I'm pretty sure you're a fellow MN resident and if so I highly recommend camping at MN State Parks in the camper cabins! We've done them at several state parks so far, they have electricity and heat but no running water or AC. Having heat available means that we often camp in October or May when it would be too chilly for tent camping but the crowds are gone and we can enjoy the parks almost by ourselves. The electricity also means we can bring my Instant Pot which will boil water in the mornings (for tea for me and the kids, coffee from a french press for my husband) and cook or reheat foods that would take a LOT longer over a fire. We do still make at least one fire for a hot dog roast though, and always s'mores ;-) If you want to give it a shot I think they might be a great entry point for you too!
I highly recommend cabin camping over tent camping when you have multiple littles if you can swing it. It's just easier in every possible way while still giving you a nature-focused experience, even if the purists scoff ;-) And for springtime in SE MN specifically I recommend Whitewater State Park or if your boys are anything like mine they would love Mystery Cave State Park! Just watch out for ticks!
So glad you’re still feeling inspired to try camping! There’s no rush; you’ll get to it when the time is right for your family. Just remember: the first time is always the hardest. It only gets easier from there!
We just went camping this week and it had some really challenging moments, but our three year old says, “I want STILL be camping” so I think it was a success! Shoot me a message if you have Qs, i feel like we learned a lot 😂😅😂
Please do! My dad is the king of camping packing after going on monthly campouts with Boy Scouts through both my brothers’ years. They’re ten years apart and didn’t overlap at all, so it’s probably fifteen years of campouts we’re talking about 😂 I literally texted him before we left like “what am I forgetting??”
I'm pretty sure you're a fellow MN resident and if so I highly recommend camping at MN State Parks in the camper cabins! We've done them at several state parks so far, they have electricity and heat but no running water or AC. Having heat available means that we often camp in October or May when it would be too chilly for tent camping but the crowds are gone and we can enjoy the parks almost by ourselves. The electricity also means we can bring my Instant Pot which will boil water in the mornings (for tea for me and the kids, coffee from a french press for my husband) and cook or reheat foods that would take a LOT longer over a fire. We do still make at least one fire for a hot dog roast though, and always s'mores ;-) If you want to give it a shot I think they might be a great entry point for you too!
Hey Amy! Thanks so much for sharing this! We used to live in the Twin Cities but now live in a small town in South Dakota.
This is a good tip! There’s a chance we could be moving to Rochester to be closer to family, and this could make for a really fun spring experience.
I highly recommend cabin camping over tent camping when you have multiple littles if you can swing it. It's just easier in every possible way while still giving you a nature-focused experience, even if the purists scoff ;-) And for springtime in SE MN specifically I recommend Whitewater State Park or if your boys are anything like mine they would love Mystery Cave State Park! Just watch out for ticks!
So glad you’re still feeling inspired to try camping! There’s no rush; you’ll get to it when the time is right for your family. Just remember: the first time is always the hardest. It only gets easier from there!
That makes so much sense. Thank you! I appreciate your encouragement, seriously! :)
We just went camping this week and it had some really challenging moments, but our three year old says, “I want STILL be camping” so I think it was a success! Shoot me a message if you have Qs, i feel like we learned a lot 😂😅😂
Aw love it. I will absolutely take you up on that. I do actually have so many questions lol
Please do! My dad is the king of camping packing after going on monthly campouts with Boy Scouts through both my brothers’ years. They’re ten years apart and didn’t overlap at all, so it’s probably fifteen years of campouts we’re talking about 😂 I literally texted him before we left like “what am I forgetting??”
We love Forrest Frank. lol My husband introduced us to his New Hymns and Child of God albums and we love them in the car.
My kids like his stuff too. Win win.