<p>For years we rarely did anything in the summer because both the girls were either at camp /working with the ponies or working at camp.
We would try to fit in at least one camping trip but they never wanted to leave their ponies. ::::::::::sigh:::::::::</p>
<p>H & I used to take several camping trips every year even before we had kids but I admit while I miss being in the woods, I like sleeping in a bed- it also would be weird camping without a dog.</p>
<p>Next month I am going to visit a friend across the country & look forward to exploring her city- H didn’t want to come, so I booked him on the train to go visit our oldest as she will be inbetween college qtrs.
He wanted to drive, but considering the price of gas & the traffic ( and his 20yrold car)I thought the train would be much more relaxing especially as I went all out & got business class. [& less likely he would have to sit next to this woman](<a href=“http://www.katu.com/news/local/121962009.html”>http://www.katu.com/news/local/121962009.html</a>) I think after 16 hrs I would have thrown her off myself.</p>
<p>I am also determined to get us all on a camping trip this summer- but with the kids living about 280 miles apart it is tricky.</p>
<p>& no I am not going to PJ20 on Labor Day weekend & I am* very* sad about it, but I really don’t like being around so many people even though many of them have become my friends.
Not to mention most of them have kids in elementary school, not college & seem to have a lot more disposable money than we do.</p>
<p>I am also envious of people who have trips with extended families, I have never done that even though both my sibs live in the area ( as do their kids)-
how do you get everyones schedules coordinated?</p>
<p>we have found camping trips in cabins are really nice- your outdoors all the time except at night - they are usually located in the forest,etc and it feels earthy. national parks have them, B&B’s in the country have them. hike or snowshoe or fish all day - go back to a bed at night with stars.</p>
<p>That is a good idea rockymthigh. I always read about them in Sunset magazine but then forget to book it.
H’s parents used to have a summer cabin, but the area it was in turned residential!
Lots of campgrounds have yurts and things though which also might be a draw to get the kids to make time in their schedule.
[Affordable</a> beach retreats - Sunset.com](<a href=“http://www.sunset.com/travel/sylvia-beach-hotel-00400000015154/]Affordable”>Affordable beach retreats)</p>
<p>^^^Wow, emeraldkitty, thanks for that link. We will look into these. On our trip to Seattle last year, son asked if we were going to see the Pacific on our trip. We were nowhere near the coast on our itineraries for the trip. I want to make sure we see the Pacific on our next trip to the great northwest.</p>
<p>EK - best friends family used to do a trip every summer - it would be the parents, 3 kids and their significant others, and a couple of the kids friends/sig others. they would book it each year for the next year and then people worked their schedules around that week - it went well for about three or four years but eventually people started moving away and reproducing and now we haven’t gone in about two years or so. Last time I went they rented a giant 22 person house for a week and only 8 people showed up!</p>
<p>Now, best friend and I take our own trip. Her and myself and her two kids. We did canada one year and last year we had a stay-cation at my house since her daughter was just a few months old. Not sure what we’re planning for this year yet.</p>
<p>We quit family trips with son when he was in HS- nothing like being 2000 miles from home and son sitting in the rental car instead of seeing the redwoods in the National Park…</p>
<p>Much more fun/easier to travel as a couple. There is a reason kids leave the nest.</p>
<p>I would use doodle to survey family about their availability & then choose the date most available. I’d then do a 2nd survey to find out where they wanted to go & most compelling destination would win. We would generally go to some resort on Oahu so we could get everyone to come & it would generally only be one or two nights because that was about all the time folks could spare. Folks who had to work would stop by & join us for a meal or the day & dinner, whatever worked for their schedules. We have never flown anywhere–too hard to coordinate 25-30 people’s schedules (my sibs, folks & nieces/nephews).</p>
<p>We have a park model trailer at a campground in Maine. Several other of H’s family members also have trailers there. I love sitting around the campfires at night with them,or having them stop by and have a cup of coffee with me in the morning. We also have an RV that we bring up there for other friends and family to use. My kids love Maine.</p>
<p>We have taken a few group trips with family. It has always worked out because we only invite family members, those we know we get along with. We don’t go on trips with those we know are only looking for cheap babysitters or we think will otherwise ruin our time. We do not hesitate to let others know we have no interest in doing something and will not be joining them while on these trips either. I don’t think anyones feelings were ever hurt. Mind you we have always gone with H family, not mine. I do think it means vacationing with folks who are flexible and don’t feel like you have to be joined at the hip 24/7.</p>
<p>It’s not easy. This summer I booked for 2 weeks in Europe but D1 can only spend one week. I kind of feel like we are wasting money because the airfares are expensive. So this winter, H&I will vacation without the girls, for a change. We figure they have their hole life ahead of them to travel while we may not have the energy to travel in the future.</p>
<p>Some companies now rent you a trailer and drop it off for you ahead of time at a camp site.
H and I are trying this in early October in Yosemite.
[Camping</a> Vacation Eastern Sierra CA, california camping, rental trailers delivered for you, low cost camping vacation RV Trailer Rentals You Rent…We Deliver](<a href=“http://www.adventureincamping.com/]Camping”>http://www.adventureincamping.com/)</p>
<p>Musica, what a great service. I’d never want to drive those roads into Yosemite with a trailer, or have a car with a hitch, for that matter. </p>
<p>As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gained respect for ritual vacations. I have one myself, to a camp ground on a Lake Michigan island with friends. We have to reserve 11 months in advance, so the dates are firm on the calendar, and planned around. As my friends are all parents I met though an elementary soccer team, we have kids the same age, who occasionally grace us with their presence. We were all camping together in years past, now decades past. I sometimes wish for a cabin, mostly as people with cabins seem to have those firmly in place vacation rituals with family. But owning more real estate to maintain sounds like torture rather than fun. </p>
<p>S is returning from overseas for a few weeks this summer. But states he won’t be around much, as he plans to be with friends, at their family cabins. Whatever…will catch up with him as he runs in and out. </p>
<p>EK, love the Sunset link. I’d be thrilled with any one of those sites.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the RV drop off info. Husband does not like to fly, and every time we’re on the road, we compare and contrast the RVs traveling the highway with us. </p>
<p>As a child, my dad rented an RV to take us to the Colorado mountains. It was a wonderful trip, but there were some scary moments driving for these below sea level dwellers. I think my heart would be able to stand the RV drop off and meet it there option. We will definitely look into that.</p>
<p>As for the multi family vacations, I know lots of people that do this. I’ve always been hesitant to do it for a number of reasons. One, when we go on vacation, it’s vacation. No cooking, laundry, etc. We can do that all we want at home. As many multi family trips get formed to share the expense of the food and chores, it would not be a fun time for us. The other is the free babysitter scenario. My son is a kid magnet, and he would likely spend the entire vacation taking care of everyone’s kids. He’ll enjoy it, but I’ll feel bad that he didn’t get to have a vacation himself.</p>
[& less likely he would have to sit next to this woman](<a href=“http://www.katu.com/news/local/121962009.html”>http://www.katu.com/news/local/121962009.html</a>) I think after 16 hrs I would have thrown her off myself.</p>
I do think it means vacationing with folks who are flexible and don’t feel like you have to be joined at the hip 24/7.</p>