Hitches Unlimited

When it’s time to beat the winter blues, a weekend family beach camping trip might be just the thing your kids need, to burn off some cabin fever and get outside. Beaches are a lot more laid back in the winter, so camping spots are a lot easier to get. And, while temperatures may not allow for splashing in the surf, there’s still fun to be had playing in the sand and spending some quality time with the kids around the campfire.

Florida: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Miles of sandy white beaches (photo by LgclThry on Flickr)

Short of a long airplane ride to a tropical island, nothing beats St. Joseph Peninsula State Park for its miles of sandy white beaches and bountiful wildlife. This is probably the best place to show your kids what Florida looked like, before it was developed into oblivion.

Campsites: 119
Cabins: 8
Primitive Camping Allowed ($4 per person).

Texas: Padre Island National Seashore

70 miles of sandy beaches on Padre Island (photo by Gerald5970 on Flickr)

Located along the south Texas coast, Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world. If you are considering a winter family camping vacation, Padre Island’s 70 miles of sandy beaches is sure to be a big hit with the kids.

Malaquite Campground: 16 RV sites, 26 tent / RV sites and 8 tent-only sites
Bird Island Basin: 45 tent / RV sites
North Beach: Primitive camping
South Beach: Primitive camping
Yarborough Pass: Primitive camping, 4-wheel drive only
All campsites are first-come, first served.

California: Gold Bluffs Beach Campground

Winter camping at Gold Bluffs Beach (photo by tasker on Flickr)

Gold Bluffs Beach is located in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, in northern California, but it’s at the end of an unpaved road – so you are guaranteed plenty of solitude for your family beach camping vacation.

Campsites: 25 RV / Tent, 29 tent-only

Oregon: Bullards Beach State Park

Yurt camping at Bullards Beach State Park (photo by fredsharples on Flickr)

Bullards Beach is a large, family-oriented park located just two miles north of Bandon. The campground is nestled among shore pines and well protected from the strong ocean breezes. Besides three loops of campsites, the park boasts 13 yurts, making year-round camping a very popular choice.

Campsites: 187
Yurts: 13

South Carolina: Huntington Beach State Park

Grand Strand beach at Huntington Beach State Park (photo by LSykora on Flickr)

Huntington Beach State Park features a sweeping Grand Strand beach, pristine and wide open. Sea breeze camping and some of the finest bird-watching on the East Coast make this state park a great winter family camping escape.

Campsites: 131 tent / RV sites, 6 walk-in tent sites

Virginia: False Cape State Park

Winter beach camping at False Cape State Park (photo by pcopros on Flickr)

Guaranteed winter solitude for your family, False Cape State Park is only accessible through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating – there is no motor vehicle access.

Campsites: Primitive camping, reservations required

See also…

• Winter Beach Camping
• Layering for Cold Weather Comfort
• Cold Weather Camping

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When it’s time to beat the winter blues, a weekend family beach camping trip might be just the thing your kids need, to burn off some cabin fever and get outside. Beaches are a lot more laid back in the winter, so camping spots are a lot easier to get. And, while temperatures may not allow for splashing in the surf, there’s still fun to be had playing in the sand and spending some quality time with the kids around the campfire.

Florida: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Miles of sandy white beaches (photo by LgclThry on Flickr)

Short of a long airplane ride to a tropical island, nothing beats St. Joseph Peninsula State Park for its miles of sandy white beaches and bountiful wildlife. This is probably the best place to show your kids what Florida looked like, before it was developed into oblivion.

Campsites: 119
Cabins: 8
Primitive Camping Allowed ($4 per person).

Texas: Padre Island National Seashore

70 miles of sandy beaches on Padre Island (photo by Gerald5970 on Flickr)

Located along the south Texas coast, Padre Island National Seashore protects the longest undeveloped stretch of barrier island in the world. If you are considering a winter family camping vacation, Padre Island’s 70 miles of sandy beaches is sure to be a big hit with the kids.

Malaquite Campground: 16 RV sites, 26 tent / RV sites and 8 tent-only sites
Bird Island Basin: 45 tent / RV sites
North Beach: Primitive camping
South Beach: Primitive camping
Yarborough Pass: Primitive camping, 4-wheel drive only
All campsites are first-come, first served.

California: Gold Bluffs Beach Campground

Winter camping at Gold Bluffs Beach (photo by tasker on Flickr)

Gold Bluffs Beach is located in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, in northern California, but it’s at the end of an unpaved road – so you are guaranteed plenty of solitude for your family beach camping vacation.

