooey, fi re-toasted dessert. Don’t forget dish soap and a rag — you may have a few things to wash. Use one of the plastic containers as a wash tub.

What to do when you go camping:

Sure, you can plan a few things. Maybe stories around the campfi re at night or a bit of touring the local area. But the true beauty of camping is the freedom to just enjoy where you are and explore what surrounds you. Let the kids draw in the dirt with sticks or build fairy houses at the base of trees with leaves, bark and wild fl owers. Fill a couple water bottles and pack a few snacks before setting out on a hike through wooded trails. Splash through creeks or go fi shing. Let nature be your guide. There is a reason for the phrase “Happy Camper.” Camping is a family vacation like no other. It will bring your family closer than you imagined and create memories that will be shared around future campfi res far into the future.

Happy camping!