CAMPING WITH

The Family Locally

Spring is the perfect time to plan a family campout. You may enjoy a weekend camping trip before school ends or start planning now for a summer family campout.

Our state and county parks offer beautiful sites for tent, cabin and RV camping. We’re fortunate to have several great choices less than an hour away, which really helps with the workload of camping. You’ll find many great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, including boating, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, stargazing, bird watching, nature journaling and more.

OUR FAVORITE LOCAL CAMPSITES:

We are partial to state and county parks for family camping. We’ve found these sites are the most scenic and family-friendly for making memories with kids. Each site will provide complete information before you go, so you’ll know what to expect when it comes to restrooms, water, firewood, quiet times, parking and facilities.

Lake Jacomo

9200 Beach Rd., Lee’s Summit, 816.503.4805, MakeYourDayHere.com

This Lee’s Summit campground site offers both tent and RV camping. Located in Fleming Park on Lake Jacomo, this is a great place to camp for the wide variety of activities you may enjoy. The marina at Lake Jacomo offers pontoon, canoe, pedal boat, fishing boat and kayak rentals. Your family can also enjoy fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, bluegill and walleye. Fleming Park is also home to the Native Hooved Animal Enclosure where you can see elk and bison; Missouri Town 1855, a historic village where reenactors bring Jackson County history to life; an RC flying field where you may watch hobbyists fly remotecontrolled aircraft or fly your own (with permit); and numerous hiking and paved bike trails.

Longview Lake

1499 SW County Park Rd., Lee’s Summit, 816.503.4805, MakeYourDayHere.com

Situated on the beautiful Longview Lake, this site offers both tent and RV camping. There are great trails around the lake, including paved trails for biking. You can rent bikes from RideKC at Shelter 14. The marina at Longview Lake offers pontoon and fishing boat rental. Your family can also enjoy fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and walleye.

Watkins Mill State Park

26600 Park Rd. N., Lawson, Mo, 816.580.3387, MoStateParks.com

One of the most scenic campgrounds in the region, Watkins Mill State Park is home to 96 campsites, 74 with electric hookups. Families enjoy fishing for bass, crappie, catfish and sunfish in Williams Creek Lake. The park also offers biking, hiking and equestrian trails (bring your own ride). A visit to the park is not complete without touring the Watkins Woolen Mill Historic Site. The site tells the story of 19th century life on the Missouri frontier. The elegant home and three-story woolen mill are the prime attractions on the tour, but the visitors center is also well done, featuring hands-on exhibits explaining life in the 1870s. Watkins Mill is the only 19th century textile mill in the United States with its original machinery still intact. The site hosts many living history events throughout the year as well.

Weston Bend State Park

16600 MO-45, Weston, Mo., 816.640.5443, MoStateParks.com

Weston is one of our favorite day trip destinations. The campground offers basic and electric sites. We love picking fruit at the Weston Orchard & Vineyard, visiting the shops on Main Street and exploring the region. The state park is one of the prettiest places to view the Missouri River. This campground is known for amazing views of the Mighty Mo, including the scenic overlook accessible to persons with disabilities. The 3-mile paved bike trail explores the park’s wooded terrain and stops by the old tobacco barn and picnic shelters.

SMITHVILLE LAKE

816.407.3400, VisitClayMO.com/p/play/ camping-at-smithville-lake

Smithville Lake in Clay County is home to two campsites: Camp Branch Campground (17201 Paradesian, Smithville, Mo.) and Crow’s Creek Campground (4601 Crows Creek Rd., Smithville, Mo.). You’ll find tent and RV sites for your convenience. Smithville boasts one of the largest lakes in the area at 7,190 acres. You may rent pontoon boats at either of the lake’s two marinas. You may fish for bass, walleye, catfish, crappie or bluegill at this lake. In addition to water sports, families enjoy camping, golfing and exploring hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

LAKE PERRY

5441 W. Lake Rd., Ozawkie, Kan., 785.246.3449, KSOutdoors.com/StateParks/Locations/Perry

Lake Perry is a scenic campground with electric and primitive tent sites. They also offer four rental cabins if you’d like a roof over your head and don’t own an RV. The campground offers 15 miles of mountain bike trails, 25 miles of horse trails and a 1-mile nature trail. The marina offers pontoon and ski boat rental. Fishing includes catfish, bass and crappie.

El Dorado State Park

618 NE Bluestem Rd., El Dorado, Kan., 316.321.7180, KSOutdoors.com/StateParks/Locations/El-Dorado

The Flint Hills are one of the most beautiful natural features in the state of Kansas, and El Dorado State Park is one of the prettiest places to experience the Flint Hills. El Dorado is Kansas’ largest state park, a sprawling 4,000 acres along the eastern and western shores of El Dorado Reservoir. The park offers tent and cabin camping; fishing for bass, perch, crappie, walleye and catfish; hiking, biking and equestrian trails; and views of spacious skies.