Campsites: 25 RV / Tent, 29 tent-only

Oregon: Bullards Beach State Park

Yurt camping at Bullards Beach State Park (photo by fredsharples on Flickr)

Bullards Beach is a large, family-oriented park located just two miles north of Bandon. The campground is nestled among shore pines and well protected from the strong ocean breezes. Besides three loops of campsites, the park boasts 13 yurts, making year-round camping a very popular choice.

Campsites: 187
Yurts: 13

South Carolina: Huntington Beach State Park

Grand Strand beach at Huntington Beach State Park (photo by LSykora on Flickr)

Huntington Beach State Park features a sweeping Grand Strand beach, pristine and wide open. Sea breeze camping and some of the finest bird-watching on the East Coast make this state park a great winter family camping escape.

Campsites: 131 tent / RV sites, 6 walk-in tent sites

Virginia: False Cape State Park

Winter beach camping at False Cape State Park (photo by pcopros on Flickr)

Guaranteed winter solitude for your family, False Cape State Park is only accessible through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating – there is no motor vehicle access.

Campsites: Primitive camping, reservations required

See also…

• Winter Beach Camping
• Layering for Cold Weather Comfort
• Cold Weather Camping

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Photo by North Cascades National Park on Flickr

2009 was a banner year for many popular family camping destinations. Parks in Maine, New York, North Carolina, South Dakota and Virginia all set attendance records last year, with big national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite also putting in big numbers.

There is a renewed interest, across the country, in family camping trips that offer more bang for consumer’s vacation buck. Vacation hours and holidays have also been under pressure during the economic recession as companies cut expenses, including employee benefits. All of this is leading up to another banner year for the parks, which means the busiest family camping weekends in 2010 are sure to fill up quickly.

Memorial Day Weekend: May 28-31

The traditional kick-off to summer, Memorial Day weekend is always one of the busiest family camping weekends of the year. With many states now accepting reservations up to one year in advance (see Advance Reservations at State Parks for 2010), you are likely out of luck if you have not already made your plans, for this year.

Some states, though, like North and South Dakota, and Wyoming, have 90-day advance reservation windows, which means reservations can be made at the end of this month. Maine, too, begins accepting reservations for their state parks on February 8th and Montana on the 13th.

Independence Day Weekend: July 2-5 (Canada Day: July 1-4)

Independence Day falls on a Sunday, this year, so it’s one of those holidays that might not buy you a long weekend, depending on your company’s policy. Eight states have six-month reservation windows, meaning you can start making your Independence Day plans today.

Despite the popularity of family camping over the Independence Day weekend, I have been successful finding reservations inside the window, before, so don’t think they’re not available without checking, first.

Labor Day Weekend: September 3-6 (U.S. and Canada)

Labor Day marks the end of the camping season for much of the country and it is usually second only to Memorial Day, in terms of family camping popularity. People struggle to make long term plans, though, so even if you missed your state’s 9-month reservations window (Idaho, New York, Oregon and Washington), there’s a chance that some sites are still available.

Backup Plans

If you cannot find reservations for your family camping trip, this year, there are alternatives that you should consider. Many federal and state parks offer a number of first-come, first-served sites. It may sound risky planning a family camping trip in the hopes of landing one of these sites, but if you can arrive on a Wednesday or Thursday, it is a safe bet that sites will be available.

Another alternative is to make your own campsite on federal public land (see National Park too crowded? Try a National Forest Instead). Called dispersed camping, you are guaranteed lots of privacy and one of the best backcountry family camping experiences ever.

Have you made family camping plans for one of the popular holidays, this year?

See also…

• Types of Camping Spots
• Camp Greener to Help the Environment and Your Wallet
• Family Camping – Skip the Campground

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This is a guest post by Suzi Dow. If you would like to guest post on CampingBlogger, please see the About page for my contact information.

Every January, I start planning for the upcoming camping season. In the beginning, camping was a break from my life of a 9-to-5 job, bills, and the same-old, same-old. Then came a husband and children. So, camping became an affordable family vacation. Today, it seems everyone is looking for an affordable family vacation and many are discovering camping.

Now, Fred, my husband, and I spend months camping each year while researching national forest and grassland developed campgrounds. We have been to 155 national forests and nine national grasslands and have surveyed more than 2,383 national forest and grassland developed campgrounds. To see what we do, check out our website at www.forestcamping.com.

At one time, we enjoyed camping vacations in national parks. Today, with entrance and camping fees, “Stay on the Trail” signs, commercialization and crowds, parks just aren’t as much fun. The following are suggested alternatives to vacations in national parks. Each gives you a place for an affordable family vacation without the crowds and commercialization – you can explore the area on your own terms and even Spot is welcomed.

