| What about a camping family vacation this year? | | | | know when dinner will be ready. On the other |
| If you're American and you leave it to the kids to | | | | hand, the kids will love roasting marshmallows or |
| decide on your family vacation, chances are you'll | | | | better yet making that traditional campfire treat! |
| be heading to Disneyland or Disney World. There's | | | | Barbecue burgers, roast hot dogs, or make "hobo |
| nothing wrong with that... those magical lands on | | | | stew" in aluminium wraps over the campfire... a |
| both coasts of the U.S. are great fun for kids of | | | | couple of beers or a bottle of wine will make |
| all ages. | | | | those good for parents too. |
| And there are plenty of things to do nearby to | | | | Maybe bring two coolers and keep one for snacks |
| both, but what about something different....maybe | | | | and soft drinks so the kids can grab something |
| getting back to basics and a camping family | | | | when then need it. It'll keep them from getting |
| vacation? Ah-oh. Camping? Where do you go? | | | | hungry and cranky between meals. |
| What do you do? | | | | Get the kids involved right from the start. Let |
| If you've never camped before, you might want | | | | them help set up the tent... roll out the sleeping |
| to start close to home... so you can bail out if you | | | | bags. And let them help with the meals. Cooking |
| have to! You can save the beautiful park far from | | | | around the campfire can be a great bonding |
| home for another time, once you know you're all | | | | experience. |
| going to like the camping experience. Almost | | | | Enjoy the "nature" part of that camping family |
| everyone lives within an hour or two of some | | | | vacation. Take walks together, see if you can |
| public forest or park, no matter what part of the | | | | identify wildflowers, trees, and birds. Swim in that |
| world you live in. It's a great place to give a | | | | lake, wade in that river. Some kids have never |
| camping family vacation a try. | | | | been in the water unless it was a bathtub or |
| Think about practicing at home. A week or two | | | | swimming pool. It's fun to know there might be |
| before you load up the car, set up the tent in | | | | fish in there! |
| your backyard (or even the living room if your | | | | Use your imagination. If you make it enough of an |
| tent doesn't require stakes). If you've set up the | | | | adventure, your kids will be glad you all decided on |
| tent once or twice, you won't be as apt to | | | | that camping family vacation and they won't miss |
| fumble and get frustrated once you get to the | | | | Disneyland or Disney World at all - this year! |
| camp ground. Let the kids sleep in their sleeping | | | | This travel tip is brought to you by Stuart Hely, |
| bags and get used to the idea... though they may | | | | founder of au, the specialists in NSW Central |
| be even more receptive to it than you are. | | | | Coast accommodation. Check us out for the best |
| Plan simple meals and make the food fun. | | | | accommodation deals and news on the beautiful |
| Complicated meals will only make more work for | | | | Central Coast beaches. |
| you, and the kids will be whining -- wanting to | | | | |