Author Topic: Places to camp with little ones (Read 4542 times)

nube · « **on:** May 14, 2011, 07:47:26 PM »

I love the summer camping with the kids. Our favorite hangouts are OldMacdonald Farm on Buffalo lake and Mount kid Park. There seems to be a lot to entertain the kids at those 2 places. Are there any spots that you guys enjoy that have a lot of extra stuff for the kids to enjoy other than hanging out in the camper?

bigbore444 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2011, 07:02:50 AM »

Well not a place to go, but a fun little game I used to use out camping when my kids were small is a scavenger hunt. Black rock, white rock, pine cone, piece of string etc etc.

And if ya want to keep em busy for hours a samsquanch hair. LOL.

Springer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2011, 08:22:50 AM »

Phil maybe Gull lake would be an alternative . My boys are all grown but friends around here with little ones like to stay there.

ducky_hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2011, 07:48:32 PM »

i used to go to OldMacdonald Farm withhe kids before I got my spot in yhe foot hills. I here wilderness lodge west of Rockey is not Bad for kids and lots to do. or ther eis a great place in Ramium BC has 2 pools play gounds the lake is close lot to do

sheepguide · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2011, 08:56:14 PM »

We have only camped in the west country. My kids always found stuff to do. They take their peddle bikes, some toys, they always had toy gun(pellet guns now) or slingshots. They built forts, played bocce ball, throw a foot ball, went fishing, caught bugs, played hide and seek in the willows, played a game we call washers, swim in the creek, look at the stars with a star book to show them what things are, take their track book and see what tracks they could find, at night the had balls and frisbies that lit up, and many other things and all of this since they could crawl.
SG

Mini-moose · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2011, 08:26:14 PM »

We have 3 kids under 5 and have a great time at old macdonald. Not sure how old your kids are but we also do Crimson lake p.p couple of weekends a year. They have nice sites and the lake. We usually do the short bike ride over to wilderness village for the petting zoo and pony/horseback rides. We usually do a weekend at dinosaur p.p as well. Lots of interpetive programs and unguided hikes to take in.

Mini

Geezle · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2011, 03:32:33 PM »

Quote from: sheepguide on May 17, 2011, 08:56:14 PM

We have only camped in the west country. My kids always found stuff to do. They take their peddle bikes, some toys, they always had toy gun(pellet guns now) or slingshots. They built forts, played bocce ball, throw a foot ball, went fishing, caught bugs, played hide and seek in the willows, played a game we call washers, swim in the creek, look at the stars with a star book to show them what things are, take their track book and see what tracks they could find, at night the had balls and frisbies that lit up, and many other things and all of this since they could crawl.
SG

I'm not a parent, but I like your style

Actually that's very much how it was for me as a kid...lots of time out at the cabin on Last Mountain Lake and the occasional trip up to the Meadow Lake PP to visit family and such. Good times!

Duk Dog · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2011, 04:23:12 PM »

Dinosaur Provincial Park down near Brooks. (not Drumheller as most people would think)

http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/index.aspx

nube · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2011, 10:19:13 AM »

Springer, never tried Gull lake yet. I always thought the lake was full of loon crap and not worth swimming in so it didn't spark my interest much. My kids are 9, 6, 4, 2 and they love the little rides, go carts and petting zoo at old mac donald the most out of all the places we have been. I also did Crimson last year and we always do Mount Kid. The Dinosaur park sounds like it is worth the trip and will check that out. I know they enjoys the Dinosaur museum when we went last time.
With 4 kids it is tough to keep them all entertained and you guys have some great ideas. One thing we did on out last trip which seemed to work real well was that we made a bug catching kit! it has all the bells and whistles in it and the kids love catching bugs in the water and on land. Keeps them busy for hours

Waxy · « **Reply #9 on:** June 06, 2011, 09:22:53 AM »

Quote from: Duk Dog on May 21, 2011, 04:23:12 PM

Dinosaur Provincial Park down near Brooks. (not Drumheller as most people would think)

http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/index.aspx

X2.

Was there last weekend. My kids are 4 and 2, and they were never bored. Lots of stuff to do, every amenity you could want including a playground, and if they're dinosaur crazy like mine, they'll be pretty excited to walk around and go to the interpretive center.

The river was high and really rolling pretty good though, so I kept the kids at a pretty safe distance, but normally you could go down to the banks and do some fishing too.

It can get CRAZY hot in the summer though.

Waxy

sheepguide · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2011, 08:28:43 AM »

Funny how much camping has changed. Used to be camping ment being in the outdoors fishing, hiking and teaching the young about all the neat stuff out there. Now kids need rides and theme parks in order to have a good time

.
SG

Waxy · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2011, 08:41:13 AM »

Quote from: sheepguide on June 07, 2011, 08:28:43 AM

Funny how much camping has changed. Used to be camping ment being in the outdoors fishing, hiking and teaching the young about all the neat stuff out there. Now kids need rides and theme parks in order to have a good time .
SG

That's way overboard sheepguide. I don't think anyone was talking about needing rides or theme parks, only you.

Camping is still camping, it really hasn't changed much at all, all of the things you mentioned are still the center of it, but if you can go to a spot that has a playground or some kind of "kid friendly" activities that they're interested in or can learn about, then why wouldn't you? Especially when the kids are really small, it just makes sense.

If there's a way to make things easier and more enjoyable for everyone, then I have no problem with that. There's no point in being a luddite, life's too short.