If you’re looking for more great sites, be sure to visit MoStateParks.com and KSOutdoors.com/State-Parks. Many state parks offer cabins, yurts and lodges for those looking to enjoy the outdoors without the work of a tent or RV.

MORE CAMPING TIPS:

Food Planning

We frequently pack foil dinners and breakfasts when camping. These premade frozen meals can be heated over the coals, making an easy meal in a hurry. Make your favorite breakfast burrito, wrap it in foil that’s been sprayed with cooking spray, and wrap it once more for a second layer. Freeze it ahead and store in your cooler until cooking time. For dinner, you can use the same foil packet concept to cook your favorite veggies and meat. We love to do a sliced smoked sausage with roasted potatoes and veggies, or a seasoned pork chop with some potatoes and veggies, or barbecue chicken. You’ll find a ton of great foil dinner recipes at CountryLiving.com/fooddrinks/g3394/foil-pack-recipes. The kids also love to roast hot dogs or brats over the fire, and s’mores are a camping must. Most campgrounds sell ice on site to help keep your cooler cold. I’ve found that frozen water bottles and frozen foods keep it cold for a long time. Remember to bring plenty of water and some easy nonperishable healthy snacks for when the munchies strike.

Fire Starting

Most local campgrounds sell firewood on site, and many do not permit you to bring in outside wood (they don’t want non-native bugs, pesticides, etc., on site). Most also allow charcoal. We like to make simple fire starters ahead of time, which really help with igniting a campfire. My favorite fire starters use an old Girl Scout technique: Save dryer lint, cardboard egg cartons and some old candles. Melt the candle wax over a double boiler (I use old tin cans to melt the wax over a small skillet with water). While it’s melting, set your egg cartons on a tray or cover your counter in newsprint for spills. Fill each egg carton cavity with a bit of lint or sawdust. Pour the melted wax over the lint. Let the shells cool. Once solid, you can use one egg cavity per fire. These are our favorite fire starters. If you don’t have time to make starters, a bit of dryer lint and crumpled newspaper come in handy.

Kristina Light’s family loves outdoor adventures. They’ve enjoyed everything from tent camping to treehouse glamping over the years and look forward to many more camping memories in the future.

1 Saturday

Spring Community Day 9:00, Mildale Farm. Spend the day exploring the property with fishing, scavenger hunt, disc golf, planting your own flower and more! 913.826.2957

Farmstead Opening Day 9:00, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Opening day for the farmstead! Bring the kids out to see the animals. 913.897.2360

Easter Egg Hunt 9:00, Shalimar Park (Grandview). Annual Easter egg hunt divided into age groups. Bring your own basket to collect eggs! Grandview.org

Cooking with Preservatives 9:00, Missouri Town Living History Museum. Learn how food was prepared and preserved in one of the kitchens of the 19th century structures! Pre-reg at MakeYourDayHere.com.

Easter Egg-Stravaganza 9:00, Wilbur Young Park. Vendors, yard games, crafts, egg hunt and the Easter Bunny will be on site. BlueSpringsGov.com

Brunch with the Bunny 9:00, Merriam Community Center. Make great memories with an egg hunt, games, photo op and pancake breakfast. Pre-reg at Merriam.org.

Kids Projects and Activities 9:00, Home Depot locations across the metro. Children will enjoy making their own poolside birdhouse. HomeDepot.com/c/kids

Easter Egg-fari 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Meet the Easter Bunny, who left themed enrichment for some of the animals and who hid eggs around the zoo! KansasCityZoo.org

Easter Egg-venture 10:00, Church of the Resurrection. A family-friendly event for kids of every age with an egg hunt, meaningful craft and fun-filled activities. COR.org

2023 Passport to Adventure Kick-Off 10:00, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Pick up your 2023 Passport to Adventure booklet to join the fun! 816.759.7300

Mother Nature Reads 10:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Children hear a story, make a craft and often see a wildlife interpretation. LakesideNatureCenter.org

Trucks and Big Rigs for Kids 10:00, Shawnee Theatre in the Park. Explore trucks, tractors, construction and city vehicles up close. JCPRD.com

Easter Egg Hunt 10:00, Providence School of Arts. Hunt for eggs filled with surprises including candy, stickers, prize tickets and more. Pre-reg at ProvidenceArtsKC.org.

