The PeaPod in use!

Here is beautiful Olivia making good use of the KidCo PeaPod tent~ This was Olivia’s first camping trip at 6 months old.

Proof that it is possible!

This photo submission comes from Happy Camper Fan Nilo (www.niloayson.com) of California. Thanks, Nilo!

GoodHiker.com is another great blog for the outdoor kids! They are also having a fun giveaway in honor of the start of Spring! Be one of the first one hundred to enter and get your free Certified Good Hiker Kit~

Go here to view the details: http://www.goodhiker.com/2011/03/20/hello-spring/

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Over the years the joy of hiking has evolved for me: going from a three hour eight miler up Conundrum (in my most fit of days) to a leisurely stroll near Horsetooth at 41 weeks pregnant. (Pictured)

Rediscovering hiking with small children has been an adventure in and of itself. For those with children under five, hiking can still be an adventure, you may just not make it up to the tippy top of your destination…or maybe you will! At any rate, before selecting the hike you want to attempt understand that though you may make it to the top, the kids will need to be carried at some point so, of course, bring your carriers!

Here is a small checklist to help families of all shapes and sizes to hike successfully:

Research - Google a few different hikes that are good for children, the search engines should come up with several options that have reviews of the hikes by people who have attempted them with actual children. I have found reviews have been really helpful and honest.

Let Go of Expectations - The hike is three miles? You may make it 2… or less. Hiking with kids is less about the destination and more about the scenery.

Bring the carriers - Whether you prefer a backpack or a sling or some other crafty carrier most likely you will need something depending on the hikes difficulty level. Strollers are often a good option too. Strollers have some a long way since the days of the plastic umbrella strollers (which are fantastic in their own right, just not for hiking) and there are more and more that cater to the off road options. One great example for this type of stroller is the Mountain Buggy company.

Hydration and Libations - Water and food are extremely important on the family hike. A hungry hiker fun times do not make.

Sunscreen - Apply, apply, apply!

Cuts and scrapes will happen - hiking is tricky for those little feet with all sorts of rocks to trip them up! I always like to bring a few BandAids and some antiseptic spray just in case.

Good luck and enjoy that scenery~

Thanks, Kayla for the topic suggestion!!

For those of you who have experienced the joys of camping over 10,000 feet you know how necessary it is to pack a good sock. Keeping those tootsies warm in the evening and overnight is highly underrated.

For the adults I have to recommend the SmartWool socks- not only are they fun but they are comfortable, warm and odor free! The other benefit? Wool naturally manages moisture which is helpful if you find that you have a case of the sweaty feet.

SmartWool makes socks in all sizes and styles. So kids and adults alike can sleep soundly with warm toes.

For the wee ones (0-24 months) I have to recommend Robeez (www.robeez.com) for a pseudo sock wearing experience. Robeez are a slipper/sock hybrid and can be worn the whole night through. Never slipping off (which I have to say is a miracle for the infant shoe wearer) these are great “socks” that keep the feet protected and warm. Besides with styles like this one:

who wouldn’t want to add them to the footwear collection?

Thank you to Caryn for the sock topic request!

It has been a while since the last update but I am finally back on track here at The Happy Campers. January and February are the outdoor downtime in our household…but now that Spring has sprung I am going to get some more helpful tips out there before camping season begins~

The gear pick of the day today is:The Cocoon by phil&teds (www.philandteds.com)

For those of you who have children under 12 months this is the perfect gear pick- fantastic for inside your tent or out around the campground, The Cocoon offers cozy and warm sleeping arrangements for your youngest camper.

Both a sleeping bag and bassinet, I am so glad to have found this amazing product! The Cocoon takes care of the “is my baby warm enough?” guesswork- a great gear addition for the family who camps with the smallest of kiddos!

A great item to have with you while camping is this (or any) Handcrank LED Flashlight. Coming with its own internal rechargeable batteries, this flashlight is manually charged through the crank winding system.

What is fun about this light is that you can see its innards and how it works which is always fascinating for the kids.

You will never again be left in the dark due to dead batteries!

Recently I was chosen to do a guest blog for CampingBlogger.com.

Here is the article that was published:

http://www.campingblogger.net/kids-camping/a-day-in-the-life-of-the-happy-camper.html

I recently stumbled upon another Blog that I particularly like whose focus is also about family camping. I highly recommend taking a peak and reading some good articles!

Find it here:

CampingBlogger

I really like the article called: Finding Family Friendly Campgrounds It is helpful and informative and is a good resource for this time of year as people are starting to make reservations.

There is nothing in the world like waking up after a night of camping and having a great cup of coffee. This can be achieved by bringing a french press~

An easy and portable option, the french press offers campers their regular wake-up brew. It is also nice to have for the making of larger batches of hot chocolate. Seemingly an obvious item to bring, I have talked to more campers than not that are stumped as to how to easily make coffee at their campsite!

I recommend the Bodum Brazil 8 cup French Press. Easy and durable (even though it is made of glass) it will serve you well on any camping trip.

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