What do you do in camp? Buying first AS. Kids. Games, activities, etc..

[Danattherock]

Literally. What do you do? We are looking into buying an Airstream, 28-30', for our two small kids and German Shepherd. Main interest is weekend trips in Smoky Mountains of NC and Tenn. A 1-2 week trip to National Parks each summer. That sort of thing.

When you take your Airstream out, to campground or more remote locales, what do you do for fun? We are into fly fishing, shooting sports, kayaking, rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and such, so that is something depending on location. But actually in camp, on the site outside AS, or indoors at dinette, what do you do?

Just trying to get an idea what RV'ing would be like. Especially the idle time. We have never spent time in campgrounds, usually tent camping in more primitive areas. A few basic questions.

Do some campgrounds have activities for small kids, basketball goals, swimming pools, etc. Is cable TV common at many campgrounds?

Do most campgrounds have picnic tables on each campsite?

Are campfires allowed at most, fire rings and such?

Do folks hang around the campground, or choose CG near areas of interest and go out on half day trips and such?

Is it common practice to leave a dog unattended inside Airstream while out doing other activities? Fair weather and/or air conditioning being used. Lots of stuff we can't do with our dog. Vurious if folks leave them in camper at times.

For anyone that has camped in NC, Tenn, or VA mountain areas, are there any primitive camping opportunities for Airstreams? Or is the only option campgrounds?


Thanks for any ideas.


Dan

[Cannonball]

Read. Grill dinner. Plan the next meal. Read. Play Scrabble. Play with the dog. Read. Do little chores on the Airstream itself. Read. Nap. Talk with each other. Talk with neighbors. Plan the next day's activities. Sit in a chair and do nothing.

Commercial campgrounds/RV parks typically have some stuff for children, whether it is a pool, basketball hoop, or playground equipment. Many have picnic tables, some do not. All state parks we have been to have picnic tables and fire rings. Commercial RV parks generally do not have fire rings at each site, but may have a common area with a fire ring or pit. The commercial RV parks typically have cable TV, usually standard definition. Most have Wi-Fi, but it is usually pretty lousy service.

We usually have a day outing planned, and shoot to be back by mid-afternoon. We try to pick activities that we can take the dog along on, but she really does not mind staying in her "Silver Kennel" alone. We really try to not leave her alone for more than 2 hours out of fairness to her personality.

[RangerJay]

Your gonna get as many different answers as there are Airstream owners. For us - the trailer is a home on wheels - it's taking us somewhere to do something - sometimes that is a road trip (i.e. Alaska) - sometimes it is taking us to a spectator activity (i.e. Albuquerque Balloon Festival, Buffalo Roundup in Custer) - sometimes to an attraction (i.e Grand Canyon) - a lot of times just for some peace, quiet, solitude (any number of Provincial, State or National Parks) - sometimes to visit family (at least once each season) - and often - just because ......

It is what you want to make it - and it sounds very much like you are well equipped in your current outdoor activities - the addition of young kids adds a whole new and incredibly rich dimension to your planning (get them involved).

Believe me - you won't have any trouble planning something to do.

The real trouble you are likely to have is finding enough time to do all that you want .....

Enjoy your travels.


Jay

[AWCHIEF]

I do the same things I do tent camping just in more comfort and style.

[merchantmm]

So much to do but recently I've taken up outdoor campfire cooking. Much more interesting than just using the propane range in the trailer. Add oiutdoor Dutch oven cooking to the mix also. There is tons on the Internet on the subject of Dutch oven cooking.

Don't forget sitting around a campfire. It's almost hypnotic.

[DanB]

Eat.

and cook.

relax

Do nothing, maybe a hike and shoot some film.

Collect fire wood.

Enjoy some refreshing cocktails.

Solve the worlds problems.

clip my toenails

nap outside

Fix something, or not. or think about fixing something.

worry about problems with projects at work.

contemplate religious beliefs

wonder why I haven't replaced the carpet on my steps.

Think about my next trip.

Wait, what was the question?

[AStreamNerds]

We started with a popup camper and graduated to our Airstream this year. We try to pick campgrounds with stuff to do nearby. But generally we hang out at the campground - take walks with the dog - see the sites at the campground - and RELAX. We both work full time and going camping for a weekend is a way to unwind without the normal distractions of life.

We live in the Washington DC area and there are tons of places to go within a few hours drive - all with their own things to do/see. We have only found one park (and I cannot remember where it was) that did not allow our dog. We generally take her with us everywhere when we are camping. I like to take pictures but do not classify myself as even an amateur photographer and there is always things to point and click at.

[LolaT]

We are new to Airstreaming and staying in campgrounds too. We've now gone on two short trips with three young kids. We expect to be occupied most of the time venturing out, hiking, biking, sight seeing etc. As far as "down time" at camp and kids are concerned, I bought a couple of camping games (Camp Board Game and Spot It! Gone Camping) and a couple of children's books that tied in to where we were going (Indian State Park). They also brought their Ukulele's and nature journals. I used audiobooks for the car ride but you could probably use them at camp too and try to leave movies as a last resort only. Frankly, they spent most of their time at camp running around finding short hikes, looking at animals and insects, and playing.

