u/campingkiddos

I've dreamt of backpacking the Wind Rivers since before my boys were born. Now that dream is a beautiful memory.

We aborted our Grand Teton plans after failing to get a walk up permit, and instead planned a trip to the Cirque of the Towers last minute. It ended up being the perfect trip. This was the longest (tent) backpacking trip our boys had ever taken and they crushed it. Our oldest hiked every single step of the 19 miles and made it up and down some absolutely grueling and spicy hills. Both boys survived 4 days with nothing more than a few toy cars, 1 Batman action figure, and a lovey, but they spent most of their time climbing boulders, splashing in lakes and streams, racing around camp, and wrestling in the tent.

For my wife and me, our bodies might not ever fully recover...

4 days of food and diapers, 3 bear cans, and a family of 4's worth of gear crammed into 2 packs made for some pretty dang heavy packs...when either of us carried our youngest, we had 70 lbs on our back. Combined with the elevation gain and heat, it beat us up pretty bad. But not even the shoulder and back pain could steal our joy. It was honestly such an amazing trip from start to finish.

We spent a night at Big Sandy Lake, a second night just west of Lonesome Lake, and 1 last night back at Big Sandy Lake...all before getting a well earned burger at Big Sandy Lodge. So good!

For a 2 mile loop that's easy enough for just about anyone to do, Flume Gorge trail in New Hampshire's Franconia Notch State Park is fantastic. We did this as part of our camping and hiking trip through New England, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a kid-friendly hike in that part of the U.S.

While the Flume Gorge was the most visually stunning part of the hike, there were plenty of other things that kept my kids engaged throughout, like glacial erratics, 2 covered bridges, and a couple of waterfalls.

If your kids love completing the Junior Ranger programs throughout the NPS system, there are several in the Outer Banks!

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site: kids can walk around the grounds of the old Fort Raleigh, which is where the first attempted British colony lived before they disappeared/intermarried with the local Native American tribe. They'll learn about history and archeology along the way.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore: kids will learn about the changing forces of the ocean, why there are so many lighthouses in OBX, and the plants and animals that live here. There are some great ranger programs at Cape Hatteras and Bodie Island Lighthouses, too!

Wright Brothers National Memorial: kids will learn about the first successful flight in history as they walk in the Wright Brothers' footsteps. There is a replica plane in the visitors center, and you can hike the length of their different flight attempts out on the huge field. Climb to the top of the memorial for some great views.

A day at Donut Falls is a day well spent! Just 25 miles from downtown Salt Lake City, this hike is an easy one to add to any itinerary in this part of Utah.

This waterfall is unique because it flows into the top of a cave and then pops out on the side before the stream continues down into Cottonwood Canyon.

You will need to cross the stream twice, once on a wooden foot bridge and again directly in the water close to the falls. Wear waterproof boots or hiking sandals you don’t mind getting wet.

It’s open year round, but it really shines in the late spring and early summer, when the snow melt causes a substantial waterfall and the wildflowers pop up all over the trail.

However, that’s ALSO when all of the crowds show up, so either come early for a spot at the closer trailhead (on Forest Road 19) or prepare to hike another mile or so from the further trailhead on Big Cottonwood Canyon Road.

My kids' favorite parts were playing in the water and the very short rock scramble that had a rope for assistance.

There are vault toilets at both of the trailheads, which is convenient if you’ve got kids along.

Fort Moultrie National Historic Site often gets overlooked for the more well known Fort Sumter. Both forts are important in American history, but Fort Sumter is largely known for its part in starting the Civil War, while Fort Moultrie boasts a much longer history stretching from the American Revolution to World War II.

Unlike Fort Sumter, which is right in the mouth of the Charleston Harbor, Fort Moultrie is hidden down a road in the middle of a residential district on Sullivan’s Island. This is one of those cases where the extra time and effort in getting here is worth it!

Not only does Fort Moultrie have an arguably more interesting history, it’s also far less crowded than Fort Sumter, and it’s much less expensive. My kids love exploring the many tunnels and stairways throughout Fort Moultrie, and the WWII bunker feels like a secret discovery every time.

Be sure to grab your free Junior Ranger booklet while you’re here, and fill out the packet for a badge at the visitors center!

When we went to Shenandoah in the dead of winter, none of the campgrounds in the park were open, so we had to stay outside of it.

We ended up at the Shenandoah River State Park, which was great. I haven't camped inside Shenandoah NP, so I can't directly compare the two, but the state park had wide lots and plenty of hiking trails onsite. I didn't feel like we were missing anything by not being in the national park as the northern entrance near Front Royal was less than 15 minutes up the road.

We stayed here in our 22' camper with our kids. The kids had a great time riding their bikes around the campground, and there was a hiking trailhead right across from our campsite. I'd definitely go back again.

If you’re looking for an easier trail in Yellowstone that still packs plenty of interest, add the Artists Paintpots Trail to your itinerary. You’ll see milky blue hot springs, iron red steam vents, vats of mud pots, and long range views of Mount Holmes in the distance.

There are boardwalks and stairs to the mud pots and upper viewing areas, which add a sense of adventure to the trail.

This trail is located off on the Grand Loop Road just north of Grand Prismatic Spring. It’s an easy drive from West Yellowstone, the Old Faithful area, or Canyon Village.