Tag Archives: Kids Camping

Best RV Stops: Family-Friendly Children’s Museums Across the U.S.

05 Wednesday Mar 2025

Posted by in Kids and Camping, Travel Destinations

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When our son was younger, we would make a point of visiting children’s museums wherever we went. Now that our daughter is old enough to appreciate these museums, they are making their way back into our travel plans.

In this article, we will discuss the best children’s museums we’ve seen so far. Choose one from this list when planning your travels, and you really can’t go wrong!

The Magic House

St. Louis, MO

St. Louis is home to a number of great attractions. There is a free zoo that is amazing, as well as a free science center, a history museum, and an art museum. The city is also home to the incredible City Museum, which should be on every traveler’s must-see list. Another favorite St. Louis spot of ours? The Magic House.

I have fond memories of visiting the Magic House when I was little, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the museum met my expectations all these years later. The place plays host to climbing structures, sand- and water-play areas, an outdoor play area, and the crown jewel: a kid-sized city where kids can try out different occupations for a while.

Houston Children’s Museum

Houston, TX

Houston is another city with lots of wonderful museums to choose from. The Health Museum is fantastic, as is the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Of course, you definitely don’t want to miss the Houston Space Center, nor do you want to skip the amazing Houston Children’s Museum.

The latter museum features one of the bigger kid cities I’ve seen, and the city is complete with currency, meaning kids can get “jobs” and earn “money” to go spend at the businesses in the tiny town. Other cool things in this museum include a huge outdoor play area, an awesome indoor climbing structure, and a super fun maker space where kids can create new inventions.

Children of Gettysburg

Gettysburg, PA

One of the more unique children’s museums we’ve seen, Children of Gettysburg is small, but it has a very specific purpose, and it does its job well. The purpose? To present the story of Gettysburg in a way that kids can understand and appreciate.

The museum follows a set of children from various backgrounds through the events of the Battle of Gettysburg. Everything is explained in a way that kids can connect with and digest, and there are plenty of hands-on activities to engage young visitors and help them dive into the world of the 19th-century children they are learning about.

My kids especially loved the last room where they could care for an “injured soldier” and make a speech as President Lincoln.

Bay Area Children’s Museum

San Francisco, CA

Bay Area Children’s Museum may be a lesser-known children’s museum, but we thought it was absolutely magical. In fact, we loved this museum so much that we returned for a second round of fun a couple of years after the first.

The museum is set up in several different buildings, which I appreciated, as it helped my busy little guy focus on the thing he was doing rather than being distracted by all of the other exhibits. There was a lovely outdoor space between the buildings with the coolest “natural” play area. We really loved the art room at this museum and probably could have stayed there all day long.

How to Save on Children’s Museum Visits

One of the things I don’t love about children’s museums is how expensive they can be. Fortunately, we have found some ways around that:

  • Many children’s museums offer free or cheap days each week or once a month. Look for these days and try to plan your travels around them if you can.
  • Additionally, some museums will offer coupons or Groupons. Search for these before paying full price; you never know what you might find.
  • Lastly, a lot of children’s museums are part of reciprocal museum programs. ASTC is a science museum reciprocal program that offers members free admission to all member museums. ACM is a children’s museum reciprocal program that offers cardholders half-off admission to the museums in their program. Both include plenty of children’s museums all across the country.

As you can see, there are lots of amazing children’s museums scattered across the country, and really, these are just a handful of them. Hopefully, this article inspires you to check out a few of these super fun spots for yourself!

About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

12 Camping Safety Rules for Children

20 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by in RV Safety

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Children love camping. They get the freedom to run around and explore, and the entire experience is one big adventure for them. Camping also provides an excellent family bonding experience and an opportunity for kids to learn more about nature.

Of course, you will want to give your kids the freedom to enjoy the outdoors. However, the woods are not as safe as your backyard. Consequently, setting safety rules to keep kids safe on a camping trip would be wise. Here are twelve safety rules to allow kids to enjoy a family camping trip and stay safe.