I think it has a lot to do with where you go and how much there is there for them to explore.

[Stefrobrts]

Read, nap, play guitar, play board games, watch TV shows on the ipad, sit outside and stare at the scenery or watch the stars. We go go go all week, so when we get away in the trailer, it's nice to kick back and have nothing to do for a while.

My very favorite times in the trailer have been afternoon naps on rainy days with the sound of the rain on the trailer. It's a state of relaxation I don't think I've ever reached anywhere else.

[Mikem1961]

Set up trailer. Plan activities for next day. Cook a lot(outside of trailer). Do a lot of hiking. Show at least one family(each trip) what my trailer looks like. Listen to sad family about how an Airstream will be in their future. Sometimes my wife tells me I need to get paid by Airstream for being a spokesperson. Who do I call and how much can I make? Seriously, if they just want to send me a check every now and then, it would be appreciated.

[Danattherock]

Thanks for the ideas so far. I appreciate it. Just trying to get an idea of what it might be like to camp in an Airstream, as opposed to a tent.


Dan

[Lily&Me]

Crochet, read, walk Lily, crochet, watch a little TV, crochet, walk Lily, read, cook a little, crochet.

I pick up at WalMart or party stores those balloons with rubber ties, to keep tucked away for kids who get bored.

They become gentle punching balls, to play with each other or practice gross motor coordination.

They aren't terribly durable, but kids love them and they are a great diversion for crankiness.


Maggie

[AnnArborBob]

Originally Posted by Danattherock

Thanks for the ideas so far. I appreciate it. Just trying to get an idea of what it might be like to camp in an Airstream, as opposed to a tent. Dan

The basic difference between tent camping and Airstream camping are the following:

Easier and less time to set up camp
More comfortable (electricity, heat, AC, on-board shower, sink, toilet)
Not as damp (especially in the AM and on rainy days)
Easier access to your stuff due to better storage
Can bring more stuff due to better storage
Can provide a quiet place to leave the dog for awhile (provided it's not a barker)

I'm sure others can think of other things...

[AStreamNerds]

Originally Posted by Danattherock

Thanks for the ideas so far. I appreciate it. Just trying to get an idea of what it might be like to camp in an Airstream, as opposed to a tent.


Dan

Think of camping in an Airstream as going to a brand new shopping mall and tent camping as going to the junk yard. Both are fun places to go and you may find just what you are looking for but the shopping mall is clean, conditioned, has places to use the rest room, etc...while the junk yard is muddy, lots of bugs and other critters, and you may have to pee behind a rusted out 1972 Monte Carlo.

[John&Vicki]

We really enjoy meeting and chatting with other campers - which is easy to do in an Airstream as they're an ice breaker. Also a lot of rest from hikes that wear out this old body. And cooking over the camp fire.

Cheers,
John

[RangerJay]

I think some of the secret here is not so much what you actually "plan" to do but what you go "prepared" for depending on circumstances - i.e. we always go prepared with outside gear (BBQ, chairs, lantern, stove, dishpan etc.), reading material, DVD collection, cards, board games, hiking boots, cold-weather gear, wet-weather gear, fishing gear, fire starter, campfire cooking tools, hobby material (carving material and tools for me, quilting for my wife).

We don't consciously "plan" on doing any of this stuff - every day brings it's own environment and its own circumstances - and the activities appropriate to the day and your frame of mind just kinda work themselves out .......

When our kids were young I recall lots of hikes, wood-splitting (kids loved it - lot of supervision needed), campfires, campfire cooking, board games, swimming, fishing and going to the parks interpretive events (movie night, nature hikes, hay rides etc.)

Nope ..... I do not ever recall actually planning a darn thing - just making choices at the time.


Jay

[msmcv51]

Comparing Airstream to tent or popup camping. When outside they are both about the same, wet dry, cold hot, misquotes or not. When inside the Airstream is much more like home, where a tent or popup can be just plain miserable. As for what we do, we do what we enjoy doing while camping. So you will have to decide what you enjoy doing while camping.

[xrvr]

I enjoy wathcing other campers set up and break down. Everyone has their own system more or less. Most time I'm in a recliner either reading, listening to the iPod or sleeping.

[Protagonist]

Two different situations for me…

1 - When I go to a rally, it's all about the socializing with fellow attendees. There is almost always at least one potluck dinner, so I take all of the fixings for my one-and-only surefire potluck offering, jambalaya.

2 - When I go solo, it's always to someplace that has hiking trails (easy ones; I'm disabled enough to qualify for a handicapped license plate on my car) and/or a lake where I can launch my inflatable kayak. Or failing that, some tourist attraction relatively near the campground. When I'm solo, meals aren't on a schedule, and so I go prepared to grill most of my meals on my Cobb, which typically takes longer to cook than do other types of grills.

I also take enough books and/or DVDs on any trip to account for rain days when it's too miserable to be outside.

[mccrosti]

Come to Alumalina in the fall. If you don't have a good time, sell your trailer.


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