Dixie National Forest

Dixie National Forest in southern Utah is my alternative to Bryce National Park. The starkly beautiful scenery in the Dixie may be even more spectacular. Certainly, the colors are definitely brighter. Red Canyon campground would be my first choice but there are other campgrounds within an easy drive of the Park.

The trails around Red Canyon are incredible. For example, Arches trail (ask the Visitor Center staff about its connection to Butch Cassidy) is good for the whole family while the Golden Wall Trail, with incredible vistas that seem to reach into tomorrow, is better suited to more experienced hikers.

Olympic National Forest

Olympic National Forest surrounds the Olympic National Park, Washington. Klahowya campground is magical and gives campers a good base to explore the forest, the park, and nearby communities. The views of Sol Duc Valley from Crescent Lake to James Island from the nearby Klashe Nanitch Lookout are amazing! And a day trip to Rialto beach is a must if you get bored with the lush emerald green environment found at Klahowya.

Gallatin National Forest

Gallatin National Forest in Montana hugs the north side of Yellowstone National Park. Soda Butte and Colter campgrounds are less than eight miles from the Park’s northeast entrance and hardly anyone knows about them. You could see more elk than people during a week-long stay from either of these campgrounds.

Located above 7,300-feet, these campground open closer to July 4th than Memorial Day each year. If you can’t wait for July, there are dozens of alternative campgrounds in the Shoshone, Custer, Beaverhead, and Targhee National Forests.

George Washington National Forest

George Washington National Forest (photo by Chicago_Man on Flickr)

George Washington (GW) National Forest in Virginia is a relatively short drive from the Washington, DC but seems like another world. When the Shenandoah National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway are cheek-to-jowl with visitors, the GW remains pleasantly uncrowded. Elizabeth Furnace campground has, like several of the forest’s campgrounds, a solid connection to the area’s history.

Elizabeth Furnace, at one time, produced pig iron for our young nation. From nearby Signal Knob, accessed via a trail from the campground, you can see up and down the Valley. It’s easy to imagine warriors and soldiers from bygone days sitting on Signal Knob and watching the enemy’s movements.

Kaibab National Forest

The Kaibab National Forest, in northern Arizona, surrounds the Grand Canyon National Park. Minimal crowds, lots of shade, and the freedom to wander at will are the main attractions of this national forest. Ten-X campground, located south of the Grand Canyon, is a good alternative to the Park’s crowds and shadeless South Rim environment. DeMotte Park campground, at the end of a large mountain meadow, and Jacob Lake campground, with lots of trees but no lake are on the Canyon’s north rim.

These campgrounds are at higher elevations so they are cooler and surrounded by a vast Ponderosa pine forest with robust wildlife populations including elk and the unique Kaibab squirrel. There are also some outstanding four-wheel drive trails that lead to amazing overlooks, convenient to these campgrounds. Note: The actual rim of the Grand Canyon is a drive from these campgrounds but there is so much to see between the campgrounds and the rim, the miles go by quickly.

Here are some non-national park related suggestions. The number is limited and provides only a tiny sample of the possibilities. A visit to any one of these could be enough to make you consider giving up any future national park vacations.

Sawtooth National Forest

Redfish Lake (photo by Alaskan_Dude on Flickr)

In the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho is the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (NRA) and its many campgrounds. Redfish Lake, the NRA’s centerpiece, has to be one of the most glorious places you’ll ever see.

This 1,519-acres Lake is surrounded on three sides by the Sawtooth Wilderness with some 300 alpine lakes, outstanding trails for hikers and horseback riders, and mountains that look like they are holding up the sky. The whitewater recreational opportunities in this area are fabulous. One activity to experience in the Sawtooth NRA is watching the spawning salmon. Also, check the Visitors Center for the “kid-friendly” activities and the Junior Ranger program.

Francis Marion National Forest

Buck Hall campground, in South Carolina’s Francis Marion National Forest, is one of two Forest Service campgrounds on the Atlantic coast. Buck Hall campground is actually on the Intracoastal Waterway. There aren’t sandy beaches and rolling waves. However, you can watch the fishing boats and yachts motor by and see the birds enjoy the bounty found in nearby saltwater marshes from your campsite.

Buck Hall is a campground were you can fish for shrimp or shark and about everything in between. And historic Charleston, with all its sights, shops, and restaurants, is about 20 minutes away.

Superior National Forest

Sawbill Lake campground, in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest, might be the best location for exploring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). A word of warning, once you paddle out on the BWCAW, you will want to do it again, and again, and again.

There are many entry points to the BWCAW but staff at the Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, adjacent to the Sawbill Lake campground, is outstanding and makes this entry point a step above the others.