1. Stay Within the Campsite Boundaries

Beyond the boundaries of the immediate campsite, there are likely miles and miles of unpopulated country containing wild animals, water hazards, and other dangers. And in wooded areas, it will be easy for children to lose their way. It is best, therefore, to set boundaries around the campsite beyond which children must not go.

2. Stay Together

When children go outside the campsite boundary, it is best to always go in twos. Younger kids might partner up with an older sibling if they go exploring. Alternatively, you might prefer to insist on an adult accompanying a younger child. If children are never alone, there will always be someone there to raise the alarm should a child have an accident.

3. Keep the Campsite Clean

Animals have a keen sense of smell. So, kids should be aware of the dangers of leaving litter out. If you leave out any food, scraps, or garbage, you might get wild animals visiting your campsite, including bears. Consequently, cleanliness is even more important when camping.

4. Don’t Touch the Campfire

Sitting around the campfire is part of the family camping experience. Still, children need to be extra careful around fire. So, kids should be supervised when you have a campfire, and there should be no playing with the fire or embers. The same applies to lanterns, stoves, and grills.

5. Never Approach a Wild Animal

Wild animals may look cute and cuddly, but they have teeth! Kids should be taught never to approach wild animals or try to pet them. It would also be wise to explain to children that even harmless-looking small or young animals should be left alone. Wherever there is a baby animal, there is likely to be a much larger and very protective mum or dad nearby.

6. Always Carry a Whistle

It’s a good idea to give children a safety whistle on a camping trip, both at the campsite and when hiking. Then, if kids lose sight of their parents or can’t find their way back to camp, they can call for help with the whistle. However, you will also need to establish that the whistle is only for use in an emergency.

7. Don’t Eat Anything You Find

Berries, nuts, and mushrooms you find in the woods might look tempting. However, they might be poisonous. So, kids should be taught not to eat anything they find in the woods, even if it appears to be something they would eat at home. You should also not drink any water you find, however clean and refreshing it may look.

8. Drink Plenty of Water

Children are likely to be highly active on a camping holiday, and, if you are lucky, the sun will be shining too. Consequently, it will be easy for kids to get dehydrated. So, kids should be encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day. But, as mentioned above, they should only drink the water you provide.

9. Stay on The Trail

When hiking, older children will likely want to run ahead of you and explore by themselves. When they do, it would be best for them to stick to the trail and stay within sight of their parents or guardians. And as mentioned above, children should also carry their safety whistles. If kids go off-trail, they can quickly get lost or stumble into a dangerous situation.

10. No Bare Feet

It is best not to allow kids to run around barefoot when camping. You might want to use sandals or flip-flops around the campsite, but sturdier footwear will be needed when hiking trails. Without shoes, kids’ feet can be injured by thorns, rocks, and poisonous plants. The no bare feet rule is also a good one for adults to follow.

11. Watch Out for Poisonous Plants

If kids are unfamiliar with the outdoors, giving them a pre-camping-trip lesson on identifying poisonous plants would be a good move. Show them pictures of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, and tell them to avoid these plants. Insect nests should be avoided, too. So, ‘no poking ants, hornets, or any other insect nests’ would be another good camping safety rule to have in place.

12. No Food or Fire inside Tents

Your kids will undoubtedly know not to play with fire. Nevertheless, items such as matches and lighters may be easier to come by on the campsite. So, it is worth reinforcing this rule and emphasizing the dangers of having a naked flame inside or near tents. It is also best not to allow food inside tents because it attracts wildlife.

Conclusion

Making a load of rules for kids on holiday might feel like you are taking some of the fun out of camping. But kids can still have plenty of fun and freedom, even when playing within the boundaries of these rules. What’s more, if you play it safe, there is less chance that you will have to cut the holiday short. So, not only will a few camping safety rules keep your kids safe, but they will also ensure the fun lasts for longer.

