First Real Camping Trip in Three Years

We survived our first real camping trip in three years. We did stay at a KOA Kampground in San Diego but inside a two room cabin. We did cook our own meals though.

This time we stayed at Circle Pines KOA in Williams, Arizona. It was about a three hour drive. My oldest son got sick en route right on our jackets, which we really needed. Our old Suburban did a good job getting us there and back again, but with 8 people, didn't leave quite enough room for all our gear so my mother-in-law carried what wouldn't fit.

We had a brand new 10 person tent because our old tent was now too small. It was a pain to put up for the first time specially in high wind. But we finally got it up.

Something I forgot since camping last is: Don't use the stakes that come with the new tent. The thin metal ones and plastic ones that come with the tent will bend and break easily just as they did this time for me. Luckily I had a set of thick ones bought separately in my camp bag. I never go camping without my camp bag. It contains rope, cord, hammer, hatchet, folding shovel, mallet, and extra tent stakes and basic tools.

The campsites there were covered with lava rock that was really rough on equipment and our dog's feet. The bathroom and showers were quite a distance from the tent sites which were really close to each other...too close.

Overall, it was not bad but we will never stay there again. It was packed with both tent and RV campers so obviously some people liked the Kampground. I wouldn't recommend staying there for tent camping. Our kids had a good time though and that is what matters most.

I really have the camping bug now and can't wait for our next adventure. we just have to figure out how to get all of our gear in our truck.