When it comes to glamping with kids, there are some important things you need to consider. You want your children to have fun and feel comfortable in their surroundings, but obviously you don’t want them getting hurt. The good news is that we have some tips for accomplishing both!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Glamping offers a luxurious camping experience with many unique lodging options. |
| Planning ahead can make your glamping trip safer and more enjoyable. |
| Glamping with kids requires additional preparation, such as packing the essential items for children and ensuring their safety. |
| There are many resources available to help you plan your next glamping adventure with the family, including blogs, guides, and curated lists of the best family-friendly glamping sites. |
| Glamping is a great way to enjoy nature with the family without sacrificing comfort or convenience. |
1. Be Honest About Your Children’s Capabilities
Before you even think about packing up and spending the night in a glamping tent, it’s important to figure out whether your children are physically and mentally able to participate in the activities you have planned.
Make sure they can handle the amount of walking, hiking or running involved in an activity. If swimming is something you want to do while glamping with kids, make sure they can swim well enough that they won’t drown at any point during your trip.
This doesn’t mean that every activity has to be tailored specifically for younger children—just be honest about their capabilities so that everyone stays safe and happy!
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2. Pick A Safe, Family Friendly Campground
Choosing a campground can be a challenge, but it’s worth spending some time doing your research to find the perfect place. If you don’t have kids yet, this will help you get ready for having them in the future.
Here are some things you should consider when choosing a campground:
- Location: Find out if there is anything interesting around your chosen location. Is it near any kind of theme park or other places with activities? Is there anything to do within walking distance? This can really make or break your vacation!
- Safety: Look into how safe the area is and how well-protected the campground is at night (there are so many things that could sneak into your tent while you’re sleeping!). An extra lock on your door won’t hurt either!
- Activities: Does this campground offer any kind of activities for kids? Are they safe and fun for all ages? Can you take advantage of them even if you don’t have children yet because when they come along later, then this place will still be good for them too–or does it feel like only children would enjoy these kinds of things here since there aren’t many older people around who might appreciate them too (you know what I mean).
Family-Friendly Campgrounds
| Campground | Location | Amenities |
|---|---|---|
| KOA | Various locations across the US and Canada | Swimming pools, playgrounds, and family fun activities |
| Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts | Various locations across the US and Canada | Themed weekends, waterslides, mini-golf, and Yogi Bear-themed activities |
| Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground | Orlando, Florida | Access to Disney World parks, scheduled campfire programs and sing-alongs, and boat rentals |
| Great Wolf Lodge Campground | Various locations across the US | Waterparks, indoor/outdoor family attractions, and on-site restaurants |
| Jellystone Park at Larkspur | Larkspur, Colorado | Swimming pools, hot tubs, mini-golf, laser tag, and playgrounds |
The selected table “Family-Friendly Campgrounds” provides a list of top family-friendly campgrounds across the US that offer different amenities that are suitable for families with kids. These campgrounds include KOA, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Great Wolf Lodge Campground, and Jellystone Park at Larkspur, with various activities to delight and entertain every family member.
3. Choose The Right Accommodation
While you may be tempted to go for the cheapest option, that’s not always the best choice for glamping with kids.
If you want to make it fun and safe for everyone involved, consider choosing an accommodation with some or all of these amenities:
- A pool (or at least a hot tub)
- An outdoor playground or play area (especially one with swings and slides)
- An outdoor kitchen so that the kids can help out in making dinner and breakfasts if they want to
- Wifi and TVs so that little ones can watch movies on rainy days, or connect their tablets if there are other activities planned
- A fire pit to roast marshmallows and share stories around—especially good if staying in winter
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4. Make Sure You Have The Right Gear
The most important piece of gear is your tent. It should be large enough to accommodate everyone in your family, plus their gear.
If you have little ones who haven’t yet learned to walk confidently on their own, consider bringing an inflatable mattress or two for them—this will ensure a comfortable night’s sleep for all!
You should also pack plenty of extra clothes and towels/ blankets—you never know when something might get wet or dirty.
Be sure to pack some hiking boots if you plan on going for a hike, as well as some sneakers (or other shoes) in case you decide to go into town.
Keep in mind that camping with children means being prepared for anything: bring sunscreen and bug spray just in case!
5. Don’t Overestimate Your Child’s Skill Level At Activities
You don’t want to push your child into an activity they aren’t prepared for. Likewise, you should make sure that they are wearing the right gear and clothing. If they aren’t skilled enough to ride their bike on the road, it may be best to practice in a safe place like a parking lot first.
In addition, you must make sure that your child is wearing the right shoes, clothing and helmet so that they can stay safe while having fun camping with kids.
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6. Let Them Bring Their Toys
The kids are going to want their toys. It’s only natural, and if you let them bring their favorite books, balls, or stuffed animals along for the trip, they’ll feel more at ease in the glamping space.
Of course there are always precautions that need to be taken when traveling with kids—and this includes making sure your camping gear is safe for them to use as well. (We don’t recommend letting your little one play with a chainsaw just yet.)
If your child wants to bring something potentially dangerous along on your glamping trip (like a box cutter), make sure that you supervise them while they play with it and teach them how not to hurt themselves or others.
Table: Bring Your Toys to Glamp
| Toy | Description | Recommended Age |
|---|---|---|
| Walkie Talkies | Fun, durable communication devices perfect for outdoor adventures. | 4+ |
| Kubb | A fun, Swedish lawn game that can be played with friends and family. | 6+ |
| Jenga | A classic game of skill and steady hands that can be played indoors or out. | 6+ |
| Inflatable Water Toys | A fun and easy way to enjoy the water during a glamping trip, such as beach ball, inflatable pool or inflatable kayak. | 5+ |
| Board Games | Bring your family’s favorite board game to play on a rainy day. | 6+ |
| Stargazing App | An app to help identify planets, stars, and constellations on camping nights. | All ages |
Note: ensure that all toys are appropriate for the age of the child and comply with any regulations and restrictions on the glamping site.