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Ensuring Kids Have Plenty of Fun in Your RV

22 Wednesday Sep 2021

Posted by in Kids and Camping

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Millennials are spearheading the RV boom in a big way, reports the RV Industry Association, with the Class B camper van holding particular sway among this adventurous crowd. Apart from the freedom and independence of RVs, their ability to house families with kids is also of interest, which makes sense considering the fact that millennials are growing up (they are aged 25-40) and kids love nothing more than outdoor adventures. Children certainly enjoy being in RVs, but when families are undertaking long road trips, they need to ensure be entertained. Otherwise, they may start asking that question (“Are we there yet?”) hundreds of times. Below you will find a host of fun, screen-free ideas that parents, grandparents, and friends can enjoy alongside younger members of the family.

Shape Sorters and Puzzles

Having to solve a problem can keep curious kids occupied for many minutes straight. For younger tots, shape sorters, building blocks, and puzzles will do the trick. This type of toy has actually picked up in popularity, with many parents opting for gender-neutral games and toys that can be reused by various kids in the home. Board games involving question-and-answer-type activities are ideal for older kids. Moreover, having the opportunity to play with all toys can teach kids that there are no limits when it comes to pursuing interests or trying new activities and subjects out. You can either bring a Trivial Pursuit-type game along or simply print out a few trivial questions kids can compete to solve.

Paper Dolls

This activity is fun and time-consuming, making it a good way to make the minutes go by quicker. Make sure to bring child-safe scissors onboard. These have rounded edges but are still able to cut perfect edges on paper and other materials. Bring a few coloring and glitter ink pens as well, so that kids can embellish paper clothing to their chosen style.

NERF Guns

If you are on a road trip, then without a doubt you will be making various stops and indeed, you may decide to camp in a green, lakeside, or seaside area — all of which make an ideal setting for NERF gun wars. If you will be camping by the water, of course, make sure you have water pistols as well. This type of toy is ideal for getting kids to run, jump, and hone their stealth tactics.

Card Games

From UNO to Poker, there are so many card games that families can enjoy together. Cards are light, weightless, and easy to pack and they make for an ideal mid-morning or lazy afternoon activity. Popular games include Disney’s Eye Found It packs, Five Crowns, and Set. Older kids, meanwhile, will love learning more mature games that require skill, memory, and strategy. Even a simple deck of cards will do for games like Old Maid, Slap Jack, Memory, and President.

Kids love RV trips owing to the sense of adventure they bring. To make road trips seem shorter, make sure to bring various games and toys, since kids can get tired of playing the same type of game over and over. Top choices include shape sorters, puzzles, NERF and water guns, and good old card games which passengers of all ages will undoubtedly enjoy playing.

Author: Alicia Rennoll

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RV Washers And Dryers

08 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Kids and Camping, Tips & Tricks

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RV Washer and Dryer

Unless you are lucky enough to custom order your new RV from the factory, chances are it has some amenities you don’t need. When we purchased our first diesel pusher, it included the last thing we would ever want in a motorhome… or so we thought.

Enter the RV washer/dryer; it sat in one of the RV closets taking up valuable space that could otherwise be used to store clothes, linens, tools, or what-have-you, and we were not impressed.

Here we are, several years later, and we are true converts. While it is true that the unit is large, heavy, and takes up significant space, this is a small price to pay for the convenience a washer/dryer offers. It has really become a “must-have” go-to appliance in the years since.

Toddler In Mud

We travel with two teenagers and two pets, and my eldest daughter has a two-year-old, and he is sure to be traveling with us soon as well, so the washer/dryer has become a lifesaver. We now take the appliance for granted, and certainly noticed its absence when we had one RV that did not have one. Our current RV has this essential appliance and it is unlikely we would be without one if and when we purchase a new RV in the future. If you’ve never considered a washer/dryer to be a factor in your RV purchasing decision, here are some thoughts that may affect your decision:

