Category: Camping Gear

Camping Out at Home with Kids

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It was day 45 of following California’s shelter-at-home order, and my kids were getting antsy. Every morning they would ask if the virus is gone and if we can go to the playground, meet up with friends, or go camping in the RV. (We normally camp once a month, so I was starting to get stir crazy too!) Not yet kiddos, but the weekend was approaching and I was determined to do something different at home and make it fun for them. So we went camping in our front yard! Read More

Dumont Dunes Camping and Off-roading

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Most people drive past Dumont Dunes on their way to Death Valley and wonder, “Are those giant sand dunes out there?” Yes, they are in fact sand dunes, and they are tall, steep, and incredibly fun to traverse in a dune buggy, side-by-side, dirt bike, or quad. Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area is located about 31 miles north of Baker, California and is accessible via Dumont Dunes Road. The dunes rise above the desert floor to create a towering, sandy, off-roading playground, and they are surrounded by rocky, dirt trails that jet out into the surrounding Mojave desert. I’ve camped at Dumont Dunes many, many times—my family embarks on a yearly memorial camping trip and occasionally we will head to Dumont Dunes to ring in the new year. So if it’s your first time making the trip to Dumont Dunes or your 20th time, here are my favorite camping spots and a few tips to make your trip memorable. Read More

Camping Done Right! Comfy Tent Setup

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Our yellow lab, Indiana, is a big fan of our new tent setup. We recently upgraded to cots with REI air mattresses on top and they are extremely comfortable, even for those with back pain. We’ve owned the mattresses for about 4 years now, our REI sleeping bags are 5 years old, and our 4 year old REI Base Camp tent is still going strong. (And since we’re talking numbers, Indiana is 7!)

September 2019 Update: 

These particular REI air mattresses, sleeping bags, and cots are discontinued, so I went on Amazon to find a few comparable products if you’re looking to buy something similar for your camp setup.

Thermarest Basecamp Self-Inflating Foam Camping Pad

Kelty Tuck 22F Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag

Coleman Trailhead II Cot

May 2020 Update:

We went camping… at home! With all the stay-at-home orders, my husband and I set up a camp out in our front yard for our two kids with our trusty REI Basecamp 4 tent. Read more about it here, “Camping at Home with Kids.”

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Time to move in!

 

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