7. Get Everyone Involved In Preparing The Meals
Get everyone involved: As you start to plan your glamping trip, take into consideration the age and skill level of all family members.
If you have younger children, it’s best to involve them in meal preparation as much as possible. Let them chop vegetables or stir a soup—they’ll feel more connected to their food and will appreciate the experience even more once they actually sit down for dinner.
Make sure kids wash hands after helping: While your child is helping out with meal prep, make sure they wash their hands immediately after handling raw meat or other ingredients that could be contaminated with bacteria. This will also help prevent any little ones from getting sick from germs on their fingers!
Don’t let them get burned by hot pans! If you want your little helper in the kitchen but not necessarily cooking with fire just yet, try this trick: Toss some uncooked pasta into boiling water with a lid on it for about three minutes before draining it (this helps soften up any hard pieces).
Then mix together some olive oil, salt and pepper before pouring over top of those noodles … voila! You’ve got delicious kid-friendly “soup” ready for serving at lunchtime tomorrow!
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8. Prioritize Group Time Over Alone Time
The great thing about glamping with your kids is that you’ll never have to worry about getting bored.
You and your family will be able to enjoy each other’s company, making for a much more memorable time than if you were alone. Plus, if you have other friends or family members staying at the same place as you, it can be fun (and cheaper) to explore together!
9. Plan The Activities Based On Their Attention Spans And Interests
- Plan the activities based on their attention spans and interests.
- Think of things that are age appropriate, will engage their attention, are fun for the whole family, safe for everyone and affordable.
This is one of the reasons I like to bring a portable playhouse with us when we go camping. It’s something that all three kids love doing together and it lets them each play independently while we hang out around them in our tents or under our canopy.
If you don’t have an actual tent or canopy yet, you can also use this time as “homework time” which helps keep everyone occupied while you get some things done around camp!
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10. Don’t Forget Their Favorite Snacks And Treats!
If you’re traveling with kids, they are going to want something familiar. You can bring their favorite treats from home or choose local options that they’ll love even more. Some great ideas include:
- A special treat bag with their favorite candies, cookies and other goodies (and maybe some healthy snacks if you like)
- A small cooler filled with ice packs and drinks of your choosing (whether that’s water bottles or sodas)
- If your child has allergies or other dietary concerns, it might be best to pack food that accommodates those needs from home instead of buying an unfamiliar snack on the road
Table: Popular Snacks and Treats for Kids When Glamping
| Snacks and Treats | Description |
|---|---|
| Clif Bars | Nutritious and filling energy bars that come in a variety of flavors. Perfect for a quick and easy snack on the go. |
| Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks | Organic fruit snacks that come in fun bunny shapes and a variety of fruity flavors. |
| Goldfish Crackers | Cheese crackers that are a beloved classic for kids. Also available in various flavors and shapes. |
| S’mores Kits | Classic camping treat that can easily be made over a campfire with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. |
| Justin’s Almond Butter Cups | Delicious and indulgent almond butter cups that are a healthier alternative to traditional candy. |
| Fruit Cups | Convenient and healthy fruit options that come in individual servings. Choose from mixed fruit, peaches, pears, and more. |
| Chex Mix | A crunchy snack mix that comes in a variety of bold flavors. Perfect for satisfying those salty snack cravings. |
| GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce Pouches | Easy-to-eat applesauce pouches that come in a variety of flavors. Perfect for on-the-go snacks. |
Note: Make sure to always check the ingredients and nutritional information before purchasing snacks and treats, especially if your child has any food allergies or dietary restrictions.
Conclusion
Hopefully, we’ve given you some great ideas for how to enjoy the glamping experience with your kids. Remember that it’s all about balance and flexibility—if something doesn’t work out as planned, don’t sweat it!
Just roll with what happens and have fun. With these tips in mind, you should be well on your way to a truly memorable family vacation.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to help you plan your next glamping adventure with the family:
10 Fun Tips for Glamping With the Family: a blog post with tips and tricks to make your glamping trip fun and memorable.
Tips for Glamping With Kids: a comprehensive guide that covers everything from choosing the right glamping site to packing the essential items.
25 of the Best Family Glamping Sites in the UK: a curated list of the top family-friendly glamping sites in the UK, complete with descriptions and reviews.
FAQs
What is glamping?
Glamping is a form of camping that offers more luxurious accommodations than traditional camping. It often involves staying in a fully furnished, often glamorous-like, tents, yurts, cabins, or other unique lodging options.
Is glamping suitable for families with kids?
Yes, glamping is an excellent option for families with kids as it provides many amenities and comforts that traditional camping does not offer. Glamping makes it easier to get out and enjoy nature, without having to sacrifice the luxuries of home.
What should I pack for my glamping trip with kids?
Make sure to pack the essentials, including proper clothing, toiletries, and plenty of snacks and water. You may also want to bring extra entertainment for the children, such as games, toys, and books.
What are some popular glamping destinations for families?
There are many popular glamping destinations for families, including national parks, private campgrounds, and nature resorts. Some of the top family-friendly destinations include Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, and more.
How do I book a glamping trip?
There are many ways to book a glamping trip, including through online marketplaces or directly with the glamping site. Look for sites that offer online booking, read reviews from other families who have gone glamping, and compare prices and amenities before making a reservation.
I’m Hellen James, and I am a camping enthusiast. I’ve been camping since I was a kid and have always loved it the fresh air, the beautiful scenery, and the great outdoors. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do in the summer!