Community Easter Egg Hunt 10:30, Arno Park. Enjoy a family Easter egg hunt and meet the bunny. Donuts and refreshments available. StJohnsUMC.org

Easter Egg Hunt 10:30, Grace Church (North OP Campus). We will have thousands of eggs for your kids to hunt! Please bring your own Easter basket. VisitGraceChurch.com

Annual Easter Egg Hunt 11:00, Belton Memorial Park. Join for egg hunt plus games and get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny! 816.348.7400

Easter Festivities & Egg Hunt 1:00, Sportsfield Park (Leavenworth). Come early with your Easter basket and get ready for the hunt. LeavenworthKS.org

Into the Woods 2:00 and 7:00, TCH Stage & Studio. See favorite storybook characters brought together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece. CultureHouse.com

Sensory-Friendly Mondays

April 3, Johnson County Museum. Limited occupancy session for kids with sensory processing differences and autism spectrum disorders. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Easter Egg Hunt 2:00, Southeast Community Center. Join for a free event with an Easter egg hunt and lots of family-friendly fun. KCParks.org

2 Sunday

Plaza Bunnies Thru April 24, Country Club Plaza. The bunnies are back! See larger-than-life bunnies in the courtyards and on the street corners. CountryClubPlaza.com

For Peeps Sake 10:30, Ironwoods Park. Hunt for eggs in the park and enjoy face painting, music, a candy take-home treat and more! Pre-reg at Leawood.org.

Public Tours 11:00, Cedar Cove. Explore Cedar Cove with an experienced guide. See these epic animals and learn about them. Tours start every half-hour. SaveOurSiberians.org

Historic Middle School Book Club 4:30, Alexander Majors Home. Middle schoolers discuss a historical fiction novel. WornallMajors.org

3 Monday

Big Bunny Trail Hunt Thru April 9, Northwyck Park (Liberty). A fun, interactive hunt to find bunny cutouts hiding in the park! LibertyMissouri.gov

Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center. Play items are available, including push toys, riding toys, balls and inflatables. Lenexa.com

Sensory-Friendly Mondays 9:00, Johnson County Museum. Limited occupancy session for kids with sensory processing differences and autism spectrum disorders. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Baby Story Time 9:30, Corinth Library. A lap-sit program of songs, rhymes and movement for babies. Ages birth-18 months with caregiver. JoCoLbirary.org

4 Tuesday

Early Bird Sale Thru April 30, Kansas City Zoo. Save money to tickets for Jazzoo on Friday, June 2 by purchasing early! KansasCityZoo.org/jazzoo

Preschool Indoor Playground 9:30, Merriam Community Center. Too cold to play in the park? Ride, slide and play inside! Parents supervise children. Merriam.org/park

Junie B Jones and a Little Monkey Business 10:00, City Stage. Theater for Young America presents show based on the books by Barbara Park. TYA.org

Discover Nature: Naturalist Hour 2:00, Burr Oak Woods. Go on an adventure with a naturalist to make amazing discoveries as you explore on a trail. Pre-reg at MDC.mo.gov/events.

5 Wednesday

Daffodil Days Thru Sunday, Powell Gardens. Learn about daffodil divisions and see 100,000 daffodils emerging on the east lawn. PowellGardens.org

Visit Legoland 10:00, Legoland Discovery Center. Take the kids to the ultimate indoor playground for the biggest fans of Lego. Purchase tickets at LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com.

Animal Tales Story Time 10:30, Ernie Miller Nature Center. Listen to a story and meet a special animal friend. Today’s theme: Silly Spider. 913.826.2800

Giggle Time Children’s Program 10:00, Tomahawk Ridge Community Center. Enjoy a giggling and wiggling fun-filled time with StoneLion Puppet Theatre. OPKansas.org.

6 Thursday

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air (Lenexa). A special time when entire park is open for children 5 and under with a parent. Jump, bounce and crawl! UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com

Pay for Play 10:00, Backyard Specialists. Plan a playdate for your children and their friends at the amazing showroom! BackyardSpecialists.com

Funville Thru May 7, Crown Center. An exhibit where children experience grownup occupations in a kid-friendly setting. CrownCenter.com

Toddler Time 10:00, Ceramic Café. On Mondays and Thursdays, toddlers 5 and under can paint one selected item for just $12! CeramicCafeKC.com

The Secret Garden 7:30, Music Theater Heritage. Based on the classic novel. See this compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal. MusicTheaterHeritage.com

7 Friday

Kids Day Out 8:00, Johnson County Museum. Have fun while school’s out. Hands-on activities, exploration of Kidscape and more. Pre-reg at 913.715.2570.