Waxy

sheepguide · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2011, 12:51:11 PM »

Quote from: Waxy on June 07, 2011, 08:41:13 AM

Quote from: sheepguide on June 07, 2011, 08:28:43 AM
Funny how much camping has changed. Used to be camping ment being in the outdoors fishing, hiking and teaching the young about all the neat stuff out there. Now kids need rides and theme parks in order to have a good time .
SG

That's way overboard sheepguide. I don't think anyone was talking about needing rides or theme parks, only you.

Camping is still camping, it really hasn't changed much at all, all of the things you mentioned are still the center of it, but if you can go to a spot that has a playground or some kind of "kid friendly" activities that they're interested in or can learn about, then why wouldn't you? Especially when the kids are really small, it just makes sense.

If there's a way to make things easier and more enjoyable for everyone, then I have no problem with that. There's no point in being a luddite, life's too short.

Waxy

Never said everyone Waxy, but the main things mentioned were items that most kids see everyday at home. Was very little mentioned of nice short hikes, kid friendly fishing streams or wildlife veiwing areas.

And your right everyone has a different interpitation of camping and I guess if going from the play grounds at home to the play grounds at a campsite works for some then its really none of my buisness. Sorry I mentioned anything. But trust me places such as Ram falls campground will introduce children into the outdoors alot faster than Old Mcdonalds farm, gentle hiking, all kinds of close up wildlife veiwing and places close that the kids can catch fish.

Guess im to much at getting the kids into the outdoors and away from the everyday stuff, getting them out and using there imaginations and amusing themselves instead of needing the amenities and urbanized things such as you see at places like Old Mcdonalds farm. But like you said each to there own and hope everyone has fun where ever you camp this summer.
SG

Springer · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2011, 10:31:02 AM »

Ya ,Ram falls campground is a great place for sightseeing,climbing thge river valley,fishing and on the South side of the road is a slide where we used to collect fossils with the kids.

Nube ,Gull Lake is definitely not a clean ,clean BC Lake but for the area here central it's pretty good. Pine Lake is the one that reminds of the dumping station that Homer Simpson would use to breed that 3 eyed fish. The Goose crap is disgusting there.

the only trip we did to Dinosaur park we got eaten my Mosquitoes but what a cool place !!

nube · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2011, 11:21:19 AM »

Sheepguide , I understand your thinking but you are not looking at the whole picture. you may only have 2 kids which by the looks of them they are close in age. I have 4 from 2-9 years of age. I need a little more than a hike and a fish to bit the hook to entertain them all and to make it easier on me and my wife to entertain them. It is not easy to entertain 4 kids at a string of different ages and abilities. Hard enough with 2 close together. The other factor is cost. You live right there in the mountains. I have to travel 3-4 hours to get anywhere worth it in the mountains and it is quite the ordeal to organize it all. My favorite is Mount Kid. It gives me the best of everything with mountain hikes , fishing, horse rides, nightly entertainment from park wardens every night, swimming, tennis, boating, walking up a creek and many other things to do.
For a short quick fun camp I like Old macdonald farm with go carts, lake to swim, mini golf, hay rides, ice cream cones and the odd cheap spin in a circle ride. To be honest if all I had was a hike and a fish I would be borded myself! I think I need to expand my circle of travel to out of Alberta. I think B.C has a bit to offer as well as into Montana. Thing is with gas prices it kind of sucks to pull a trailer all that way. I think we plan on going back to Drumheller again this year or next to do something I have not for a while and a change.

Springer · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2011, 04:49:46 PM »

You know Nube, if you stayed at the David Thompson resort they have a pool and playground but also there are trips to crescent falls,the suspended bridge that heads to siffleur falls is a neat place to stop , around the kootenay plains you may see wher the natives have done some ceremonial activities. You may see the groups rapelling at 2:00 creek Nordegg has the mine tours...up the road about 30 km you can do the icefields tour on the big buggies...gives a little taste of everything in the area.

Duk Dog · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2011, 07:16:23 PM »

Nube when you are up to a bigger trip with the family you'd really enjoy Yellowstone and Cody WY - lots for the whole family to see and do. A great trip.

nube · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2011, 10:31:59 PM »

Great idea guys. I really do need to take a look at Nordegg area. It has a lot to offer for sure. Maybe I'll do out family tent trip out that way and do a little exploring with them for a big camp out next year. Thanks.

Duk, always wanted to check out Yellowstone. What did you like about it the most there and what did you do and see while there?

Duk Dog · « **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2011, 05:38:25 AM »

Quote from: nube on June 08, 2011, 10:31:59 PM

Great idea guys. I really do need to take a look at Nordegg area. It has a lot to offer for sure. Maybe I'll do out family tent trip out that way and do a little exploring with them for a big camp out next year. Thanks.

Duk, always wanted to check out Yellowstone. What did you like about it the most there and what did you do and see while there?

Yellowstone is set out in a figure 8 shape. It is amazing how diverse and different it is from one area to the next. Plenty of hikes, walks, exploring, fly fishing, geysers, hot pots and other geothermal things to see. http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

As for Cody it is on the east side of the park - again lots to see and do.
http://www.codywyomingnet.com/attractions/
http://www.bbhc.org/home/

nube · « **Reply #19 on:** June 09, 2011, 03:58:56 PM »

Thanks. I think that would be great for the kids. They wouldn't like the drive down though and it would be a long haul.