There is nothing better than camping in the summer. All the effort of prepping and packing the car up is made worth it while you’re cuddled into your sleeping bag in the morning with the brisk air surrounding you. But with kids… That effort is tripled it seems! We had grand plans of camping at least four or five times this season, but this last weekend marked our second trip! Our first trip, which I blogged about here was so fun but we had the help of three other adults to watch Lou- without that we thought camping would be impossible! But we braved the unknown and joined some friends of ours for a night of nature. I was amazed at how much easier this trip was, with Lucy not even 2 months older! She was happy to explore close by on her own and didn’t stick everything into her mouth.
Our original plan was to stay at the North Fork campground, but it ended up being full which I’m actually glad! I love the location, but with kids it would have been interesting. It’s very densely wooded with the Big Wood River right behind the majority of the campsites. Thinking about the littles running around hiding in the tall lush grasses and making their way down to the river unsupervised gives me panic attacks, but that might be the helicopter parent in me. The Wood River Campground, right outside Ketchum, ID proved to be an amazing spot for camping with kids. There was an amphitheater with educational series, easy access to the Harriman Trail, and plenty of space for the kiddos to roam (all within earshot of our campsites). I think our spots (12 & 13) were the most ideal with little ones because there was a hillside behind the tent area where they could play while staying in visibility. Also, at the top of the hill was the Harriman Trail, which was a very nice walking path. Just a little hike down the trail there was a sign that said “Bear Cave” and goodness, the little boys sure enjoyed that!
Camping near town has it’s perks, too- we enjoyed some time in Ketchum on our way out of town getting some pastries, coffee, and browsing the town’s cute shops!
Wood River Campground
Hailey
