Life In Longmont

There are many great campgrounds in northern Colorado, each offering unique features and amenities. Some of the best include the Rocky Mountain National Park, which offers stunning mountain views and a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and rock climbing. Another great option is the Arapaho National Forest, which offers a variety of campsites, including both developed and primitive sites. The Colorado State Parks system also offers several excellent campgrounds in the northern part of the state, including Lory State Park, which boasts beautiful views of the Front Range and a variety of trails for hiking and biking. Other notable campgrounds in the area include Boyd Lake State Park and Hermit Park Open Space.

We enjoyed Rocky Mountain National Park this last summer. One great thing about actually camping up at the site instead of your own backyard (although this is a good baby step for small children) is that as soon as you wake up you are already right there at the park and can head out for hiking.

Here are ten tips for camping with children:

1. Start small and choose a campsite close to home to get a feel for camping with your children.
2. Pack plenty of snacks and drinks, as well as plenty of extra clothes, to keep your children happy and comfortable.
3. Bring along plenty of activities and toys to keep your children entertained, such as coloring books, playdough, and small games.
4. Set up a routine for meals, bedtime, and other activities to help your children feel comfortable and secure.
5. Be prepared for inclement weather by bringing along rain gear and warm clothing.
6. Set up a designated “kids’ area” with a tent or canopy to give your children a sense of independence and their own space.
7. Consider investing in a portable playpen or fence to keep your children contained and safe while you set up camp. It happened to be pouring rain the last tent setup we did (not recommended haha) so we had the kids in the van watching a show while dad setup the tent.
8. Make sure to bring along plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent to protect your children from the sun and bugs.
9. Set up a first aid kit with basic supplies in case of any minor injuries or illnesses.
10. Bring along a portable potty or use the campsite’s bathroom facilities to make it easier for your children to use the toilet while camping.

Some of the mistakes we have made in the past have led us to try to be better prepared. One trip we forgot shoes for a toddler and had to hold a wiggle toddler most of the time and that was long and hard. On another trip, we got off late and it started to rain and we did not get firewood so by the time we got up to the campsite the booth selling firewood was closed and we could not have a fun fire, which is half the fun of actually going camping.

This last summer we made many fun memories for one night up at Rocky Mountain National Park. Something to know about getting reservations for a lot of camping sites is you have to book far far in advance. So plan ahead! We also wished we had planned on two nights because it is really so much to pack a family of 6 to head out that it should have been longer to be more relaxed.