One of my favorite things to do with my kiddos is camp. It sounds overwhelming at first, but in reality, the kids pretty much entertain themselves once you survive the packing and the jaunt to the destination.

Why do I love camping? I think that amidst all the Covid sanitation, we lost sight of the value of germs. Nature germs, in my household, are much preferred to parking-lot germs, amusement-park germs or the Clorox residue left on everything since Covid. I enjoy the fact that camping may be one of the few things left of the “Old-Normal” and it helps me relax whilst it gives my kids endless opportunities to explore. Somehow parenting is extra manageable, even though everyone is dirty and you do not have most of your creature comforts. When the kids are playing and you get to sit in nature without the pressure of house chores, it is a special profound relaxation that is really quite intoxicating.

Our favorite place to camp is Pyramid Lake in Nixon, Nevada. Fun Fact: it is the default picture on every  Mac computer desktop. The place is gorgeous and you can camp right on the beach.  The costs are higher because it is on a Reservation and the laws are a tad different, so it is important to be mindful of the camping costs and restrictions. Search our KidFriendlyVenues app for exact location and contact details for camping, fishing and boating permits. While on the app check out the Pyramid Lake Paiuet Tribe Museum & Visitors Center in Nixon for appreciation on their history, and  preservation of the area.  Also check out nearby Reno where all our camping gear is bought. They have so many well stocked stores it is worth travelling light, load up in Reno and then head for the lake.

A few things that we take to make our camp trips kid friendly are glow sticks, a portable pool and shade. The glowsticks are fun for the kids to play with but also ensure that I can see them when they are meandering around after the sun goes down. I always recommend bringing a portable fire extinguisher if you are going to use any kind of BBQ or open flame. Anyway, hope this motivates you to go off the grid and soak up some of that fresh air and sunshine with your kiddos. Pyramid Lake gets a five star rating from my family on the KFV app.

Whitney B