Camp and fish can it be done?

[Toba]

We have a 17 foot lund fishing boat, but would like to get into camping as well. We have a 2 year old currently. We do have a hand full of nice clean camp sites with in a 30 minute drive. I guess I am more worried about bringing the boat, but understand that my wife and child would maybe do better in some type of camper. Any ideas

[Ryan_V]

Unless you take 2 vehicles, you would need a fifth wheel to haul a camper and a boat. but if you're going 30 miles, 2 vehicles isn't a big deal.

[upnorth]

If you have a truck, you could do a truck camper of sorts, or even find a smaller motorhome.

[wingnutken]

I have come full circle in my ways of camping since I first started. I am 50 now.

When I was a kid we had a pop up camper. Everything we did while camping was done at the campsite.....everything despite the weather, bugs etc. I always wished we had a boat.What I have found is that you have to adapt and think out of the box. I prefer now to always go camping with my boat. The tent is just a place to be comfortable while I sleep. I am more concerned what I do to entertain myself when I am awake. When my son was young it was a challenge to keep him entertained. I found that it is best to use the campground as a base. Go biking, fishing, to a movie or a neat place to eat when the weather is bad. When you have fun all day, the campfire is the icing on the cake at the end of your day. Your tent is there to keep you dry and bug free when you sleep. For that reason, I do not believe in large tents.

I always bring a rain fly just in case. I used to use a screen tent but found that simply getting around was easier without the hassle of putting it up. There are a few things that you can do to make yourself comfortable outside.

I almost always stay at State Parks. I want to have hot water and porcelain. I like to shower as often as I want. I try to use as little bug spray as possible on my skin. Apply it to clothes and a hat.

Get a campsite with electricity.Bring a small fan with and plenty of extension cords. The fan can be put next to you at the picnic table or the fire. The fan will keep the bugs away and the smoke. Bring it in the tent with you and you will sleep better when it is hot and humid.

Invest in a Thermacell. You can find them at most outdoor stores but they are the cheapest at Fleet Farm. About $25 for the personal size and $35 for the table top. They do an amazing job of keeping the bugs away. WORTH EVERY PENNY!

Skip the big fancy meals and the Coleman stoves. Learn how to cook with charcoal and a dutch oven or a pie iron. Try to do as much prep work at home with your food and cooking outside will be easier and faster.

Skip the Coleman Lanterns.They attract massive amounts of bugs and are noisy. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness and you will be able to see better. Get a clip on head light for everybody's baseball cap. That way they won't loose the flash light. Bring one large flash light to help at the campfire in the dark or for going to the restroom. You can also get really inexpensive solar lights to set around camp.

Finally, bring a laptop or a DVD player. Watch a movie by the campfire. Get comfortable folding chairs, a blanket and some peanuts. Drag your table closer to the fire. With a fan on the table you can control the smoke and the bugs. Put your feet up on the picnic bench with your beach towel under your ankles. You won't regret it.

[Redlantern]

My style of camping and what Wingnut describes are about as different as they could be. However, there is one thing we have in common. It's keeping the kid entertained. A pack of cards, yahtzee, cribbage board, crafts, fun foods to make and some books. Not the lightest for packing into the BWCA but if it helps keep my daughter interested, it's worth every ounce. Another corny but fun thing we did was bring a book of poems and took turns reading them around the campfire. We chose Robert Service but it doesn't really matter who, it was fun listening to her read them to my dad and me when she was younger. On her first couple of trips I also got a little present for her to open up each day. Nothing too fancy but still fitting for the trip. She still talks about the fun we've had and is always looking forward to the next trip.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

This is a great post.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

We have a 17 foot lund fishing boat, but would like to get into camping as well. We have a 2 year old currently. We do have a hand full of nice clean camp sites with in a 30 minute drive. I guess I am more worried about bringing the boat, but understand that my wife and child would maybe do better in some type of camper. Any ideas

I missed this info in your other post. If you go that close to home you could easily drive two vehicles, one with the boat and one with a camper. Of course that's assuming you have two tow vehicles

[Toba]

I'm very easy to please when it comes to camping. My wife likes the outdoors as well and our 2 yr old son loves the outdoors. We are going to try tenting it this weekend. Like I said in an earlier post. It is about a 20 minutes drive so if Jr. decides it's not for him, we will send him home with someone else. J/K I need to understand that camping is about taking a log off the fire and just doing what ever it is that comes up and enjoying the family. Sometimes work makes me forget how to relax. Thanks for the replies.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Where is "LF"

[Toba]

Little Falls, MN

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Thought it was left field

[Toba]

Fishing and camping went well this weekend. My wife and I didn't know what to expect being the first time for our 2yr old camping in a tent. He loved the camping and once we showed him his new Disney rod he wanted to stay on the boat all day and drop a plain bobber in the water and help reel in sunnies. Fun time and it helped that the weather worked out.

[Down Deep]

The memory book starts. One thing I learned is that kids don't really care where they are as long as they are warm, dry and keep busy. My kids are long gone and I miss those days when we did the same things you guys are doing. The kids don't forget about those outdoor excursions and develop skills that last a lifetime.

[Redlantern]

Love to hear about another kid getting hooked on fishing and camping. Glad you and your family had a great weekend!

[Xplorer]

Toba,

My son just turned 9 this past saturday and he has been tent camping at the boat-in sites up in Voyaguers Park since he was 11 months old. The average trip lasts 5 days at a time, and we've done 3 trips per summer. When its nice out having things to do is easy, swim, skip rocks, picking blueberries fishing etc.etc., its the days when the weather is crummy that you have to account for. Have plenty of small things to do, coloring book/few crayons, kids domino's, and a dry/warm place to do them in.

Enjoy, it just gets better as time goes on. Our next trip a week from now we are taking one of his buddies with us, and they get their own tent to tear up!!

[lispeej]

As many have stated, there is nothing like camping. It takes you away from the busy life and give you time to relax and reflect on things that mean the most to you. All 3 of my kids love camping. It is really fun for all of us to hang out around the campfire when it gets dark and make smores.

Glad you guys had fun.

[grizrunner]

Little Falls, MN

I grew up(kinda) there a long time ago. My family camped at a KOA on Fishtrap a couple times. Think we stayed at Crow Wing a couple times, too.

So where did you end up going?

[Toba]

We went to Crow Wing Lake Camp grounds. It was a good experience. I think having decent weather is a large part of the equation. The camp site was clean.