Carson National Forest

Valle Vidal Wildlife Management Area of Carson National Forest in New Mexico has only Cimmaron and McCrystal campgrounds. They are nice campgrounds but the real attraction of Valle Vidal is its pristine condition. Valle Vidal is 100,000 acres of open range, high desert prairie like you’ll find nowhere else.

Open range horseback riding is a major attraction for the Valle Vidal. The panorama of rolling hills covered in lush grass, rippling in the wind, and scattered islands of Ponderosa pines is unforgettable. In Valle Vidal it is easy to imagine the way the West was when it was still “wild.

White River National Forest

White River National Forest (photo by Marie Pinson on Flickr)

Trappers Lake Recreation Area in Colorado’s White River National Forest is adjacent to the Flat Top Wilderness. This is one of those places that has it all: fishing, hiking, scenery, and everything you need for an outstanding national forest camping experience, e.g. Shepherd’s Rim campground.

Asters (by gwarcita on Flickr)

Colorado has lots of great camping opportunities but few can match Trapper Lake Recreation Area for a more well-rounded family camping vacation spot. The story goes Arthur Carhart was sent out to survey the area for tract of summer homes. He was so impressed by the wild beauty of the place he convinced the authorities to keep it as is and not allow construction of homes.

With time spent at Trappers Lake Recreation Area among the magnificent mountains, near clear sapphire blue lakes, and under the black velvet night sky, you will thank Mr. Carhart for his foresight.

There are many opportunities and delights to be discovered in a national forest near you. To learn more about the national forests and their campgrounds mentioned here, as well as other national forests, please visit the U.S. National Forest Campground Guide website, www.forestcamping.com.

See also…

• Family Camping Adventures
• Types of Camping Spots
• Top 5 Parks to Visit in 2010

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Depending on the age of your kids, there are a lot of outdoor adventure activities available to you that can really spice up a summer family camping vacation and make it one that everyone will remember. Many of these activities, like rock climbing or rafting, are more dependent on a child’s ability and confidence, than age.

My oldest daughter has always been very adventurous and willing to try new things. She began climbing rock walls at six and she loves rollercoasters. My younger ones are much more comfortable just watching, even though they are all very close in age. When considering a family camping adventure, it’s important to tailor the adventure to the entire family, so that everyone has a enjoyable experience.

Whitewater Rafting

Whitewater rafting is available in many parts of the country and it’s a great activity to combine with a family camping trip, because many of the rafting companies will handle the camping spot setup, meals and even games and activities, on rafting trips ranging from a few days to a week, or more.

If you are not familiar with whitewater rafting, you might be hesitant about taking children on an adventure, like this. This is a growing segment for rafting companies, though, and many have trips tailored specifically for families. They will recommend specific rivers, sections of rivers, or specific months when the water is slower, in order to provide a rafting experience that everyone will enjoy.

• Family Whitewater Rafting in NC
  
• West Virginia Rivermen
• Colorado River Rafting
• Rogue River Journeys

Jetboat Excursions

If whitewater rafting sounds a bit too adventurous, an afternoon jetboat excursion is another way to experience the thrills of a river, but in the safe confines of hard-sided boat.  A jetboat trip ranges from an hour to a half day, which makes it a great activity to spice-up a family camping vacation without centering the entire vacation on the adventure, itself.

• Utah River Tours
• Rogue River Jetboat Excursions
• River Quest Excursions – Idaho

Rock Climbing

Kids love to climb and when they get to wear cool looking helmets and harnesses you just know it’s an experience they’ll carry with them, for years to come. There are a number of accredited climbing schools and guides that offer courses tailored to families. Like whitewater rafting, these professionals will match your family’s skill-level to an area that will best suit everyone’s ability. If you would like to read about one family’s rock climbing adventure, checkout We Tried It: Rock Climbing, by Toni Klym McLellan (Bring the Family).

• American Mountain Guides Association
• Professional Climbing Instructors Association

Mountain biking family fun - photo by pcopros on Flickr

Mountain Biking

A mountain biking trip is a great way to mix family camping and outdoor adventure. Professional tour companies handle all of the camping gear and meals – and even a ride in the support vehicle if the day starts to get too strenuous. Companies like Western Spirit Cycling really cater to families by putting groups with similar-aged kids together and providing games, toys, arts and crafts to keep everyone entertained.

See also…

• Family Adventures: Whitewater Rafting
• Family Vacations: Camping vs. Traditional
• 10 Things to do on your next camping trip

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There are several different types of camping spots and, depending on your location, your state may use unique names to describe them. For instance, a primitive camping spot – one with just a clearing for a tent and maybe a picnic table, is called an environmental camping spot in California and a tent site or Class D site, in Arkansas. When you are planning your camping getaways, this summer, it’s important to know what kind of amenities to look for.

