Tent Camping - Family - First Time - Need Advice

[COOLDAD1]

To many choices. .... you have Garner, Enchanted Rock, Colorado Bend State Park, Guadalupe State park, Pedernales Falls state park, South Llano River state park, Blanco State park, Lost Maples State park,and Mckinney Falls in Austin. All are nice parks are nice and camp nice. If I were to pick a top 3 it would be Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls, or Lost Maples.
We have 3 boys ages 9,8,3, and they love it.

[Cazador]

You're braver than I was with little ones. We "camped" in the backyard until the oldest was 6 And then it was camping with cub scouts. Momma came a couple of times but her idea of camping is a hotel without continental breakfast!

The oldest is 18 now and made Eagle. We've done our share of scout camping!

[Canoe1]

Bring some of the chem glo sticks for the kids as well (can get them cheap in party section of wally)

[TB80]

You're braver than I was with little ones. We "camped" in the backyard until the oldest was 6 And then it was camping with cub scouts. Momma came a couple of times but her idea of camping is a hotel without continental breakfast!

The oldest is 18 now and made Eagle. We've done our share of scout camping!

Don't make me nervous. Kidding. Sort of.

Anyone else ever taken kids as young as 2 and 4 camping? If so how was it? Should I wait until they are older.

[hopedale]

Inks Lake

I'm going to give my vote to Inks Lake. We do our Church camp out there in November, but I think April would be a great time to go with the family.

What size tent do you have and do you have a tarp big enough for under neath the tent?

We're a family of four and I got a 8 or 10 person Coleman tent. Its nice and big, so we're not tripping over one another.

On one side we're able to set the air mattresses side by side, and still have a clear path to walk to them.

A trick I learned from a buddy of mine was to bring carpet for the inside of the tent. Along the side we walk on I have a hall-way runner, and in the front I have a big piece that covers side to side. Its helps keep the dirt off the floor, and its nice when you talk your boots off when walking in the tent.

If you have any extra Christmas lights, bring them to string up on the outside of the tent. I like to leave them on during the night, so if anyone has to make a trip to the bathroom, they can see the tent in the middle of the night.

Have fun.

[thegrouse]

Don't make me nervous. Kidding. Sort of.

Anyone else ever taken kids as young as 2 and 4 camping? If so how was it? Should I wait until they are older.

I took them at 6 months and 3. You will be fine. I had a kelty kid carrier and carried them around when they got tired

[Stone Cold Bobby]

Ever think about hammocks, I just started about two years ago. Gave both tents away. You'll sleep a lot better and cooler, easier set up and take down,kids seem to love them.
Took the wife camping in hammocks and she loved it.(she was off the ground) LOL

[bigmike585]

Hey man, don't be afraid to make your first time out with the family close to home. Guadalupe SP is a great place within 30 min, so if something goes haywire, just load up and drive home. Last year we went 2 or 3 weekends out to lake somerville which was only 30 min from the house, had a blast.

Kids are not too young, but it is different than before. First time we took our first, she was 4 months old, out to the Davis Mountains, the trip sort of revolves around taking care of the kids.

Pick a weekend nice weekend in March thru April, it may warm up enough to swim during the day but night time will be better sleeping.

Good luck.

[boomerball]

Don't make me nervous. Kidding. Sort of.

Anyone else ever taken kids as young as 2 and 4 camping? If so how was it? Should I wait until they are older.

Dont wait! I mentioned the backyard just a as a test run for out 15mo old, we took her to big bend the next week. Have been out with her a couple more times and she loves it. Had too much going on in spring/fall since the 2nd one came along but plan to get out this spring (kids now 4yrs and 1.5yrs).

[salth2o]

We tent camp with our kids often. April will be cool enough that it will be enjoyable.

Any SP in your neck of the woods will be great. Garner is the most popular SP in Texas, so if you dont mind the crowd, that is my vote, but you better make reservations early (like now). If you want more solitude, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Definitely get a tent that is large enough so everyone has some space to move around. Get yourself a double decker mattress and you'll sleep like a baby. We usually rent a screened shelter and set up our tents around the shelter. This gives us a little place to set up our food prep area and electricity.

I always pick up some glow sticks. The kids love playing with these at night. It seems the more simple you keep it, the more they enjoy it. We usually take our bikes.

We camp in the summer too and I suggest doing this...

[backinthegame]

I've taken my 4 and 1 1\2 year old several times. We love going to the beach to camp. Mustang island sp or galveston sp . gonna try mainland soon as my 4 month old gets a little older

[farfel]

Air mattresses are fine unless its cold then your going to freeze. Your, obviously, sleeping on air so it'll be the close to the outside airtemp. Might not be bad in April but if the kids are cold sleepers I'd take some extra blankets just in case.

[Razrbk89]

I second hammocks. My parents got us in them when we were little and its my primary camping method now. I float and camp quite a bit in the summer and just hang my canopy where I stop. You can stack two or three on top of each other under the same canopy if you find the right trees.

Kids love them and for most folks they're more comfortable than a tent. There are several nice brands to choose from these days!

[SPUD]

when we tent camped, I bought a thick tarp (12x12) and laid down before the tent. it helped protect the tent floor.

I also carried another big tarp ( I mean big) just in case in rained. I would throw that tarp over the tent and make just another layer of protection.

if my wife got wet from the rain = trip OVER!

[Mayhem]

enchanted rock