This past weekend we embarked on our first camping trip of this year! We headed out, about an hour from Bellingham to Baker Lake, at the Swift Creek campground. Last year was our first that we really camped, but this summer we’re going hard with three planned big trips, and a few more weekday sneak-aways to keep us all happy. Our whole family is so content camping! The girls sleep better in the woods than anywhere else, we all love beaches, water, hiking, and having all that right in the backyard of our tent is ideal. Also, nothing tastes better than coffee in the morning, around the fire, after a night camping.
The girls and I camped at Baker Lake last year and really enjoyed it, but this campground was far nicer than our spot last year (Lower Sandy). It was also nice to reserve our spaces ahead of time (though they do have first come, first served spaces too, and we may pop up there one last time this Summer).
Jumping for JOY as we arrived. Not five minutes later our tent was up (It’s the older version of this one) and we LOVE it. The ‘three minute set up’ isn’t a joke – it’s SO nice not having the poles separate. Less pieces to lose, put together, or swear at 😉
One of our favorite things about camping is a fire, always. Charlie wakes early and always gets the fire going while the rest of us slowly wake up, or as the girlies sleep on. Getting water going for coffee, and my chair warm by the fire is basically his way of love-langugaging me.
I’ve taken to loving early morning yoga anytime we travel. But it’s especially helpful when camping. Stiff back, cold muscles, and lots of s’mores are a recipe for really, really, enjoying yoga.
This camping trip we went with a few other families, and honestly. . . it’s my favorite way to camp. The unending imaginative play, roving band of messy children, and shrieks of glee in the woods, water, tents, and around the fire, just feels like magic.
We spent the majority of our days down by the water. Swift Creek has a day pass beach area with a roped swimming space, and it was fantastic for kiddos. There was plenty of shade, beach, and space for water fun and land too.
On our last day we actually packed up our entire camp, and then headed to the beach to play a few hours before heading home. It was a great way to really make the most of our time, but still get home relatively early.
(that’s me, on a kiddo costco kayak! haha!)
It took till the second day for Ever to feel comfortable playing hard in the water. But, once it clicked, she was a kayak queen and ecstatic on a floaty venturing out in the deep deep water.
If you look far off in the picture above, you can see a floating log out towards the middle of the lake. The day before, Charlie and I kayaked out and jumped off of it (!!) and on the second day, she was ready to go out and do the same! I think next time we will do it – encouraging the adventurous side of our family is part of my summer hopes, and I think it’s going to be even easier and more fun than I’d thought.
As for Charlie, he’s his happiest when we’re camping. Fire building (he started nearly every campfire using flint! What?! Survivor Man, here he comes). And jumping off stuff. Always.
This was a perfect kick-off-to-summer trip. And the ideal trip to figure out what we really need/love/can leave behind with camping this year. I’ll be sharing our camping packing list, essential favorites, and quite a bit more in the coming weeks!
Where are you camping this summer? Give me a new list to grow! We’ve got the bug in a big, big, way.
Beautiful pictures! I used to camp a lot with my kiddos when they were little and miss those times now. I just took my husband on his first tent camping trip this past weekend. We are going to try to camp and visit at all of Virginia’s state parks this summer and Fall. I’m so excited! Thanks for sharing your families adventure!
Looking forward to seeing your camping essentials list. We are off on our first tenting adventure in a week.