Full Hook-ups

Camping spots billed as having full hook-ups are designed for RVs and provide electricity, water and a sewer connection. In addition, a full hookup site will be advertised as having 30 or 50 amps of power. A 50-amp circuit is usually required for larger RVs with multiple air conditioning units.

Other amenities, such as picnic tables, fire pits, a concrete parking pad and cable TV connections are sometimes included. Even in large national chains such as KOA, though, these extra amenities are completely random and should be confirmed prior to making reservations.

Electricity and Water

Much like a full hook-up site, a camping spot with electricity and water is for RVs and may include 20, 30 or 50 amps of power and other amenities, like a picnic table, fire pit and concrete pad. Almost unheard of in the West, electricity and water camping spots are common in state parks throughout the Midwest and South. There are a few state parks in the West with electrical and water camping spots, however, like Oregon’s Joseph Stewart State Park.

Electrical Only

Also rare in the West, tent sites with electrical power are not uncommon in the muggy South, where fans and even small air conditioners make tent camping palatable for some. These sites are not specifically made for RVs, so they are usually smaller, 20-amp circuits.

Primitive

Primitive camping spots, as you might have guessed, have no water or electricity. Depending on the campground, however, they usually include a picnic table and a fire ring. Primitive sites are my favorite places to camp, because I don’t have to worry so much about noisy RV generators, idling engines, or radios and TVs in the middle of the night.

Dispersed

Camping spots come in all shapes and sizes and they aren’t limited to just organized campgrounds. You can make your own camping spot on most federal public land and some state lands. There are often restrictions on how close your camping spot can be to a road or a water source and regulations on campfires vary greatly, so it’s important to check with the federal or state management agency for specific regulations pertaining to the area.

Camping is a great way to “get away from it all,” but that can mean a lot of different things to different people. Fortunately, there are a lot of different types of camping spots to choose from, so there is sure to be one that will suit your style of camping.

See also…

• How to Reserve Camping Spots Online
• Family Camping – Skip the Campground
• Choosing the Best Camping Spots

Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.

There are several different types of camping spots and, depending on your location, your state may use unique names to describe them. For instance, a primitive camping spot – one with just a clearing for a tent and maybe a picnic table, is called an environmental camping spot in California and a tent site or Class D site, in Arkansas. When you are planning your camping getaways, this summer, it’s important to know what kind of amenities to look for.

Full Hook-ups

Camping spots billed as having full hook-ups are designed for RVs and provide electricity, water and a sewer connection. In addition, a full hookup site will be advertised as having 30 or 50 amps of power. A 50-amp circuit is usually required for larger RVs with multiple air conditioning units.

Other amenities, such as picnic tables, fire pits, a concrete parking pad and cable TV connections are sometimes included. Even in large national chains such as KOA, though, these extra amenities are completely random and should be confirmed prior to making reservations.

Electricity and Water

Much like a full hook-up site, a camping spot with electricity and water is for RVs and may include 20, 30 or 50 amps of power and other amenities, like a picnic table, fire pit and concrete pad. Almost unheard of in the West, electricity and water camping spots are common in state parks throughout the Midwest and South. There are a few state parks in the West with electrical and water camping spots, however, like Oregon’s Joseph Stewart State Park.

Electrical Only

Also rare in the West, tent sites with electrical power are not uncommon in the muggy South, where fans and even small air conditioners make tent camping palatable for some. These sites are not specifically made for RVs, so they are usually smaller, 20-amp circuits.

Primitive

Primitive camping spots, as you might have guessed, have no water or electricity. Depending on the campground, however, they usually include a picnic table and a fire ring. Primitive sites are my favorite places to camp, because I don’t have to worry so much about noisy RV generators, idling engines, or radios and TVs in the middle of the night.

Dispersed

Camping spots come in all shapes and sizes and they aren’t limited to just organized campgrounds. You can make your own camping spot on most federal public land and some state lands. There are often restrictions on how close your camping spot can be to a road or a water source and regulations on campfires vary greatly, so it’s important to check with the federal or state management agency for specific regulations pertaining to the area.

Camping is a great way to “get away from it all,” but that can mean a lot of different things to different people. Fortunately, there are a lot of different types of camping spots to choose from, so there is sure to be one that will suit your style of camping.

See also…

• How to Reserve Camping Spots Online
• Family Camping – Skip the Campground
• Choosing the Best Camping Spots

Have you subscribed to my newsletter? I publish it once a month with articles that are unique to the newsletter and not found in the RSS or email feeds.