  • You don’t have to turn around after leaving an RV park because you left a load of laundry in the dryer (yes this has happened).
  • You won’t have to scrounge for change in order to wash your clothes
  • You won’t have to purchase single-use wash detergent every time you need to do a load of laundry.
  • It’s very easy to do laundry after kids and pets get things dirty.
  • The space taken up by the washer/dryer may be compensated for by the fact you can pack fewer clothes and linens due to the convenience of onboard laundry.
  • Individuals who may have soap sensitivities don’t have to worry about residual detergent in the commercial public machines.
  • You don’t have to worry about changing your loads of laundry over between the public washers and dryers or leaving them in the machines while you are out, especially if the laundry facilities are busy and/or they close at night. This is especially relevant if you are out sightseeing and won’t be back to the park to switch your laundry.
  • The sheer convenience of being able to do laundry where and when you want

There are some other things to think about when considering an RV washer/dryer:

washer

  • While combo units such as ours are the most convenient, the wash load capacity is generally larger than the drying capacity. The easiest workaround for this is simply to wash smaller loads
  • You can opt for a separate washer and dryer units, but they take up more space and you will have to change your laundry over manually. This is not a major inconvenience for most people.
  • You can also opt for vented or ventless dryers. The latter is used in RVs that can’t easily support a vent installed on the outside of the coach. Ventless dryers take longer to dry the laundry and consume more water.
  • There are other options for washing clothes in an RV as well, such as washers that utilize the RV shower, as well as manually hand-cranked units. These are handy for the budget-conscious RV owner.

In summary, we have found that our washer/dryer has become an essential appliance in our motorhome, and the extra space it takes up is a small price to pay for the convenience it provides on the road. If you haven’t considered this appliance, or if you have previously dismissed it as an option, I highly recommend giving it another look.

 

About the author: Steve Froese

Steve Froese, an avid RV owner, traveler, and Coach-Net member since 2013, is the principal of “A Word to the Wise Technical Communications”, a published RV author, certified RV technician, and licensed Professional Engineer. He frequently collaborates with the “RV Doctor”, Gary Bunzer, and has worked with the RVIA/RVDA as a technical and training writer and consultant. Professionally, he works as a quality engineer and musician. Watch for more of Steve’s work in upcoming Coach-Net publications.

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Create a Field Guide and Memories to Last a Lifetime

06 Wednesday Feb 2019

Posted by in Kids and Camping, The Great Outdoors

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Create a Field Guide and Memories to Last a Lifetime

If you love the great outdoors and want to share this love with your children, get out the hiking boots and hit the trails. But before you go, head to the art supply store and pick up a blank journal to record your adventures and discoveries. You’ll use this blank journal as the foundation for your family’s personal field guide.

First, you’ll need a sturdy journal that’s not too big. It needs to be small enough to slip into a backpack but not so small that you’ll outgrow it too soon. Eight inches tall by six inches wide is a good size. Select a hardcover or leather-bound version for durability. You can create different sections by adding tabs. For example, you might want different sections for:

  • Field notes
  • Sketches
  • Adventures
  • Rock hunting
  • Favorite hikes
  • Wildflowers
  • Animals

Leather Journal

Customize the tabs to meet your family’s interests. The whole idea is to create a living document that reflects how you enjoy the outdoors. When making your field guide, let the kids get involved. This project is as much theirs as it is yours. Even the little ones can participate. Years from now, you’ll look back on the crayon drawings and scribbled notes with fondness.

Use the field guide before, during, and after your camping trips or day hikes. Beforehand, you can enter maps or write checklists of things you hope to see. For example, if you’re going rock hunting, have the kids research the areas of your destination where they might find a certain type of rock and let them record trail information in the field guide. Once at the destination, let the kids enjoy their hunt. They can take photos, draw maps, describe the setting, jot down notes, write out theories, and so forth. Once home, they can print the photos and paste them into the journal. They can also research questions that may have occurred to them during the hunt and update the field guide once they discover the answers.

Science can be fun! The journal that you create together will evolve as you go. You can use it to record notes, jot down your thoughts and feelings, sketch interesting plants, or log your trips. Use it wherever you go whether it’s the coastline, forest, desert, or mountains. By creating a field guide and sharing it with your children, you will set the stage for a lifelong love of learning.

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