Jumperoo 9:00, Urban Air (Overland Park). A special time when entire park is open for children 5 and under with a parent. Jump, bounce and crawl! UrbanAirTrampolinePark.com

Play and Learn 10:00, MCPL (Red Branch). A preschool playtime to stimulate young minds and strengthen early literacy skills. Ages 3+. MyMCPL.org

Egg Hunt Geocache 10:00, 11:00 or noon, Antioch Park. Each group is loaned a GPS and hunts for caches hidden around the park. Caches are filled with Easter eggs. Pre-reg at JCPRD.com.

Toddler Time 10:00, Fieldhouse of Blue Springs. Play inside the fieldhouse on mats, scooters, slides, a bounce house and more. BlueSpringsGov.com

The Bunny Hop 10:30, Meadowbrook Park. Enjoy a morning of food, music, games and craft that concludes with a small but fun Easter egg hunt. Ages 2-5. Pre-reg at 913.826.2975

Underwater Easter Egg Hunt 5:15, Lenexa Rec Center. Search for eggs in our indoor pool and exchange them for candy and prizes! Pre-reg at Lenexa.com/getactive.

OlatheLibrary.org/DTLibrary

Good Friday Service 7:00, Lenexa Baptist Church. Prepare for Easter with an evening Communion service. LenexaBaptist.com

Tulips at Twilight 7:00, Old Prairie Town (Topeka). See Old Prairie Town come alive with floral displays and thousands of illuminated tulips. Parks.snco.us

First Fridays 7:00, Crossroads Art District. Art galleries, retailers and other participating art venues located in the Crossroads Art District showcase art. KCCrossroads.org

8 Saturday

Downtown Bunny Hop 10:00, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Join the Easter Bunny for a hopping parade. Afterward, businesses will hand out candy. DowntownLS.org

Youth Art Class 10:00 or 2:00, Nerman Museum. Learn about abstract art and then create a 3D paper design. Ages 8-11. Pre-reg at NermanMuseum.org.

Easter 1860s Style 10:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop. Try a hot cross bun, take a stagecoach ride, visit the blacksmith and more! Mahaffie.org

Opening Day 10:00, Worlds of Fun. Join in 2023 as we celebrate 50 years of fun, lifelong memories and cherished traditions. WorldsOfFun.com

Easter Egg Hunt 10:00, Line Creek Community Center. A safe place to enjoy activities and games with family and friends! KCParks.org

Egg Hunt 10:00, Knox Church. Bring the kids for annual egg hunt. There will be songs, stories and an outdoor egg hunt. KnoxChurch.org

Birds and Blooms 10:00, Anita B Gorman Discovery Center. Join a naturalist on a hike to learn about what birds and blooms to watch for. Pre-reg at MDC.mo.gov.

Easter at the Mansion 9:00, Wyeth-Tootle Mansion. Egg hunt, Easter bunny photos, kids craft, tulip sale and free petting zoo. StJosephMuseum.org

Spring Celebration 10:00, Central Park (Zona Rosa). Kids crafts, photos with Easter Bunny, food trucks, performances, balloon artists and more! ZonaRosa.com

Easter Train 10:00, Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad. Join for a day of fun including a special guest, the Easter Bunny! KCNRR.com

Easter Festival 10:00, Memorial Park (Raymore). Hunt for 15,000-plus eggs, take photos with the Easter Bunny and enjoy refreshments. Free event! Raymore.com

Easter Bunny Visits the Cider Mill 10:30, Louisburg Cider Mill. Bring your kids out to see the bunny and then enjoy some cider donuts. LouisburgCiderMill.com

Easter Egg Hunt 2:00, Pome on the Range Orchard. Join us for an afternoon of hunting Easter eggs and a chance to win yummy prizes. PomeOnTheRange.com

9 Sunday

Easter Sunday

Easter Services 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00, Lenexa Baptist Church. Join us for services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. LenexaBaptist.com

Easter Services Multiple times and locations, Church of the Resurrection. Join at one of our locations for an Easter Sunday worship service. COR.org

10 Monday

Open Gym 9:30, Kaw Prairie Community Church. Grab a coffee from the coffee shop and hang out with friends while your kiddos get their energy out! KawPrairie.org

Plaza Bunnies Thru April 24, Country Club Plaza. The bunnies are back! See larger-than-life bunnies in the courtyards and on the street corners. CountryClubPlaza.com

11 Tuesday

Preschool Indoor Playground 9:30, Merriam Community Center. Too chilly to play in the park? Ride, slide and play inside! Parents supervise children. Merriam.org/park

City of Champions Thru May 29, Legoland Discovery Center. New event! Bring your champion skills and complete the epic missions! LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical 10:00 or noon, the Coterie. A comedic musical production based on the popular series by Mo Willems. TheCoterie.org

National Geographic Live 7:30, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Hear climber Mark Synnott talk about his adventures. Tickets. KauffmanCenter.org

May